Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a faucet assembly, and more particularly, to a quick install faucet assembly which can be mounted from the top of a deck to which the faucet assembly is connected. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In conventional faucet assemblies, the mounting of the faucet assembly is completed from, or requires assembly components to be installed from the underside of the deck to which the faucet assembly is mounted. The assembly which is typically required to be performed from the underside of the deck is often awkward and uncomfortable for the installer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick install faucet assembly that is mounted to the deck from above the deck, and that is simple in construction, economical to produce, and highly reliable in operation. It is another object of the present invention to provide a quick install faucet assembly that is easy to assemble or disassemble, as desired. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a quick install faucet assembly for mounting the spout and/or the end bodies of the faucet from above the deck in a quick and easy manner with a minimum of tools or operations. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a quick install faucet assembly, and more specifically, a faucet assembly that is mounted from the top of the deck to which the faucet assembly is connected. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the quick install faucet assembly according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the spout assembly inserted in an opening in the deck with the wedged retainer in the disengaged position, according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the spout assembly with the wedged retainer in the engaged position for engaging the deck, according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the retainer member according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the wedge nut, according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the quick install spout assembly according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the end body valve assembly inserted in an opening in a deck and with the wedged retainer assembly in the disengaged position according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a second side view of the end body valve assembly with the wedged retainer assembly in the engaged position according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the retainer member according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the wedge nut according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the threaded body for use with the end body valve assembly according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the end body valve assembly according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the spacer tube for use with the end body valve assembly according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the nut guide assembly for use with the end body valve assembly according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the guide flange of the nut guide assembly according to the principles of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 show side and front views, respectively, of the guide arm of the nut guide assembly according to the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the accompanying drawings, the quick install faucet assembly according to the principles of the present invention will be described The quick install faucet assembly described herein includes a spout  10  and a pair of separately mounted end body valve assemblies  12 ,  14 . However, it should be understood that the principles of the present invention may also be applied to a faucet assembly having the spout  10  and valve assemblies  12 ,  14  as a single unit. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the spout  10  includes a water passage  16  which communicates with a waterway tube  18 . The waterway tube  18  has a threaded end portion  20  which engages an internally threaded portion  22  of the spout  10 . The waterway tube  18  includes a radially extending hexagonal flange portion  24 . A guide bracket  26  is provided with a pair of openings  28  and receives the threaded portion  20  of the waterway tube  18  through one of the openings  28 . The radially extending flange portion  24  supports the guide bracket  26  within a lower cavity  30  defined within the spout  10 . The threaded portion  20  of waterway tube  18  is engaged with the internally threaded portion  22  of spout  10 . As is known in the art, a Teflon® tape, thread sealant or other seal means, can be provided on the threaded portion  20  of the waterway tube  18  in order to provide a water sealed fit. 
     A threaded rod  32  is provided with a hollow cylindrical body  34  which is externally threaded and is provided with an upper radially extending flange  36 . The threaded rod  32  extends through the second opening  28  in guide bracket  26  while flange  36  rests against the guide bracket  26 . The threaded rod  32  is aligned with an opening  38  in the spout  10  which allows access of an allen wrench for engaging an internal hexagonal engagement portion  40  provided in the upper portion of the threaded rod  32 . In the completed faucet assembly, a pop-up rod  58  extends through the central opening of the threaded rod  32  and through the opening  38  in spout  10 . As is well known in the art, the pop-up rod  58  engages a drain stopper assembly (not shown) for opening and closing the drain stopper. 
