Patent Publication Number: US-6220266-B1

Title: Plumbing installation

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 08/612,370, filed Mar. 7, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,811 which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 08/511,141, filed Aug. 4, 1995, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 08/222,455, filed Apr. 4, 1994, now abandoned, all of said prior application being incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a plumbing installation and more particularly to a faucet assembly for controlling fluid flow to a faucet outlet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The faucet assemblies most commonly used today for controlling the flow of hot and cold water to a water basin, tub, or shower, or other washing facility are of three basic types, namely, (A) hot and cold water faucets each having a valve controlled by a handle, usually spaced on opposite sides of the water outlet and being respectively connected to hot and cold water lines, wherein the hot and cold water are mixed downstream of the valves prior to exiting from the outlet into the washing facility; (B) faucets having a single valve controlled by a single handle, usually mounted centrally of the water outlet, and being connected in tandem to hot and cold water lines, wherein the single valve regulates and mixes the flow as an integral function; and (C) faucets like type B except having two handles, normally differentiated in shape and movement, one for controlling volume and the other for controlling temperature. 
     In each type of faucet briefly described above, movement of the handle(s) to control water flow is a rotational movement. In type A, the dual handles pivot on spaced vertical axes; in type B, the single handle may be push-pull and rotational on a 45° axis or may rotate on a ball or universal joint; and in type C, the handles usually rotate about a common horizontal axis. 
     Dual handle faucets of type A are inexpensive, accurate, and are widely used. They are generally comprehensible but can be confusing to operate even if the handles are installed in the conventional way to rotate in opposite directions, namely, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise. Such confusion is compounded if the handles are intentionally or inadvertently installed to rotate in the same direction. Moreover, rotational directions in shower installations are sometimes the same and sometimes different so that confusion can result, especially if the handles are adjusted when the bather is facing away from the controls or has soap in the eyes. The conventional dual handle faucets described above require two hands to regulate water volume and temperature simultaneously. In addition, such dual handle faucets do not provide a good visual or tactile indication of water temperature. 
     Type B single handle faucets can of course be operated with one hand but lack good temperature indication. They employ complex and expensive mixing valves and are embodied in so many modes of operation as to be confusing to the unaccustomed user. More importantly, there is no sure way to regulate volume without affecting temperature, resulting in repeated readjustment, trial and error temperature control, and a corresponding waste of water and energy. Two handle mixing faucets of type C do allow limited single-handed operation and may have an inscribed temperature scale, but they are as complex and expensive as single handle faucets and are more difficult to operate. 
     In addition to the foregoing, other types of dual-handle faucets that can be operated with one hand have been disclosed, although they are not known to be in common use. An example is in the U.S. Patent to Kempler U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,926. Such faucets lack good temperature indication and have other drawbacks, such as complex internal mixing valves; unitized construction wherein handles, valves and spouts are integrated in a single housing; integral spouts; and surface mounted valve housings. These faucets reveal a clear intent to apply solely to lavatories and solely to surface-mounted conditions requiring finished faucet castings. Moreover, these known faucets utilize pivoting handles requiring close coupling of valve stems with the pivoting mechanism in order to restrict the required arcuate travel of the handles, thereby preventing concealment of valves below surfaces of varying dimensions. 
     Pivoting handles have the additional drawback of being difficult or impossible to operate by persons with physical disabilities if the shape of the handle requires specific finger manipulation or a twisting motion. Handles moving linearly can be easily operated regardless of the shape of the handles. 
     A faucet with dual handles that do not pivot but move on linear paths is disclosed in the German Patent to Killias, No. 19 56 161, but this faucet has a complex mixing valve and, in addition, has all the disadvantages of the type C faucets noted above. 
