Two handle faucet and mounting structure therefor

• US 5,232,008 A
• Filed: 12/14/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Moen, Inc. (Canada) (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Moen, Inc. (Canada) (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jeffress, Ronald E., Clift, Richard D., Burns, Roy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/990,016
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 137/15, 137/315, 137/356, 137/359, 137/801, 137/316, 4/676, 4/678
• US Class Current: 137/15.01
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0401 Fixing a tap to the sanitary appliance or to an associated mounting surface, e.g. a countertop
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0402 with mounting from only one side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6116 With holding means functioning only during transportation assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6977 Escutcheon type support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A two handle faucet and mounting structure has a pair of valve bodies each of which contain a control valve. The valve bodies extend through sink deck openings and are connected by a waterway which is positioned beneath the sink deck. A spout tube is attached to the waterway and extends through a third sink deck opening which is positioned between the other two. A mounting bracket is attached to the waterway and is adapted to be drawn up against the underside of the sink deck by the use of a mounting tool which is inserted into the mounting bracket from above the sink deck. The valve bodies are first positioned through openings in the sink deck and loosely held to the sink deck through the use of mounting members which are positioned in valve body recesses above the sink deck. After the valve bodies have been attached to the sink deck by the mounting members and after the mounting bracket has been drawn up tight against the underside of the sink deck, the spout is positioned on the spout tube and then the mounting tool is inserted through the lift rod opening in the spout to attach the spout to the spout tube and to the top of the sink deck.

Claims

1. A method of installing to a sink deck a faucet having a pair of attached and spaced valve bodies, an intermediate spout tube attached to the valve bodies, mounting bracket attached to the valve bodies, and a spout positionable on the end of the spout tube, said method including the steps of inserting the valve bodies through spaced sink deck openings from beneath the sink deck, positioning mounting members in cooperating valve body recesses above the sink deck to hold the valve bodies to the sink deck, inserting a mounting tool into the mounting bracket through a sink deck opening and from above the sink deck, using the mounting tool to draw the mounting bracket firm against the sink deck underside, positioning the spout onto the spout tube, and inserting a mounting tool through the top of the spout to secure the spout to the spout tube and sink deck.

2. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the same mounting tool is used to secure the mounting bracket to the underside of the sink deck and to secure the spout to the spout tube and sink deck.

3. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the spout has a lift rod opening, with the mounting tool for for attaching the spout being inserted through the lift rod opening.

4. The method of claim 1 further characterized by and including the step of placing escutcheons about the valve bodies prior to placing the mounting members in the valve body recesses.

5. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said mounting tools rotate in drawing the mounting bracket firm against the sink deck underside and in attaching the spout to the spout tube and sink deck.

6. A two handle faucet and mounting structure for mounting the faucet to a sink deck having a plurality of openings therein, including a pair of valve bodies each of which contain a control valve therein and each of which are formed and adapted to extend through a sink deck opening, a mounting member for each valve body, with each mounting member cooperating with a portion of the valve body that extends above the sink deck for holding the faucet to the sink deck, a waterway connecting said valve bodies, a spout tube attached to said waterway and extending through a sink deck opening, said valve bodies and waterway defining a water flow path from said control valves to said spout tube, a mounting bracket, a clamping screw attached to said waterway and in threaded engagement with said mounting bracket and accessible from above the sink deck, with rotation of said clamping screw moving said mounting bracket toward the underside of the sink deck for securing the faucet thereto, a spout for attachment to the upper end of said spout tube, a spout bolt attached to said waterway and extending through an opening in the sink deck and accessible from above the spout, with rotation of the spout bolt from above said spout pulling the spout down upon the spout tube and the sink deck.

7. The faucet of claim 6 further characterized in that each of said valve bodies have a peripheral groove in that portion of the valve body which extends above the sink deck, with said mounting members being positionable in said grooves to thereby loosely hold the faucet to the sink deck.

8. The faucet of claim 7 further characterized in that each of said mounting members are C-shaped clips.

9. The faucet of claim 7 further characterized by and including an escutcheon positioned on top of the sink deck and about each valve body, said valve body grooves being above the escutcheon to receive the mounting members therein.

10. The faucet of claim 6 further characterized in that the sink deck has three openings, one each for the valve bodies, with the spout tube, spout bolt and clamping screw being accessible through the third opening.

11. The faucet of claim 6 further characterized in that said mounting bracket has a plurality of openings, one for the spout tube, one for the spout bolt, and one for the clamping screw.

12. The faucet of claim 11 further characterized in that said spout bolt is attached to said waterway for rotation relative thereto.

13. The faucet of claim 6 further characterized in that said spout has a lift rod opening therein, with said spout bolt being accessible from above the spout through the lift rod opening.