Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
SNAP-ON FAUCET HANDLE
Background and Summary of the Disclosure
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a faucet and, more
particularly, to a
device for coupling a handle to a stem of a faucet valve cartridge.
[0002] The present disclosure allows a handle to be coupled to and
uncoupled from a
faucet valve cartridge by snapping it on and off a valve stem. Typical faucet
handles use
threaded fasteners (e.g., set screws) to couple to a valve stem. The handle
assembly of the
present disclosure allows for less assembly time, and a reduction of scrap due
to fastener cross-
threading often resulting from the use of conventional threaded fasteners. It
also allows for a
lower profile handle by providing for a potential attachment point below the
top of an associated
bonnet cap.
[0003] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure,
a handle
assembly for a faucet includes a handle having a handle body, and a receiver
defined by the
handle body. The receiver includes at least one vertically tapered side wall
defining a receiving
chamber. A slot extends through the tapered side wall into the receiving
chamber. A wire form
retainer is coupled around the receiver and is at least partially disposed
within the slot for
extending into the receiving chamber. A tapered valve stem includes a
retaining recess. The
tapered valve stem is received within the receiving chamber of the receiver so
that at least a
portion of the wire form retainer extends through the slot of the receiver and
is received within
the retaining recess of the tapered valve stem.
[0004] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a faucet
includes a handle having a handle body, and a receiver having a receiving
chamber defined by
the handle body and a slot extending through the handle body into the
receiving chamber. A
wire form retainer is coupled around the receiver and is at least partially
disposed within the slot
for extending into the receiving chamber. A valve cartridge is supported by a
valve body and
includes a valve stem having a retaining recess. A bonnet nut is threadably
coupled to the valve
body, and a bonnet cap cooperates with the bonnet nut. The valve stem is
received within the
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
2
receiving chamber of the receiver so that the wire form retainer is received
within the retaining
recess of the valve stem.
[0005] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a handle
assembly for a faucet includes a handle, and the handle includes a handle body
and a receiver
defined by the handle body. The receiver includes at least one vertically
tapered side wall that
defines a receiving chamber, a slot that extends through the tapered side wall
into the receiving
chamber, and a wire form retainer that is carried by the receiver and is at
least partially disposed
within the slot for extending into the receiving chamber. The handle assembly
further includes a
tapered valve stem that has a retaining recess. The tapered valve stem is
received within the
receiving chamber of the receiver so that at least a portion of the wire form
retainer is received
within the retaining recess of the tapered valve stem.
[0006] According to yet another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a
handle assembly for a faucet includes a handle, and the handle includes a
handle body and a
receiver defined by the handle body and including a receiving chamber. A wire
form retainer is
carried by the receiver, and the wire form retainer has a U-shape including a
first arm, a second
arm, and a connecting portion coupling the first arm and the second arm. The
handle assembly
further includes a valve stem having a first retaining recess and a second
retaining recess. The
valve stem is received within the receiving chamber of the receiver so that
the first arm of the
wire form retainer is received within the first retaining recess of the valve
stem and the second
arm of the wire form retainer is received within the second retaining recess
of the valve stem.
[0007] 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
illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the
invention as presently
perceived.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008] The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to
the accompanying
figures in which:
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
3
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative faucet of the
present disclosure,
shown supported by a sink deck;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illustrative faucet of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the illustrative
faucet handle
assembly of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 5A is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4,
showing the faucet
handle assembly in a first assembly step;
[0014] FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4,
showing the faucet
handle assembly in a second assembly step;
[0015] FIG. 5C is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4,
showing the faucet
handle assembly in a third assembly step;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of the illustrative
faucet handle
assembly of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view of another
illustrative faucet handle
assembly of the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the faucet taken along
line 8-8 of FIG.
7;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view of the illustrative
faucet handle
assembly of FIG. 7;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a valve stem of the
faucet of FIG. 7;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a handle of the faucet of
FIG. 7;
[0022] FIG. 12A is a detailed cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8,
showing the faucet
handle assembly in a first assembly step;
[0023] FIG. 12B is a detailed cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8,
showing the faucet
handle assembly in a second assembly step; and
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
4
[0024] FIG. 12C is a detailed cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8,
showing the faucet
handle assembly in a third assembly step.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0025] 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 fluids may be used.
[0026] Referring initially to FIG. 1, an illustrative faucet 10 is shown
coupled to a
mounting deck 12, such as a sink deck for dispensing water into a sink basin
14. The faucet 10
illustratively includes a faucet body 16 including a hub or valve body 18 and
a delivery spout 20.
Illustratively, a valve cartridge 22 is supported within the valve body 18 and
is fluidly coupled to
hot and cold water supplies 24 and 26 (e.g., conventional water stops) via hot
and cold water
supply lines 28 and 30 (e.g., flexible tubes).
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the faucet 10 illustratively includes
a handle assembly
32 operably coupled to the valve cartridge 22. Operation of handle assembly 32
controls the
valve cartridge 22 and, hence, water flow from the conduits 28 and 30 to the
water outlet 34.
More particularly, the valve cartridge 22 may be of conventional design for
controlling the flow
rate and the temperature (i.e., mixture of water from the hot and cold water
conduits 28 and 30)
of water dispensed from the water outlet 34. The illustrative valve cartridge
22 includes a valve
stem 38 configured to move a valve member (e.g., a valve plate or disc) (not
shown) for
controlling water flow rate and water temperature in a known manner.
[0028] The handle assembly 32 illustratively includes a handle 40
operably coupled to
the valve stem 38 of the valve cartridge 22, a coupler 42 (e.g., a bonnet nut)
securing the valve
cartridge 22 to the valve body 18, and a bonnet cap 44 operably coupled to the
bonnet nut 42 and
received within a lower opening 46 of the handle 40. According to the
illustrative embodiment
of FIG. 2, the illustrative handle 40 includes a handle body 48 having a base
50 and a user
interface 52. While the user interface 52 illustratively comprises a lever,
the user interface 52
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
5
may comprise other components such as knobs. The handle 40 is operably
moveable in both
vertical and horizontal directions. More particularly, the handle 40 is
configured to pivot about
orthogonal axes to control water flow rate and temperature. More particularly,
the handle 40
controls flow rate when rotated about a horizontal axis 54 and controls water
temperature when
rotated about a vertical axis 56 (FIG. 6). Alternatively, handle 40 could be
operably moveable in
other directions relative to the faucet body 48 to control water flow rate
and/or temperature.
[0029] In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, the lever 52 and the
base 50 of the
handle 40 are rigidly coupled and immovable relative to each other. For
example, the handle
body 48 may be machined from a metal or molded from a polymer and subsequently
plated.
Alternatively, the lever 52 and the base 50 may be movable relative to each
other.
[0030] The bonnet cap 44 is coupled to the faucet body 16, and is
received within the
lower opening 46 of the handle 40. More particularly, the bonnet cap 44
illustratively includes a
semi-spherical outer wall 58 and a frusto-conical inner wall 66 concentrically
positioned within
the outer wall 58. More particularly, a lower end of the outer wall 58
includes an annular lip 62
received within an annular protrusion or ring 64 of the faucet body 16. An
inwardly facing
surface 66 of the inner wall 60 engages with a retainer 68 supported by the
bonnet nut 42. The
retainer 68 illustratively comprises an annular clip formed of a resilient
material, such as a
polymer.
[0031] As noted above, the valve body 18 is coupled to the bonnet cap 44
via coupler or
bonnet nut 42. The coupler 42 could be attached to the valve body 18 and the
bonnet cap 44 via
welds, adhesive, threads, or any other form of coupling. However, in the
present embodiment,
the bonnet nut 42 includes external threads 67 engaging with internal threads
69 of the valve
body 18, and frictionally engages the bonnet cap 44.
