HANDS-FREE SPRAYER
20180274214 ยท 2018-09-27
Assignee
Inventors
- Michael Scot Rosko (Greenwood, IN, US)
- Jordan Renee Bahler (Frankfort, IN, US)
- Michael J. Veros (Carmel, IN, US)
Cpc classification
E03C1/0401
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E03C2001/0414
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E03C1/0404
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E03C2001/0417
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E03C1/0412
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
A sprayer assembly for a faucet including a docking base and a sprayer removably coupled to the docking base. The sprayer includes a water outlet configured to direct water downwardly into a sink basin when the sprayer is coupled to the docking base.
Claims
1. A sprayer assembly for a faucet assembly, the sprayer assembly comprising: a docking base configured to be supported by a mounting deck adjacent a sink basin, the docking base including a receiver opening extending along a longitudinal mounting axis; a sprayer including a handle extending along a longitudinal handle axis and configured to be removably coupled to the receiver opening, a head supported by the handle and extending along a longitudinal head axis, and a sprayface coupled to the head and having an outlet extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal head axis; and wherein the longitudinal head axis extends downwardly at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal mounting axis such that water emitted from the outlet is directed downwardly into the sink basin when the handle of the sprayer is coupled to the receiver opening of the docking base.
2. The sprayer assembly of claim 1, wherein the sprayface is releasably coupled to the head.
3. The sprayer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a coupler configured to releasably secure the handle of the sprayer to the docking base.
4. The sprayer assembly of claim 3, wherein the coupler includes a magnet supported by the docking base.
5. The sprayer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a water tube fluidly coupled to the sprayer and slidably received within the receiver opening of the docking base.
6. The sprayer assembly of claim 1, wherein the docking base is configured to adjust the angular position of the longitudinal head axis relative to the sink basin.
7. The sprayer assembly of claim 6, wherein the docking base includes a flexible portion configured to position the receiver opening.
8. The sprayer assembly of claim 6, wherein the docking base includes a plurality of receiver openings, each receiver opening positioned at a different angular position relative to a vertical axis.
9. The sprayer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a user interface supported by the handle of the sprayer, the user interface movable between an on position and an off position, where water flows through the outlet in the on position and water is prevented from flowing through the outlet in the off position.
10. The sprayer assembly of claim 9, wherein the user interface is configured to be locked in the on position.
11. The sprayer assembly of claim 10, wherein the user interface includes a trigger configured to be in the on position when depressed by a user, and a retainer configured to secure the trigger in the on position.
12. The sprayer assembly of claim 9, wherein the handle of the sprayer includes a body portion and an end portion rotatably supporting the body portion, the end portion removably coupled to the docking base.
13. A sprayer assembly for a faucet assembly, the sprayer assembly comprising: a docking base configured to be supported by a mounting deck adjacent a sink basin, the docking base including a receiver opening; a sprayer including a handle extending along a longitudinal handle axis and configured to be removably supported by the receiver opening, a head supported by the handle and extending along a longitudinal head axis, and a sprayface coupled to the head and having an outlet; and wherein the docking base is configured to adjust the angular position of the longitudinal head axis relative to the sink basin.
14. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal head axis extends downwardly at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal handle axis such that water emitted from the outlet is directed downwardly into the sink basin.
15. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, wherein the sprayface is releasably coupled to the head.
16. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, further comprising a coupler configured to releasably secure the handle of the sprayer to the docking base.
17. The sprayer assembly of claim 16, wherein the coupler includes a magnet supported by the docking base.
18. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, further comprising a water tube fluidly coupled to the sprayer and slidably received within the receiver of the docking base.
19. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, wherein the docking base includes a flexible portion configured to position the receiver opening.
20. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, wherein the docking base includes a plurality of receiver openings, each receiver opening positioned at a different angular position relative to a vertical axis.
21. The sprayer assembly of claim 13, further comprising a user interface supported by the handle of the sprayer, the user interface movable between an on position and an off position, where water flows through the outlet in the on position and water is prevented from flowing through the outlet in the off position.
22. The sprayer assembly of claim 21 wherein the user interface is configured to be locked in the on position.
23. The sprayer assembly of claim 22, wherein the user interface includes a trigger configured to be in the on position when depressed by a user, and a retainer configured to secure the trigger in the on position.
