The present invention relates generally to a faucet with a wand and a wand accessory, and, more particularly, to a wand accessory that provides improved spray performance.
Faucets with wands are well known. Such faucets with wands are used in residential and commercial applications, such as in kitchens, laundry rooms, utility rooms, and various other locations. Difficulties can be encountered in obtaining desired spray performance from faucets with wands.
The present invention provides a faucet with a wand and a wand accessory.
In an exemplary embodiment, the faucet includes a hub, a spout, and a wand accessory. The hub is operable to connect to a mounting surface. The spout includes a receptor and a wand. The receptor is operable to connect to the hub. The wand is operable to mount in the receptor. The wand is operable to pull away from the receptor. The wand accessory is operable to connect to the wand. The wand includes a shell, a waterway, and a spray face. The shell is operable to pull away from the receptor. The waterway is operable to be substantially disposed in the shell. The waterway includes an inlet region and an outlet region. The inlet region includes an inlet passage. The outlet region includes an outlet passage. The inlet region is operable to connect to a water hose. The waterway includes a conduit disposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage. The spray face is operable to connect to the outlet region of the waterway. The spray face includes a wand opening and a wand connector. The wand opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the conduit and the outlet passage and deliver water from the spray face in the form of a stream. The wand accessory includes a first end and a second end. The first end includes a wand accessory connector. The second end includes a wand accessory nozzle. The wand accessory nozzle is operable to fluidly communicate with the wand opening in the spray face. The wand accessory is operable to sealably connect to the wand when the wand accessory connector on the wand accessory engages the wand connector on the spray face. The wand accessory is operable to convert the stream of water delivered from the wand opening in the spray face to a spray of water delivered from the wand accessory nozzle of the wand accessory.
In an exemplary embodiment, the faucet includes a hub, a spout, and a wand accessory. The hub is operable to connect to a mounting surface. The spout includes a receptor and a wand. The receptor is operable to connect to the hub. The wand is operable to mount in the receptor. The wand is operable to pull away from the receptor. The wand accessory is operable to connect to the wand. The wand includes a shell, a waterway, a diverter valve, and a spray face. The shell is operable to pull away from the receptor. The waterway is separately formed from the shell. The waterway is operable to be substantially disposed in the shell. The waterway includes an inlet region and an outlet region. The inlet region includes an inlet passage. The outlet region includes a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage. The inlet region is operable to connect to a water hose. The waterway includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit disposed between the inlet passage and the first outlet passage and the second outlet passage. The waterway includes a diverter valve chamber. The diverter valve chamber is disposed between the first conduit and the second conduit and between the first conduit and the third conduit. The diverter valve is operable to be received in the diverter valve chamber. The diverter valve is operable to divert fluid flow between the first conduit and the second conduit and between the first conduit and the third conduit. The spray face is operable to connect to the outlet region of the waterway. The spray face includes a wand opening, a plurality of wand nozzles, and a wand connector. The wand opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the second conduit and the first outlet passage and deliver water from the spray face in the form of a stream. The wand nozzles are operable to fluidly communicate with the third conduit and the second outlet passage and deliver water from the spray face in the form of a spray. The wand accessory includes a first end and a second end. The first end includes a wand accessory connector. The second end includes a wand accessory nozzle. The wand accessory nozzle is operable to fluidly communicate with the wand opening in the spray face. The wand accessory is operable to sealably connect to the wand when the wand accessory connector on the wand accessory engages the wand connector on the spray face. The wand accessory is operable to convert the stream of water delivered from the wand opening in the spray face to a spray of water delivered from the wand accessory nozzle of the wand accessory.