     SUMMARY 
     A faucet assembly is provided including dual handles whose position indicates, both tactilely and visually, the volume and exit temperature of the water flowing from hot and cold water valves to a faucet outlet. Such indication is achieved by the mounting and controlled movement of the handles, by their configuration and perimeter, by surface exposure, and by their individual connections to hot and cold water valves. In addition, the proximity of the handles and their controlled movement enables the handles to be manipulated simultaneously by a single hand of the user without pinching the fingers. The handles are mounted to conceal their mountings and their connections to the valves and are thus the only parts of the faucet assembly visible to a user thereby enhancing the appearance of the installation. Further, the faucet assembly reduces plumbing costs and is universally adaptable to both rotary and linear water valves in a wide variety of bath and kitchen installations. 
     An object of the present invention is to indicate, both tactilely and visually, the exit temperature and volume of water exiting from a faucet outlet by the relative positions of faucet handles. 
     Another object is to indicate the temperature of water exiting from a faucet outlet by various characteristics of dual faucet handles, such as their contour and exposure of a certain surface thereof. 
     An additional object is to indicate the temperature of water exiting from a faucet outlet by the degree of overlap of a pair of faucet handles as the handles are moved to open and close hot and cold water valves. 
     A further object is to enable conjoint adjustment of the volume and/or temperature of water exiting from a faucet outlet. 
     Another object is to enable the simultaneous adjustment of dual faucet handles with one hand of the user. 
     Still another object is to provide faucet handles with shapes which facilitate their linear conjoint movement by a single hand of a user. 
     Yet another object is to provide faucet handles which control the volume and temperature of water flowing from a faucet outlet by linear, sliding, translational movement of the handles, instead of rotary movement thereof. 
     An additional object is to provide an easily comprehensible association between sliding hot and cold water faucet handles and hot and cold water valves so as to facilitate control of the exit temperature and volume of the water exiting from an outlet. 
     A further object is to provide faucet handles that facilitate use by the physically impaired. 
     A still further object is to provide a plumbing installation for sinks, showers, tubs, and other washing facilities where only the faucet handles of a faucet assembly are mounted on and visible from the countertop, wall, deck, or other mounting surface. 
     Another object is to conceal valves and other mechanism associated with a faucet assembly for a washing facility thereby to improve the aesthetic effects and cleanability. 
     An additional object is to reduce the cost related to the manufacturing, finishing and distribution of a variety of finished faucet castings involving decorative valve and spout housings. 
     Another object is to facilitate cleaning and other maintenance around a washing facility by removing all but the handles of a faucet assembly from the countertop, wall, deck, or other mounting surface of the washing facility. 
     These and other objects will become apparent upon reference to the following drawings, description and appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a plumbing installation showing a countertop, wash basin, faucet outlet, and a handle body composed of dual faucet handles in accordance with the present invention, with the handles shown in directly opposing relation to each other. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the dual handles showing a hand of a user in phantom over the handles to illustrate how the size, shape and proximity of the handles are adapted to facilitate control by a single hand of the user, with the right or cold water handle shown rearwardly of the left or hot water handle. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the plumbing installation of FIG. 1 illustrating the faucet handles connected to hot and cold water valves by linkages under the countertop and thus shown in dashed lines. 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3 but showing the right or cold water handle offset from the left or hot water handle. 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken generally along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3 but showing the left or hot water handle and associated parts in section. 
     FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line  6 — 6  in FIG.  5  and looking at the underside of the handles. 
     FIGS. 7 a, b, c, d , and  e  are isometric views of the dual handle faucets shown in various operating positions on the countertop which is indicated in phantom outline. 
     FIGS. 8,  9 , and  10  are isometric views of different embodiments of the faucet handles. 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded elevation of a plumbing installation but showing a second embodiment of the installation in a countertop or deck. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the dual handles of the present invention connected to hot and cold water valves by a second embodiment of a linkage different from that shown in FIGS.  3  through  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The faucet assembly of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and is identified by the numeral  20 . The subject faucet assembly is shown in a plumbing installation  22  for a bathroom vanity which includes a horizontal countertop or support surface  24 , a basin or sink  26 , and a faucet outlet  28 . As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the countertop has a pair of spaced parallel, side-by-side slots  30  extending therethrough for a purpose to be described. As the description proceeds, it will be understood that the subject faucet assembly can be used with an integral countertop/basin as shown; a separate countertop and basin; a bathtub, shower, or kitchen installation; or other plumbing installations where the features of the present invention may be advantageously employed. Although the embodiment described is for a countertop or support surface that is horizontal and the language used below has reference to such an orientation, it will be understood that the principles of the present invention are not limited to any particular orientation. For example, if used in a shower installation, the support surface would be vertical rather than horizontal, and the orientation of all of the parts would be described according to that reference. 
