Countertop faucet assembly

• US 5,388,287 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ecowater Systems LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ecowater Systems LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frank, Marlin A., Merchak, Kenneth J., Tischler, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US08/090,430
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 4/675, 4/676, 4/677, 4/678, 4/695, 137/359, 137/360
• US Class Current: 4/678
• 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: E03C 2001/0416 using a socket for mounting of faucet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6977 Escutcheon type support

Abstract

A countertop faucet assembly adapted to be secured over a hole in a countertop without requiring access to the area below the countertop. A base subassembly of the countertop faucet assembly is secured to the countertop and a faucet and cap assembly is thereafter secured to the base subassembly.

Claims

1. A countertop faucet assembly adapted to be secured over a hole in a countertop having upper and lower surfaces, with connections to said faucet passing through said hole, said assembly being secured to said countertop without access being required to an area below the countertop, said assembly comprising,

a base subassembly including,

a base member having an aperture formed therein through which the connections to the faucet pass,

said base member provided with a first tab projecting into said aperture, said first tab having a hole therein,

said base member provided with a second tab projecting into said aperture, said second tab having a slot therein, a side of which slot opens into said aperture,

a first tightening means received in said hole in said first tab, said first tightening means having a first clamping means attached thereto, such that when said base member is placed over the hole in the countertop, said first clamping means may be positioned to engage the lower surface of the countertop and said first tightening means actuated to cause said base member and said first clamping means to be drawn together against opposite sides of said countertop to partially secure said base member to the countertop,

a second tightening means received in said slot in said second tab through said side which opens into said aperture, said second tightening means having a second clamping means attached thereto, such that when said base member is partially secured to said countertop, said second tightening means may be positioned in said slot, and said second clamping means positioned to engage the lower surface of said countertop and said second tightening means actuated to cause said base member and said second clamping means to be drawn together against opposite sides of said countertop to secure said base member to said countertop,

a faucet and cap subassembly,

at least one attachment means for attaching said faucet and cap subassembly to said base member, a first portion of said attachment means being provided on said base member and a second portion of said attachment means being provided on said faucet and cap subassembly, said first and second portions of said attachment means engaging each other when said faucet and cap assembly is brought into engagement with said base member, so as to retain and secure said faucet and cap subassembly to said base member, whereby said countertop faucet assembly is secure to said countertop.

2. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and second tightening means are bolts, said bolts having heads which are accessible for rotation of said bolts from above the countertop for securing said countertop assembly over the hole in the countertop.

3. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 2, wherein said first and second .clamping means are provided with a threaded hole for receiving threaded portions of said bolts.

4. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said attachment means is a tab, and said second portion of said attachment means is a notch, wherein said tab is engaged in said notch to secure said faucet and cap subassembly to said base member.

5. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 4, wherein said base member, said first and second tabs, and said tab are integrally formed.

6. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 5, wherein said base member is formed as an integrally molded piece.

7. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 6, wherein said aperture has a cylindrical periphery, and three attachment means are provided around the periphery of said aperture and are spaced from each other so as to provide for a predetermined alignment of said base subassembly and said faucet and cap subassembly when the subassemblies are secured to each other by said attachment means.

8. The countertop faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein indicating means are mounted in said base member so as to indicate an operating condition of a system supplying a fluid to said faucet assembly.