Plumbing fitting with two part putty groove

Abstract

A plumbing fitting has a putty groove defined between an internal insert and an external decorative shell. In one form, a terminal end of the shell also captures the insert inside the housing. This allows formation of a deep putty groove even in those circumstances where the outer shell is very thin and is flared at the bottom.

1 . A plumbing fitting, comprising: 
 a housing defining an outer shell with a hollow interior; and    a base that is non-integral with the housing, inserted into the interior of the housing, and connected to the housing;    wherein a putty groove is formed in part by the base and in part by an end of the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the housing defines an outer side wall of the groove.  
   
   
       3 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 2 , wherein the end of the housing extends inwardly of a radially peripheral edge of the base.  
   
   
       4 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 2 , wherein the base includes an annular ring at an intermediate location of the base that extends axially to define an inner side wall of the putty groove.  
   
   
       5 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the base is captured in the interior of the housing by the end of the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the base is annular and the end of the housing defines an annular outer side wall of the putty groove which has a circular configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 6 , wherein the putty groove is located radially outward of an opening through the base.  
   
   
       8 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 7 , wherein the putty groove is located proximate an outer periphery of the base.  
   
   
       9 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a flared end receiving the base and being of a radial dimension larger than an intermediate section of the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an outer shell for one of a faucet, a spout and a flow control valve.  
   
   
       11 . A plumbing fitting, comprising: 
 a housing defining an outer shell with a hollow interior, the housing having a flared lower section with a lower end, the lower section decreasing in height in a radial outward direction, the lower end of the housing providing an outer wall of a putty groove at an underside of the fitting opening in an axially downward direction; and    an annular base inserted into the interior of the housing at the lower section and decreasing in height in the radial outward direction, the base having an underside defining radially inner wall and also a back wall of the putty groove and cooperating with the lower end of the housing to define the putty groove.    
   
   
       12 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 11 , wherein the lower end of the housing extends inwardly of a peripheral edge of the base at an underside of the base.  
   
   
       13 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 12 , wherein an underside of the base includes an annular ring of the base that extends axially downward to define the inner wall of the putty groove.  
   
   
       14 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 13 , wherein the annular ring extends axially downward further than does a relatively radially outer section of the base underside.  
   
   
       15 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the base is captured in the interior of the housing by the lower end of the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the lower end is a terminal end of the housing.  
   
   
       17 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 11 , wherein the putty groove is located radially outward of an opening through the base and proximate an outer radial periphery of the base.  
   
   
       18 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 11 , wherein the housing defines an outer shell for one of a faucet, a spout and a flow control valve.  
   
   
       19 . A plumbing fitting comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being separately formed and being joined thereafter to cooperate to form a putty groove at an underside of the fitting for receiving sealant, wherein the first part forms a first side wall of the putty groove, and the second part forms a side wall of the putty groove opposite the first side wall of the putty groove.