     The plumbing installation  22  also includes hot and cold water valves  40  and  42  (FIGS. 3-5) mounted in spaced relation to each other under the countertop  24 . These valves are mounted so as to be respectively located just outwardly of the slots  30  (FIG.  5 ). Since the valves are typically identical, the parts of only the hot water valve (i.e., the left valve as seen in FIGS. 1,  3  and  5 ) are specifically described. If the description requires specific reference to parts of the cold water valve, such parts will be referred to by the same number as the parts of the hot water valve, but the number will be primed. Thus, the hot water valve has an inlet  44 , an outlet  48 , and a valve stem  52  extending toward the countertop outwardly of its adjacent slot. The valves are of the rotary type so that when the stems are rotated through ninety degrees, the valves are moved between their open and closed positions. A manifold  56  is mounted under the countertop  24  and has connections to the outlets of the valves and to the faucet outlet  28 . 
     The faucet assembly  20  includes a handle body  60  (FIGS. 1-7) which, when attached to the countertop  24 , and in the condition seen in FIG. 1, appears as a single unitary object virtually resting on the countertop. In fact, however, the handle body is separable into dual, bi-symmetrical faucet handles  62  and  64  that are mounted in very closely spaced relation to each other and to the countertop. The handles are elongated blocks which in the preferred embodiment are of cast metal, but can be manufactured by other methods, such as stamping, and can be made of other materials, such as plastic or stone with minor alterations. In the preferred embodiment shown and described, the handles are arcuate or arch-shaped in side elevation (FIG. 4) and rectangular in plan view (FIGS.  3  and  6 ), and more particularly, are preferably approximately semi-cylindrical. 
     The faucet handles  62  and  64  (FIGS. 1-7) are thus duplicates of one another so that they are of uniform size and shape. Likewise, the parts of the faucet assembly associated with each handle are identical and are, moreover, completely concealed. As with the valves  40  and  42 , therefore, only the hot water handle  62  and its associated parts will be described in detail. Where important for understanding, a reference numeral without a prime applies to the left or hot water handle  62  (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) or associated part, and a reference numeral with a prime applies to the right or cold water handle  64  or associated part. It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to location of the hot water valve on the left and the cold water valve on the right, although this is a conventional orientation. 
     Referring then only to the hot water handle  62 , it includes a lower front edge  66  (FIG.  4 ), a lower rear edge  68 , a back surface  70 , side surfaces  72  (FIG.  3 ), upper side edges  76 , lower side edges  78  (FIG.  6 ), and an undersurface  80 . The handle has a downwardly opening internal rectangular recess  82  that is outlined by the lower edges and therefore occupies nearly the full length and width of the handle while extending nearly half-way up into the handle. 
     A track  90  (FIGS. 4-6) is provided for the hot water handle  62  and is preferably made of a suitable plastic such as nylon or Delrin and, more particularly, is preferably of injection-molded nylon. Several features of the track are to be noted. It is I-shaped in transverse cross-section and thus includes an elongated upper horizontal rail  94  providing laterally extending tongues or splines  96 . It has opposite ends  97 , which are upwardly convergent or beveled on the outside, and an elongated longitudinal central passageway  98 , which extends vertically through the track. The track is therefore like a frame that circumscribes the passageway. The track is less than one-half the length of the recess  82  in the handle, and thus of the handle itself, and has a maximum outside width equal to the width of the recess for assembly with the handle as described below. Also, the length and width of the passageway are slightly less than the length and width of the slot, for a purpose to be described. 
