Patent Abstract:
A pivoting sleeve assembly for aligning a fluid delivery device perpendicular to a mounting surface when the fluid delivery device is mounted to a wall, the pivoting sleeve assembly made up of a fluid delivery device housed within a sleeve, the sleeve having a lower tubular portion and an upper arcuate portion, and an annular pivot ring, the inner surface thereof having an arcuate shape to conform to the shape of the upper arcuate portion of the sleeve, so that the sleeve may pivot within the contours of the pivot ring. This allows the sleeve to orient the fluid delivery device for proper mounting to the surface.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/266,607 filed Feb. 6, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a pivoting sleeve for a wall mounted tub/shower valve. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a sleeve for use on a tub/shower valve that is mounted in a wall. Generally an escutcheon for a tub/shower valve mounts flush to the wall. Escutcheon screws at the bottom of the escutcheon hold the lower part of the escutcheon in place, but something is required to hold the top of the escutcheon in place. A threaded sleeve with a flange that would abut against the escutcheon may be used. Unfortunately, if the valve is not mounted perfectly perpendicular to the wall there will be a gap between either the top or the bottom of the sleeve flange and the escutcheon if the flange is a rigid part of the sleeve. This is not a problem with the screws as the conical shape of the countersunk heads compensates for any misalignment. Expecting the plumber to mount the valve perfectly perpendicular to the wall is not very realistic, as there are too many variables that the plumber has to contend with, many of which are beyond his control. These include the stringer being twisted or crooked; the bracket on the valve being slightly bent; the brazing of the body not being perfect; and the tub surround being off. The present invention remedies this problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant pivoting sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve that is attached, as by threading, to the main body, and that has a male spherical diameter formed in it. The pivot has a female spherical diameter formed in it and forms a pivot joint. A gasket provides the seal between the pivot ring and the tub surround. The escutcheon is placed over the valve mounted into the wall cavity and the main body. The spray assembly is mounted, preferably threadedly, to the main body. As the thread draws the sleeve assembly down, a flange of the pivot ring contacts the escutcheon and pivots to mount flat. The body will be at whatever angle the body is mounted at, but the flange will be flush with the escutcheon. The instant pivoting sleeve assembly allows for a misalignment of at least 4 degrees. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a tub/shower handle and two pivoting sleeves of the instant invention disposed on hot and cold water valves mounted on and in escutcheons; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines  2 — 2 ; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the pivoting sleeves and the escutcheons shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivoting sleeve assembly of the instant invention; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a cross sectional view of the pivoting sleeve assembly taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4 with the sleeve in a vertical position and the pivot ring in a non-pivoted position; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a view similar to FIG. 5 a  except that the pivot ring is pivoted to the right relative to its position in FIG. 5 a;    
     FIG. 5 c  is a view similar to FIG. 5 a  except that the pivot ring is pivoted to the left relative its position in FIG. 5 a;    
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the pivoting sleeve assembly of the instant invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ball; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the ball taken along line  8 — 8  in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sleeve; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the sleeve; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the sleeve; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view in section of the sleeve taken along line  12 — 12  in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevational view of the top portion of the sleeve shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevational view in section of the top portion of the sleeve shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the sleeve seal; 
     FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the sleeve seal; 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the sleeve seal taken along line  17 — 17  in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the pivot ring; 
     FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the pivot ring; 
     FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the pivot ring taken along line  20 — 20  in FIG. 19 
     FIG. 21 is an enlarged view in section of a portion of the pivot ring shown in FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the retainer clip; 
     FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the retainer clip; 
     FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the retainer clip taken along line  24 — 24  in FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the retainer clip taken along line  25 — 25  in FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the sleeve with a vertical notch or slot present in the top of the sleeve; 
     FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of this second embodiment of the sleeve; 
     FIG. 28 is a top plan view of this second embodiment of the sleeve; and 
     FIG. 29 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the pivot ring having a tab thereon which engages the vertical slot in the second embodiment of the sleeve. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the instant invention a pivoting sleeve assembly  20 ,  220 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, is employed with an escutcheon  10 . The escutcheon  10  may generally be mounted on a wall of a tub or shower. Referring to FIG. 1, a shower assembly is shown having  1 , the escutcheon  10 , a handle assembly  11 , and the pivoting sleeve assemblies  20 ,  220 . A cover plate  12  covers the pivoting sleeve assemblies  20 ,  220 . Although in FIGS. 1 and 2 two pivoting sleeve assemblies  20  and  220  are illustrated, it is to be understood that any number of pivoting sleeve assembly may be present, depending upon the current application. Spouts, body sprays, showerheads, not shown, or other like device may be connected to the pivoting sleeve assemblies in different applications. 
