Tub faucet having a universal plumbing adaptor

Abstract

A water control system including a showerhead and a tub faucet. The faucet has a valve configured to automatically restrict fluid flow through the faucet and direct fluid to the showerhead as a function of a parameter, such as a predetermined water temperature. The faucet has many modes of operation, including a Reset Mode, an Auto-Divert Mode, a Bypass Mode, and a Cold Mode. One embodiment includes an auto divert tub faucet that can be reset with less than 10 lbs. of force that is ADA compliant. Another embodiment includes a faucet configured to prevent hammering. Another embodiment includes a faucet configured to prevent leakage over time, and another embodiment includes a universal adapter allowing the faucet to be joined to the adapter without requiring hardware.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A faucet system, comprising:
 a faucet having an inlet port, an outlet port and a channel extending between the inlet port and outlet port, wherein the inlet port includes an annular flange; and   an adapter, comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having a first passageway configured to receive a pipe therethrough; 
 an outer body having a second passageway receiving the sleeve, the outer body further comprising a compression member configured to compress the elongated sleeve about the pipe and form a liquid seal between the sleeve and the pipe; and 
 wherein the outer body has an annular tab insertable into the faucet inlet port and securable behind and against the annular flange, configured such that a sealed fluid path extends from the adapter to the faucet outlet port. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the faucet is configured to be joined to the adapter without using hardware to establish the sealed fluid path. 
     
     
         3 . The system as specified in  claim 2 , wherein the annular tab has an angled surface configured to engage the annular flange when the annular tab is inserted through the annular flange to provide a snap fit. 
     
     
         4 . The system as specified in  claim 2 , wherein the outer body has an annular recess defined between a proximal end of the outer body and the annular tab, the recess configured to receive the annular flange and secure the outer body within the annular flange. 
     
     
         5 . The system as specified in  claim 4 , wherein the annular tab has an engagement surface extending normal to the outer body and configured to engage the annular flange. 
     
     
         6 . The system as specified in  claim 5 , wherein the angled surface and the engagement surface join at a tab tip. 
     
     
         7 . The system as specified in  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is completely encompassed in the outer body. 
     
     
         8 . The system as specified in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a proximal end including an angled flange configured to engage a proximal end of the outer body. 
     
     
         9 . The system as specified in  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the outer body has an angled shoulder configured to engage the sleeve angled flange. 
     
     
         10 . The system as specified in  claim 9 , further comprising a compression plate configured to receive the pipe, wherein the compression member is configured to join the outer body to the compression plate such that the outer body angled shoulder compresses the sleeve angled flange to compress the sleeve angled flange against the pipe and create a seal. 
     
     
         11 . The system as specified in  claim 10 , further comprising a spacer plate disposed between the adapter and the compression plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system as specified in  claim 10 , wherein the compression member comprises a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The system as specified in  claim 12 , wherein the fasteners are screws. 
     
     
         14 . The system as specified in  claim 13 , further comprising a second seal disposed about the outer body and configured to form a liquid seal between the outer body and the proximal end of the faucet. 
     
     
         15 . The system as specified in  claim 14 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the faucet to the outer body. 
     
     
         16 . The system as specified in  claim 15 , wherein the faucet is configured to be removed from the outer body only when the fastener is removed. 
     
     
         17 . The system as specified in  claim 10 , wherein the compression plate and the outer body are configured to be completely encompassed in the proximal end of the faucet when the faucet is coupled to the adapter. 
     
     
         18 . A method of joining a tub faucet to an adapter secured about a pipe, comprising the steps of:
 inserting the adapter over the pipe to form a liquid seal between the adapter and the pipe;   placing the faucet over the adapter; and   joining the faucet to the adapter without using hardware to establish a sealed fluid path from the pipe to the faucet outlet end.   
     
     
         19 . The method as specified in  claim 18 , wherein the adapter comprises:
 an elongated sleeve having a first passageway configured to receive the pipe therethrough;   an outer body having a second passageway receiving the sleeve;   a compression member configured to compress the outer body about the sleeve and form a liquid seal between the sleeve and the pipe; and   wherein the outer body has an annular tab insertable into the faucet inlet port and securable behind and against the annular flange, configured such that a sealed fluid path extends from the adapter to the faucet outlet port.   
     
     
         20 . The method as specified in  claim 19 , wherein the adapter comprise a compression plate, further comprising the steps of:
 disposing the compression plate about the pipe before joining the faucet;   securing the outer member to the compression plate, such that the outer body compresses the sleeve to form a seal about the pipe.