US3788356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Faucet construction
Assignee: Moen Inc
•
Filing: 1972-08-03
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A single handle mixing faucet has a hollow stem positioned within a sleeve. The sleeve has a pair of water inlet openings and at least one discharge opening and the stem is reciprocal and rotatable relative to the sleeve to control the volume and temperature of water discharged from the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned within a retainer having bottom inlet openings with the exterior of the sleeve and the interior of the retainer cooperating to define passages from the retainer inlet openings to the sleeve inlets. A handle for the mixing faucet includes a cap and a lever, with the cap being attached to a stem and a portion of the lever being positioned within the cap and interlocked with the sleeve.
Inventors
- 👤 A Moen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/02; F16K11/06; F16K11/078; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86549
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
In a single handle mixing faucet, a hollow stem, inlet and outlet means in said stem, a sleeve having hot and cold water inlet openings and at least one water discharge opening, said stem being rotatable and reciprocal relative to said sleeve to control the volume and temperature of water flowing from said sleeve inlet openings to the discharge opening, seal means between said stem and sleeve, a receiver for said stem and sleeve, hot and cold water inlet openings at one end of said receiver, a unitary seal supported on said retainer and at least partially enclosing the lower end of said sleeve, passage means in said seal connecting said receiver hot and cold water inlet openings and said sleeve hot and cold water inlet openings, discharge means in said sleeve and discharge means in said receiver, connected to the discharge openings in said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a single handle mixing faucet, a hollow stem, inlet and outlet means in said stem, a sleeve having hot and cold water inlet openings and at least one water discharge opening, said stem being rotatable and reciprocal relative to said sleeve to control the volume and temperature of water flowing from said sleeve inlet openings to the discharge opening, seal means between said stem and sleeve, a receiver for said stem and sleeve, hot and cold water inlet openings at one end of said receiver, a unitary seal supported on said retainer and at least partially enclosing the lower end of said sleeve, passage means in said seal connecting said receiver hot and cold water inlet openings and said sleeve hot and cold water inlet openings, discharge means in said sleeve and discharge means in said receiver, connected to the discharge openings in said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said unitary seal has a spherical bottom mating with a correspondingly spherical surface in the retainer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said seal includes port seal portions extending inwardly through the inlet openings in the sleeve and having a portion thereof in sealing contact with the exterior of the stem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said seal water passage means are formed between the seal and the interior of the retainer, with portions of said seal being in sealing contact with the sleeve and retainer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A seal for use in a valve having a hollow sleeve, a stem reciprocal and rotatable within the sleeve and a retainer at least partialy enclosing the stem and sleeve, said seal including a lower surface, spherical in shape and adapted to seat upon a spherical surface in the retainer, port seal portions in the seal adapted to extend through ports in the sleeve and having an inner rim adapted to be in sealing contact with the stem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A seal for use in a valve having a hollow sleeve, a stem reciprocal and rotatable within the sleeve and a retainer at least partialy enclosing the stem and sleeve, said seal including a lower surface, spherical in shape and adapted to seat upon a spherical surface in the retainer, port seal portions in the seal adapted to extend through ports in the sleeve and having an inner rim adapted to be in sealing contact with the stem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 5 further characterized by and including a plurality of grooves on the exterior of said seal adapted to form water passages connecting the sleeve and retainer inlet openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said seal has a spherical inner surface adapted to mate with a corresponding surface on the sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3103231A
Cited
US3202181A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |