Patents by Inventor Marty Scott Ball

Marty Scott Ball has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11015967
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a water meter includes: a housing including a meter portion integrally formed with a valve portion; and a valve positioned in the valve portion and in sealable communication with an inner surface of the housing, the valve defining a valve inlet portion and a valve outlet portion, the valve inlet portion defining a vertical portion and separated from the valve outlet portion by a top edge portion defined in the vertical portion, the valve inlet portion sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, the diaphragm assembly defining a water leak passthrough configured to allow passage of water from a first side of the diaphragm assembly to a second side of the diaphragm assembly opposite from the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Patent number: 10655999
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a water meter includes: a housing including a meter portion integrally formed with a valve portion; and a valve positioned in the valve portion and in sealable communication with an inner surface of the housing, the valve defining a valve inlet portion and a valve outlet portion, the valve inlet portion defining a vertical portion and separated from the valve outlet portion by a top edge portion defined in the vertical portion, the valve inlet portion sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, the diaphragm assembly defining a water leak passthrough configured to allow passage of water from a first side of the diaphragm assembly to a second side of the diaphragm assembly opposite from the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Publication number: 20200141782
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a water meter includes: a housing including a meter portion integrally formed with a valve portion; and a valve positioned in the valve portion and in sealable communication with an inner surface of the housing, the valve defining a valve inlet portion and a valve outlet portion, the valve inlet portion defining a vertical portion and separated from the valve outlet portion by a top edge portion defined in the vertical portion, the valve inlet portion sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, the diaphragm assembly defining a water leak passthrough configured to allow passage of water from a first side of the diaphragm assembly to a second side of the diaphragm assembly opposite from the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Publication number: 20170234712
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a water meter includes: a housing including a meter portion integrally formed with a valve portion; and a valve positioned in the valve portion and in sealable communication with an inner surface of the housing, the valve defining a valve inlet portion and a valve outlet portion, the valve inlet portion defining a vertical portion and separated from the valve outlet portion by a top edge portion defined in the vertical portion, the valve inlet portion sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, the diaphragm assembly defining a water leak passthrough configured to allow passage of water from a first side of the diaphragm assembly to a second side of the diaphragm assembly opposite from the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Publication number: 20140338464
    Abstract: A valve meter device, assembly, and method is disclosed including a housing defining at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening and a channel connecting the openings, the at least one inlet opening having an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening having an outlet end; a water meter positioned in the channel, the water meter configured to monitor a flow of water through the valve meter device; and a valve in communication with the channel and configured to control the flow of water through the valve meter device. In some embodiments, a linear distance exists between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a standard water meter lay-length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Patent number: 8833390
    Abstract: A valve meter device, assembly, and method is disclosed including a housing defining at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening and a channel connecting the openings, the at least one inlet opening having an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening having an outlet end; a water meter positioned in the channel, the water meter configured to monitor a flow of water through the valve meter device; and a valve in communication with the channel and configured to control the flow of water through the valve meter device. In some embodiments, a linear distance exists between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a standard water meter lay-length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Patent number: 8668206
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide improved face seal gaskets for use in connecting meters and other devices to pipelines. The improved face seal gaskets include a planar annular ring portion and one or more tabs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular ring portion. In use, the annular ring portion is disposed adjacent a sealing surface on the inlet or outlet of the device to facilitate a fluid tight connection between the device and the pipeline. The tabs engage complementary grooves formed in the inlet or outlet portions of the device to facilitate alignment of the annular ring to the sealing surface thereon. The tabs may also retain the face seal gasket adjacent the sealing surface to facilitate improved installation of the device to the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventor: Marty Scott Ball
  • Patent number: 8613220
    Abstract: A water meter enclosure includes a non-metallic cover defining an interior cavity shaped to accept a metering device; a metal ring including threads for connection to a piping system; and an annular lip contacting a distal end of the metal ring to retain the metal ring in spatial relationship between the non-metallic cover and the annular lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Publication number: 20120305084
    Abstract: A valve meter device, assembly, and method is disclosed including a housing defining at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening and a channel connecting the openings, the at least one inlet opening having an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening having an outlet end; a water meter positioned in the channel, the water meter configured to monitor a flow of water through the valve meter device; and a valve in communication with the channel and configured to control the flow of water through the valve meter device. In some embodiments, a linear distance exists between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a standard water meter lay-length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
  • Patent number: 8281654
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Publication number: 20120011929
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Patent number: 8047072
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Publication number: 20110072896
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Publication number: 20110005333
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide improved face seal gaskets for use in connecting meters and other devices to pipelines. The improved face seal gaskets include a planar annular ring portion and one or more tabs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular ring portion. In use, the annular ring portion is disposed adjacent a sealing surface on the inlet or outlet of the device to facilitate a fluid tight connection between the device and the pipeline. The tabs engage complementary grooves formed in the inlet or outlet portions of the device to facilitate alignment of the annular ring to the sealing surface thereon. The tabs may also retain the face seal gasket adjacent the sealing surface to facilitate improved installation of the device to the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Marty Scott Ball
  • Patent number: 7854165
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Publication number: 20090188313
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Patent number: D582814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hersey Meter Company
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven
  • Patent number: D583692
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hersey Meter Company
    Inventors: Marty Scott Ball, Jeremy Alan McCraven