Patent Abstract:
The mounting nut includes a first segment and a second segment attached by a hinge portion. The hinge portion provides for expansion of the mounting nut to bend onto itself in a clamshell like manner. The hinged mounting nut is slidable over a water connection fitting such that the mounting nut can be slid over the water connection fitting and up against the bottom-mounting surface to secure a faucet assembly to a sink deck.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention is generally related to a mounting nut for securing a faucet to a mounting surface. More particularly, this invention is directed towards a flexible mounting nut that simplifies installation of a faucet assembly.  
         [0002]     Typically, a faucet assembly includes at least one threaded pipe for connection to a water source. The threaded pipe is connected to a water hose with a water connection fitting. The faucet is then secured to a mounting surface by a mounting nut. The mounting nut typically includes a flange that is larger in diameter than the opening through which the threaded pipe is installed. Because the mounting nut has a flange that is greater than the outer diameter of the opening through the mounting surface, the water connection along with any other connections must be performed under the sink.  
         [0003]     The under sink environment is typically a confined space that complicates assembly of the required connections. Typically the order of installation includes inserting the faucet assembly and threaded pipe through an opening then securing the faucet within the opening with a mounting nut. After the mounting nut has been assembled to the threaded pipe can the water fitting connected. The water fitting is an important connection and often must be leak tested prior to completion of the assembly task. The faucet is installed behind the sink and is therefore in a very difficult location in which to manipulate a wrench and make the desired water connection. The confined space complicates and adds difficulty to the job.  
         [0004]     Some devices have been developed to aid in the mounting of a faucet assembly. Several of these devices allow mounting of the faucet assembly with much of the assembly conducted above the mounting surface. One such device includes a collapsible nut that can be fitted through the opening in the mounting surface and then is tightened to expand flanges to a diameter greater than the opening. However this device requires a special rotatable threaded member that is rotatable from above the mounting surface. Conventional faucet assemblies typically do not include such a feature. Therefore, to include such a mounting aid, the faucet assembly itself must be entirely redesigned.  
         [0005]     Another device that addresses this problem includes the use of a threaded mounting nut without a flange. The threaded mounting nut is installed to the water tube and left there during installation of the water fitting. The mounting nut portion is of a diameter that allows the nut to be inserted through an opening in the mounting deck. Once the water connections have been and the faucet assembly has been inserted into the openings within the mounting deck a c-shaped washer is inserted between the mounting nut and the bottom of the mouthing surface. The mounting nut is then tightened upwards against the c-shaped washer through the faucet assembly to the mounting surface. This device has the disadvantage of requiring manipulation of not only the nut, but of the washer within the cramped under sink environment.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there is a need for a simplified mounting device that is adaptable for use on current faucet assemblies and that aids mounting of a faucet assembly to a mounting surface.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     This invention is a mounting nut with an expandable opening providing for sliding of the mounting nut over a water connection fitting and onto a threaded water pipe for securing a faucet assembly to a mounting surface.  
         [0008]     A faucet assembly includes a threaded water pipe that is connected to a water supply by a water connection fitting. The water connection fitting includes an outer diameter smaller than an opening in a mounting deck such that the water connection fitting may slide through the mounting deck. Prior to installation or attachment of the water fitting to the threaded water tube, the mounting nut is dropped or fed over the water tube. The hinged nut is of such a diameter that it may not extend through the opening within the mounting surface.  
         [0009]     During installation the water connection fitting is fed through the opening and attached to the threaded water tube of the faucet assembly. The connection to the faucet assembly can then be tested to ensure watertight integrity. This step is conducted above the mounting surface to ease installation of the faucet assembly and limit the installation steps required under the mounting surface. Once the integrity of the water connection has been verified, the faucet assembly, along with the water connection fitting is inserted through the opening. The hinged nut is then slid over the water connection fitting onto the threaded water pipe.  
         [0010]     Once the mounting nut approaches the bottom surface of the mounting deck the sides that have been extended from each other due to the hinge of the nut are compressed against each other. Further engagement with the bottom surface of the mounting deck compresses the sides of the mounting nut to provide positive engagement against the threaded water pipe. The mounting nut includes features providing for hand tightening or for tightening with a tool. The now collapsed and tightened mounting nut secures the faucet to the mounting surface.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, the mounting nut of this invention provides for quick mounting of a faucet that can be accomplished quickly and easily in the under sink environment.  
