Hybrid faucet assembly and water way for same

A faucet assembly, comprising

• (a) a cover plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• and
• (b) an internal water way assembly, comprising
• (i) a first valve assembly and a second valve assembly, each of the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly having
• a shank defining a longitudinally extending interior passageway therein, and
• a valve water way portion positioned on an upper portion of the shank and configured to define a valve seat therein, wherein the valve water way portion has bridge receiving portion having a transversely extending outlet passageway therein, and the valve seat is configured to receive fluid from a fluid source;
• (ii) a first valve cartridge and a second valve cartridge, each for controlling flow through the internal water way assembly and each having an inlet for receiving water entering the respective valve seat of the first and the second valve assemblies and an outlet in communication with the respective outlet passageway of the bridge receiving portion of the valve water way portion of the first and the second valve assemblies;
• (iii) a bridge having a passageway therethrough and a first and a second open inlet end, the first open inlet end configured to fit within the bridge receiving portion of the valve water way portion of the first valve assembly so as to receive water from and be in fluid communication with the outlet passageway of the bridge receiving portion of the valve water way portion of the first valve assembly, the second open inlet end configured to fit within the bridge receiving portion of the valve water way portion of the second valve assembly so as to receive water from and be in fluid communication with the outlet passageway of the bridge receiving portion of the valve water way portion of the second valve assembly, and the bridge having a spout receiving portion having a passageway therethrough;
• and
• (iv) a spout tube having an inlet end configured to be positioned in the spout receiving portion of the bridge, the spout tube open at the inlet end and in fluid communication with the passageway in the bridge and having a second outlet end for delivering water out of the faucet assembly when in use;
• (c) a first and a second valve handle each being capable of operably moving the first and the second valve cartridges respectively for controlling the flow of water through the internal water way assembly, and
• (d) a putty plate, wherein
• the internal water way assembly is attached directly to the cover plate,
• the bridge is a separate component that is configured to be fully assembled to the faucet assembly in any one of a plurality of fixed angular orientations with respect to the valve assemblies to position the spout tube to fit within an interior space defined by the interior surface of the cover plate and for a variety of cover plates,
• the cover plate comprises a top cover plate configured to cover the internal water way assembly and to be positioned on an upper surface portion of the spout tube, and a bottom cover plate configured to cover a bottom surface portion of the spout tube, wherein the top and the bottom cover plates are configured to be locked together, and wherein the bottom cover plate is distinct from the putty plate, and
• at least one component in the internal water way assembly comprises a polymeric material.

A valve assembly for use in an internal water way assembly comprising

• a shank defining a longitudinally extending interior passageway therein,
• a valve water way portion positioned on an upper portion of the shank and configured to define a valve seat therein, wherein the valve water way portion has a transversely extending outlet passageway therein configured to mate with a separate bridge of an internal water way assembly, the valve seat configured to receive fluid from a fluid source and to seat a valve cartridge therein, and
• at least one tap extending outwardly from the valve water way portion and having a hole therein for receiving a fastener such that the valve assembly when assembled as a component in an internal water way is configured to attach the internal water way to a faucet cover plate, wherein the cover plate comprises a top cover plate configured to cover the internal water way assembly and to be positioned on an upper surface portion of the spout tube, and a bottom cover plate, distinct from a putty plate of the valve assembly, configured to cover a bottom surface portion of the spout tube, wherein the top and the bottom cover plates are configured to be locked together,
• the valve assembly being configured to be attached to a bridge and a spout tube to form an internal water way for a faucet.

