Patent ID: 7306005
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A faucet valve cartridge for controlling flow through a valve housing, the latter having an inlet, an outlet and defining a cartridge seat, the cartridge seat being interposed between the inlet and outlet and for cooperating with a portion of said cartridge to provide a seal between the inlet and outlet, said cartridge comprising: a sleeve elongating in an axial direction, said sleeve defining a proximal end and a distal end disposed opposite said proximal end in said axial direction, said sleeve defining a floating seating surface adjacent a distal end of said sleeve, said sleeve defining an entrance for communicating with the inlet of the valve housing, said sleeve defining an exit for communicating with the outlet of the valve housing, said sleeve defining a flow passage elongating in a direction generally transverse to said axial direction and connecting said entrance and said exit; a valve stem mounted within said sleeve and being longitudinally movable between a closed position and an open position, said stem defining a proximal end and a distal end disposed opposite said proximal end in said axial direction; a valve seat defining a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end, the proximal end of the valve seat including a tongue, said tongue of the proximal end of the valve seat being encased within an elastomeric layer, the floating seat at the distal end of the cartridge body being received against a portion of said elastomeric layer of said proximal end of the valve seat so as to provide a floating sealing engagement with the valve seat, a portion of said elastomeric layer of said proximal end of the valve seat being configured to be received against and deformed into sealing engagement with the cartridge seat of the valve housing so as to provide a floating sealing engagement with the cartridge seat; and a seal piece mounted on said distal end of said valve stem and configured for engagement with said distal end of said valve seat, said seal piece being selectively engageable with said distal end of said valve seat in said closed position for preventing flow to said passage.