Faucet with offset valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10815650-B2
Application number	US-201815940463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Dec 28, 2015
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A faucet assembly includes a valve housing having a first side defining first and second openings, the second opening configured to receive a valve. The valve housing further includes a second side defining a third opening configured to receive at least one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line therethrough. The assembly further includes a cap configured to cover at least a portion of the third opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A faucet valve assembly, comprising:
a base having an upper end;
a valve housing extending from the base and comprising:
a first side defining a first opening and a second opening; and
an opposing second side defining a third opening;
wherein the first opening is configured to receive the upper end of the base; and
wherein the second opening is configured to receive a valve;

a valve connector received in a portion of the valve housing defining the second opening, the valve connector comprising first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage;
a first fluid inlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the first inlet passage through a first opening in a first side of the valve connector;
a second fluid inlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the second inlet passage through a second opening in the first side of the valve connector, each fluid inlet line defining a first portion and a second portion, the first portion disposed in the base and the second portion disposed in the valve housing; and
a fluid outlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the outlet passage through a third opening in the first side of the valve connector.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the valve is disposed in the second opening and a second portion of the valve extends upwardly beyond the first side of the valve housing, wherein the base defines a passage having a mounting axis; and wherein the valve is configured to rotate about a valve axis substantially parallel to the mounting axis.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
a first portion of each fluid inlet line is disposed in the base and extends in a direction of the mounting axis; and
a second portion of each fluid inlet line extends in a direction that the valve housing extends from the base.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a neck having a bottom portion, which engages the first opening and couples to the upper end of the base, and a top portion, which extends away from the valve housing.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve housing comprises a first portion having a cylindrical shape that defines the first opening and at least a portion of the third opening; and wherein the upper end extends within the first portion.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the valve housing comprises a second portion having a spherical shape that defines the second opening and at least a portion of the third opening.

7. A faucet valve assembly, comprising:
a base having an upper end;
a valve housing extending from the base and comprising:
a first side defining a first opening and a second opening;
an opposing second side defining a third opening; and
a cap configured to cover at least a portion of the third opening;
wherein the first opening is configured to receive the upper end of the base; and
wherein the second opening is configured to receive a valve;

a valve connector received in a portion of the valve housing defining the second opening, the valve connector comprising first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage;
a first fluid inlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the first inlet passage through a first opening in a first side of the valve connector;
a second fluid inlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the second inlet passage through a second opening in the first side of the valve connector; and
a fluid outlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the outlet passage through a third opening in the first side of the valve connector.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the cap defines a fourth opening configured to receive the first fluid inlet line and the second fluid inlet line therethrough.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the upper end of the base is received in the fourth opening.

10. A faucet valve assembly, comprising:
a base having an upper end;
a valve housing extending from the base and comprising:
a first side defining a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is defined about a mounting axis and the second opening is defined about a valve axis parallel to the mounting axis;
an opposing second side defining a third opening;
wherein the first opening is configured to receive the upper end of the base; and
wherein the second opening is configured to receive a valve;

a valve connector received in a portion of the valve housing defining the second opening, the valve connector comprising first and second inlet passages and an outlet passage;
a first fluid inlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the first inlet passage through a first opening in a first side of the valve connector;
a second fluid inlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the second inlet passage through a second opening in the first side of the valve connector; and
a fluid outlet line configured to be received through the third opening and to fluidly connect to the outlet passage through a third opening in the first side of the valve connector.

11. A faucet valve assembly, comprising:
a base having an upper end;
a valve housing extending from the base and comprising:
a first portion defining a first opening that receives the upper end; and
a second portion defining a second opening and at least part of a third opening;
wherein the first portion defines at least part of the third opening;

a valve disposed in the second portion of the valve housing and extending through the second opening;
a first fluid inlet line received through the third opening and fluidly connected to the valve through a first inlet passage within the second portion of the valve housing;
a second fluid inlet line received through the third opening and fluidly connected to the valve through a second inlet passage within the second portion of the valve housing;
a water outlet line in fluid connection with the valve and extending through the valve housing;
a valve connector fluidly connecting the water outlet line and the valve, wherein the valve connector is disposed within the second portion of the valve housing; and
a cap configured to cover at least a portion of the third opening.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the water outlet line comprises a first portion, which is disposed in the base, and a second portion, which extends from the base.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the valve connector comprises:
the first inlet passage that fluidly connects the first fluid inlet line to the valve;
the second inlet passage that fluidly connects the second fluid inlet line to the valve; and
an outlet passage that fluidly connects the water outlet line to the valve.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first fluid inlet line couples to the first inlet passage through a first opening in a first side of the valve connector, the second fluid inlet line couples to the second inlet passage through a second opening in the first side of the valve connector, and the water outlet line couples to the outlet passage through a third opening in the first side of the valve connector.

15. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cap defines a fourth opening, which receives each of the fluid inlet line and the water outlet line therethrough, and a fifth opening, which is configured to receive a plug.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Hansen David E
• Rexach Rafael A

Classifications

• E03C1/0412 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle (valve actuating members as such F16K31/60) · CPC title

• F16K11/085 Primary

  with cylindrical plug · CPC title

• F16K19/006

  Specially adapted for faucets · CPC title

• E03C1/0403 Primary

  Connecting the supply lines to the tap body · CPC title

• F16K27/065

  with cylindrical plugs · CPC title