Spout mounting

Abstract

A spout retention device is disclosed which mounts a spout to a support member. The spout retention device may keep the spout is a spaced apart relationship relative to the support member and may be made of an insulating material.

1 . A method of mounting a spout to a support member having an opening therein, the spout having a spout body and a spout shank, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a spout having a spout body and a spout shank;   providing an insulating sleeve having an upper portion and a tube;   securing the insulating sleeve to the sink deck;   receiving the spout shank in the tube of the insulating sleeve so that the upper portion of the insulating sleeve supports the spout body; and   securing the spout to prevent removal of the spout shank from the sleeve of insulating tube.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the insulating sleeve to the sink deck includes the steps of:
 inserting the tube of the insulating sleeve through the opening of the support member;   coupling a retainer to the tube of the insulating sleeve, the upper portion of the sleeve pressing against an upper surface of the support member and the retainer pressing against a lower surface of the support member to secure the insulating sleeve to the support member.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tube of the first component includes threads and the retainer includes threads sized to engage the threads of the tube and the step of coupling the retainer to the tube includes the step of threading the retainer onto the tube until the retainer is snug against the lower surface of the support member. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the threads of the tube and the threads of the retainer are double threads. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the spout shank extends beyond a lower portion of the tube of the insulating sleeve and the method further comprises the steps of:
 receiving the lower portion of the spout shank in a valve assembly; and   coupling the valve assembly to the lower portion of the spout shank such that a valve of the valve assembly is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit within the spout shank.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of coupling the valve assembly to the lower portion of the spout shank includes the step of coupling a valve housing of the valve assembly to the spout shank. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the valve housing includes a first keyway and the spout shank includes a second keyway and the step of coupling the valve housing to the spout shank includes the steps of:
 aligning the first keyway and the second keyway; and   inserting a key into the first keyway and the second keyway to secure the valve housing to the spout shank.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the key is a clip. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the valve assembly is a diverter valve assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolating sleeve is adjustable to accommodate a range of potential thicknesses of the support member while keeping the tube at a constant length. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the spout shank extends beyond a lower portion of the tube of the insulating sleeve and the method further comprises the steps of:
 receiving the lower portion of the spout shank in a housing; and   coupling the housing to the lower portion of the spout shank.   
   
   
       12 . A method of installing a spout to a support member having an opening therein, the method comprising the steps of:
 securing a sleeve to the support member;   positioning a spout shank of spout in the sleeve from above the support member, the sleeve holding the spout to prevent tipping of the spout while permitting the movement of the spout relative to the sleeve; and   from below the support member locking the spout in place relative to the sleeve.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of locking the spout in place relative to the sleeve includes the steps of:
 positioning a housing proximate a lower portion of the sleeve; and   securing the housing to the spout shank, the housing permitting water to pass there though to the spout shank.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is a valve housing which supports a diverter valve. 
   
   
       15 . A spout retention device for mounting a spout to a support member having an opening and to a water supply housing, the spout retention device comprising:
 a sleeve having a first portion which presses against one of an upper surface of the support member and a lower surface of the support member and a second portion extending beyond a lower surface of the support member;   a first retainer which presses against the other of the upper surface of the support member and the lower surface of the support member; and   a second retainer which couples the spout to the water supply housing while being spaced apart from the sleeve.   
   
   
       16 . The spout retention device of  claim 15 , wherein the second retainer is positioned below a lower surface of the sleeve. 
   
   
       17 . The spout retention device of  claim 15 , wherein the second portion of the sleeve is a tube which receives a portion of the spout, the tube having a length of about at least 2.5 inches. 
   
   
       18 . The spout retention device of  claim 15 , wherein the second portion of the sleeve is a tube which receives a portion of the spout, the tube having a length in the range of about 0.7 inches to about at least 2.5 inches. 
   
   
       19 . The spout retention device of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve and the first retainer cooperate to accommodate a support member having a thickness of up to about 2.5 inches. 
   
   
       20 . The spout retention device of  claim 15 , wherein the first retainer is threadably engaged with an outer surface of the second portion of the sleeve, the threads of the first retainer and the outer surface of the second portion being double threads. 
   
   
       21 . The spout retention device of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve is an insulating sleeve which keeps the spout spaced apart from the support member. 
   
   
       22 . The spout retention device of  claim 18 , wherein the sleeve is spaced apart from the fluid communicated to the spout.