Magnetic escutcheon mounting assembly

Abstract

An escutcheon mounting assembly including an escutcheon coupled to a base and including an opening for receiving a valve user interface. A magnetically attractive element is supported by one of the base and the escutcheon, and at least one magnet is affixed to the other of the base and the escutcheon and is configured to magnetically couple the escutcheon to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An escutcheon mounting assembly for a valve, the escutcheon mounting assembly comprising:
 a base configured to be supported by a vertical wall;   an escutcheon configured to be coupled to the base, the escutcheon including an opening for receiving a valve user interface;   a magnetically attractive element supported by one of the base and the escutcheon;   at least one magnet affixed to the other of the base and the escutcheon and configured to magnetically couple the escutcheon to the base wherein the magnetically attractive element and the at least one magnet are positioned behind the escutcheon, wherein the escutcheon entirely covers the magnetically attractive element and the at least one magnet; and   a seal configured to be positioned between and contacting both of the escutcheon and the base and further configured with at least a first aperture and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture, the first aperture being capable of receiving the at least one magnet and the second aperture being capable of receiving the valve sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is a rare earth magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet includes a first magnet positioned to the left of a centerline of the base and a second magnet positioned to the right of the centerline of the base, the seal configured with a third aperture spaced apart from the first and second apertures, the first aperture being capable of receiving the first magnet and the third aperture being capable of receiving the second magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a valve body supported by the wall and a valve sleeve received over the valve body, wherein the base is operably coupled to and axially adjustable relative to the valve sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a valve cartridge received within the valve body along a common axis, wherein the base is adjustable along the common axis. 
     
     
         6 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the base defines an opening receiving the sleeve and is clamped to frictionally engage the sleeve, the valve cartridge extending through the opening of the escutcheon and the opening of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet includes a protective coating to resist corrosion. 
     
     
         8 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the protective coating comprises a polymeric overmold. 
     
     
         9 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is affixed to the escutcheon with an adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . An escutcheon mounting assembly for a wall mounted valve, the escutcheon mounting assembly comprising:
 a base configured to be supported by a vertical wall;   an escutcheon configured to be coupled to the base and including an opening;   a valve sleeve configured to be operably coupled to the base and extend through the opening of the escutcheon;   a magnetically attractive element supported by one of the base and the escutcheon; and   a first magnet affixed to the other of the base and the escutcheon and configured to magnetically couple the escutcheon to the base wherein the magnetically attractive element and the first magnet are positioned behind the escutcheon, wherein the escutcheon entirely covers the magnetically attractive element and the first magnet; and   a seal configured to be positioned between and contacting both of the escutcheon and the base and further configured with a first aperture for receiving the first magnet and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture for receiving the valve sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a second magnet configured to magnetically couple the escutcheon to the base, wherein the first magnet is configured to positioned to the left of a centerline of the base and the second magnet is configured to be positioned to the right of the centerline of the base, the seal configured with a third aperture spaced apart from the first and second apertures for receiving the second magnet. 
     
     
         12 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a valve body supported by the wall and configured to receive the valve sleeve, wherein the base is adjustable relative to the valve sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a valve cartridge received within the valve body along a common axis, wherein the base is adjustable along the common axis. 
     
     
         14 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the base defines an opening receiving the sleeve and is clamped to frictionally engage the sleeve, the valve cartridge extending through the opening of the escutcheon and the opening of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the valve sleeve includes a plurality of flat surfaces defining a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the escutcheon is comprised of brass. 
     
     
         17 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one magnet includes a protective coating to resist corrosion. 
     
     
         18 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the protective coating comprises a polymeric overmold. 
     
     
         19 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the protective coating includes a first nickel layer, a copper layer on top of the first nickel layer, a second nickel layer on top of the copper layer, and an epoxy layer on top of the second nickel layer. 
     
     
         20 . The escutcheon mounting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one magnet is formed of a neodymium magnetic slurry.