Patent ID: 8347905

Claim:
In a single handle mixing faucet including a housing having a domed housing cap with an outer surface and a lower periphery, a valve cartridge located within said housing, said valve cartridge having an actuating stem movable along a vertical flow-control axis for varying water flow rate between a no water flow rate zone and a maximum water flow rate zone, said actuating stem being movable along a horizontal temperature-control axis for varying temperature of the water flow from a cold water only zone to a hot water only zone, a handle assembly connected to the actuating stem to allow a user to manipulate the stem along its flow-control axis and to manipulate the stem along its temperature-control axis, said handle assembly having a grip portion with an inner end and a socket portion having an inner surface, said socket portion slidingly engaging said domed housing cap, wherein the faucet comprises: a recess extending vertically along the said outer surface of said domed housing cap; a releasable stop member extending outwardly from said inner surface of said socket portion of said handle assembly, said releasable stop member adapted to engage said recess when said grip portion of said handle assembly is moved along said vertical flow-control axis in said cold water only zone and adapted to release engagement upon application of a force along the horizontal temperature-control axis; and a ramp located along said lower periphery of said domed housing cap outside of said cold water only zone and adapted to contact said releasable stop member to prevent said grip portion being lowered into a full off position except when in cold water only zone.