U.S. patent application number 10/842037 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for two piece hub and handle assembly.
Invention is credited to Romero, Oscar.
Application Number | 20040208686 10/842037 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24944385 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040208686 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Romero, Oscar |
October 21, 2004 |
Two piece hub and handle assembly
Abstract
A two piece hub and handle assembly comprises a handle having a
plurality of flexible fingers and a hub having a bearing surface
for engaging the flexible fingers. A lug formed on each flexible
finger engages the bearing surface of the hub to limit axial
movement of the handle relative to the hub. The handle includes a
grip portion and a tubular portion depending from the grip portion,
and the tubular portion includes the plurality of flexible fingers.
The tubular portion further includes a plurality of splines for
engaging a valve. The hub includes a central aperture with internal
threads for engaging an end body, with the valve being disposed in
the end body.
Inventors: |
Romero, Oscar; (Granada
Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
701 EAST JOPPA ROAD
TOWSON
MD
21286
US
|
Family ID: |
24944385 |
Appl. No.: |
10/842037 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10842037 |
May 7, 2004 |
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09732641 |
Dec 8, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
403/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05G 1/04 20130101; F16D
1/12 20130101; Y10T 403/606 20150115; Y10T 403/32155 20150115; E03C
1/04 20130101; Y10T 16/506 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/071 |
International
Class: |
F16D 001/12 |
Claims
1. A two piece hub and handle assembly consisting of: a hub having
a bearing surface; and a handle coupled to the hub and having a
plurality of fingers for engaging the bearing surface for
rotational movement of the handle relative to the hub.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the each finger includes a lug
and the hub includes a lug-engaging surface.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a grip
portion and a tubular portion depending from the grip portion, the
tubular portion including the plurality of fingers.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a first
bearing surface and the hub includes a second bearing surface, the
first bearing surface abutting the second bearing surface to limit
axial movement of the handle relative to the hub.
5. Cancel
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle further includes a
plurality of splines for engaging a valve and the hub includes
means for engaging an end body, the splines being engaged with the
valve when the hub is engaged with the end body.
7. A two piece hub and handle assembly consisting of: a hub; and a
unitary handle having means for axially retaining the handle on the
hub while permitting the handle to rotate relative to the hub.
8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the means for retaining includes
a plurality of fingers attached to the handle and a bearing
surface, the fingers being operatively disposed to engage the
hub.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the hub includes a first bearing
surface and a second bearing surface, the handle bearing surface
engaging the first bearing surface and the fingers engaging the
second bearing surface.
10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the handle includes a grip
portion and a hub-engaging portion, the hub-engaging portion
including a plurality of lugs configured to engage a bearing
surface formed on the hub.
11. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the handle further includes a
plurality of splines for engaging a valve.
12. A two piece hub and handle assembly consisting of: a handle
having a plurality of internal splines for engaging a valve
disposed in an end body and a plurality of fingers; and a hub
having a bearing surface for engaging the fingers and means for
engaging the end body.
13. A two piece hub and handle assembly for use with a valve
disposed in an end body, the assembly consisting of: a hub
including means for engaging the end body; a unitary handle
including means for engaging the valve and means for engaging the
hub.
14. A two piece hub and handle assembly for use with a valve
disposed in an end body, the assembly consisting of: a handle; and
a hub.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/732,641, filed Dec. 8, 2000.
[0002] The present invention relates generally to hub and handle
assemblies and particularly to hub and handle assemblies for use
with faucets.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hub and handle assemblies are used with valves to control
the amount of water discharged from a faucet. Hub and handle
assemblies typically include at least an escutcheon to provide a
finished appearance to the faucet installation, a handle, and a
fastener to attach the handle to the valve. Other configurations
have even more parts. Unfortunately, more parts translates directly
into higher inventory cost and labor cost for assembly.
[0004] The present invention overcomes this disadvantageous and
others by providing a two piece hub and handle. According to the
present invention, a two piece hub and handle assembly comprises a
handle having a plurality of flexible fingers and a hub having a
bearing surface for engaging the flexible fingers. Each flexible
finger includes a lug and the hub includes a lug-engaging surface.
The handle includes a grip portion and a tubular portion depending
from the grip portion, and the tubular portion includes the
plurality of flexible fingers.
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, the handle
includes a first bearing surface and the hub includes a second
bearing surface, with the first bearing surface abutting the second
bearing surface to limit axial movement of the handle relative to
the hub. The handle includes a plurality of lugs and the hub
includes a third bearing surface, the plurality of lugs engaging
the third bearing surface to limit axial movement of the handle
relative to the hub.