         [0012]     These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a faucet assembly prior to mounting to the deck.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of a threaded water pipe with a water connection fitting and a mounting nut.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of a threaded water pipe with the mounting nut over the water connection fitting.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a side view of a threaded water pipe with the mounting nut expanded over the water connection fitting.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  is a side view of a threaded water pipe with the mounting nut over the water connection fitting and against the mounting deck.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2E  is a side view of a threaded water pipe with the mounting nut against the mounting deck.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2F  is a side view of a threaded water pipe with the mounting nut tightened against the mounting deck.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the faucet assembly with the mounting nut secured against the underside of the mounting deck.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting nut.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting nut in an open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a faucet assembly  10  includes a faucet  12  having a threaded water pipe  20 . The threaded water pipe  20  is attached to an inlet hose  22  by way of a water connection fitting  24 . The water connection fitting  24  secures to the threaded water pipe  20  and supplies water to the faucet  12 . The faucet  12  is mountable to a sink deck  11 . The sink deck  11  includes a top-mounting surface  14  and a bottom-mounting surface  16 . The inlet hose  22  is attached at an end opposite the water connection fitting  24  to a water supply source. Although a flexible hose attached to the connection fitting  24  is shown other types of water connection conduits such as a rigid pipe or plastic pipe will also benefit from this invention. The sink deck  11  includes an opening  18  for the threaded water pipe  20 . The threaded water pipe  20  extends through the opening  18  and allows the faucet  12  to sit on the top-mounting surface  14 .  
         [0024]     The water connection fitting  24  provides a secure and watertight seal to the threaded water pipe  20 . A mounting nut  26  secures the faucet  12  to the sink deck  11 . The mounting nut  26  includes a hinge  32 . The hinge  32  provides for expansion of the mounting nut  26  to provide for sliding over the water connection fitting  24 . In this way the water connection fitting  24  can be installed to the faucet  12  at a location above the top-mounting surface  14 . Installation of the water connection fitting  24  above the top mounting surface  14  eases and simplifies installation. As is appreciated, manipulation of tools required to tighten the water connection fitting  24  to the threaded inlet pipe  20  is difficult in the confined under sink environment typical of such installations. The mounting nut  26  of this invention allows the water connection to be accomplished entirely above the top-mounting surface  14 .  
         [0025]     If hose  22  is connected to the water supply source first, then nut  26  must be slide over hose  22  before fitting  24  is fed through the opening  18 . If the hose  22  not connected to the water supply source, the nut  6  can be slide over the hose  22  from the water supply source end.  
         [0026]     Installation of the faucet assembly  10  according to this invention proceeds by first feeding the water connection fitting  24  through the opening  18  in the sink deck  11 . The distal end of the inlet hose  22  is already connected to the water supply source. The water connection fitting  24  disposed above the top-mounting surface  14  is threaded onto the threaded water pipe  20 . When this connection is complete water can be turned on to provide for testing of the water connection. Testing is desirable to assure a proper watertight seal and faucet functionality.  
         [0027]     Once the water connection has been established and tested, the faucet  12  is mounted to the top mounting surface  14 . This is accomplished by inserting the water connection fitting  24  and threaded pipe  20  through the opening  18  in the sink deck  11 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the threaded water pipe  20  is shown inserted through the opening  18  such that the faucet  12  is sitting on the top-mounting surface  14  in an unsecured condition. The mounting nut  26  is then moved upward along the inlet hose  22  towards the bottom-mounting surface  16 . The mounting nut  26  includes a flange  30 . The flange  30  is larger than the opening  18  for securing the faucet  12  against the sink deck  11 . The mounting nut  26  includes the hinge  32  that provides for bending along a center line and increasing an inner opening to a size large enough to slide over the water connection fitting  24 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 2B, 2C  and  2 D, the mounting nut  26  is shown slid over the water connection fitting  24 . Once the mounting nut  26  has been slid over the water connection fitting  24  it is slid upward towards the bottom-mounting surface  16 . The mounting nut  26  may still be bent about the hinge  32  in order to speed assembly. The mounting nut  26  does not need to be engaged to the threads until the flange  30  abuts the bottom mounting surface  16 . As appreciated, the threaded water pipe  20  includes a plurality of threads along its entire length. The entire length of the threaded water pipe  20  is often longer than required to accommodate different sink deck configurations. Accordingly, the mounting nut  26  can be quickly moved upwards to the bottom-mounting surface  16  before engaging any of the threads of the threaded water pipe  20 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 2E and 2F , once the mounting nut  26  engages the bottom mounting surface  16 , the flange  30  abuts the bottom mounting surface  16  and drives the mounting nut  26  to a collapsed or installed and secured position. A force applied by the operator may be required to initially engage the threads  28  with the threaded water pipe  20 . In this collapsed position the sides of the mounting nut  26  compress about the threaded water pipe  20 . As the sides compress about the threaded water pipe  20  internal threads  28  of the mounting nut  26  engage threads of the threaded water pipe  20  and allow the mounting nut  26  to be threaded upward toward the faucet  12 . The mounting nut  26  is increasingly tightened against the bottom mounting surface  16  such that portions of the mounting nut  26  are compressed further. The compression of the mounting nut  26  produces the desired engagement with threads of the threaded water pipe  20 .  
