Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FAUCET MOUNTING SLEEVE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to devices for
securing faucets, or other fluid delivery devices, to a building surface. More
specifically, a mounting assembly is used in conjunction with securing a
faucet to an
uneven exterior surface of a dwelling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wall faucets are very common and often found mounted to the exterior of a
dwelling to be used for supplying water outside of the dwelling. Wall faucets
include
a faucet assembly with a flange that is designed to interconnect to an
exterior surface
of a dwelling. The wall faucet assembly also includes a tube that is in
fluidic
communication with the water source of the dwelling. Traditionally, the
flanges have
been mounted to an exterior surface, i.e. siding of the dwelling. Siding,
however, is
not the only exterior building surface employed, and as such, often the wall
faucet
assembly interconnection must accommodate the uneven surface texture of stone,
brick, mortar, stucco etc. One skilled in the art will appreciate that it is
difficult to
interconnect the flange of the faucet to non-continuous building surfaces. One
prior
art method of installing a faucet employs a plurality of elongated screws that
interconnect the faucet flange to the wall. Long screws, however, are unstable
and
provide little support to the faucet. For example, one skilled in the art can
envision
that a hose interconnected to the faucet is subject to forces associated with
moving or
pulling the hose. These forces may be associated with weakening of the
interconnection of the faucet to the dwelling and may cause the faucet to
dislocate
from the exterior building surface. Thus, faucet assemblies that are
interconnected to
such non-continuous and uneven building surfaces are often not very
structurally
stable. If a faucet assembly should separate from the dwelling, fluid (i.e.,
water),
insects, or other outdoor contaminants will be able to enter the dwelling. If
the faucet
assembly is unstable it could also separate from the fluid supply line,
thereby causing
water/mold damage.
Furthermore, during installation of a faucet assembly, to an exterior building
surface an installer must grout or otherwise seal the interconnection location
to
accommodate the uneven building surface. This additional work increases the
time
and cost of installation.
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There have been devices in the prior art that are used to offset a faucet from
an
interior building surface to accommodate a brick surface. For example,
attention is
drawn to the hose bib supporter of PerfectSett made by JCT Innovations, LLC.
This
device includes a rectangular shaped face that is offset from a plate that is
interconnected to the outer surface of the wall, board or sheathing of a
building. The
face provides a location for interconnection of a faucet assembly. One
drawback of
the PerfectSett device is that it does not provide selective adjustments and
only
accommodates exterior building surfaces of a set thickness.
Thus, it is a long felt need in the field of outdoor plumbing to provide a
stable
interconnection scheme for attaching wall faucets to the exterior surface of a
dwelling. The following disclosure describes an improved method and system for
interconnecting a wall faucet to the exterior of a building that addresses and
overcomes the problems experienced in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a mounting box that
supports a faucet assembly. More specifically, embodiments of the present
invention
employ a mounting sleeve that is associated with a fluid delivery tube that
terminates
at a faucet. The mounting sleeve is interconnected to at least one supporting
bracket.
The bracket is adapted for interconnection to an interior building surface,
which
increases the stability of the interconnection of the faucet assembly to the
dwelling.
The mounting sleeve is adapted to secure the fluid delivery tube and to
provide a
location for interconnection of the faucet. Embodiments of the present
invention
employ a mounting sleeve that is selectively adjustable such that a flange of
the
faucet, which traditionally is used to secure the faucet to an exterior
building surface,
may be placed generally adjacent to the outer surface of the dwelling and not
interconnected directly to it.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a system for mounting a
wall faucet to a building that increases the stability of the interconnection
of the faucet
to the building. More specifically, as opposed to prior art methods of
interconnecting
a wall faucet assembly to a dwelling, embodiments of the present invention
employ
one or more brackets that are interconnected to an interior (or exterior)
building
surface. For example, the brackets of the invention may be interconnected to
the
inside or outside of any building member, such as 2 X 4 studs, sill plates, a
concrete
basement wall, a foundation member, headers, sheathing, etc. Interconnecting
the
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brackets to a structural element improves the structurally stability of the
faucet
assembly. That is, as opposed to prior art systems, which interconnect a the
faucet
flange directly to an exterior building surface, the mounting sleeve employed
in
various embodiments of the present invention is held within the brackets, thus
supplying a sufficient support to the faucet assembly. In such a manner the
above-
identified issues related to interconnecting a faucet to mortar, rock, stone,
bricks,
stucco, etc., are reduced if not eliminated. The method, and associated
apparatus of
the present invention for securing a tube within mounting sleeve, which is
then
interconnected to a rigidly interconnected bracket, is superior over prior art
methods
and system of interconnection.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a mounting system and
methods that allow for robust installation. More specifically, embodiments of
the
present invention may be installed prior to or after the siding or other
exterior building
surface is installed. The brackets that secure the mounting sleeve may be
installed by
the framers, siding installers or plumbers. Guess work as to the location of
the faucet
is thus reduced. This aspect of the present invention is made possible by the
fact that
the faucet does not need to be initially installed in order to install the
bracket and to
locate the mounting sleeve. After installation of the mounting sleeve, the
mounting
sleeve may be removed from the bracket and associated with the tube of the
faucet,
for example.
