Quick connect/disconnect water faucet conduit assembly

#The present invention relates to a quick connect/disconnect faucet water conduit assembly which facilitates the connection between a spout nipple and the valve bodies which control the flow of water to the spout nipple. Present practice in the installation of faucets, particularly kitchen faucets, which require a below deck water connection between the valve bodies and the spout nipple, necessitates a mechanical connection at each end of a water conduit. These may be soldered connections, or they may use a nut and a threaded end on the valve body. Either type of connection is time consuming and requires the installer to spend a considerable period beneath the sink deck.

#The present invention provides a hose assembly which has a quick connect/disconnect adapter at each end thereof. The adapters are sealingly attached to the hose, which may be flexible, and cooperate and interlock with a tube which extends down from the valve body and the spout nipple. The installer need only snap the quick connect adapter onto the end of the water tube from the valve body and the water tube from spout nipple and the installation is complete. The hose may be disconnected by manipulating the clip on the adapter if there is a necessity to change out the valve body or the spout nipple.

#The present invention relates to a faucet water conduit assembly which may be quickly connected and disconnected to a valve body and a spout nipple.

#The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a kitchen faucet assembly and the water conduit connections therebetween;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hose connection between any one of the faucet fixtures shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 1 illustrates a typical kitchen faucet installation. There are control handles 10 and 12 on each side of a faucet spout 14. Each of the handles 10 and 12 has a valve body indicated at 16 and 18, respectively, and the spout 14 has a spout nipple 20. Suitable valve cartridges, such as the MOEN 1224, may be positioned within the valve bodies. As is well known in the art, the handles control the flow of water from hot and cold water supplies to the spout nipple from which the water is discharged through the spout. The present invention is specifically concerned with the water connections between the valve bodies and the spout nipple.

#Each of the valve bodies 16 and 18 has an inlet water conduit 22 and 24 extending downwardly therefrom, with each terminating in a connector 26 and 28, respectively. The valve bodies in turn each have a water outlet tube 30 and 32 at the end thereof. Similarly, the spout nipple body 20 has a tube 34 extending downwardly therefrom. The tubes 30, 32 and 34 and their connection to the hose assembly is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2-4.

#Also illustrated in FIG. 1 are a pair of water conduits or hoses 36 and 38. The hose 36 is connected between a pout nipple fitting 40 and a valve body fitting 42 and the hose 38 is connected between the spout nipple fitting 40 and the valve body fitting 44. FIGS. 2-4 represent and illustrate the connection between a water tube, whether it be any one of tubes 30, 32 and 34, and the valve body fittings 40, 42 and 44.