Valve mounting assembly

• US 7,819,137 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Plastics LLC (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation), Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Jeffrey L., Nelson, Alfred C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox; John
• Application Number:
  US12/244,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20090020177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.4, 137/625.41, 137/625.17, 137/801, 469/5
• US Class Current: 137/625.4
• 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 waterway assembly fluidly coupled to a valve assembly.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a waterway assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a first fluid transport component, a second fluid transport component, and an interface member coupled to an end of the first fluid transport component and an end of the second fluid transport component;

a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the interface member of the waterway assembly, the valve assembly including a first port in fluid communication with the first fluid transport component, a second port in fluid communication with the second fluid transport component, and a movable valve member configured to control the flow of water through the first port and the second port;

a primary seal positioned intermediate the interface member of the waterway assembly and the valve assembly, the primary seal configured to provide a fluid seal between the first fluid transport component of the waterway assembly and the first port of the valve assembly and a fluid seal between the second fluid transport component of the waterway assembly and the second port of the valve assembly;

a secondary seal positioned laterally outwardly from the primary seal, the secondary seal configured to sealingly couple to the interface member of the waterway assembly;

wherein the interface member of the waterway assembly is formed of a polymer, the first fluid transport component of the waterway assembly is formed of a polymer, and the second fluid transport component is formed of a polymer; and

the interface member is overmolded around the end of the first fluid transport component and the end of the second fluid transport component to provide a substantially monolithic waterway assembly.

2. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a holder supporting the interface member of the waterway assembly; and

a locking member operably coupled to the valve assembly and configured to secure the valve assembly to the waterway assembly.

3. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, wherein the secondary seal comprises an o-ring positioned radially intermediate the interface member of the waterway assembly and the locking member.

4. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, wherein the locking member comprises a sleeve operably coupled to the holder and forcing the valve assembly toward the waterway assembly.

5. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, wherein the primary seal comprises a gasket including a first loop portion surrounding the first port of the valve assembly and a second loop portion surrounding the second port of the valve assembly.

6. The fluid delivery device of claim 5, further comprising a channel formed within at least one of the upper surface of the interface member of the waterway assembly and a lower surface of the valve assembly, the gasket being received within the channel.

7. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve receiving the interface member of the waterway assembly, wherein an annular groove is formed in at least one of the interface member of the waterway assembly and the sleeve, and the secondary seal comprises an o-ring received within the annular groove.

8. A waterway assembly comprising:

an interface member including a disk having a first surface, a second surface, and an arcuate peripheral edge extending between the first surface and the second surface;

a first opening extending through the first surface and the second surface of the interface member;

a second opening extending through the first surface and the second surface of the interface member;

a first seat supported by the first surface of the interface member and configured to sealingly engage a face seal;

a second seat defined by the arcuate peripheral edge of the interface member and configured to sealingly engage a radial seal;

a first fluid transport component fluidly coupled to the first opening;

a second fluid transport component fluidly coupled to the second opening; and

wherein the first fluid transport component of the waterway assembly is formed of a polymer, the second fluid transport component is formed of a polymer, and the interface member is formed of a polymer overmolded around ends of the first fluid transport component and the second fluid transport component.

9. The waterway assembly of claim 8, further comprising a support boss extending from the second surface and configured to support the first and second fluid transport components.

10. The waterway assembly of claim 8, wherein the face seal comprises a gasket including a first loop portion surrounding the first opening and a second loop portion surrounding the second opening.

11. The waterway assembly of claim 10, further comprising a channel formed within the first surface of the interface member, the gasket being received within the channel.

12. The waterway assembly of claim 8, further comprising an annular groove formed within the interface member and configured to receive the radial seal.

13. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a holder;

a waterway assembly including an interface member supported by the holder, a hot water inlet tube having a first end fluidly coupled to the interface member and a second end configured to be fluidly coupled to a hot water supply, and a cold water inlet tube having a first end fluidly coupled to the interface member and a second end configured to be fluidly coupled to a cold water supply;

a valve assembly including a hot water inlet port in fluid communication with the hot water inlet tube, a cold water inlet port in fluid communication with the cold water inlet tube, and a movable valve member configured to control the flow of water through the hot water and cold water inlet ports;

a face seal positioned intermediate the waterway assembly and the valve assembly;

a locking member operably coupled to the valve assembly and configured to secure the valve assembly to the waterway assembly, the locking member comprising a sleeve operably coupled to the holder and forcing the valve assembly toward the waterway assembly;

a radial seal positioned intermediate the interface member of the waterway assembly and the locking member;

wherein an annular groove is formed in at least one of the interface member of the waterway assembly and the sleeve, and the radial seal comprises an o-ring received within the annular groove;

the interface member of the waterway assembly is formed of a polymer, the hot water inlet tube of the waterway assembly is formed of a polymer, and the cold water inlet tube is formed of a polymer; and

the interface member is overmolded around ends of the hot water inlet tube and the cold water inlet tube.

14. The fluid delivery device of claim 13, wherein the face seal comprises a gasket including a first loop portion surrounding the hot water inlet port of the valve assembly and a second loop portion surrounding the cold water inlet port of the valve assembly.

15. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, further comprising a channel formed within at least one of an upper surface of the interface member of the waterway assembly and a lower surface of the valve assembly, the gasket being received within the channel.

16. The fluid delivery device of claim 13, wherein the face seal is configured to provide a fluid seal between the hot water inlet tube of the waterway assembly and the hot water inlet port of the valve assembly, and a fluid seal between the cold water inlet tube of the waterway assembly and the cold water inlet port of the valve assembly.