Faucet mounting system including a lift rod

• US 8,407,828 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Vogel, John David, Reeder, Ryan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/998,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 469/5, 4671-678, 461/9, 462/4, 462/6
• US Class Current: 4/678
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/23 with mechanical closure mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/2302 the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via rigid elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6977 Escutcheon type support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet assembly including a mounting base and an upper faucet assembly. A coupler is pivotally supported by the mounting base and releasably couples the upper faucet assembly to the mounting base. A lift rod is slidably received within a lift rod passageway defined by the coupler.

Claims

1. A faucet assembly comprising:

a delivery spout;

at least one valve fluidly coupled to the delivery spout and configured to control the flow of water to the delivery spout;

a lift rod supported for movement relative to the delivery spout; and

a pivoting tubular guide including a lift rod passageway slidably receiving the lift rod and defining a longitudinal axis, the guide supported for pivoting movement about a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to support the lift rod at one of a plurality of angular orientations.

2. The faucet assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting base supporting the delivery spout; and

wherein the guide includes a support member pivotally coupled to the mounting base, and a securing member coupled to an upper end of the support member, the securing member being configured to releasably secure the delivery spout to the mounting base.

3. The faucet assembly of claim 2, wherein the guide further includes at least one pivot pin, and the mounting base includes at least one socket rotatably receiving the at least one pivot pin.

4. The faucet assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper end of the securing member includes a tool engaging surface.

5. The faucet assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting base includes:

a base plate;

a first attachment post extending downwardly from the base plate;

a second attachment post extending downwardly from the base plate;

a first mounting base locking member operably coupled to the first attachment post, wherein the first mounting base is movable along the first attachment post for engaging the under surface of the mounting deck; and

a second mounting base locking member operably coupled to the second attachment post;

wherein the first mounting base is movable along the first attachment post for engaging the under surface of the mounting deck.

6. The faucet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a drain assembly including a drain plug operably coupled to the lift rod such that movement of the lift rod causes corresponding movement of the drain plug.

7. A faucet assembly comprising:

a mounting base configured to be coupled to a mounting deck;

an upper faucet assembly positioned above the mounting base, the upper faucet assembly including a delivery spout and a locking surface; and

a coupler including a pivoting support member pivotally supported by the mounting base, the support member positionable in a plurality of angular orientations, and a securing member connected to the support member and releasably engaging the locking surface of the upper faucet assembly for releasably securing the upper faucet assembly to the mounting base.

8. The faucet assembly of claim 7, wherein the securing member comprises a lock bushing threadably coupled to the support member, the lock bushing including an annular flange for engaging the locking surface of the upper faucet assembly.

9. The faucet assembly of claim 8, wherein the upper end of the lock bushing includes a tool engaging surface.

10. The faucet assembly of claim 7, further comprising a lift rod, wherein the coupler includes a lift rod passageway slidably receiving the lift rod and defining a longitudinal axis, the coupler being supported for pivoting movement about a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

11. The faucet assembly of claim 10, further comprising a drain assembly including a drain plug operably coupled to the lift rod such that movement of the lift rod causes corresponding movement of the drain plug.

12. The faucet assembly of claim 7, wherein the coupler further includes at least one pivot pin, and the mounting base includes at least one socket rotatably receiving the pivot pin.

13. The faucet assembly of claim 7, wherein the mounting base includes:

a base plate;

a first attachment post extending downwardly from the base plate;

a second attachment post extending downwardly from the base plate;

a first mounting base locking member operably coupled to the first attachment post, wherein the first mounting base is movable along the first attachment post for engaging the under surface of the mounting deck; and

a second mounting base locking member operably coupled to the second attachment post;

wherein the first mounting base is movable along the first attachment post for engaging the under surface of the mounting deck.

14. A coupling system for use with a faucet assembly including a lift rod, the coupling system comprising:

a mounting base configured to be coupled to a mounting deck; and

a coupler including a pivoting support member and a securing member movably connected to the support member, the support member defining a lift rod passageway configured to slidably receive a lift rod and defining a longitudinal axis, the support member being supported by the mounting base for pivoting movement about a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to support the lift rod at one of a plurality of angular orientations.

15. The coupling system of claim 14, wherein the support member further includes at least one pivot pin, and the mounting base includes at least one socket rotatably receiving the at least one pivot pin.

16. The coupling system of claim 14, wherein the securing member comprises a lock bushing threadably coupled to the support member, the lock bushing including an annular flange for clamping a locking surface to the mounting base.

17. The coupling system of claim 16, wherein the support member includes a nut cooperating with the flange of the lock bushing for clamping an upper faucet assembly to the mounting base.

18. The coupling system of claim 14, wherein the mounting base includes:

a base plate;

a first attachment post extending downwardly from the base plate;

a second attachment post extending downwardly from the base plate;

a first mounting base locking member operably coupled to the first attachment post, wherein the first mounting base is movable along the first attachment post for engaging the under surface of the mounting deck; and

a second mounting base locking member operably coupled to the second attachment post;

wherein the first mounting base is movable along the first attachment post for engaging the under surface of the mounting deck.

19. A faucet system kit including:

a mounting base configured to be coupled to a mounting deck and supporting a lift rod passageway;

a first upper faucet assembly including a delivery spout, and a single handle coupled to a control valve to control the flow of water to the delivery spout;

a second upper faucet assembly including a delivery spout, a first handle coupled to a first control valve to control the flow of hot water to the delivery spout, and a second handle coupled to a second control valve to control the flow of cold water to the delivery spout;

a lift rod having a longitudinal axis and slidably received within the lift rod passageway; and

wherein the first upper faucet assembly and the second upper faucet assembly are configured to be interchangeably mounted on the mounting base with the lift rod extending through the lift rod passageway, the lift rod passageway supporting the lift rod at one of a plurality of angular orientations, the longitudinal axis of the lift rod having a first angular orientation when the first upper faucet assembly is mounted on the mounting base and having a second angular orientation when the second upper faucet assembly is mounted on the mounting base, the first angular orientation being different from the second angular orientation.

20. The faucet system kit of claim 19, further comprising a guide supported by the mounting base and defining the lift rod passageway, wherein the guide is supported for pivoting movement about a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lift rod.

21. The faucet system kit of claim 20, wherein the guide includes a support member pivotally coupled to the mounting base, and a securing member threadably coupled to an upper end of the support member, the securing member being configured to releasably secure alternately the first upper faucet assembly and the second upper faucet assembly to the mounting base.

22. The faucet system kit of claim 21, wherein the guide member further includes at least one pivot pin, and the mounting base includes at least one socket rotatably receiving the at least one pivot pin.

23. The faucet system kit of claim 19, further comprising a drain assembly including a drain plug operably coupled to the lift rod such that movement of the lift rod causes corresponding movement of the drain plug.