24. A sprayer assembly for a faucet assembly, the sprayer assembly comprising: a docking base configured to be supported by a mounting deck adjacent a sink basin, the docking base including a receiver opening; a sprayer including a handle extending along a longitudinal handle axis and configured to be removably supported by the receiver opening, a head supported by the handle and extending along a longitudinal head axis, and a sprayface coupled to the head and having an outlet extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal head axis; and wherein the sprayface is releasably coupled to the head of the sprayer.
25. The sprayer assembly of claim 24, wherein the longitudinal head axis extends downwardly at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal handle axis such that water emitted from the outlet is directed downwardly into the sink basin.
26. The sprayer assembly of claim 24, wherein the docking base is configured to adjust the angular position of the longitudinal head axis relative to the sink basin.
27. The sprayer assembly of claim 24, further comprising a user interface supported by the handle of the sprayer, the user interface movable between an on position and an off position, where water flows through the outlet in the on position and water is prevented from flowing through the outlet in the off position.
28. A sprayer assembly for a faucet assembly, the sprayer assembly comprising: a docking base configured to be supported by a mounting deck adjacent a sink basin; a sprayer including a handle and a head having an outlet configured to dispense water, the handle having a body portion and an end portion rotatably supporting the end portion, the end portion removably coupled to the docking base; and a trigger supported by the handle of the sprayer, the trigger being movable between an on position and an off position, where water flows through the outlet in the on position and water is prevented from flowing through the outlet in the off position, the trigger including a notch for receiving the wall of an object for moving the trigger to the on position.
29. The sprayer assembly of claim 28, wherein: the docking base includes a receiver opening extending along a longitudinal mounting axis; the handle extends along a longitudinal handle axis; the head extends along a longitudinal head axis; a sprayface is coupled to the head and includes the outlet extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal head axis; and wherein the longitudinal head axis is configured to extend downwardly at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal mounting axis such that water emitted from the outlet is directed downwardly into the sink basin when the handle of the sprayer is received within the receiver opening of the docking base, and the body portion of the handle is rotated relative to the end portion of the handle such that the outlet of the head is directed downwardly.
30. The sprayer assembly of claim 28, further comprising a retainer configured to secure the trigger in the on position.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] A detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.
[0035] Referring initially to
[0036] The faucet assembly 10 illustratively includes a waterway assembly 11 having a hot water supply line or tube 16 and a cold water supply line or tube 18 configured to supply water to a control or mixing valve 20. More particularly, the hot water supply tube 16 is fluidly connected to a hot water supply valve or stop 17, while the cold water supply tube 18 is fluidly connected to a cold water supply valve or stop 19. Operation of the mixing valve 20 regulates the flow of water from the hot water supply tube 16 and the cold water supply tube 18 to a mixed water line or inlet tube 22. A user input, illustratively a handle 23, is operably coupled to the mixing valve 20 to control the flow rate and the temperature of water delivered to the mixed water inlet tube 22.
[0037] The faucet assembly 10 includes a delivery spout 28 supported by a base 29 and configured to receive a spout outlet tube (not shown) having an outlet 31 positioned above the sink basin 6 and configured to discharge water from the mixed water inlet tube 22. The outlet 31 may be defined by an aerator coupled to the spout outlet tube. Illustratively, the base 29 may be secured to the mounting deck 4 through nuts threadably engaging mounting shanks or posts (not shown). In the illustrative embodiment, the hot water supply tube 16, the cold water supply tube 18, the mixed water inlet tube 22, and the spout outlet tube 30 are formed of a polymer, such as a cross-liked polyethylene (PEX).
[0038] A conventional sprayer assembly 42 includes a handheld sprayer 44 fluidly coupled to a flexible dispenser or water sprayer supply tube 46. The sprayer 44 may be of conventional design and includes a trigger 47 operably coupled to a control valve (not shown) configured to control water flow therethrough. The sprayer 44 includes a body 48 configured to be removably supported by a mounting or docking base 50.
[0039] Referring now to
[0040] The illustrative faucet sprayer assembly 110 includes a sprayer 112 having a shell or body 114 releasably coupled or docked to a receiver, such as a passageway or receptacle opening 52, of docking base 50. Illustratively, the receptacle opening 52 extends along a longitudinal mounting axis 53 (which illustratively extends in a vertical direction). The docking base 50 is illustratively coupled to mounting deck 4 adjacent delivery spout 28. Sink basin 6 extends downwardly below the mounting deck 4 adjacent to, illustratively in front of, the docking base 50. The water supply tube 46 extends through the receptacle opening 52 and may slide therethrough as the sprayer 112 is removed from (i.e., uncoupled from), and returned to (i.e., coupled to), the docking base 50.
