US 11,692,642 B2
Method of preventing tampering with a hydrant
Justin Blaine Childress, Albertville, AL (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/62,414.
Application 16/567,350 is a division of application No. 15/852,453, filed on Dec. 22, 2017, granted, now 10,458,568, issued on Oct. 29, 2019.
Application 18/062,414 is a continuation of application No. 17/692,966, filed on Mar. 11, 2022, granted, now 11,543,050.
Application 17/692,966 is a continuation of application No. 17/145,103, filed on Jan. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,300,227, issued on Apr. 12, 2022.
Application 17/145,103 is a continuation of application No. 16/567,350, filed on Sep. 11, 2019, granted, now 10,920,906, issued on Feb. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0096696 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 35/06 (2006.01); E03B 9/04 (2006.01); F16K 31/50 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 35/06 (2013.01) [E03B 9/04 (2013.01); F16K 31/504 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of preventing tampering with a hydrant, the method comprising:
inserting an operating stem of the hydrant through a central bore of an operating nut to mount the operating nut on the operating stem; and
rotatably threading a grooved nut onto a threaded distal end of the operating stem, the grooved nut defining an indentation in an outer surface of the grooved nut,
wherein:
rotatably threading the grooved nut onto the threaded distal end of the operating stem comprises engaging the indentation with a mating groove tool and rotating the grooved nut with the mating groove tool.