     An elongated slide  110  (FIGS. 4-6) for the hot water handle  62  is also provided and is preferably made of aluminum or a suitable plastic such as nylon or Delrin, and more particularly, is preferably extruded. It is rectangular in plan view (FIG.  6 ), with a central vertical bore  111  extending therethrough, and is C-shaped in transverse cross-section (FIG.  5 ), with a pair of longitudinal grooves  112  for assembly with the track  90  as described below. Moreover, the slide has a width that is the same as the width of the recess  82  in the handle and slightly greater than the outside width of the track  90 . In addition, it has a length slightly less than the length of the recess but greater than the length of the track. 
     The track  90  and slide  110  (FIGS. 4-6) are assembled by inserting the track in the slide with the grooves  112  slideably receiving and interlocking with the tongues  96 , it being noted that the bore  111  is thereby aligned with the passageway  98 . Because of the described structural association and the materials used, the tongue and groove interconnection provides a low coefficient of friction and insures a smooth and quiet sliding action. The assembled track and slide are then inserted into the recess  82  of the handle  62 , and the slide is secured to the handle by screws  118  which extend into the handle through holes countersunk in the slide, or by other suitable fasteners or fastening methods. 
     Next, the handle  62  (FIGS. 4 and 5) is positioned on the countertop  24  with the track  90  placed over the slot  30  so that the sides of the passageway  98  are aligned with the side edges of the slot (FIG. 5) and the ends  97  of the track slightly overlap the ends of the slot (FIG.  4 ). The track is then secured in fluid-tight engagement to the countertop by screws or other suitable fasteners, which are passed upwardly from underneath the countertop into the track. 
     In this manner, the track  90  and slide  110  mount the handle  60  on the countertop  24  (FIGS. 1, and  3 - 5 ) so that the handle completely covers and conceals the slot  30 , the track and the slide, that is, all of its associated mounting parts. It is important to note that the track, especially because it is preferably made of a suitable plastic, serves as a circumferential seal around the slot against passage of water between the countertop and the track. Also, the skirt of the handle that surrounds the recess  82  extends down and slightly overlaps the track with the undersurface  80  in closely spaced opposed relation to the countertop. The side surfaces  72  of the handle are perpendicular to the countertop, and the back surface  70  faces away from the countertop. 
     A vertical hot water connecting or drive rod or shaft  124  (FIG. 4-60 has an upper end  128  connected internally and centrally to the upper wall of the hot water handle  62  by threads or by other suitable means. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod is thus equidistantly spaced from the side surfaces  72  and from the front and rear edges  66  and  68 . The rod extends generally radially of the handle through the bore  111  of the slide  110 , the passageway  98  in the track  90 , through the slot  30  in the countertop  24 , and has a lower end  130  projecting beneath the countertop. This rod is preferably connected to the handle prior to assembly with the track  90  and slide  110 , but it is possible to insert it after such assembly. 
     The hot water handle  62  (FIGS. 1-7) is thus mounted on the countertop  24  to move only along the linear path provided by the track assembly  90 / 110 . It cannot move vertically or laterally, and thus cannot be lifted or rotated. The handle is constrained to slide, and thus with translational movement, between first and second positions at opposite ends  97  of the track  90 . With reference to FIG. 4, the handle can be moved forwardly (to the left) to a forwardmost limiting position where the connecting rod  124  engages the forward end of the track and the rearward end of the handle engages the rearward end of the track. 
     The handle  62  (FIG. 4) can also be moved rearwardly (to the right) to a rearward position where the connecting rod  124  engages the rearward end of the track and the forward end of the handle engages the forward end of the track. Insofar as the handle and rod, per se, are concerned, such engagement does limit the travel of the handle, but this is not the rearwardmost limiting position of the handle in the operation of the faucet assembly  20 . Instead, when the handle  62  is connected to the hot water valve  40 , as described below, closing of the valve limits rearward travel of the handle before the rod engages the track and determines the rearwardmost limiting position of the handle. Because the passageway is slightly shorter than the slot, the rod is assured of engaging the track instead of the slot to insure quiet and smooth movement and contact of metal against plastic instead of the countertop  24  which is typically a harder material. Also, the outside bevels on the ends of the track mate in a complementary fashion with the skirt of the handle, again with plastic being one of the contacting surfaces. 