     A wedge retainer assembly is provided for securing the faucet  10  to a deck or mounting surface  60 . The wedge retainer assembly includes a wedge nut member  42  which is threadedly engaged with the threaded rod  32 . As best shown in FIG. 5, the wedge nut member  42  includes a threaded opening  44  which engages the threaded rod  32  and a second opening  46  which slidably receives the waterway tube  18 . The nut member  42  includes a wedge or cone shaped sidewall  48 . A retainer member  50  is slidably mounted to the waterway tube  18  and threaded rod  32 . The retainer member  50  includes a base portion  52  having a pair of holes  54  adapted to receive the waterway tube  18  and threaded rod  32 . The retainer member  50  includes a plurality of legs  55  each provided with a radially outwardly extending foot portion  56 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the installation of the spout  10  according to the principles of the present invention will now be described. The spout  10  is mounted to a deck or mounting surface  60  which is provided with an opening  62  for receiving the threaded rod  32  and waterway tube  18  of the spout assembly. As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer member  50  is slidably received over the waterway tube  18  and threaded rod  32 . The wedge nut member  42  is threadedly engaged with the threaded rod  32  and receives the waterway tube  18  in the second opening  46 . The wedge nut member  42  passes through the opening  62  in the deck  60  and the retainer member  50  is disposed above the wedge nut member  42 . The spout is then rotated to the final position such that the threaded rod  32  and waterway tube  18  extend generally vertically and the spout  10  is properly aligned with the sink. At this point, an allen wrench can be inserted through the opening  38  in the spout  10  to engage the hexagonal portion  40  of the threaded rod  32 . The threaded rod  32  can then be turned in order to draw the wedge nut member  42  and retainer member  50  in an upward direction so that the end portions of the legs  55  of the retainer member  50  are engaged by the wedge nut member  50 . As the wedge nut member is drawn further upward by rotation of the threaded rod  32 , the foot portions  56  of the legs  55  engage the underside of the deck  60  at four points spaced about opening  62  to secure the spout in place, as best shown in FIG.  3 . The pop-rod  58  is slidably received in the opening in the threaded rod  32  and can be easily removed so that the allen wrench can be inserted through the opening  38  of spout  10  to engage the hexagonal portion  48  of the threaded rod  32 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the quick install faucet assembly of the present invention is provided with first and second end body valve assemblies  12 ,  14 . One of the end body valve assemblies  12  is provided for the hot water line while the other of the end body valve assemblies  14  is for the cold water supply line. Each end body valve assembly  12 ,  14  is provided with an end connector  70 , secured in place by a connector clip  72 , for communicating water via interconnecting hoses  74  to the T-joint connector  76  mounted to the waterway tube  18  of spout assembly  10 . 
     With reference to FIG. 12, end body valve assembly  14  will be described. It should be understood that the end body valve assemblies  12 ,  14  have identical configurations and that a separate detailed description of each valve assembly is unnecessary. The end body valve assembly  14  includes a threaded body  80  mounted to a shut-off valve  82 . The threaded body  80  includes an upper hexagonal head portion  84  provided with a radially extending flange  86  below the hexagonal head portion  84 . The threaded body  80  also includes a hollow longitudinally extending base portion  88  which defines the waterflow path as best shown in FIG.  12 . The threaded body  80  has a hollow central portion  90  which receives a spacer tube  92  (shown in FIG.  13 ). Spacer tube  92  has a hollow opening therethrough which defines the central flowpath  93  which communicates fluid through the shut-off-valve  82 . The shut-off valve  82  communicates water from the waterflow path  93  to a concentrically formed waterflow path  95  between the threaded body  80  and spacer tube  92  to communicate water to radially extending openings  96  in the base portion  88  of the threaded body  80 . The openings  96  communicate with the end connector  70  for communicating water through the interconnecting hose  74 . The base portion  88  of threaded body  80  is provided with radial grooves  98  for supporting O-rings  102  between the base portion  88  and the end connector  70  for providing a water-tight fit between the end connector  70  and the threaded body  80 . The base portion  88  of the threaded body  80  includes a recessed area between the O-rings  102  for water flow. The base portion  88  also includes a groove  104  for receiving a retaining clip  72 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12. 
     A wedge retainer assembly is provided for securing the end body valve assembly  14  to a deck or mounting surface  60 . The wedge retainer assembly includes a threaded wedge nut  110  which is threadedly engaged with the threaded body  80 . Threaded wedge nut  110 , as best shown in FIG. 10, is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed guide grooves  112  and a wedge or cone shaped sidewall surface  113 . The wedge retainer assembly also includes a retainer member  114 . The retainer member  114 , as best shown in FIG. 9 includes a central opening  115  for receiving the threaded body  80  and a plurality of legs  116 . Each of the legs  116  is provided with a radially outwardly extending foot portion  118 . 