[0032] The handle 40 and the bonnet cap 44 may be constructed from any
number of
materials including but not limited to metals and plastics. Additionally,
different parts of the
faucet 10 could be made from differing material, or the whole faucet 10 may be
made from the
same material.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a partial horizontal cross-section of the handle
assembly 32 and the
valve body 18 receiving the valve cartridge 22. As illustrated, the handle
assembly 32 includes
the valve cartridge 22, the handle 40, the valve body 18, the coupler 42, and
the bonnet cap 44.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
6
The handle body 48 further includes a receiver 70 positioned inwardly from the
base 50. A slot
72 extends within the receiver 70 and receives a portion of a wire form
retainer 74. The wire
form retainer 74 may be comprised of metal or plastic and may be circular, or
another shape with
resilient properties.
[0034] In the illustrative embodiment, the wire form retainer 74 includes
opposing arms
76a and 76b having first or open ends separated by an opening or gap 78.
Second or closed ends
of the opposing arms 76a and 76b are coupled together by an inwardly extending
connecting
portion 80.
[0035] With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the receiver 70 of the handle body 48
includes at
least one vertically tapered side wall 82 defining a receiving chamber 84. In
the illustrative
embodiment, four vertically tapered side walls 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d define the
receiving chamber
84 having a rectangular transverse cross-section. The slot 72 extends through
the tapered side
wall 82a into the receiving chamber 84. The wire form retainer 74 is coupled
around the receiver
70 and is at least partially disposed within the slot 72 and extends into the
receiving chamber 84.
A lower end of the slot 72 is illustratively defined by opposing protrusions
or lips 85a and 85b.
[0036] The valve body 18 receives and supports the valve cartridge 22.
Illustratively, the
valve stem 38 of the valve cartridge 22 is tapered. More particularly, the
valve stem 38 includes
inclined or tapered surfaces 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d cooperating with the side
walls 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d
of the receiver 70. The valve stem 38 illustratively includes a retaining
recess or groove 88
formed within the tapered surface 86a. The retaining groove 88 may take on
different shapes in
different embodiments. However, in the illustrative embodiment, the retaining
groove 88 has a
recessed surface 90 extending between an upper edge 92 and a lower edge 94.
The surface 90 of
the retaining groove 88 is illustratively tapered inwardly from the upper edge
92 to the lower
edge 94. Alternatively, the upper edge 92 could be flat or take on a more
curvilinear shape and
may be angled opposite the taper of the tapered valve stem 38.
[0037] To couple the valve cartridge 22 to the handle 40, the tapered
valve stem 38 is
received within the receiving chamber 84 of the receiver 70 so that at least a
portion of the wire
form retainer 74 extends through the slot 72 of the receiver 70 and is
received within the
retaining groove 88 of the tapered valve stem 38. Additionally, to help limit
unwanted
movement, the surfaces 86 of the tapered valve stem 38 and the tapered side
wall 82 of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
7
receiver 70 have matching taper angles. When assembled, the bonnet cap 44
extends partially
into the handle body 48, and the retaining groove 88 is below an upper edge of
the bonnet cap
44.
[0038] In other words, the handle 40 captures the valve stem 38 between
the tapered
receiving chamber in the handle 40 and a wire form retainer 74 that is
supported by the receiver
70. The location of the wire form retainer 74 can be below the top of the
bonnet cap 44 because
it does not need to be accessed during removal or assembly.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, the wire form retainer 74 is integral
for assembly and
removal of the handle assembly 32. The wire form retainer 74 extends around
the receiver 70
and at one side of the receiver 74 is in the slot 72. The wire form retainer
74 is shaped so that the
connecting portion 80 of the wire form retainer 74 extends through the slot 72
and at least
partially into the receiving chamber 84. FIG. 5A shows an early or first step
of assembly. The
user positions the handle assembly 32 such that the receiving chamber 84 is
aligned with the
tapered valve stem 38 and begins to push down on the handle 40. As depicted in
FIG. 5A, as the
receiving chamber 84 moves down the tapered valve stem 38, the wire form
retainer 74 catches
the tapered side surface 82a of the tapered valve stem 38 and provides
resistance and engages as
the receiving chamber 84 moves down the tapered valve stem 38. This action
provides a biasing
force that pushes the receiver 70 up and away from the tapered valve stem 38.