It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a mounting
system and method that provides the ability to selectively adjust the location
of the
faucet. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a
mounting
sleeve that is adapted to move in relation to the fixed bracket. A second
bracket is
employed to secure the mounting sleeve relative to the fixed bracket such that
no
additional movement of the mounting sleeve is possible. This aspect of the
invention
ultimately allows for the flange of the faucet to be offset (in various
dimensions, but
particularly along an axis perpendicular from the dwelling wall) from an
interior or
exterior wall of the dwelling to accommodate the thickness and surface texture
of
exterior building material such as stone, etc. In operation, if the faucet is
not located
as envisioned relative to the exterior building surface, quick readjustments
are
possible that do not require extensive structural modifications as would be
necessary
with prior art systems.
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It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a faucet assembly
attachment scheme that improves mounting options, wherein the faucet may be
interconnected to an irregular surface easily. That is, as briefly described
above, the
mounting device of one embodiment of the present invention includes an
adjustable
mounting sleeve that allows for selective adjustments of the location of the
faucet
flange, i.e. within a predetermined scope of dimensions from a first
anticipated final
position. Thus an installer can easily customize the location of the flange
such that it
be aesthetically pleasing and structurally stable. Embodiments of the present
invention also employ a mounting sleeve with a measurement indication
mechanism.
Preferably, a linear scale is provided associated with each sleeve, e.g.
imprinted
thereon, molded thereto, etc., to facilitate the installation of a plurality
of faucets
about the exterior of a building. After one mounting sleeve is interconnected
and
correctly offset from a house, the remainder of mounting sleeves will be more
quickly
installed since the required offset is readily known by inspection of the
linear scale.
Installers will also be able to facilitate installation of mounting sleeves
through
experience by knowing generally how much offset should be used for a
particular
building surface, which will reduce time and cost of installing faucets.
Embodiments of the present invention employ components that can be easily
replaced. For example, if after installing the mounting sleeve relative to the
bracket it
is found that the offset is incorrect, it is contemplated that quick
adjustments may be
made. More specifically, it is contemplated that the length of the mounting
sleeve can
easily made in order to accommodate unique sizes of bricks, stone, etc. If
this is
difficult due, for example, to debris or grout residing in the grooves of the
mounting
sleeve the mounting sleeve can be discarded and a second replacement mounting
sleeve can be interconnected to the bracket.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to prevent water, debris,
animals, insects, etc. from entering the dwelling through the faucet
connection. That
is, when a faucet of the prior art becomes loose or disconnects from the
exterior of the
dwelling, gaps form that allow the above-mentioned foreign objects to enter
the
dwelling. For example, gaps between the flange and the building surface allow
moisture to penetrate between the faucet flange and the exterior building
surfaces.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method that
minimizes
gaps between the external building surface and the faucet associated thereto.
More
specifically, since the mounting sleeve of embodiments of the present
invention is of
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generally continuous shape (preferably cylindrical, but other shapes are
contemplated),
the installer can finish, with insulation, foam, mortar etc., up to the outer
surface of the
mounting sleeve thus reduces or eliminates gaps between the faucet assembly
and the
exterior building surfaces. A related aspect of the present invention is that
the shape of
the mounting sleeve and described finishing creates a cleaner appearance that
is more
aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
It is another aspect of the present invention that the embodiments preferably
be
constructed of common materials, such as plastic, steel, aluminum, rubber (or
other
flexible materials), vulcanized rubber, wood, or any other common building
materials
that comply with applicable codes. Preferably, the mounting sleeve and
associated
brackets are made of rigid plastic, which is non-corrosive and provides the
needed
rigidity to secure the faucet assembly.
