US5697393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable anti-freeze faucet assembly
Assignee: Legend Valve and Fitting Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-21
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Granted: 1997-12-16
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Expires: 2015-04-21
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable anti-freeze faucet assembly for mounting within a wall of the building comprises a telescoping water pipe with pieces configured for telescopic sliding movement to vary the length of the pipe, a faucet spout coupled to an outlet end of the pipe and a valve body mounted within the pipe proximate an inlet end. A valve handle is mounted proximate the pipe outlet end near the faucet spout, and a telescoping valve control stem extends in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body. The control stem telescopes with the length of the pipe such that the valve body is maintained generally stationary with respect to the pipe length. When the faucet assembly is installed, the faucet spout and valve handle are at the cold outside surface, while the valve body is maintained proximate the warm inside surface of the building wall to prevent freezing of the water in the valve body and pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 John Raymond Mirlisena, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:34
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03B; E03B9/00; E03B9/02; E03B9/025; E03B7/00; E03B7/09; E03B7/10; E03B7/12; E03B9/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0402; Y10T137/0407; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6966; Y10T137/6969; Y10T137/6977; Y10T137/698; Y10T137/9464
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A method of installing an anti-freeze faucet assembly within the wall of a building having inside and outside surfaces comprising: positioning a water flow pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end within an opening formed in the wall between the inside and outside surfaces, the pipe having a faucet spout coupled to the outlet end thereof and including an outside pipe piece and an inside pipe piece configured for telescopic sliding movement within the outside pipe piece; from the width of the wall, determining the length of the water flow pipe necessary for installation within the wall; telescoping the inside pipe piece within the outside pipe piece to vary the length of the water flow pipe to generally match the necessary length; adjusting the length of the pipe to position the pipe inlet end and a valve body within the pipe proximate the inside wall surface and to position, proximate the outside wall surface, the faucet spout and pipe outlet end and a valve handle coupled to the pipe at the outlet end; while telescoping and adjusting the pipe length, telescoping a valve control stem extending in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body to vary the length of the stem with the length of the pipe such that the stem is moved by the valve handle for opening and closing the valve at the inside surface and the valve body is maintained proximate the inside wall surface; whereby the anti-freeze faucet assembly may be installed in walls having different thicknesses and the valve body is effectively maintained proximate the inlet pipe end and the inside surface of the structure wall regardless of the wall thickness to effectively reduce the freezing of water in the pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
291 words
A method of installing an anti-freeze faucet assembly within the wall of a building having inside and outside surfaces comprising: positioning a water flow pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end within an opening formed in the wall between the inside and outside surfaces, the pipe having a faucet spout coupled to the outlet end thereof and including an outside pipe piece and an inside pipe piece configured for telescopic sliding movement within the outside pipe piece; from the width of the wall, determining the length of the water flow pipe necessary for installation within the wall; telescoping the inside pipe piece within the outside pipe piece to vary the length of the water flow pipe to generally match the necessary length; adjusting the length of the pipe to position the pipe inlet end and a valve body within the pipe proximate the inside wall surface and to position, proximate the outside wall surface, the faucet spout and pipe outlet end and a valve handle coupled to the pipe at the outlet end; while telescoping and adjusting the pipe length, telescoping a valve control stem extending in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body to vary the length of the stem with the length of the pipe such that the stem is moved by the valve handle for opening and closing the valve at the inside surface and the valve body is maintained proximate the inside wall surface; whereby the anti-freeze faucet assembly may be installed in walls having different thicknesses and the valve body is effectively maintained proximate the inlet pipe end and the inside surface of the structure wall regardless of the wall thickness to effectively reduce the freezing of water in the pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pipe includes a joint assembly operably coupled between the inside and outside pipe pieces and further comprising tightening the joint assembly when the pipe and valve stem are at the proper length for securing one of the pipe pieces against the other of the pieces and fixing the length of the pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the joint assembly includes a sealing structure and further comprising sealing the two pipe pieces together in water-tight engagement when the length of the pipe is fixed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
224 words
An adjustable anti-freeze faucet assembly for mounting within a wall of a building comprising: a water flow pipe having an inlet end for positioning proximate an inside surface of the wall and an outlet end for positioning proximate an outside surface of the wall, the pipe including an outside piece and an inside piece, both pieces having bores therethrough which cooperate for water flow through the pipe; the inside piece being configured for telescopic sliding movement within the bore of the outside piece and the length of the water flow pipe being adjustable by telescoping the inside piece and the outside piece; a faucet spout coupled to the outlet end of the pipe; a valve body mounted within the water flow pipe proximate the pipe inlet end and a valve handle mounted proximate the pipe outlet end and faucet spout; a telescoping valve control stem extending in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body, the handle movable to move the control stem for opening and closing the valve, the valve stem being operable for telescoping in length when the pipe length is adjusted to maintain the valve body generally stationary with respect to the pipe length and proximate the inlet pipe end and the inside surface of the building wall to prevent freezing of water in the valve body and pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
224 words
An adjustable anti-freeze faucet assembly for mounting within a wall of a building comprising: a water flow pipe having an inlet end for positioning proximate an inside surface of the wall and an outlet end for positioning proximate an outside surface of the wall, the pipe including an outside piece and an inside piece, both pieces having bores therethrough which cooperate for water flow through the pipe; the inside piece being configured for telescopic sliding movement within the bore of the outside piece and the length of the water flow pipe being adjustable by telescoping the inside piece and the outside piece; a faucet spout coupled to the outlet end of the pipe; a valve body mounted within the water flow pipe proximate the pipe inlet end and a valve handle mounted proximate the pipe outlet end and faucet spout; a telescoping valve control stem extending in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body, the handle movable to move the control stem for opening and closing the valve, the valve stem being operable for telescoping in length when the pipe length is adjusted to maintain the valve body generally stationary with respect to the pipe length and proximate the inlet pipe end and the inside surface of the building wall to prevent freezing of water in the valve body and pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The faucet assembly of claim 4 further comprising a seal positioned between the inside pipe piece and the outside pipe piece for coupling the cooperating pipe bores together in water-tight engagement, the seal providing smooth telescoping of the inside and outside pipe pieces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The faucet assembly of claim 5 wherein the seal is positioned at an end of the outside pipe piece for sealing said end to the inside pipe piece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The faucet assembly of claim 5 wherein the seal includes a packing gland fixed to the outside pipe piece which is operable to be tightened against the inside pipe piece to seal the pipe pieces together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The faucet assembly of claim 5 wherein the outside pipe piece defines the inlet end of the water flow pipe and the inside pipe piece defines the outlet end of the water flow pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The faucet assembly of claim 5 further comprising a joint assembly coupled between the inside and outside pipe pieces, the joint assembly operable for tightening one of the pipe pieces against the other of the pieces for fixing the length of the pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
196 words
A water flow pipe assembly having an inlet end and an outlet end and comprising: an outside piece; an inside piece, both pieces having bores therethrough which cooperate for water flow through the pipe; the inside piece being configured for telescopic sliding movement within the bore of the outside piece and the length of the water flow pipe being adjustable by telescoping the inside piece and the outside piece; a valve body mounted within the water flow pipe proximate the pipe inlet end and a valve handle mounted proximate the pipe outlet end; a telescoping valve control stem extending in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body, the handle movable to move the control stem for opening and closing the valve, the valve stem being operable for telescoping in length when the pipe length is adjusted to be adapted for installations requiring different lengths of flow pipe and to maintain the valve body generally stationary with respect to the pipe length and proximate the inlet pipe end regardless of the length of the water flow pipe to maintain the valve body in a warm environment and prevent water from freezing in the pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
196 words
A water flow pipe assembly having an inlet end and an outlet end and comprising: an outside piece; an inside piece, both pieces having bores therethrough which cooperate for water flow through the pipe; the inside piece being configured for telescopic sliding movement within the bore of the outside piece and the length of the water flow pipe being adjustable by telescoping the inside piece and the outside piece; a valve body mounted within the water flow pipe proximate the pipe inlet end and a valve handle mounted proximate the pipe outlet end; a telescoping valve control stem extending in the pipe from the valve handle to the valve body, the handle movable to move the control stem for opening and closing the valve, the valve stem being operable for telescoping in length when the pipe length is adjusted to be adapted for installations requiring different lengths of flow pipe and to maintain the valve body generally stationary with respect to the pipe length and proximate the inlet pipe end regardless of the length of the water flow pipe to maintain the valve body in a warm environment and prevent water from freezing in the pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The water flow pipe assembly of claim 10 further comprising a seal positioned between the inside pipe piece and the outside pipe piece for coupling the cooperating pipe bores together in water-tight engagement, the seal providing smooth telescoping of the inside and outside pipe pieces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The water flow pipe assembly of claim 10 further comprising a joint assembly coupled between the inside and outside pipe pieces, the joint assembly operable for tightening one of the pipe pieces against the other of the pieces for fixing the length of the pipe.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-15 | 2001-06-16 | 2001-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-15 | 2005-06-16 | 2005-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-15 | 2009-06-16 | 2009-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |