Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WATERWAY FOR A SINGLE SUPPLY FAUCET
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100011 The present invention relates generally to plumbing fixtures and,
more
particularly, to a faucet including a waterway adapter.
100021 Single supply faucets typically include a single inlet of water and
a valve
assembly that controls the flow of vvater to a delivery spout. The water inlet
may be a cold water
supply, a reverse osmosis supply, or filtered water supply, for example. At
least one handle or
knob may be provided to adjust the flow rate of water from the valve assembly
to the delivery
spout.
[0003] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure,
a fluid delivery
device is provided including a hub including a generally hollow body portion
having a
longitudinally disposed first open end and a valve portion having a laterally
disposed second
open end. The body portion of the hub is configured to rest atop a surface and
the second open
end of the valve portion is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first
open end of the body
portion. The fluid delivery device further includes a spout coupled to the hub
and a valve
assembly. The valve assembly is removably coupled to the valve portion of the
hub and is in
fluid communication with the spout. The fluid delivery device also includes a
waterway
assembly in fluid communication with the valve assembly. The waterway assembly
includes a
single inlet supply tube and a waterway adapter removably coupled to the body
portion of the
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hub. The waterway adapter perpendicularly couples the single inlet supply tube
to the valve
assembly. The waterway assembly further includes a single outlet supply tube
in fluid
communication with the waterway adapter and the spout.
[0004] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a fluid
delivery device is provided including a hub including a body portion disposed
along a generally
vertical axis and a valve portion disposed along a generally horizontal axis.
The fluid delivery
device further includes a valve assembly positionable in the valve portion of
the hub along the
generally horizontal axis. The fluid delivery device also includes a waterway
adapter fluidly
coupled to the valve assembly and positionable in the body portion of the hub
along the generally
vertical axis. The waterway adapter has a bottom end and a top end opposite
the bottom end.
The bottom end of the waterway adapter defines an inlet for receiving at least
one inlet supply
tube and the top end of the waterway adapter defines an outlet for receiving
an outlet tube.
[0005] According to yet another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a fluid
delivery device is provided including a hub and a valve assembly removably
coupled to the hub.
The valve assembly includes an inlet port and an outlet port. The fluid
delivery device further
includes a waterway adapter coupled to the hub. The waterway adapter defines
at least one inlet
channel in fluid communication with at least one inlet supply tube. The
waterway adapter
further defines at least one outlet channel in fluid communication with at
least one outlet supply
tube. The at least one inlet channel of the waterway adapter is in fluid
communication with the
inlet port of the valve assembly. The at least one outlet channel of the
waterway adapter is in
fluid communication with the outlet port of the valve assembly. The fluid
delivery device further
includes at least one coupler removably coupled to the waterway adapter and
the at least one
inlet supply tube. The at least one coupler supports the at least one inlet
supply tube within the
waterway adapter in the hub and is positioned beneath the waterway adapter.
[0006] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed
description of the
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illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the
invention as presently
perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100071 The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the
accompanying
figures in which:
100081 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment faucet
of the present
disclosure;
100091 Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet of Fig. 1;
100101 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 1, taken
along line 3-3 of Fig.
1;
[0011] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a hub and a valve body of
the faucet of
Fig. 1;
100121 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment
faucet of the
present disclosure;
[0013] Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet of Fig. 5;
[0014] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 5, taken
along line 7-7 of Fig.
5;
[0015] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a hub and a waterway
adapter of the
faucet of Fig. 5;
[0016] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the hub and a valve body
of the faucet
of Fig. 5;
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100171 Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 5, taken
along line 10-10 of
Fig. 5, shown with the waterway adapter inside the hub;
[0018] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 10, shown with
the waterway
adapter removed from the hub;
[0019] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment
single supply
faucet of the present disclosure, the single supply faucet shown mounted to a
sink basin;
100201 Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the faucet of Fig. 12;
[0021] Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet of Fig. 12;
100221 Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 13, taken
along line 1 5-1 5 of
Fig. 13;
[00231 Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a hub and a valve body
of the faucet of
Fig. 14;
[0024] Fig. 17A is a side perspective view of the hub having a side
portion removed to
expose an internal rail;
[0025] Fig. 17B is a rear perspective view of a waterway adapter
configured to fit within
the hub of Fig. I7A;
[00261 Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 12, taken
along line 18-18
of Fig. 12, shown with the waterway adapter removed from the hub and a valve
assembly
coupled to the hub;
[0027] Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 18, shown with
the waterway
adapter inside the hub and the valve assembly coupled to the hub;
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100281 Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 18, shown with
the waterway
adapter inside the hub with the valve assembly removed;
100291 Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 13, taken
along line 21-21 of
Fig. 13, shown with the waterway adapter inside the hub;
100301 Fig. 22 is a bottom perspective view of the waterway adapter of
Fig. 17B,
including a retainer clip;
[0031) Fig. 23 is a bottom perspective view of the waterway adapter and
the retainer clip
of Fig. 22, shown with the retainer clip coupled to the waterway adapter;
(00321 Fig. 24 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment two-
handle faucet of
the present disclosure;
100331 Fig. 25 is a top plan view of the faucet of Fig. 24;
100341 Fig. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet of Fig. 24;
100351 Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 25, taken
along line 27-27 of
Fig. 25;
100361 Fig. 28 is an exploded perspective view of a hub and a valve body
of the faucet of
Fig. 26;
100371 Fig. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 24, taken
along line 29-29
of Fig. 24, shown with a waterway adapter removed from the hub and opposing
valve assemblies
coupled to the hub;
100381 Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 29, shown with
the waterway
adapter inside the hub and opposing valve assemblies coupled to the hub;
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10039] Fig. 31 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 29, shown with
the waterway
adapter inside the hub with the valve assemblies removed;
[00401 Fig. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet of Fig. 25, taken
along line 32-32 of
Fig. 25;
[0041] Fig. 33 is a bottom perspective view of the waterway adapter of
Fig. 26, including
a retainer clip; and
[0042] Fig. 34 is a bottom perspective view of the waterway adapter and
the retainer clip
of Fig. 33, shown with the retainer clip coupled to the waterway adapter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended
to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the
embodiments selected
for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice
the invention.
Although the disclosure is described in connection with water, it should be
understood that
additional types of fluids may be used.
[0044] Referring to Figures 1-4, an illustrative embodiment faucet 10 is
shown including
spout body 11 (shown in phantom), hub 20, waterway assembly 30, waterway
adapter 60, and
valve assembly 100. In operation, faucet 10 receives water from hot and cold
water supplies (not
shown) and mixes the incoming water to form an outlet stream. Faucet 10 may be
mounted to a
sink deck (not shown) or another suitable surface and may deliver the mixed
outlet stream into a
sink basin (not shown), for example.
[0045] With reference to Figure 2, the illustrative hub 20 of faucet 10 is
a generally
hollow component having a vertically disposed body portion 20a and a
horizontally disposed
valve portion 20b extending transversely therefrom. Body portion 20a of hub 20
includes an
open bottom end 22 that is configured to rest against the sink deck (not
shown) or other suitable
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surface. Body portion 20a of hub 20 also includes top end 24 that is
configured to mate with
spout body 11 (Figure 1). As shown in Figure 2, top end 24 of body portion 20a
includes an
internally threaded bore 26 that may be sized to receive and engage an
externally threaded spout
body 11, for example, thereby securing spout body 11 onto hub 20. Hub 20 may
also define one
or more internally threaded bores 28 for receiving screws 80 therein, as
discussed further below.
Like body portion 20a of hub 20, valve portion 20b of hub 20 also includes an
open end 29. As
shown in Figure 2, open end 22 is longitudinally disposed and open end 29 is
laterally disposed
at a substantially 90 degree angle from open end 22.
[0046] Hub 20 of faucet may be formed of a traditional metallic material,
such as zinc or
brass. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that hub 20 may
be formed of a non-
metallic material, such as a polymer, illustratively a cross-linkable polymer.
Suitable non-
metallic materials that may be used to construct hub 20 include cross-linkable
polyethylene
(PEX). polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyester, melamine, melamine urea,
and melamine
phenolic.
[0047] With continued reference to Figure 2, the illustrative waterway
assembly 30 of
faucet 10 includes hot water inlet tube 12, cold water inlet tube 14, and
outlet tube 16. Hot and
cold water inlet tubes 12, 14, of waterway assembly 30 may bc fluidly coupled
to hot and cold
water supplies (not shown), respectively, for receiving water into faucet 10.
Outlet tube 16 of
waterway assembly 30 may be fluidly coupled to a spout tube (not shown) for
delivering water
from faucet 10. Each tube 12, 14, 16, extends between first end 32 and an
opposing second end
34.
[0048] As shown in Figure 1, first end 32 of each tube 12, 14, 16, extends
freely beneath
hub 20. First ends 32 of hot and cold water inlet tubes 12, 14, may include
conventional fluid
couplings, such as nuts 36, for fluidly coupling hot and cold inlet tubes 12,
14, onto the hot and
cold water supplies, respectively. First end 32 of outlet tube 16 may include
tip 38 for fluidly
coupling outlet tube 16 into spout tube 1 la that extends upwardly through
spout body 11 to
dispense water from faucet 10.
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[0049] As shown in Figure 2, second end 34 of each tube 12, 14, 16, is
received within
hub 20. Second end 34 of each tube 12, 14, 16, may receive a corresponding
connector,
illustratively nipple 42, 44, 46, therein. Each nipple 42, 44, 46, may include
external projections
or barbs 48, as shown in Figure 3, for gripping the corresponding tube 12, 14,
16. Also, each
nipple 42, 44, 46, may define one or more external, annular grooves 49 for
receiving sealing
rings (not shown) therein.
[0050] The illustrative waterway assembly 30 of faucet 10 also includes a
disk-shaped
body or collar 50 that surrounds and supports tubes 12, 14, 16, specifically
second ends 34 of
tubes 12, 14, 16, as shown in Figure 2. In this arrangement, first ends 32 of
tubes 12, 14, 16,
hang freely beneath collar 50 and nipples 42, 44, 46, extend above collar 50.
