Patents by Inventor Steve Sharp

Steve Sharp 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: 10808850
    Abstract: A plug valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, an interior surface, and an interior cavity extending from the inlet to the outlet, the interior surface defining the interior cavity, the interior surface including a seat proximate to a one of the inlet and the outlet, the seat defining a seat surface; and a valve plug positioned inside the interior cavity and configured to rotate inside the interior cavity between an open position of the valve and a closed position of the valve, the valve plug including a ridge, the ridge defining a radially outermost portion of the valve plug with respect to the axis of the valve, the valve plug contacting the seat of the valve body in the closed position of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Vadim Lorman
  • Publication number: 20200124189
    Abstract: A plug valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, an interior surface, and an interior cavity extending from the inlet to the outlet, the interior surface defining the interior cavity, the interior surface including a seat proximate to a one of the inlet and the outlet, the seat defining a seat surface; and a valve plug positioned inside the interior cavity and configured to rotate inside the interior cavity between an open position of the valve and a closed position of the valve, the valve plug including a ridge, the ridge defining a radially outermost portion of the valve plug with respect to the axis of the valve, the valve plug contacting the seat of the valve body in the closed position of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Vadim Lorman
  • Patent number: 10480660
    Abstract: A valve includes: a valve body defining a shaft bore therethrough, an axis of the shaft bore defining a vertical axis; a valve shaft positioned within and configured to rotate within the valve body; a valve disc coupled to the valve shaft and positioned within the valve body, the valve disc configured to rotate within the valve body between an open position and a closed position; and a valve seat positioned within the valve body, the valve seat including an outer surface in contact with the valve body and an inner surface in contact with the valve disc, the inner surface of the valve seat defining a sealing ridge extending radially inward with respect to the vertical axis, the sealing ridge having an annular shape about the valve shaft, the sealing ridge concentric with the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp
  • Patent number: 10408355
    Abstract: A valve includes an annular body defining a body bore. An annular valve seat is positioned in the body bore and an annular groove is defined in a portion of the annular sealing surface. A rotatable valve element is positioned in the body bore. With the valve element in a closed and an unpressurized condition, the annular groove is deformed and a first groove gap is defined in the annular groove adjacent to the first disc face and a second groove gap is defined in the annular groove adjacent to the second disc face. With the valve element closed and in a pressurized condition, the annular groove is deformed and a third groove gap is defined in the annular groove adjacent to the first disc face. A volume of the third groove gap is greater than a volume of the first groove gap and second groove gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Julian Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20190128426
    Abstract: A valve includes an annular body defining a body bore. An annular valve seat is positioned in the body bore and an annular groove is defined in a portion of the annular sealing surface. A rotatable valve element is positioned in the body bore. With the valve element in a closed and an unpressurized condition, the annular groove is deformed and a first groove gap is defined in the annular groove adjacent to the first disc face and a second groove gap is defined in the annular groove adjacent to the second disc face. With the valve element closed and in a pressurized condition, the annular groove is deformed and a third groove gap is defined in the annular groove adjacent to the first disc face. A volume of the third groove gap is greater than a volume of the first groove gap and second groove gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Julian Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20190101214
    Abstract: A valve includes: a valve body defining a shaft bore therethrough, an axis of the shaft bore defining a vertical axis; a valve shaft positioned within and configured to rotate within the valve body; a valve disc coupled to the valve shaft and positioned within the valve body, the valve disc configured to rotate within the valve body between an open position and a closed position; and a valve seat positioned within the valve body, the valve seat including an outer surface in contact with the valve body and an inner surface in contact with the valve disc, the inner surface of the valve seat defining a sealing ridge extending radially inward with respect to the vertical axis, the sealing ridge having an annular shape about the valve shaft, the sealing ridge concentric with the valve shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp
