Abstract:
Improved plumbing fixture fittings for commercial sinks having a faucet with a pre-rinse unit includes a universal tap and flexible steel hoses to connect the universal tap of the faucet with the building&#39;s source of supply of water to the sink. Special packaging for the pre-rinse fixtures can include a rigid plastic shell that shields at least some of the underlying fittings from the shrink-wrap material that holds the fittings against movement on a rigid substrate. The fittings are pre-assembled before being mounted to the rigid substrate by the shrink-wrap material.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     N/A  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     N/A  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     As shown in a packing case  10  in  FIG. 1 , plumbing fixtures for commercial sinks include faucets  11  with a pre-rinse unit. Included as components of the pre-rinse unit are a vertically disposed riser  12  having one end connected to the faucet  11 , a flexible stainless steel hose  13  having one end connected to the opposite end of the riser, and a spray nozzle  14  at the opposite end of the flexible steel hose  13 . A finger hook  15  is connected to the riser to retain the spray nozzle next to the riser when the spray nozzle is not in use.  
         [0004]     As shown schematically in  FIG. 2 , the hot water line  16  and the cold water line  17  must be attached to the faucet  11  from beneath the sink. The depth of the sink&#39;s basin can be on the order of two feet, and the space between the kitchen wall and the wall of the basin closest to the kitchen wall can vary depending on the installation. But this space typically is relatively cramped and less than one foot wide. The attachment of the hot water line  16  and the cold water line  17  to the faucet  11  is made via a fixture fitting such as a spreader body  20  that has one end connected to each of the hot water line and the cold water line. The opposite end of the spreader body  20  is threaded to engage one end of a turnbuckle  21 . The spreader body  20  must fit in the space between the basin of the sink and the kitchen wall that is closest to the basin.  
         [0005]     The faucet  11  has a tap  22  that extends axially beneath the sink&#39;s flange  18  (See  FIG. 5 ) on which the faucet is mounted. The tap  22  is provided with four symmetrically spaced axially extending holes. Two opposite holes  23  are blind, and so do not lead to water passages. Each of the other two holes  24 ,  25  leads to one of the faucet&#39;s valves  26 ,  27  for controlling the flow of hot water or cold water. The exterior axial cylindrical surface of the tap  22  is threaded to receive one end of the turnbuckle  21 .  
         [0006]     The opposite end of the turnbuckle  21  is connected to a threaded axially extending portion of the spreader body  20 . The end of the threaded axially extending portion of the spreader body  20  has two openings  28 ,  29  and two posts  30 . Each post  30  is configured to be received within one of the blind holes  23  in the end of the tap  22 . Each opening  28 ,  29  of the spreader body  20  is configured to line up with one of the two remaining holes  24 ,  25  respectively, in the tap so that a passage will be formed for the flow of water. The installer rotates the spreader body  20  until the posts  30  align with the proper blind holes  23  in the tap so that the opening  28  in the fixture fitting  20  that is connected to the hot water line  16  will align with the hole  24  in the tap  22  that leads to the valve  26  controlling the flow of hot water from the faucet  11  and the opening  29  in the fixture fitting  20  that is connected to the cold water line  17  will align with the hole  25  in the tap  22  that leads to the valve  27  controlling the flow of cold water from the faucet. Tightening of the turnbuckle  21  pulls the end of the tap  22  into contact with the end of the spreader body  20  and places hole  24  opposite opening  28  and hole  25  opposite opening  29 . Because of the limited space available for the installer to work when attaching the spreader body  20  to the underside of the faucet  11 , such installation can become both tedious and unduly time consuming for the installer.  
