Abstract:
A faucet handle connector that securely attaches a grip of a faucet handle to a valve apparatus for regulating the flow rate and/or temperature of water through a faucet spout. The faucet handle connector provides a structure for convenient attachment of the faucet handle to the valve apparatus. In addition, the faucet handle connector attaches the faucet handle to the valve apparatus in a manner that conceals the faucet handle connector from a user to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the faucet and to reduce the number of parts required for assembly. Thus, the faucet handle connector attaches the faucet handle to the valve apparatus without the use of a screw or any other observable fastener, and a separate cover or similar structure is not required to hide the connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Faucets typically include a spout that serves as an exit conduit for a flow of water from a supply pipe, and one or more handles that control the flow and/or temperature of the water. The handle is attached to a valve apparatus that is opened and closed when the handle is moved. The handle is typically coupled to the valve apparatus with a screw. Often, the screw head is left exposed to the user, but is sometimes covered with a detachable, decorative plate in an attempt to conceal the screw head from the user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A faucet handle connector is disclosed that securely attaches a grip of a faucet handle to a valve apparatus for regulating the flow rate and/or temperature of water through a faucet spout. The faucet handle connector provides a structure for convenient attachment of the faucet handle to the valve apparatus. In addition, the faucet handle connector attaches the faucet handle to the valve apparatus in a manner that hides the faucet handle connector from a user of the faucet to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the faucet and to reduce the number of parts required for assembly. Thus, the faucet handle connector attaches the faucet handle to the valve apparatus without the use of a screw or any other observable fastener, and a separate cover or similar structure is not required to conceal the connector. 
         [0003]    A faucet handle for operating a valve apparatus is disclosed that comprises a grip, a connector, and a base. The grip is for user-activation of the valve apparatus. The connector is coupled to the grip, and the connector has a groove and a snap washer disposed within the groove. The base has an internal detent, and the base receives the connector such that the snap washer engages the detent. 
         [0004]    In addition, a connector for a faucet handle is disclosed that comprises a connector body, a groove, and a snap washer. The connector body is for attachment to a faucet grip and a faucet base. The groove is disposed in the connector body, and the snap washer is disposed in the groove for engaging a detent in a faucet base. 
         [0005]    Further, a method of assembling a faucet handle is disclosed. The method comprises: (1) providing a faucet handle having a grip, a connector with a snap washer disposed in a groove, and a base with an internal detent; (2) disposing the base on at least one of a counter and a sink rim; and (3) inserting the connector into the base such that the snap washer engages the detent to retain the connector and grip to the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a faucet handle attached to a valve apparatus; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the faucet handle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the faucet handle and valve apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view taken through line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2  of the faucet handle and valve apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a faucet handle and valve apparatus; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the faucet handle and valve apparatus of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to the figures, a representative faucet handle  100  for a faucet is shown in  FIG. 1 . The faucet handle  100  is coupled to a valve apparatus  102 . The valve apparatus  102  is used to regulate the flow rate and/or temperature of water flowing through a faucet. A user activates and controls the valve apparatus  102  by moving the faucet handle  100  in a suitable manner. The movement can be in any suitable direction depending on the constructions of the valve apparatus  102  and the faucet handle  100 . In addition, the valve apparatus  102  can have any suitable construction for regulating the flow rate and/or temperature of water flowing through a faucet. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the faucet handle  100  can include a structure for user activation, which can be movably coupled to a stationary portion. More specifically, the faucet handle  100  can include a grip  104  for a user to grasp in order to move the faucet handle  100 . The faucet handle  100  can also include a connector  106  that extends from the grip  104 . As described further below, the connector  106  couples the grip  104  to an escutcheon/base  108  that is securely mounted to a sink and/or a countertop. Ornamental characteristics, such as shape and color, of the grip  104  and base  108  are generally selected for their aesthetic appeal. It will be appreciated that the faucet handle  100  can have any suitable shape and aesthetic characteristics. 
