Flow-switching water-mixing faucet assembly

In an operating mechanism for a fluid flow shifting valve of a sanitary mixing faucet assembly and the like of a bathtub and shower or the like, which operates a shifting valve stem guided in the mixing valve body so as to shift the water flow between the bathtub and the shower at will, the improvement wherein said valve stem is pivotally connected to an operating lever which is also pivotally attached to a pivot bearing, and the lever arms of said operating lever are so proportioned that a reduced applied force is required to operate said flow shifting valve, said pivot bearing being disposed in a boxshaped, rectangular cross section lever case having a front side wall adjacent said shifting valve stem and an opposing rear side wall with a substantial rear wall opening therein, said lever case having a top opening extending over substantially the entire top of said case, said lever case being fastened in a cavity conformed to hold said lever case in said faucet body of said mixing faucet assembly, and said pivotable operating lever is rotatably attached to said pivot bearing by a snap coupling, wherein said top opening of said lever case is substantially covered by said operating lever.