Injection-molded faucet assembly
OwnerJames P. Liautaudinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low profile faucet assembly of the type having hot and cold water valves and a spout includes an injection-molded body defining inlets for connection to hot and cold water pipes, an outlet for communication to the spout, and means for mounting the valves. Fluid communication is established within the body by means of an embedded central core member having a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways connected to the inlets and outlet by apertures axially aligned with the openings. The use of multiple passageways within the core reduces the knocking effects of low hoop strength, and the side-by-side arrangement of these passageways in a horizontal plane allows a low profile to be obtained. The use of threaded metal sleeves embedded in the inlets allows hot and cold water pipes to be connected directly to the faucet.
Claims15
In a water faucet assembly of the type having
- a housing;
- at least one inlet in said housing;
- a flow control valve mounted in said inlet;
- an outlet in said housing;
- and
- means for coupling an inlet pipe to said inlet;
- the improvement wherein
- said housing is made of molded plastic and said inlet and said outlet are defined therein, and wherein liquid communication is established between said inlet and said outlet by means of an elongated core member embedded in said housing, said core member having a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways therethrough positioned between and in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet.
In a faucet assembly of the type including
- at least one fluid inlet,
- a fluid outlet, and
- means for mounting at least one flow control valve in a position between said inlet and said outlet for controlling the flow therethrough,
- the improvement comprising:
- a faucet body assembly providing a low profile body structure above a sink to which it is mounted, said body assembly including
- an overmold defining said inlet, outlet, and flow control valve mounting means;
- and
- means including an elongated core member embedded within said overmold for establishing fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet, said core having a plurality of passageways extending through said core between said inlet and said outlet in parallel spaced-apart relation for lowering hoop stress in said faucet assembly.
A body assembly for a faucet comprising, in combination:
- a thin elongated core member having a plurality of passageways extending in spaced-apart relationship lengthwise therein;
- an outlet aperture extending through said core member perpendicularly to said passageways and in communication therewith;
- at least one inlet aperture extending through said core member perpendicularly to said passageways and in communication therewith;
- and
- a plastic overmold, said core member being embedded therein, said overmold including an inlet portion axially aligned and in fluid communication with said inlet aperture in said core member, and an outlet portion axially aligned in fluid communication with said outlet aperture in said core member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.