[0040] FIG. 5B shows a middle or second step of the assembly process. The
wire form
retainer 74 is at its most flexed position immediately before it reaches the
retaining groove 88 of
the tapered valve stem 38. At this point, the wire form retainer 74 is not
providing any axial
retaining force. However, because the connecting portion 80 of the wire form
retainer 74 is at
the peak where the tapered sides 82 of the tapered valve stem 38 meet the
tapered upper edge 92
of the retaining groove 88, any force that the user might put on the receiver
70, up or down,
would result in resilient movement of the wire form retainer 74, thus biasing
the receiver 70 into
a locked and assembled position, or towards separation from the tapered valve
stem 38.
[0041] FIG. 5C shows a final or third step of the assembly process, the
receiver 70 and
the tapered valve stem 38 in an assembled and locked position. Due to the
shape and taper of the
retaining groove 88, the wire form retainer 74 is in a resting position and
axially retains the
receiver 70. More particularly, the tapered shape of the retaining groove 88
holds the wire form
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
8
retainer 74 in place. Furthermore, the retaining groove 88 could have a number
of different
shapes including a flat taper, as depicted in FIGS. 5A-5C, or it could have a
curvilinear taper and
shape.
[0042] In order to reverse the assembly process, and disassemble the
handle assembly 32,
force is applied in an upward direction to move the handle assembly 32 from
the position of FIG.
5C back to the position of FIG. 5B, and then further force is needed to move
the handle assembly
32 from the position of FIG. 5B to the position of FIG. 5A and completely
apart. The shape and
angle of the taper of the retaining groove 88 and, more particularly, the
upper edge 92, changes
the amount of force needed to take apart the handle assembly 32. Similarly,
the angle of the
tapered surface 86a of the tapered valve stem 38 would change the amount of
force needed to
assemble the handle assembly 32.
[0043] In other words, the wire form retainer 74 is snapped into slot 72
of the receiver
70. The receiving chamber 84 is then placed over the valve stem 38. Tapered or
inclined surface
86a of the valve stem 38 pushes the wire form retainer 74 partially out of the
slot 72 to allow the
handle 40 to be inserted. The wire form retainer 74 snaps into the retaining
groove 88 of the
valve stem 38 to hold it in place. The handle 40 can be removed by pulling
with a greater force
than what is required to install the handle 40 and with minimal tools or
skills required.
[0044] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the handle assembly 32 of the
exemplary
embodiment. FIG. 6 shows one illustrative shape of the wire form retainer 74.
As depicted, the
wire form retainer 74 has open portion or gap which allows the resilient
nature of whichever
material is used for the wire form retainer 74 to create a biasing force in
either an assembly
direction or a disassembly direction. Additionally, the wire form retainer 74
has at least one
portion that matches the overall shape and size of the receiver 70. This
provides some friction
which allows the wire form retainer 74 to hold its position relative to the
receiver 70 and hold it
in place. Finally, the wire form retainer 74 has curved or bent connecting
portion 80 that
matches the size of the slot 72 and allows the wire form retainer 74 to extend
through the slot 72,
provide resistance during assembly, and lock the receiver 70 and the tapered
valve stem 38 in
place while assembled. FIG. 6 also depicts one embodiment of the retaining
groove 88 and one
embodiment of the slot 72 in greater detail.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
9
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 7, an exploded view of another illustrative
faucet 110 is
provided. The faucet 110 may be coupled to a sink deck and hot and cold water
supplies via hot
and cold water supply lines, respectively, in a similar manner to the faucet
10. The faucet 110
illustratively includes a faucet body 116 including a hub or valve body 118
and a delivery spout
120. Illustratively, a valve cartridge 122 is supported within the valve body
118 and is fluidly
coupled to the hot and cold water supply lines.
