Transverse handle assembly for a valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816641-B2
Application number	US-201514965526-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A handle assembly configured to control water flow through a faucet valve. The handle assembly includes an output shaft rotatable about a first axis and configured to be operatively coupled to the valve; an input shaft rotatable about a second axis that is configured substantially transverse to the first axis, the input shaft configured to engage the output shaft to rotate the output shaft upon rotation of the input shaft; a handle coupled to the input shaft and configured to rotate the input shaft upon rotation of the handle about the second axis; and a saddle interconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft. The saddle includes a body having a channel that supports one of the input shaft and the output shaft, and a post extending away from the body and engaging an opening in the other of the input shaft and the output shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handle assembly for controlling a flow of water through a valve for a faucet, the handle assembly comprising:
an output shaft connectable to the valve to control flow of water through the valve upon rotation of the output shaft about a first axis;
an input shaft rotatable about a second axis that is configured substantially transverse to the first axis, the input shaft connectable to the output shaft to rotate the output shaft upon rotation of the input shaft;
a handle coupled to the input shaft for rotating the input shaft upon rotation of the handle about the second axis; and
a saddle interconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft, the saddle comprising:
a generally “U” shaped or generally “C” shaped body having a channel that supports one of the input shaft and the output shaft; and
a post extending away from the body for engaging an opening in the other of the input shaft and the output shaft.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein both the input shaft and the output shaft are rotatable relative to the saddle.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the saddle includes a first arm and a second arm that is spaced apart from the first arm with a gap located between the first arm and the second arm defining an open channel disposed between the first and second arms.

4. The handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the body of the saddle is “U” shape, and the saddle comprises a low friction material including at least one of nylon, polyethylene, or polyoxymethylene.

5. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input shaft includes a gear for engaging a gear of the output shaft to rotate the output shaft upon rotation of the input shaft, wherein each gear is one of a spiral bevel gear, a hypoid bevel gear, or a worm gear.

6. The handle assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a body assembly including a first bore receiving at least a portion of the input shaft, the body assembly including a second bore receiving at least a portion of the output shaft; and
a bushing disposed around the portion of the output shaft, wherein the bushing is located between a flange of the output shaft and the saddle, the flange extending radially outward relative to the first axis from a body of the output shaft.

7. The handle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the body assembly includes a base for mounting to a surface of one of a deck, a countertop, a sink, and a tub; the second bore extending through the base.

8. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle is manually rotatable about the second axis by a user of the faucet.

9. A handle assembly for controlling a flow of water through a valve for a faucet, the handle assembly comprising:
a unitary one-piece body having a first bore and a second bore aligned transverse to and intersecting the first bore;
an output shaft disposed in the second bore and connectable to the valve to control flow of water through the valve upon rotation of the output shaft;
an input shaft disposed in the first bore for rotating the output shaft upon rotation thereof;
a saddle interconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft, the saddle comprising:
a body supporting one of the input shaft and the output shaft; and
a post extending away from the body and having a bore that receives the other of the input shaft and the output shaft; and

a handle supported by the unitary one-piece body and coupled to the input shaft, such that rotation of the handle rotates the input shaft.

10. The handle assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a bushing, wherein a hub of the handle engages a portion of the first bore of the unitary one-piece body, the hub is supported by a portion of the unitary one-piece body that defines the portion of the first bore, the bushing is located between the portion of the unitary one-piece body and a flange of the input shaft, and the flange extends radially outward relative to the second axis from a body of the input shaft.

11. The handle assembly of claim 9 ,
wherein the body supports the input shaft and
the bore of the post receives the output shaft, and wherein the output shaft is completely disposed within the first and second bores.

12. The handle assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a bushing coupled to the output shaft and positioned to limit travel of the saddle along the output shaft, wherein the body of the saddle includes a channel that receives the input shaft.

13. The handle assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first bushing disposed in the first bore and having an outer surface supported by the unitary one-piece body and an inner surface supporting the input shaft; and
a second bushing disposed in the second bore and having an outer surface contacting an inner surface of the unitary one-piece body and having an inner surface contacting an outer surface of the output shaft.

14. The handle assembly of claim 13 , wherein a first side of the first bushing abuts a flange of the unitary one-piece body, a second, opposite, side of the first bushing abuts a flange of the input shaft, and a side of the second bushing abuts a flange of the output shaft.

15. A handle assembly for controlling a flow of water through a valve for a faucet, the handle assembly comprising:
a body having a first bore and a second bore aligned transverse to and intersecting the first bore, the body comprising a first material;
an input shaft disposed in the first bore and rotatable relative to the body;
a first bearing rotatably supporting the input shaft relative to the body, wherein the first bearing is disposed between a flange of the input shaft and a flange of the body to limit axial movement of the input shaft relative to the body;
an output shaft disposed in the second bore and rotatable relative to the body upon rotation of the input shaft to control flow of water through the valve operatively coupled to the output shaft;
a second bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft relative to the body, the second bearing comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and
a saddle interconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft.

16. The handle assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a spring for applying a force on the output shaft to bias the output shaft into engagement with the second bearing, wherein the output shaft includes a flange that limits an axial travel of the output shaft relative to the second bearing.

17. The handle assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a handle supported by the body and coupled to a first end of the input shaft, such that rotation of the handle rotates the input shaft, which in-turn rotates the output shaft; and
an end cap extending from the body at an end of the first bore, the end cap receiving a second end of the input shaft.

18. The handle assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a third bearing disposed between the second end of the input shaft and the end cap to rotatably support the input shaft.

19. The handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third bearings comprises:
an inner member;
a plurality of spaced apart and semi-annular outer members; and
a plurality of spokes extending between the inner member and the outer members.

20. The handle assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second bearing is disposed on an end of the output shaft that that is operatively coupled to the input shaft through the saddle, the saddle having a post engaging a bore in the end of the output shaft, the saddle also hav

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Bock-Aronson Max
• Natarajan Murali
• Marotz Benjamin W
• Strege Michael J
• Schumacher Jeffrey
• Smith Joel
• Badiger Sharathkumar

Classifications

• F16K31/53 Primary

  with toothed gearing · CPC title

• F16K31/602

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T137/6024

  Particular handle or handle fastening means · CPC title

• E03C1/0412

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