     In addition to the advantages noted above, there is another important advantage of the described mounting of the handle  62  on the countertop  24  by the track  90  and slide  110  assembly. That is, the slide and track provide a cantilever mounting for the handle which is best illustrated in FIG.  4 . Thus, when the handle is in either extreme limited position, and as it moves toward such position, the handle and slide are cantilevered on the track. In this way the handle maintains its level plane without any weakness in its support. 
     The cold water handle  64  (FIGS. 3-6) and its associated track  90 ′ and slide  110 ′ (FIG. 6) are, as above stated, identical with the hot water handle  62  and associated track  90  and slide  110  and are assembled and secured to the countertop  24  over the right slot  30  in exactly the same manner as the hot water handle is secured over the left slot. 
     The handles  62  and  64  (FIGS. 1-7) are thus mounted in juxtaposed relation and virtually in contact with just enough clearance to allow their relative sliding or gliding movement without touching. The handles always have some degree of overlap, either a fully overlapping, confronting relationship at any place along their paths, as shown in FIGS. 1;  3 ;  6 ; and  7   a, b , and  e ; or an offset, partially overlapping relationship at various positions along the paths, as shown in FIGS. 2,  4 , and  8 . As above indicated, they are mounted so that they cannot be lifted, twisted or rotated, or moved laterally, leaving only the intended linear motion as the intuitive mode of operation. The handles can of course be moved along their linear paths independently of each other or at the same time. Because of their size, shape and contiguous mounting, however, it is significant to the present invention that the handles can be moved simultaneously or conjointly by a single hand of the user, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to control the valves  40  and  42 , and without pinching the fingers. 
     A hot water lever  140  (FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 ), resembling a tuning fork, is attached to the hot water valve stem  52 , extends radially therefrom in the general direction of the cold water valve  42 , and is bifurcated to provide an endwardly opening notch  144  in alignment with the connecting rod  124  of the hot water handle  62 . This connecting rod is slideably received in the notch, and a bushing  146  is preferably fitted around the rod to facilitate such slideable movement. Therefore, as the hot water handle is slid along its track  90 , its connecting rod swings the hot water lever along an arcuate path thereby to pivot the hot water valve stem and rotate the hot water valve  40  between fully open and fully closed positions. The connecting rod moves in and out within the notch of the lever with nearly constant linear force since the lever arm length increases at the distal end of the lever arc where inertia and angular resistance are the greatest. The cold water handle  64  is connected to the cold water valve  42  by a cold water lever  140 ′ in exactly the same way as described for the hot water handle and hot water valve. 
     The associated connecting rods  124 ,  124 ′ and levers  140 ,  140 ′ (FIGS. 3 and 5) are hereinafter sometimes referred to as a coupling or linkage interconnecting the handle  62  and its valve  40  and translating linear movement of the handle and rod into rotary movement of the valve stem  52  and valve. It will be understood that, although rotary valves are shown and described and are more typically used, it will be understood that linear valves, not shown, could be employed and that the connecting rods could readily shift valve stems of linear valves between their open and close positions. 
     The foregoing description identifies the parts of the subject faucet assembly  20 , but prior to providing a more specific description of the operation of the faucet assembly, further identification or characterization of portions of the handle body  60  and its dual handles  62  and  64  will help in defining the relationship of the handles during such operation. In FIG.  2  and FIG. 7 a , for example, it will be noted that the front edges  66  and  66 ′, the lower outside edges  78  and  78 ′, and the rear edges  68  and  68 ′, define a circumferential edge, perimeter, or periphery of the handle body. As long as the two handles are in exactly opposed congruent relationship, as shown in FIGS. 7 a ,  7   b , and  7   e , this circumferential edge or perimeter remains of the same length, referred to herein as the minimum length of the circumferential edge. However, when the handles are moved into an offsetting relationship, as shown in FIGS. 7 c  and  7   d , this circumferential edge is defined not only by the edges referred to above, but also by the lower inside edges  78  and  78 ′. In these offsetting positions, therefore, the length of the circumferential edge is greater than said minimum length. 