It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a system
that
utilizes components that are easily customizable. More specifically, the
mounting sleeves
of embodiments of the present invention may be made of any color of plastic to
blend in
with the finished materials, such as the faucet flange of a handle, thereby
adding to the
aesthetically pleasing appearance of the finished assembly.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a faucet mounting
system that efficiently utilizes pipes generally found in a dwelling. More
specifically,
faucet mounting schemes of the prior art generally require that the mounting
structure be
tied in some way to the sill plate, or other building member associated with
the
foundation or basement wall of a structure. Mounting a faucet in such a way
necessarily
requires routing (in often a circuitous path) of additional pipes from the
main water
supply line to the faucet. One of skill in the art will appreciate that with
such a routing
scheme the probability of leaks increases, and, if a leak should occur, it is
often located in
low traffic or little used areas of a dwelling (crawl space, basement, etc.).
Leaks of this
nature can be very damaging since a homeowner, for example, will be prevented
from
quickly addressing the matter.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a faucet mounting assembly
adapted to secure a faucet assembly, comprising: a first means for securing
adapted for
interconnection to a dwelling; a means for mounting associated with said first
means for
securing; a second means for securing capable of selective interconnection to
said first
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means for securing with said means for mounting is positioned therebetween,
wherein said
means for mounting possesses at least one of a generally circular cross-
section, a generally
square cross-section, a generally rectangular cross-section, a generally
hexagonal cross-
section, a generally octagonal cross-section and a general triangular cross-
section.
In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a fluid delivery
system
interconnected to a structure, comprising: a faucet assembly that includes a
faucet with
associated faucet flange and a fluid delivery tube in communication with said
faucet; a
cylindrical mounting sleeve interconnected to said faucet flange, said
mounting sleeve also
being interconnected to said tube; a bottom bracket interconnected to an
interior structure
of the structure; and a top bracket selectively interconnected to said bottom
bracket with
said mounting sleeve is positioned therebetween.
In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a faucet mounting
assembly
adapted to secure a faucet assembly, comprising: a bottom bracket adapted for
interconnection to a dwelling; a mounting sleeve associated with said bottom
bracket, said
mounting sleeve having first end, a second end, a top portion with a plurality
of spaced
grooves that are defined by equally-spaced and parallel ridges, and a smooth
bottom
surface; a top bracket selectively interconnected to said bottom bracket with
said mounting
sleeve is positioned therebetween, said top bracket being positioned within
one of said
plurality of spaced grooves.
In still yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a faucet
mounting
assembly adapted to secure a faucet assembly, comprising: a first means for
securing
adapted for interconnection to a dwelling; a means for mounting associated
with said first
means for securing, said means for mounting having an end face positioned on
one end
thereof that is adapted to secure a flange of a faucet assembly and a second
open end, said
end face and said second open end being spaced by a sleeve portion that is
adapted to
accommodate a fluid delivery line of the faucet assembly, said means for
mounting also
possessing a top portion with a plurality of spaced grooves that are defined
by equally-
spaced and parallel ridges, and a smooth bottom surface; and a second means
for securing
capable of selective interconnection to said first means for securing with
said means for
mounting is positioned between said first means for securing and said second
means for
securing wherein said first means for securing is positioned within one of
said plurality of
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grooves, wherein said means for mounting possesses at least one of a generally
circular
cross-section, a generally square cross-section, a generally rectangular cross-
section, a
generally hexagonal cross-section, a generally octagonal cross-section and a
general
triangular cross-section.
Thus, embodiments of the invention, due to there ability to be interconnected
to a
dwelling in areas other than the sill plate, can be placed in such a way to
omit the need of
a long and complex pipe routing scheme. Embodiments of the invention, for
example,
may be positioned away from the foundation near the water lines connected to a
kitchen
sink of a dwelling. Mounting a faucet in such away saves piping and
facilitates
construction. This mounting location also allows enhanced access to the
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outside faucet since individuals do not have to bend over as much to access
the sill
cock. Associating the mounting sleeve with existing pipes also has the
advantage of
allowing a homeowner to more quickly identify leak and freeze issues since the
penetration and pipes associated with the outdoor faucet are located in high
traffic and
often used area of a dwelling. The location and pipe lengths contemplated also
facilitate repair operations. Further, due to its proximity to an interior
faucet, the
mounting sleeves of embodiments of the present invention may be adapted to
accommodate at least two pipes, one for hot water and one for cold, for
example.