         [0007]     The tap  22  is formed of cast brass. Accordingly, the dimensional tolerances concerning the shapes of the holes  23 ,  24 ,  25  are rather loose, and the holes  23 ,  24 ,  25  can be less than perfectly circular. If the installer is not careful, the installation can become less than satisfactory. For example, if the turnbuckle  21  is not properly tightened, leaks can result. If the posts  30  are not properly aligned with the blind holes  23 , then sometimes the passage to the hot water valve  26  or the cold water valve  27  is blocked by one of the posts  30 . Sometimes the installer mistakenly may try to force one of the posts  30  into one of the tap&#39;s holes  24  or  25  for the hot water or the cold water, resulting in damage to the hole  24  or  25 . Such damage can cause leaks. For example, sometimes such damage will enable the hot water leaving the opening  28  of the spreader body  20  to bleed into the cold water hole  25  of the tap  22 . Sometimes the cold water leaving the cold water opening  29  in the spreader body  20  will bleed into the hot water hole  24  of the tap  22  due to such damage or due to the less than perfect circularity or location of the holes  24 ,  25  in the tap  22 .  
         [0008]     A wall bracket  31  is typically included to provide support for the riser  12  by connecting the riser to the wall. The distance between the kitchen wall and the riser will vary depending upon the location of the faucet  11  relative to the kitchen wall. Accordingly, the length of any bracket  31  that extends between the kitchen wall and the riser  12  must lend itself to being cut to size for any given installation.  
         [0009]     The exterior finish of the fixture fittings that are visible to the user when they have been installed, is highly polished. Accordingly, during shipment of these fixture fittings to the job site, care must be taken to avoid nicks and scratches to this finish. If the fittings are permitted to touch one another during shipment, such nicks and scratches will result. One method of packing and shipment that avoids nicking and scratching the finish requires the fixture fittings to be fixed to an underlying cardboard substrate  32  by the application under vacuum of a heated plastic material  33  that is shrink-wrapped around the fittings and adhered to the underlying cardboard substrate  32 . However, this method has its drawbacks. The heated plastic  33  tends to adhere to the surfaces of the fittings. This requires time consuming removal of the plastic, since care must be taken to avoid nicking and scratching the surfaces of the fixture fittings during the removal process.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide plumbing fixture fittings for commercial sinks with a pre-rinse unit wherein the fittings are configured so that either a solid spreader body or flexible connector hoses can be attached when installing the unit and connecting it to the water supply from beneath the sink.  
         [0011]     It is also a principal object of the present invention to provide plumbing fixture fittings for commercial sinks with a pre-rinse unit wherein the connections to the hot and cold water supplies can be effected more reliably and with a reduction in the time and effort that the installer expends to complete these connections.  
         [0012]     It is another principal object of the present invention to provide plumbing fixture fittings for commercial sinks with a pre-rinse unit wherein the unit is supplied in a package that protects the fittings from nicks and scratches while reducing the effort required of the installer to unpack the fittings and install them with less effort and time than conventionally packed fittings.  
         [0013]     It is an additional principal object of the present invention to provide plumbing fixture fittings for commercial sinks with a pre-rinse unit wherein many of the fittings are packaged in a pre-assembled way that still protects the fittings from nicks and scratches while reducing the effort required of the installer to unpack the fittings and install them with less effort and time than conventionally packed fittings.  
         [0014]     It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide plumbing fixture fittings for commercial sinks with a pre-rinse unit wherein a variable length riser support is provided with a configuration that reduces the time and effort of installation.  
         [0015]     To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the faucet can include a universal tap. The universal tap is provided with a pair of blind holes so that the tap can be used to receive the conventional spreader body that is used to connect each of the hot water lines and cold water lines to the faucet from beneath the sink or the counter in which the sink is installed. The universal tap is desirably formed of forged brass and provided with a pair of threaded holes. Each threaded hole is used to connect to the threaded male end of one of the hot water line and the cold water line that provide water service to the faucet. Each of the threaded holes of the universal tap leads to one of the hot and cold water passages of the faucet.  
         [0016]     However, because of these threaded holes in the universal tap, the installer need not use the conventional spreader body that has openings brought into alignment with the holes in the conventional tap of the faucet provided for hot and cold water. Instead of the conventional spreader body, the installer can use two flexible stainless steel hoses that are provided. Each such flexible stainless steel hose has a threaded male end that can be threaded into one of the threaded holes of the universal tap. An O-ring or sealing gasket can be provided at the threaded end of each of the flexible stainless steel hoses to form a water tight seal when the threaded end of the flexible stainless steel hose is screwed into the appropriate threaded hole of the universal tap. In this way, the installer can rotate the flexible stainless steel hose from beneath the sink at the remote end of the flexible steel hose. This convenience eliminates the need for the installer to work with an awkward spreader body and turnbuckle in the narrow space between the kitchen wall and the wall of the sink&#39;s basin in order to attach the water supply hoses to the conventional spreader body. This apparatus of the present invention also provides for a more reliable connection to the water service and a connection that is more easily maintained.  