     It will also be observed from FIGS. 2 and 7 that the handle body  60  has a certain shape, contour or configuration, which in the preferred embodiment is basically an arch-shape when the handles  62  and  64  are in their directly confronting or congruent positions, as in FIGS. 7 a, b , and  e  but is of a different shape when the handles are offset, as in FIGS. 2 and 7 c  and  d . Having in mind these concepts of a varying circumference and a varying contour, a more detailed description of the operation of the faucet assembly  20  is now set forth. 
     OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The operation of the faucet assembly  20  of the present invention is best described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, remembering that the left handle  62  is coupled to the hot water valve  40 , and the right handle  64  is coupled to the cold water valve  42 . When the handles are in their rearwardmost limiting positions as shown in FIG. 7 b , both the hot and cold water valves are completely closed. When the handles are in their forwardmost limiting positions, as shown in FIGS. 7 a , the valves  40  and  42  are in their fully opened positions. Intermediate positions of the handles of course cause the valves to be partially opened or closed. 
     As shown in FIG. 7 d , when the hot water handle  62  is in its forwardmost position and the cold water handle  64  is in its rearwardmost position, the hot water valve  40  is fully opened and the cold water valve  42  is fully closed. Conversely, when the hot water handle is in its rearwardmost position and the cold water handle is in its forward most position, as shown in FIG. 7 c , the hot water valve is fully closed and the cold water valve is fully opened. FIG. 7 e  shows the handles in the positions where the hot and cold water valves are partially opened or partially closed. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the dual faucet handles  62  and  64  are easily conjointly manipulated by a single hand  150  of the user. Normally the wrist is placed on the countertop  24 , or other mounting surface, so that the fingers overlap the handle body  60 , or stated otherwise, the handle body is fitted within the grasp of the user&#39;s hand. By maintaining the wrist in a generally stationary position on the countertop, the handles are manipulated with a palming motion or by using the finger tips to pull or push the handles, with perhaps a slight twisting of the wrist. As above noted, an important feature of the invention is that the shape of the handles, their constraint to an overlapping relationship, and their very close spacing, prevents pinching of the fingers during such manipulation by the hand. 
     It is very significant to the present invention that the relationship of the handles  62  and  64  to each other and to the countertop  24  or other mounting surface provides an indication to the user, both visually and tactilely, of the net flow or volume and the temperature of the water exiting from the faucet outlet  28 . That is, when the perimeter  66 / 66 ′,  78 / 78 ′, and  68 / 68 ′ of the handles is at its minimum, or stated otherwise, the overall contour of the handles is at a minimum and that of an arch, as in FIGS. 7 a, b , and  e , the handles indicate that both valves are equally opened or closed and, if opened, an equal amount of hot and cold water is flowing from the faucet outlet  28 . If the left or hot water handle is forwardly of the right or cold water handle (FIG.7 c ), thereby increasing the length of the perimeter or circumferential edge and creating a different and larger contour in the handle body  60 , this is an indication that more hot than cold water is flowing from the outlet. The converse is true if the right handle is forward of the left handle as in FIG. 7 d . Also, as the handles are moved relative to each other, the degree of exposure of the inner side surfaces  72 , from zero exposure to maximum exposure, also serves as an indicator of the relative positions of the hot and cold water valves and thus the mix and temperature of the water. 
     It will thus be understood that a user of the subject faucet assembly  20  (FIGS. 1 and 2) will soon become familiar both tactilely, visually, and instinctively with the length of the circumferential edge of the handle body  60 , its contour, and/or the length of the exposed inner side surfaces  72 , so that by looking at the handles, or more significantly, by merely feeling of them, the handles  62  and  64  provide the user with an indication of the net flow and temperature of the water. Such a feature is especially advantageous to one trying to adjust the water temperature while washing ones face and with the eyes closed or to a person with impaired vision. 
