Mixing valve mounting assembly

• US 7,191,794 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Bruno
• Original Assignee: James Bruno
• Inventors: Hodges, B. Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRICE, CRAIG JAMES
• Application Number:
  US10/605,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 137/360, 137/357, 137/343, 467/5, 469/5, 248/65, 248 741- 744, 248/56
• US Class Current: 137/360
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/042 Arrangements on taps for wash-basins or baths for connecting to the wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6851 With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6969 Buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/698 Wall

Abstract

An assembly for mounting a tub/shower mixing valve onto a fiberglass shower stall wall. The assembly comprises a valve mounting sleeve and a locking plate that helps secure the mounting sleeve to the shower stall wall. Alternatively, the mounting sleeve may be secured to the shower stall wall by bolts threadably connected to the mounting sleeve.

Claims

1. The combination of a mixing valve, mounting assembly and shower stall wall, the mounting assembly comprising:

a) a mounting sleeve having an annular ring portion, a plurality of flexible locking legs extending forward from the periphery of the annular ring for insertion into and engagement with said shower stall wall, each leg having one-way ratchet means for holding a locking plate against a backside of said shower stall wall and terminating in a radially outwardly extending flange, and a plurality of rearward extending hook portions positioned to capture pipes connected to the mixing valve, and

b) a substantially planar locking plate having radially extending sections that abut the backside of said shower stall wall when said locking plate is held against the backside of the shower stall wall by said one-way ratchet means.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said one-way ratchet means for holding the locking plate comprises inclined teeth disposed on the inside of each locking leg.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the hook portions are spaced around the perimeter of the annular ring.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting sleeve further comprises a rearward extending rib disposed on the annular ring such that the pipes are captured between the hook portions and the rib.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the legs are splayed.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the hook portions travel within slots disposed in the mounting sleeve to accommodate valves of different dimensions.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the hook portions are detachable.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 7 comprising hook portions varying lengths.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the hook portions define multiple hook openings to accommodate pipes of varying distances from the shower stall wall.

10. The combination of a mixing valve, mounting assembly and shower stall wall, the mounting assembly comprising:

a) a cylindrical mounting sleeve having a plurality of flexible forwardly-extending locking legs, each of said locking legs being adapted to pass through and engage said opening and terminating in an outward-extending radial flange for overlying and gripping a front side of said shower stall wall,

b) a substantially planar circular locking plate captured within said cylindrical mounting sleeve and having a central opening for receiving said mixing valve, said locking plate having a plurality of radially extending arc segments parallel to the backside of said shower stall wall and larger than said opening and cut-out sections for slidably receiving each of said locking legs,

c) ratchet means on each locking leg for engaging a corresponding cut-out section of said locking plate for allowing one-way movement of said locking plate toward said shower stall wall, and

d) said mounting sleeve having a plurality of rearward-extending hook elements for engaging, capturing and retaining supply pipes connected to said mixing valve.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 10 in which said ratchet means comprises inclined teeth pointing toward the back side of said shower stall wall.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 10 wherein said hook elements are spaced around the periphery of said mounting sleeve.

13. The mounting assembly of claim 10 wherein said mounting sleeve further comprises a rearward-extending rib interconnecting said hook elements such that said supply pipes are captured between the hook portions and the said rib.