Faucet with underbody

Abstract

A faucet body ( 10 ) is molded from a plastic material and coupled to an underbody that is likewise molded from a plastic material. The unitary faucet body includes a spout portion ( 12 ) and a base portion ( 14 ). The underbody comprises a manifold ( 40 ) including an inlet ( 48 ) and an outlet ( 50 ). An end body ( 24 ) is coupled to the manifold and to the base portion. The end body includes means for coupling the faucet body to the manifold. A valve ( 96 ) is coupled to the end body. Alternatively, the faucet spout and base can be molded as a unitary structure using a lost core method, thereby eliminating the need for a separate manifold.

1 . A two-handled faucet assembly comprising: 
 a unitary faucet body having a spout portion and a base portion, the spout portion including a water passage and the base portion including at least one hole for receiving an end body;    a manifold having in inlet and an outlet;    at least one end body coupled to the manifold and to the base portion, the end body including means for coupling the faucet body to the manifold; and    a valve coupled to the end body.    
     
     
         2 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the manifold includes a first portion coupled to the faucet body base portion and a second portion coupled to the spout portion.  
     
     
         3 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the body portion defines a pair of end body-receiving holes and includes an alignment feature disposed adjacent each end body-receiving hole to prevent improper alignment of the at least one end body relative to the manifold.  
     
     
         4 . The faucet assembly of  claim 3  wherein the at least one end body includes a first retainer nut for retaining the end body in the at least one end body-receiving hole.  
     
     
         5 . The faucet assembly of  claim 4  wherein the at least one end body includes a second retainer nut, the first and second retainer nuts cooperating to couple the faucet assembly to a sink deck.  
     
     
         6 . A two-handled faucet assembly comprising: 
 a molded one-piece faucet body having a spout and a base portion with a water passage with an inlet, the base portion including at least one hole for receiving an end body;    a molded underbody having a base portion, a water inlet and a water outlet, the underbody being coupled to the faucet body with the underbody water outlet engaging the base water passage inlet.    
     
     
         7 . The faucet assembly of  claim 6  further including at least one end body coupled to the water inlet, wherein the at least one end body includes a first retainer nut for coupling the at least one end body to the faucet body.  
     
     
         8 . The faucet assembly of  claim 7  wherein the at least one end body includes a second retainer nut, the first and second retainer nuts cooperating to couple the faucet assembly to a sink deck.  
     
     
         9 . The faucet assembly of  claim 6  wherein the base portion includes a plurality of alignment ribs disposed adjacent the at least one hole, the alignment ribs facilitating proper alignment of the end body relative to the underbody.  
     
     
         10 . A faucet assembly comprising: 
 a spout having a water passage;    a base having an underbody, the underbody including a water passage in fluid communication with the spout water passage, the spout and base being molded as a single unit; and    at least on valve coupled to the base for controlling a flow of water to the spout.    A faucet assembly comprising:    a spout having a first water passage; and    a base having a second water passage in fluid communication with the first water passage, the spout and base being formed as a unitary structure using a lost core technique.    A faucet assembly comprising:    a spout having a first water passage; and    a base having a second water passage in fluid communication with the first water passage, the spout and base being a unitary structure molded around a fusible core, wherein the fusible core is removed from the molded unitary structure to provide the first and second passages.