Collar 50 may
define one or more apertures 52 for receiving screws 80 therethrough, as
discussed further
below.
[0051] To limit contact between the water in faucet 10 and metallic
components,
waterway assembly 30 may be formed of a flexible, non-metallic material, such
as a polymer,
illustratively a cross-linkable polymer. As such, waterway assembly 30 is
illustratively
electrically non-conductive. In one illustrative embodiment, substantially the
entire waterway
assembly 30 (including tubes 12, 14, 16, nipples 42, 44, 46, and collar 50) is
formed of a
polyethylene which is subsequently cross-linked to form cross-linked
polyethylene (PEX). Other
suitable materials that may be used to construct waterway assembly 30 include
polyethylene
(PE) (such as raised temperature resistant polyethylene (PE-RT)),
polypropylene (PP) (such as
polypropylene random (PPR)), and polybutylene (PB). It is further envisioned
that waterway
assembly 30 may be constructed of cross-linked polyvinyl chloride (PVCX) using
silane free
radical initiators, cross-linked polyurethane, or cross-linked propylene
(XLPP) using peroxide or
silane free radical initiators. It is within the scope of the present
disclosure that the polymer
material used to construct waterway assembly 30 may include reinforcing
members, such as
glass fibers.
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[00521 Waterway assembly 30 may be constructed by the method set forth in
International Patent Application Publication No. W02010/099397A1 to Nelson et
al., filed
Febniary 26, 2010, entitled "FAUCET MANIFOLD,". In a first step of the
illustrative method,
nipples 42, 44, 46, are inserted into the corresponding tubes 12, 14, 16, with
barbs 48 engaging
tubes 12, 14, 16, to resist withdrawal of nipples 42, 44, 46, from the
corresponding tubes 12, 14,
16. In a second step of the illustrative method, collar 50 is formed by
overmolding collar 50
around second ends 34 of tubes 12, 14, 16, and nipples 42, 44, 46, located
therein. This
ovennolding step forms a material-to-material bond between collar 50 and tubes
12, 14, 16. In a
third step of the illustrative method, the assembled waterway assembly 30 is
optionally cross-
linked.
[0053] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the illustrative waterway
adapter 60 of faucet
fluidly couples waterway assembly 30 to valve assembly 100. Waterway adapter
60 defines
hot water inlet channel 62, cold water inlet channel 64, and outlet channel
66. In the illustrated
embodiment, channels 62, 64, 66, are bent or L-shaped to couple the vertically
disposed
waterway assembly 30 to the horizontally disposed valve assembly 100. As shown
in Figure 3,
each channel 62, 64, 66, of waterway adapter 60 is sized to receive a
corresponding nipple 42,
44, 46, of waterway assembly 30. Providing seals (not shown) in grooves 49 of
nipples 42, 44,
46, as discussed above, may resist leakage between waterway assembly 30 and
waterway adapter
60.
[0054] To further limit contact between the water in faucet 10 and
metallic components,
waterway adapter 60 may be formed of a non-metallic material, such as a
polymer. In one
illustrative embodiment, waterway adapter 60 is formed of a glass fiber
reinforced polysulfone,
such as Udel GF-110, which is a registered trademark of Solvay Advanced
Polymers of
Alpharetta, Georgia. In another illustrative embodiment, waterway adapter 60
is formed of
polyethylene, which may be subsequently cross-linked to form cross-linked
polyethylene (PEX).
Other suitable materials that may be used to construct waterway adapter 60
include polyethylene
(PE) (such as raised temperature resistant polyethylene (PE-RT)),
polypropylene (PP) (such as
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polypropylene random (PPR)), and polybutylene (P ). It is further envisioned
that waterway
adapter 60 may be constructed of cross-linked polyvinyl chloride (PVCX) using
silane free
radical initiators, cross-linked polyurethane, or cross-linked propylene
(XLPP) using peroxide or
silane free radical initiators. It is within the scope of the present
disclosure that the polymer
material used to construct waterway adapter 60 may include reinforcing
members, such as glass
fibers.
100551 As discussed further below, waterway adapter 60 defines apertures
68 that receive
screws 80 therethrough for coupling waterway adapter 60 to waterway assembly
30 and to hub
20. Also, waterway adapter 60 includes pin holes 70 and externally threaded
rim 72 for coupling
waterway adapter 60 to valve assembly 100.
[0056] As shown in Figure 2, one or more fasteners, such as screws 80, and
mounting
plate 82 are provided to secure waterway assembly 30 and waterway adapter 60
within hub 20.
Like waterway adapter 60 and collar 50 of waterway assembly 30, mounting plate
82 defines
corresponding apertures 84 for receiving screws 80 therethrough. Faucet 10 may
be assembled
by inserting waterway adapter 60 and waterway assembly 30 upwardly into body
portion 20a of
hub 20 through the open first end 22 of hub 20. As shown in Figure 3, waterway
adapter 60 and
waterway assembly 30 are both narrower than the open first end 22 of hub 20 so
that both
components may be inserted upwardly into body portion 20a of hub 20 through
the open first end
22 of hub 20. When assembled, screws 80 extend through apertures 84 in
mounting plate 82,
through apertures 52 in collar 50, through apertures 68 in waterway adapter
60, and into
internally threaded bores 28 of hub 20, thereby securing waterway assembly 30
and waterway
adapter 60 into body portion 20a of hub 20.
100571 Mounting plate 82 also defines central aperture 86 that is sized to
accommodate
spout tube 11 a (Figure 1) that extends upwardly from tip 38 of outlet tube
16, through body
portion 20a of hub 20, and into spout body 11 (Figure 1) mounted atop hub 20
to dispense water
from faucet 10. When assembled, spout tube lla may extend upwardly through
central aperture
86 of mounting plate 82, alongside collar 50 of waterway assembly 30, and
alongside waterway
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adapter 60 until reaching spout body 11 mounted atop hub 20. As shown in
Figure 2, mounting
plate 82 entirely encloses central aperture 86. However, mounting plate 82 may
also be slitted
like mounting plate 82' of Figure 6 to facilitate assembly of mounting plate
82' onto waterway
assembly 30', as discussed further below.
100581 Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the illustrative valve assembly 100
of faucet 10
includes handle 102, bonnet 104, sleeve 106, valve body 108, and seal 110. As
shown in Figure
3, valve assembly 100 is supported by valve portion 20b of hub 20 and is
removably coupled to
waterway adapter 60 located in body portion 20a of hub 20. In this
illustrative embodiment,
valve assembly 100 may be removed from the open end 29 of valve portion 20b of
hub 20 for
cleaning or servicing without having to remove waterway adapter 60 from body
portion 20a of
hub 20.
[0059] Sleeve 106 of the illustrative valve assembly 100 includes an
internally threaded
first end 120 and an externally threaded second end 122. Sleeve 106 also
includes first internal
shoulder 124 and second internal shoulder 126. In the illustrated embodiment
of Figure 3, valve
body 108 is removably coupled to waterway adapter 60 by fitting sleeve 106
over valve body
108 and screwing the internally threaded first end 120 of sleeve 106 onto the
externally threaded
rim 72 of waterway adapter 60. As shown in Figure 3, second shoulder 126 of
sleeve 106 forces
valve body 108 against waterway adapter 60, with first shoulder 124 of sleeve
106 engaging seal
110 to reduce leakage between waterway adapter 60 and sleeve 106. Bonnet 104
may then be
screwed onto the externally threaded second end 122 of sleeve 106 for
receiving handle 102
thereon.
[0060] Valve body 108 of the illustrative valve assembly 100 includes
lower housing 130
having face seal 131 thereon, lower disc 132, upper disc 134, carrier 136,
coupling member 137,
upper housing 138, and stem 140. Illustratively, both upper disc 134 and lower
disc 132 are
constructed of a ceramic material or another suitable material, such as
stainless steel. As shown
in Figure 4, valve body 108 also includes hot water inlet port 142, cold water
inlet port 144, and
outlet port 146. When assembled, hot water inlet port 142 of valve body 108 is
arranged in fluid
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communication with hot water inlet channel 62 of waterway adapter 60, cold
water inlet port 144
of valve body 108 is arranged in fluid communication with cold water inlet
channel 64 of
waterway adapter 60, and outlet port 146 of valve body 108 is arranged in
fluid communication
with outlet channel 66 of waterway adapter 60. Face seal 131 on lower housing
130 of valve
body 108 may seal against waterway adapter 60, as shown in Figure 3, to resist
leakage between
the components.
[0061] One or more first locating elements, illustratively pegs 148 of
Figure 4, extend
from valve body 108 to assist with coupling valve body 108 to waterway adapter
60. As shown
in Figure 4, pegs 148 extend from lower housing 130 of valve body 108 and into
corresponding
pin holes 70 of waterway adapter 60. Positioning each peg 148 of valve body
108 within a
corresponding pin hole 70 of waterway adapter 60 may facilitate proper
orientation of valve
body 108 relative to waterway adapter 60, and as a result, proper orientation
of valve body 108
relative to waterway assembly 30. Thus, positioning each peg 148 of valve body
108 within a
corresponding pin hole 70 of waterway adapter 60 may facilitate proper
orientation of tubes 12,
14, 16, and nipples 42, 44, 46, of waterway assembly 30, channels 62, 64, 66,
of waterway
adapter 60, and ports 142, 144, 146, of valve body 108, respectively. Also,
positioning each peg
148 of valve body 108 within a corresponding pin hole 70 of waterway adapter
60 may improve
resistance to torque generated between hub 20, waterway assembly 30, waterway
adapter 60, and
valve assembly 100.
[0062] Thc illustrative valve assembly 100 may be operated by adjusting
handle 102.
