Signal handle for valves

Claim 2

In a handle for the stem of a valve which simultaneously opens and closes said valve and indicates the open and closed position of said valve, the combination of an outer handle member provided with window means and having an interior recess to receive an inner member bearing indicia visible through said window means and mounted within said outer member and having at least one biased locking member on its outer surface to engage a like number of recesses on the inner wall of said outer member after a limited rotation of said outer member about said inner member whereby the inner and outer members rotate as a unit, means on the inner member for affixing the inner member to the valve stem in non-rotating relationship and abutting means on the inner member engaging stop means on the inner surface of the outer member after said limited rotation whereby said rotation of the outer member will expose, through said window means, one indicia when the valve is open and different indicia when the valve is closed.

Claim 3

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of indicia to openings is 2:1.

Claim 4

The assembly according to claim 2 wherein said indicia comprises a plurality of pairs of two contrasting colors.

Claim 5

The assembly according to claim 2 wherein said indicia comprises a plurality of pairs of differing symbols.

Claim 6

The assembly according to claim 3 wherein said indicia further comprises a pair of differing symbols imposed upon each pair of colors.

Claim 7

The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising means interconnecting said members to secure said inner member within said outer member.

Claim 8

A handle assembly attachable to and rotatable with the shaft of a valve to open and close said valve and simultaneously indicate whether the valve is open or closed, the assembly comprising an outer handle portion, an inner handle portion cooperating with said outer portion to turn said shaft and to indicate the open or closed position of the valve, said outer portiOn having limited independent rotation about said inner portion, said means positionable within said outer portion to secure said inner portion within said outer portion; said outer portion comprising a hollowed out circular form, a plurality of equi-spaced openings through the upright wall of said outer portion, an axial opening in the upper surface of said outer portion to receive at least the end portion of said shaft, the inner upper surface of said outer portion having a plurality of equi-spaced, depending stop means thereon and a plurality of equi-spaced arcuate recesses formed in the lower portion of the inner wall of said outer portion; said inner handle portion comprising a circular form fittedly matching the inner surface of said outer handle portion, a plurality of indicia on the outer surface of said inner portion in matching engagement with said openings in said outer portion, an axial opening in said inner portion to receive at least the end portion of said shaft in non-rotating engagement therewith, a plurality of abutments formed in the upper surface of said inner portion to intermesh with the stop means in the outer portion, the spacing between said abutments being greater than the length of said stop means to provide said independent rotation whereby the said independent rotation will change said indicia visible in said openings, and a plurality of equi-spaced biased detents in the outer surface of said inner portion in matching position with said arcuate recesses to lock said outer portion to said inner portion after said independent rotation to rotate said shaft.

Claim 9

A handle assembly attachable to and rotatable with the shaft of a valve to open and close said valve and simultaneously indicate whether the valve is open or closed, the assembly comprising an outer handle portion, an inner handle portion cooperating with said outer portion to turn said shaft and to indicate the open or closed position of the valve, said outer portiOn having limited independent rotation about said inner portion, said means positionable within said outer portion to secure said inner portion within said outer portion; said outer portion comprising a hollowed out circular form, a plurality of equi-spaced openings through the upright wall of said outer portion, an axial opening in the upper surface of said outer portion to receive at least the end portion of said shaft, the inner upper surface of said outer portion having a plurality of equi-spaced, depending stop means thereon and a plurality of equi-spaced arcuate recesses formed in the lower portion of the inner wall of said outer portion; said inner handle portion comprising a circular form fittedly matching the inner surface of said outer handle portion, a plurality of indicia on the outer surface of said inner portion in matching engagement with said openings in said outer portion, an axial opening in said inner portion to receive at least the end portion of said shaft in non-rotating engagement therewith, a plurality of abutments formed in the upper surface of said inner portion to intermesh with the stop means in the outer portion, the spacing between said abutments being greater than the length of said stop means to provide said independent rotation whereby the said independent rotation will change said indicia visible in said openings, and a plurality of equi-spaced biased detents in the outer surface of said inner portion in matching position with said arcuate recesses to lock said outer portion to said inner portion after said independent rotation to rotate said shaft.