Patent Publication Number: US-2009229687-A1

Title: Marker for faucet handle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from and benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/037,098 filed Mar. 17, 2008, and the entire disclosure of said provisional application Ser. No. 61/037,098 is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a known faucet F for dispensing coffee, iced tea, water, or another liquid or flowable product from a container or urn U or other source. The faucet F includes a body B defining a flow path and contains a valve element for selectively blocking or unblocking the flow path. A bonnet N is secured to the body and captures the valve element therein. A handle H is operatively connected to the valve element by a stem that extends through the bonnet N. The handle H is adapted for being moved by a user to control the position of the valve element. In particular, pivoting movement of the handle H on an arc A causes a cam portion  22  of the handle H to bear against the bonnet N which, in turn, causes the handle H to pull on the stem that is connected to the valve element, thus unseating the valve element inside the body B. The valve element is typically spring-biased to its seated position, which corresponds to the illustrated position of the handle H. 
     The handle H comprises a generally wishbone shape including: (i) a base  20  comprising the cam portion  22  including cam surfaces  22   a , 22   b ; (ii) first and second legs  24   a , 24   b  that diverge as they move outwardly away from the base  20 ; and, (iii) a cross-bar  26  that extends between and interconnects the distal or outermost ends of the legs  24   a , 24   b  at a location spaced from the base  20 . As such, the handle defines an opening  30  framed at least partially by the legs  24   a , 24   b  and cross-bar  26 . 
     It is often desired to provide information to users of the faucet F as to the contents of the urn U or other source. Such information might include, e.g., “Regular Coffee,” “Decaffeinated Coffee,” “Hot Water,” “Iced Tea,” etc. Prior designs utilize a marker tag or sign that is suspended on a chain that is hung on the faucet body. According to the present development, a new marker for a faucet handle is provided. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present development, a faucet includes a body and a handle operatively connected to the body for controlling flow of liquid through the body. The handle includes a base, first and second legs that project outwardly from the base, and a cross-bar that interconnects the legs at a location spaced from the base. The first and second legs and the cross-bar at least partially define an opening. A marker includes a body removably secured in the opening of the handle. The body includes indicia that provides information to a user of the faucet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a marker for a faucet handle includes a polymeric body adapted to be removably secured in an opening of an associated faucet handle. The body includes indicia that provides information to a user of the associated faucet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a marker for a faucet handle includes one-piece molded polymeric structure including a handle engagement hook adapted to be engaged with a cross-bar of an associated faucet handle. The hook defines a channel. At least one nib projects into the channel and is adapted to engage the cross-bar with a snap-fit. The marker further includes a display region extending from the handle engagement hook. The display region includes indicia that provides information to a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  (prior art) illustrates a known faucet including a handle for controlling the flow of liquid through the faucet; 
         FIG. 2A  shows the known faucet handle H of  FIG. 1  including a marker formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present development; 
         FIG. 2B  shows the marker of  FIG. 2A  by itself; 
         FIG. 2C  is a partial side view of the marker of  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIG. 3A  shows the known faucet handle of  FIG. 1  including an alternative marker formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present development; 
         FIG. 3B  shows the marker of  FIG. 3A  by itself (with the indicia card omitted); 
         FIG. 4A  shows the known faucet handle of  FIG. 1  including a marker formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present development; 
         FIG. 4B  shows the marker of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  shows the known faucet handle of  FIG. 1  including a marker formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present development; 
         FIG. 5B  shows the marker of  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 2A  shows the known faucet handle H including a marker  50  formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present development. The marker  50 , itself, is shown in  FIG. 2B .  FIG. 2C  is a partial side view of the marker  50 . With reference to all of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C, the marker  50  includes a body  51  including opposite front and rear faces  52   a , 52   b  and a peripheral edge  54  that extends between and interconnects the front and rear faces  52   a , 52   b . In the illustrated embodiment, the front and rear faces  52   a , 52   b  are parallel and spaced-apart relative to each other. The marker  50  is preferably defined from a resilient polymeric material, e.g., silicone, EPDM, or TPE, or another suitable material. The peripheral edge  54  is conformed and dimensioned to correspond with the size and shape of the handle opening  30 , so as to be tightly received in the handle opening  30  with a friction fit as shown in  FIG. 2A , even accounting for minor variations in the size and shape of the handle opening  30  from one handle H to the next. For added holding strength and positioning alignment, the peripheral edge  54  of the marker  50  preferably includes a continuous groove  56  defined therein that is adapted to receive the legs  24   a , 24   b  and the cross-bar  26  of the handle H when the marker  50  is operatively installed as shown in  FIG. 2A . In the illustrated embodiment, the groove  56  extends in the edge  54  continuously around the entire periphery of the body  51  to maximize engagement between the handle H and the groove  56 . As such, the groove  56  mates with the legs  24   a , 24   b  and the cross-bar  26  of the handle H such that the marker  50  is more resistant to becoming dislodged from the opening  30 . Preferably, there is no space or the minimum possible space between the peripheral edge  54  of the marker  50  and the faucet handle H to maximize the engagement between the marker  50  and handle H. Accordingly, the marker  50  is resistant to separation from the handle H under normal use conditions for a faucet F. The resilient fit between the marker  50  and handle H allows for easy but secure installation of the marker  50  to the handle H, and also allows the marker  50  to be removed as desired. 