Upon review of the figures provided herein one of skill in the art will
appreciate that
the mounting brackets employed can be sized to accommodate more than one
mounting sleeve and/or a mounting sleeve that is interfaced to more than one
fluid
pipe.
The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed
as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention.
The
present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of
the
Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of
the
Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is
intended by
either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this
Summary of
the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more
readily
apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with
the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part
of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together
with the
general description of the invention given above and the detailed description
of the
drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a faucet mounting assembly of one
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the faucet mounting assembly of
Fig. 1 interconnected to a wall;
Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of a faucet assembly positioned in the
faucet
mounting assembly of one embodiment of the present invention;
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Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of a faucet assembly secured by a faucet
mounting assembly positioned adjacent to an exterior building surface;
Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of a faucet assembly secured by a faucet
mounting assembly positioned adjacent to an exterior building surface;
Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a faucet assembly secured by a faucet
mounting assembly positioned adjacent to an exterior building surface;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting sleeve of one embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is front elevation view of Fig. 7;
Fig. 10 is a left elevation view of Fig. 9 showing a flange of the mounting
sleeve;
Fig. 11 is a right elevation view of Fig. 9;
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 10;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a bottom bracket of one embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 16 is a front elevation view of the bottom bracket shown in Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom bracket shown Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a top bracket of one embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 19 is a front elevation view of the top bracket shown in Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is a top plan view of Fig. 19;
Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a tube rest employed by some embodiments of
the present invention;
Fig. 23 is a front elevation view of Fig. 22;
Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a faucet mounting assembly of another
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 25 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention
shown in Fig. 24;
Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a faucet mounting assembly of another
embodiment of the present invention;
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Fig. 27 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a faucet mounting
assembly similar to that shown in Fig. 26;
Fig. 28 is a perspective view of a faucet mounting assembly of another
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a mounting sleeve;
Fig. 30 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present
invention wherein a generally rectangular mounting sleeve is employed;
Fig. 31 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention
shown in Fig. 30;
Fig. 32 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the faucet
mounting assembly similar to that shown in Fig. 30; and
Fig. 33 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the faucet
mounting assembly similar that shown in Fig. 30.
To assist in the understanding of the present invention the following list of
components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:
# Components
2 Faucet mounting assembly
6 Mounting sleeve
Bottom bracket
14 Top bracket
18 Faucet
22 Tube
26 Tube rest
32 Mortar
30 Wall
34 Fastener
38 Exterior building material
42 Sleeve flange
46 Faucet flange
50 Groove
54 Front opening
58 Aperture
62 Offset indicator
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66 Slot
70 Orientation arrow
74 Boss
78 Mounting sleeve rest
82 Tongue
86 Aperture
94 Alignment mark
98 Channel
102 Aperture
106 Protrusion
110 Tube resting surface
114 Bracket
118 Plate
122 Pin
126 Tab
130 Slot
134 Dimple
138 Pin
142 Stud
146 Spine
150 Threads
154 Hook
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, but
that
relative dimensions can be nevertheless be determined thereby. In certain
instances, details
that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render
other details
difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of
course, that the
invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to Figs. 1-33, a faucet mounting assembly 2 of one embodiment of
the present invention is provided that includes a mounting sleeve 6 that is
selectively
interconnected to a bottom bracket 10. The mounting sleeve 6 is held in
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place relative to the bottom bracket 10 by a top bracket 14. In operation, a
faucet 18
and associated tube 22 are designed to interface with the mounting sleeve 6,
thereby
securing the faucet 18 to a dwelling. A tube rest 26 is interconnected to a
rear
portion of the mounting sleeve 6 that supports and angles the tube 22 such
that
drainage is facilitated which prevents freezing. Embodiments of the present
invention
are designed to interconnect to an interior wall 30 of a building via a
plurality of
fasteners 34, thus creating a stable interconnection between the faucet
assembly (i.e.,
the faucet 18 and tube 22) over the interconnection schemes employed by the
prior
art. In operation, the bottom bracket 10 is interconnected to the wall 30 and
mounting
sleeve 6 is selectively positioned relative thereto to accommodate variations
of an
exterior building surface 38. Once a desirable length is achieved, the top
bracket 14 is
associated with the bottom bracket 10 to fix the mounting sleeve 6 in place.