Adjusting handle 102 actuates stem 140 of valve body 108, which transmits
movement of handle
102 to upper disc 134 via carrier 136. As shown in Figure 3, upper disc 134 is
positioned
adjacent to lower disc 132 to control the mixing of hot and cold water and the
flow rate of water
through valve body 108. Therefore, by adjusting handle 102 and moving upper
disc 134 relative
to lower disc 132, a user is able to selectively vary the temperature and flow
rate of water
supplied to outlet port 146 of valve body 108 via hot and cold water inlet
ports 142, 144, of valve
body 108. Because waterway assembly 30 is in fluid communication with valve
body 108 via
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waterway adapter 60, adjusting handle 102 allows a user to selectively vary
the temperature and
flow rate of water supplied to outlet tube 16 of waterway assembly 30 from hot
and cold water
inlet tubes 12, 14, of waterway assembly 30. While the illustrative valve
assembly 100 is of a
movable disc variety, it should be appreciated that other types of valve
assemblies may be
substituted therefor. For example, a ball-type mixing valve assembly may find
equal
applicability with thc present invention.
100631 In use, hot and cold water flows from hot and cold water supplies
(not shown) to
valve assembly 100 of faucet 10. More particularly, hot water flows from the
hot water supply
to hot water inlet port 142 of valve assembly 100 via hot water inlet tube 12
of waterway
assembly 30, hot water inlet nipple 42 of waterway assembly 30, and hot water
inlet channel 62
of waterway adapter 60. Similarly, cold water flows from the cold water supply
to cold water
inlet port 144 of valve assembly 100 via cold water inlet tube 14 of waterway
assembly 30, cold
water inlet nipple 44 of waterway assembly 30, and cold water inlet channel 64
of waterway
adapter 60. Then, the hot and cold inlet water streams are mixed and
redirected in valve
assembly 100. The mixed outlet water stream flows from outlet port 146 of
valve assembly 100,
through outlet channel 66 of waterway adapter 60, through outlet nipple 46 of
waterway
assembly 30, and through outlet tube 16 of waterway assembly 30.
[0064] Referring next to Figures 5-11, another illustrative embodiment
faucet 10' is
shown including spout body 11' (shown in phantom), hub 20', waterway assembly
30', waterway
adapter 60', and valve assembly 100'. Faucet 10' of Figures 5-11 includes
features similar to
those of faucet 10 of Figures 1-4, with like reference numerals indicating
like elements, except as
described below.
[0065] With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the illustrative hub 20' of
faucet l 0' includes a
vertically disposed body portion 20a' and a horizontally disposed valve
portion 20b' extending
transversely therefrom. Body portion 20a' of the illustrative hub 20' has an
internally threaded
and open bottom end 22' that is configured to engage an externally threaded
mounting shank
200'. With bottom end 22' of hub 20' resting atop the sink deck (not shown),
mounting shank
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200' extends beneath the sink deck and may receive a bracket (not shown) for
securing faucet 10'
onto the sink deck. As shown in Figure 7, valve portion 20b' of the
illustrative hub 20' may be
internally threaded, as discussed further below. Like body portion 20a' of hub
20', valve portion
20b' of hub 20' also includes an open end 29'. As shown in Figure 7, open end
22' is
longitudinally disposed and open end 29' is laterally disposed at a
substantially 90 degree angle
from open end 22'.
100661 With continued reference to Figure 6, the illustrative waterway
assembly 30' of
faucet 10' includes a disk-shaped body or collar 50' that surrounds and
supports tubes 12', 14',
16'. Collar 50' may define one or more apertures 52' for receiving screws 80'
therethrough.
Additionally, collar 50' may define a central aperture 54' that is sized to
accommodate spout tube
11a' (Figure 5), as discussed further below.
100671 With reference to Figures 7 and 8, the illustrative waterway
adapter 60' of faucet
10' includes rear protrusion 260' having an upper shoulder 262'. Waterway
adapter 60' may also
include internally threaded bores 264', as discussed further below. As shown
in Figure 7,
waterway adapter 60' is a generally hollow component that defines opening 266'
therethrough.
Opening 266' extends vertically through waterway adapter 60' and is bordered
on one side by
channels 62', 64', 66', and on the opposite side by rear protrusion 260'.
[00681 As shown in Figure 6, one or more fasteners, such as screws 80',
and mounting
plate 82' are provided to secure waterway assembly 30' to waterway adapter
60'. Like collar 50'
of waterway assembly 30', mounting plate 82' defines corresponding apertures
84' for receiving
screws 80' therethrough. When assembled, screws 80' extend through apertures
84' in mounting
plate 82', through apertures 52' in collar 50', and into internally threaded
bores 264' of waterway
adapter 60', thereby securing waterway assembly 30' to waterway adapter 60'.
[0069] Mounting plate 82' also defines central aperture 86' that is sized
to accommodate a
spout tube 11 a' (Figure 5) that extends upwardly from tip 38' of outlet tube
16', through body
portion 20a' of hub 20', and into spout body 11' (Figure 5) mounted atop hub
20' to dispense
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water from faucet 10'. When assembled, spout tube lla' may extend upwardly
through central
aperture 86' of mounting plate 82', through central aperture 54' of collar
50', and through opening
266' in waterway adapter 60' until reaching spout body 11 mounted atop hub
20'.
100701 As shown in Figure 6, mounting plate 82' may be slit along central
aperture 86' to
facilitate assembly of mounting plate 82' onto waterway assembly 30'. In this
embodiment, tubes
12', 14, 16', of waterway assembly 30' may be snapped into the slitted
mounting plate 82'.
Alternatively, it is also within the scope of the present disclosure that
mounting plate 82' may
entirely enclose central aperture 86', like mounting plate 82 of Figure 2,
100711 Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the illustrative valve assembly 100'
of faucet 10'
includes handle 102', bonnet 104', nut 105', sleeve 106', and valve body 108'.
Sleeve 106' of the
illustrative valve assembly 100' includes an externally threaded first end
120' and an internally
threaded second end 122'. Nut 105' of the illustrative valve assembly 100' is
externally threaded
and configured to fit within the internally threaded second end 122' of sleeve
106'.
100721 Referring next to Figures 7-11, hub 20' of the illustrative faucet
10' includes
internal rails 220' that are sized to receive and center rear protrusion 260'
of waterway adapter 60'
therebetween. Each rail 220' of hub 20' includes a downward-facing stop 222'
that is configured
to abut a corresponding upper shoulder 262' of waterway adapter 60'. Faucet
10' may be
assembled by inserting waterway assembly 30' and waterway adapter 60' upwardly
into body
portion 20a' of hub 20' through the open first end 22' of hub 20'. As shown in
Figure 7,
waterway adapter 60' and waterway assembly 30' are both narrower than the open
first end 22' of
hub 20' so that both components may be inserted upwardly into body portion
20a' of hub 20'
through the open first end 22' of hub 20'. When upper shoulder 262' of
waterway adapter 60'
abuts stop 222' of hub 20', as shown in Figure 7, the installer knows that
waterway adapter 60' is
properly positioned within body portion 20a' of hub 20' to align with valve
assembly 100', both
horizontally and vertically. Then, sleeve 106' may be screwed into valve
portion 20b' of hub 20'
such that first end 120' of sleeve 106' forces waterway adapter 60' into
contact with rails 220' of
hub 20', as shown in Figure 10. With sleeve 106' tightened in place, waterway
adapter 60' and
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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waterway assembly 30' coupled thereto may be frictionally retained within hub
20' and may
resist falling through open end 22' of hub 20' under gravitational force.
100731 As shown in Figure 7, valve assembly 100' is supported by valve
portion 20b' of
hub 20' and is removably coupled to waterway adapter 60' located in body
portion 20a' of hub
20'. In this illustrative embodiment, valve assembly 100' may be removed from
the open end 29'
of valve portion 20b' of hub 20' for cleaning or servicing without having to
remove waterway
adapter 60' from body portion 20a' of hub 20'.
100741 Valve body 108' may be removably coupled to waterway adapter 60' by
fitting nut
105' over valve body 108', as shown in Figure 7. In this arrangement, the
externally threaded nut
105' may be screwed into the internally threaded second end 122' of sleeve
106'. Nut 105' may
force valve body 108' tightly against waterway adapter 60'. Bonnet 104' may
then be screwed
onto the externally threaded nut 105' for receiving handle 102' thereon.
100751 Referring to Figs. 12-15, an illustrative embodiment of a single
supply faucet
1010 is shown including a spout body 1011, a hub 1020, a waterway assembly
1030, a waterway
adapter 1060, and a valve assembly 1100. In operation, single supply faucet
1010 receives water
from a water supply (not shown) and forms an outlet stream. The water supply
is not limited to
traditional tap water and may include reverse osmosis water and filtered
water, for example. An
air gap assembly (not shown) may be provided for use with faucet 1010 if the
water supply
includes reverse osmosis water. The air gap assembly may be positioned below
hub 1020 and
may include an escutcheon or mounting cover that couples to hub 1020 and
conceals air gap
tubes, such as those for waste.
100761 Faucet 1010 may be mounted to a sink deck 1001 or another suitable
surface and
may deliver the outlet stream from an outlet tube 1016 positioned within spout
body 1011 into a
sink basin 1005, for example. An aerator (not shown) also may be coupled to
outlet tube 1016 at
a first end 1011a of spout body 1011 to further facilitate the outlet flow of
water. A conventional
seal, illustratively a gasket 1018, may be positioned between hub 1020 and
sink deck 1001 to
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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resist water leakage from faucet 1010. Gasket 101 8 may be comprised of a
polymeric material
or other suitable sealing materials (e.g., cork, metal).
100771 With reference to Figs. 14-15, the illustrative hub 1020 of faucet
1010 includes a
vertically disposed body portion 1020a and a horizontally disposed valve
portion 1020b that
cooperate to define a generally hollow interior of hub 1020. Body portion
1020a extends along a
generally vertical axis Aland valve portion 1020b extends transversely
therefrom along a
generally horizontal axis A2. Body portion 1020a of hub 1020 includes an open
bottom end
1022 that is configured to rest against sink deck 1001 or other suitable
surfaces. Body portion
1020a of hub 1020 also includes an open top end 1024 that is configured to
mate with spout body
1011. Top end 1024 of body portion 1020a may be further configured to engage
with a spout
retainer 1050 that is sized to receive outlet tube 1016 extending from a
second end 1011b of
spout body 1011, thereby securing spout body 1011 and outlet tube 1016 within
hub 1020. Hub
1020 may also define one or more internally threaded bores 1028 (Fig. 21) for
receiving a
plurality of couplers or fasteners, illustratively screws 1080, therein, as
discussed further below.
