Faucet assembly fixture

Abstract

A faucet assembly device which includes an adapter having a bolt with an axially extending internally threaded bore, and an anchor tab which extends axially from the bolt and includes a radially extending protrusion is disclosed. The adapter is configured to rotatably mechanically couple to an outer surface of a faucet fixture and mount the faucet fixture through a hole in a barrier such as a countertop or sink from a faucet side of the barrier so that the anchor tab may hold the faucet fixture securely on the barrier. The device may also include an alignment tool which allows measurement of a thickness of the barrier and provides alignment of the adapter on the faucet fixture at a position corresponding to the thickness of the barrier. Also disclosed are kits which include the adapter and alignment tool, and methods of use of the devices and kits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A faucet assembly device comprising:
 an adapter comprising:
 a bolt having an axially extending internally threaded bore; and 
 an anchor tab extending axially from the bolt, the anchor tab comprising a radially extending protrusion, 
   wherein the adapter is configured to rotatably mechanically couple to an outer surface of a faucet fixture and mount the faucet fixture through a hole in a barrier from a faucet side of the barrier, and   wherein the anchor tab holds the faucet fixture securely on the barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an alignment tool configured to measure a thickness of the barrier and provide alignment of the adapter on the faucet fixture at a position corresponding to the measured thickness.   
     
     
         3 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 2 , wherein the alignment tool comprises:
 a distance between a first end of the anchor tab and a first axial end of the bolt,   wherein the distance corresponds to the thickness of the barrier.   
     
     
         4 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 3 , wherein the barrier is 18 gauge steel. 
     
     
         5 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 3 , wherein the anchor tab comprises:
 at least two anchor tabs, wherein each anchor tab extends radially from the bolt proximate a second axial end of the bolt and runs parallel to an external surface of the bolt along a longitudinal symmetry axis of the bolt, each anchor tab comprising the radially extending protrusion at the first end thereof, wherein the at least two anchor tabs are evenly spaced about a circumferential surface of the bolt.   
     
     
         6 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 2 , wherein the alignment tool comprises:
 a first elongated guide member;   a second elongated guide member; and   a collar configured to hold the first and second elongated guide members together and allow the first and second elongated guide members to slide longitudinally relative to one another.   
     
     
         7 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 6 , wherein the first elongated guide member comprises a laterally extending hook at each of a first and second end thereof, wherein the measured thickness of the barrier is measured as a first distance between (a) the laterally extending hook at a first end of the first elongated guide member when in contact with a bottom surface of the barrier and (b) a first end of the second elongated guide member when in contact with a top surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         8 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 7 , wherein the first distance corresponds to a second distance between the lateral hook at the second end of the first elongated guide member and the second end of the second elongated guide member, the alignment tool configured to use the second distance to provide alignment of the adapter on the faucet fixture. 
     
     
         9 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 8 , wherein the measured thickness of the barrier, the first distance, and the second distance are equal. 
     
     
         10 . The faucet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the alignment tool comprises:
 an elongated guide member configured to pass through an axially extending tab bore in the bolt, the elongated guide member comprising an attachment region configured to mechanically snap within the axially extending bore and hold the elongated guide member in a rigid position.   
     
     
         11 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated guide member comprises:
 a laterally extendable hook proximate a first end of the elongated guide member,   wherein, prior to insertion of the alignment tool through the axially extending tab bore in the bolt, the alignment tools is positioned through the hole in the barrier so that the laterally extendable hook is in contact with a bottom surface of the barrier and the portion of the elongated guide member which extends beyond the top surface of the barrier is snapped, broken, or cut off.   
     
     
         12 . The faucet assembly device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor tab comprises:
 at least two anchor tabs evenly spaced about a circumferential surface of the bolt.   
     
     
         13 . A faucet assembly kit comprising:
 an adapter comprising:
 a bolt having an axially extending internally threaded bore, and 
 an anchor tab extending axially from the bolt, the anchor tab comprising a radially extending protrusion; and 
   an alignment tool configured to measure a thickness of a barrier and provide alignment of the adapter on a faucet fixture at a position corresponding to the measured thickness,   wherein the adapter is configured to be introduced into a hole in the barrier from a faucet side of the barrier.   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor tab comprises:
 at least two anchor tabs evenly spaced about a circumferential surface of the bolt.   
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the alignment tool comprises:
 a first elongated guide member;   a second elongated guide member; and   a collar configured to hold the first and second elongated guide members together and allow the first and second elongated guide members to slide longitudinally relative to one another.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the first elongated guide member comprises a laterally extending hook at each of a first and second end thereof, wherein the measured thickness of the barrier is measured as a first distance between (a) the laterally extending hook at a first end of the first elongated guide member when in contact with a bottom surface of the barrier and (b) a first end of the second elongated guide member when in contact with a top surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the first distance corresponds to a second distance between the lateral hook at the second end of the first elongated guide member and the second end of the second elongated guide member, the alignment tool configured to use the second distance to provide alignment of the adapter on the faucet fixture. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the alignment tool comprises:
 an elongated guide member configured to pass through an axially extending tab bore in the bolt, the elongated guide member comprising an attachment region configured to mechanically snap within the axially extending tab bore and hold the elongated guide member in a rigid position.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the elongated guide member comprises:
 a laterally extendable hook proximate a first end of the elongated guide member,   wherein, prior to insertion of the alignment tool through the axially extending tab bore in the bolt, the alignment tools is positioned through the hole in the barrier so that the laterally extendable hook is in contact with a bottom surface of the barrier and the portion of the elongated guide member which extends beyond the top surface of the barrier is snapped, broken, or cut off.   
     
     
         20 . A faucet assembly kit comprising:
 an adapter comprising:
 a bolt having an axially extending internally threaded bore, and 
 at least two anchor tabs extending axially from the bolt and evenly spaced about a circumferential surface of the bolt, each anchor tab comprising a radially extending protrusion; and 
   an alignment tool comprising:
 a first elongated guide member, 
 a second elongated guide member, and 
 a collar configured to hold the first and second elongated guide members together and allow the first and second elongated guide members to slide longitudinally relative to one another, 
   wherein the alignment tool is configured to measure a thickness of a barrier as a first distance between (a) a laterally extending hook at a first end of the first elongated guide member when in contact with a bottom surface of the barrier and (b) a first end of the second elongated guide member when in contact with a top surface of the barrier,   wherein the first distance corresponds to a second distance between (c) a lateral hook at a second end of the first elongated guide member and (d) a second end of the second elongated guide member, the alignment tool configured to use the second distance to provide alignment of the adapter on the faucet fixture   wherein the adapter is configured to rotatably mechanically couple to an outer surface of the faucet fixture to a position corresponding to the second distance, and mount the faucet fixture through a hole in the barrier from a faucet side of the barrier, the anchor tabs holding the faucet fixture securely on the barrier.