A method of assembling a faucet having an internal water way, comprising:

• (a) providing a cover plate having an interior surface defining an interior space;
• (b) assembling an internal water way having at least one component comprising a polymeric material by
• (i) forming a valve assembly comprising a shank defining a longitudinally extending interior passageway therein, and a valve water way portion positioned on an upper portion of the shank and configured to define a valve seat therein, the valve water way portion having a transversely extending outlet passageway therein, and the valve seat being configured to receive fluid from a fluid source,
• (ii) positioning a valve cartridge in the valve seat, the valve cartridge for controlling flow and having an inlet for receiving water entering the valve seat and an outlet in communication with the outlet passageway of the valve water way portion;
• (iii) providing a bridge having a passageway therethrough and a spout receiving portion having a passageway therethrough;
• (iv) rotatably positioning the bridge in an angular orientation with respect to the valve assembly that is selected such that a spout tube received in the spout receiving portion, the spout tube, the bridge, and the valve assembly fit within the interior space of the cover plate upon assembly, wherein the bridge is configured to be fully assembled to the faucet in any one of a plurality of fixed angular orientations with respect to the valve assembly to position the spout tube to fit within the interior space defined by the interior surface of the cover plate and for a variety of cover plates, and;
• (v) attaching the bridge to the valve water way portion so that the passageway within the bridge is in fluid communication with and able to receive water from the outlet passageway of the valve water way portion of the valve assembly;
• and
• (vi) attaching an inlet end of a spout tube to the spout receiving portion of the bridge to form an assembled internal water way, wherein the spout tube is open at the inlet end so as to be in fluid communication with the passageway in the bridge upon attachment and the spout tube has a second outlet end for delivering water out of the faucet assembly when in use;
• (c) positioning the cover plate over the assembled internal water way and attaching the interior surface of the cover plate to the assembled internal water way;
• and
• (d) positioning a faucet handle on the valve cartridge so that the handle is capable of operably moving the valve cartridge for controlling the flow through the assembled internal water way, wherein
• the cover plate comprises a top cover plate configured to cover the internal water way assembly and to be positioned on an upper surface portion of the spout tube, and a bottom cover plate, distinct from a putty plate of the faucet, configured to cover a bottom surface portion of the spout tube, wherein the top and the bottom cover plates are configured to be locked together.

A faucet assembly, comprising

• (a) a cover plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• and
• (b) an internal water way assembly, comprising
• (i) a valve assembly having
• a shank defining a longitudinally extending interior passageway therein, and
• a valve water way portion positioned on an upper portion of the shank and configured to define a valve seat therein, wherein the valve water way portion has a transversely extending outlet passageway therein, and the valve seat is configured to receive fluid from a fluid source, and
• (ii) a valve cartridge for controlling flow through the internal water way assembly having an inlet for receiving water entering the valve seat and an outlet in communication with the outlet passageway of the valve water way portion;
• (iii) a bridge having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with and to receive water from the outlet passageway of the valve water way portion of the valve assembly and the bridge having a spout receiving portion having a passageway therethrough;
• and
• (iv) a spout tube having an inlet end configured to be positioned in the spout receiving portion of the bridge, the spout tube open at the inlet end and in fluid communication with the passageway in the bridge and having a second outlet end for delivering water out of the faucet assembly when in use;
• and
• (c) at least one faucet handle positioned outside an interior space defined by the interior surface of the cover plate and capable of operably moving the valve cartridge for controlling the flow through the internal water way assembly,
• (d) a putty plate, wherein
• the internal water way assembly is configured to be directly attached to the cover plate after assembly of the internal water way assembly,
• the valve assembly has at least one outwardly extending tap with a hole therein for receiving a fastener and the interior surface of the cover plate has at least one receiving bore for receiving the fastener wherein the internal water way assembly attaches to the interior surface of the cover plate by the fastener;
• the bridge is a separate component that is configured to be fully assembled to the faucet assembly in any one of a plurality of fixed angular orientations with respect to the valve assembly to position the spout tube to fit within an interior space defined by the interior surface of the cover plate and for a variety of cover plates,
• the cover plate comprises a top cover plate configured to cover the internal water way assembly and to be positioned on an upper surface portion of the spout tube, and a bottom cover plate configured to cover a bottom surface portion of the spout tube, wherein the top and the bottom cover plates are configured to be locked together, and wherein the bottom cover plate is distinct from the putty plate, and
• at least one component in the internal water way assembly comprises a polymeric material.