Like body portion 1020a of hub 1020, valve portion 1020b of hub 1020 also
includes an open
end 1029 (Fig. 17A). Open end 1029 has a threaded surface 1021 (Fig. 17A).
Open ends 1022,
1024 of body portion 1020a are longitudinally disposed, whereas open end 1029
of valve portion
1020b is laterally disposed at a substantially 90 degree angle from open ends
1022, 1024.
[00781 Hub 1020 of faucet 1010 may be formed of a traditional metallic
material, such as
zinc or brass. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that hub
1020 may be formed
of a non-metallic material, such as a polymer, illustratively a cross-linkable
polymer. Suitable
non-metallic materials that may be used to construct hub 1020 include cross-
linkable
polyethylene (PEX), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyester, melamine,
melamine urea, and
melamine phenolic.
[00791 With continued reference to Figs. 14-15, the illustrative waterway
assembly 1030
of faucet 1010 includes an inlet portion 1030a having a single inlet tube 1014
and an outlet
portion 1030b having single outlet tube 1016. As such, faucet 1010 is
configured for use with a
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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single water supply and, therefore, it is necessary to control only the flow,
rather than the flow
and the temperature, of the water through faucet 1010. Water inlet tube 1014
of waterway
assembly 1030 may be fluidly coupled to a water supply (not shown) of cold
water, filtered
water, or reverse osmosis water, for example, in order to receive water into
faucet 1010. Inlet
tube 1014 extends between a first end 1032 and an opposing second end 1034.
First end 1032 of
inlet tube 1014 extends beneath hub 1020 and sink deck 1001 and may include
conventional
fluid couplings, such as nut 1039, for fluidly coupling inlet tube 1014 to the
water supply.
100801 As is shown in Figs. 15 and 22-23, second end 1034 of inlet tube
1014 may
include a shoulder 1040 and a connector, illustratively a nipple 1090,
received within hub 1020.
Shoulder 1040 and nipple 1090 are coupled to inlet tube 1014 and more
particularly, may be
overmolded onto inlet tube 1014. Alternatively, shoulder 1040 and nipple 1090
may include
internal projections or barbs (not shown) for gripping inlet tube 1014. Nipple
1090 may define
one or more external, annular grooves 1092 for receiving one or more sealing
rings 1093 therein.
Illustratively, at least two grooves 1092 are defined on nipple 1090 and one
sealing ring 1093 is
retained within each of annular grooves 1092. Exemplary embodiments of sealing
rings 1093
include o-rings comprised of a polymeric, rubber material. The double sealing
ring feature of
nipple 1090 resists water leakage between waterway adapter 1060 and inlet
portion 1030a of
waterway assembly 1030.
100811 Referring to Figs. 14-15, the illustrative inlet portion 1030a of
waterway assembly
1030 of faucet 1010 is coupled to hub 1020 and sink deck 1001 by a supply
shank 1044 and a
mounting plate 1046. Furthermore, supply shank 1044 and mounting plate 1046
provide
additional stability to faucet 1010 when in use. Supply shank 1044 is
generally cylindrical in
shape, having an opening (not shown) through which inlet tube 1014 is
received. Inlet tube 1014
extends through a top portion 1045 of supply shank 1044 and is received
through a central
opening 1049 of mounting plate 1046, which corresponds to the opening in
supply shank 1044.
Illustratively, mounting plate 1046 entirely encloses central opening 1049,
however, alternative
embodiments of supply shank 1044 and mounting plate 1046 may be slitted to
facilitate
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assembly onto waterway 1030, specifically inlet tube 1014. Mounting plate 1046
has a generally
semi-circular shape and extends radially outward near top portion 1045 of
supply shank 1010.
Mounting plate 1046 includes at least one aperture configured to receive at
least one of screws
1080. Illustratively, mounting plate 1()46 includes two apertures 1048, each
receiving one of
screws 1080 in order to couple supply shank 1044 to hub 1020.
[00821 Referring to Figs. 12-15, outlet tube 1016 of outlet
portion 1030b of waterway
= assembly 1030 is fluidly coupled to waterway adapter 1060 for delivering
water from faucet
1010. Illustratively, outlet portion 1030b is positioned opposite to inlet
portion 1030a of
waterway assembly 1030, such that outlet portion 1030b is substantially 180
from inlet portion
1030a and in axial alignment with inlet portion 1030a along generally vertical
axis A.1. Outlet
tube 1016 may include a first end 1036 fluidly coupled to waterway adapter
1060 and an
opposing second end 1038 positioned near first end 1011a of spout body 1011.
First end 1036 of
outlet tube 1016 may include a connector, illustratively a nipple 1095,
coupled to outlet tube
1016 and more particularly, nipple 1095 may be overmolded onto outlet tube
1016.
Alternatively, nipple 1095 may include internal projections or barbs (not
shown) for gripping
outlet tube 1016. Nipple 1095 may have one or more external, annular grooves
1096 for
receiving sealing rings 1098 therein. Illustratively, at least two grooves
1096 are defined on
nipple 1095 of outlet tube 1016 and one sealing ring 1098 is retained within
each of annular
grooves 1096. As with sealing rings 1093, exemplary embodiments of sealing
rings 1098
include o-rings comprised of a polymeric, rubber material. The double sealing
ring feature of
nipple 1095 resists water leakage between waterway adapter 1060 and outlet
portion 1030b of
waterway assembly 1030. Furthermore, this configuration provides faucet 1010
with stability
and resistance to water pressure when in use.
[0083] Outlet portion 1030b of waterway assembly 1030 may further
include spout
retainer 1050 and a spout clip 1054 for coupling outlet tube 1016 to waterway
adapter 1060.
Spout retainer 1050 may extend within body portion 1020a of hub 1020 from top
end 1024 of
hub 1020 to a top end 1060b of waterway adapter 1060. Spout retainer 1050
includes a lip 1052
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
-20-
positioned intermediate spout body 1011 and top end 1024 of hub 1020. Spout
retainer 1050
receives second end 101 lb of spout body 1011, a portion of outlet tube 1016,
and a portion of
nipple 1095. Spout clip 1054 also assists in coupling outlet tube 1016 with
waterway adapter
1060. More particularly, spout clip 1054 extends around the outer diameter of
outlet tube 1016
and expands beneath spout retainer 1050 to function as a stop that prevents
outlet tube 1016 from
extending further into waterway adapter 1060 and/or out of waterway adapter
1060.
Additionally, spout clip 1054 may abut second end 1011b of spout body 1011 to
further retain
outlet tube 1016 within spout body 1011.
[0084] To limit contact between the water in faucet 1010 and metallic
components,
waterway assembly 1030 may be formed of a flexible, non-metallic material,
such as a polymer,
illustratively a cross-linkable polymer. As such, waterway assembly 1030 is
illustratively
electrically non-conductive. In one illustrative embodiment, substantially the
entire waterway
assembly 1030 (including tubes 1014, 1016, shoulder 1040, nipples 1090, 1095,
for example) is
formed of a polyethylene which is subsequently cross-linked to form cross-
linked polyethylene
(PEX). Other suitable materials that may be used to construct waterway
assembly 1030 include
polyethylene (PE) (such as raised temperature resistant polyethylene (PE-RT)),
polypropylene
(PP) (such as polypropylene random (PPR)), and polybutylene (PB). It is
further envisioned that
waterway assembly 1030 may be constructed of cross-linked polyvinyl chloride
(PVCX) using
silane free radical initiators, cross-linked polyurethane, or cross-linked
propylene (XLPP) using
peroxide or silane free radical initiators. It is within the scope of the
present disclosure that the
polymer material used to construct waterway assembly 1030 may include
reinforcing members,
such as glass fibers.
[0085] Waterway assembly 1030 may be constructed by the method set forth
in
International Patent Application Publication No. W02010/099397A1 to Nelson et
al., filed
February 26, 2010, entitled "FAUCET MANIFOLD,". In a first step of the
illustrative method,
nipples 1090, 1095 may be overmolded onto the corresponding tubes 1014, 1016
such that inlet
tube 1014 has a material-to-material bond with nipple 1090 and shoulder 1040
and outlet tube
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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has a material-to-material bond with nipple 1095. Alternatively, nipples 1090,
1095 may be
inserted into the corresponding tubes 1014, 1016 with barbs (not shown)
engaging tubes 1014,
1()16 to resist withdrawal of nipples 1090, 1095 from the corresponding tubes
1014, 1016. Other
alternative methods include coupling nipples 1090, 1095 to tubes 1014, 1016,
respectively,
through other conventional coupling means (e.g., friction hold). In a second
step of the
illustrative method, the assembled waterway assembly 1030 is optionally cross-
linked.
[0086] With reference to Figs. 14-15 and 21-23, the illustrative waterway
adapter 1060 of
single supply faucet 1010 is configured to be positioned and inserted into hub
1020 along the
generally vertical axis A1 and fluidly couples waterway assembly 1030 to valve
assembly 1100.
Waterway adapter 1060 includes a bottom end 1060a that defines a water inlet
channel 1061 and
the opposing top end 1060b that defines a water outlet channel 1062. In the
illustrative
embodiment, channels 1061, 1062 are L-shaped or bent at a substantially 90
angle to couple the
vertically disposed waterway assembly 1030 to the horizontally disposed valve
assembly 1100.
As shown in Fig. 15, rather than using a threaded connection, inlet channel
1061 of waterway
adapter 1060 is sized to receive nipple 1090 of water inlet tube 1014 through
a friction hold in
order to maximize the water passageway. Sealing rings 1093 provided within
grooves 1092 of
nipple 1090, as discussed above, may resist leakage between inlet portion
1030a of waterway
assembly 1030 and bottom end 1060a of waterway adapter 1060. Similarly, rather
than using a
threaded connection, outlet channel 1062 of waterway adapter 1060 is sized to
frictionally
engage with and receive nipple 1095 of outlet tube 1016. Sealing rings 1098
may cooperate with
grooves 1096 to prevent water leakage between outlet portion 1030b of waterway
assembly 1030
and top end 1060b of waterway adapter 1060.
