Abstract: A drain, waste and vent (“DWV”) fitting is made from chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: A strengthened pipe fitting has an internally threaded surface and a compression band. The compression band is sized to compress the internally threaded surface sufficiently so that the pipe fitting is subjected to a compressive preload. The compression band is covered with a non-corrosive material.

Abstract: A check valve has a valve body and flapper. The flapper has a gasket which is sandwiched between a flapper base and a flapper cover. The flapper base has a flapper base stem which extends through an aperture in the gasket is retained within an aperture in the flapper cover. A central recess is defined in either the forward surface of the flapper base or the forward surface of the flapper cover to allow liquid which leaks between the flapper base and the gasket to migrate to the flapper base stem, and subsequently along the flapper base stem to the external side of the flapper cover. In this way, the flapper is capable of relieving pressure build-up between the gasket and the surface of the flapper base.

Abstract: A pipe fitting has a body with an internally threaded bore and at least one female starter thread. The at least one female starter thread is disposed either within the bore or immediately outside of the bore. The starter thread is axially aligned with the bore threads. The starter thread is made from a material which is stronger than the material from which the bore threads are made. The starter thread most proximate to the threads of the internally threaded bore has a pitch diameter which is at least two percent greater than the pitch diameter of the most proximate thread within the internally threaded bore.

Abstract: A length adjustable conduit has a hollow tubular body and a hollow tubular shaft coaxially disposed in fluid tight communication with the hollow tubular body. The conduit further includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the combined length of the tubular body and tubular shaft.

Abstract: A ball check valve comprises a valve body chamber which includes an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a ball that is free to travel within the valve body chamber. A valve seat is adapted for receiving the ball. A body clearance section is located downstream of the inlet opening. A bore section is located downstream of the body clearance section. Fluid flow is allowed to flow through the valve body from the inlet opening through the outlet opening, but fluid flow through the valve body from the outlet opening through the inlet opening is prohibited by the interaction of the ball and the valve seat. The inlet opening is smoothly contoured to urge fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet opening to be laminar in nature.

Abstract: A pipe fitting has a body with an internally threaded bore and at least one female starter thread. The at least one female starter thread is disposed either within the bore or immediately outside of the bore. The starter thread is axially aligned with the bore threads. The starter thread is made from a material which is stronger than the material from which the bore threads are made.

Abstract: A weir-type diaphragm valve having a valve body, a flexible diaphragm and a valve stem. The valve body has an inlet end, an outlet end and an internal flow path disposed between the inlet end and the outlet end. Within the valve body is a weir disposed transverse to the flow path. Along the top edge of the weir is disposed a raised bead extending substantially along the entire length of the top edge of the weir. The flexible diaphragm is disposed above the valve seat. The diaphragm is flexible between a closed diaphragm position wherein the diaphragm is in tight abutment with the valve seat (so that the valve path is sealed closed) and an open diaphragm position wherein the diaphragm is spaced apart from the valve seat (so that the valve path is open). The valve stem and handle assembly is adapted to alternatively flex the diaphragm between the closed diaphragm position and the open diaphragm position.

Abstract: A union fitting replacement nut having a nut body and a peripheral strap. The nut body is formed from a pair of C-shaped members. The nut body is internally threaded to cooperate with the external threads of the union fitting to which the union replacement nut is to be installed. The peripheral strap is typically a steel strap having opposed first and second ends. Attachment means, such as an adjustment screw, is provided to incrementally adjust the tightness of the peripheral strap to rigidly retain the two C-shaped members of the nut body. Once assembled, the union replacement nut can be used in the same way as a prior art integral union nut.

Abstract: The invention is a valve that releasably locks the valve in both the open position and the closed position. The valve has a valve body, a valve element, a handle, and a lock-out member that cooperates with the handle and the valve body to lock the handle and the valve element in either the open position or the closed position. The lock-out member has a collar that is rotatably mounted to the rim of the valve body. The collar has cogs that fit within notches in the rim and prevent the collar from rotating. The interlocking of the collar of the lock-out member with the valve body prohibits the rotation of the handle and the valve element. The lock-out member has a release member that cooperates with the handle to lift cogs out of the notches and cause the collar to disengage with the rim when the release member is activated. This allows the handle and the valve element to rotate between either the locked open position or the locked closed position.

Abstract: A one-piece, prefabricated bracket is provided which conveniently and effectively supports a pipe fitting having a change-of-direction section to an adjacent surface. The bracket is comprised of a body, a surround element, means for supporting the pipe fitting and means for attaching the bracket to the surface. In a typical embodiment, the bracket is adapted for supporting a T fitting or an ell fitting. The surround element is sized and dimensioned to surround the change-of-direction section of the pipe fitting so as to firmly retain the pipe fitting within the bracket. The attachment means is typically a pair of spaced-apart flanges attached to the body.