         [0017]     The pre-rinse assembly can include a unique riser support that is designed to facilitate installation of the pre-rinse assembly. The riser support includes a stand-off having opposed ends. The riser support includes a wall bracket that is selectively, detachably fixed to one end of the stand-off. This one end of the stand-off can be permanently or detachably fixed to the base of the wall bracket. The opposite end of the stand-off can be cut to any desired length by the installer to accommodate different sink installations. The riser support can include a clamp that selectively, detachably attaches the opposite end (the cut off end) of the stand-off to the riser. The clamp is formed desirably as a clam-shell arrangement that requires only a pair of threaded fasteners in order to attach the stand-off to the riser.  
         [0018]     A faucet with pre-rinse assembly can be provided in a shipping package that facilitates quick and easy removal and installation of the packaged fittings by the installer. Such a product includes a first rigid substrate that has been rendered porous to the passage of air therethrough. The tension spring of the pre-rinse assembly rests on the substrate. A flexible steel hose is connected to a connection fitting and is disposed through the spring until the fitting is received within the spring and protrudes from one end thereof in a position that is ready for connection to the riser. A polyurethane inner sleeve lines the inside of the stainless steel flexible hose. A rigid shell is configured and disposed to cover the spring and the hose and rest against the substrate. The shell is desirably composed of clear polyvinychloride having a basis weight of about 0.105 kg/cubic meter. A sheet of flexible material is heated and shrink-wrapped over the shell and the substrate and holds the shell against the substrate. The sheet of flexible material desirably comprises a polyethylene film having a basis weight in the range of 920 kilograms per cubic meter to 950 kilograms per cubic meter. The sheet of flexible material is heated to a temperature in the range of 70 to 110 degrees Centigrade before being shrink-wrapped. Thus, the rigid shell is disposed between the underlying rigid substrate and the shrink-wrapped plastic sheet so that both the spring and the hose are protected from entanglement with the heated sheet of flexible material.  
         [0019]     In some embodiments of the packaged fittings, a finger hook is already connected to the riser of the pre-rinse assembly that is mounted on the substrate covered with the shrink-wrapped sheet of flexible material. In some embodiments of the packaged fittings, the riser support with the stand-off and the wall bracket are pre-assembled and resting against the substrate that is covered with the shrink-wrapped sheet of flexible material.  
         [0020]     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
         [0021]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate at least one presently preferred embodiment of the invention as well as some alternative embodiments. These drawings, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention but by no means are intended to be exhaustive of all of the possible manifestations of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of conventional components of a faucet with a pre-rinse unit in a conventional package therefor;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates from a perspective view the assembly of components of a faucet;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates from a perspective view the assembly of components of a faucet;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  illustrates from a perspective view the assembly of components of a faucet;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  illustrates from a perspective view (with environmental structure shown in phantom by chain-dashed lines) the assembled components of an accessory for the faucet;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4C  illustrates from an exploded perspective view the unassembled components of  FIG. 4B ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of conventional components the assembly of components of a faucet installed in a sink;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the method of pre-assembly and packaging of some of the fittings of the pre-rinse assembly;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of some of the package fittings of the pre-rinse assembly in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of some of the package fittings of the pre-rinse assembly in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8A  schematically illustrates extraction of pre-assembled fittings of the pre-rinse assembly in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 8B  schematically illustrates extraction of pre-assembled fittings of the pre-rinse assembly in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]     Reference now will be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, which is not restricted to the specifics of the examples. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. The same numerals are assigned to the same components throughout the drawings and description.  