[0087] Top end 1060b of waterway adapter 1060 includes at least one
annular groove
1067 configured to receive a sealing ring 1068. Illustratively, sealing ring
1068 is an o-ring
comprised of polymeric, rubber material; however, sealing ring 1068 could be
any sealing
member capable of cooperating with groove 1067 to resist water leakage between
waterway
adapter 1060 and hub 1020. Top end 1060b of waterway adapter 1060 further
includes a seat
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1069 for receiving spout clip 1054, when clip 1054 is coupled to outlet tube
1016. As such,
spout clip 1054 may be intermediate top end 1060b of waterway adapter 1060 and
second end
1011b of spout body 1011.
100881 Bottom end 1060a of waterway adapter 1060 includes apertures 1064
that receive
screws 1080 therethrough for coupling waterway adapter 1060 to waterway
assembly 1030 and
hub 1020. Apertures 1064 are generally disposed along opposing sides of bottom
end 1060a of
waterway adapter 1060 and correspond to apertures 1048 of mounting plate 1046,
such that
screws 1080 also may be received therethrough.
100891 Referring next to Figs. 17A, 17B, and 21-23, hub 1020 of the
illustrative faucet
1010 includes an internal rail 1026 that is sized to guide a central rear
portion 1086 of waterway
adapter 1060. Central rear portion 1086 is U-shaped and includes an upper
shoulder 1087. Rail
1026 extends vertically within hub 1020 and is configured to slide along
central rear portion
1086 of waterway adapter 1060 during assembly of faucet 1010. Rail 1026
includes a
downward-facing stop 1027 that is configured to abut upper shoulder 1087 of
waterway adapter
1060. In this way, assembly of faucet 1010 may be made easier because waterway
adapter 1060
is self-aligning within hub 1020 due to rail 1026 guiding waterway adapter
1060 when inserted
through open end 1022 of hub 1020. When upper shoulder 1087 of waterway
adapter 1060 abuts
stop 1027 of hub 1020, as shown in Fig. 21, the installer knows that waterway
adapter 1060 is
properly positioned within body portion 1020a of hub 1020 to align with valve
assembly 1100,
both horizontally and vertically.
[0090J To further limit contact between the water in faucet 1010 and
metallic
components, waterway adapter 1060 may be comprised of a non-metallic material,
such as a
polymer, and formed using molding processes (e.g., injection molding,
compression molding).
In one illustrative embodiment, waterway adapter 1060 is formed of a glass
fiber reinforced
polysulfone, such as Udel GF-110, which is a registered trademark of Solvay
Advanced
Polymers of Alpharetta, Georgia. In another illustrative embodiment, waterway
adapter 1060 is
formed of polyethylene, which may be subsequently cross-linked to form cross-
linked
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
polyethylene (PEX). Other suitable materials that may be used to construct
waterway adapter
1 060 include polyethylene (PE) (such as raised temperature resistant
polyethylene (PE-RT)),
polypropylene (PP) (such as polypropylene random (PPR)), and polybutylene
(PB). It is further
envisioned that waterway adapter 1060 may be constructed of cross-linked
polyvinyl chloride
(PVCX) using silane free radical initiators, cross-linked polyurethane, or
cross-linked propylene
(XLPP) using peroxide or silane free radical initiators. It is within the
scope of the present
disclosure that the polymer material used to construct waterway adapter 1060
may include
reinforcing members, such as glass fibers.
[0091] With reference to Figs. 14-15 and 22-23 waterway adapter 1060 may
be coupled
to inlet tube 1014 with a coupler, illustratively a retainer clip 1070.
Retainer clip 1070 may be
positioned substantially around inlet tube 1014 intermediate shoulder 1040 and
mounting plate
1 046 such that shoulder 1040 rests atop retainer clip 1070 in order to couple
inlet tube 1014 to
waterway adapter 1060. As such, retainer clip 1070 prevents inlet tube 1014
from falling out of
waterway adapter 1060 and through supply shank 1044. Retainer clip 1070
includes ears 1074,
tab 1076, and fingers 1072, illustratively, a first finger 1072a and a second
finger 1072b. Each
of ears 1074 include at least one aperture 1078, which corresponds to
apertures 1048 of
mounting plate 1046 and apertures 1064 of waterway adapter 1060, to receive
screws 1080
therethrough. In this way, screws 1080 coupling supply shank 1044, retainer
clip 1070, and
waterway adapter 1060 within hub 1020. Fingers 1072a, 1072b of retainer clip
1070 are
configured to slide along a plurality of tracks 1065, illustratively track
1065a and track 1065b, on
bottom end 1060a of waterway adapter 1060, whereby tab 1076 couples with a
recess 1063 on
waterway adapter 1060. In order to prevent retainer clip 1070 from being
incorrectly coupled to
waterway adapter 1060, finger 1072a corresponds to track 1065a and finger
1072b corresponds
to track 1065b of waterway adapter 1060. Illustratively, both finger 1072b and
track 1065b are
wider than finger 1072a and corresponding track 1065a, such that finger 1072b
is too wide to
slide along track 1065a. Alternatively, finger 1072b may be thicker than
finger 1072a and,
therefore, is also prevented from sliding along track I 065a, such that finger
1072b must only
slide along track 1065b. Furthermore, visual inspection of retainer clip 1070
suggests that tab
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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1076 engages or couples with recess 1063 of waterway adapter 1060, thereby
further preventing
misalignment and incorrect positioning of retainer clip 1070 with respect to
waterway adapter
1060.
100921 Functionally. this reinforced coupling between waterway adapter
1060 and
retainer clip 1070, provided by screws 1080, tab 1076, and fingers 1072
engaged with tracks
1065, is meant to dually couple inlet tube 1014 with waterway adapter 1060.
Without retainer
clip 1070, inlet tube 1014 may fall through supply shank 1044, regardless of
whether or not
screws 1080 are coupled to hub 1020. As such, if screws 1080 do fail, inlet
tube 1014 remains
coupled to waterway adapter 1060 by retainer clip 1070; however, because
screws 1080 may
couple with faucet 1010 from underneath sink deck 1001, if screws 1080 fail,
hub 1020 may no
longer be coupled with sink deck 1001. In this way, retainer clip 1070 resists
leakage from
faucet 1010 if mounting plate 1046 and/or screws 1080 become uncoupled from
hub 1020.
Alternative embodiments of faucet 1010 include additional couplers for
securing faucet 1010 to
sink deck 1001 if screws 1080 are not configured for that purpose.
100931 Referring back to Figs. 14-16, the illustrative valve assembly 1100
of faucet 1010
is positioned along the generally horizontal axis A2 and, as such, is
substantially perpendicular to
body portion 1020a of hub 1020. Valve assembly 1100 includes a handle 1102, a
stem enclosure
1103, a bonnet 1104, a sealing member 1105, a valve body 1106, a retaining
ring 1108, a sleeve
1110, and a washer 1112. Valve assembly 1100 is supported by valve portion
1020b of hub
1020 and is removably coupled to waterway adapter 1060 located within body
portion 1020a of
hub 1020. As such, valve assembly 1100 is generally positioned at a right
angle to inlet supply
tube 1014 and outlet supply tube 1016 when coupled to hub 1020. Exemplary
valve assembly
1100 is a flow control type configured to adjust the flow rate of water
through faucet 1010. It is
unnecessary to adjust the temperature of the water because, illustratively,
inlet tube 1014 is the
only inlet stream of water entering valve assembly 1100. Therefore, valve
assembly 1100 is not
configured to mix multiple water streams and control the temperature of the
outlet stream. In
this illustrative embodiment, valve assembly 1100 is sized for insertion into
open end 1029 of
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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valve portion 1020b of hub 1020 in order to couple with waterway adapter 1060;
however, valve
assembly 1100 also may be removed from the open end 1029 for cleaning or
servicing without
removing waterway adapter 1060 from body portion 1020a of hub 1020. As such,
hub 1020
supports waterway adapter 1060 independently of valve assembly 1100, as is
shown in Figs. 18-
20.
[0094] Valve body 1108 may be of the type further detailed in U.S. Patent
Application
Publication No. US 2011-0094604 A1 to Thomas et al., tiled November 29, 2010,
entitled
"VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A TWO HANDLE FAUCET,". As shown in Fig. 16, valve body
1106 may include a lower housing 1130 and an upper housing 1132. Valve body
1106 also
includes a water inlet port 1134 and a water outlet port 1136. When assembled,
water inlet port
1134 of valve body 1106 is arranged in fluid communication with water inlet
channel 1061 of
waterway adapter 1060 and outlet port 1136 of valve body 1106 is arranged in
fluid
communication with outlet channel 1062 of waterway adapter 1060. Lower housing
1130 of
valve body 1106 may seal against a central front portion 1084 of waterway
adapter 1060 to resist
leakage between the components.
[0095] One or more locating elements, illustratively protrusions 1138,
extend from lower
housing 1130 of valve body 1106 to assist with coupling valve body 1106 to
waterway adapter
1060. Protrusions 1138 mate with one or more corresponding cavities 1139
(Figs. 22-23) of
central front portion 1084 of waterway adapter 1060. Positioning each
protrusion 1138 within a
corresponding cavity 1139 facilitates proper orientation of valve body 1106
relative to waterway
adapter 1060, and as a result, proper orientation of valve body 1106 relative
to waterway
assembly 1030. More particularly, protrusions 1138 of valve body 1106 assist
in proper
orientation of tubes 1014, 1016 and nipples 1090, 1095 of waterway assembly
1030, channels
1061, 1062 of waterway adapter 1060, and ports 1134, 1136 of valve body 1106,
respectively.
Also, the mating of protrusions 1138 and cavities 1139 may improve resistance
to torque
generated between hub 1020, waterway assembly 1030, waterway adapter 1060, and
valve
assembly 1100.
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
[0096] Single supply faucet 1010 may be assembled by inserting waterway
adapter 1060
and inlet portion 1030a, including inlet tube 1014, of waterway assembly 1030
upwardly into
body portion 1020a of hub 1020 through the open bottom end 1022 of hub 1020.