[0046] With continued reference to FIG. 7, the faucet 110 illustratively
includes a handle
assembly 132 operably coupled to the valve cartridge 122. Operation of handle
assembly 132
controls the valve cartridge 122 and, hence, water flow from the supply lines
to the water outlet
134. More particularly, the valve cartridge 122 may be of conventional design
for controlling
the flow rate and the temperature (i.e., mixture of water from the hot and
cold water supply lines)
of water dispensed from the water outlet 134. The illustrative valve cartridge
122 includes a
valve stem 138 configured to move a valve member (e.g., a valve plate or disc)
(not shown) for
controlling water flow rate and water temperature in a known manner.
[0047] The handle assembly 132 illustratively includes a handle 140
operably coupled to
the valve stem 138 of the valve cartridge 122, a coupler 142 (e.g., a bonnet
nut) securing the
valve cartridge 122 to the valve body 118, and a bonnet cap 144 operably
coupled to the bonnet
nut 142 and received within a side opening 146 of the handle 140. According to
the illustrative
embodiment of FIG. 7, the illustrative handle 140 includes a handle body 148
having a base 150
and a user interface 152. While the user interface 152 illustratively
comprises a lever, the user
interface 152 may comprise other components such as knobs. The handle 140 is
operably
moveable in both vertical and horizontal directions. More particularly, the
handle 140 is
configured to pivot about orthogonal axes to control water flow rate and
temperature. More
particularly, the handle 140 controls flow rate when rotated about a first
horizontal axis 154 and
controls water temperature when rotated about a second horizontal axis 156.
Alternatively,
handle 140 could be operably moveable in other directions relative to the
faucet body 148 to
control water flow rate and/or temperature.
[0048] In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 7, the lever 152 and the
base 150 of the
handle 140 are rigidly coupled and immovable relative to each other. For
example, the handle
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
10
body 148 may be machined from a metal or molded from a polymer and
subsequently plated.
Alternatively, the lever 152 and the base 150 may be movable relative to each
other.
[0049] With continued reference to FIG. 7 and additional reference to
FIG. 8, the bonnet
cap 144 is coupled to the faucet body 116, and is received within the lower
opening 146 of the
handle 140. More particularly, the bonnet cap 144 illustratively includes a
semi-spherical outer
wall 158 and a frusto-conical inner wall 160 concentrically positioned within
the outer wall 158.
An inwardly facing surface 166 of the inner wall 160 engages with a retainer
(not shown ¨
similar to the retainer 68 of the faucet 10) supported by the bonnet nut 142.
The retainer
illustratively comprises an annular clip formed of a resilient material, such
as a polymer.
[0050] As noted above, the valve body 118 is coupled to the bonnet cap
144 via coupler
or bonnet nut 142. The coupler 142 could be attached to the valve body 118 and
the bonnet cap
144 via welds, adhesive, threads, or any other form of coupling. However, in
the present
embodiment, the bonnet nut 142 includes external threads 167 engaging with
internal threads
169 of the valve body 118, and frictionally engages the bonnet cap 144.
[0051] The handle 140 and the bonnet cap 144 may be constructed from any
number of
materials including but not limited to metals and plastics. Additionally,
different parts of the
faucet 110 could be made from differing material, or the whole faucet 110 may
be made from the
same material.
[0052] With specific reference to FIG. 8, a partial horizontal cross-
section view of the
handle assembly 132 and the valve body 118 receiving the valve cartridge 122
is provided. As
illustrated, the handle assembly 132 includes the valve cartridge 122, the
handle 140, the valve
body 118, the coupler 142, and the bonnet cap 144. The handle body 148 further
includes a
receiver 170 positioned inwardly from the base 150. The receiver 170
illustratively carries a
wire form retainer 174 for coupling the handle 140 to the valve stem 138.
