Patent ID: 8272083
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: E03C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A faucet installation system for installing a faucet on a sink or countertop having at least one mounting aperture adapted for mounting the faucet from the sink or countertop, the sink or countertop having a lower surface, the faucet including a valve stem that is adapted for insertion through one of the apertures, the system including: a valve having a valve stem, the valve stem being adapted for insertion through the aperture, the valve stem having an external surface having a perimeter, the perimeter including engagement recesses; and a retention nut, the retention nut comprising a pair of sections, each section having a concave inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of at least one section having an engagement protrusion that has been adapted for engaging the engagement recesses in the external surface of the valve stem, each of the sections of the retention nut further having a pair of ends, one of the ends of each of the sections having a resilient connector comprising a semi-cylindrical female portion for engaging a generally cylindrical male portion on an end on the other section, so that the pair of sections are hingedly connected to one another when the female cylindrical portion engages the generally cylindrical male portion and thus forming a closed nut around the valve stem to allow the engagement protrusion to engage the engagement recesses in the external surface of the valve stem, the retention nut further comprising a second set of resilient connectors, the second set of resilient connectors comprising a resilient tab on one of the sections, the resilient tab having a barb along the tab, and the other section includes an aperture having an edge adapted for engaging the barb on the resilient tab such that a portion of the resilient tab extends from the aperture when the barb engages the resilient tab, so that pivoting the sections relative to one another through the first set of resilient connectors allows the insertion of the resilient tab into the aperture and the barb engages the edge adapted for accepting the resilient tab, and so that the sections form a closed nut that engages the recesses in the external surface of the valve stem so that the retention nut may be retained at a fixed location along the valve stem, and the closed nut may be released by moving the resilient tab to disengage the barb from the edge of the aperture.