MXPA00008155A - Two-piece deco lever hub - Google Patents

Abstract

A hub assembly for a faucet handle having an interconnectable top member and skirt member. The top member having a bottom portion of reduced diameter with an external recess formed therein a short distance up from its bottom. The skirt member having an upper opening sized to receive the bottom portion of the top member. Resilient members being formed in the skirt member to extend downwardly and into the upper opening. The resilient members being engageable in the recess of the bottom portion releasably to connect the top member and the skirt.

Description

TWO-PIECE DECORATIVE LEVER CONNECTION MOUTH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a connection mouth for a tap handle, formed by an upper element and an interconnected skirt. It is desirable that the connection port be made of a flexible material and have a design that allows it to be coupled in a simple and efficient manner. In the prior art, a one-piece connecting port was generally used, but if there were more than one piece interconnected, the same material was used for all the components and / or the connection or disconnection was complex. and hard to achieve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection port formed by two interconnected components which may be of the same material or different materials and which press fit together to facilitate their connection and / or disconnection. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection port which is easy to make and is sturdy, flexible with respect to its design and materials, and which is easy to assemble and / or disassemble. Another object of the present invention is to provide a connection port that protects and operates the water intake valve (not shown) and that at the same time allows the use of various aesthetic designs. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, its claims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded view in partial section of a first preferred embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view in partial side section of the skirt of the preferred embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the portion enclosed in a circle of the skirt illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top plan view in partial section of the skirt of the preferred embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the upper element of the preferred embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the portion enclosed in a circle of the upper element illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of a partial side section of the portion enclosed in a circle of the upper element illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 8 is an elevational view of a side section of a second embodiment of the connection port in accordance with the present invention; Figure 9 is an elevational view of a side section of a third embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 10 is an elevational view of a side cut of a fourth embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 11 is an elevational view of a side cut of a fifth embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; Figure 12 is an elevational view of a side cut of a sixth embodiment of the connection mouth of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of the invention (that is, the first embodiment) is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, wherein Figure 1 shows an assembly of the handle 20 in an exploded view thereof, where a conventional pivot 22 connected can be seen. to a water intake valve (not polished) by a connection 24. The upper end 26 of the pivot 22 has a threaded hole (not illustrated) formed around an axis 28, and a plurality of keys or grooves 30 formed in the upper end 26 of the pivot 22. The pivoting movement of the pivot 22 controls the flow of water (hot or cold) through the water intake valve. The connection mouth 20 illustrated in Figure 1 is made mainly of two components, a top element 32 and a skirt 34, which are interconnected, as will be explained later in greater detail. The two components can be made of the same material or different materials and the design of each component can change if desired. Among the materials that can be used for one or both components are brass, plastic, steel, zinc or similar, or a coating or film of a suitable material applied to one of these materials. Likewise, the design of these components may change, as illustrated in the different modalities of the present invention. In each case, a handle will be coupled to the connection mouth 20 to properly operate the water intake valve, and the connection mouth will surround or enclose this water intake valve with a design that is pleasing to the eye and that also protects this valve. In some embodiments, it is possible to use a first material and / or design and, subsequently, a second or third material and / or design can replace the previous ones, in accordance with the user's taste. The upper element 32 of the handle assembly 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1, has a countersunk central opening 36 formed around an axis 28 with a threaded reduced diameter designated with the number 38 and formed at a lower end of the opening 36. which extends into an enlarged opening extending upwardly from the lower end 42 to end in a flat upper part 44. The enlarged opening 40 has a plurality of keyways 46 formed thereon, of a diameter substantially equivalent to the diameter of the keys 30 of the upper end 26 of the pivot 22. The keys 30 of the upper end 26 of the pivot 22 are arranged so that they can operate inside the key 46 of the upper element 32. The connection is fixed by a flat head screw 48 which has the slotted head 50, of progressive variation inwards and downwards, up to a threaded section of reduced diameter 52 which was attached A screw in a threaded hole (not shown) formed up to the upper end 26 of the pivot 22 such that, when in the connected position, the head 50 of the screw 48 engages with the countersink 38 to fix the pivot 22 to the upper element 32 of handle assembly 20.

