Abstract: A faucet spout fixture provides for spout mounting and removal from above a supporting surface such as a sink deck, without disconnection of the water supply conduits beneath the sink deck. The fixture includes a faucet spout which has a water passage and a water discharge in communication with the passage. There is a water inlet in the spout which communicates with the passage. A water supply assembly is located beneath the supporting surface and there is a spout waterway adjustably connected to the water supply assembly, which spout waterway extends into the spout water inlet. There is a clamp member adjustably mounted on the spout waterway to be positioned against and on top of the supporting surface sink deck. A spout fastener extends through an opening in the clamp member and is held in position therein by a portion of the spout waterway. The spout fastener adjustably cooperates with a threaded bore on the spout to removably fasten the spout against and on top of the supporting surface.

Abstract: A modular shower arm mounting system includes a water conduit and a replaceable shower arm assembly in sealing engagement therewith. The water conduit has a generally uniform inner wall and an outer diameter wall having a hexagonally or polygonally shaped drive force receiving area adjacent a threaded area. The conduit has one end attached to a manifold behind a shower wall surface and an outlet end projecting from the wall surface of sufficient length therefrom so that the drive force receiving area and threaded area are spaced from the wall surface. The replaceable shower arm assembly has an inner wall with a threaded portion for engagement with the conduit and a substantially smooth portion of gradually decreasing inner diameter downstream of said threaded portion approaching an outwardly projecting end thereof. The seal ring is adjacent the outlet end of the conduit to form a seal with the assembly.

Abstract: A faucet spout fixture provides for spout mounting and removal from above a supporting surface such as a sink deck, without disconnection of the water supply conduits beneath the sink deck. The fixture includes a faucet spout which has a water passage and a water discharge in communication with the passage. There is a water inlet in the spout which communicates with the passage. A water supply assembly is located beneath the supporting surface and there is a spout waterway adjustably connected to the water supply assembly, which spout waterway extends into the spout water inlet. There is a clamp member adjustably mounted on the spout waterway to be positioned against and on top of the supporting surface sink deck. A spout fastener extends through an opening in the clamp member and is held in position therein by a portion of the spout waterway. The spout fastener adjustably cooperates with a threaded bore on the spout to removably fasten the spout against and on top of the supporting surface.

Abstract: A faucet spout fixture provides for spout mounting and removal from above a supporting surface such as a sink deck, without disconnection of the water supply conduits beneath the sink deck. The fixture includes a faucet spout which has a water passage and a water discharge in communication with the passage. There is a water inlet in the spout which communicates with the passage. A water supply assembly is located beneath the supporting surface and there is a spout waterway adjustably connected to the water supply assembly, which spout waterway extends into the spout water inlet. There is a clamp member adjustably mounted on the spout waterway to be positioned against and on top of the supporting surface sink deck. A spout fastener extends through an opening in the clamp member and is held in position therein by a portion of the spout waterway. The spout fastener adjustably cooperates with a threaded bore on the spout to removably fasten the spout against and on top of the supporting surface.

Abstract: A dual mode water circulation apparatus for installation in a water supply line in a building upstream of a water heater provides continuously heated water at one or more remote hot water faucets. The apparatus is connected in a water return loop that includes a portion of the water supply line that is downstream of the apparatus, the water heater, the common hot water pipe, and a return line from a remote faucet. The apparatus includes a housing having a first inlet for connection to the water return line, an outlet for connection to that portion of the water supply line that connects to the water heater, and a second inlet for connection to the water supply line. There is a chamber in the housing with the inlets and outlet connecting to the chamber. There is a check valve between the first inlet and the chamber preventing flow from the apparatus outwardly from the first inlet.

Abstract: A plumbing part is made from a permanent core and a body cast around the core. The core is formed of a material which meets the requirements as to the permitted leachability of lead and/or other undesirable materials from the core into water flowing through it. The core material has a melting point preferably at least 200.degree. F. above that of the cast body. The core also has a coefficient of expansion which is equal to or less than that of the material forming the cast body.

Abstract: A plumbing part is made from a permanent core and a body cast around the core. The core is formed of a material which meets the retirements as to the permitted leachability of lead and/or other undesirable materials from the core into water flowing through it. The core material has a melting point preferably at least 200.degree. F. above that of the cast body. The core also has a coefficient of expansion which is equal to or less than that of the material fuming the cast body.

