IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0080309
(2013-11-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-9284723
(2016-03-15)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Esche, John C.
- Erickson, Perry D.
- Murphy, Roger W.
- Bares, William R.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
65 |
초록
▼
A faucet includes a spout and a sprayhead movable between a docked position, in which the sprayhead is in contact with the spout, and an undocked position, in which the sprayhead is spaced apart from the spout. The faucet also includes a hose that includes a tubular portion having an inlet end and a
A faucet includes a spout and a sprayhead movable between a docked position, in which the sprayhead is in contact with the spout, and an undocked position, in which the sprayhead is spaced apart from the spout. The faucet also includes a hose that includes a tubular portion having an inlet end and an outlet end and configured to provide fluid through the spout to the sprayhead and a magnetically responsive end portion coupled to the outlet end and configured to be freely and rotatably received within a portion of the sprayhead. A magnet is located in the spout such that when the sprayhead is in the docked position, the magnet magnetically attracts the magnetically responsive end portion of the hose so as to retain the sprayhead against the spout.
대표청구항
▼
1. A faucet comprising: a sprayhead;a spout;a hose assembly comprising: a hose passing through the spout, the hose having a first end for receiving fluid from a fluid source and a second end for providing the fluid to the sprayhead;a ball rotatably coupled to the sprayhead; anda magnetically respons
1. A faucet comprising: a sprayhead;a spout;a hose assembly comprising: a hose passing through the spout, the hose having a first end for receiving fluid from a fluid source and a second end for providing the fluid to the sprayhead;a ball rotatably coupled to the sprayhead; anda magnetically responsive ferrule securing the ball to the second end of the hose;a magnet located in the spout and configured such that when the sprayhead is brought toward the spout, the ferrule magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby generating sufficient magnetic force upon the ferrule to retain the sprayhead against the spout; anda docking assembly supported in the spout, the docking assembly comprising: a retaining portion configured to support the magnet; anda receiving portion configured to receive a socket of the sprayhead when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout and comprises an annular groove configured to receive an o-ring, the o-ring also received in a corresponding annular groove in the spout, thereby securing the docking assembly to the spout. 2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the sprayhead is formed of non-magnetically responsive materials. 3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the ball is configured to be removably received within a portion of the sprayhead. 4. The faucet of claim 3, wherein the sprayhead comprises a socket configured to receive the ball, thereby permitting the sprayhead to rotate relative to the magnetically responsive ferrule. 5. The faucet of claim 3, wherein the magnetically responsive ferrule is clamped to the second end of the hose. 6. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is crimped to the hose. 7. The faucet of claim 6, wherein the hose assembly comprises a member extending into the second end of the hose, and wherein the ferrule is crimped onto the hose about the member such that the ball is secured to the hose. 8. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the sprayhead comprises a socket defining a cup configured to rotatably receive the ball of the hose assembly. 9. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the sprayhead is substantially constructed of non-magnetically responsive materials. 10. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a field expander located adjacent the magnet and configured to expand a magnetic field created by the magnet; wherein the retaining portion includes a first sidewall, a barb formed at a first end of the first sidewall, and a ledge spaced axially apart from the barb such that the magnet and the field expander are trapped between the ledge and the barb, thereby retaining the magnet and the field expander on the retaining portion. 11. A faucet comprising: a spout extending from a first end to a second end;a sprayhead consisting of predominantly non-magnetically responsive components, comprising a socket, and movable between a docked position, in which the sprayhead is in contact with the second end of the spout, and an undocked position, in which the sprayhead is spaced apart from the spout;a hose assembly comprising: a hose passing through the spout, the hose having an inlet end for receiving fluid from a fluid source and an outlet end for providing the fluid to the sprayhead; andan end portion fixed to the outlet end of the hose, the end portion comprising a ball rotatably received in the socket of the sprayhead and a magnetically responsive collar that fixes the ball to the hose;a docking assembly located in the spout proximate the second end, the docking assembly comprising: a retainer having an axially-extending, first sidewall defining a bore allowing the hose assembly to pass therethrough; anda magnet defining an aperture allowing the first sidewall of the retainer to pass therethrough, wherein when the sprayhead is in the docked position, the magnet magnetically couples to the end portion of the hose, thereby applying sufficient magnetic force to the hose to retain the sprayhead against the spout; anda field expander located adjacent the magnet and configured to expand a magnetic field created by the magnet;wherein the retainer comprises a retaining portion, the retaining portion including the first sidewall, a barb formed at a first end of the first sidewall, and a ledge spaced axially apart from the barb such that the magnet and the field expander are trapped between the ledge and the barb, thereby retaining the magnet and the field expander on the retaining portion. 12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the retainer is located in the spout of the faucet and the retainer supports the magnet. 13. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the spout is rotatably coupled to a base of the faucet, and the retainer is supported by the faucet inside the spout. 14. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the spout comprises a top end and a bottom end, and wherein the retainer is located proximate the top end of the spout. 15. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the retainer of the docking assembly is coupled to the spout and configured to support the magnet. 16. The faucet of claim 15, wherein the docking assembly comprises a receiving portion configured to receive the socket of the sprayhead when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout and comprises an annular groove configured to receive an o-ring, the o-ring also received in a corresponding annular groove in the spout, thereby securing the docking assembly to the spout. 17. The faucet of claim 16, wherein the retaining portion and the receiving portion are flexibly coupled by a bridge portion. 18. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the retaining portion comprises a funnel located opposite the first end of the first sidewall, the funnel configured to guide the collar into the bore of the retainer when the sprayhead moves from the undocked position to the docked position. 19. The faucet of claim 11, wherein: a sidewall of the spout defines an inwardly extending ledge;the ledge of the retainer is an outwardly extending ledge; andthe docking assembly comprises a resilient member spanning a gap between the inwardly extending ledge and the outwardly extending ledge, thereby securing the docking assembly in the spout.
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