         [0035]     A presently preferred embodiment of the installation fittings of a faucet assembly is shown in  FIG. 3  and is represented generally by the numeral  40 . The faucet is generally designated by the numeral  41  and includes a universal tap  42  that extends axially and desirably is formed of forged brass. Internally of the tap  42 , there is provided a first water passage  44  and a second water passage  45 . Each of the first and second water passages ( 44 ,  45 ) extends axially into the tap  42 , as is schematically indicated in  FIG. 3  by the two sets of parallel dashed lines designated  43 . Each of the first water passage  44  and second water passage  45  is connected in communication with one of the internal passages (not shown) through which the water from the hot water supply line  16  and the cold water supply line  17  are provided to the valves  26 ,  27  inside the faucet  41  that regulate the flow of hot and cold water, respectively, through the faucet  41  and into the riser. These valves  26 ,  27  are controlled by the handles  46 ,  47  that are mounted on the cross member of the faucet  41 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hot water supply line  16  is connected to the first water passage  44 , and the cold water supply line  17  is connected to the second water passage  45 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the first and second water passages  44 ,  45  in the tap  42  is provided internally with helical threads, which can be precisely machined in the forged brass.  
         [0036]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a pair of flexible steel conduits is provided. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each conduit  48 ,  49  can be used for bridging the connection from the universal tap  42  to one of the hot water supply line  16  and the cold water supply line  17 . Each of the flexible steel conduits  48 ,  49  has a first end  50 ,  51  that is configured to be threaded into at least one of the threaded holes  44 ,  45  of the universal tap  42 . The opposite end of each of the flexible steel conduits  48 ,  49  is configured with a connector  52 ,  53  so as to be able to be connected to one of the hot and cold water supply lines  16 ,  17  that brings hot and cold water to the faucet  41 . At the threaded end  50 ,  51  of each of the flexible steel conduits  48 ,  49 , there is provided a flexible gasket  54  in the form of an O-ring that is used to seal the connection that is formed between the threaded end  50 ,  51  of the flexible steel conduit  48 ,  49  and the threaded hole  44 ,  45  of the universal tap  42  of the faucet  41 .  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 3  for example, symmetrically spaced with respect to the two threaded holes  44 ,  45  that extend axially into the tap  42 , are a pair of unthreaded blind openings  23  extending axially into the tap  42 . The pair of blind holes  23  is disposed alternately with the first hole  44  and the second hole  45 . Each of these blind holes  23  is configured to receive one of the posts  30  that extends axially from the conventional spreader body  20  that is used in conventional connections from the tap to the water supply lines. The provision of the two blind holes  23  will enable an installer to use the universal tap  42  in a conventional manner, if desired. Thus, the universal tap  42  of the faucet of the present invention lends itself to use with the conventional manner of attachment, if the user so desires. Accordingly, the exterior cylindrical axial surface  55  of the universal tap  42  also is threaded to receive the turnbuckle  21  that is used in the conventional connection fixture. In this way, the turnbuckle  21  can be screwed onto the end of the universal tap  42  in order to link the faucet  41  with a conventional spreader body  20 .  
         [0038]     Another fitting of the present invention can include a variable length, riser support. The riser support is provided with a configuration that reduces the time and effort needed for installation of same. As shown in  FIG. 4B  for example, a riser support is indicated generally by the numeral  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 4A, 4B  and  4 C, the riser support  60  includes a stand-off  61  (a.k.a. bridging member) that is a rigid elongated rod that has opposed ends. The stand-off  61  typically is formed of a brass tube but can be formed of other rigid materials such as stainless steel, polycarbonates or other synthetic materials or composites. One end  62  of the stand-off  61  is fixed, either permanently or detachably, to a wall bracket  63 . The wall bracket  63  includes a rigid plate that extends in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the stand-off  61 . The wall bracket  63  also can be provided with a plurality of holes  64  that are configured to receive fasteners such as threaded screws  65  ( FIG. 4A ). As shown in  FIG. 4A , the fasteners  65  attach the wall bracket  63  to the wall  66  behind the sink  67 .  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the riser support  60  includes a riser clamp  70 . As shown in  FIG. 4C , the riser clamp  70  has opposed ends  71 ,  72 . One end  71  of the riser clamp is configured to be connected to the free end  68  of the stand-off  61 . The free end  68  of the stand-off  61  is the end that would be cut to accommodate different distances between the kitchen wall  66  and the riser  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the opposite end  72  of the riser clamp  70  is configured to be connected to the riser  12  (shown partially in phantom).  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 4B , one end  72  of the riser clamp  70  defines a riser opening  73  that is configured to receive and grip the riser  12 . The opposed end  71  of the riser clamp  70  similarly defines a stand-off opening  74  that is configured to receive and grip the free end  68  of the stand-off  61 . As shown in  FIG. 4C , the riser clamp  70  includes a first mating member  75  and a second mating member  76 . As shown in  FIG. 4C , a male-female interfit connection at this one end  72  of the riser clamp  70  includes a cylindrical pin  69  that fits through two opposed and aligned openings in respective flanges  34   a,    34   b  of the second mating member  76  and through a mating flange (not visible in view shown in  FIG. 4C ) with an opening in the first mating member  75  that fits between flanges  34   a  and  34   b.    
