IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0059403
(2008-03-31)
|
등록번호 |
US-7753079
(2010-08-02)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Masco Corporation of Indiana
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
41 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
A faucet including a faucet head, a body and a magnetic coupling releasably coupling the faucet head to the faucet body.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method of coupling and uncoupling a faucet head from a faucet body comprising the steps of: providing a head; providing a body; providing a first connecting element and a first backing element in one of the body and the head, the first connecting element including a magnet,
What is claimed is: 1. A method of coupling and uncoupling a faucet head from a faucet body comprising the steps of: providing a head; providing a body; providing a first connecting element and a first backing element in one of the body and the head, the first connecting element including a magnet, the first backing element positioned on one side of the first connecting element to increase the magnetic field on the other side of the first connecting element to between 400 and 2000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches, and; providing a magnetically attractive member in the other of the body and the head; and positioning the magnetically attractive member sufficiently near the magnet to generate a magnetic force of between 2 and 12 pounds attracting the head and the body, to thereby couple the head to the body. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetically attractive member is an electromagnet, the first connector magnet has a magnetic field oriented in a first direction, the electromagnet has an energized state generating an electromagnetic field oriented in a second direction, and the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction to reduce the magnetic force coupling the head and the body. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetically attractive member includes a second magnet with a second magnetic field, and the magnetic field is oriented in the same direction as the second magnetic field, and wherein the magnet includes a third magnetic field and the second magnet includes a fourth magnetic field, the third magnetic field and the fourth magnetic field oriented substantially opposite the magnetic field and the second magnetic field, further including the step of rotating the head relative to the body to reduce the magnetic force coupling the head and the body. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field ranges between 500 and 1,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a gap between the first connecting element and the magnetically attractive member is between 0.040 and 0.100 inches. 6. The method of claim 1, further including the step of rotating the head to repel the head from the body. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling surface has an area of between 0.5 and 1.0 square inches defined by a first connecting element surface and a magnetically attractive member surface facing the first connecting element surface. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the magnetic attracting force is between 3 and 8 pounds. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the magnetic attracting force is between 3.6 and 6 pounds. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein a gap between the first connecting element and the magnetically attractive member is between 0.040 and 0.100 inches. 11. A faucet comprising: a body; a supply line adapted to provide a liquid; a head fluidly connected to the supply line; and a magnetic coupling having a magnetic attracting force for releasably coupling the head and the body, the magnetic coupling including a coupling surface supported by one of the head and the body, a first backing element to increase the magnetic attracting force being positioned on one side of the coupling surface, a first connecting element being positioned between the coupling surface and the first backing element, a first connector being at least partially overmolded over the first connecting element and the first backing element, and a magnetically attractive member being positioned on the other side of the coupling surface, wherein the coupling surface has an area of between 0.4 and 2.0 square inches, and the magnetic attracting force is between 2 and 12 pounds. 12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the backing element includes a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, steel and stainless steel. 13. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first connecting element includes a magnetic field oriented in a first direction and a second magnetic field oriented in a second direction, the first direction being substantially opposite the second direction. 14. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first connecting element includes an electromagnet being switchable between an energized state and a de-energized state, the electromagnet producing an electromagnetic field in the energized state to reduce the attracting force between the head and the body. 15. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the magnetic coupling includes an attracting mode of operation and a repelling mode of operation. 16. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first connecting element comprises NdFeB. 17. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first connecting element exhibits a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches on a side opposite the first backing element. 18. The faucet of claim 17, wherein the magnetic field ranges between 500 and 1,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches. 19. The faucet of claim 17, wherein a gap between the first connecting element and the magnetically attractive member is between 0.040 and 0.100 inches. 20. The faucet of claim 19, wherein the gap equals 0.050 inches. 21. The faucet of claim 20, wherein the coupling surface has an area of between 0.5 and 1.0 square inches defined by a first connecting element surface and a magnetically attractive member surface facing the first connecting element surface. 