Faucet including a molded waterway assembly

• US 7,766,043 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation), Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Derek Allen, Nelson, Alfred Charles, Thomas, Kurt Judson, Barber, Joshua R., Pinette, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US11/700,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 137/801, 467/8, 469/5, 298/901.4, 298/901.41, 251/367
• US Class Current: 137/801
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/044 slide valves with flat obturating members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86815 Multiple inlet with single outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet including a molded waterway assembly having a plurality of tubes overmolded within a base.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a waterway assembly including a first inlet fluid transport component formed of a polymer and having opposing first and second ends, an outlet fluid transport component formed of a polymer and having opposing first and second ends, and a base formed of a polymer and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the base being overmolded around the first end of the first inlet fluid transport component and the first end of the outlet fluid transport component; and

a valve assembly including a first inlet port in fluid communication with the first inlet fluid transport component, an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet fluid transport component, and a lower surface facing the upper surface of the base and sealingly engaged with the base, the valve assembly including a movable valve member configured to control the flow of water from the first inlet port to the outlet port,

wherein the first inlet fluid transport component, the outlet fluid transport component, and the base are formed of polyethylene which is cross-linked as an assembly.

2. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a holder supporting the base of the waterway assembly.

3. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, wherein the holder is formed of a polymer.

4. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, wherein the holder includes a body and a securing member extending downwardly from the body and configured to secure to a sink deck.

5. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, further comprising an escutcheon received over the holder.

6. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, further comprising a securing sleeve coupled to the holder and securing the valve assembly to the waterway assembly.

7. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a second inlet fluid transport component having opposing first and second ends, the base being overmolded around the first end of the second inlet fluid transport component.

8. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a seal positioned intermediate the base of the waterway assembly and the valve assembly, the seal extending around the first inlet port and the outlet port for providing sealing engagement between the upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the valve assembly.

9. The fluid delivery device of claim 8, further comprising a channel formed within at least one of the upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the valve assembly, the seal being received within the channel.

10. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid coupling overmolded at the second end of the first inlet fluid transport component.

11. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a waterway assembly including a first inlet fluid transport component formed of a polymer and having opposing first and second ends, an outlet fluid transport component formed of a polymer and having opposing first and second ends, and a base formed of a polymer and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the base being overmolded around the first end of the first inlet fluid transport component and the first end of the outlet fluid transport component;

a valve assembly including a first inlet port in fluid communication with the first inlet fluid transport component, an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet fluid transport component, and a lower surface facing the upper surface of the base and sealingly engaged with the base, the valve assembly including a movable valve member configured to control the flow of water from the first inlet port to the outlet port; and

a holder supporting the base of the waterway assembly, wherein the holder is formed of a polymer.

12. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, wherein the holder includes a body and a securing member extending downwardly from the body and configured to secure to a sink deck.

13. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, further comprising an escutcheon received over the holder.

14. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, further comprising a securing sleeve coupled to the holder and securing the valve assembly to the waterway assembly.

15. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, further comprising a second inlet fluid transport component having opposing first and second ends, the base being overmolded around the first end of the second inlet fluid transport component.

16. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, wherein the first inlet fluid transport component, the outlet fluid transport component, and the base are formed of a cross-linkable polymer.

17. The fluid delivery device of claim 16, wherein the first inlet fluid transport component, the outlet fluid transport component, and the base are formed of polyethylene which is cross-linked as an assembly.

18. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, further comprising a seal positioned intermediate the base of the waterway assembly and the valve assembly, the seal extending around the first inlet port and the outlet port for providing sealing engagement between the upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the valve assembly.

19. The fluid delivery device of claim 18, further comprising a channel formed within at least one of the upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the valve assembly, the seal being received within the channel.

20. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, further comprising a fluid coupling overmolded at the second end of the first inlet fluid transport component.

21. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a waterway assembly including a first inlet fluid transport component formed of a polymer and having opposing first and second ends, an outlet fluid transport component formed of a polymer and having opposing first and second ends, and a base formed of a polymer and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the base being overmolded around the first end of the first inlet fluid transport component and the first end of the outlet fluid transport component;

a valve assembly including a first inlet port in fluid communication with the first inlet fluid transport component, an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet fluid transport component, and a lower surface facing the upper surface of the base and sealingly engaged with the base, the valve assembly including a movable valve member configured to control the flow of water from the first inlet port to the outlet port; and

a seal positioned intermediate the base of the waterway assembly and the valve assembly, the seal extending around the first inlet port and the outlet port for providing sealing engagement between the upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the valve assembly.

22. The fluid delivery device of claim 21, further comprising a channel formed within at least one of the upper surface of the base and the lower surface of the valve assembly, the seal being received within the channel.

23. The fluid delivery device of claim 21, further comprising a fluid coupling overmolded at the second end of the first inlet fluid transport component.

24. The fluid delivery device of claim 21, wherein the first inlet fluid transport component, the outlet fluid transport component, and the base are formed of a cross-linkable polymer.

25. The fluid delivery device of claim 24, wherein the first inlet fluid transport component, the outlet fluid transport component, and the base are formed of polyethylene which is cross-linked as an assembly.

26. The fluid delivery device of claim 21, further comprising a holder supporting the base of the waterway assembly.

27. The fluid delivery device of claim 26, wherein the holder is formed of a polymer.

28. The fluid delivery device of claim 26, wherein the holder includes a body and a securing member extending downwardly from the body and configured to secure to a sink deck.

29. The fluid delivery device of claim 26, further comprising an escutcheon received over the holder.

30. The fluid delivery device of claim 26, further comprising a securing sleeve coupled to the holder and securing the valve assembly to the waterway assembly.

31. The fluid delivery device of claim 21, further comprising a second inlet fluid transport component having opposing first and second ends, the base being overmolded around the first end of the second inlet fluid transport component.