     At least the front face  52   a  or both the front and rear faces  52   a , 52   b  include indicia  53  that provide information as to the contents of an urn U or other container/source to which a faucet F including the handle  50  is connected, e.g., the indicia  53  can read “Raspberry Tea” (as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ), “Iced Tea” “Coffee” “Decaf” etc. The indicia  53  can be printed indicia such as text or symbols as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , or the indicia can be embossed indicia, an adhesive label, or any other suitable indicia to convey the required information as to the product being dispensed. The color of the marker  50  can, itself, provide such indicia, e.g., providing a marker  50  with at least one orange face  52   a , 52   b  to indicate decaffeinated coffee. The front and rear faces  52   a , 52   b  can have the same indicia provided on or as part thereof, or different indicia can be provided on or as part of the front and rear faces  52   a , 52   b  to allow the displayed indicia to be varied depending upon whether the front face  52   a  or rear face  52   b  of the marker is oriented outward so as to be visible to users of the handle H. In one example, the front face  52   a  can read “REGULAR” and the rear face  52   b  can read “DECAF.” 
     Purchasers of the faucet F including the handle H can purchase or otherwise receive multiple different markers  50  and use them as deemed necessary and appropriate to provide the required information to users of the faucet F. 
       FIG. 3A  shows the known faucet handle H including an alternative marker  150  formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present development. The marker  150  is shown by itself in  FIG. 3B . Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the marker  150  is defined as a molded or otherwise formed polymeric member, preferably one-piece. The marker  150  includes a handle engagement hook  152  that includes a channel  154  in which the handle cross-bar  26  is received with a close sliding fit. The channel  154  includes at least one and preferably first and second opposed nibs  156  that project toward each other into the channel  154 . These nibs  156  are adapted to engage around the handle cross-bar  26  with a snap-fit when the cross-bar  26  is fully received in the channel  154  of the marker  150 . The nibs  156  also can be sized to project a sufficient amount so that, upon lateral movement of the marker  150  along the longitudinal axis of the handle cross-bar  26 , the nibs  156  contact the handle legs  24   a , 24   b  and prevent or at least inhibit further lateral movement of the marker  150  as would allow the handle cross-bar  26  to slide from the marker channel  154 . The marker  150  also includes a display region  160  that is connected to the handle engagement hook  152  and that is adapted to lie in front of and adjacent to the handle legs  24   a , 24   b  when the marker  150  is installed as shown in  FIG. 2A , such that the display region  160  substantially or completely covers the handle opening  30 . The display region  160  can include indicia (such as the indicia  53  noted above) printed or otherwise included thereon for providing information as to the product being dispensed. In the illustrated embodiment, the display region  160  includes a slot or other region  162  adapted to removably receive an indicia card  170  made from paper or a polymeric or other material. The card  170  includes printed or other indicia  173  that functions to same as the indicia  53  referenced above. Again, the indicia  173  can merely be the color of the card  170 . Multiple cards  170  including different indicia are provided, and the appropriate card  170  is installed in the slot  162  to reflect the liquid or other flowable product being dispensed by the faucet on which the handle H is installed. To allow for user viewing of the indicia card  170 , the display region  160  is preferably defined from polymer that is transparent, i.e., transparent enough to allow the indicia  173  to be discerned by a user. Alternatively, the display region can include an opening or window to allow viewing of the card indicia  173 . In the illustrated embodiment, the marker  150  is defined as a one-piece molded polymeric construction using a transparent polymer. The indicia cards  170  are dimensioned relative to the slot  162  so that a portion of each card  170  projects into an open card-removal region  163  ( FIG. 3B ) adjacent the slot  160  to facilitate manual removal of the card  170  from the slot. 
       FIG. 4A  shows the known faucet handle H including another alternative marker  250  formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present development. The marker  250  is shown by itself in  FIG. 4B . Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the marker  250  is defined as a molded or otherwise formed polymeric member, preferably one-piece. The marker  250  includes spaced-apart handle engagement hooks  252   a , 252   b  that cooperate to define a channel  254  in which the handle cross-bar  26  is received with a close sliding fit. Handle cross-bar  26  is at least partially visible between the hooks  252   a , 252   b  through an opening  251  defined between hooks  252   a , 252   b . The channel  254  includes at least one and preferably first and second opposed nibs  256  that project toward each other into the channel  254 . These nibs  256  are adapted to engage the handle cross-bar  26  with a snap-fit when the cross-bar  26  is fully received in the channel  254 . The marker  250  includes at least a front display region or wall  260   a  and, preferably, front and rear display regions or walls  260   a , 260   b  that are connected to the handle engagement hooks  252   a , 252   b  and that lie adjacent and in front of and behind, respectively, the handle H. The front and rear display walls  260   a , 260   b  include printed or other indicia  263  to indicate what will be dispensed by a faucet to which the handle H is connected or other information, e.g., “Caution Hot.” The indicia  263  of the front  260   a  and rear  260   b  display walls can be the same or different as compared to each other and, if different, the marker  250  can be installed on the handle with one or the other display walls  260   a , 260   b  facing outward toward users as desired depending upon the product being dispensed. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show another version of the marker  250  (labeled as  250 ′), in which the rear display wall  260   b  is omitted, and in which the front display wall  260   a  is shaped and dimensioned to correspond to the size and shape of the handle opening  30  so as to at least substantially overly same. The marker  250 ′ optionally includes a rear display wall shaped identically to the front display wall  260   a.    
     The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is intended that the invention be construed as encompassing modifications and alterations that will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading this specification.