As
will be shown and/or described, the mounting sleeve 6 may be of multiple
pieces that
are interference fit together or the mounting sleeve may possess a combination
of
grooves, threads and/or interference fits to provide a robust scheme of
selective
offsets to accommodate any type of building surface. Further, the sleeve may
be
easily shortened by sawing or the inclusion of break-away points, for example,
that
allow selective reduction in length.
Referring now to Fig. 1, the faucet mounting assembly 2 of one embodiment
of the present invention is provided. Here, the mounting sleeve 6 is
substantially
cylindrical and is positioned between the bottom bracket 10 and the top
bracket 14.
The bottom bracket 10 is designed to support the mounting sleeve 6 and the top
bracket 14 is designed to maintain the mounting sleeve 6 in a fixed location
relative to
the bottom bracket 10. A front surface of the mounting sleeve 6 includes a
sleeve
flange 42 that is adapted to receive and secure a faucet flange. The sleeve
flange 42
may be selectively interconnected to said mounting sleeve 6.
Referring now to Figs. 2-6, the faucet mounting assembly 2 of embodiments
of the present invention are shown interconnected to a wall 30 of the
dwelling. Here,
the wall 30, be it wood or concrete, is drilled through to accommodate the
mounting
sleeve 6. The mounting sleeve 6 is then inserted through the hole provided
through
the wall 30. The bottom bracket 10 is then brought up to provide support to
the
mounting sleeve 6 and to provide a location for the interconnection of a top
bracket
14. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the bottom bracket 10 may be
installed
prior to installation of the mounting sleeve 6. Further, the bottom bracket 10
may be
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interconnected to the wall 30 prior to drilling therethrough to function as a
hole
location device. The top bracket 14 of embodiments of the present invention is
then
slid onto the bottom bracket 10 and both brackets are secured to the wall 30.
One of
skill in the art will appreciate that the mounting sleeve may be secured
within a
bracket positioned therearound wherein the mounting sleeve is held in place by
a bar
that is associated with the bracket and that engages the mounting sleeve.
Prior to adding exterior surface materials 20 to a building (or after), the
faucet
18 is interconnected to the sleeve flange 42 and the tube 22 is inserted into
the
mounting sleeve 6. Embodiments of the present invention reduce the chance of
the
faucet 18 being installed upside down since the sleeve flange 42 of the
mounting
sleeve 6 includes features that match the faucet flange 46. The mounting
sleeve 6, top
bracket 14 and bottom bracket 10 may include indicia as well to insure the
correct
installation of the mounting sleeve.
The tube rest 26 is selectively interconnected to the rear end of the mounting
sleeve 6. The tube rest 26 provides the proper offset from a center axis of
the
mounting sleeve 6 such that the tube 22 preferably positioned at an angle a,
which
will be shown succinctly below in Fig. 6. The angle of the tube 22 allows for
water
therein to drain from the faucet 18, thereby reducing the chances of freeze
damage.
Tube rests 26 of other embodiments of the present invention may be integral to
the
mounting sleeve 6.
With specific reference to Figs. 4-6, the bottom bracket 10 may be directly
interconnected to the wall 30. As shown herein, a plurality of external
building
surfaces 38, such as bricks, are positioned about the exterior surface of the
mounting
sleeve 6. These figures illustrate the above-mentioned aspect of the invention
wherein the mounting sleeve 6 may be positioned relative to the bottom bracket
10,
and wall 30, to accommodate such irregular building surfaces 38. After the top
bracket 14 is installed, which locks the mounting sleeve 6 in place, mortar 32
or other
finishing materials may be placed in the gap between the mounting sleeve 6 and
the
exterior building surface 38 to provide an aesthetically pleasing look.
