Patent ID: 9677254
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: E03C,F16K

Claim:
1. A valve cartridge for placement within a single-lever faucet comprising: a valve assembly constructed to be disposed in a manifold of a faucet body, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body; a regulator having a valve stem stop with a top surface and defining an opening axially through the valve stem stop from the top surface, the regulator having a pawl release member disposed on the top surface of the valve stem stop and extending toward and into the opening of the valve stem stop and upwardly from the valve stem stop; and a valve stem having a lower end portion and an upper end portion, the valve stem pivotally disposed in the opening of the valve stem stop wherein the valve stem lower end portion operatively engages the regulator, and the upper end portion has an actuator gear disposed thereon, wherein the valve stem is operable between a closed valve position and a plurality of open valve positions, wherein the valve assembly is configured to control a flow rate of water; and a flow control assembly operatively connected to the valve assembly and attached to a handle of the single-lever faucet, the flow control assembly comprising: a handle actuator having an actuator element adapted to attach to the handle of the single-lever faucet, the handle actuator pivotably connected to the valve assembly, wherein the handle actuator is operable between a water-on position, a neutral position and a water-off position, and wherein the handle actuator operates the valve stem to control the flow rate of the water; a pawl pivotably connected to the handle actuator and positioned to engage the actuator gear on the valve stem when the handle actuator is pivoted to the water-on position and to engage the pawl release member on the valve stop body of the valve assembly when the handle actuator is pivoted to the water-off position; an actuator ring having at least a top surface that interacts with a bottom portion of the handle actuator; and a biasing member disposed between the valve assembly and the handle actuator providing a vertical motion to the handle actuator and wherein the biasing member provides a resilient force to bias the handle actuator towards the neutral position when the handle actuator is pivoted to the water-on position or to the water-off position; wherein the handle actuator automatically returns to the neutral position with the water flowing after the user pivots the handle actuator to the water-on position followed by the user releasing the handle actuator; and wherein the handle actuator automatically returns to the neutral position with no water flowing after the user pivots the handle actuator to the water-off position followed by the user releasing the handle actuator.