     Although the principles of the present invention are not limited to specific dimensions, the following sets forth detailed dimensions of the preferred embodiment of the handles  62  and  64  so as to illustrate an example of a dimensional relationship that can be achieved between the handle body and the normal hand size, the references for such dimensions being shown in FIGS. 7 c  and  e ,  4 , and  6 . 
     handles  62 ,  64 , each: width W h =1¼″; length h   =3⅜″; height H= 1¼″ 
     handle body  60 : width W b =2{fraction (9/16)}″; length L b =3⅜″ to 4¾″; height H=1¼″ 
     clearance between handles: C h ={fraction (1/16)}″ 
     spacing between handle and countertop  24 : S hc ={fraction (1/16)}″ 
     total travel distance, each handle: D h =1⅜″ 
     ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 8,  9 , and  10  show other embodiments of the handles  62  and  64 . FIG. 8 shows a rectangular handle body  160  divided in half into duplicate handles  162  each having a sway back surface  164 ; FIG. 9 shows a circular handle body  170  again divided in half into semicircular handles  172 , and FIG. 10 shows a hemi-spherical handle body  180  divided into a pair of quarter-spherical handles  182 . Except for exterior shapes, these alternate handle bodies are constructed and operate like the handle body  60  described above. In addition, it will be apparent that even other shapes of handle bodies may be selected. As will be evident, the shape of the handle body has both a functional as well as an aesthetic purpose. As described above, the contour or configuration of the handle body is used as an indicator of water temperature and volume and thus has a utilitarian aspect. In addition, however, apart from its utility, each handle body shape does present a different appearance, so that one shape may be preferred with a wash basin, bathtub or showerhead. Thus, the handle body intentionally enhances, rather than clutters, the overall appearance of the fixture with which it is both functionally and formally associated. 
     FIG. 11 shows an alternate mounting of the faucet assembly  20  for some installations. In this embodiment, the countertop  200  provides a larger opening  202 , and a mounting plate  204  is attached under the countertop so as to position the valve stems  52  and  54  and the levers  140  and  142  within this opening. The handles  62  and  64  are mounted on a cover plate  206  which is fastened to the mounting surface of the countertop  200 . In other respects, the interconnections and operation of the handles and valves are the same as described above. The exploded view in FIG. 11 serves to highlight the ease of installation and removal for servicing, cleaning or other maintenance. In the alternate embodiment, each handle  62  or  64  can be installed or removed simply by dropping the connecting rod  124  into, or lifting it up from, the bushing  146 , as best seen in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a pair of rotary valves  220  which have their value stems  222  extending horizontally instead of vertically as in FIGS. 3-6. In this case, pinion gears, as  224 , are secured to the valve stems and engage racks, as  226 , attached to the lower ends  130  of the connecting rods  124 . As the handles are moved back and forth on their tracks  90  and  92 , the racks likewise move back and forth, and in engaging the pinion gears, rotate the valve stems and open and close their respective valves. 
     From the foregoing, it will be understood that a faucet assembly  20  is provided that includes dual handles  62  and  64  whose position indicates, both tactilely and visually, the volume and exit temperature of the water flowing from hot and cold water valves  40  and  42  to a faucet outlet  28 . Such indication is achieved by the mounting and controlled movement of the handles, by their configuration, by their circumference, by the exposure of certain surfaces, and by their individual connections to the hot and cold water valves. In addition, the proximity of the handles and their controlled movement enables the handles to be manipulated simultaneously by a single hand of the user without pinching the fingers. The handles are also mounted to conceal their mountings and connections to the valves thereby enhancing the aesthetic effect of the installation. Furthermore, the faucet assembly is universally adaptable to both rotary and linear water valves in a wide variety of bath and kitchen installations. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.