Although the
mounting sleeve 6 has been shown thus far as cylindrical, one skilled in the
art will
appreciate that it may be prismatic with a square or rectangular profile. This
profile
may better suit applications wherein brick is employed, for example, wherein
brick
and/or mortar may be directly interconnected to the mounting sleeve 6. The
mounting
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sleeve 6 may be made as large as a brick and may be any size to accommodate
any
building surface 38 or faucet 18 configuration.
Referring now specifically to Fig. 6, a cross-sectional view of the faucet
mounting assembly 2 is shown. Here, it is succinctly shown how the top bracket
14
and bottom bracket 10 are interconnected to the interior wall 30 of a
dwelling, thereby
providing increased rigidity. As mentioned above, the prior art
interconnection
schemes would simply interconnect the faucet flange 46 directly to the
exterior
surface 38, such as mortar, which is a less than ideal interconnection
material. It is
also shown in Fig. 6 that the tube rest 26 supports the tube 22 such that an
angle a is
provided that allows for water trapped within the tube 22 to drain from the
faucet 18
after water is shut off. Although shown herein, a brick exterior building
material 38
is shown, one skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the
present
invention are adapted to be used with various types of building components,
such as
stone, mortar, stucco, hay, siding, corrugated steel, etc. That is, the
mounting sleeve 6
is adapted to move relative to the bottom bracket 10 and top bracket 14 and be
selectively locked into place, thereby providing a sufficient offset to
accommodate
any uneven exterior building material 38. After installation is complete, an
installer
may add mortar or other materials between the exterior building surfaces 38
and the
mounting sleeve 6 to provide an aesthetically pleasing visual assembly.
Referring now to Figs. 7-14, a mounting sleeve of one embodiment of the
present invention is shown. The mounting sleeve of one embodiment of the
present
invention is cylindrical wherein a plurality of grooves 50 are positioned on
at least an
upper surface thereof. The grooves 50 are adapted to receive a portion of the
top
bracket, thereby preventing axial motion of the mounting sleeve 6 after
installation.
The faucet and associated tube are threaded through a front opening 54
positioned in
the sleeve flange 42. The mounting sleeve 6 includes at least one aperture 48
that
receive fasteners that interconnect the faucet flange onto the sleeve flange
42 of the
mounting sleeve 6. The mounting sleeve 6 may also include an offset indication
device 62, preferably, embossed or raised numerals or alpha numeric characters
that
allow for an installer to gauge the distance between the sleeve flange 42 and
the top
and bottom brackets. The mounting sleeve 6 also includes a slot 66 positioned
adjacent to its rear end to receive the tube rest.
Referring now specifically to Fig. 10, the sleeve flange 42 of the mounting
sleeve 6 is shown. The sleeve flange 6 is-designed to generally match the
faucet
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flange, thereby reducing incorrect orientations. The sleeve flange 42 may also
include
orientation arrows 70 to ensure that the mounting sleeve 6 is oriented in the
proper
fashion.
Referring now to Figs. 12-14, cross-sectional views of the mounting sleeve 6
are shown. Here, a plurality of bosses 74 are provided that are associated
with the
apertures 58 positioned in the sleeve flange. The bosses 74 may be threaded or
unthreaded and are designed to receive fasteners that interconnect the faucet
flange to
the mounting sleeve 6. The slots 66 are also provided adjacent to the rear end
of the
mounting sleeve 6. The slots 66 are adapted to receive a protrusion of a tube
rest,
which will be explained in further detail below. The mounting sleeve 6 may be
of any
diameter to fit any size tube. In addition, additional internal walls may be
provided to
further support the tube. Alternatively insulation, i.e. expandable foam, may
be added
into the mounting sleeve 6 after the tube is inserted to firmly associate the
tube with
the mounting sleeve 6.
It is contemplated that the mounting sleeve may be made in more than one
piece. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention employ a two-
piece
mounting sleeve 6 that includes one portion that comprises the slot 66 for
receiving
the tube rest. The other portion would accommodate the faucet flange. The
flange
portion that receives the flange faucet may be capable of an angular or axial
adjustment with respect to the portion that is supported by the brackets. The
portions
may be interconnected, via heat welding, threaded interconnection, or
interference fit.
Further, the length of the mounting sleeve 6 is arbitrary and can be
customized for any
application.