     Referring primarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivoting sleeve assembly  20  is comprised of a ball assembly  30 , a ball receptacle  40 , a sleeve  60 , a pivot ring  70 , and a supporting clip  90 . As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ball assembly  30  has a generally semi-spherical portion  32  with a truncated base  36  and a neck portion  34  on top. The truncated base  36  is primarily a function of the molding process for forming ball assembly  30 . The ball assembly  30  encloses a water passageway  37  formed by a tubular portion  38  extending downwards from the inner surface of the semi-spherical portion  32 . In this embodiment of the invention, the tubular portion  38  is integrally molded within the ball assembly  30 . The neck portion  34  has an inner surface  35  that opens into the water passageway  37 . Although the inner surface  35  has a series of stepped ridges, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, this inner surface  35  may be smooth or otherwise contoured, in order to achieve a desired aesthetic appearance or a desired water pattern, when the ball assembly  30  is used as a water output device, such as a spray. Inner surface  35  may also be threaded so as to threadedly receive a spout or showerhead (not shown) if additional water output devices are desired. 
     The ball assembly  30  is rotatably mounted in the ball receptacle  40 , as shown in FIG.  3 . The ball receptacle  40  comprises a receiving socket  44  and a downwardly extending hollow stem  42 . The receiving socket  44  is semi-spherical in shape for receiving the ball assembly  30 . Since the ball assembly  30  has a truncated base  36 , a space  50  exists inside the receiving socket  44  and the truncated base  36 . The hollow stem  42  extends downwards from the ball receptacle  44  enclosing water passageway  45 . The water passage  45  communicates with water passage  37  in ball assembly  30 , through space  50 . The lower portion  46  of the hollow stem  42  culminates with a plurality of annular ribs  47 , forming annular grooves  48  in between each successive rib  47 . By way of example, FIG. 3 shows two annular ribs  47  surrounding a single groove  48 . An o-ring  49  is placed within groove  48 . 
     The sleeve  60  surrounds the ball assembly  30  and ball receptacle  40 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Referring to FIGS. 9-12, sleeve  60  comprises a lower tubular portion  62  and a top stepped portion  64 . The lower tubular portion  62  contains an annular node  67  that extends outwards from the outer surface of tubular portion  62 . Prior to assembling the pivoting sleeve assembly  20 , annular node  67  serves to retain gasket  80  and pivoting ring  70  on sleeve  60 . At some axial distance from the annular node  67 , and within the section described as the top stepped portion  64 , there is situated an outwardly and upwardly from extending annular ridge  65 . On top of the stepped portion  64  is a hexagonal section  66  adapted to accept a wrench or the like. Referring to FIG. 14, the inner surface  66   a  of the hexagonal section  66  is rounded so as to conform to the contour of the ball assembly  30 . The junction between the inner surface of annular ridge  65  and the under surface of hexagonal section  66  forms a shoulder  68 . Also, located below the annular ridge  65 , an annual groove  63  is carved into the inner surface of the lower tubular portion  62 . The annual groove  63  is for receiving supporting clip  90 , as will be discussed further below. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the sleeve  160 , as shown in FIGS. 26 through 28, a vertically extending slot  169  runs along the outside surface of sleeve  160 . As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the slot  169  may be located primarily in the top stepped portion  164 . The slot  169  runs approximately from the annular node  167  and up through the annular ridge  165 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, sleeve  60  may have a threaded interior surface that corresponds to threads on the exterior surface of receiving socket  44  of ball receptacle  40 . This allows ball receptacle  40  to be threadedly secured within sleeve  60 . 
     Placed on top of the sleeve  60  is pivot ring  70 . Pivot ring  70  serves to secure the pivoting sleeve assembly  20  in place, while allowing the entire pivoting sleeve assembly  20  to align the valve with the wall. As shown in FIGS. 18 through 21, the pivot ring  70  has a base section  72 . Extending upwards from base section  72  is a generally tubular section  74 . Tubular section  74  has a smaller diameter than base section  72 . The inner surface  75  of tubular section  74  is generally arcuate in shape to conform to the outer surface shape of annular ridge  65  of sleeve  60 . This allows pivot ring  70  to pivot around sleeve  60  about the annular ridge  65 . The external surface of tubular section  74  of pivot ring  70  may contain external threads to threadedly attach to a cover plate  12  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 29 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which a vertically extending tab  176  is placed along the inner surface of pivot ring  170 . Tab  176  engages slot  169  of sleeve  160 , thereby locking together pivot ring  170  with sleeve  160 . With tab  176  inserted into the slot  169 , the pivot ring  170  is prevented from spinning or rotating on or relative to the sleeve  160  during assembly or disassembly. Although this embodiment is illustrated with one slot and tab configuration, a plurality of slots and tabs or other locking devices may be employed. 
