Shower trim assembly
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsAndrew James Stokes, Michael J. Strege
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve trim assembly for use in a shower environment. The valve trim assembly includes an outer covering and a valve assembly. The outer covering includes a first axis disposed through a midpoint of the outer covering. The valve assembly is at least partially disposed within the outer covering and configured to control a flow of fluid. The valve assembly includes a nut coupled to the outer covering, an adapter at least partially disposed within the nut and rotatable about the first axis, and an elongated joint coaxially aligned with the adapter. The nut and the adapter cooperatively define a joint where the adapter rotates within the nut to maintain engagement between the outer covering and a wall.
Claims20
A valve trim assembly for use in a shower environment, comprising:
- an escutcheon plate having a first axis disposed through the escutcheon plate;
- a nut coupled to the escutcheon plate;
- and
- a valve assembly at least partially disposed within the escutcheon plate and configured to control a flow of fluid, wherein the valve assembly comprises an adapter configured to couple to the nut and rotate about the first axis.
A method of manufacturing a valve trim assembly, comprising:
- forming a nut having an annular body with a bore extending therethrough;
- forming an adapter having an annular body with a second threaded interface disposed therein;
- forming an escutcheon plate with a hollow cavity disposed within;
- forming a valve stem having an elongated body;
- and
- forming a mixing valve housing, the mixing valve housing including a third threaded interface at least partially disposed on an external surface of the mixing valve housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.