         [0041]     First mating member  75  defines a pair of first holes  77 . Second mating member  76  defines a pair of second holes  78 . Each of the second holes  78  of the second mating member  76  is threaded to receive a threaded screw  79 . Each of the first holes  77  of the first mating member  76  is countersunk to receive the head of the corresponding threaded screw  79  so that the head would be flush with the surface of the first mating member  75  when screwed into the second hole  78  of the second mating member  76 . Each of the first holes  77  of the first mating member  75  is configured to be aligned with a respective second hole  78  of the second mating member  76  when the riser clamp  70  grips the riser  12  and the stand-off  61 . A threaded screw  79  is inserted through each of the first holes  77  of the first mating member  75  and screwed into the corresponding aligned second hole  78  of the second mating member  76 . Upon tightening of the two threaded screws  79 , the riser clamp  60  is configured to selectively grip the riser  12  and the stand-off  61 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 5  for example, one end  52  of the first flexible steel conduit  48  is connected to one of the supply lines  16  for the hot water. The opposite end  50  of the first flexible steel conduit  48  is connected to the universal tap  42 . The wall bracket  63  of the riser support is connected at one end of the stand-off  61  to the wall  66  behind the sink  67 . The opposite end of the stand-off  61  is connected to the riser clamp  70 , which is also connected to the riser  12 .  
         [0043]     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method of preparing a faucet with pre-rinse assembly for shipping is provided. As shown in  FIG. 6  for example, a packing insert  80  includes a planar, rigid substrate  32  that is used to form a rigid and sturdy platform on which fittings of the faucet with the pre-rinse assembly can be mounted and attached for shipping. A suitable packing insert  80  is composed of corrugated paperboard. Such corrugated paperboard typically is rendered porous to the passage of air through the substrate  32  by being provided with a plurality of tiny holes (not shown) disposed uniformly over the entire area of the substrate. Such cardboard sheeting is commercially available in various thicknesses and can be cut to the desired length and width, scored and folded for purposes of serving as the packing insert  80  for shipping the faucet and pre-rinse assembly. A three-eighths inch thickness of 200 pound test corrugated cardboard that is coated on one side for skin packing adequately serves as the material for the packing insert  80 .  
         [0044]     According to one aspect of the invention, certain of the fittings are pre-assembled and packed in their pre-assembled form in order to reduce the time needed for the installer to connect these parts prior to installation once they are removed from the shipping packages. In accordance with the present invention, plumbing fixtures for commercial sinks with a pre-rinse unit are supplied in a package that protects the fittings from nicks and scratches while reducing the effort required of the installer to unpack the fittings and install them with less effort and time than conventionally packed fittings. Two examples of this aspect of the invention are schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  for example. Each of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  discloses a packing insert  80  for such a package as the outer carton  10  shown in  FIG. 1  for example.  