     A nut guide assembly  130 , as best shown in FIG. 14, is provided for guiding the threaded wedge nut  110  and preventing rotation of the threaded nut  110 . The nut guide assembly  130  includes a guide flange  132  which abuts against the radially extending flange  86  of threaded body  80 . As best shown in FIG. 15, guide flange  132  includes a pair of recesses  134  which mate with an upper bend portion  136  of oppositely disposed guide arms  138 , as best shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. As the guide flange  132  rests against the radially extending flange  86 , the flange  86  helps to hold the upper bend portion  136  of the arms  138  in the recesses  134 . The guide arms  138  extend through the guide recesses  112  in the threaded wedge nut  110  to prevent the threaded wedge nut  110  from rotating relative to the nut guide assembly  130 . Accordingly, as the threaded body  80  is rotated, the wedge threaded nut  110  is prevented from rotating relative to the nut guide assembly  130  therefore causing the threaded wedge nut  110  to move upward and downward along the threaded body  80  depending upon the direction of rotation of the threaded body  80 . As the threaded wedge nut  110  moves upward along the threaded body  80  upon rotation of the threaded body  80 , the threaded wedge nut  110  engages the legs  116  of the retainer member. 
     During installation of the end body valve assembly  14 , according to the principles of the present invention, the threaded body  80  and wedge nut member  1   10  of the end body valve assembly  14  is inserted through an opening  150  in the deck or mounting surface  60 , as best shown in FIG.  7 . 
     In order to securely fasten the end body valve assembly  14  to the deck  60 , the guide flange  132  is held and the threaded body  80  is rotated in a clockwise direction in order to draw the threaded nut wedge  110  upward against the legs  116  of the retainer member  114 . As the threaded nut wedge  110  spreads the legs  116  of the retainer member  114 , the foot portions I  18  of each of the legs  116  engages the underside of the deck  60  in order to secure the end body valve assembly  14  to the deck  60 , as best shown in FIG. 8. A wrench can be used to engage the hexagonal head portion  84  of the threaded body  80  in order to tighten the end body valve assembly  14  in place. The height is automatically set for proper handle height. A lever handle (not shown) would then be applied to the upper splined portion  154  of the valve  82  as is known in the art. 
     At this time, the end connector  70  is attached to the end body valve assembly  14  by sliding the connector  70  over the base portion  88  of the threaded body  80  and the connector clip  72  is inserted in the groove  104  for holding the connector  70  in place. Preferably, the interconnecting hoses  74  are preassembled to the end connectors  70  and T-connector  76 , thus reducing the amount of time and work done under the sink where space is limited. The end connector  70 , as best shown in FIG. 12, includes a generally cylindrical body portion  160  having a radially extending port neck  162  extending therefrom. Port neck  162  includes serrations  164  on an exterior surface thereof. The serrations  164  engage with the hose  74  to secure the hose  74  to the end connector  70 . As an alternative, the hoses  74  can be secured in place by other known fastening methods such as a crimped fitting. 
     The T-connector  76 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, includes a body portion  168 , as best shown in FIG. 7, connected to the waterway tube  18  and further having first and second hose connector portions  170  for connecting with the hoses  74 . The body portion  168 , as shown in FIG. 6, supports an O-ring  172  which surrounds the waterway tube  18  as well as a connector ring  174 . The connector ring  174  includes a plurality of fingers  176  which extend longitudinally and are provided with radially inwardly extending end portions  178 . The radially inwardly extending end portions  178  engage an annular groove  180  formed in the exterior surface of the waterway tube  18  in order to secure the T-connector  76 , as best shown in FIG. 1, to the waterway tube  18 . The T-connector  76  is commercially available from the PARFLEX Division of Parker Hannifin, 1300 N. Freedom Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. As an alternative, other known connectors can be utilized. 
     The quick connect faucet assembly, according to the principles of the present invention, provides an installation which is much faster than conventional faucets. Furthermore, installation is simplified since all components are tightened from above the sink. 
     The quick install faucet assembly of the present invention has no loose parts that can be misplaced. The end body and spout can be preassembled and ready for installation by the user. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

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