Abstract: A pushbutton activated water pressure balanced mixing valve for faucets and shower/tub discharge controls includes a housing, a valve sleeve having hot and cold water inlets and a mixed water discharge and a valve member. The valve member has a hot water passage communicable with the sleeve hot water inlets and the sleeve mixed water discharge and a cold water passage communicable With the sleeve cold water inlet and the sleeve mixed water discharge. The housing has an outlet connected to the sleeve mixed water discharge. The valve member has generally equal pressure balancing surfaces and there is a passage in the housing connected to the sleeve discharge and to each of the pressure balancing surfaces for applying water pressure onto the surfaces for causing water temperature modulation movement of the valve member within the sleeve. There is also a passage connecting each of the pressure balancing surfaces with the housing outlet.

Abstract: A hot and cold water mixing valve for use with faucets, shower/tub controls and other plumbing fittings includes a sleeve having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet spaced therefrom and an outlet axially spaced from the inlets. There is a stem movable within the sleeve to control water flow from the inlets to the outlet. There is a water passage between the exterior of the stem and the interior of the sleeve and there is an axially extending air passage within the stem having an outer end in communication with air at ambient pressure. There are air outlets in the stem intermediate its ends which connect the air passage with the exterior of the stem. The stem exterior and the sleeve interior cooperate to provide an anti-siphon device to draw air from the air outlets into the water passage.

Abstract: A top mount faucet and sink assembly includes a faucet which has a pair of exteriorly threaded legs. The sink has a pair of mounting openings of a size and spacing to receive the faucet legs for attaching the faucet to the sink. Each of the sink openings has a wall with a thread formed therein. The pitch of the sink wall thread is different than the pitch of the thread on the mounting legs. There are a pair of locking elements, one for each leg, each locking element having an opening with a thread that matches the thread on the faucet mounting legs. Each locking element further having an exterior surface with a thread that matches that on the sink wall. In assembly of the faucet to the sink, the locking elements are first positioned on the threaded legs and turned up against the bottom of the faucet. The faucet is then positioned on the sink with the legs extending through the sink openings and the locking elements are engaged with the sink opening wall threads.

Abstract: A toilet tank ball cock is designed for use in a toilet tank having an operating lever, a flush valve controlled by the operating lever and a water supply, with the ball cock regulating the supply of water to the tank. The ball cock includes a vertical riser column communicating with the water supply and a water control valve regulating the flow of water from the water supply to the toilet tank. There is a float movable on the riser column and coupled to the water control valve such that downward movement of the float to a selected level opens the water control valve to fill the toilet tank and upward movement of the float to a selected upper level closes the water control valve to stop filling the tank. The float has openings therein in communication with the tank interior. The openings are located to provide for water flow from the float as the water level in the tank drops.

Abstract: A toilet tank ballcock which includes an adjustable detent arm pivotally mounted above the ballcock float to swing into a latching position below the float and thereby prevent the float from lowering except pursuant to an intentional flush of the tank. The ballcock also has a fully and conveniently adjustable riser column and float linkage rod to allow for easy control of the volume of water delivered by each flush.

Abstract: An adjustable tubular wall structure, which may be cylindrical or tapered, comprises a tubular body of asymmetrical accordion-folded pleats. Each pleat is defined by a thrust cone wall segment and a Belleville washer-like wall segment. The Belleville washer-like wall segments of each pleat are proportioned to be snap shifted through the articulation of the thrust cone of the next adjacent pleat, and thus shorten or lengthen the tubular body. Similar partial snap shifting of the individual Belleville washer-like wall segments provides for angulating the tubular body. The tubular structure is stable in its adjusted position, both at its ends and lengthwise of same. Tapered tubular structures may be integrally molded into a container to serve as a collapsible pouring spout.

Abstract: A plastic drain auger made from plastic, such as polypropylene or polybutylene, extruded to provide an elongated member having an outward appearance similar to a helical coil. Extrusion of the plastic produces a structure having improved torsional and tensile strength which is essential so the auger can withstand fairly severe forces created as it is pushed and pulled through a drain pipe. The use of a helical coil form for the auger provides the flexibility necessary for the auger to be rotated, twisted and contorted within a drain pipe system.

Abstract: A flexible, adjustable tube which comprises a tubular body of pleated asymmetrical accordion fold configuration wherein each pleat is defined by a thrust cone wall segment and a Belleville washer-like wall segment. The narrower ends of the two wall segments are integrally connected to form an annular articulation about a central axis and the wider ends of the individual Belleville washer wall segments of each pleat are integrally connected to the wider ends of the thrust cones of the next succeeding pleat, to form an annular articulation about the central axis. The Belleville washer-like wall segments of each pleat are proportioned to be snap shifted through the articulation of same to the thrust cone of the next adjacent pleat, for shortening or lengthening the tube. Similar partial snap shifting of the individual Belleville washer wall segments may be effected, for angulating the tubular body, by canting the thrust cone wall segment of a selected pleat sidewise.