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US4796329A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Faucet handle

Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc
•
Filing: 1987-03-24
•
Granted: 1989-01-10
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Expires: 2007-03-24
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Abstract

Abstract A faucet handle is disclosed having a light-transmissive upper portion (10) and an opaque lower portion (16) which is connected to the handle hardware. In order to prevent viewing of the lower portion and the hardware through the light-transmissive upper portion, an opaque insert (26) is interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion comprises a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt which form the upper portion are formed integrally in order to prevent detachment of the top (12) from the skirt (14). A projection (39) extends downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying a color (40) which is applied to the underside of the projection, which color indicates cold or hot.

Inventors

  • 👤 Steven Bory

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 20:11
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03C; E03C1/00; E03C1/02; E03C1/04; E03C1/0412; F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/44; F16K31/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S16/00; Y10S16/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 135 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; a lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having a top with an outer peripheral wall that extends downwardly from the top and has an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of said skirt; said lower portion top having a central sleeve extending downwardly therefrom for connection to faucet handle hardware; said central sleeve having its lowest extremity lying in a plane that is above the plane of the lowest extremity of said lower portion; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the lower portion to prevent viewing of the lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion whereby viewing of the faucet handle hardware connected to said central sleeve is prevented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 135 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; a lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having a top with an outer peripheral wall that extends downwardly from the top and has an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of said skirt; said lower portion top having a central sleeve extending downwardly therefrom for connection to faucet handle hardware; said central sleeve having its lowest extremity lying in a plane that is above the plane of the lowest extremity of said lower portion; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the lower portion to prevent viewing of the lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion whereby viewing of the faucet handle hardware connected to said central sleeve is prevented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 1, said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque insert interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 2, said opaque insert having a top, and a downwardly extending skirt that conforms with the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion and is surrounded by the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 2, said opaque insert being formed of metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 2, said opaque insert being coated with metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 1, said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque coating on the underside of the upper portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 1, said top having indicium applied to its underside in a central location thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 7, said indicium comprising either a blue indicium for indicating cold or a red indicium for indicating hot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 7, said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque coating on the underside of the upper portion, overlying the indicium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 38 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 1, in which the upper portion comprises a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 10, in which the top is convex and the skirt is generally cylindrical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 1, in which the upper portion is connected to the lower portion by ultrasonic welding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 1, in which the lower portion is opaque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 207 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; an opaque lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the opaque lower portion to prevent viewing of the opaque lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion; said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque insert interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, said opaque insert having a top and a downwardly depending skirt that conforms with the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion and is surrounded by the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion; the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt; and said top having indicium applied to its underside at a central location thereof, the top being convex and the skirt being generally cylindrical; and further including a projection extending downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying the indicium on its underside, and with the indicium applied to the underside of the projection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 207 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; an opaque lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the opaque lower portion to prevent viewing of the opaque lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion; said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque insert interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, said opaque insert having a top and a downwardly depending skirt that conforms with the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion and is surrounded by the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion; the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt; and said top having indicium applied to its underside at a central location thereof, the top being convex and the skirt being generally cylindrical; and further including a projection extending downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying the indicium on its underside, and with the indicium applied to the underside of the projection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 25 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 14, said indicium comprising either a blue indicium for indicating cold or a red indicium for indicating hot.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 176 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; an opaque lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the opaque lower portion to prevent viewing of the opaque lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion; said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque insert interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, said opaque insert having a top and a downwardly depending skirt that conforms with the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion and is surrounded by the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion; the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt; and said top having indicium applied to its underside at a central location thereof, the upper portion being connected to the lower portion by ultrasonic welding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 176 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; an opaque lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the opaque lower portion to prevent viewing of the opaque lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion; said viewing prevention means comprising an opaque insert interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, said opaque insert having a top and a downwardly depending skirt that conforms with the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion and is surrounded by the downwardly depending skirt of the upper portion; the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt; and said top having indicium applied to its underside at a central location thereof, the upper portion being connected to the lower portion by ultrasonic welding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 125 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt; a projection extending downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying indicium on its underside; indicium applied to the underside of the projection; an opaque lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; and an opaque coating on the underside of the upper portion to prevent viewing of the lower opaque lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 125 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt; the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt; a projection extending downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying indicium on its underside; indicium applied to the underside of the projection; an opaque lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; and an opaque coating on the underside of the upper portion to prevent viewing of the lower opaque lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 25 words
A faucet handle as described in claim 17, said indicium comprising either a blue indicium for indicating cold or a red indicium for indicating hot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 133 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt, said upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt, said to being convex and said skirt being generally cylindrical; a projection extending downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying indicium on its underside, an indicium applied to the underside of the projection; a lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the lower portion to prevent viewing of the lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 133 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt, said upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt, said to being convex and said skirt being generally cylindrical; a projection extending downwardly from the top at a central location thereof for carrying indicium on its underside, an indicium applied to the underside of the projection; a lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the lower portion to prevent viewing of the lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 157 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt, the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt, the top being convex and the skirt being generally cylindrical; a lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; the lower portion having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the upper portion whereby a part of the lower portion fits inside the upper portion, the lower portion carrying a peripheral rim extending outwardly with the bottom of the upper portion skirt being connected to the peripheral rim; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the lower portion to prevent viewing of the lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 157 words
A faucet handle which comprises: a light-transmissive upper portion having a top and a downwardly depending skirt, the upper portion comprising a unitary one-piece molding in which the top and downwardly depending skirt are formed integrally to prevent detachment of the top from the skirt, the top being convex and the skirt being generally cylindrical; a lower portion connected to the upper portion, the lower portion having an outer peripheral wall, an inward member and a central sleeve for connection to handle hardware; the lower portion having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the upper portion whereby a part of the lower portion fits inside the upper portion, the lower portion carrying a peripheral rim extending outwardly with the bottom of the upper portion skirt being connected to the peripheral rim; means interposed between the light-transmissive upper portion and the lower portion to prevent viewing of the lower portion through the light-transmissive upper portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3313057A Cited
US3396604A Cited
US3487496A Cited
US3543329A Cited
GB1527672A Cited
FR2481405A1 Cited
US4616673A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-01-10 1992-07-11 1993-01-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-01-10 1996-07-11 1997-01-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-01-10 2000-07-11 2001-01-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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