Patent Application
20110220827
Faucets typically include a spout that serves as an exit conduit for a flow of water from a supply pipe, and one or more handles that control the flow and/or temperature of the water. The handle is attached to a valve apparatus that is opened and closed when the handle is moved. The handle is typically coupled to the valve apparatus with a screw. Often, the screw head is left exposed to the user, but is sometimes covered with a detachable, decorative plate in an attempt to conceal the screw head from the user.
A faucet handle connector is disclosed that securely attaches a grip of a faucet handle to a valve apparatus for regulating the flow rate and/or temperature of water through a faucet spout. The faucet handle connector provides a structure for convenient attachment of the faucet handle to the valve apparatus. In addition, the faucet handle connector attaches the faucet handle to the valve apparatus in a manner that hides the faucet handle connector from a user of the faucet to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the faucet and to reduce the number of parts required for assembly. Thus, the faucet handle connector attaches the faucet handle to the valve apparatus without the use of a screw or any other observable fastener, and a separate cover or similar structure is not required to conceal the connector.
A faucet handle for operating a valve apparatus is disclosed that comprises a grip, a connector, and a base. The grip is for user-activation of the valve apparatus. The connector is coupled to the grip, and the connector has a groove and a snap washer disposed within the groove. The base has an internal detent, and the base receives the connector such that the snap washer engages the detent.
In addition, a connector for a faucet handle is disclosed that comprises a connector body, a groove, and a snap washer. The connector body is for attachment to a faucet grip and a faucet base. The groove is disposed in the connector body, and the snap washer is disposed in the groove for engaging a detent in a faucet base.
Further, a method of assembling a faucet handle is disclosed. The method comprises: (1) providing a faucet handle having a grip, a connector with a snap washer disposed in a groove, and a base with an internal detent; (2) disposing the base on at least one of a counter and a sink rim; and (3) inserting the connector into the base such that the snap washer engages the detent to retain the connector and grip to the base.
Referring to the figures, a representative faucet handle 100 for a faucet is shown in
Referring to
The valve apparatus 102 can have a housing 110 and a stem 112. The faucet handle 100 can engage the stem 112 to actuate the valve apparatus 102. As shown in
As mentioned above, referring to
The connector 106 can be attached to the base 108 by inserting the connector 106 into a cylindrical opening 124 in the base 108. The outer surface of the snap washer 120 can be tapered such that as the connector 106 is moved toward the cylindrical opening 124, the perimeter of the base 108 defining the opening 124 makes contact with the outer surface of the snap washer 120 and gradually compresses snap washer 120 until it fits within the cylindrical opening 124. The connector 106 is inserted into the cylindrical opening 124 until the snap washer 120 reaches the detent 122. At that position, the snap washer 120 expands outward into the detent 122. With the snap washer 120 engaging both the groove 118 and the detent 122, the grip 104 is securely coupled to the base 108.
The grip 104 is removable from the base 108 by exerting a sufficient force on the grip 104 in a direction away from the cylindrical opening 124, upward as oriented in
The connector 106 may be fitted with additional features that enhance the fit of the connector 106 within the base 108. For example, the connector 106 may have one or more additional grooves 126 for receiving a wear washer 128. The wear washer 128 can be generally ring-shaped. When the connector 106 is coupled to the base 108, the wear washer 128 can provide a close and secure fit between the base 108 and the connector 106. The wear washer 128 also provides a secondary point of contact between the connector 106 and the base 108 to stabilize the attachment between these components. The secondary point of contact provided by the wear washer 128 restricts the connector 106 from shifting side-to-side within the cylindrical opening 124, thus avoiding any significant rocking motion of the grip 104.
Using the connector 106, the grip 104 may be quickly and securely attached to the base 108 without the use of a separate fastener, such as a screw. When using the connector 106, the faucet handle 100 can be constructed such that there is no visible indication to a user that the grip 104 is separable from the base 108. Thus, the connector 106 provides a way to couple the grip 104 to the base 108 without adversely affecting the aesthetic appearance of the faucet handle 100 or utilizing any additional features to hide the connector 106 or other fastener from a user.
As shown in
It will be appreciated that the connector may have any suitable number of snap washers and wear washers disposed in any suitable orientation on the connector. Although the illustrated embodiments show the snap washer and wear washer attached to the connector, it will be appreciated that a snap washer and/or wear washer may be attached to the interior of the base, and the snap washer may engage a detent in the connector. It will also be appreciated that the snap washer and wear washer can be any suitable shape and can be constructed of any suitable material including, but not limited to, an acetal based plastic such as Delrin®.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
