US 11,702,823 B2
Top-mount faucet
Evan Benstead, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to Spectrum Brands, Inc., Middleton, WI (US)
Filed by Spectrum Brands, Inc., Middleton, WI (US)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/672,033.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/767,909, filed on Nov. 15, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0157787 A1, May 21, 2020
Int. Cl. E03C 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC E03C 1/0402 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
16. A faucet-to-countertop fastening system comprising:
a faucet body with a base configured to rest against a countertop and an internal cavity extending throughout a vertical axis of the faucet body;
a spout retainer coupled to the faucet body and configured to releasably couple a spout to the faucet body, the spout retainer providing a passage to the internal cavity of the faucet body along the vertical axis;
a threaded rod extending along at least a portion of the internal cavity and a portion of the threaded rod protruding from the base, wherein the protruding portion is configured for insertion into a hole formed in the countertop, wherein the threaded rod includes a hollow passage extending through an entire length of the threaded rod;
a water delivery hose configured to be coupled to a spray head supported on the spout; and
a brace with a central, female threaded nut configured to engage the threaded rod and legs extending from the nut at opposing sides, wherein the legs are joined together at the nut, thereby allowing the legs to pivot about a horizontal axis of the nut, wherein the brace includes a bridge joining the legs on a first side of the nut, wherein, on a second side of the nut, the legs are not joined, and wherein the brace is configured to pivot such that the legs are parallel to the threaded rod during insertion of the threaded rod into the hole in the countertop, and the legs pivot to be perpendicular to the threaded rod as the threaded rod is rotated, and wherein the nut includes externally facing hot and cold supply line cradles configured to nest against respective hot and cold supply lines;
wherein the threaded rod is configured to rotate about the vertical axis via access provided by the spout retainer while remaining in the internal cavity of the faucet body, thereby drawing the brace towards the base of the faucet body while the threaded nut and the legs are not rotated, and wherein when the hot and cold supply lines are nested against the hot and cold supply line cradles, the nut is prevented from spinning, and wherein the water delivery hose is passed entirely through the hollow passage of the threaded rod when the threaded rod and the brace are secured to the countertop.