  • Patent number: 9903496
    Abstract: A mechanical joint includes a main body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an inlet end, and an outlet end, the interior surface defining a fluid path from the inlet end to the outlet end, the interior surface defining a pipe seat proximate to a one of the inlet end and the outlet end, the pipe seat having a pipe seat stop surface facing towards the one of the inlet end and the outlet end; and a lining engaging the interior surface and covering at least a portion of the pipe seat stop surface of the pipe seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Purushottam Savalia
  • Patent number: 9828783
    Abstract: A pool nozzle assembly includes a body, a clamp ring, a plurality of screws, a cover ring, and a nozzle. The body includes a body rim having a plurality of screw receivers and a female threaded portion. The clamp ring is removably coupled to the body and couples a vinyl liner between the clamp ring and the body. The clamp ring includes an inner rim and an outer rim. The plurality of screws removably couple the clamp ring to the body. The cover ring includes a cover rim and a male threaded portion threadedly coupled to the female threaded portion. The cover rim covers the plurality of screws and is substantially planar with the outer rim. The nozzle is removably coupled to the base of the body such that a top end of the nozzle is substantially planar with outer rim and the cover rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GSG Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Shaun Farrier, Steve Sharp
  • Patent number: 9777498
    Abstract: A pool nozzle assembly having a body, a clamp ring, a plurality of screws, a cover ring, and a nozzle is disclosed. The body includes a body rim having a plurality of screw receivers and a female threaded portion. The clamp ring is removably coupled to the body and couples a vinyl liner between the clamp ring and the body. The clamp ring includes an inner rim and an outer rim. The plurality of screws removably couple the clamp ring to the body. The cover ring includes a cover rim and a male threaded portion threadedly coupled to the female threaded portion. The cover rim covers the plurality of screws and is substantially planar with the outer rim. The nozzle is removably coupled to the base of the body such that a top end of the nozzle is substantially planar with outer rim and the cover rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GSG Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Shaun Farrier, Steve Sharp
  • Publication number: 20160348800
    Abstract: A mechanical joint includes a main body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an inlet end, and an outlet end, the interior surface defining a fluid path from the inlet end to the outlet end, the interior surface defining a pipe seat proximate to a one of the inlet end and the outlet end, the pipe seat having a pipe seat stop surface facing towards the one of the inlet end and the outlet end; and a lining engaging the interior surface and covering at least a portion of the pipe seat stop surface of the pipe seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Ashraf Abouelleil, Steve Sharp, Purushottam Savalia
  • Patent number: 9222274
    Abstract: A pool valve module includes a conical outer plate, a conical slider plate, and an impeller. The outer plate includes an inlet port near a narrow end of the outer plate and a plurality of elongated outlet ports extending through the outer plate. The slider plate is rotatable within the outer plate and includes a slider plate outlet and a slider plate inlet. The impeller is rotatably coupled to the slider plate, and the slider plate rotates within the outer plate responsive to rotation of the impeller. The slider plate rotates between at least three positions: a first position that distributes water through a first outlet port but no other ports; a second position that distributes water through the first and second outlet ports but not other outlet ports; and a third position that distributes water through the second outlet port but no other outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GSG Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Goettl, Steve Sharp
  • Patent number: 8959739
    Abstract: An alignment kit for aiming a variable rotating pool cleaning nozzle assembly in a pool is disclosed. The alignment kit includes an aiming tool and a locking tool. The aiming tool includes a tray that includes a plurality of aiming reference figures, a cleaning arc indicator coupled to the tray, and a base rotatably coupled to the tray. The cleaning arc indicator includes an adjustable visual area representing a cleaning arc of a variably rotating pool cleaning nozzle assembly. The cleaning arc indicator may include a first ring and a second ring interleaved together and the adjustable visual area may include an area of the second ring not covered by the first ring. The base includes an aiming reference marker adjacent the tray and one or more indexing lugs. The locking tool includes a plurality of aiming symbols and one or more locking lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GSG Holding, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Goettl, Steve Sharp