More
particularly, internal rail 1026 and stop 1027 of hub 1020 guide waterway
adapter 1060 into
proper alignment within hub 1020. Retainer clip 1070 couples inlet tube 1014
to waterway
adapter 1060 prior to inserting waterway adapter 1060 into hub 1020. As shown
in Figs. 14-15,
waterway adapter 1060 and inlet portion 1030a of waterway assembly 1030 are
both narrower
than open bottom end 1022 of hub 1020 so that both components may be inserted
upwardly into
body portion 1020a of hub 1020. When assembled, screws 1080 extend through
apertures 1048
in mounting plate 1046, through apertures 1078 of retainer clip 1070, through
apertures 1064 of
waterway adapter 1060, and into internally threaded bores 1028 (Fig. 21) of
hub 1020, thereby
securing inlet portion 1030a of waterway assembly 1030 and waterway adapter
1060 into body
portion 1020a of hub 1020.
[0097] Outlet portion 1030b of waterway assembly 1030 may be assembled by
positioning spout retainer 1050 within top end 1024 of hub 1020 and inserting
outlet tube 1016
through spout retainer 1050 and into top end 1060b of waterway adapter 1060
until spout clip
1054 expands open to lock the components in place. Spout body 1011 may be
assembled with
spout retainer 1050 and top end of 1024 of hub 1020, as is shown in Figs. 14-
15.
[00981 During assembly of valve assembly 1100 with hub 1020, washer 1012
is
configured to be received through open end 1029 of valve portion 1020b of hub
1020 and mate
with central front portion 1084 of waterway adapter 1060. Illustratively,
washer 1112 is a
circular member extending completely around central portion 1084 and may be
positioned within
body portion 1020a of hub 1020 when coupled with waterway adapter 1060. Sleeve
1110 of the
illustrative valve assembly 1100 is positioned adjacent to washer 1112 and is
received around
central front portion 1084, extending between body portion 1020a and valve
portion 1020b of
hub 1020, when coupled with waterway adapter 1060. Sleeve 1110 includes a
first end 1120, a
second end 1122, and a stop surface 1124 positioned therebetween and
protruding radially
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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outward from the perimeter of sleeve 1110. Illustratively, valve body 1106 is
removably coupled
to waterway adapter 1060 by fitting sleeve 1110 over valve body 1106 and
coupling retaining
ring 1108 and bonnet 1104 against sleeve 1110. More, particularly, retaining
ring 1108 slides
over second end 1122 of sleeve 1110 and is positioned adjacent to and in
contact with stop
surface 1124 of sleeve 1110. Retaining ring 1108 includes an externally
threaded end 1108a
which engages with threaded surface 1021 of valve portion 1020b and abuts stop
surface 1124 of
sleeve 1110 to threadedly couple valve assembly 1100 to valve portion 1020b.
Bonnet 1104
further slides over second end 1122 of sleeve 1110 and threadedly couples with
an internally
threaded end 1108b of retaining ring 1108 to force valve body 1106 against
waterway adapter
1060, thereby engaging washer 1112 to reduce leakage between waterway adapter
1060 and
valve portion 1020b. To further reduce leakage from valve portion 1020b of hub
1020, sealing
member 1105 is received over bonnet 1104. Illustratively, a portion of sealing
member 1105 is
positioned between valve portion 1020b and handle 1102. Stem enclosure 1103 is
provided
intermediate upper housing 1132 of valve body 1106 and handle 1102 to receive
a stem 1140,
coupled to valve body 1106, and transmits motion from handle 1102 to stem
1140, and therefore,
to valve body 1106. Handle 1102 may be received over stem enclosure 1103 and
bonnet 1104
and further secured to valve assembly 1100 using conventional couplers or
fasteners,
illustratively, a screw 1126 received within an aperture 1128 of handle 102
(Fig. 15).
100991 When sleeve 1110 is inserted into valve portion 1020b of hub 1020,
sleeve 1110
forces waterway adapter 1060 into contact with rail 1026 of hub 1020, as shown
in Fig. 21. With
sleeve 1110 in place, waterway adapter 1060 and waterway assembly 1030 coupled
thereto may
be frictionally retained within hub 1020 and may resist falling through open
end 1022 of hub
1020 under gravitational force. Additionally, screws 1080 provide further
assurance that
waterway adapter 1060 will remain within hub 1020 if valve assembly 1100 is
removed.
1001001 The illustrative valve assembly 1100 may be operated by adjusting
or moving
handle 1102 relative to hub 1020. Handle 1102 may be moveable about at least
generally
horizontal axis A2. Adjusting handle 1102 actuates stem 1140 and stem
enclosure 1103, both of
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which transmit movement of handle 1102 to valve body 1106. Therefore, by
adjusting handle
1102, a user is able to selectively vary the flow rate of water supplied to
outlet port 1136 of valve
body 1106. Furthermore, because waterway assembly 1030 is in fluid
communication with
valve body 1106 via waterway adapter 1060, adjusting handle 1102 allows a user
to selectively
vary the flow rate of water supplied to outlet channel 1062 of waterway
adapter 1060 and outlet
tube 1016 from water inlet tube 1014 and inlet channel 1061 of waterway
adapter 1060. While
the illustrative valve assembly 1100 is or a movable disc variety, it should
be appreciated that
other types of valve assemblies may be substituted therefor. For example, a
ball-type mixing
valve assembly may find equal applicability with the present invention.
1001011 In use, water flows from the water supply (not shown) to valve
assembly 1100 of
faucet 1010. Water flows vertically along generally vertical axis A1 from the
water supply (e.g.,
cold water, filtered water, reverse osmosis water) via water inlet tube 1014
and nipple 1090 of
waterway assembly 1030 and bends at a right angle after entering water inlet
channel 1061 of
waterway adapter 1060 to follow generally horizontal axis A2 in order to enter
water inlet port
1134 of valve assembly 1100. Then, with the adjustment of handle 1102, the
outlet water stream
flows horizontally from outlet port 1136 of valve assembly 1100, through a
portion outlet
channel 1062 of waterway adapter 1060, and then travels through a generally
right angle bend in
channel 1062 to vertically travel along vertical axis A1 through outlet nipple
1095 and outlet tube
1016 of waterway assembly 1030.
1001021 Referring next to Figs. 24-34, another illustrative embodiment of a
faucet 1010' is
shown including a spout body 1011', a hub 1020', a waterway assembly 1030', a
waterway
adapter 1060', and two valve assemblies, illustratively a cold water valve
assembly 1100b' and a
hot water valve assembly 1100c'. Faucet 1010' of Figs. 24-34 includes features
similar to those
of faucet 1010 of Figs. 12-23, with like reference numerals indicating like
elements, except as
described below.
1001031 Referring to Figs. 24-27, in operation, two-handle faucet 1010'
receives water
from a hot water supply and a cold water supply (not shown) and mixes the
incoming water to
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form an outlet stream. Faucet 1010' may be mounted to a sink deck 1001' or
another suitable
surface and may deliver the outlet stream from an outlet tube 1016' positioned
within spout body
1011' into a sink basin 1005', for example. An aerator (not shown) also may be
coupled to outlet
tube 1016' at a first end 1011a' of spout body 1011' to further facilitate the
outlet flow of water.
A conventional seal, illustratively a gasket 1018', may be positioned between
hub 1020' and sink
deck 1001' to resist water leakage between faucet 1010' and sink deck 1001'.
1001041 The illustrative hub 1020' of faucet 1010' includes a vertically
disposed body
portion 1020a', a first horizontally disposed valve portion 1020b', and an
opposing second
horizontally disposed valve portion 1020c' that cooperate to define a
generally hollow interior of
hub 1020'. Body portion 1020a' extends along a generally vertical axis A1' and
valve portions
1020b', 1020c' extend transversely therefrom along a generally horizontal axis
A21. More
particularly, illustrative valve portions 1020b', 1020c` are positioned along
opposite sides of
body portion 1020a' of hub 1020', with valve portion 1020b` extending a first
direction along
generally horizontal axis A2' and valve portion 1020c' extending in an
opposing second direction
along generally horizontal axis A21. As such, generally vertical axis A1' is
substantially
equidistant from valve portion 1020b' and valve portion 1020c'. Body portion
1020a' of hub
1020' includes an open bottom end 1022' that is configured to rest against
sink deck 1001' or
other suitable surfaces.
1001051 Body portion 1020a' of hub 1020' also includes an open top end
1024' that is
configured to mate with spout body 1011'. Top end 1024' of body portion 1020a'
may be further
configured to engage with a spout retainer 1050' that is sized to receive
outlet tube 1016'
extending from a second end 1011b' of spout body 1011', thereby securing spout
body 1011' and
outlet tube 1016' within hub 1020'. Hub 1020' may also define one or more
internally threaded
bores 1028' (Fig. 32) for receiving a plurality of couplers or fasteners,
illustratively screws 1080',
therein, as discussed further below. Like body portion 1020a' of hub 1020',
each valve portion
10201Y, 1020c' of hub 1020' also includes an open end 1029b', 1029c' (Fig.
31). Each of open
ends 1029b', 1029c' has a threaded surface 10211Y, 1021c', respectively (Fig.
31). Open ends
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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1 022', 1024' of body portion 1020a' are longitudinally disposed, whereas open
ends 1029b',
1 029e' of valve portions 1020b', 1020c', respectively, are laterally disposed
at a substantially 90
degree angle from open ends 1022', 1024'.
1001061 With continued reference to Figs. 26 and 33-34, the illustrative
waterway
assembly 1030' of faucet 1010' includes an inlet portion 1030a', having a cold
water inlet tube
1014' and a hot water inlet tubc 1015', and an outlet portion 1030b' having
single outlet tube
1016'. As such, unlike faucet 1010, faucet 1010' is configured for use with
more than one water
inlet, illustratively hot and cold water inlets, and, therefore, it is
necessary to control both the
flow rate and the temperature of the water through faucet 1010'. Cold water
inlet tube 1014'
extends between a first end 1032' and an opposing second end 1034'. Likewise,
hot water inlet
tube 1015' extends between a first end 1033' and an opposing second end 1035'.
