Water faucet inlet line connector

Abstract

A water faucet inlet line connector for providing a quick and reliable attachment of an inlet water line to the shank of a water faucet is disclosed. The connector is comprised of an assembly of two body members entrapping a conical spring washer therebetween. The upper body member has a tapered outer surface for cooperating with the conical inner surface of the connection end of the faucet shank, and preferably includes on its inner cylindrical diameter a ring-like inward protrusion to provide a ring-like region of increased pressure against the inlet tube when the connector and tube are finally locked in position. The lower body member also has a cylindrical inner surface, and cooperates with the upper body member to retain the conical spring therebetween, to align the water line and to provide a stress relief to help isolate inlet line motion from the region of the conical spring and the upper body member. In use a slip nut is placed on the inlet line and then the connector is forced over the end of the inlet line, lower body member first, to force the end of the inlet line through the conical spring to bottom against the top end of the upper body member, with the conical spring firmly gripping the inlet tube to prevent the withdrawal of the tube from the assembly. The upper body member is then inserted into the conical opening of the shank and the lock nut tightened onto the externally threaded lower end of the shank to force the upper body member further into the shank opening, causing the upper body member to forceably constrict to firmly seal against both the inlet line and the faucet shank. Various additional aspects, preferred materials and the like are disclosed.