A handle (not illustrated) is conveniently connected to the upper element 32 in the upper portion with keys 54, as can be seen in Figure 5, to operate the pivot 22 and the water intake valve in a conventional manner. A pair of vertically spaced ribs, with the upper rib 56 and the lower rib 58 separated by a vertical portion 60 that provides a uniform transition from the underside of the rib 56 to a vertical section of greater diameter ending in the upper part of the rib. the rib 58. The rib 58 has a flat bottom portion ending in a cylindrical lower portion 64 of the upper element 32 with a reduced diameter extending vertically and downwardly therefrom. An annular cavity 66 is formed in the lower portion 64 a short distance up from the lower portion 42 thereof. Figure 6 illustrates an enlarged outline of the cavity 66 formed between a flat bottom edge 68 perpendicular to the vertical wall of the lower portion 64 and the rounded upper edge 70 which extends toward the cavity 66 from the vertical wall of the lower portion 64 The skirt 34, illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, is bulbous in shape and has a circular lower edge 72 and a smaller circular upper opening 74 of substantially the same diameter as the lower portion 64 of the upper element 32. The upper opening 74 has an upper edge 76 which bends downwardly to form a plurality of resilient elements or retaining fingers 78 having an angled end 80 extending in the direction of the opening 74. The elastic elements 78 are separated by a punched space 82 formed therebetween and extending upwardly from the end 80 and terminates below the upper edge 76. The grip assembly 20 may have an upper element 32 and the skirt 34 interconnected or disconnected from each other, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 7, by placing the lower portion 64 in the upper opening 74 and pushing downwards until the upper edge 76 of the skirt 34 contacting the flat lower part 62 of the rib 58 of the upper element 32. When this occurs, the angled end 80 of the elastic element 78 penetrates the cavity 66 of the lower portion 64 of the upper element 32. The elastic elements 78 then move outwards while the lower portion 64 descends until the angled end 80 penetrates the cavity to push the elastic elements back into the closed position, by which the skirt 34 and the upper element 32 are interconnected. This connection is considered as a snap fit and, applying sufficient force, the components can be disconnected from each other. The lower portion 64 and the elastic elements 78, in the connected position as illustrated in Figure 7, are connected substantially along the entire length of the lower portion 64 running from the rounded upper edge 70 of the cavity 66 to the lower part 62 of the rib 58. The two points of contact between the upper element 32 and the skirt 34, that is, in the lower part 62 of the rib 58 and the upper edge 76 of the upper opening 74, and along the lower portion 64 and the elastic elements 78. In Figure 8, a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the components are functionally, if not physically, similar to the components of the first embodiment of the present invention, described above in Figures 1 to 7. In this case, the materials and designs may also be different from those illustrated and described in the first embodiment of this invention, and the materials used may or may not carry with them. No coating in any suitable combination and made of any suitable material. Also, the illustrated design is one of many possible. The handle assembly 90 is formed by an upper element 92 and a skirt 94. The upper element 92 has a countersunk central opening 96 which is reamed at point 98., and the reaming extends upwards from a lower part 100 thereof. External keys 102 are formed in the upper end of the upper element 92 and internal keys 104 are formed in the reaming 98. A handle (not illustrated) is connected to the keys 102 and the upper end with keys or grooving of a pivot of a water intake valve (not shown) is connected to the internal key 104 for operating the water intake valve by means of the handle in a conventional manner. The upper element has a rib 106 formed over half its width below the keys 102 with a lower edge 107, and on a cylindrical lower portion 108, which has an external cavity 110 formed near the bottom 100. The skirt 94 is bulbous and of similar configuration to that of the skirt 34 of the first embodiment of this invention. The skirt 94 has a flat lower part 112 and a bulbous side 114 terminating in an upper part 116 of an upper opening 118 with substantially the same diameter as that of the lower portion 108 of the upper element 92, disposed in the upper opening 118. A plurality of resilient members or retaining fingers 120 extend downwardly until they come into contact with the lower portion 108 above the cavity 110. The lower edge 122 of the elastic members 120 is bent inwardly to engage in the cavity 110 with the upper part 116 of the skirt 94 in contact with the lower part 100 of the rib 106 of the upper element 92. In this way the pressure adjustment described above is achieved in greater detail in the first embodiment of this invention in order to interconnect the upper element 92 with skirt 94 in solid and stable form, while allowing the components to be easily disconnected when desired. maintenance objects or to change the material and / or design of one or both components of the connection mouth 90. In most cases, the reference numbers used to designate the components of this second embodiment of the present invention they will be the same as those used to designate the components of the third (figure 9), fourth (figure 10), fifth (figure 11) and sixth (figure 12) embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments can be of different designs and constituted of materials that may or may not be different, but the invention is substantially the same and the connection mouth 90 will be formed by an upper element 92 and a skirt 94 interconnected. However, in some cases, it is possible that some reference numbers change, as will be indicated later. In the third (figure 9) and fourth (figure 10) embodiments of the present invention, a handle (not shown) is connected to pins 102, while in the fifth (figure 11) and sixth (figure 12) embodiments, a The lever (not illustrated) can be connected by a screw in a threaded hole 124 that intersects the central opening 96 of the upper element 92. It is irrelevant that the water intake valve is operated by a handle or by a lever, since it will function the same conventional way. It will be appreciated that the above-described invention may assume other embodiments without thereby departing from the purpose or essential features of this invention. The modalities illustrated here, therefore, are by way of illustration but not limitation, and the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims and not by the foregoing description, and all changes that fall within equivalent terms are therefore encompassed within of those claims.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A connection socket for a tap handle that includes: a) a top element; b) the upper element has a lower portion of reduced diameter; c) an annular cavity formed in the lower portion; d) a skirt with an upper opening of sufficient size to receive the lower portion of the upper element; e) the upper opening has at least one elastic element turned downward and extending beyond the upper opening; and f) the upper element can be connected to the skirt by penetrating the elastic element of the skirt in the cavity of the lower portion.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that the elastic element has a variety of retaining fingers arranged along a circumference and can be coupled in the cavity of the lower portion to securely fasten the skirt and the upper element between them, in such a way that they can be released when desired.

