Kohler Company

Andrew J Rieth

Brian J Mooren

A faucet trim assembly includes faucet body subassembly and a base subassembly removably coupled to the faucet body subassembly. The faucet body subassembly includes a spout, an escutcheon coupled to the spout, and a handle coupled to the escutcheon. The spout includes a first internal passageway. The base subassembly includes a valve cartridge that is removably coupled to the base subassembly. The valve cartridge is configured to control a flow of water through the spout. The base subassembly is configured to removably couple to a sink deck independently from the faucet body subassembly.

Faucet with one-piece trim

A process includes placing a collar around a valve cartridge, the valve cartridge comprising a valve stem. The process also includes aligning the valve stem with an engagement crown of a handle such that an opening of the handle is located over the collar. The process also includes press fitting the valve stem into the engagement crown while pressing the handle towards the collar and such that the valve stem is rotatably coupled to the handle through the engagement crown. The process also includes rotating the handle relative to the collar to rotate the valve stem after press fitting the valve stem into the engagement crown.

Handle connection systems and methods

A process includes placing a nut around a valve cartridge, the valve cartridge comprising a valve stem. The process also includes aligning the valve stem with an engagement crown of a handle. The process also includes pressing the handle towards the nut after placing the nut around the valve cartridge and aligning the valve stem with the engagement crown, such that the valve stem is rotatably coupled to the handle through the engagement crown.

A process includes inserting a valve cartridge in a fitting of a yoke. The process also includes placing a ring around the fitting after inserting the valve cartridge in the fitting. The process also includes placing a nut around the fitting after placing the ring around the fitting. The process also includes threading the nut onto the fitting after placing the nut around the fitting. The process also includes tightening the nut against the ring. The process also includes pressing a handle onto the ring after tightening the nut against the ring.

A faucet includes a handle and a handle connection system. The handle includes an opening and a handle annular projection at least partially extending about the opening. The handle connection system is configured to be partially contained within the opening, threadably coupled to a yoke, and selectively coupled to the handle annular projection. The handle connection system is configured to facilitate rotation of the handle relative to the yoke while the handle connection system is threadably coupled to the yoke.

Growing community of inventors

Howards Grove, WI, United States of America

Andrew J Rieth