         [0031]     Installation of the mounting nut  26  is aided by a plurality of tabs  34  disposed about the mounting nut  26 . The tabs  34  provide for hand tightening of the mounting nut  26  to the mounting surface  16 . In some applications, the mounting nut  26  may be sufficiently tightened against the bottom-mounting surface  16  by hand. However, the mounting nut  26  is also configured to receive a fastening tool to tighten the mounting nut  26  beyond that possible by hand.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the example faucet  12  is shown secured to the sink deck  11 . The mounting nut  26  is secured and abuts against the bottom mounting surface  16 . The flanges  30  of the mounting nut  26  are fully engaged to the bottom mounting surface  16 . Further, the compression against the bottom mounting surface  16  has provided compression of the internal threads of the mounting nut  26  to produce the desired securing engagement with the threaded water pipe  20 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a cross section of the mounting nut  26  is shown and illustrates the internal threads  28 . Preferably, the mounting nut  26  is fabricated from a flexible plastic material. The mounting nut  26  includes the hinge portion  32 . The hinge  32  is of wall thickness less than the remaining portions of the mounting nut  26 . The hinge  32  connects a first side  40  to a second side  42 . The first side  40  and the second side  42  are essentially identical. The hinge  32  provides for the bending of the first side  40  relative to the second side  42 . As appreciated, the specific configuration of the plastic hinge for the mounting nut  26  that attaches the first and second sides  40 ,  42  can vary from the example illustrated for a specific application.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows the mounting nut  26  in a position where the threads  28  would engage the threaded water pipe  20 . In the secured position an inner diameter  38  of the internal threads  28  is in a position to engage the threaded water pipe  20 . This inner diameter can be modified to meet the requirements of a specific threaded water pipe. However, as appreciated the faucet  12  typically includes a commonly sized water pipe  20 . This commonly sized water pipe  20  is standard in order to fit the standard inlet water connection fitting  24 .  
         [0035]     Typically, the water connection fitting  24  is a standard known size compatible with most faucet assemblies  12 . The water connection fitting  24  is an industry standard size. However, the mounting nut  26  can be modified to provide the beneficial and advantageous features of this invention to other applications. Further, although this invention is being shown and described for installation of a faucet, other applications that require the mounting of a water control fixture to a surface along with attachment of a water source connection will also benefit form the inventive mounting nut  26  of this invention.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the mounting nut  26  is shown in an open position for sliding over the water connection fitting  24  (not shown). In the open position the inner opening  36  is greater than the inner opening  38  shown in  FIG. 4 . The inner opening  36  provides the additional space required for sliding the mounting nut  26  over the water connection fitting  24 . The inner opening  36  is a threaded diameter and the inner opening  36  is a hexagon shaped opening within an elliptical hole. Further, the flexible configuration of the hinge  32  and the plastic material with which it is connected provides some flexibility for the mounting nut  26  to squeeze over and around the water connection fitting  24 . The mounting nut  26  will slide over the water connection fitting  24  either all at once or by a rocking motion where one of the first and second sides  40 ,  42  is passed over the water connection fitting  24  followed by the other side.  
         [0037]     The mounting nut  26  of this invention is preferably fabricated from a plastic material and provides a clamshell configuration that is flexible enough to vary the inner opening  36 ,  38  and squeeze or slide over a water connection fitting and then threaded onto the threaded water pipe  20 . This provides for above the sink deck  11  assembly and testing of the water connection to the faucet assembly  12 . This reduces the time required and actions needed within the confined under sink environment. The reduction of time in the confined under sink environment eases installation and produces greater efficiencies for professional installers.  
         [0038]     Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4