[0053] With continued reference to FIG. 8 and additional reference to
FIG. 9, the wire
form retainer 174 may be comprised of metal or plastic and may have a general
U-shape, or more
specifically and as illustrated an upside-down U-shape, or another shape with
resilient properties.
In the illustrative embodiment, the wire form retainer 174 includes opposing
arms 176a and 176b
having first or open ends separated by an opening or gap 178 (see FIG. 9). The
first ends of the
arms 176a and 176b may also include outwardly extending protrusions or hands
177a and 177b
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
11
that facilitate coupling the wire form retainer 174 to the receiver 170.
Second or closed ends of
the opposing arms 176a and 176b are illustratively coupled together by a
curved connecting
portion 180.
[0054] With reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the receiver 170 of the
handle body 148
illustratively includes at least one vertically tapered side wall defining a
receiving chamber 184.
In the illustrative embodiment, four vertically tapered side walls 182a, 182b,
182c, 182d define
the receiving chamber 184 having a rectangular transverse cross-section. In
the illustrative
embodiment, the side walls 182a, 182b, 182c, 182d taper inwardly toward each
other as they
extend in a direction toward the base 150 of the handle body 148 (to the right
in FIG. 8). The
receiver 170 includes recesses, illustratively slots 172a and 172b that extend
through the tapered
side walls 182a and 182b, respectively, and into the receiving chamber 184.
The wire form
retainer 174 is coupled around a hub 171 of the receiver 170 (see FIG. 11),
and the arms 176a
and 176b of the wire form retainer 174 are at least partially disposed within
the slots 172a and
172b, respectively, and extend into the receiving chamber 184.
[0055] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the valve body 118 receives and
supports the
valve cartridge 122. Illustratively, the valve stem 138 of the valve cartridge
122 is tapered.
More particularly, the valve stem 138 includes inclined or tapered surfaces
186a, 186b, 186c,
186d cooperating with the side walls 182a, 182b, 182c, 182d of the receiver
170. The valve stem
138 illustratively includes retaining recesses or grooves 188a and 188b formed
within opposing
tapered surfaces 186a and 186b, respectively. The retaining grooves 188a and
188b may take on
different shapes in different embodiments. However, in the illustrative
embodiment, the
retaining grooves 188a and 188b have recessed surfaces 190a and 190b,
respectively, extending
between upper edges 192a and 192b, respectively, and lower edges 194a and
194b, respectively.
Illustratively, the upper edges 192a and 192b and the lower edges 194a and
194b extend between
the tapered surface 186c and the opposite tapered surface 186d.
[0056] To couple the valve cartridge 122 to the handle 140, the tapered
valve stem 138 is
received within the receiving chamber 184 of the receiver 170 and the wire
form retainer 174 is
received within the retaining grooves 188a and 188b of the tapered valve stem
138. More
specifically, the arms 176a and 176b of the wire form retainer 174 are
received with the within
the retaining grooves 188a and 188b, respectively, of the tapered valve stem
138. Additionally,
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
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to help limit unwanted movement, the tapered surfaces 186a, 186b, 186c, and
186d of the
tapered valve stem 138 and the tapered side walls 182a, 182b, 182c, and 186d
of the receiver 170
illustratively have matching taper angles.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 12A-12C, the wire form retainer 174 is integral
for assembly
and removal of the handle assembly 132. The wire form retainer 174 extends
around the hub
171 (shown elsewhere) of the receiver 170 and on two sides of the receiver 170
is disposed in the
slots 172a and 172b. The wire form retainer 174 is shaped so that the arms
176a and 176b
extend through the slots 172a and 172b, respectively, and at least partially
into the receiving
chamber 184. FIG. 12A shows an early or first step of assembly. The user
positions the handle
assembly 132 such that the receiving chamber 184 is aligned with the tapered
valve stem 138 and
begins to push the handle 140 toward the tapered valve stem 138. As depicted
in FIG. 12A, as
the receiving chamber 184 moves down the tapered valve stem 138, the arms 176a
and 176b of
the wire form retainer 174 catch the tapered side surfaces 186a and 186b,
respectively, of the
tapered valve stem 138 and provide resistance and engage as the receiving
chamber 184 moves
along the tapered valve stem 138. This action pushes the arms 176a, 176b
outwardly into the
slots 172a, 172b, respectively and provides a biasing force that pushes the
receiver 170 away
from the tapered valve stem 138.