In an exemplary embodiment, the faucet includes a hub, a spout, and a wand accessory. The hub is operable to connect to a mounting surface. The spout includes a receptor and a wand. The receptor is operable to connect to the hub. The wand is operable to mount in the receptor. The wand is operable to pull away from the receptor. The wand accessory is operable to connect to the wand. The wand includes a shell, a waterway, a diverter valve, and a spray face. The shell is operable to pull away from the receptor. The waterway is separately formed from the shell. The waterway is operable to be substantially disposed in the shell. The waterway includes an inlet region and an outlet region. The inlet region includes an inlet passage. The outlet region includes a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage. The inlet region is operable to connect to a water hose. The waterway includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit disposed between the inlet passage and the first outlet passage and the second outlet passage. The waterway includes a diverter valve chamber. The diverter valve chamber is disposed between the first conduit and the second conduit and between the first conduit and the third conduit. The diverter valve is operable to be received in the diverter valve chamber. The diverter valve is operable to divert fluid flow between the first conduit and the second conduit and between the first conduit and the third conduit. The spray face is operable to connect to the outlet region of the waterway. The spray face includes a wand opening, a plurality of wand nozzles, and a threaded wand connector. The wand opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the second conduit and the first outlet passage and deliver water from the spray face in the form of a stream. The wand nozzles are operable to fluidly communicate with the third conduit and the second outlet passage and deliver water from the spray face in the form of a spray. The wand accessory includes a first end and a second end. The first end includes a threaded wand accessory connector. The second end includes a wand accessory nozzle. The wand accessory nozzle is operable to fluidly communicate with the wand opening in the spray face. The wand accessory is operable to sealably connect to the wand when the wand accessory connector on the wand accessory engages the threaded wand connector on the spray face. The wand accessory is operable to convert the stream of water delivered from the wand opening in the spray face to a spray of water delivered from the wand accessory nozzle of the wand accessory.
The present invention provides a faucet with a wand and a wand accessory.
The wand accessory for a faucet more effectively and efficiently cleans bottles (e.g., baby bottles and water bottles) by spraying high pressure water into the bottoms and other hard to reach surfaces of the bottles. The wand accessory can also be used to clean glasses, pans, other containers, and other surfaces. The wand accessory can be used with a pullout or pulldown faucet. The pullout or pulldown faucet includes a faucet wand. The wand accessory is attached to a face of the faucet wand. The wand accessory provides a stronger and more focused spray than the faucet wand.
An exemplary embodiment of a faucet 10 of the present invention is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the wand 20 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the waterway 26 is shown in detail in
Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the wand 20 includes a pause valve 48 and a diverter valve 50. The pause valve 48 is received in the pause valve chamber 44. The pause valve 48 pauses flow through the first conduit 38. The diverter valve 50 is received in the diverter valve chamber 46. The diverter valve 50 diverts flow between the first conduit 38 and the second conduit 40 and between the first conduit 38 and the third conduit 42.
Although the wand 20 has been shown and described as including the first outlet passage 34, the second outlet passage 36, the first conduit 38, the second conduit 40, the third conduit 42, the pause valve chamber 44, the diverter valve chamber 46, the pause valve 48, and the diverter valve 50, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the wand 20 may not include each of these components or may include a different number of each of these components. For example, the wand 20 may include more or less than two outlet passages, may include more or less than three conduits, may not include the pause valve chamber, may not include the diverter valve chamber, may include more than one diverter valve chamber, may not include the pause valve, may not include the diverter valve, and/or may include more than one diverter valve.
Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the wand 20 includes a spray face 52. The spray face 52 is connected to the outlet region 30 of the waterway 26.
An exemplary embodiment of the spray face 52 is shown in detail in
Although the spray face 52 has been shown and described as including the wand nozzles 56, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the spray face 52 may not include this component or may include a different number of this component. For example, the spray face 52 may not include wand nozzles 56, may include more or less wand nozzles 56, or may include different types of wand nozzles 56.
In an exemplary embodiment, the wand connector 58 at least partially surrounds the wand opening 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the wand connector 58 completely surrounds the wand opening 54. In an exemplary embodiment, the wand nozzles 56 at least partially surround the wand connector 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the wand nozzles 56 completely surround the wand connector 58.
Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the wand 20 includes a wand nut 60, a first O-ring 62, a first screen 64, a check valve 66, a pause valve retaining clip 68, a diverter valve retaining clip 70, a pause valve spring 72, a diverter valve spring 74, an actuation button 76, a second O-ring 78, a second screen 80, a gasket 82, and an aerator 84. These components of the wand 20 are well-known in the art and, thus, will not be described in greater detail.
An exemplary embodiment of the wand accessory 22 is shown in
The wand accessory 22 is operable to connect to the wand 20. More specifically, the wand accessory 22 is operable to connect to the wand 20 when the wand accessory connector 90 on the wand accessory 22 engages the wand connector 58 on the spray face 52 of the wand 20. The wand accessory 22 is operable to convert the stream of water delivered from the wand opening 54 in the spray face 52 to a spray of water delivered from the wand accessory nozzle 92 of the wand accessory 22.
The wand accessory 22 can be connected to the wand 20 via various attachment mechanisms. Exemplary attachment mechanisms includes a threaded attachment, a magnetic attachment, a twist and lock attachment, a snap attachment, and a bayonet attachment. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other attachment mechanisms could be used. In the illustrated embodiment of
The wand accessory 22 is operable to sealably connect to the wand 20. The sealable connection can be made using compressible material integrally formed with the wand 20 and/or the wand accessory 22 or using a separate seal (e.g., an O-ring). In the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, the wand accessory 22 includes an interior cavity 98 that is generally hollow. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the wand accessory 22 could include interior structure that facilitates the flow of water to the wand accessory nozzle 92. In the illustrated embodiment, a width of the interior cavity 98 at the upstream end 86 of the wand accessory 22 is greater than a width of the interior cavity 98 at the downstream end 88 of the wand accessory 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior cavity 98 tapers from the upstream end 86 of the wand accessory 22 to the downstream end 88 of the wand accessory 22.
The wand accessory 22 can have various types of wand accessory nozzle 92. Exemplary nozzle types includes a multi-directional spray nozzle, a power jet spray nozzle, and a rotating water spray nozzle.
In an exemplary embodiment, the faucet 10 includes a plurality of wand accessories 22. In the illustrated embodiment of
The upstream end 86 of each wand accessory 22, 22′, 22″ includes the wand accessory connector 90. Each wand accessory 22, 22′, 22″ is operable to connect to the wand 20 when the wand accessory connector 90 engages the wand connector 58 on the spray face 52 of the wand 20. Each wand accessory 22, 22′, 22″ is operable to sealably connect to the wand 20 when the wand accessory connector 90 engages the wand connector 58 on the spray face 52 of the wand 20 via any sealing mechanism, such as the region 94 or the third O-ring 96.
The downstream end 88 of each wand accessory 22, 22′, 22″ includes the wand accessory nozzle(s) 92, 92′, 92″. Each wand accessory nozzle 92, 92′, 92″ is operable to fluidly communicate with the wand opening 54 in the spray face 52. Each wand accessory 22, 22′, 22″ is operable to convert the stream of water delivered from the wand opening 54 in the spray face 52 to a spray of water delivered from the wand accessory nozzle(s) 92, 92′, 92″.
In an exemplary embodiment, the downstream end 88 of at least one wand accessory 22 includes a plurality of wand accessory nozzles 92. In the illustrated embodiment of
The wand accessory 22 can be stored in various storage locations. Exemplary storage locations includes a free-standing countertop rack and a mounted cabinet door rack. In an exemplary embodiment, the faucet 10 includes an accessory rack 100. The accessory rack 100 is operable to support at least one wand accessory 22. In the illustrated embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment, the faucet 10 includes a mounting bracket 102. The mounting bracket 102 is operable to support the accessory rack 100. In the illustrated embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment, the wand accessory 22 includes an outer surface 104 that is textured. The textured outer surface 104 provides a better grip for a user of the wand accessory 22. In the illustrated embodiment of
One of ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that the present invention provides a faucet with a wand and a wand accessory. Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/732,090, filed Sep. 17, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62732090 | Sep 2018 | US |