         [0014]    The valve apparatus  102  can have a housing  110  and a stem  112 . The faucet handle  100  can engage the stem  112  to actuate the valve apparatus  102 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the stem  112  extends from the housing  110  and can include a projection  114 , having one or more teeth, that can be engaged by a corresponding receiving portion  116  of the connector  106 . The receiving portion  116  can include one or more recesses for engaging the one or more teeth of the stem  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, the stem  112  is rotated when the grip  104  is rotated by a user. It will be appreciated that the stem  112  may have any suitable structure such that it can be engaged by the faucet handle  100  to actuate the valve apparatus. 
         [0015]    As mentioned above, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the faucet handle  100  can include a connector  106  that quickly and reliably secures the grip  104  to the base  108 , while also permitting the faucet handle  100  to moveably engage the stem  112  of the valve apparatus  102 . The connector  106  can include a groove  118  formed in its body for retaining a snap washer  120 , and the interior of the base  108  can include an annular detent  122  for receiving the snap washer  120 . The snap washer  120  can be generally ring-shaped with a discontinuity permitting the snap washer  120  to be compressed. The snap washer  120  is dimensioned such that it fits partially within the groove  118 , and the snap washer  120  has an interior diameter that is larger than the interior diameter of the groove  118  to provide freedom of movement for the snap washer  120  when compressed. 
         [0016]    The connector  106  can be attached to the base  108  by inserting the connector  106  into a cylindrical opening  124  in the base  108 . The outer surface of the snap washer  120  can be tapered such that as the connector  106  is moved toward the cylindrical opening  124 , the perimeter of the base  108  defining the opening  124  makes contact with the outer surface of the snap washer  120  and gradually compresses snap washer  120  until it fits within the cylindrical opening  124 . The connector  106  is inserted into the cylindrical opening  124  until the snap washer  120  reaches the detent  122 . At that position, the snap washer  120  expands outward into the detent  122 . With the snap washer  120  engaging both the groove  118  and the detent  122 , the grip  104  is securely coupled to the base  108 . 
         [0017]    The grip  104  is removable from the base  108  by exerting a sufficient force on the grip  104  in a direction away from the cylindrical opening  124 , upward as oriented in  FIG. 4 , to force the snap washer  120  to compress further into the groove  118  such that the snap washer  120  can move past the detent  122 . Once this occurs, the connector  106  can freely slide out of the cylindrical opening  124 . 
         [0018]    The connector  106  may be fitted with additional features that enhance the fit of the connector  106  within the base  108 . For example, the connector  106  may have one or more additional grooves  126  for receiving a wear washer  128 . The wear washer  128  can be generally ring-shaped. When the connector  106  is coupled to the base  108 , the wear washer  128  can provide a close and secure fit between the base  108  and the connector  106 . The wear washer  128  also provides a secondary point of contact between the connector  106  and the base  108  to stabilize the attachment between these components. The secondary point of contact provided by the wear washer  128  restricts the connector  106  from shifting side-to-side within the cylindrical opening  124 , thus avoiding any significant rocking motion of the grip  104 . 
         [0019]    Using the connector  106 , the grip  104  may be quickly and securely attached to the base  108  without the use of a separate fastener, such as a screw. When using the connector  106 , the faucet handle  100  can be constructed such that there is no visible indication to a user that the grip  104  is separable from the base  108 . Thus, the connector  106  provides a way to couple the grip  104  to the base  108  without adversely affecting the aesthetic appearance of the faucet handle  100  or utilizing any additional features to hide the connector  106  or other fastener from a user. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a wear washer  128  may be disposed between the grip  104  and the snap washer  120  near the edge forming the perimeter of the cylindrical opening  124  in the base  108 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , faucet handle  200  may have a connector  206  with an additional groove  230  for receiving a second wear washer  232  disposed between the snap washer  220  and the counter or sink rim. 
         [0021]    It will be appreciated that the connector may have any suitable number of snap washers and wear washers disposed in any suitable orientation on the connector. Although the illustrated embodiments show the snap washer and wear washer attached to the connector, it will be appreciated that a snap washer and/or wear washer may be attached to the interior of the base, and the snap washer may engage a detent in the connector. It will also be appreciated that the snap washer and wear washer can be any suitable shape and can be constructed of any suitable material including, but not limited to, an acetal based plastic such as Delrin®. 
         [0022]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0023]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0024]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.