Quick connect fitting for a faucet handle and the like

• US 4,593,430 A
• Filed: 11/30/1982
• Issued: 06/10/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Spangler, Anthony G., Myers, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolfe, James L.
• Application Number:
  US06/445,490
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 16/121, 16/DIG. 30, 16/DIG. 40, 16/DIG. 41, 16/118, 16/114 R, 137/315, 403/10, 403/7, 403/349, 403/24, 403/11, 403/329, 403/359, 403/330, 403/361, 215/223, 215/224, 215/200, 215/287, 215/301, 215/318, 215/100 A, 215/222, 74/543, 74/548, 74/553, 74/556, 74/558.5, 74/545, 74/551.8
• US Class Current: 16/441
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/18 comprising catches or pawls
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/60 Handles form, features or function of taps or faucet handles for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/24 Handle fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/30 Knob, control lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/40 Attaching means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/41 Coupling, e.g. handle, rod, shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

Abstract

A handle assembly has a handle member secured to a stem by a fastener device which includes a coupler member secured to the end of the stem and snap fittingly engaged to an insert member which in turn is rigidly secured to the handle member. The coupler member has axially extending flanges with radially extending shoulders which engage a shoulder on the insert member. The shoulders of the insert and the coupler member have inclined surfaces that provide the handle to be connected onto the stem upon exertion of a force of predetermined magnitude in the axial direction. The coupler member and the insert member have a second pair of inclined surfaces which provide for disengagement of the insert member from the coupler member at a force of greater predetermined magnitude than the connecting force.

Claims

1. A fastener device for a faucet handle comprising:

a coupler member non-rotatably secured to an end of an operable stem;

a handle member having a receptor means for receiving said coupler member;

said receptor means having axially extending and resiliently flexible flanges, each flange having a radially extending shoulder;

said coupler member having a plurality of recesses to receive a shoulder of each flange;

said coupler member having a radially extending shoulder means axially interposed between said recesses and a free end of said coupler member and positioned to flex said flange in a radial direction when said shoulder of each flange axially passes thereby;

said recesses bounded at each side by a rib having an outer surface and having edges that engage a respective shoulder of each flange to prevent said receptor means from rotating relative to said coupler when said shoulders are received in said recesses;

means for flexing said shoulders outwardly from said recesses upon a downwardly directed force such that said receptor means becomes free to rotate about said coupler member with said shoulders engaging an outer surface of said rib and being free to be upwardly moved past said recesses and shoulder means of said coupler member to disengage said receptor means from said coupler member; and

said outer surface of said rib positioned radially with respect to each flange to maintain said flange in a flexed position when said flange is engaged thereto.

2. A faucet handle comprising:

a coupler member non-rotatably secured to an end of a faucet stem;

a handle subassembly non-rotatably securable to said coupler member;

said handle subassembly includes a handle member having an opening at a lower end thereof, a housing member rigidly secured within the hole, and an insert member secured within the housing member;

said insert member having axially extending and resiliently flexible flanges extending through channels in said housing member, said flanges having radially inwardly extending shoulders;

said coupler member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially inwardly extending recesses having an upper end bounded by a lower surface of radially outwardly extending shoulders and a lower end bounded by a canted ramp inclined radially outward and axially downward;

said recesses having their sides bounded by axially extending and circumferentially spaced ribs, each rib having an outer ramp section having a lower edge meeting an upper inner edge of said canted ramp;

said ramp section radially positioned outwardly with respect to the flanges when in an unflexed position;

said circumferentially spaced ribs having upper ends positioned radially outward from an upper end of said shoulder of said coupler member to define channels therebetween;

said channels in said coupler member sized to receive said flanges;

said flange having radially inwardly extending shoulders which are deflected outwardly by said respective shoulders on said coupler member upon downward movement of said flanges relative to said coupler member;

said recesses sized to receive said radially inwardly extending shoulders when said flanges are moved sufficiently downward such that said radially inwardly extending shoulders are positioned below said radially outwardly extending shoulders and said flanges are free to radially inwardly flex back from an outward deflected position;

said radially inwardly extending shoulders constructed to abut said canted ramp and be moved outwardly upon a downwardly directed force on said handle member until said shoulders on said insert member are radially moved out of said recess and positioned radially outward from out of said recess and positioned radially outward from said outer facing ramps of said ribs;

said handle being rotatable with respect to said coupler member such that said radially inwardly extending shoulders are rotated to be aligned with and abut said outer facing ramps of said ribs; and

said ramps of said ribs providing an unobstructed path as said radially inwardly extending shoulders move upwardly past and adjacent to said recess and said outwardly extending shoulders of said coupler member to disengage said handle subassembly from said coupler member.

3. A faucet handle as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

a narrow channel defined between said shoulder of said coupler member and said ribs; and

said flanges include a radially extending vertical wall at an edge thereof sized to be received in said narrow channel when said inwardly extending shoulders are positioned in said recesses.

4. A faucet handle as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said ribs comprise vertical ledges positioned radially outward from said ramps of said ribs abuttable with said shoulders of said insert member when said shoulders are rotated to be aligned with said ramps of said ribs.

5. A faucet handle as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said canted ramps abut said inwardly extending shoulders as said flanges resiliently flex inwardly to position said shoulders in said recess to move said insert member upwardly such that an upper edge of said inwardly extending shoulder is positioned higher than a lower edge of said outwardly extending shoulders thereby interlocking two sets of shoulders together.

6. A fastener device for a faucet handle assembly comprising;

a coupler member non-rotatably securable to an end of a rotatable stem;

a handle member non-rotatably securable to said coupler member;

a plurality of axially extending and resiliently flexible flanges extending from one of said coupler member and said handle member;

said flanges having radially extending shoulders;

engaging means on said other of said coupler member and said handle member for engaging said shoulders and connecting said handle member to said coupler member;

means for disconnecting said handle member from said coupler member;

said disconnecting means includes a first ramp for radially deflecting said flanges to disengage said shoulder and a second ramp for providing an axially extending sliding surface for said shoulders adjacent said engaging means for allowing said shoulders to slide past said engaging means when rotated to be aligned with said second ramp member; and

said second ramp positioned radially with respect to the flange to maintain each flange in a flexed position when said flanges are engaged thereto.