IP Library Granted Patent US 6,981,286
Granted Patent B2
US 6,981,286 · App. 10/442,763 · Granted Jan 3, 2006

Hidden mounting of water valve body and headworks assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,981,286
App. No.
10/442,763
Granted
Jan 3, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water valve assembly is disclosed for mounting with respect to a mounting surface, the water valve assembly including a water valve body having external threads on the exterior thereof and internal threads to receive a headworks and the headworks; the improvement comprising: a handle trim connecter; the handle trim connecter having a hollow cylindrical lower portion and an upper flange portion; the hollow cylindrical lower portion having internal threads to mate with the external threads on the threaded portion and the upper flange portion for engaging the mounting surface. In one embodiment the improvement further comprises a hollow cylindrical spacer member mounted surrounding the handle trim connecter below the upper flange portion.

Claims (44)

1. In combination: a mounting surface and a water valve body and headworks assembly; said water valve body and headworks assembly mounted with respect to said mounting surface, said water valve body and headworks assembly including a headworks having external threads on the exterior thereof and a water valve body having external threads on the exterior thereof and internal threads at an upper portion thereof for mating with said external threads of said headworks; the improvement comprising:

a handle trim connecter;

said handle trim connecter having a hollow cylindrical lower portion and an upper flange portion;

said upper flange portion for engaging above said mounting surface;

said hollow cylindrical lower portion having internal threads for mating with said external threads on the exterior of said water valve body to position said water valve body and headworks entirely below said mounting surface.

2. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 ; the improvement further comprising: a lock nut thread to said external threads on said threaded portion to inhibit said handle trim connecter unthreading from the water valve body when a torque is applied to remove the headworks from its position in the water valve body and headworks assembly.

3. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 ; the improvement further comprising a hollow cylindrical spacer member mounted surrounding said handle trim connecter below said upper flange portion.

4. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 3 ; the improvement further comprising: said hollow cylindrical spacer member being plastic.

5. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said headworks is positioned substantially below said mounting surface.

6. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 5 ; the improvement further comprising: a lock nut thread to said external threads on said threaded portion to inhibit said handle trim connecter unthreading from the water valve body when a torque is applied to remove the headworks from its position in the water valve body and headworks assembly.

7. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 5 ; the improvement further comprising: a hollow cylindrical spacer member mounted surrounding said handle trim connecter below said upper flange portion.

8. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 7 ; the improvement further comprising: said hollow cylindrical spacer member being plastic.

9. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 ; the improvement further comprising:

an escutcheon having a descending threaded portion for mounting on said mounting surface to cover said upper flange portion; and

second internal threads internal to said upper flange portion for mating with said descending threaded portion of said escutcheon.

10. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 9 ; the improvement further comprising: a hollow cylindrical spacer member mounted surrounding said handle trim connecter below said upper flange portion.

11. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 10 ; the improvement further comprising: said hollow cylindrical spacer member being plastic.

12. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 9 said headworks is positioned substantially below said mounting surface.

13. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 12 ; the improvement further comprising: a hollow cylindrical spacer member mounted surrounding said handle trim connecter below said upper flange portion.

14. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 13 ; the improvement further comprising: said hollow cylindrical spacer member being plastic.

15. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 ; the improvement further comprising:

an escutcheon assembly having a top side and a bottom side and a descending threaded portion extending from said bottom side for mounting on said mounting surface to cover said upper flange portion, a handle passing there through from said upper side of said escutcheon to said bottom side thereof and a stem connecter attached to said handle on said bottom thereof; said stem connecter having a spline therein;

second internal threads internal to said upper flange portion for mating with said descending threaded portion of said escutcheon; and

a splined upper portion of said headworks; said splined upper portion of said headworks mating with said stem connecter spline.

16. In combination:

a mounting surface and

a water valve body and headworks assembly; said water valve body and headworks assembly mounted with respect to said mounting surface; said water valve body and headworks assembly including headworks having external threads on the exterior thereof and a water valve body having external threads on the exterior thereof and internal threads at an upper portion thereof for mating with said external threads of said headworks; the improvement comprising:

a handle trim connecter;

said handle trim connecter having a hollow cylindrical lower portion and an upper flange portion;

said upper flange portion for engaging above said mounting surface;

said hollow cylindrical lower portion having internal threads for mating with said external threads on the exterior of said water valve body to position said water valve body and headworks below said mounting surface without said water valve body and headworks or portions thereof being visible.

17. In the water valve assembly as set forth in claim 16 ; the improvement further comprising:

an escutcheon assembly having a top side and a bottom side and a descending threaded portion extending from said bottom side for mounting on said mounting surface to cover said upper flange portion, a handle passing there through from said upper side of said escutcheon to said bottom side thereof and a stem connecter attached to said handle on said bottom thereof; said stem connecter having a spline therein;

second internal threads internal to said upper flange portion for mating with said descending threaded portion of said escutcheon; and

a splined upper portion of said headworks; said splined upper portion of said headworks mating with said stem connecter spline.

18. In combination:

a mounting surface;

a water valve body and headworks assembly; said water valve body and headworks assembly mounted with respect to said mounting surface, said water valve body and headworks assembly including a headworks having external threads on the exterior thereof and a water valve body having external threads on the exterior thereof and internal threads at an upper portion thereof for mating with said external threads of said headworks; the improvement comprising:

a handle trim connecter;

said handle trim connecter having a hollow cylindrical lower portion and an upper flange portion;

said upper flange portion for engaging above said mounting surface;

said hollow cylindrical lower portion having internal threads for mating with said external threads on the exterior of said water valve body to position said water valve body and headworks below said mounting surface;

an escutcheon assembly having a top side and a bottom side and a descending threaded portion extending from said bottom side for mounting on said mounting surface to cover said upper flange portion, a handle passing there through from said upper side of said escutcheon to said bottom side thereof and a stem connecter attached to said handle on said bottom thereof; said stem connecter having a spline therein;

second internal threads internal to said upper flange portion for mating with said descending threaded portion of said escutcheon; and a splined upper portion of said headworks; said splined upper portion of said headworks mating with said stem connecter spline.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2021
From: RESTORATION HARDWARE, INC.; RH US, LLC; WATERWORKS IP CO., LLC; RH YOUNTVILLE, INC.; WATERWORKS OPERATING CO., LLC; RHM, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058300/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2019
From: WATERWORKS IP CO., LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 048758/0563 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WATERWORKS IP CO., LLC; RESTORATION HARDWARE, INC.; RH US, LLC
Reel/Frame 044172/0909 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jun 27, 2017
From: DESIGN INVESTORS WW ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC
To: WATERWORKS IP CO., LLC
Reel/Frame 043038/0727 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2009
From: WATERWORKS, INC.
To: WATERWORKS IP CO., LLC
Reel/Frame 023003/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2009
From: THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF IRELAND, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DESIGN INVESTORS WW ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 022428/0554 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2006
From: PDS ASSOCIATES, INC.
To: IRELAND, THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 017159/0863 →