Composite faucet body and internal waterway
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsJeffrey A. Kohler, David J. Macon, Mark W. Schibur, Thomas Manoni, Vindhya K. Tiwari, Jeffrey A. Schumacher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A faucet includes an internal waterway. The internal waterway is at least partially formed of a first material defined by a maximum temperature. The internal waterway includes a valve seat configured to receive water and a conduit coupled to the valve seat and configured to receive the water from the valve seat. The faucet further includes a body formed of a second material having a processing temperature less than the maximum temperature of the first material forming the internal waterway, wherein the body is cast around the internal waterway.
Claims20
A faucet comprising:
- an internal waterway at least partially formed of a first material defined by a maximum temperature, the internal waterway comprising:
- a valve seat configured to receive water;
- and
- a conduit coupled to the valve seat and configured to receive the water from the valve seat;
- and
- a body formed of a second material having a processing temperature less than the maximum temperature of the first material forming the internal waterway, wherein the body is cast around the internal waterway.
A method for constructing a faucet, the method comprising:
- positioning a plumbing assembly at least partially formed of a first material, defined by a maximum temperature, in a mold, the plumbing assembly comprising a valve seat coupled to a conduit;
- and
- at least partially encapsulating the plumbing assembly in a second material by casting the second material around the plumbing assembly in the mold, the second material having a processing temperature less than the maximum temperature of the first material.
A faucet comprising:
- a plumbing assembly at least partially formed of a first material defined by a maximum temperature, the plumbing assembly comprising:
- a valve seat;
- and
- a body chamber coupled to the valve seat and in fluid communication with the valve seat;
- and
- a body formed of a composite material having a processing temperature less than the maximum temperature, wherein the body at least partially encapsulates the plumbing assembly and is isolated by the body chamber from water within the body chamber when the water is within the body chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.