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US 2008/0289709 A1Published application
Waterway connection
AssigneeMasco Corporation of Indiana
InventorThomas Pinette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler for a faucet is disclosed which couples a first waterway component and a second waterway component, the coupler being an overmold component.
Claims20
A fluid delivery device for connection to a water supply having a hot water supply and a cold water supply, the fluid delivery device comprising:
- a hot water inlet member including a flexible tubing portion adapted to be coupled to the hot water supply;
- a cold water inlet member including a flexible tubing portion adapted to be coupled to the cold water supply;
- a faucet assembly coupled to the hot water inlet member and the cold water inlet member and having a water outlet connected to the hot water inlet member and the cold water inlet member through a waterway of the faucet assembly, the faucet assembly including
- a first upstanding portion having a threaded external surface;
- a second upstanding portion having a threaded external surface, the second upstanding portion being generally parallel to the first upstanding portion;
- a hot water valve positioned to control a flow rate of hot water through the waterway of the faucet assembly from the hot water inlet member to the water outlet of the faucet assembly;
- a cold water valve positioned to control a flow rate of cold water through the waterway of the faucet assembly from the cold water inlet member to the water outlet of the faucet assembly;
- and
- a spout having a downstream waterway component which receives hot water from the hot water valve and cold water from the cold water valve and provides the hot water and the cold water to the water outlet of the faucet assembly;
- and
- an overmold component supported by the faucet assembly, the overmold component being coupled to the hot water inlet member and to the cold water inlet member, the overmold component maintaining a relative position of the downstream waterway component, the hot water inlet member, and the cold water inlet member.
8 more elements
A method of delivering water with a two-handle faucet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a flexible hot water waterway, a flexible cold water waterway, and a waterway component of a spout;
- positioning a hot water valve between the flexible hot water waterway and the waterway component of the spout, the hot water valve having a first position wherein hot water from the flexible hot water waterway is communicated to the waterway component of the spout and a second position wherein hot water from the flexible hot water waterway is prevented from being communicated to the waterway component;
- positioning a cold water valve between the flexible cold water waterway and the waterway component of the spout, the cold water valve having a first position wherein cold water from the flexible cold water waterway is communicated to the waterway component of the spout and a second position wherein cold water from the flexible cold water waterway is prevented from being communicated to the waterway component;
- wherein at least one of the hot water and the cold water passes through an overmold coupler as the at least one of the hot water and the cold water is communicated from the respective one of the flexible hot water waterway and the flexible cold water waterway to the waterway component of the spout, the overmold coupler maintaining a position of the at least one of the flexible hot water waterway and the flexible cold water waterway component relative to the waterway component of the spout.
1 more element
A method of delivering water with a faucet, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a valve body between an upstream waterway component which receives water from a supply and a downstream waterway component which provides water to a fluid outlet, the valve body includes a metal sleeve and an internal structure including a recess which holds a seal assembly, the internal structure being a polymeric material;
- positioning a seal assembly in the recess of the internal structure of the valve body, the seal assembly having a fluid conduit through which water may pass;
- and
- positioning a valve in the valve body, the valve being moveable relative to the valve body and the valve cooperating with the seal assembly to prevent a communication of water to the downstream waterway when the valve is in a first position and to allow the communication of water to the downstream waterway when the valve is in a second position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.