# US 10,767,353 B2 · Geared mixing faucet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,353 B2 - Document ID: US10767353B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/865,084 - Filed: 2018-01-08 - Published: 2018-07-12 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-09 - Assignees: AS America, Inc. - Applicants: AS America, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph John Ientile; Xiaojing Ye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767353B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/0412: {Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle (valve actuating members as such F16K31/60)} - E03C 1/0404: {Constructional or functional features of the spout} - F16K 11/0782: {Single-lever operated mixing valves with closure members having flat sealing faces} - F16K 31/53: with toothed gearing - F16K 31/602: {Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence)} - F16K 31/605: {for single handle mixing valves} - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A faucet that uses a gearing mechanism to allow the faucet handle to be placed much closer to the mixing valve is disclosed. Various embodiments involve geared mechanical operation of a mixing faucet, where the gears transfer motion of a handle to a faucet valve, which may allow for a lower handle (e.g., a handle placed closer to the faucet body). In some embodiments, an upper gear is provided in a faucet handle, and the upper gear may be held in a carrier. A set screw may lock the handle in place. Finally, a lower gear may be pushed onto the top of a valve stem. When the handle is lifted, the upper gear rotates against the lower gear, causing the valve to open. The carrier may rotate within the valve body, thus allowing for temperature control of the valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A faucet comprising: a faucet body; a mixing cartridge, disposed inside the faucet body, comprising a valve stem, wherein the mixing cartridge is configured to receive hot water and cold water and to dispense mixed water to be dispensed by the faucet; a handle, disposed on the faucet body; and a plurality of gears, disposed inside the faucet body, configured to transfer motion from the handle to the valve stem in order to actuate the valve stem and adjust flow through the mixing cartridge, wherein the plurality of gears comprises a first gear coupled to the handle and a second gear coupled to the valve stem, and wherein the first gear and the second gear are forced toward one another by one or more springs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first gear and second gear are configured to engage one another such that the first gear drives rotation of the second gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first gear is coupled to an underside of the handle by one or more screws. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the second gear is coupled to the valve stem by a press-on connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein: rotating the handle about an axis of rotation of the first gear causes the first gear to rotate about the axis of rotation of the first gear; and rotating the second gear about an axis of rotation of the second gear causes the valve stem to rotate about the axis of rotation of the second gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The faucet of claim 5, wherein causing the valve stem to rotate about the axis of rotation of the second gear adjusts a flow rate of the mixed water dispensed by the faucet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The faucet of claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the first gear and the axis of rotation of the second gear are parallel to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The faucet of claim 5, further comprising a carrier disposed inside the faucet body, wherein the carrier is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of the carrier perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein the axis of rotation of the carrier intersects one or both of the axis rotation of the first gear and the axis of rotation of the second gear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein the carrier comprises a cylindrical body portion configured to fit in rotating facing relation with an interior surface of the faucet body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein: the carrier comprises a protruding portion extending from an upward-facing surface of the carrier; and the first gear is mounted on the protruding portion of the carrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first gear is mounted on the protruding portion of the carrier by one or more pins defining the axis of rotation of the first gear. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein the carrier comprises an opening in an upward-facing surface of the carrier, the opening configured to allow the first gear and the second gear to engage one another through the opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein the carrier is configured to be disposed inside the faucet body above the mixing cartridge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein the handle is configured to be rotatable about the axis of rotation of the carrier to cause the carrier to rotate about the axis of rotation of the carrier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein the handle is configured to be rotatable about the axis of rotation of the carrier to cause the valve stem to rotate about the axis of rotation of the carrier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The faucet of claim 16, wherein causing the valve stem to rotate about the axis of rotation of the carrier adjusts a temperature of water dispensed by the faucet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The faucet of claim 8, wherein rotating the handle about the axis of rotation of the carrier causes the first gear to rotate about the axis of rotation of the carrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) The faucet of claim 5, wherein the first axis of rotation of the first gear lies within a plane defined by an upward-facing surface of the faucet body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the handle is mounted to the faucet body at a proximal end of the handle, the proximal end of the handle comprising a rounded portion protruding downward toward and into the faucet body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein the one or more springs force the valve stem toward a flow plate of the mixing cartridge. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The faucet of claim 1, wherein at least one spring of the one or more springs is disposed in a channel of the valve stem. ### Claim 23 A faucet comprising: a faucet body; a handle, disposed on the faucet body; a first gear configured to be disposed inside a faucet body; a second gear configured to be disposed inside the faucet body, wherein the first gear and the second gear are configured to engage with one another to transfer motion from a faucet handle to a valve stem in order to actuate the valve stem, and one or more springs that force the first gear and the second gear toward one another. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The faucet of claim 23, wherein the first gear and second gear are configured to engage one another such that the first gear drives rotation of the second gear. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The faucet of claim 23, wherein: the first gear is configured to be coupled the faucet handle; and the second gear is configured to be coupled to the valve stem. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The faucet of claim 25, wherein: the first gear is configured such that, when the first gear is coupled to the faucet handle, rotating the handle about axis of rotation of the first gear causes the first gear to rotate about the axis of rotation of the first gear; and the second gear is configured such that, when the second gear is coupled to the valve stem, rotating the second gear about an axis of rotation of the second gear causes the valve stem to rotate about the axis of rotation of the second gear. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The faucet of claim 23, wherein the faucet is configured such that, when the first gear is coupled to the faucet handle and the second gear is coupled to the valve stem, the one or more springs force the valve stem toward a flow plate of a mixing cartridge to which the valve stem is coupled. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The faucet of claim 23, wherein the faucet is configured such that, when the second gear is coupled to the valve stem, at least one spring of the one or more springs is disposed in a channel of the valve stem.