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  Modular faucet fixtureUSPTO Application #: 20060085908Title: Modular faucet fixture Abstract: A plumbing fixture mounting component is attached to existing plumbing pipes and valve fixtures. Modular faucet fixtures with spouts, handles, and bases are interchangeably mounted on the mounting component without affecting the plumbing fixture connections. (end of abstract) Agent: Donald W. Meeker Patent Agent - Newport Beach, CA, US Inventor: Patrick Daly USPTO Applicaton #: 20060085908 - Class: 004695000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Support Or Mount For A Supply, Drain, Overflow Or Trap Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060085908. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/749,014, filed on Dec. 29, 2003. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable. THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0003] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of the Invention [0005] The present invention relates to "modular" faucet fixtures and in particular to a faucet spout fixture in which a plumbing fixture mounting component is pre-attached to an existing water faucet supply plumbing fixture and a variety of different interchangeable spouts and handles and bases may be replaced easily without affecting the connections to the existing water faucet plumbing fixtures, thereby permitting the decorative portion of the plumbing fixture, the base, spout and handles, to be interchangeably removed and replaced by an unskilled person with a screw driver without affecting the plumbing connections. [0006] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 [0007] A number of types of fluid discharging fixtures such as decorative shower or faucet heads, as well as faucet handles, are known in the art. They are typically used in kitchens, bathrooms, shower stalls and bathtub/shower combination units to disburse a supply of water into a series of jet streams, with the added feature of accentuating a room's motif or decor. It is often desirable to provide decorative kitchen or bathroom fixtures, such as decorative shower or faucet heads, which coordinate with the existing decor of the room or can be easily adapted to the future decor of the room. [0008] Numerous attempts have been made to create low cost, selectable and interchangeable decorative shower and faucet heads, which decoratively coordinate with the present and future surrounding decor of the room. However, most attempts have been unsatisfactory because of a number of problems such as inconvenience, time and costs spent in replacing various parts of a decorative shower or faucet head in order to achieve a coordinated decorative look. [0009] Prior art U.S. Patent Application #20030062087, published Apr. 3, 2003 by Burns, concerns a quick connect/disconnect faucet water conduit assembly includes at least one valve body and a spout nipple. There is a water tube extending from the valve body and a water tube extending from the spout nipple. A conduit has first and second terminations and there is a quick connect adapter attached to each of the first and second terminations. There are cooperating elements on each of the tubes and the quick-connect adapters for locking the tubes to the adapters to thereby attach the valve body to the spout nipple. [0010] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,727, issued Oct. 16, 2001 to Bertrand, discloses a modular tub spout assembly for use in removably attaching a tub spout on a threadless water pipe extending outwardly from a bath wall without affecting connection of the pipe to a water supply system behind the bath wall. The device includes a tub spout insert, a sleeve and a seal member. The insert has an interior passage, at least a portion of which is of a size to provide a close, but sliding, fit on the pipe. The sleeve has an internal diameter providing a close, but sliding, fit on the pipe and there is a chamber in the insert formed and adapted to closely fit about the sleeve exterior. The seal member is also positioned within the chamber in the insert. A fastener extends within the aligned openings in the insert and sleeve to fix the insert on the pipe. There is a tub spout shell extending over and enclosing the insert and a fastener to attach the shell to the insert. [0011] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,810, issued Jul. 10, 2001 to Baker, shows an easy connect and disconnect faucet spout assembly, which is mountable on a deck from above the deck. The assembly is connected to a water supply line that extends through an opening in the deck. The assembly includes a spout removably connected to a mounting plate. A first and a second member, respectively, connect to non-rotatable nut member carrying a retainer member whereby, on shifting the nut member toward the underside of the deck, the retainer member will clamp the assembly to the deck. [0012] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,770, issued Mar. 26, 2002 to Buchner, provides a modular lavatory faucet spout mounting. A faucet spout fixture is provided for spout mounting and removal from above a supporting surface such as a sink deck, without disconnection of the water supply conduits beneath the sink deck. The fixture includes a faucet spout, which has a water passage and a water discharge in communication with the passage. There is a water inlet in the spout, which communicates with the passage. A water supply assembly is located beneath the supporting surface and there is a spout waterway adjustably connected to the water supply assembly, which spout waterway extends into the spout water inlet. There is a clamp member adjustably mounted on the spout waterway to be positioned against and on top of the supporting surface sink deck. A spout fastener extends through an opening in the clamp member and is held in position therein by a portion of the spout waterway. The spout fastener adjustably cooperates with a threaded bore on the spout to removably fasten the spout against and on top of the supporting surface. [0013] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,966, issued Feb. 12, 1974 to Keane, is for a quick-change faucet, which can be attached to a sink working entirely from above, except for attaching the riser pipes to the shut-off valves. The riser pipes are first attached to the hot and cold water valves before mounting the faucet on the sink, and the riser pipes are passed down through holes in the sink ledge, which are big enough in diameter to pass the fittings. The bottom ends of the riser pipes are then connected to the shut-off valves. The water-mixing manifold, or cast faucet housing, has provision for passing mounting bolts downwardly through bolt-holes, and these bolts are screwed down into threaded bushings that are secured in openings in the sink ledge. The mounting bolts are turned down into the bushings from above the sink, instead of reaching up under the sink into the almost inaccessible area behind the sink. [0014] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,818, issued Mar. 6, 2001 to Rodstein, indicates an apparatus that provides for the quick and easy installation and removal of Roman Tub Spouts onto a water fitting. The apparatus comprises a waterspout, a quick-connect member, a trim escutcheon, a hub, a pair of deck nuts and a lock washer. The quick-connect member screws into a Tee fitting, or the like, in the plumbing system. The hub screws into the base of the spout and slidably engages the smooth end of the quick connect member. The trim escutcheon is disposed between the spout and hub to provide support to the hub and to conceal the hub while providing decorative ornamentation to the apparatus. Once the spout and trim escutcheon are properly positioned on the quick connect member, a setscrew fastens the assembly in place. The deck nuts are positioned above and below the tub surface to hold the apparatus in place on the tub surface. [0015] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,673, issued Oct. 14, 1986 to Bondar, is for a replacement faucet handle kit of simple and inexpensive form, which includes a plurality of adapters each having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portions of the adapters are substantially identical and of non-circular, transverse cross-sectional configuration, such as hexagonal transverse cross-section, complementary to the transverse cross-sectional configuration of a recess in the underface of the replacement faucet handle, and the second end portion of each adapter has a bore of non-circular, transverse cross-sectional configuration, with the second end portion of each adapter differing from the second end portion of each remaining adapter with respect to one or more of the following characteristics, namely, the length thereof, the length of the bore therein, the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the bore therein, and the transverse cross-sectional dimensions of the bore therein, the bores in the adapters having transverse cross-sectional configurations and dimensions which are complementary, and of corresponding length, to the upper end portions of the valve stems of faucet valves of different manufacturers. Thus, a selected one of the adapters, the bore in which has a transverse cross-sectional configuration and dimensions complementary, and of corresponding length, to the upstanding end portion of a valve stem, may be non-rotatably mounted on the valve stem, with the replacement faucet handle being non-rotatably mounted on the selected adapter the length of the second end portion of which is such that the replacement faucet handle is at substantially the same pre-determined level as the former faucet handle. [0016] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,296, issued Oct. 31, 2000 to Baker, an easy connect and disconnect faucet spout assembly, which is mountable on a deck from above the deck. The assembly is connected to a water supply line that extends through an opening in the deck. The assembly includes a spout removably connected to a mounting plate. A first and a second member, respectively, connect to non-rotatable nut member carrying a retainer member whereby, on shifting the nut member toward the underside of the deck, the retainer member will clamp the assembly to the deck. [0017] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,120, issued Sep. 8, 1998 to Bertoli, indicates faucets for sanitary fixtures with interchangeable decorative elements. The faucet comprises an externally unfinished hydraulic apparatus comprising at least one water delivery conduit and water regulation means. The hydraulic apparatus is at least partly covered with sheathing elements in the form of rigid shells capable of defining the external appearance of the faucet. The sheathing elements are provided with shaped elements capable of meeting corresponding parts of the hydraulic apparatus to determine the correct position of the sheathing elements with respect to the hydraulic apparatus. Connecting means are provided for fastening the sheathing elements to one another and to the hydraulic apparatus. [0018] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,422, issued Aug. 25, 1998 to Tokarz, puts forth a handle construction for operation of a faucet, which minimizes assembly parts while enhancing performance of the handle. The handle assembly includes a base, which is secured to the operating valve of the faucet for operational control of fluid flow through the faucet. An upper end of the base has a horizontally disposed tubular seat adapted to receive a lever body and an axial spindle extending through the body. The spindle is threadably received within the seat to retain the lever body within the seat. The lever body is interchangeable to alter the aesthetic appearance of the faucet handle. [0019] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,490, issued Oct. 5, 1999 to Pitsch, discloses a faucet fitting system that has interchangeable components useable in both single handle and dual handle faucet fixtures. The component system is designed to allow the same putty plate with breast plate, waterway spout, aerator and mounting nuts to be used with the various escutcheons, metering valves and waterways associated with the single handle and dual handle faucet fixtures. Specially constructed water valves, putty plates and escutcheon constructions useable in conjunction with the system are also disclosed. [0020] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,489, issued Nov. 9, 1999 to Pitsch, illustrates a faucet fitting system that has interchangeable components useable in both single handle and dual handle faucet fixtures. The component system is designed to allow the same putty plate with breast plate, waterway spout, aerator and mounting nuts to be used with the various escutcheons, metering valves and waterways associated with the single handle and dual handle faucet fixtures. Specially constructed water valves, putty plates and escutcheon constructions useable in conjunction with the system are also disclosed. Continue reading... Full patent description for Modular faucet fixture Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Modular faucet fixture patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Modular faucet fixture or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Flexible bathtub waste pipe assembly for bathtubs and the like Next Patent Application: Collapsible mounting frame for supporting a raised platform Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Modular faucet fixture patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.55704 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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