| 20080060119 | Deodorizing toilet seat assembly | March, 2008 | Pinizzotto |
| 20080235892 | Exfoliation Devices and Methods | October, 2008 | Williams |
| 20090301523 | Wash Chamber for Surgical Environment | December, 2009 | Barnhill et al. |
| 20060179562 | Laundry soap dispenser holder | August, 2006 | Huber |
| 20060218718 | Overhead waterfall shower | October, 2006 | Deboer et al. |
| 20070204389 | FASTENING CLIP FOR RELEASABLY FASTENING A DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ACTIVE SUBSTANCES INTO THE FLUSHING LIQUID ON A DOWNWARD POINTING EDGE ELEMENT OF A TOILET BOWL, AND DISPENSING DEVICE PROVIDED WITH A FASTENING CLIP OF THIS TYPE | September, 2007 | Graefe et al. |
| 20070033724 | Spa cover lift | February, 2007 | Nickles |
| 20060048295 | Sink installation and method of installing a sink | March, 2006 | Aldrich |
| 20050005350 | Foldable, portable bed bath device | January, 2005 | Johnson et al. |
| 20070039090 | Convertible Potty Chair and Urinal Training Device | February, 2007 | Stringer et al. |
| 20080141446 | Transfer platform assembly for a lavatory seat | June, 2008 | Dupuis |
[0001] Not Applicable
[0002] Not Applicable
[0003] This invention relates to the composition of fixtures and the mounting of fixtures to a sink, countertop, cabinet, or the like, composed of similar material as the fixture, with or without the aid of mechanical fasteners.
[0004] Typical fixtures such as faucets, sprayers, handles, showers, or dispensers are composed of metals or plastic components. These fixtures are required to be fastened to a mounting surface through the use of mechanical fasteners. There is a transition between the fixture and the mounting surface. It is at this transition that material builds up and is difficult to clean. The transition also provides a location for a seal failure.
[0005] Most if not all fixtures have a surface that is nonrenewable. While consumers try to care for fixture surfaces, most surfaces will pit, flake or scratch over time.
[0006] Color selection for fixtures is limited and generally will not color match with mounting surfaces.
[0007] All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
[0008] Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
[0009] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
[0010] The present invention addresses and corrects these shortcomings of the prior art.
[0011] In one embodiment the invention provides a fixture having a base portion constructed and arranged to form a taper or other configuration necessary to match a mating surface and a neck or body portion extending from the base portion. The fixture is composed fully or partially, either solid form or coating form of a solid surface composition of acrylic, acrylic polyester, or other similar composite having the same general characteristics of name brands such as Corian, Hi Mac, Surell or any other similar brand. The neck may extend into a device of a similar material to itself.
[0012] In another embodiment the invention provides a fixture having a base portion that is flanged or similarly configured to mate with a mounting surface that has a hole that is substantially frustum-shaped to match the flange or shaped to match any required configuration. The fixture is composed fully or partially, either solid form or coating form of a solid surface composition of acrylic, acrylic polyester, or other similar composite having the same general characteristics of name brands such as Corian, Hi Mac, Surell or any other brand similar, and the neck extends into a device of a dissimilar material to itself.
[0013] In another embodiment the invention provides a fixture and a mounting apparatus in which a base portion having a neck portion is constructed and arranged to form a taper or other configuration and mate with a mounting apparatus composed of or coated by a similar material to the fixture. The base of the fixture sized to be fittingly, frictionally, or sealingly engaged to a hole in the mounting apparatus to form an attachment with a mounting surface of the mounting apparatus. The base and mounting apparatus are then chemically bonded to each other.
[0014] In another embodiment the invention provides a fixture and a mounting apparatus in which a base portion having a neck portion is constructed and arranged to form a taper or other configuration and mate with a mounting apparatus composed of or coated by a similar material to the fixture. The base of the fixture is chemically bonded to a fitted hole in the mounting apparatus to form an integral attachment with a mounting surface of the mounting apparatus. The surface of the attachment location mechanically or chemically treated to provide a surface that is integrally attached without a noticeable seam. Thus, the contacting location is smooth and continuous with the surface.
[0015] In yet another embodiment the invention provides a fixture composed fully or partially, either solid form or coating form, of a solid surface composition of acrylic, acrylic polyester, or other similar composite having the same general characteristics of name brands such as Corian, Hi Mac, Surell or any other similar brand, and suitable for mounting on a support of the type having a wall with a hole, a supporting surface on one side of the wall and the surface being in the form of a flange or other configuration to accept a fixture with a flanged or otherwise configured base to be chemically bonded to the surface; or suitable for mounting on a support having a wall with a hole, a supporting surface on one side of the wall and a clamping surface at the opposite side. A wall here defines any mounting apparatus having a surface and a hole for mounting. The wall can be vertical, horizontal, or oblique in relation to the horizontal.
[0016] In another embodiment an acrylic fixture is mounted on an acrylic/polyester base.
[0017] In another embodiment an acrylic/polyester fixture is mounted on an acrylic base.
[0018] These and other embodiments, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention.
[0019] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.
[0020]
[0021]
[0022] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.
[0023] For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.
[0024] Also for the purposes of this disclosure, the term “fixture” has been used throughout this application. It should be noted that the use of the term “fixture” includes faucets, handles, sprayers, showers, and dispensers and other devices that can be similarly mounted.
[0025] In
[0026] In
[0027] In another embodiment the fixture
[0028] The composite of the fixture can also be composed of the same colors as most solid surface or composite deck materials. The fixture surface is renewable. When dirty, scratched or slightly damaged, the surface can be renewed by finishing the surface with recommended abrasives.
[0029] The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.
[0030] Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim