US 10,865,908 B2Granted

Industrial plumbing fixture adaptor kit and method

OwnerPaul D. Kristynikinventor

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Abstract

An industrial plumbing fixture adaptor kit for connecting a handle assembly to a water valve and a related method. The kit may be used on a variety of water valves where different spacing exists between the handle and the water valve. The kit includes an adaptor having a conical element and hollow tube. A bushing is mountable between the conical element and external threads of the adaptor, and a handle is threadably attached to the adaptor and received in the bushing for forming a handle assembly. An interchangeable adaptor element is connectable to the water valve. Several interchangeable adaptor elements are provided, each with a different length and a different configured head. The interchangeable adaptor element is affixed to a stem of the water valve and is received in the hollow tube of adaptor when the handle assembly is secured to the fixture trim.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An industrial plumbing fixture adaptor kit for mounting a handle to a water valve, comprising:

an adaptor comprising an adaptor body having a first end with external threads and a second end;
a conical element fixedly mounted on the adaptor body at a location spaced away from the first end of the adaptor body;
a hollow tube fixedly attached to the second end of the adaptor body, the hollow tube being linearly aligned with the adaptor body and having a second end which is spaced away from the first end, the hollow tube being rectangular in cross section and having an opening defined in the second end;
a bushing mountable on the adaptor body adjacent to the conical element, the bushing being locatable between the conical element and the external threads of the adaptor, the bushing having external threads;
a first isolater washer mountable on the adaptor body adjacent to the bushing and between the bushing and the external threads of the adaptor;
a handle having internal threads and adapted to be threadably attached to the external threads of the adaptor;
and
an interchangeable adaptor element having a portion which is rectangular in cross-section and having a first end structured to be received within the defined opening of the hollow tube and having a head which is structured to be connected to the stem of a plumbing hardware.

5 more elements

A method of attaching a handle to a plumbing fixture, the steps comprising:

(a) providing an industrial plumbing fixture adaptor kit, comprising:
(i) an adaptor having an adaptor body with a first end with external threads, a conical element on the adaptor body spaced away from the first end of the adaptor;
and a hollow tube fixed attached to a second end of the adaptor, the hollow tube being linearly aligned with the adaptor body and having a second end spaced away from the first end, the hollow tube having an opening defined in the second end;
the bushing for mounting on the adaptor body adjacent to the conical element, (ii) a bushing being locatable between the conical element and the external threads of the adaptor;
(iii) a first washer for mounting on the adaptor body adjacent to the bushing between the bushing and the external threads of the adaptor;
(iv) a handle having internal threads and adapted to be threadably attached to the external threads of the adaptor body;
and (v) a plurality of interchangeable adaptor elements, each having a first end adapted to be received into the opening defined in the hollow tube of the adaptor, and each adaptor element having a head adapted to be connected to the plumbing hardware;
(b) mounting the bushing onto the adaptor body and against the conical element of the adaptor;
(c) mounting the first washer onto the adaptor body of the adaptor and against the bushing;
(d) mounting the handle onto the adaptor of the adaptor for engagement with the bushing and the first washer and engaging the internal threads of the handle with the external threads of the adaptor to form a handle assembly and for protruding a portion of the hollow tube out of the bushing and away from the handle;
(e) selecting an interchangeable adaptor element from the plurality of interchangeable adaptor elements;
(f) attaching the selected interchangeable adaptor element to a plumbing hardware for extension of the interchangeable adaptor element outwardly;
(g) attaching a fixture trim to a surface and around the interchangeable adaptor element;
and
(h) securing the handle assembly of step (d) to the fixture trim for engagement of the hollow tube of the adaptor with the interchangeable adaptor element for rotation of the handle and opening and closing of the plumbing hardware.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/369,472Filed 29 Mar 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 Jul 2018
Published: US 2020/0003328 A12 Jan 2020
Granted: 15 Dec 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16K 31/605
Handles: for single handle mixing valves
E03C 1/04
Plumbing installations for fresh water: water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
E03C 1/042
Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths: arrangements on taps for wash-basins or baths for connecting to the wall
Y10T 137/6024
Faucet type [e.g., domestic water use, etc.]: particular handle or handle fastening means