Faucet mount assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303391-B2
Application number	US-201113020671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2011
Priority date	Sep 16, 2010
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A faucet includes a faucet mount assembly for mounting the faucet to a surface and for communicating and mixing hot and cold water to a user. The faucet mount assembly generally includes a mounting plate, a fluid tube, and one or more valve housings. The valve housings are coupled to the mounting plate and are configured to receive valve components for selectively allowing water to flow through the valve housings. The fluid tube is disposed in fluid communication with outlets of the valve housings and is configured to transfer water from the valve housings to a spout for delivery to a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A faucet mount assembly comprising:
a mounting plate configured to receive a first valve housing, the mounting plate including a channel having a drainage aperture disposed therein; and
a fluid tube disposed within the channel, the fluid tube being removably coupled to and in fluid communication with the first valve housing, wherein the fluid tube includes an outlet for routing water from the first valve housing to a spout of a faucet;
wherein the channel has a bowed surface including a raised portion within the channel that slopes downwardly to direct any fluid leakage from the first valve housing, the fluid tube, or spout toward the drainage aperture.

2. The faucet mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is further configured to receive a second valve housing, wherein the mounting plate comprises a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the first valve housing is disposed at least partially within the first aperture of the mounting plate, and wherein the second valve housing is disposed at least partially within the second aperture of the mounting plate.

3. The faucet mount assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first valve housing and second valve housing each include an outlet that is a female receptacle, and wherein the fluid tube includes first and second inlets that are male members disposed within the female receptacles of the first valve housing and second valve housing, respectively.

4. The faucet mount assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fluid tube comprises a plurality of protrusions and the plurality of protrusions comprise a first protrusion disposed proximate the first inlet to engage an outer surface of the first valve housing and a second protrusion disposed proximate the second inlet to engage an outer surface of the second valve housing.

5. The faucet mount assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first inlet of the fluid tube is sealingly engaged with the outlet of the first valve housing and the second inlet of the fluid tube is sealingly engaged with the outlet of the second valve housing.

6. The faucet mount assembly of claim 5 , wherein a first seal is disposed between the first inlet of the fluid tube and the first valve housing and a second seal is disposed between the second inlet of the fluid tube and the second valve housing.

7. The faucet mount assembly of claim 5 , wherein the outlet of the fluid tube is provided between the first inlet and the second inlet of the fluid tube.

8. The faucet mount assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first valve housing and the second valve housing are each configured to couple the faucet mount assembly to a mounting surface.

9. The faucet mount assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the first valve housing and second valve housing each comprise an externally threaded portion; and
each externally threaded portion is configured to receive a mounting fastener to cooperatively rigidly hold the mounting plate and mounting surface between the valve housing and mounting fastener.

10. The faucet mount assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
each externally threaded portion of the first valve housing and the second valve housing is formed on a shank;
each shank comprises an internally threaded portion for coupling to a lower, externally threaded portion of the first valve housing or the second valve housing.

11. The faucet mount assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the first valve housing and second valve housing each comprise an upper portion configured to receive a bonnet; and
each upper portion and bonnet are configured to cooperatively rigidly hold an escutcheon between the bonnet and corresponding valve housing.

12. The faucet mount assembly of claim 11 , wherein each upper portion of the first valve housing and second valve housing is externally threaded and each bonnet is internally threaded.

13. The faucet mount assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a top surface of the fluid tube between the outlet and the first valve housing is flat.

14. The faucet mount assembly of claim 13 , wherein the channel is defined at least partially by a first undulation and a second undulation, and wherein the flat portion of the top surface of the fluid tube is at generally the same height as at least one of the first undulation and the second undulation.

15. The faucet mount assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first supply tube, wherein the first valve housing comprises a inlet portion coupled to the first supply tube.

16. A faucet mount assembly, comprising:
a generally elongated mounting plate including:
a first and second aperture disposed at opposite ends thereof, the first and second apertures configured to receive a first valve housing and a second valve housing; and
a channel provided between the first and second apertures;

wherein a drainage aperture is provided within the channel; and
wherein the channel has a bowed surface including a raised portion within the channel to direct leaked water downward along the bowed surface toward the drainage aperture.

17. The faucet mount assembly of claim 16 , wherein the mounting plate further includes a tab that extends into each of the two apertures to engage the respective valve housing, thereby providing a rigid connection between the mounting plate and the valve housings.

18. The faucet mount assembly of claim 16 , wherein the two apertures of the mounting plate are polygonal.

19. A faucet mount assembly configured to mount to a mounting surface, comprising:
a generally elongated mounting plate, the mounting plate including two apertures configured to receive first and second valve housings and provided on opposite ends of the mounting plate, a channel provided between the two apertures, and a drainage aperture disposed within the channel; and
a gasket configured to form a watertight seal between the mounting plate and the mounting surface, the gasket including a drainage channel extending outwardly to a peripheral edge of the gasket;
wherein the drainage channel is configured to be aligned with the drainage aperture when the mounting plate is coupled to the gasket.

20. The faucet assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first and second valve housings are configured to receive fasteners to rigidly hold the mounting plate and a mounting surface between the first and second valve housings and fasteners.

21. The faucet assembly of claim 19 , wherein the drainage channel directs any fluid that may leak from an upper side of the mounting plate away from an underside of the mounting surface.

22. A faucet assembly comprising:
a first valve housing and a second valve housing;
a fluid tube coupled to the first valve housing and the second valve housing;
a metal mounting plate comprising a channel for receiving the fluid tube, a first aperture for coupling the first valve housing to the mounting plate, a second aperture for coupling the second valve housing to the mounting plate, and a drainage aperture disposed within the channel; and
a first plastic shank extending downward from the metal mounting plate and coupled to the first valve housing and a second plastic shank extending downward from the metal mounting plate and coupled to the second valve housing; and
wherein the channel is defined by a bowed surface including a raised portion within the channel that slopes downwardly to direct leaked water toward the drainage aperture.

23. The faucet assembly of claim 22 , wherein the first and second plastic shanks include internal

Assignees

• Leichty Ryan
• Furseth Michael
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Leichty Ryan
• Furseth Michael

Classifications

• E03C1/0401 Primary

  Fixing a tap to the sanitary appliance or to an associated mounting surface, e.g. a countertop · CPC title

• E03C1/0403

  Connecting the supply lines to the tap body · CPC title