Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a tool which greatly facilitates the disassembly and assembly of a single-arm faucet. Embodiments of the tool include a wrench end which is used to remove the adjusting ring from the top of the faucet. The faucet then can be readily disassembled using the compressor end of the tool and maintenance or repair accomplished. Reassembly involves use of the compressor end of the tool to compress the cam, which greatly facilitates the assembly process. Assembly is finished by use of the wrench end to engage and adjust the adjusting ring. Embodiments include a tool carrier. Other embodiments include an expander wrench attachment and a reducer wrench attachment which extend the utility of the tool to a wide variety of models of single-arm faucets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S)  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
         [0000]     Reference to a “Microfiche Appendix” 
         [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND  
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98  
       [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,321 discloses a wrench with two diameters for turning hex nuts or nuts having between 2 and 6 wrenching lugs for use in attaching faucet assemblies in place under the sink top.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,404 discloses a tool for replacing the diverted valve in a faucet.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,447 discloses a tubular pipe tool having slots for a nut engaging socket which has radially projecting studs. This tool is designed for under sink installation of a faucet assembly.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,099 discloses a tubular tool for under sink installation of a single lever faucet which has a nut receiving socket on one end and flutes and or texturing on the handle.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,317 discloses a tubular tool with rods reinforcing side walls adjacent to notches but which do not extend into the interior of the tube. Also there are ribs in a second socket which extend parallel to the longitude axis from an internal collar which slide into notches in a first tubular socket so the second socket rotates with the first.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,807 discloses a socket with an off-center slot for use in tightening and loosening nuts in the presence of an attached pipe.  
         [0010]     Pub. US Pat. Applic. No. 2003/0131463 discloses a tool for removing and installing flanges which has a left hand thread and a frusto-conical wedge on one end.  
         [0011]     Pub US Pat. Applic. No. 2005/0098001 discloses nested socket members having a handle with screwdriver bits.  
         [0012]     The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0013]     The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.  
         [0014]     Embodiments include tool comprising a tubular body, the body having a grip at the middle of the body, a wrench end comprising a wrench cylinder having a bore, at least one lug attached to the wrench cylinder wall inside the bore, and a compressor end comprising, a compressor cylinder having a bore, the external diameter of the compressor cylinder less than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder.  
         [0015]     Other embodiments include an attachment to the to comprising a cylindrical tool holder comprised of resilient flexible material, the tool holder sized to fit into the bore of the wrench end, the tool holder having at least one slot in a first end to interact with the at least one lug of the wrench end cylinder, the tool holder having at least one cavity to hold tools.  
         [0016]     Other embodiments include an expanded wrench attachment which comprises a first and a second end, the first end comprising a cylinder having a diameter capable of insertion into the wrench cylinder and at least one notch on the circumference of the first end cylinder capable of interaction with the at least one wrench cylinder lug, and a second end comprising an expanded wrench cylinder having a bore, and at least one lug attached to the expanded wrench cylinder wall inside the bore, the external diameter of the expanded wrench cylinder larger than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder.  
         [0017]     Other embodiments include a reduced wrench attachment which comprises a first and a second end, the first end comprising a cylinder having a diameter capable of insertion into the wrench cylinder and at least one notch on the circumference of the first end cylinder capable of interaction with the at least one wrench cylinder lug, and a second end comprising an reduced wrench cylinder having a bore, and at least one lug attached to the reduced wrench cylinder wall inside the bore, the external diameter of the reduced wrench cylinder less than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder.  
         [0018]     Other embodiments include a tool comprising a tubular body, the body having a grip at the middle of the body, a wrench end comprising a wrench cylinder having a bore, a truncated cone attached within the bore, at least one lug attached to the external surface of the truncated cone, and a compressor end comprising, a compressor cylinder having a bore, the external diameter of the compressor cylinder greater than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder.  
