Split-Plate Fixture Mounting for Loose Hose Bib Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plumbing fixtures such as hose bibs, sillcocks, and spigots often become loose due to stripped holes, rusted screws, or inadequate installation, making removal difficult and potentially damaging, and existing solutions fail to securely hold freeze-prevention covers.
Innovation Solution
A plate or split-plate design that can be slid behind existing fixtures without removal, secured with screws, bolts, clamps, or adhesive to the fixture and wall, allowing for secure attachment without cutting pipes and accommodating various fixtures, along with a method to hold freeze-prevention covers centered using elongate cord members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fixture is removed to secure it, then the fixture can be reinstalled with proper fastening, but the fixture and/or plumbing may be damaged and leaks or breaks are very common in older plumbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mounting plate as an intermediary component between the fixture and the wall. The plate is installed behind the fixture and secured to the wall with fasteners, while the fixture itself remains attached to the plate. This intermediary structure allows the fixture to be securely fastened without removing or damaging the fixture or plumbing, as the mounting plate absorbs the fastening function and protects the original fixture and pipe from damage.
2Reliability
If a prior device is used to supply an opening for the pipe and fixture to mount through, then the fixture can be secured, but the fixture must be removed which can result in the fixture being in worse condition than before
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional mounting approach by installing the mounting plate first (before the fixture is removed), then attaching the fixture to the plate. This reversal allows the fixture to be secured without being removed, as the plate is already in place to receive and hold the fixture. The inversion of the installation sequence eliminates the need for fixture removal and reinstallation, preserving the fixture condition while achieving secure mounting.
3Reliability
If freeze-prevention covers are installed on outdoor fixtures, then freezing protection is provided, but the covers tend to sag because of deficient fastening devices
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate serves as an intermediary structure that provides proper fastening points for freeze-prevention covers. The plate includes features such as clips, slots, or attachment points that securely hold the covers in place, preventing them from sagging. By providing a stable intermediate structure behind the fixture, the plate enables reliable cover attachment while maintaining both freeze protection and cover stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure tightening of fixtures without pipe removal or damage, effectively addressing loose fixture issues and providing secure freeze protection without the need for pipe cutting or fixture removal, adaptable across different fixtures and environments.
Implementation Method 1
The slot is adapted to receive a portion of the fixture adjacent to the wall, whereby the plate member can be positioned intermediate the fixture and the wall and frictionally engage the fixture and the wall.
Data Source
AI summary
Existing plumbing fixtures, such as hose bibs, sillcocks, spigots often become loose over time due to stripped holes of securing screws, rusted screws, deterioration of material behind, or inadequate installation from the start. A fixture accessory adapted to tighten the loose fixture can include a plate or split-plate assembly that can slide behind the fixture to secure it without removing the fixture. The fixture can be secured to the plate by a variety of attachment means such as screws, bolts, clamps, or an adhesive, and the plate can be secured to the wall by a variety of attachment means. Also disclosed is a system to firmly hold a freeze-prevention cover over a plumbing fixture.