3. The combination according to claim 2, further characterized in that: a) the lower portion of the upper element extends upward from the bottom of it to end in an annular ridge that extends outward; and b) the upper part of the upper opening of the skirt engages the annular rim when the upper element is joined to the skirt.

4. A connection port for a handle that operates a valve of the faucet that includes: a) a top element adapted to be operatively connected with the valve; b) the upper element has an external lower portion of reduced diameter; c) an inwardly extending cavity formed on the lower portion; d) a skirt with an upper opening of sufficient size to receive the lower portion of the upper element; and e) the upper opening has at least one elastic element turned downwards which can penetrate into the cavity of the lower portion and by means of which the upper element can be connected with the skirt, so that they can be disconnected when desired.

5. The combination according to claim 4, further characterized in that the elastic element has a variety of retaining fingers arranged along a circumference, and that move when coupling the lower portion and are adapted to expand and enter coupling by contact with the lower portion or by penetrating the cavity thereof.

6. The combination according to claim 5, further characterized in that: a) an annular rim defines the upper limits of the lower portion; b) the cavity of the lower portion is separated from the annular ridge at a predetermined distance; c) an upper part is formed in the upper opening of the skirt; d) the elastic member defines a plurality of retaining fingers extending downwardly therefrom and in the direction of the opening; and b) the upper part of the skirt comes into contact with the annular rim so that it can be released to connect the retaining fingers in the cavity.

7. The combination according to claim 6, further characterized in that: a) the upper element has an axial opening; b) an enlarged opening with keyways formed in the lower portion of the axial opening, c) the upper portion of the axial opening is countersunk near the middle section of this axial opening; d) a valve of the tap with a pivot or stem with keys engaged operatively in the opening with keys of the lower portion; and e) a screw provided in the countersunk upper portion of the axial opening that is screwed to the pivot to securely attach the connection port to the valve of the faucet.