         [0019]     In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment with a truncated cone at the wrench cylinder.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment with lugs attached to the bore of the wrench cylinder.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an expander wrench attachment.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a reducer wrench attachment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an accessory holder and accessories.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a disassembled single-handle faucet.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the steps of disassembling a single-handle faucet.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the steps of assembling a single-handle faucet. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment  10  with a truncated cone at the wrench cylinder. Visible in FIG. I are the tubular body  12 , and grip  14  which covers the tubular body, attached to a first end of the tubular body is the wrench cylinder  20 , which has a truncated cone  26  fixedly attached within the bore of the wrench cylinder  20 , and first lug  22  and second lug  24  fixedly attached at the ends of a diameter of the truncated cone on the external surface of the truncated cone. Also visible in  FIG. 1  is the compressor cylinder  30  attached to a second end of the tubular body and a notch  32  in the compressor cylinder. In this embodiment the external diameter of the compressor cylinder  30  is larger than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder  20 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment  110  with lugs attached to the bore of the wrench cylinder. Visible in  FIG. 2  are the tubular body  112 , and grip  114  which covers the tubular body, attached to a first end of the tubular body is the wrench cylinder  120 , with a bore  126 , which has a first lug  122  and second lug  124  fixedly attached at the ends of a diameter of the bore on the internal surface of the wrench cylinder or on the surface of the bore. The ends of the lugs may be slightly displaced away from the end of the wrench cylinder, which the formation of a small apron  128  of wrench cylinder which extends beyond the lugs. This apron allows the frictional fit and retention of an adjusting ring after removal of the adjusting from the faucet. Also visible in  FIG. 2  is the compressor cylinder  130  attached to a second end of the tubular body and a notch  132  in the compressor cylinder. In this embodiment the external diameter of the compressor cylinder  130  is smaller than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder  120 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an expander wrench attachment  150 . Visible in  FIG. 3  is wrench cylinder  151 , with a bore  156 , which has a first lug  158  and second lug  159  fixedly attached on the internal surface of the wrench cylinder or on the surface of the bore. Also visible in  FIG. 3  is the expander attachment end  152  attached to a second end of the wrench cylinder and a first notch  154  in the expander attachment end. A second notch  155  not visible in  FIG. 3  is at the end of a diameter of the bore with the first notch at the other end. In this embodiment the external diameter of the expander attachment end  152  is smaller than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder  151 . The external diameter of the expander attachment end  152  is slightly less than the diameter of the bore  126  of the wrench cylinder  120  of the embodiment in  FIG. 2 . The expander attachment end  152  fits into the bore  126  of  FIG. 2  and is restrained from rotation by interaction of the notches  154  and  155  with the lugs  124  and  122  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a reducer wrench attachment  160 . Visible in  FIG. 4  is wrench cylinder  161 , with a bore  166 , which has a first lug  168  and second lug  169  fixedly attached on the internal surface of the wrench cylinder or on the surface of the bore. Also visible in  FIG. 4  is the reducer attachment end  162  attached to a second end of the wrench cylinder and a first notch  164  in the expander attachment end. A second notch  165  not visible in  FIG. 4  is at the end of a diameter of the bore with the first notch at the other end. In this embodiment the external diameter of the reducer attachment end  162  is larger than the external diameter of the wrench cylinder  161 . The external diameter of the reducer attachment end  162  is slightly less than the diameter of the bore  126  of the wrench cylinder  120  of the embodiment in  FIG. 2 . The reducer attachment end  162  fits into the bore  126  of  FIG. 2  and is restrained from rotation by interaction of the notches  164  and  165  with the lugs  124  and  122  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an accessory holder  140  and accessories. Visible in  FIG. 5  is the cylindrical accessory holder body  142  with approximately parallel holes  148  and  146  to accommodate accessory tools  149  and a screwdriver or wrench expander attachment  145 , respectively. The diameter of the accessory holder is constructed to be slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the compression cylinders of the various embodiment tools and is retained in these cylinders by friction fit. The accessory tools are retained in the holes by friction fit.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a disassembled single-handle faucet  200 . Visible in  FIG. 6  is the faucet body  202  and ball assembly chamber  204 . The side of the body has threads  210  for use in removably attachment of the cap  222  by interaction with threads  222  on the underside of the cap and not visible in  FIG. 6 . The ball assembly chamber  204  has a chamber lip  205  at the top of the chamber with a cam tab slot  108  in the lip. Visible at the bottom of the ball assembly chamber are doughnut-shaped valve seats  206  which seal the water ports  201 . A ball assembly pin  207  protrudes into the ball assembly chamber.  
         [0034]     Also visible in  FIG. 6  is the ball assembly  150 . It comprises a ball  251  which is pierced by two fluid passages  254 . A notch  252  on one side of the ball interacts with the ball assembly pin  207  on the ball assembly chamber wall. A ball assembly handle  256  is attached to the top of the ball.  