First ends
1 032', 1033' of respective inlet tubes 1014', 1015' extend freely beneath hub
1020' and sink deck
1001' and may include conventional fluid couplings such as nuts 1039' for
fluidly coupling with
a cold water supply and a hot water supply, respectively (not shown). Inlet
tubes 1014', 1015'
extend parallel to each other with generally vertically axis A1' extending
therebetween.
1001071 As is shown in Figs. 26-27 and 33-34, each of second ends 1034',
1035' of
respective inlet tubes 1014', 1015' may include a shoulder 1040' and a
connector, illustratively a
nipple 1090', received within hub 1020'. Shoulders 1040' and nipples 1090' are
coupled to tubes
1014', 1015' and more particularly, may be overmolded onto inlet tubes 1014',
1015'. As with
faucet 1010, there may be alternative means used to couple shoulders 1040' and
nipples 1090'
with inlet tubes 1014', 1015'. Nipples 1090' may define one or more external,
annular grooves
1092' for receiving one or more sealing rings 1093' therein. Illustratively,
at least two grooves
1092' are defined on each nipple 1090' and one sealing ring 1093' is retained
within each of
annular grooves 1092'. The double sealing ring feature of nipples 1090'
resists water leakage
between waterway adapter 1060' and inlet portion 1030a' of waterway assembly
1030'.
[001081 The illustrative inlet portion 1030a' of waterway assembly 1030'
may be mounted
to sink deck 1001' and faucet 1010' using a post 1210' received within a shank
(not shown) and a
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mounting plate 1214'. Post 1210', the shank, and mounting plate 1214' provide
additional
stability to faucet 1010' when in use. Mounting plate 1214' is positioned
underneath sink deck
1001' and post 1210' extends through mounting plate 1214' and into a threaded
receptacle 1250'
hub 1020' (Fig. 32). As with mounting, plate 1214', the shank may be
positioned underneath sink
deck 1001' and adjacent to inlet tubes 1014', 1015'. Mounting plate 1214' has
a generally semi-
circular shape and is configured to engage with inlet tubes 1014', 1015' and
the shank. Mounting
plate 1214' may be coupled to the shank and sink deck 1001' using conventional
fasteners.
[00109] Still referring to Figs. 26-27, outlet tube 1016' of outlet portion
1030b' of
waterway assembly 1030' is fluidly coupled to waterway adapter 1060' for
delivering water from
faucet 1010'. Illustratively, outlet portion 1030b' is positioned opposite to
inlet portion 1030a' of
waterway assembly 1030', such that outlet portion 1030b' is substantially 180
from inlet portion
1030a'. However, illustrative outlet tube 1016' is not in axial alignment with
inlet tubes 1014',
1015'. Rather, outlet tube 1016' may be aligned with generally vertical axis
Al', whereas inlet
tubes 1014', 1015' are parallel with vertical axis A1', not co-axial with axis
A1'.
[00110] Outlet portion 1030b', including outlet tube 1016', of faucet 1010'
is illustratively
identical to outlet portion 1030b and outlet tube 1016 of faucet 1010 and, as
such, outlet tube
1016' may include a first end 1036' fluidly coupled to waterway adapter 1060'
and an opposing
second end 1038' positioned near first end 1011b' of spout body 1011' (Fig.
24). As with outlet
portion 1030b of faucet 1010, outlet tube 1016' of outlet portion 1030b'
provides a double
sealing feature to resist water leakage between waterway adapter 1060' and
outlet portion 1030b'
of waterway assembly 1030'. More particularly, at least two grooves 1096' are
defined on a
nipple 1095' that may be overmolded onto illustrative outlet tube 1016' and at
least one sealing
ring 1098' is retained within each of annular grooves 1096'.
[00111] Similar to outlet portion 1030, outlet portion 1030b' of waterway
assembly 1030'
may further include spout retainer 1050' and a spout clip 1054' for coupling
outlet tube 1016' to
waterway adapter 1060'. Spout retainer 1050' may extend within body portion
1020a' of hub
1020' from top end 1024' of hub 1020' to a top end 1060b' of waterway adapter
1060'. Spout
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retainer 1050' includes a lip 1052' positioned intermediate spout body 1011'
and top end 1024' of
hub 1020'. Spout retainer 1050' receives second end 1011b' of spout body
1011', a portion of
outlet tube 1016', and a portion of nipple 1095'. Spout clip 1054' extends
around the outer
diameter of outlet tube 1016' and expands beneath spout retainer 1050' to
function as a stop that
prevents outlet tube 1016' from extending further into waterway adapter 1060'
and/or out of
waterway adapter 1060'.
1001121 With reference to Figs. 27 and 32-34, the illustrative waterway
adapter 1060' of
faucet 1010' is configured to be inserted into hub 1020' along the generally
vertical axis A1' and
fluidly couples waterway assembly 1030' to valve assemblies 1100b', 1100c'.
Waterway adapter
1060' defines apertures 1064' generally disposed along opposing sides of a
bottom end 1060a' of
waterway adapter 1060' to receive screws 1080' therethrough for coupling
waterway adapter
1060' to waterway assembly 1030' and to hub 1020'. Bottom end 1060a' of
waterway adapter
1060' defines a cold water inlet channel 1061b' and a hot water inlet channel
1061c'. Top end
1060b' of waterway adapter 1060' is positioned opposite to bottom end 1060a'
and defines a cold
water outlet channel 1062b' and a hot water outlet channel 1062c'. In the
illustrative
embodiment, inlet channels 1061b`, 1061c' and outlet channels I062b', 1062c'
are L-shaped or
bent at a substantially 900 angle to couple the vertically disposed waterway
assembly 1030' to the
respective horizontally disposed valve assemblies 1100b', 1100c'. More
particularly, inlet
channel 1061b' bends from a substantially vertical disposition to a
substantially horizontal
disposition extending in the first direction of valve portion 1020b'. Inlet
channel 1061c' also
bends from a substantially vertical disposition to a substantially horizontal
disposition extending
in the opposing second direction of valve portion 1020c'. Inlet channel 1061b'
of waterway
adapter 1060' is sized to receive nipple 1090' of cold water inlet tube 1014'.
Similarly, inlet
channel 1061c' is sized to receive nipple 1090' of hot water inlet tube 1015'.
Outlet channels
1062b', 1062c' of waterway adapter 1060' extend in the substantially
horizontal direction of
horizontal axis A2' to meet and converge at a joint 1220' of waterway adapter
1060' to bend in
the substantially vertical direction of vertical axis Ar. Joint 1220'
facilitates mixing the outlet
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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cold and hot water streams directed toward outlet tube 1016'. Joint 1220' is
sized to receive
nipple 1095' of outlet tube 1016'.
[001131 To resist water leakage and couple waterway adapter 1060' to hub
1020', top end
1060b' of waterway adapter 1060' includes at least one annular groove 1067'
configured to
receive a sealing ring 1068' (Fig. 32). Top end 1060b' of waterway adapter
1060' also includes a
seat 1069' =for receiving spout clip 1054', when clip 1054' is coupled to
outlet tube 1016' (Fig.
32). As such, spout clip 1054' may be intermediate top end 1060b' of waterway
adapter 1060'
and second end 10 l lb' of spout body 1011'.
[001141 As is shown in Figs. 26 and 33-34, waterway adapter 1060' may be
further
coupled to inlet portion 1030a' of waterway assembly 1030' with a coupler,
illustratively a
= retainer clip 1070'. Retainer clip 1070' may be positioned below
shoulders 1040' such that
shoulders 1040' rest atop retainer clip 1070' in order to support inlet tubes
1014', 1015' within
waterway adapter 1060'. Retainer clip 1070' includes ears 1074', tab 1076',
and fingers 1072',
illustratively, a first finger 1072a', a second finger 1072b', and a third
finger 1072c'. Each of
ears 1074' includes at least one aperture 1078', which correspond to apertures
1064' of waterway
adapter 1060', to receive screws 1080' therethrough. Fingers 1072a', 1072b',
1072c' of retainer
clip 1070' are configured to slide along a plurality of tracks 1065',
illustratively corresponding
tracks 1065a', 1065b', and 1065c', on bottom end 1060a' of waterway adapter
1060', whereby tab
1076' couples with a recess 1063' of waterway adapter 1060'. As such, in
addition to screws
1080', retainer clip 1070' also is coupled to watcrway adapter 1060' when
fingers 1072a', 1072b',
and 1072c' are received within corresponding tracks 1065a', 1065b', and
1065c', and tab 1076' is
received along recess 1063'. The visual appearance of retainer clip 1070',
specifically tab 1076',
helps to prevent misalignment and incorrect positioning of retainer clip 1070'
because the
structure of tab 1076' suggests that it is configured to cooperate with recess
1063'. Functionally,
screws 1080' retain waterway adapter 1060' within hub 1020' but retainer clip
1070' supports
inlet tubes 1014', 1015' within waterway adapter 1060'. As such, if screws
1080' fail, hub 1020'
may no longer be coupled to sink deck 1001', however, inlet tubes 1014', 1015'
remain coupled
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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to waterway adapter 1060', thereby preventing water leakage from faucet 1010'.
Alternative
embodiments of faucet 1010' may be configured such that screws 1080' do not
couple with sink
deck 1001' and instead, hub 1020' may be coupled to sink deck 1001' with other
fasteners.