Preferably the mounting sleeve 6 of one embodiment of the present invention
is cylindrical and about 6 inches long and about 2.5 inch diameter. The bosses
74
integrated in the mounting sleeve 6 are approximately 1.3 inches deep with a
center
bore of about 1.2 inches deep that have a radius of about 0.15 inches. The
grooves 50
of one embodiment of the present invention are 0.16 inches wide and may
include an
about .5 degree draft, and are equally spaced along the length of at least an
upper
portion of the mounting sleeve 6. Embodiments of the present invention employ
grooves that are about 0.097 inches deep.
Referring now to Figs. 15-17, the bottom bracket 10 of one embodiment of the
present invention is shown. The bottom bracket 10 includes an arcuate (in the
case of
a cylindrical mounting sleeve) mounting sleeve rest 78. The mounting sleeve
rest 78
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surface includes an about 180 degree arc that leads into a pair of inwardly
positioned
tongues 82 that are adapted to receive the top bracket, which will be
described in
further detail below. The bottom bracket 10 also includes a plurality of
apertures 86
for the receipt of fasteners for interconnection to the wall. Further, the
bottom bracket
includes an orientation arrow 70, or other device for indicating the proper
positioning of the bottom bracket 10 during installation. The bottom bracket
10 may
also include at least one alignment mark 94 which helps locate the hole to be
drilled in
the wall.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom bracket 10 is about
3.8 inches high and 3.8 inches wide. The apertures 86 possess an about 0.180
diameter for receiving a fastener. The apertures 86 are spaced about 3.3
inches in the
horizontal direction and about 3.3 inches in the vertical direction. The
mounting
sleeve rest is about 1.26 inches in radius.
Referring now to Figs. 18-21 the top bracket 14 of embodiments of the present
invention is shown that includes channels 98 that receive the tongues of the
bottom
bracket, thereby locking the top bracket 14 relative thereto. The top bracket
14 also
includes a surface that rests within the grooves of the mounting sleeve,
thereby
preventing the relative motion of the mounting sleeve after installation. The
top
bracket 14 also includes at least one aperture 102 for the receipt of a
fastener that
interconnects the top bracket 14 to the wall.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the top bracket is about 1.9
inches high and 2.75 inches wide. The surface that receives the groove has the
radius
of about 1.16 inches. The channel, that receives the tongue of the bottom
bracket is
about 0.7 inches wide.
Referring now to Figs. 22 and 23, the tube rest 26 of one embodiment of the
present invention is shown that includes a plurality of protrusions 106 that
fit into the
slots located in the mounting sleeve. To alter the angle a of the installed
tube, the
protrusions 106 and/or slots can be selectively increased or decreased in
thickness ((3).
For example, the greater the thickness (0) of the protrusion, the greater the
tilt of the
installed tube. Another protrusion may be positioned on the bottom portion of
the
tube rest 26 to provide alignment that maintains the tube rest 26 in an
interconnective
relationship with the mounting sleeve. The tube rest 26 includes a resting
surface 110
that may be widened to enhance support of the installed tube.
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Referring now to Figs. 24 and 25, yet another embodiment of the present
invention is shown that employs a mounting sleeve 6 similar to that described
above.
The bracket 114, however, is of a one-piece design that employs a plate 118.
The
plate 118 is selectively interconnected to the bracket 114 to secure the
mounting
sleeve 6. The plate 118 may include a plurality of pins 122 that interface
with tabs
126 positioned on the bracket.
Referring now to Figs. 26 and 27, another embodiment of the present
invention is shown that employs a mounting sleeve 6 with a longitudinal slot
130.
The slot 130 further includes a plurality of dimples 134 or holes. The bracket
114 of
this embodiment of the present invention includes a selectively adjustable pin
138
that interfaces with a dimple 134 to restrict the movement of the mounting
sleeve 6
relative to the bracket 114. It is contemplated that the pin 138 be spring
loaded,
threaded into the bracket 114, or simply dropped into a dimple 134 to secure
the
mounting sleeve 6. Fig. 27, specifically shows an alternate embodiment of a
bracket
114 that contacts a greater portion of the mounting sleeve 6, thereby
providing
additional stability. This elongated bracket 114 also is adapted for
interconnection to
at least one stud 142.
