Handle replacement apparatus

Claim 2

Handle replacement apparatus for use with a valve stem comprising a handle member, said handle member having a skirt portion adapted to surround the valve stem, a first polygonal member being formed on said handle member, said first polygonal member being hollow and being centrally located within said handle member skirt portion; and a second polygonal member, said second polygonal member being hollow and having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, said second polygonal member uppermost portion fitting within said first polygonal member, means for engaging a portion of the valve stem and for locking said second polygonal member onto the valve stem, said engaging and loCking means including at least three laterally extending members positioned about the periphery of said second polygonal member lowermost portion, said laterally extending members being adapted to engage the valve stem at three distinct points.

Claim 3

The handle replacement apparatus recited in claim 1, each of said laterally extending members being spaced 120* apart on said second polygonal member lowermost portion.

Claim 4

The handle replacement apparatus recited in claim 1, said first polygonal member having four planar sides, said second polygonal member uppermost portion having four planar sides.

Claim 5

The handle replacement apparatus recited in claim 1, said locking and engaging means further including at least three laterally extending protuberances projecting outwardly from the sides of said second polygonal member lowermost portion, each of said laterally extending members being positioned within one of said three laterally extending protuberances, the top surface of each of said three laterally extending protuberances engaging the bottom surface of said first polygonal member.

Claim 6

The handle replacement apparatus recited in claim 1, the central axis through said first and second polygonal members being coincident with the central axis through the valve stem.

Claim 7

Handle replacement apparatus for use with a valve stem comprising a handle member, said handle member having a skirt portion adapted to surround the valve stem, a receiving member being formed on said handle member within said skirt portion, said receiving member including four planar side walls perpendicularly arranged with respect to one another, the inner surfaces of said receiving member planar walls thereby forming a first rectangular space, a first cavity being formed in said handle member, the central axis through said first cavity being coincident with the central axis through said first rectangular space; and an inserting member having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, said inserting member including four planar side walls perpendicularly arranged with respect to one another, the outer surfaces of said inserting member planar walls thereby forming a first rectangular solid, said first rectangular solid fitting snugly within said first rectangular space, a second cavity being formed in said inserting member for receiving the valve stem, the central axis through said cavity being coincident with the central axis through said first rectangular space, at least three laterally extending protuberances formed on the lowermost portion of said inserting member, said protuberances being spaced 120 degrees apart, a screw being threaded into each of said protuberances, each of said screws being adapted to engage the valve stem at a distinct point, the top surface of each of said protuberances engaging the bottom surface of said receiving member.

Claim 8

Handle replacement apparatus for use with a valve stem comprising a handle member, said handle member having a skirt portion adapted to surround the valve stem, a receiving member being formed on said handle member within said skirt portion, said receiving member including four planar side walls perpendicularly arranged with respect to one another, the inner surfaces of said receiving member planar walls thereby forming a first rectangular space, a first cavity being formed in said handle member, the central axis through said first cavity being coincident with the central axis through said first rectangular space; and an inserting member having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, said inserting member including four planar side walls perpendicularly arranged with respect to one another, the outer surfaces of said inserting member planar walls thereby forming a first rectangular solid, said first rectangular solid fitting snugly within said first rectangular space, a second cavity being formed in said inserting member for receiving the valve stem, the central axis through said cavity being coincident with the central axis through said first rectangular space, at least three laterally extending protuberances formed on the lowermost portion of said inserting member, said protuberances being spaced 120 degrees apart, a screw being threaded into each of said protuberances, each of said screws being adapted to engage the valve stem at a distinct point, the top surface of each of said protuberances engaging the bottom surface of said receiving member.

Claim 9

Handle replacement apparatus for use with a valve stem comprising a handle member, said handle member having a skirt portion adapted to surround the valve stem, a first polygonal member being formed on said handle member, said first polygonal member being centrally located within said handle member skirt portion; and a second polygonal member, said second polygonal member having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, said second polygonal member uppermost portion mating with said first polygonal member, means for engaging a portion of the valve stem and for locking said second polygonal member onto the valve stem, said engaging and locking means including at least three laterally extending members positioned about the periphery of said second polygonal member lowermost portion, said laterally extending members being adapted to engage the valve stem at three distinct points.

Claim 10

Handle replacement apparatus for use with a valve stem comprising a handle member, said handle member having a skirt portion adapted to surround the valve stem, a first polygonal member being formed on said handle member, said first polygonal member being centrally located within said handle member skirt portion; and a second polygonal member, said second polygonal member having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, said second polygonal member uppermost portion mating with said first polygonal member, means for engaging a portion of the valve stem and for locking said second polygonal member onto the valve stem, said engaging and locking means including at least three laterally extending members positioned about the periphery of said second polygonal member lowermost portion, said laterally extending members being adapted to engage the valve stem at three distinct points.