Disclosed is a bearing configured to couple a faucet spout to a faucet body. The bearing includes a plurality of fingers extending parallel to a central axis of the bearing. The plurality of fingers is configured to engage with the faucet spout at an intermediate position between a first end of the bearing and a second end of the bearing. The fingers are configured to exert an outward pressure to the faucet spout. The fingers are also configured to compress in a substantially axial direction.

A faucet includes a spout, a proximity detector, a first valve, and a control circuit. The proximity detector is mounted on or in the spout. The proximity detector includes a light emitter and a sensor. The light emitter is configured to emit a beam of light. The sensor is configured to produce a signal in response to sensing the beam reflected by an object in a zone of detection. The first valve is configured to control a first flow of fluid to the spout. The control circuit is operatively coupled the first valve and the proximity detector. The control circuit is configured to receive the signal and cause the first valve to control the first flow of fluid through the spout after receiving the signal.

A valve assembly includes a first mixing valve configured to mix hot fluid and cold fluid to provide a first mixed fluid, a second mixing valve configured to mix hot fluid and cold fluid to provide a second mixed fluid, and a housing configured to receive the first mixing valve and the second mixing valve. The housing defines a hot fluid inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a supply of hot fluid, a cold fluid inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a supply of cold fluid, a hot fluid passage fluidly coupling the hot fluid inlet to the first mixing valve and the second mixing valve, and a cold fluid passage fluidly coupling the cold fluid inlet to the first mixing valve and the second mixing valve.

A faucet includes a spout, a proximity detector, a first valve, and a control circuit. The proximity detector is mounted on or in the spout. The proximity detector includes a light emitter and a sensor. The light emitter is configured to emit a beam of light. The sensor is configured to produce a signal in response to sensing the beam reflected by an object in a zone of detection. The first valve is configured to control a first flow of fluid to the spout. The control circuit is operatively coupled the first valve and the proximity detector. The control circuit is configured to receive the signal and cause the first valve to control the first flow of fluid through the spout after receiving the signal.

An apparatus, method and system for providing and dispensing various hand care alternatives from a common point of dispension, such as a faucet, for standardizing the hand care, washing, sanitizing, and drying process is disclosed. Included is a liquid flow path having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid source and an outlet in fluid communication with a user reception point. A secondary flow path has an inlet in communication with one or more hand care alternatives and an outlet in communication with the user reception point. A user-perceivable output provides notification of the hand care operation being provided at the user reception point.

An integrated valve and manifold assembly includes a water valve configured to control water flow from one or two valve outlets. At least one of the outlets is coupled to a manifold. In some examples, the manifold is a dual-extrusion manifold having at least one air channel and at least one water conduit, and the water valve has a pair of air channels attached to a periphery of the water valve and configured to couple to the manifold air channels. In examples wherein at least one of the manifolds is a dual-extrusion manifold, a top portion of the assembly includes an air valve configured to control flow of air to air channel(s) of the dual-extrusion manifold. In other examples, the assembly includes a one-outlet or two-outlet water valve configured to couple to water manifolds, with no attached air channels or air valves.

A faucet assembly including a housing body, a valve assembly received within the housing body, and a waterway assembly having a base supporting the valve assembly. A face seal is positioned between the valve assembly and the base of the waterway assembly. An upper radial seal is positioned between the valve assembly and an internal surface of the housing body, and a lower radial seal is positioned between the base and the internal surface of the housing body.

Novel plumbing products, including faucets, are fabricated, e.g., using metallic 3-dimensional or other 3-D printing techniques, to have complex geometries, such as multiple channels that may diverge and re-converge near the spout. The geometries of the various channels can resemble interwoven net-like patterns that define various shapes between the channels. The plumbing fixtures may be formed from one or more of stainless steels, INCONEL, brass, bronze, polycarbonate, PVC, acrylics, rigid polyolefins, PET, carbon fiber, AES, or other plumbing fitting suitable corrosion resistant materials. In some embodiments, the handles of an exemplary faucet can include the same or a similar multiple channel configuration as the spout, providing an advantageously, aesthetically pleasing faucet system. In exemplary embodiments, faucet spouts and their handles are formed so as to couple to standard faucet underbodies, standard valve platforms, or standard threaded hose/waterway connections.

A faucet assembly including a spout arm supported by a spout hub and configured to rotate about a vertical axis. In an illustrative embodiment, the faucet assembly is formed through additive manufacturing.

A faucet that includes a spout, a spray head, a light emitter, a light sensor, and a control circuit. The spout has a base, which extends upward from a first end to a second end, and an arched portion, which curves upward and outward from the second end, then downward and outward to a distal end. The spray head is detachably mounted to the distal end. The light emitter is positioned proximate the distal end and is configured to emit a light beam back toward the spout. The light sensor is mounted on or in the spout and is configured to sense the light beam reflected by an object in a zone of detection. The control circuit controls a flow of water to the spray head in response to the light sensor sensing the light beam reflected by the object in the zone of detection.