[0006] The handle further includes a plurality of splines for
engaging a valve and the hub includes means for engaging an end
body. When the splines are fully engaged with the valve, the hub is
fully engaged with the end body.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following portion of this specification and from
the accompanying drawings that illustrate a presently preferred
embodiment incorporating the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a faucet with a two piece
hub and handle assembly in position to be installed on the
faucet.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an end view of a handle according to the
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the handle of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a section view taken through the handle of FIG.
2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a section view taken through a hub according to
the invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hub and handle assembly
with the hub being partially broken away.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the faucet of FIG. 1
with the hub and handle assembly mounted on the faucet with the hub
being partially broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] A two piece hub and handle assembly 10 according to the
present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6-7. The hub and
handle assembly 10 includes a handle 12 and a hub 14 that engage a
valve stem 16 and an end body 18, respectively. The handle 12
includes means 16 for rotatably engaging the hub 14 and the hub 14
includes means 18 for coupling the hub and handle assembly 10 to
the end body 18.
[0016] The handle 12, illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 and 6, includes a
grip portion 22 to be grasped by a user to rotate the valve stem 16
to control the amount of water flowing through the valve and a
hub-engaging portion 28. Preferably, the handle 12 is molded from
plastic material as a unitary piece and includes a first bearing
surface 29. The hub-engaging portion 28 includes a tubular portion
30 having a first end 32 attached to the grip portion 22 and a
second end 36. A plurality of flexible fingers 38 extend
longitudinally from the second end 36. Each finger 38 includes a
hub-engaging lug 40 that has a beveled surface 42. The tubular
portion 30 further includes a plurality of internal longitudinal
splines 44.
[0017] The hub 14, illustrated in FIG. 5-6, includes a hollow
frusto-conical body 46 having a top 50 with a second bearing
surface 52 and a base 56 with a third bearing surface 58. A tubular
handle-receiving portion 60 extends downwardly from a second
bearing surface 52 into the interior of the hub 14 and defines a
handle-receiving opening 62. The third bearing surface 52 includes
a central opening 54 in with internal threads 56 (FIG. 6). The
distal end 66 of the tubular handle-receiving portion 60 includes a
fourth bearing surface 68.
[0018] In use, the hub-engaging portion 28 of the handle 12 is
inserted into the handle-receiving opening 62. As the hub-engaging
portion 28 is inserted, the beveled surfaces 42 of the flexible
fingers 38 engage the inner edge of the tubular handle-receiving
portion 60, moving the fingers 38 radially inwardly. When the
hub-engaging portion 28 is fully inserted into the tubular
handle-receiving portion 60, the first bearing surface 29 abuts the
second bearing surface 52 and the fingers 38 move radially
outwardly to engage the lugs 40 with the fourth bearing surface 68.
The abutment of the first and second bearing surfaces 29, 52, and
the engagement of the hub-engaging lugs 40 with the fourth bearing
surface 52 axially retain the handle 12 on the hub 14 while
permitting full rotational movement of the handle 12 in the hub
14.
[0019] Preferably, the hub and handle assembly 10 is used with a
faucet assembly 70 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. The faucet
assembly 70 includes a pair of end bodies 18 that are fluidly
coupled to a spout 76. Each end body 18 includes external threads
74 and a valve disposed therein. Each valve includes a valve stem
16 with longitudinal splines 82 (FIG. 1).
[0020] The hub and handle assembly 10 is installed on the faucet
assembly 70 by aligning the handle splines 44 with the valve
splines 82 and sliding the tubular portion 30 onto the valve stem
16. As the tubular portion 30 engages the valve stem 16, the
internal threads 56 of the hub 14 engage the external threads 74 of
the end body 18. When fully installed, the third bearing surface 58
on the bottom of the hub 14 engages the top surface 86 of the
faucet assembly 70. It will be appreciated that the hub 14 can also
engage the end body 18 with a bayonet fitting or the like instead
of threads.
[0021] Advantageously, the flexible fingers 38 and the beveled
surfaces 42 allow easy assembly of the hub and handle assembly 10
without the need for special hardware or extra fasteners or
connectors, thereby reducing manufacturing, material and labor
costs. Moreover, the hub 14 and handle 12 are easily molded using
conventional techniques, thereby further reducing costs.
[0022] A presently preferred embodiment of a hub and handle
assembly has been described. However, it will be understood that
various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention
as claimed below.
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