         [0035]     Also visible in  FIG. 6  is the cap  220 . Underside threads  222  (not visible in  FIG. 6 ) are on the inner surface of the bottom of the cap and interact with the threads  210  on the faucet body  202  to removably attach the cap to the faucet body. At the top of the cap is a hole  223  through which the ball assembly handle  256  protrudes when the faucet is assembled. The inner surface of the hole  223  has threads  224  which interact with threads  234  on the adjusting ring  230 . The adjusting ring  230  has on its upper surface notches  232  which are arrayed equidistant on the circumference of the upper surface of the adjusting ring.  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the process  300  of disassembling a single-handle faucet. Such faucets require periodic disassembly for the purpose of repairing or replacing component parts, such as valve seats, valve seat springs, ball assembly, cam, cam packing, O rings, cap, adjusting ring or diverter assembly (spray models only).  
         [0037]     In the first step  302  of the disassembly process the adjusting ring at the top of the faucet is engaged by the wrench end of the single-handle faucet tool with the lugs interacting with the adjusting ring notches. The tool is rotated in a counterclockwise direction with the removal of the adjusting ring from the cap  304 . In some embodiments the adjusting ring is retained on the tool by friction of the wrench cylinder apron with the ring. The compressor end is then pressed  306  on the cam, thereby allowing the removal  308  of the cap by manual rotation in a counterclockwise direction. After the cap is removed, the ball assembly, cam, and cam packing is removed manually  310 . This procedure provides access to all components of the single-arm faucet which require service.  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the steps of assembling a single-handle faucet  400 . In the first step  402  the ball assembly along with the cam and cam packing is placed in the ball assembly chamber, taking care to engage the chamber pin with the ball slot. In the second step  404  the cam tab is oriented with the cam slot on the chamber lip. In the third step  406  the cap is placed on the compressor end of the tool, with the top of the cap nearest the tool grip. The placement of the third step in the process is not important. It need only precede the fourth step. In the fourth step  408  the compressor end of the tool is pressed against the cam, thereby compressing the valve seats and pressing the cam tab into the cam slot. This enables the manual engaging  410  of the threads on the underside of the cap and the body threads through clockwise rotation of the cap. The adjusting ring is engaged  412  with the adjusting ring threads through clockwise rotation using the wrench end of the tool. In a final optional step  414  the adjusting ring is adjusted to insure smooth leak-proof operation by rotating the ring as necessary using the wrench end of the tool.  
         [0039]     The expander and reducer attachments are used to extend the range of faucets which can be serviced using embodiments. In use, the first end of the attachments is inserted into the bore of the wrench end of an embodiment which has lugs attached to the bore. Interaction of the lugs and notches of the attachments prevent the rotation of the attachment with respect to the tool when the tool is rotated. The tool with attachment is then used as described for embodiments without attachments with the expanded or reduced wrench cylinders allowing the use of the tool with faucets having larger or smaller retaining ring diameters.  
         [0040]     Embodiments of the tool are manufactured from any suitable strong hard material, such as steel, iron, copper, aluminum or hard plastics such as polycarbonates. The grip is manufactured from any suitable resilient, wear resistant material such as rubber or plastic.  
         [0041]     Embodiments of the accessory holder are manufactured from any suitable resilient flexible material such as rubber or plastic polymers.  
         [0042]     Embodiments of the tool may be used with virtually any single-handle faucet. In particular, embodiments may be used with kitchen, bath, and lavatory single-handle faucets.  
         [0043]     Specific examples of faucets which may be serviced with embodiments include DELTA models RP3614 and SINGLE HANDLE PULLOUT SIGNATURE and SAXONY KITCHEN FAUCETS Models 470, 472, 473, 473-SD, 544-CBWF, and 540-WFMPU. Other examples include DELTA E-FLOW electronic lavatory or shower faucet. Other examples include PEERLESS Model P8620 Series faucets. Other examples include Huntington HB5510 Chrome or Brass faucets. Other examples include B&amp;K Series IV Plus Kitchen Sink Faucet. Other examples include PREMIER vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include PRO-FLO vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include VILLETE vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include WIL-FLO vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include ACCESS vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include GLAZIER BAY vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include OAK BROOKS vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include PRO PLUS vanity and kitchen faucets. Other examples include WESTERN PRIDE vanity and kitchen faucets.  
         [0044]     While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.