Referring now to Fig. 28, the bracket shown in Fig. 27 is shown without the
pin. More specifically, this embodiment of the present invention employs a
mounting
sleeve 6 with a longitudinal spine 146. The function of the spine 146 is to
interface
with an inner portion of the bracket 114, thereby preventing rotation of the
mounting
sleeve 6. One skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that the spine 146
does not
need to span the entire length of the mounting sleeve 6 to perform its
designed
function. Upon review of the figure, one skilled in the art will appreciate
that this
version of the mounting sleeve includes no screws thus maybe axially altered.
Referring now to Fig. 29, an alternate embodiment of a mounting sleeve 6 is
shown that employs a threaded outer surface. It is envisioned that the threads
150 will
interface with threads provided on the bracket to allow adjustments of the
mounting
sleeve 6 relative to the bracket. It is also contemplated that this type of
mounting
sleeve 6 may be incorporated with mounting sleeves previously described
wherein the
threaded mounting sleeve provides fine adjustments compared to the gross
adjustments provided by a mounting sleeve with grooves, for example.
Referring now to Figs. 30-32, a mounting sleeve 6 having a generally
rectangular or square cross section is provided. Here, the mounting sleeve 6
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includes a plurality of grooves 50 that interface with a bracket 114 to secure
the
mounting sleeves relative thereto. The tube rests 26 of these embodiments of
the
present invention may include hooks 154 that engage with the outer surface of
the
mounting sleeve 6. The rectangular mounting sleeve is shown associated with a
horizontal/vertical studs 142 of a building wherein the bracket 114 is nailed
directly to
at least one stud 142. The shape of the mounting sleeve 6 also provides
additional
stability such that its engagement with the vertical/horizontal studs 142
prevents
rotation of the mounting sleeve 6.
Referring now to Fig. 33, yet another embodiment of the present invention is
shown that employs a square mounting sleeve 6. Here, the grooves 50 are non-
continuous and interface with the bracket 114. In the embodiments shown, the
bracket 114 snap fits into grooves 50 to secure the mounting sleeve 6. The
bracket
114 employs a plurality of apertures for the receipt of nails or wood screws
to
interconnect to the studs of a building, for example.
Referring now to Figs. 1-23, the mounting sleeve 6 of one embodiment of the
present invention is interconnected to a dwelling, or other structure, in the
following
manner. Initially, faucet location are identified from inside the dwelling and
a level
line is drawn. A 2 9/16 inch hole is drilled such that its center coincides
with the level
line previously drawn. The bottom bracket 10 is then aligned to the hole such
that the
mounting sleeve rest 78 coincides with the bottom lip of the hole. Alignment
marks
94 on the bottom bracket 10 are also aligned with the previously drawn level
line.
Once all is in alignment, fasteners 34 are used to interconnect the bottom
bracket 10
to the well 30 of the dwelling. The mounting sleeve 6 is then inserted through
the
hole and maintained on the bottom bracket 10. Next, the approximate offset
needed
to compensate for the exterior surface 38 is estimated and the offset is noted
from the
offset indicator 62 provided on the mounting sleeve 6. Preferably, the
mounting
sleeve 6 should be near flush with the exterior finished surface 38. Once the
desired
offset is maintained, the top bracket 14 is slid onto the bottom bracket 10
wherein the
bottom bracket 10 is also positioned within a groove 50 of the mounting sleeve
6 to
hold the mounting sleeve 6 in place. At least one fastener 34 is then used to
secure
the top bracket 14 to the wall 30. Next, a,finishing material or veneer 32 is
added
around the mounting sleeve 6, thereby blending it in with the exterior surface
38.
Finally, the faucet assembly is then interconnected to the mounting sleeve 6
wherein
the faucet flange 46 is fastened with screws to the mounting sleeve 6. This
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CA 02636578 2011-02-23
installation step also positions the tube 22 on the tube rest 26 to ensure a
proper drain angle
a of about 3 degrees. The final step is to interconnect the water supply to
the tube 22.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in
detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments
will occur to
those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such
modifications
and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as
set forth in the
following claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will appreciate that
aspects of other
inventions may be incorporated and are added in combination to the embodiments
of the
present invention disclosed herein. For example, aspects of the inventions
disclosed in,
for example, U. S. Patent Nos. 6,142,172 and 6,431,204, which concern wall
faucets, may
be incorporated into embodiments of the present invention.
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