Fluid handling – Processes – Cleaning – repairing – or assembling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-01-30
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Processes
Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
C137S315120, C137S359000, C137S360000, C251S293000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178981
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to a flange and handle replacement set for replacing existing plumbing installations. Particularly, the invention relates to a flange and handle set capable of being mounted to a variety of previously installed handle valves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the problems most frequently encountered by a resident of any type of urban or suburban dwelling is a defective plumbing fixture. Particularly, faucets, defective shower or sink handles and the like seem to be a major problem. One of the reasons explaining it is that some of these plumbing appliances have been in use for a long time and have developed structural defects, such as damaged stems, which necessitate replacement thereof. Still another reason is that the originally installed plumbing fixtures may have lost their initial esthetic appeal and need to be replaced by new fixtures having a modern design.
However, a seemingly easy task of replacement these fixtures can easily turn into a major and expensive project. Mechanically inclined amateurs can encounter quite a few unforeseen obstacles. For example, it is not unusual that the local plumbing store does not stock the particular style of valve stem. This is particular true for old plumbing wherein the manufacturer may have discontinued production or totally changed its design. New fixtures recommended to a buyer may radically differ from the original ones requiring special tools and an expertise of a professional plumber. As is well known, a service of a professional plumber is quite expensive and sometimes can take a few days to fix a persisting problem.
Quite often a resident, realizing that replacement of these parts, for example a shower handle, really is not such big a job, decides that he or she is able to do it on her own and, as a consequence, encounters a problem of fitting new parts to old valve installations. For example, mounting a new handle assembly to old shower heads or tub faucets can become an insurmountable task because untrained residents simply cannot attach new details to old mounts. Even if the mounting stage is successfully completed, adjusting a new handle to operate an old valve stem may be technically impossible because the length of the valve and the overall wall thickness have not been designed to fit modern designs. The reason why the latter situation frequently occurs is because there have been established no generally accepted set of standards in the plumbing industry for setting the length or configuration of valve stems, configuration of handles, etc.
Numerous efforts have been made to solve these problems in the past. Primarily, these efforts have been directed at providing a replacement handle set with a group of small adapters or spuds having a variety of cross sections to fit differently sized and shaped valve stems. An exterior of these spuds is uniform to fit the handle cavity, thereby providing a reliable connection between the handle and the valve stem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,009 is an illustrative example of such approach. Typically, a number of spuds is substantial enough to fit a new handle to numerous configurations of the previously installed valve stems, thereby increasing the cost of the set.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,826 discloses a single adapter including a pair of jaws that are displaceable relative to one another to fit differently sized and shaped valve stems. While this system is relatively cost efficient, a structure of the adapter is not comparatively simple and may not be entirely reliable necessitating frequent adjustments, such as tightening a screw which displaces the jaws.
What is needed, therefore, is a handle replacement set that may include one or more valve stem adapters that are easily adjustable to allow a handle to fit differently sized and shaped valve stems. A handle replacement set that is easily attachable to the previously installed mounts is also desirable, as well as a handle replacement set having a simple structure that, at the same time, has an esthetically appealing design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A flange and handle set, in accordance with the invention, including mounting brackets that are controllably displaceable to fit different configurations of the previously installed mounting assemblies and an adjustable stem adapter for connecting a handle assembly with an old valve stem achieves this.
According to one aspect of the invention, the flange and handle set has a template that allows an installer to easily attach a mounting flange, also referred to as an escutcheon, to the old mounts formed with eyelets and attached to a support surface. Particularly, the template, which is temporarily mounted to the support surface so as to surround a valve stem projecting from this surface, has a pair of lugs extending towards the valve stem and provided with holes. These holes are spaced from one another at a distance equal to a distance between recesses formed in the escutcheon and receiving mounting screws which attach the flange and handle replacement set to the support surface. The template receives a pair of mounting brackets pivotally mounted by one of their ends to the holes of the template to pivot in a position, wherein opposite ends of the brackets are aligned with eyelets. Having attached the opposite ends of the brackets to the eyelets, fasteners connecting one ends of the brackets to the template are removed, so as a distance between these one ends of the mounting brackets is equal to the distance between the recesses of the escutcheon.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the flange and handle replacement set includes an adapter having opposite ends thereof attached to a valve stem and to a formation provided on the underside of a handle. The adapter has a pair of handle extensions which are displaceable along the opposite ends of the adapter to accommodate a variable distance between the handle and different types of the old valve stems.
According to still another aspect of the invention, the flange and handle replacement set may include a variety of adapters having different shapes and dimensions to allow the handle to be reliably attached to the stem valve.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a flange and handle replacement set that can be easily attached to the existing mounts attached to a support surface.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a flange and handle replacement set having a mount assembly allowing an installer to easily attach an escutcheon to mounting brackets whose free ends are spaced at a distance equal to a distance between screw openings formed on the escutcheon.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flange and handle replacement set having a controllably adjustable adapter which connects a new handle with differently shaped and sized old valve stems.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a flange and handle replacement set having a group of differently sized and shaped adapters capable of fitting a variety of differently shaped existing valve stems.
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patent: 3669141 (1972-06-01), Schmitt
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patent: 5135022 (1992-08-01), Kovey et al.
patent: 5183069 (1993-02-01), Berg et al.
patent: 5388287 (1995-02-01), Tischler et al.
Chambers A. Michael
Resources Conservations, Inc.
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC
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