Assembly and method of mounting a liquid delivery device utilizing expanding bushing

• US 6,874,527 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Hassmann
• Original Assignee: John Hassmann
• Inventors: Meeder, Ernest P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/790,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 137/359, 137/360, 137/801, 467/6, 285/193
• US Class Current: 137/359
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• 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: F16L 41/14 by screwing an intermediate part against the inside or outside of the wall F16L41/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6977 Escutcheon type support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/698 Wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A flanged bushing top portion is applied to a sink or counter surface over a mounting hole with a skirt portion descending from the top portion of the flanged bushing in to the mounting hole. A tapered expansion sleeve is threaded into the skirt portion of the flanged bushing. As the tapered expansion sleeve is threaded upwards into the tapered skirt portion, the skirt expands and pressed against the inside diameter of the sink mounting hole thereby securing the flanged bushing to the sink surface. A faucet valve assembly, soap/lotion dispenser, or water dispenser is lowered into the bores of the flanged bushing and the expansion sleeve, and the valve'"'"'s escutcheon collar is secured to the top of the flanged bushing by means of a lock down collar which is threaded onto the exterior threads of the flange of the flanged bushing. This secures the valve assembly, soap/lotion dispenser, or water dispenser to the flanged bushing and consequently to the sink. This same method is utilized to attach the faucet spout securely to the sink.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for completely mounting a liquid delivery device through a mounting hole of the top of a support surface solely by insertion from the top of the support surface comprising;

a flanged expandable bushing arranged to be inserted through the mounting hole from the top of the support surface for mounting a liquid delivery device,

said expandable bushing having a lower skirt extending below the lower surface of the support member,

said skirt having a plurality of expandable members,

said expandable bushing further having a threaded central circular bore,

a hollow expansion sleeve being moveably received in said threaded bore,

said expansion sleeve having a threaded exterior surface for engaging said threaded bore,

said expansion sleeve being moveable relative to said expanding bushing to urge said expandable members outward to assume a diameter greater than the size of the mounting hole for mounting of the flanged bushing beneath the support surface for securement to the support member, and

means for rotating said expansion sleeve relative to said flanged bushing to cause said movement of said expansion sleeve relative to said flanged expanding bushing.

2. The mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said threaded outer surface of said expansion sleeve and said threaded bore have a truncated conical configuration for urging said expandable members outward.

3. The mounting assembly according to claim 2 wherein said expandable members are a plurality of flexible fingers.

4. The mounting assembly according to claim 2 further including a flange on said flanged bushing, said flange having a circular configuration and a flat lower surface for contacting the upper surface of the support member.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 further comprising a locking collar including an opening having interior threads, said flanged bushing having a threaded periphery for engaging said the interior threads of said locking collar, said locking collar being moveable relative to said flange through rotation of said locking collar relative to said flange for locking said flanged bushing on the upper surface of the support member.

6. The mounting assembly according to claim 5 further comprising an upper collar having a threaded bore in alignment with the bore of said flanged bushing for receiving the liquid delivery device, said upper collar being secured to said locking collar.

7. The mounting assembly according to claim 6 wherein said upper collar has a lower cylindrical portion for contacting the top of said flanged bushing, said cylindrical portion having a periphery having a conical shape, said locking collar having an upper conical shape in said threaded bore for engaging and locking said upper collar.

8. The mounting assembly according to claim 2 wherein said threaded exterior of said expansion sleeve includes a plurality of vertical key slots, said means for rotating said expansion sleeve comprises a rotatable tool.

9. The mounting assembly according claim 8 wherein said rotatable tool includes a shaft selectively extending through said bore of said flanged bushing and a blade for engaging a pair of said key slot for rotating said expansion sleeve through rotation of said shaft.

10. The mounting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the liquid delivery device is a water faucet.

11. The mounting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the liquid delivery device is a soap/lotion dispenser.

12. The mounting assembly according to claim 9 wherein said liquid delivery system is a water dispenser.

13. The mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said support member is either a sink top or a tub counter.

14. A method of mounting a liquid delivery device having a downwardly descending hose on a bushing inserted downward through the mounting holes of a support surface having upper and lower surfaces comprising the steps of

inserting a flanged bushing having a lower expandable skirt and a threaded central bore having a truncated conical configuration through the mounting hole of the support member,

inserting an exteriorly threaded expansion sleeve into threaded engagement with said threaded central bore of said flanged bushing,

attaching a locking collar on said flanged bushing to lock said bushing to the top of the upper surface,

inserting a tool into said threaded bore of said bushing into engagement with said expansion sleeve, and

rotating said expansion sleeve relative to said threaded central bore to cause movement of said expansion sleeve and wedge said expandable skirt outward to a diameter greater that the diameter of the mounting hole for the sole mounting of said flanged bushing.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said threaded periphery of said expansion sleeve has a plurality of vertical slots, inserting said tool having a lower blade and an upper extending shaft into said threaded central bore to allow said blade to contact a plurality of vertical slots, rotating said shaft for causing rotation of a said expansion sleeve for relative wedging movement of said expandable skirt outward.

16. The method according to claim 15 further mounting an upper collar on said locking collar, mounting the liquid delivery device on said upper collar with said hose descending downward through the central bore of said flanged bushing and said expansion sleeve.

17. The method according to claim 14 said flanged bushing is inserted through the mounting hole of a sink.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said flanged bushing is inserted through the mounting hole of said sink.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein said water delivery device is a multiple valve faucet assembly inserted in multiple mounting holes of said sink.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein said liquid delivery device is a soap/lotion dispenser having a lower conduit descending through said central bore and said expansion sleeve.

21. The method according to claim 17 wherein said liquid delivery is a water dispenser having a lower conduit descending through said central bore and said expansion sleeve.