[0058] FIG. 12B shows a middle or second step of the assembly process.
The wire form
retainer 174 is at its most flexed position immediately before it reaches the
retaining grooves
188a and 188b of the tapered valve stem 138. At this point, the wire form
retainer 174 is not
providing any axial retaining force. However, because the arms 176a and 176b
of the wire form
retainer 174 are at the peaks where the tapered sides 182a and 182b of the
tapered valve stem
138 meet the tapered upper edges 192a and 192b of the retaining groove 188a
and 188b,
respectively, any force that the user might apply to the receiver 170, toward
or away from the
valve stem 138, would result in resilient movement of the wire form retainer
174, thus pushing
the receiver 170 into a locked and assembled position, or towards separation
from the tapered
valve stem 138.
[0059] FIG. 12C shows a final or third step of the assembly process, in
which the
receiver 170 and the tapered valve stem 138 are in an assembled and locked
position. Due to the
shape of the retaining grooves 188a and 188b, the wire form retainer 174 is in
a resting position
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
13
and axially retains the receiver 170. More particularly, the relatively narrow
width of the tapered
valve stem 138 at the retaining grooves 188a and 188b, in contrast to the
relatively large width of
the tapered valve stem 138 at the peaks of the tapered sides 182a and 182b,
holds the wire form
retainer 174 in place.
[0060] In order to reverse the assembly process, and disassemble the
handle assembly
132, force is applied to move the handle assembly 132 from the position of
FIG. 12C back to the
position of FIG. 12B, and then further force is needed to move the handle
assembly 132 from the
position of FIG. 12B to the position of FIG. 12A and completely apart. The
shape and angle of
the retaining grooves 188a and 188b and, more particularly, the upper edges
192a and 192b,
changes the amount of force needed to take apart the handle assembly 132.
Similarly, the angle
of the tapered surfaces 186a and 186b of the tapered valve stem 138 would
change the amount of
force needed to assemble the handle assembly 132.
[0061] In other words, the wire form retainer 174 is snapped into the
slots 172a and 172b
of the receiver 170. The receiving chamber 184 is then placed over the valve
stem 138. Tapered
surfaces 186a and 186b of the valve stem 138 pushes the wire form retainer 174
partially out of
the slots 172a and 172b to allow the handle 140 to be inserted. The wire form
retainer 174 snaps
into the retaining grooves 188a and 188b of the valve stem 138 to hold it in
place. The handle
140 can be removed by pulling with a greater force than what is required to
install the handle 140
and with minimal tools or skills required.
[0062] The handle assembly 132 may be modified in various other manners.
For
example, in some alternative embodiments, the tapered valve stem 138 may be
provided as a
multiple-component structure. More specifically, the valve cartridge 122 may
include a
conventional round stem having, for example, an external spline surface, and
the stem may carry
a tapered adapter having, for example, the tapered surfaces and features
described above. As
another example, the hub 171 can be coupled to the remainder of the receiver
170 via a fastener
(not shown). As another example, the handle assembly 132 may be used for one
or both handles
of a two-handle faucet assembly.
[0063] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference
to certain
preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit
and scope of the
invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-09-29
