Abstract: A water dispensing assembly including a handheld dispenser, a receiver mountable to an outlet pipe, a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the handheld dispenser with the receiver. The coupling mechanism can include a male component adapted to be received in a female component, and a retention flange adapted to engage the receiver to assist in retaining the dispenser in a coupled state.

Abstract: A water dispensing assembly including a handheld dispenser, a receiver mountable to an outlet pipe, a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the handheld dispenser with the receiver. The coupling mechanism can include a male component adapted to be received in a female component, and a retention flange adapted to engage the receiver to assist in retaining the dispenser in a coupled state.

Abstract: A showerhead having a plurality of nozzle groups for dispensing water in a plurality of spray patterns, and a selector for selecting one or more of the nozzle groups for dispensing water or for pausing flow from the showerhead. When the selector is configured to pause flow from the showerhead a minimum flow is provided to each of the plurality of nozzle groups.

Abstract: A water leak detection system including a leak detector and a wall bracket with an integral or removable remote probe that can be positioned remotely from the leak detector. The leak detector is configured to electrically couple with the remote probe when mechanically coupled with the wall bracket, requiring no further user interaction to activate the probe. The wall bracket can include multiple remote probes that each electrically couple with the leak detector when the leak detector is mechanically coupled to the wall bracket, any one of the remote probes capable of triggering the leak detector when a leak occurs.

Abstract: A handheld shower assembly including a handheld showerhead, a receiver mountable to an outlet pipe, a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the handheld shower with the receiver. The coupling mechanism can include a male component adapted to be received in a female component, and a retention flange adapted to engage the receiver to assist in retaining the showerhead in a coupled state.

Abstract: A low pressure, low operating force valve, for applications where automated valves are used, having reduced power requirements for an associated actuator. A low torque ball valve of a fixed ball valve configuration for low to medium pressure applications, such as for an electric motor actuated residential shutoff valve where pressures are typically below 100 psi, and commonly less than 60 psi, for example. The valve can be open or shut using a smaller electric motor than would be required for a conventional residential floating ball shutoff valve of a similar size. As such, the power requirements of the electric motor or other actuator are reduced allowing for the use of smaller motors, smaller power supplies and overall more efficient operation.

Abstract: A low pressure, low operating force valve, for applications where automated valves are used, having reduced power requirements for an associated actuator. A low torque ball valve of a fixed ball valve configuration for low to medium pressure applications, such as for an electric motor actuated residential shutoff valve where pressures are typically below 100 psi, and commonly less than 60 psi, for example. The valve can be open or shut using a smaller electric motor than would be required for a conventional residential floating ball shutoff valve of a similar size. As such, the power requirements of the electric motor or other actuator are reduced allowing for the use of smaller motors, smaller power supplies and overall more efficient operation.

Abstract: A water leak detection system including a leak detector and a wall bracket with an integral or removable remote probe that can be positioned remotely from the leak detector. The leak detector is configured to electrically couple with the remote probe when mechanically coupled with the wall bracket, requiring no further user interaction to activate the probe. The wall bracket can include multiple remote probes that each electrically couple with the leak detector when the leak detector is mechanically coupled to the wall bracket, any one of the remote probes capable of triggering the leak detector when a leak occurs.

Abstract: A showerhead having a plurality of nozzle groups for dispensing water in a plurality of spray patterns, and a selector for selecting one or more of the nozzle groups for dispensing water or for pausing flow from the showerhead. When the selector is configured to pause flow from the showerhead a minimum flow is provided to each of the plurality of nozzle groups.

Abstract: A handheld shower assembly including a handheld showerhead, a receiver mountable to an outlet pipe, a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the handheld shower with the receiver. The coupling mechanism can include a male component adapted to be received in a female component, and a retention flange adapted to engage the receiver to assist in retaining the showerhead in a coupled state.

Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing hot and cold water includes a generally cylindrical sleeve having hot and cold inlets and outlets and a rotatable non-reciprocal valve member positioned therein to control the mixture of hot and cold water in the outlet stream. The valve member has a hollow stem tube having hot and cold inlet and outlet ports which are rotatably engageable with the hot and cold inlets and outlets of the sleeve. The sleeve hot water outlet is generally larger than the sleeve cold water outlet. The sleeve and stem tube inlets and outlets are not limited to a particular shape and/or geometry. The fluid engagement between the sleeve hot and cold water outlets and the stem tube hot and cold water outlets provides a large mixed water temperature range.

Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing hot and cold water includes a rotable non-reciprocal valve member positioned therein to control the mixture of hot and cold water in the outlet stream. The valve member has a hollow stem tube having hot and cold inlet and outlet ports which are rotably engageable with the hot and cold inlets and outlets of the sleeve. The stem tube includes at least one wear plate receiving area for receiving at least one wear plate. The wear plate is in fluid communication with at least one of the stem tube hot and cold water inlet and outlet ports. The valve assembly may further include a stem driver which is attached to the stem tube to control rotational movement of the stem tube and a sleeve which receives the stem tube.

Abstract: An aerator includes a housing, a throttle assembly, a mixing chamber, a screen and an elastometric ring. The throttle assembly includes a first or upper throttle member and a second or lower throttle member, each of the upper and lower throttle members defining a portion of a snap element. The snap element allows for retention and relative rotation of one of the first and second throttle members in order to change the air content of the water stream from a closed aerator position which provides a substantially non-aerated water stream to an opened aerator position which provides a combined water and air stream. One embodiment of a snap element being defined by upper throttle projections and a lower throttle flange whereby the lower throttle flange is urged upstream of the upper throttle projections. The lower throttle member is retained by the upper throttle member for selective rotation by the user.

Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing hot and cold water includes a generally cylindrical sleeve having hot and cold inlets and outlets and a rotatable non-reciprocal valve member positioned therein-to control the mixture of hot and cold water in the outlet stream. The valve member has a hollow stem tube having hot and cold inlet and outlet ports which are rotatably engageable with the hot and cold inlets and outlets of the sleeve. The sleeve hot water outlet is generally larger than the sleeve cold water outlet. The sleeve and stem tube inlets and outlets are not limited to a particular shape and/or geometry. The fluid engagement between the sleeve hot and cold water outlets and the stem tube hot and cold water outlets provides a large mixed water temperature range.

Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing hot and cold water includes a generally cylindrical sleeve having hot and cold inlets and outlets and a rotable non-reciprocal valve member positioned therein to control the mixture of hot and cold water in the outlet stream. The valve member has a hollow stem tube having hot and cold inlet and outlet ports which are rotably engageable with the hot and cold inlets and outlets of the sleeve. The stem tube hot water inlet port has at least one tapered portion with is engageable with a tapered portion of the sleeve to provide a larger range of mixed range temperatures in the resulting outlet stream. Sleeve ribs, rims and raised edges provide a smoother fluid passageway for increased flow and for the eliminating of stacking.

Abstract: An aerator includes a housing, a throttle assembly, a mixing chamber, a screen and an elastometric ring. The throttle assembly includes a first or upper throttle member and a second or lower throttle member, each of the upper and lower throttle members defining a portion of a snap element. The snap element allows for retention and relative rotation of one of said first and second throttle members in order to change the air content of the water stream from a closed aerator position which provides a substantially non-aerated water stream to an opened aerator position which provides a combined water and air stream. One embodiment of a snap element being defined by upper throttle projections and a lower throttle flange whereby the lower throttle flange is urged upstream of the upper throttle projections. The lower throttle member is retained by the upper throttle member for selective rotation by the user.

Abstract: The combination of a shower valve having a metallic movable stem to control operation of the valve and a non-metallic high strength composite handle adapter secured to the stem for movement therewith, with the non-metallic handle adapter preventing galvanic corrosion between the metallic valve stem and a metallic handle attached to the handle adapter.

Abstract: A faucet includes a valve body having inlet conduits and an outlet. There is a valve control element within the valve body to control flow from the inlet conduits to the outlet. A vacuum breaker hub is mounted on the valve body and forms a chamber with the exterior of the valve body. The valve body outlet opens into the chamber. There is a vacuum breaker system on the hub which includes a plurality of openings in the hub communicating with the chamber. There is a flexible valve element on the inside of the hub which normally closes the openings. There are ribs within the chamber, extending inwardly from the hub which ribs are on opposite sides of the vacuum breaker openings to preclude the flow of fluid from the valve body outlet to the area of the chamber about the flexible valve element.