[001151 Referring to Figs. 26-28, the illustrative valve assemblies
1100114', 1100cr of faucet
1010' are identical to valve assembly 1100 of faucet 1010. Valve assemblies
1100b1, 1100c' are
positioned along the generally horizontal axis A2' and, as such, are
substantially perpendicular to
body portion 1020a' of hub 1020'. Each valve assembly 1100b', 1100c' includes
a handle 1102',
a stem enclosure 1103', a bonnet 1104', a sealing member 1105', a valve body
1106', a retaining
ring 1108', a sleeve 1110', and a washer 1112'. Valve assembly 1100b' is
supported by valve
portion 1020b' of hub 1020' and valve assembly 1100e' is supported by valve
portion 1020c' of
hub 1020'. Valve assemblies 1100b', 1100c' are removably coupled to waterway
adapter 1060'
located within body portion 1020a' of hub 1020'. Valve assembly 1100b' is
generally positioned
at a right angle to inlet supply tube 1014' and outlet supply tube 1016' when
coupled to hub
1020'. Likewise, valve assembly 1100c' is generally positioned at a right
angle to inlet supply
tube 1015' and outlet supply tube 1016'. More particularly, illustrative
waterway adapter 1060'
includes two substantially identical central portions 1084b', 1084c' (Figs. 33-
34) positioned
adjacent to open ends 1029b', 1029c' (Fig. 31) of valve portions 1020b',
1020c' and are
configured to couple with valve assemblies 1100b', 1100c', respectively. Valve
assemblies
1100b', 1100c' may be removed from respective open ends 1029b', 1029c' for
cleaning or
servicing without removing waterway adapter 1060' from body portion 1020a' of
hub 1020' (Fig.
31). As such, hub 1020' supports waterway adapter 1060' independently of valve
assemblies
1100b', 1100c', as is shown in Figs. 29-31.
[00116] Exemplary valve body 1106' is a flow control type configured to
adjust the flow
rate of water through inlet channels 10611)% 1061c' and outlet channels
1062a', 1062b',
respectively. As such, the incoming hot and cold water streams are not mixed
until each stream
reaches joint 1220' of waterway adapter 1060' and flows toward outlet tube
1016'.
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[00117] As shown in Figs. 27-28, valve body 1106' of each valve assembly
1100W, 1100c'
includes a lower housing 1130' and an upper housing 1132'. Valve body 1106'
also includes a
water inlet port 1134' and a water outlet port 1136'. When assembled, water
inlet port 1114' is
arranged in fluid communication with water inlet channel 1061b' of waterway
adapter 1060' and
outlet port 1136' of valve body 1106' is arranged in fluid communication with
outlet channel
1062b' of waterway adapter 1060'. Lower housing 1130' of valve body 1106' may
seal against
central portion 1084b' of waterway adapter 1060' to resist leakage between the
components
(Figs. 33-34). Likewise, valve body 1106' of valve assembly 1100c' seals with
central front
portion 1084c' to fluidly couple water inlet portion 1134' to inlet channel
1061c' and water outlet
portion 1136' to water outlet channel 1062c'.
[001181 Referring to Figs. 27-28 and 33-34, one or more locating elements,
illustratively
protrusions 1138', extend from lower housing 1130' of valve body 1106' to
assist with coupling
valve body 1106' to waterway adapter 1060'. More particularly, protrusions
1138' extend from
lower housing 1130' of valve body 1106' and mate with one or more
corresponding cavities
1139' of each central portion 1084b', 1084c' of waterway adapter 1060'.
Positioning each
protrusion 1138' of valve body 1106' within a corresponding cavity 1139' of
waterway adapter
1060' facilitates proper orientation of valve body 1106' relative to waterway
adapter 1060', and
as a result, proper orientation of valve body 1106' relative to waterway
assembly 1030'.
Therefore, protrusions 1138' of valve body 1106' assist in proper orientation
of tubes 1014',
1015' and nipples 1090' of waterway assembly 1030', inlet channels 1061b',
1061c' of waterway
adapter 1060', and ports 1134', 1136' of valve body 1106', respectively.
Furthermore, valve
body 1106' is properly oriented to fluidly couple outlet channels 1062b',
1062c' with outlet tube
1016'. Also, the mating of protrusions 1138' and cavities 1139' may improve
resistance to torque
generated between hub 1020', waterway assembly 1030', waterway adapter 1060',
and valve
assembly 1100b'.
[001191 Two-handle faucet 1010' may be assembled by inserting waterway
adapter 1060'
and inlet portion 1030a', including inlet tubes 1014', 1015' of waterway
assembly 1030'
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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upwardly into body portion 1020a' of hub 1020' through the open end 1022' of
hub 1020'.
Retainer clip 1070' couples inlet tubes 1014', 1015' to waterway adapter 1060'
prior to inserting
waterway adapter 1060' into hub 1020'. As shown in Figs. 26-27, waterway
adapter 1060' and
inlet portion 1030a' of waterway assembly 1030' are both narrower than open
end 1022' of hub
1020' so that both components may be inserted upwardly into body portion
1020a' of hub 1020'.
When assembled, screws 1080' extend through apertures 1078' of retainer clip
1070' and
apertures 1064' of waterway adapter 1060', and into internally threaded bores
1028' (Fig. 32) of
hub 1020', thereby securing inlet portion 1030a' of waterway assembly 1030'
and waterway
adapter 1060' into body portion 1020a' of hub 1020'. Hub 1020' may include at
least one internal
rail (not shown) to receive waterway adapter 1060' and align central portions
1084b', 1084c' of
waterway adapter 1060' with valve portions 1020b', 1020c' of hub 1020',
respectively. Outlet
portion 1030b' of waterway assembly 1030' and spout body 1011' may be
assembled in the
manner described above for outlet portion 1030b and spout body 1011 of faucet
1010.
[00120] Valve
assemblies 1100b', 1100e' may be assembled in the same manner as valve
assembly 1100 of faucet 1010. As such, only valve assembly 1100b' will be
described
hereinafter, however, valve assembly 1100c' includes the same features
described herein and
may also be assembled from the same description. During assembly, washer 1112'
of the
illustrative valve assembly 1100b', having a circular shape, is configured to
mate with a central
portion 1084b' of waterway adapter 1060' by sliding over central portion
1084b'. Sleeve 1110'
of the illustrative valve assembly 1100b' is positioned adjacent to washer
1112' and extends
between body portion 1020a' and valve portion 1020b' of hub 1020' when coupled
with
waterway adapter 1060'. Sleeve 1110' includes a first end 1120', a second end
1122', and a stop
surface 1124' positioned therebetween and protruding radially outward from the
perimeter of
sleeve 1110'. Illustratively, valve body 1106' is removably coupled to
waterway adapter 1060'
by fitting sleeve 1110' over valve body 1106' and coupling retaining ring
1108' and bonnet 1104'
against sleeve 1110'. Retaining ring 1108' includes an externally threaded end
1108a' which
engages with threaded surface 1021b' of valve portion 1020b' of hub 1020' and
abuts stop
surface 1124' of sleeve 1110' to secure valve assembly 1100b' to valve portion
1020b'. Bonnet
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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1104' further slides over second end 1122' of sleeve 1110' and threadedly
couples with an
internally threaded end 1108b' of retaining ring 1108' to force valve body
1106' against
waterway adapter 1060', thereby engaging washer 1112' to reduce leakage
between waterway
adapter 1060' and sleeve 1110'. To further reduce leakage from valve portion
1020b' of hub
1020', sealing member 1105' is received over bonnet 1104'. Illustratively, a
portion of sealing
member 1105' is positioned between valve portion 1020b' and handle 1102'. Stem
enclosure
1103' is provided interrnediate upper housing 1132' of valve body 1106' and
handle 1102' to
receive a stern 1140', coupled to valve body 1106', and transmits motion from
handle 1102' to
stem 1140', and therefore, to valve body 1106'. Handle 1102' may be received
over stem
enclosure 1103' and bonnet 1104' and further secured to valve assembly 1100b'
using
conventional couplers or fasteners, illustratively, a screw 1126' received
within an aperture 1128'
of handle 1102'.
[001211 Each valve assembly 1100b', 1100c' may be operated by adjusting or
moving
handle 1102' relative to hub 1020'. Handle 1102' may be moveable about at
least generally
horizontal axis A2'. Adjusting handle 1102' actuates stem 1140' of valve body
1106' and stem
enclosure 1103', both of which transmit movement of handle 1102' to valve body
1106'.
Therefore, by adjusting handle 1102', a user is able to selectively vary the
flow rate of water
supplied to outlet port 1136' of valve body 1106'. With respect to valve
assembly 1100b',
waterway assembly 1030' is in fluid communication with valve body 1106' via
waterway adapter
1060', and therefore, adjusting handle 1102' allows a user to selectively vary
the flow rate of
water supplied to outlet channel 1062b' of waterway adapter 1060' and outlet
tube 1016' from
water inlet tube 1014' and inlet channel 1061b' of waterway adapter 1060'.
Because hot water
valve assembly 1100c' may be simultaneously operated in the same way as valve
body 1100b',
the temperature of the water supplied to outlet tube 1016' is also adjusted.
As with valve
assembly 1100, the illustrative valve assemblies 1100b', 1100c' are of a
movable disc variety.
[00122] In use, cold water flows from the cold water supply (not shown) to
valve
assembly 1100b' of faucet 1010'. Similarly, hot water flows from the hot water
supply (not
CA 02770310 2014-01-13
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shown) to valve assembly 1100c' of faucet 1010'. The cold water stream flows
vertically along
generally vertical axis AI' from the water supply via water inlet tube 1014'
and nipple 1090' of
waterway assembly 1030' and bends at a right angle after entering water inlet
channel 1061b' of
waterway adapter 1060'. The cold water then follows generally horizontal axis
A2' to enter water
inlet port 1134' of valve assembly 1100b'. The cold water stream then flows
from outlet port
1136' of valve assembly 1100b' through outlet channel 1062b' of waterway
adapter 1060' and
then will travel through a generally right angle bend at joint 1220'. Per the
user's selection,
either simultaneously with the cold water or in instead of the cold water, hot
water may
independently flow vertically along generally vertical axis A1' from the water
supply to enter
water inlet tube 1015' and nipple 1090' and bend at a right angle after
entering water inlet
channel 1061c'. The hot water then follows generally horizontal axis A2` to
enter water inlet port
1134' of valve assembly 1100c'. The hot water stream then flows from outlet
portion 1136' of
valve assembly 1100e' through outlet channel 1062c' of waterway adapter 1060'
and then will
travel through a generally right angle bend at joint 1220'. At joint 1220',
the hot and cold water
streams mix to form a single outlet stream which vertically travels along
generally vertical axis
A1' through outlet nipple 1095' and outlet tube 1016' of waterway assembly
1030'.
[00123] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set
forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with the
description as a whole.