     Supporting clip  90  is disposed within sleeve  60  and serves to retain ball receptacle  40  within the sleeve  60 . Although a supporting clip  90  is shown, a threaded nut or other supporting device may be used. Referring to FIGS. 22 through 25, supporting clip  90  has an annular configuration and fits within the sleeve  60 . The upper part  92  of supporting clip  90  has a shaped interior surface  94  that cradles the bottom of receiving socket  44  of ball receptacle  40 . The exterior surface of the upper part  92  of supporting clip  90  forms an outwardly extending lip  95  that fits into annual groove  63  of sleeve  60 , thereby securing supporting clip  90  within the sleeve  60 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 15 through  17 , an annular gasket  80  is placed around sleeve  60 , between the escutcheon  10  and pivot ring  70 . Annular node  67  of sleeve  60  keeps gasket  80  from sliding down the tubular portion  62  of sleeve  60  prior to assembly. Gasket  80  provides a seal between pivot ring  70  and escutcheon  10 . Although the gasket  80  is shown having a square or rectangular cross-section, any appropriately sized gasket may be employed. Preferably, the gasket  80  is made from a cross-linked polyethylene foam material. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, the pivoting sleeve assembly  20  is assembled by first placing ball assembly  30  into ball receptacle  40 . Ball receptacle  40  is then inserted into sleeve  60  and retained in place by supporting clip  90 . In the embodiment where the inner surface of the sleeve  60  contains screw threads, ball receptacle  40  is threaded into sleeve  60 . An O-ring  51  is placed between the upper edge of ball receptacle  40  and against shoulder  68  along the bottom surface of hexagonal section  66  of sleeve  60 . O-ring  51  provides a seal between the exterior surface of the semi-spherical portion  32  of the ball assembly  30 , receiving socket  44  of holder  40 , and the inner surface of stepped portion  64  of sleeve  60 . Thus, O-ring  51  prevents fluid leakage around the ball assembly  30 . The ball receptacle  40  is then placed into pivot ring  70  such that the annular ridge  65  rests along inner surface  75  of pivot ring  70 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 26 through 29, vertically extending tab  176  of pivot ring  170  is aligned with slot  169  of sleeve  160 , as sleeve  160  is inserted within pivot ring  170 . 
     Although not shown in FIG. 6, a cover plate  12  is secured over pivot ring  70 . This provides a decorative cover to the pivoting sleeve assembly  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the cover plate  12  is threadedly attached to the pivot ring  70 . A washer  82  is placed between the cover plate  12  and the top surface of the hexagonal section  66  of sleeve  60 . This washer  82  provides additional sealing between cover plate  12  and sleeve  60 . 
     The pivoting sleeve assembly  20  may now be installed as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Sleeve  60 , with gasket  80  already in place about sleeve  60 , is inserted into a given aperture within escutcheon  10 . Sleeve  60  is attached over a water conduit or pipe  100  while the lower portion  46  of hollow stem  42  of ball receptacle  40  is inserted into the water conduit  100 . O-ring  49  provides a seal between the stem  42  and the conduit  100 . The gasket  80  rests on top of the escutcheon  10 , between escutcheon  10  and pivot ring  70 . As the cover plate is attached over pivot ring  70 , the pivoting sleeve assembly  20  is secured to the escutcheon  10 , with gasket  80  being compressed as necessary to prevent any unwanted movement between the pivoting sleeve assembly  20  and the escutcheon  10 . In order to disassemble the pivoting sleeve assembly, the cover plate  12  is removed and a wrench may be placed around hexagonal section  66  of sleeve  60  in order to remove the sleeve  60  from conduit  100 . Clip  90  prevents the ball receptacle  40  from becoming displaced as sleeve  60  is removed from conduit  100 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 a  through  5   c , the pivoting sleeve assembly  20  aligns itself and remains flush with the wall, even when the wall is at a slight angle and not perpendicular. As shown, the sleeve  60  pivots within pivot ring  70 . Pivot ring  70 , in turn, tilts relative to the wall, allowing the assembly  20  to appear flush with the escutcheon  10  as mounted on the wall. 
     While the invention has been described in what is considered to be a preferred embodiment, other variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that the invention not be limited to the illustrative embodiment but be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4