[0041] The body 114 of the sprayer 112 illustratively includes an outlet portion or head 120 angled relative to a body portion or handle 122. More particularly, the head 120 extends along a longitudinal head axis 124, and the handle 122 extends along a longitudinal handle axis 126. As shown in the illustrative embodiment of
[0042] A sprayface 128 may be removably coupled to the head 120, such that the sprayface 128 may be replaced with a similar sprayface 128 providing a similar spray pattern, or a different sprayface 128 providing a different spray pattern. Illustratively, the sprayface 128 is threadably coupled to a cylindrical outer wall 130 of the head 120. The sprayface 128 illustratively includes at least one water outlet 132 extending along an axis parallel to the longitudinal head axis 124, such that water 134 emitted from the outlet 132 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal head axis 124. The handle 122 illustratively includes a cylindrical outer wall 136 defining an inlet to receive the water supply tube 46.
[0043] Different illustrative sprayfaces 128a, 128b and 128c are shown in
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[0047] With further reference to
[0048] According to an illustrative embodiment, a downwardly extending connector 144 is supported by the body 114 of the sprayer 112. More particularly, an upper end 146 of the connector 144 is threadably coupled to the handle 122 of the sprayer 112. A tubular member 148 extends downwardly from the upper end 146 of the connector 144. An outlet end 150 of the tube 46 is fluidly coupled to a lower end 152 of the tubular member 148. The illustrative connector 144 further includes a portion to retain the sprayer 112 in a desired position relative to the docking base 50 when the sprayer 112 is removed from the docking base 50. More particularly, the connector 144 includes a downwardly extending flange or lip 154 extending concentrically around, and in spaced relation to, the tubular member 148. The docking base 50 illustratively includes a support 156 and an upwardly extending annular collar 158 received within an annular space 160 defined between the flange 154 and the outer wall 136 of the handle 122 of the sprayer 112. A magnetic coupler may releasably secure the sprayer 112 to the docking base 50. Illustratively, the magnetic coupler includes a magnet 159 supported by the support 156 of the docking base 50, and a magnetically attractive member 161 (e.g., a metal plate or washer) supported by the outer wall 136 of the handle 122 of the sprayer 112.
[0049] A threaded mounting shank 162 extends downwardly from the support 156. The mounting shank 162 is configured to extend below the mounting deck 4 and cooperate with a mounting nut (not shown) to secure the docking base 50 to the mounting deck 4.
[0050] As shown in
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[0052] A retainer, such as a snap clip 260, is illustratively configured to maintain the trigger 140 in a depressed position, such that the control valve 142 of the sprayer 212 is in a locked on, or active, position with water flowing through the at least one outlet 132 of the sprayface 128. The illustrative snap clip 260 may be a flexible, arcuate clip formed of a resilient material, such as a thermoplastic and/or elastomer. The snap clip 260 may be open ended to receive and grip an outer surface of the wall 236 of handle 222.
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[0056] It should be appreciated that other devices may be substituted for the snap clip 260 or the swing clip retainer 360 to maintain the sprayer 112, 212, 312 in an active or on position. For example, a rocker switch, a pen click button, a dial and/or a slide switch may be used to lock the sprayer 112, 212, 312 in an on position.
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[0059] In certain illustrative embodiments, the sprayer 112, 212, 312 may have a default off or inactive mode in response to reduced water pressure. For example, a valve spool (not shown) may be received within the body of the sprayer 112, 212 such that when the trigger 140 is depressed, water pressure acts against the spool to permit fluid flow to the outlet 129. When water is no longer supplied to the sprayer 112 (for example, via the mixing valve 20), then the spool returns (for example, via a spring bias) to a closed position such that water is not supplied to the outlet 129. In other words, the sprayer 112 is in the off or inactive mode such that water will not be unintentionally discharged from the sprayer 112 if the trigger 140 is locked in a depressed position and the mixing valve 20 is turned on or activated.
[0060] With reference to
[0061] In a first position of the sprayer 612 as shown in
[0062] In a second position of the sprayer 612 as shown in
[0063] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.