초록

A faucet including a faucet head, a body and a magnetic coupling releasably coupling the faucet head to the faucet body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of dispensing liquid, the method comprising the steps of: fluidly coupling a dispensing member to a source of liquid through a supply line, the dispensing member comprising one of a magnetic member and an attracted member, the magnetic member being dipolar and having a magnetic field of

1. A method of dispensing liquid, the method comprising the steps of: fluidly coupling a dispensing member to a source of liquid through a supply line, the dispensing member comprising one of a magnetic member and an attracted member, the magnetic member being dipolar and having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches;supporting the dispensing member with a support member, the supply line adapted to extend from the support member when the dispensing member is separated from the support member, the support member comprising the other of the magnetic member and the attracted member;magnetically holding the dispensing member in a coupled position with the support member;applying force to separate the dispensing member from the support member; andplacing the dispensing member proximally to the support member to removably and magnetically couple the dispensing member to the support member;wherein the applying force step comprises pulling on the dispensing member with a force of between 2.0 and 12.0 pounds. 2. A method of dispensing liquid as in claim 1, wherein one of the dispensing member and the support member comprises a male surface and the other of the dispensing member and the support member comprises a female surface, the male surface and the female surface configured to mate in the coupled position of the magnetic coupling, and wherein the applying force step comprises rotating the dispensing member. 3. A method of dispensing liquid as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing member comprises a shower head. 4. A method of dispensing liquid as in claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a faucet spout and the dispensing member comprises a faucet head. 5. A method of dispensing liquid, the method comprising the steps of: fluidly coupling a dispensing member to a source of liquid through a supply line, the dispensing member comprising one of a magnetic member and an attracted member, the magnetic member being dipolar and having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches;supporting the dispensing member with a support member, the supply line adapted to extend from the support member when the dispensing member is separated from the support member, the support member comprising the other of the magnetic member and the attracted member;magnetically holding the dispensing member in a coupled position with the support member;applying force to separate the dispensing member from the support member; andplacing the dispensing member proximally to the support member to removably and magnetically couple the dispensing member to the support member;wherein a magnetic field ranges between 500 and 1,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches. 6. A method of dispensing liquid, the method comprising the steps of: fluidly coupling a dispensing member to a source of liquid through a supply line, the dispensing member comprising one of a magnetic member and an attracted member, the magnetic member being dipolar and having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches;supporting the dispensing member with a support member, the supply line adapted to extend from the support member when the dispensing member is separated from the support member, the support member comprising the other of the magnetic member and the attracted member;magnetically holding the dispensing member in a coupled position with the support member;applying force to separate the dispensing member from the support member; andplacing the dispensing member proximally to the support member to removably and magnetically couple the dispensing member to the support member;wherein the magnetic member is at least partially overmolded with a polymer, the polymer being formed into a connector adapted to couple the magnetic member to one of the dispensing member and the support member. 7. A method of dispensing liquid, the method comprising the steps of: fluidly coupling a dispensing member to a source of liquid through a supply line, the dispensing member comprising one of a magnetic member and an attracted member, the magnetic member being dipolar and having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches;supporting the dispensing member with a support member, the supply line adapted to extend from the support member when the dispensing member is separated from the support member, the support member comprising the other of the magnetic member and the attracted member;magnetically holding the dispensing member in a coupled position with the support member;applying force to separate the dispensing member from the support member; andplacing the dispensing member proximally to the support member to removably and magnetically couple the dispensing member to the support member;wherein a backing member is provided adjacent to the magnetic member to increase a magnetic flux of the magnetic member. 8. A liquid dispensing assembly comprising: a supply hose adapted to supply a liquid;a faucet head fluidly coupled to the supply hose and adapted to dispense the liquid;a faucet spout adapted to support the faucet head; anda magnetic coupling to removably couple the faucet head to the faucet spout, the magnetic coupling including a magnetic member supported by one of the faucet spout and the faucet head, the magnetic member having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches, and an attracted member magnetically attracted to the magnetic member and supported by the other of the faucet head and the faucet spout, the magnetic coupling requiring between 2.0 and 12.0 pounds of force to pull the faucet head from the faucet spout. 9. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 8, wherein the magnetic coupling includes a coupling surface supported by one of the faucet head and the faucet spout, and the coupling surface has an area of between 0.4 and 2.0 inches. 10. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 8, wherein the magnetic member is at least partially overmolded with a polymer, the polymer being formed into a connector adapted to couple the magnetic member to one of the faucet head and the faucet spout. 11. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 8, wherein the magnetic coupling further includes a backing member configured to increase a magnetic flux of the magnetic member. 12. A liquid dispensing assembly comprising: a supply hose adapted to supply a liquid;a dispensing member fluidly coupled to the supply hose and adapted to dispense the liquid;a support member adapted to support the dispensing member; anda magnetic coupling to removably couple the dispensing member to the support member, the magnetic coupling including a magnetic member supported by one of the support member and the dispensing member, the magnetic member having a plurality of poles and a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches, and an attracted member magnetically attracted to the magnetic member and supported by the other of the dispensing member and the support member, the magnetic coupling requiring between 2.0 and 12.0 pounds of force to pull the dispensing member from the support member. 13. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the dispensing member comprises a shower head. 14. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the support member comprises a faucet spout and the dispensing member comprises a faucet head. 15. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein one of the dispensing member and the support member comprises a male surface and the other of the dispensing member and the support member comprises a female surface, the male surface and the female surface configured to mate in a coupled position of the magnetic coupling and being adapted to move the magnetic member away from the attracted member when the dispensing member is rotated to thereby reduce the force needed to pull the dispensing member away from the support member. 16. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein a magnetic field ranges between 500 and 1,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches. 17. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the magnetic member is dipolar. 18. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the magnetic coupling includes a coupling surface supported by one of the dispensing member and the support member, and coupling surface has an area of between 0.4 and 2.0 inches. 19. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 18, wherein the coupling surface has an area of between 0.5 and 1.0 inches. 20. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic member is at least partially overmolded with a polymer, the polymer being formed into a connector adapted to couple the magnetic member to one of the dispensing member and the support member. 21. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 20, wherein a magnetic member is encapsulated by the polymer. 22. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 20, wherein the polymer comprises one of acetal and glass filled polypropylene and the magnetic member comprises NdFeB. 23. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the magnetic coupling further includes a backing member configured to increase a magnetic flux of the magnetic member. 24. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 23, wherein the magnetic member comprises a first surface that is substantially parallel to the attracted member in the coupled position and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the backing member is adjacent to the second surface. 25. A liquid dispensing assembly comprising: a supply hose adapted to supply a liquid;a dispensing member fluidly coupled to the supply hose and adapted to dispense the liquid;a support member adapted to support the dispensing member; anda magnetic coupling to removably couple the dispensing member to the support member, the magnetic coupling including a magnetic member supported by one of the support member and the dispensing member, the magnetic member being dipolar and having a magnetic field of between 400 and 2,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches, a backing member adjacent to the magnetic member and configured to increase a magnetic flux of the magnetic member, and an attracted member magnetically attracted to the magnetic member and supported by the other of the dispensing member and the support member, the magnetic coupling requiring between 2.0 and 12.0 pounds of force to pull the dispensing member from the support member. 26. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein the dispensing member comprises a shower head. 27. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein the support member comprises a faucet spout and the dispensing member comprises a faucet head. 28. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein one of the dispensing member and the support member comprises a male surface and the other of the dispensing member and the support member comprises a female surface, the male surface and the female surface configured to mate in a coupled position of the magnetic coupling and being adapted to move the magnetic member away from the attracted member when the dispensing member is rotated to thereby reduce the force needed to pull the dispensing member away from the support member. 29. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein a magnetic field ranges between 500 and 1,000 gauss tested at 0.090 inches. 30. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein the magnetic coupling further includes a backing member configured to increase a magnetic flux of the magnetic member. 31. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein the magnetic member comprises a first surface that is substantially parallel to the attracted member in the coupled position and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the backing member is adjacent to the second surface. 32. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein the magnetic coupling includes a coupling surface supported by one of the dispensing member and the support member, and the coupling surface has an area of between 0.4 and 2.0 inches. 33. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 32, wherein the coupling surface has an area of between 0.5 and 1.0 inches. 34. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 25, wherein the magnetic member is at least partially overmolded with a polymer, the polymer being formed into a connector adapted to couple the magnetic member to one of the dispensing member and the support member. 35. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 34, wherein a magnetic member is encapsulated by the polymer. 36. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 34, wherein the polymer comprises one of acetal and glass filled polypropylene and the magnetic member comprises NdFeB.