         [0045]     Accordingly, as shown schematically in  FIG. 6 , a connection fitting  81  can be screwed onto one end of the flexible steel hose  13  that comprises a fitting of the pre-rinse assembly. This flexible steel hose  13  also can be provided with a water impermeable sleeve (not shown) that fits inside steel hose  13  and lines the length of the flexible steel hose  13 . The water impermeable sleeve can be formed of any of a number of plastic and/or rubber materials as is conventional in the art. The combination of the flexible steel hose  13  with the inserted plastic sleeve can be preinstalled through the tension spring  82  that surrounds part of the hose  13  until the connection fitting  81  is held by one end of the tension spring  82  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this form shown in  FIG. 6  for example, the connection fitting  81  is ready to be screwed into the end of the riser  12  that is opposite the end of the riser  12  that is connected to the faucet  41 . The desired details of the riser assembly and in particular the connection of the riser  12  to the faucet  41  are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,007, filed Jun. 18, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein for all purposes.  
         [0046]     As shown schematically in  FIG. 6  for example, the tension spring  82  that surrounds the pre-installed flexible steel hose  13 , which is attached to the connection fitting  81  and contains the water impermeable sleeve, is placed onto the substrate  32 . A shell  83  that is rigid and desirably formed of transparent plastic material is configured and disposed to cover the spring  82  and the hose  13  inserted therein. This shell  83  is pre-molded to the desired configuration that enables the shell  83  to be placed over the spring  82  and hose  13  and rest against the substrate  32 . The shell  83  is desirably composed of clear polyvinylchloride having a basis weight of about 0.105 kilograms per cubic meter.  
         [0047]     As schematically shown in  FIG. 6  for example, a sheet  84  of flexible material is configured to cover the substrate  32 . The sheet  84  of flexible material desirably comprises a film composed of a polyethylene ionomer resin having a basis weight in the range of about 920 kilograms per cubic meter to about 950 kilograms per cubic meter. The sheet  84  of flexible material is heated to a temperature in the range of about 70 degrees Centigrade to about 110 degrees Centigrade. After heating and while still at temperature, the sheet  84  is draped on top of the shell  83  and the substrate  32  on which the shell  83  that shields the tension spring  82  and attached fittings have been placed. Then a vacuum is applied from beneath the substrate  32  through the holes in the substrate to draw the heated sheet  84  onto the substrate  32  and shrink wrap the sheet  84  over the shell  83  and the substrate  32 .  
         [0048]     In this manner, as shown schematically in  FIG. 7A , the shrink-wrapped sheet  84  of flexible material is attached to the shell  83  and the substrate  32  and holds the shell  83  against the substrate  32 , trapping the tension spring  82 , steel hose  13 , connection fitting  81  and plastic sleeve (not shown) between the shell  83  and the substrate  33 . In this way, the fittings beneath the shell  83  are sandwiched between the shell  83  and the substrate  32  and thus are prevented from movement during shipping of the package. This sub-assembly is ready for attachment of the connection fitting  81  to the riser  12  upon removal of the shell  83  and its adhered shrink wrapped sheet  84 . Depending upon the particular fittings that are desired to be included on a single substrate, the end result can resemble one of the packing assemblies  85 ,  86  shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  respectively, for example.  
         [0049]     Referring to  FIG. 8A , the disengagement of the fittings of the pre-rinse assembly from the substrate  32  of the shipping insert  80  is schematically represented. As indicated by the arrow designated  88  in  FIG. 8A , the installer can use the blade of a box cutter  89  to cut around the sheet  84  of flexible material along the border of the shell  83  that encloses the tension spring  82  and associated pre-installed fittings. As schematically represented in  FIG. 8B  by the arrows designated  90  for example, with essentially a single cut around the edge of the shell  83 , the shell can be peeled back together with the shrink-wrapped flexible material  84  that covered and adhered to the shell  83 . Thus, peeling back the shell  83  frees the underlying tension spring  82  and associated assembled fittings from the packing insert  80  and shrink-wrapped material  84 . This method of packing the pre-assembled fittings eliminates the need for the installer to scrape off the shrink-wrapped flexible material  84  from any of the fittings of the pre-rinse assembly. Moreover, the pre-assembly of these fittings frees up additional time of the installer that otherwise would have been needed to assemble the fittings once they were removed from the shipping package.  
         [0050]     While at least one presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.