Patent ID: 6908071

Claim:
A faucet comprising: a body comprising: (i) a main bore; and, (ii) a sealing face; a stem comprising a first portion that defines a flow path and a second portion defining an actuator rod, wherein said flow path communicates with said main bore, said stem being slidable between first and second positions relative to said body, wherein said sealing face of said body encircles an outlet opening of said main bore and wherein said first portion of said stem is closely slidably received in said outlet opening of said main bore so that said first portion of said stem is cleaned by shearing action with said body when said stem moves from said second position to said first position; a seal that moves with said stem between said first and second positions, wherein said seal engages said sealing face of said body when said stem is located in said first position to block liquid flow from said main bore of said body and from said flow path, and wherein said seal is spaced from said sealing face when said stem is located in said second position to allow liquid flow from said flow path and said main bore; a bonnet releasably connected to said body, wherein said bonnet comprises a hollow chamber and a dispensing snout bore, wherein said flow path of said stem in is communication with said dispensing spout bore when said stem is located in said second position, and wherein said seal blocks communication between said dispensing spout bore and said flow path of said stem when said stem is located in said first position, said actuator rod of said stem extending through said chamber and through an aperture defined in a transverse end wall of said bonnet so that a distal end of said actuator rod is located external to said chamber; a biasing element surrounding said actuator rod and acting between said transverse end wall of said bonnet and said stem to bias said stem into said first position; and, a handle pivotally connected to said distal end of said stem to receive manual input force, wherein said handle comprises a cam portion that bears against said end wall of said bonnet when said handle is pivoted relative to said bonnet from a first position to a second position to pull said actuator rod outwardly through said aperture of said transverse end wall of said bonnet, said second position of said handle corresponding to said second position of said stem so that said stem is movable in response to movement of said handle.