Price Pfister Brass Mfg. Co.

Julius L Tolnai

Matthew G Tarnay

Patsy B Palmer

A drain closure includes a flexible seal member formed as a segment of a sphere and centrally mounted on a post located at the center of the drain. The seal member is bistable between opposite involuted positions. In one position its free edges snap downwardly to engage the flange of the drain nut and in the other position its free edges snap upwardly to open the drain. The post is guided for limited vertical movement in a centrally hubbed retainer so that downwrd movement of the post flips the seal member to its upwardly involuted position. A relatively rigid disk slidably mounted about a button attached to the top of the post shields the seal member from a hard stream of water issuing from the spout above, thereby preventing the closure member from accidentally snapping closed. Also, the disk shields the closure member from the current of waste water draining through the device, thereby preventing accidental closure. The disk furthermore serves as a means for transmitting a force, by finger or toe, for involuting the seal member so that it assumes a sealing relationship with the flange of the drain nut. The seal member has an integral biconical sleeve that surrounds the post to provide a spring return of the post to its normal position.

Push-push drain closure assembly

The lever mechanism includes an easy-to-clean cowl which covers the end of a fixture containing a mixing valve. A generally cylindrical fulcrum bracket, attached to the valve body, forms the topmost static element of the fixture. The cowl has a central cup that projects centrally into the fulcrum bracket. The mixing valve control stem is pivotally coupled to the bottom of this cup. A cowl skirt surrounds the fulcrum bracket. A fulcrum member, advantageously either a pin or a ball, is attached to the cowl interior and projects into an annular, outwardly opening receiving groove at the periphery of the fulcrum bracket. Tilting of the operating lever cowl moves the valve stem axially to control flow volume. During such tilting the fulcrum member moves radially in the receiving groove; this changes the location of the fulcrum point so as to prevent lateral displacement of the valve stem. Angular motion of the cowl imparts concomitant mixture controlling angular movement to the mixing valve stem.

Lever mechanism for a mixing valve

A closure head of a plumbing valve engages a protruding bead formed around one opening of a hollow highly flexible sealing member. Supply fluid is conducted to the interior of the sealing member through another opening. The hollow sealing member provides a flexible lip surrounding the bead, the lip responding to pressure of the supply to urge the bead firmly into engagement with the closure head. The lip deflects upon engagement with the closure head and its inner side is free of restraints that would prevent deflection. Limits are placed upon movement of the head while no effective limits are placed upon deflection of the lip. A lip around the supply port to the sealing member also effects a static seal. The sealing member is snap fitted into the bottom of a removable cage.

Washerless cartridge valve for faucets

This invention relates to a single-handled valve for controlling both combined volume and relative proportion of hot and cold water. A control valve stem extends between diametrically disposed moldable sealing members, the sealing members respectively cooperating with hot and cold water inlet openings. The axial and angular positions of the stem determine the combined volume and relative proportion while the sealing members perform all of the sealing functions between the inlet openings and the valve outlet.

Two part lip sealing mixing valve for lavatories, sinks, etc.

A valve control stem extends through a thick sleeve-like sealing member fitted in a valve body. The sealing member has a short passage linking a body inlet port with the control stem. The passage has an intermediate enlargement forming an atrium or pressure chamber. The chamber forms outer and inner lips which are urged by supply pressure to seal against the valve body on the outside and (in the OFF position) against the control stem on the inside. A ring insert in the atrium provides a mechanical assist positively forcng the lips into sealing position and corrects for any imperfections in the lips that might otherwise prevent initiation of a proper seal. A reliable and effective seal is achieved.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Julius L Tolnai