22. The faucet of claim 21, wherein the magnetic attracting force is between 3 and 8 pounds. 23. The faucet of claim 21, wherein the magnetic attracting force is between 3.6 and 6 pounds. 24. The faucet of claim 21, wherein a gap between the first connecting element and the magnetically attractive member is between 0.040 and 0.100 inches. 25. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first connector is configured to secure the first connecting element to one of the head and the body of the faucet. 26. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the first connector encapsulates the first connecting element and the first backing element to prevent corrosion thereof. 27. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the first connecting element includes a magnet. 28. The faucet of claim 27, wherein the magnet is a dipolar magnet. 29. The faucet of claim 27, wherein the magnet is a multi-polar magnet. 30. The faucet of claim 27, wherein the first connecting element comprises more than one magnet. 31. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the magnetically attractive member comprises a second connecting element. 32. The faucet of claim 31, wherein the second connecting element includes a second magnet. 33. The faucet of claim 31, further including a second backing element, the second connecting element being positioned between the coupling surface and the second backing element. 34. The faucet of claim 33, wherein the second connecting element is substantially identical to the first connecting element and the second backing element is substantially identical to the first backing element. 35. A faucet comprising: a body; a supply line adapted to provide a liquid; a head fluidly connected to the supply line; and a magnetic coupling having a magnetic attracting force for releasably coupling the head and the body, the magnetic coupling including a coupling surface having an area of between 0.4 and 2.0 square inches, a magnetically attractive member positioned on one side of the coupling surface, a first connector coupled to one of the head and the body and positioned on the other side of the coupling surface, and a first connecting element having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2000 gauss to generate an attraction force between the first connecting element and the magnetically attractive member of between 2 and 12 pounds, the first connector being at least partially overmolded over the first connecting element to couple the first connecting element to one of the head and the body. 36. The faucet of claim 35, wherein the first connector encapsulates the first connecting element to prevent corrosion thereof. 37. The faucet of claim 35, wherein the first connecting element includes a magnet. 38. The faucet of claim 35, wherein the magnetically attractive member is a second connecting element. 39. The faucet of claim 38, wherein the second connecting element includes a second magnet. 40. The faucet of claim 38, further including a second connector being at least partially overmolded over the second connecting element to couple the second connecting element to the other of the head and the body of the faucet. 41. A liquid dispensing assembly comprising: a supply hose adapted to supply a liquid; a liquid dispenser fluidly coupled to the supply hose and adapted to dispense the liquid; a support member adapted to support the liquid dispenser; a magnetic member at least partially overmolded with a polymer, the polymer being formed into a connector adapted to couple the magnetic member to one of the liquid dispenser and the support member; and a member magnetically attracted to the magnetic member and supported by the other of the liquid dispenser and the support member, the magnetic member and the member forming a magnetic coupling having a coupling surface area of between 0.4 and 2.0 square inches defined by a magnetic member surface and a member surface facing the magnetic member surface, the magnetic coupling requiring between 2.0 and 12.0 pounds of force to pull the liquid dispenser from the support member. 42. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, wherein the polymer comprises one of acetal and glass filled polypropylene. 43. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, wherein the magnetic member comprises NdFeB. 44. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 43, wherein the magnetic member has a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss. 45. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, further comprising a backing element positioned adjacent to a backing side of the magnetic member such that the magnetic member is between the backing element and the member, the backing element configured to strengthen the magnetic strength of the magnetic coupling. 46. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 45, wherein the coupling surface area ranges between 0.5 and 1.0 square inches, the magnetic attracting force is between 3 and 8 pounds, and the magnetic field on a side of the magnetic member opposite the backing side ranges between 500 and 1,000 gauss. 47. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 45, wherein the backing element is at least partially overmolded by the polymer. 48. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 47, wherein the magnetic member comprises NdFeB. 49. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, wherein magnetic coupling has a first position adapted to attract the liquid dispenser to the support member and a second position adapted to repel the liquid dispenser from the support member. 50. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, wherein magnetic member comprises a magnetic field oriented in a first direction and a second magnetic field oriented in a second direction, the first direction being substantially opposite the second direction. 51. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, wherein magnetic member comprises two or more magnets. 52. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 41, wherein magnetic member comprises a multipolar magnet.
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