Faucet with improved valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11300217-B2
Application number	US-201916564316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2019
Priority date	Sep 10, 2018
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A cartridge valve for a faucet that includes a housing; a stem adapter at least partially received in the housing and comprising a body defining a slotted hole, which extends in a longitudinal direction, and a threaded hole, which extends in a radial direction; a stem received in the slotted hole and having a central portion that defines a threaded hole; and a screw threaded to the threaded hole of the stem and the threaded hole of the stem adapter to rotatably couple the stem to the stem adapter at a first predetermined frictional resistance in response to rotation of the stem relative to the stem adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge valve for a faucet, the cartridge valve comprising:
a housing;
a stem adapter at least partially received in the housing and comprising a body defining a slotted hole, which extends in a longitudinal direction, and a threaded hole, which extends in a radial direction;
a stem received in the slotted hole and having a central portion that defines a threaded hole; and
a screw threaded to the threaded hole of the stem and the threaded hole of the stem adapter to rotatably couple the stem to the stem adapter at a first predetermined frictional resistance in response to rotation of the stem relative to the stem adapter.

2. The cartridge valve of claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring disposed between the housing and the stem adapter at a second predetermined frictional resistance in response to rotation of the stem adapter relative to the housing.

3. The cartridge valve of claim 2 , wherein the O-ring is received in a recess located proximate an upper end of the body.

4. The cartridge valve of claim 3 , wherein the recess is located above the threaded hole and the recess has a shape that complements a shape of the O-ring.

5. The cartridge valve of claim 4 , wherein the shape of the O-ring is circular and the shape of the recess is semi-circular.

6. The cartridge valve of claim 3 , wherein the screw comprises:
a first end threaded to a first portion of the body;
a second end threaded to a second portion of the body; and
an intermediate portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the intermediate portion is threaded to the central portion of the stem.

7. The cartridge valve of claim 1 , wherein the screw comprises:
a first end threaded to a first portion of the body;
a second end threaded to a second portion of the body; and
an intermediate portion located between the first and second ends, wherein the intermediate portion is threaded to the central portion of the stem.

8. The cartridge valve of claim 7 , wherein the stem further comprises:
a first end that is configured to drive movement of a disk of the cartridge valve in response to movement of the stem relative to the stem adapter; and
a second end that is configured to operatively couple to a handle of the faucet.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a base structure having a base coupled to the housing.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the stem adapter includes a lower member coupled to the base structure; and
wherein the stem adapter and the base structure cooperatively define anti-rotation features configured to prevent rotation of the stem adapter.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the stem further comprises a first end having a semi-spherical shape and a second end having a substantially rectangular shape, the first end positioned opposite the second end; and
wherein the second end extends through and beyond the slotted hole and couples to an actuator handle.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an upper sleeve having a first diameter and a lower sleeve having a second diameter, the first diameter smaller than the second diameter; and
wherein the stem adapter is at least partially disposed within the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the stem extends beyond an end of the upper sleeve and outside of the housing.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Ritter David H
• Core Brian S

Classifications

• F16K27/044

  slide valves with flat obturating members · CPC title

• F16K11/072 Primary

  with pivoted closure members · CPC title

• F16K11/0787 Primary

  with both the supply and the discharge passages being on the same side of the closure members (F16K11/0785 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K31/60

  Handles {(form, features or function of taps or faucet handles for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/04)} · CPC title

• F16K27/00

  Construction of housing (methods for welding housings B23K); Use of materials therefor · CPC title