No-tools spread faucet assembly, kits and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9835281-B2
Application number	US-201213594698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2012
Priority date	Aug 24, 2011
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A spread faucet assembly, an installation kit, and an installation method are described herein. The spread faucet assembly has a spout assembly with a spout, a tailpiece, and at least one fluid inlet conduit. It also include at least one valve assembly having a shank, an fluid inlet conduit, a fluid outlet conduit and a valve cartridge, wherein the shank has an inner surface having a fluid receiving area in fluid communication with the valve cartridge and the fluid outlet conduit, the inner surface defines an opening in fluid communication with the valve cartridge and valve assembly fluid inlet conduit, and the valve cartridge is positioned in the opening. A connector is also included for coupling the at least one valve assembly fluid outlet conduit with the at least one spout assembly fluid inlet conduit. A self-turning nut assembly is also provided having a nut with an outer surface and a tightening sleeve having an outer surface with at least one outwardly extending projection for securing the nut to a fluid supply connection.

First claim

We claim:

1. A spread faucet assembly, comprising:
(a) a spout assembly having a spout, a tailpiece and at least one fluid inlet conduit, wherein the spout, the tailpiece and the at least one fluid inlet conduit are pre-assembled;
(b) at least one valve assembly having a shank, a fluid inlet conduit, a fluid outlet conduit and a valve cartridge wherein the shank, the fluid inlet conduit, the fluid outlet conduit and the valve cartridge are pre-assembled, wherein
the shank has an inner surface having a receiving area in fluid communication with an outlet of the valve cartridge and with the fluid outlet conduit,
the inner surface of the shank defines an opening in fluid communication with an inlet to the valve cartridge and with the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit, and
the valve cartridge is positioned in the opening; and

(c) a connector selected from a quick connection connector or a manually tightenable connector and configured to be capable of manually connecting the at least one valve assembly fluid outlet conduit with the at least one spout assembly fluid inlet conduit;
(d) at least one self-turning nut assembly positioned on an inlet end of the fluid inlet conduit of the at least one valve assembly, the at least one self-turning nut assembly comprising:
a nut having an outer surface; and
a tightening sleeve having a body with an outer surface with at least one outwardly extending projection, wherein the outwardly extending projection extends outward beyond an outermost rim of the tightening sleeve, and an inner surface shaped to lockingly engage the outer surface of the nut, and wherein the at least one self-turning nut assembly, when completely installed, is fully tightened manually by the tightening sleeve as the sleeve is slidably positioned on and fully encircling the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit.

2. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spout assembly fluid inlet conduit is attached to the spout.

3. The spread faucet assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one spout assembly fluid inlet conduit is threadably attached to the spout.

4. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit and valve assembly fluid outlet conduit is attached to the valve assembly shank.

5. The spread faucet assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit and valve assembly fluid outlet conduit is threadably attached to the valve assembly shank.

6. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising two valve assemblies.

7. The spread faucet assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a first valve assembly for controlling hot water flow and a second valve assembly for controlling cold water flow.

8. The spread faucet assembly of claim 7 , wherein the connector connects each of the outlet conduits of the two valve assemblies with the spout assembly fluid inlet conduit.

9. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tightening sleeve comprises a polymeric material.

10. The spread faucet assembly of claim 9 , wherein the polymeric material is a thermoplastic material.

11. The spread faucet assembly of claim 10 , wherein the polymeric material is polyamide or polyoxymethylene.

12. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises at least one coupling capable of being manually locked.

13. The spread faucet assembly of claim 12 , wherein the connector comprises a quick connect coupling with a hand tightenable locking sleeve.

14. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the shank defines a bullet-shaped opening.

15. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spout further comprises a first hand-operated mounting nut, configured to be fully tightened by hand and the at least one valve assembly comprises a second mounting nut, wherein the second mounting nut is interchangeable with the first mounting nut.

16. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of the spout assembly tailpiece is about equal to a width of the at least one valve assembly shank.

17. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nut further comprises an inner threaded surface.

18. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tightening sleeve has two, opposing, outwardly extending projections.

19. The spread faucet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spread faucet assembly is one of a spread lavatory faucet assembly, a spread kitchen faucet assembly, or a spread bathtub faucet assembly.

20. A kit for installing a spread faucet assembly, comprising: a spread faucet assembly comprising
(a) a spout assembly having a spout, a tailpiece and at least one fluid inlet conduit, wherein the spout, the tailpiece and the at least one fluid inlet conduit are pre-assembled;
(b) at least one valve assembly having a shank, a fluid inlet conduit, a fluid outlet conduit and a valve cartridge, wherein the shank, the fluid inlet conduit, the fluid outlet conduit and the valve cartridge are pre-assembled and wherein
the shank has an inner surface having a receiving area in fluid communication with an outlet of the valve cartridge and with the fluid outlet conduit,
the inner surface of the shank defines an opening in fluid communication with an inlet to the valve cartridge and with the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit, and
the valve cartridge is positioned in the opening;

(c) a connector selected from a quick connection connector or a manually tightenable connector and configured to be capable of manually connecting the at least one valve assembly fluid outlet conduit with the at least one spout assembly fluid inlet conduit,
(d) at least one self-turning nut assembly positioned on an inlet end of the fluid inlet conduit of the at least one valve assembly, the at least one self-turning nut assembly comprising:
a nut having an outer surface; and
a tightening sleeve having a body with an outer surface with at least one outwardly extending projection, wherein the outwardly extending projection extends outward beyond an outermost rim of the tightening sleeve, and an inner surface shaped to lockingly engage the outer surface of the nut, and wherein the at least one self-turning nut assembly, when completely installed, is fully tightened manually by the tightening sleeve as the sleeve is slidably positioned on and fully encircling the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit; and
instructions for installing the spread faucet assembly.

21. The kit of claim 20 , wherein the at least one valve assembly further comprises a faucet handle.

22. The kit of claim 20 , wherein the kit is for installing one of a spread lavatory faucet assembly, a spread kitchen faucet assembly, or a spread bathtub faucet assembly.

23. A valve assembly, comprising:
a shank, a fluid inlet conduit, a fluid outlet conduit and a valve cartridge, wherein
the shank has an inner surface having a receiving area in fluid communication with an outlet of the valve cartridge and with the fluid outlet conduit,
the inner surface of the shank defines an opening in fluid communication with an inlet to the valve cartridge and with the valve assembly fluid inlet conduit,
the valve cartridge is positioned in the opening, and
the fluid inlet conduit has an inlet end having a self-turning nut assembly comprising:
a nut having an outer surface; and
a tightening sleeve having a body with an outer surface with at least one outwardly extending project

Assignees

• Pitsch Walter
• Li Hsiao Chang
• Ye Xiao Jing
• As Ip Holdco Llc

Inventors

• Pitsch Walter
• Li Hsiao Chang
• Ye Xiao Jing

Classifications

• E03C1/0403

  Connecting the supply lines to the tap body · CPC title

• Y10T137/598

  With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means · CPC title

• Y10T137/87579

  Faucet attachment · CPC title

• E03C1/0401 Primary

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

• Y10T137/0441

  Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank · CPC title