This disclosure relates generally to sprayers and, more particularly, to handheld sprayers for sinks.
Many sinks include a basin, a mounting flange around the basin, a drain in the basin, and a faucet carried on the mounting flange. Some sinks also include a pull-down sprayer extending from a faucet and/or a handheld sprayer carried by the mounting flange next to the faucet. Pull-down sprayers may have actuators for different discharge modes of operation, for example, spraying and aerating. Handheld sprayers may have actuators for different metering states, for example, on and off and any flow levels therebetween. But handheld sprayers for sinks typically do not include actuators for different discharge modes in addition to different metering states. And sink sprayers of both types typically require two-handed operation; with one hand on an actuator of the sprayer and with another hand on a separate, remotely located faucet valve.
An illustrative embodiment of a handheld sink sprayer with single-handed metering and discharge mode adjustment includes a body including a handle portion and a nozzle portion extending from the handle portion. The sprayer also includes a metering valve carried in the body, a finger-engageable actuator carried by the body and coupled to the metering valve to move the metering valve, and a nozzle carried by the body nozzle portion. The sprayer further includes a discharge mode valve, and a thumb-engageable actuator carried by the body nozzle portion and coupled to the discharge mode valve to move the discharge mode valve between different discharge modes of operation
Appendices A and B constitute disclosure and claims for a design that is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Referring specifically to the drawings,
A user may grasp the sprayer 10, actuate the finger-engageable actuator 26 with a finger of one hand and, simultaneously, actuate the thumb-engageable actuator 32 with the thumb of the same hand without having to release the finger actuator 26. Accordingly, unlike conventional sink sprayers, the presently disclosed sink sprayer 10 is capable of being operated with a single hand of a user to carry out different metering and discharge modes.
The body 18 may include an external housing as shown in the figures (not separately numbered), but also may include an internal structure carried inside the housing, which may include the conduit 16 among any other suitable framework, fittings, or any other suitable structure. The housing may include two or more shells (not separately shown or numbered) that may be snap fit, fastened, or otherwise coupled together around the internal structure.
The body 18 also may include, in addition to the handle and nozzle portions 20, 22, an actuator guard 34 extending between the handle and nozzle portions 20, 22. The actuator guard 34 may guard the finger-engageable actuator 26 from being inadvertently actuated, for example, if the sprayer 10 is dropped, knocked against something, or the like. The actuator guard 34 may be an integral portion of one or both of the handle or nozzle portions 20, 22 of the body 18 and, more specifically, may include a portion of an external housing of the body 18.
The body handle portion 20 may extend along a handle axis A, and may include a rear portion 36, a front portion 38, side portions 40 between the rear and front portions 36, 38, and an upstream portion 42. The upstream portion 42 may be coupled to a conduit 44, which may have a coupling 46 coupled to the upstream portion 42 of the sprayer 10 such that the sprayer 10 and the conduit 44 constitute at least part of a fluid distribution assembly. For example, the upstream portion 42 may include external threads (not shown) for cooperating with internal threads (not shown) of the conduit coupling 46, or quick-disconnect features (not shown) for cooperating with corresponding quick-disconnect features (not shown) of the conduit coupling 46, or any other suitable coupling features. The inlet 12 of the sprayer 10 may be part of the upstream portion 42 of the body 18. Also, the sprayer 10 may be part of a sink 11, which may include a mounting flange 13, and a sprayer coupling 15 that may be used to couple the sprayer 10 to the mounting flange 13 of the sink 11.
The body nozzle portion 22 may extend along a nozzle axis B disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the handle axis A, and may include a top 48, a bottom 50, sides 52 between the top 48 and the bottom 50, and a downstream portion 54. The thumb-engageable actuator 32 may be carried through at least one of the sides 52. The nozzle portion 22 may include an actuator opening 56 through a wall of the body 18. The opening may include a slot having a first end 58, a second end 60, and guide surfaces 62 extending therebetween. The nozzle axis B may be disposed at an angle of about ninety degrees, plus or minus twenty degrees, or at any other suitable non-zero angle, with respect to the handle axis A. Preferably, the actuator 32 is carried by and movable along the side(s) 52 and perhaps a portion of the bottom 50, but not the top 48, for good accessibility and smooth operation.
The first valve 24 may include a poppet valve, ball valve, plug valve, spool valve, or any other type of valve suitable for use in metering or on/off control of flow of water through a handheld sprayer. The first valve 24 normally may be in a closed-flow position and may be movable from the closed-flow position to an open-flow position, and vice-versa, and anywhere in between to adjust fluid flow. The first valve 24 may be biased to the closed-flow position by a spring (not shown).
The finger-engageable actuator 26 may include a trigger as illustrated, but instead may include a button, a slider, lever, or any other suitable mechanical actuator, or even a capacitive touch actuator, or any other suitable electrical actuator. In any case, the actuator 26 may be carried between the handle and nozzle portions 20, 22 of the body 18, such that application of pressure by a finger of a hand of a user against the actuator 26 may cause the actuator 26 to move toward the body 18.
With reference to
The nozzle fixed portion 64 may include the conduit 16 of the body 18 or any other suitable portion of the body 18. The fixed portion 64 may include a shoulder 68 carrying a seal 70, an end 72, and one or more valve ports 74 between the shoulder 68 and the end 72 and extending transversely through the conduit 16, for example, perpendicularly, or even radially, with respect to the axis B. The fixed portion 64 also may include an aerator assembly 76 including one or more aerator screens 78, a screen support 80 having a stem 79 extending through the screens 78 and a shoulder 81 located against the end 72 of the fixed portion 64, and a fastener 82 extending through the screens 78 and the support 80 and fastened to the end 72 of the fixed portion 64.
The nozzle movable portion 66 may include an inner shroud 84 having a downstream portion circumscribing at least part of the aerator assembly 76, and an upstream portion circumscribing at least a portion of the conduit 16. The upstream portion may include an annular valve head 86 that may circumferentially contact the fixed portion 64 adjacent to the valve port(s) 74 and may be movable across the port(s) 74. Accordingly, the valve head 86 and the port(s) 74 may constitute at least part of the discharge mode valve 30 (
The thumb-engageable actuator 32 may be an integral portion of the outer shroud 88, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments, the actuator 32 may be a separate component fastened, welded, adhered, or otherwise coupled to the outer shroud 88. The actuator 32 may extend through the actuator opening 56 through the wall of the body 18. The actuator 32 may include a slider, lever, or any other suitable movable element that may extend through the body 18 and is slidable, pivotable, or otherwise movable, for example, between the first and second ends of the slot 56 in response to application of pressure by a thumb of a hand of a user. The actuator 32 may be slidable substantially parallel (within +/−5 angular degrees) to the nozzle axis B.
With reference to
In operation, and with reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The body 118 may include an external housing as shown in the figures (not separately numbered), but also may include an internal structure carried inside the housing, which may include the conduit 116 among any other suitable framework, fittings, or any other suitable structure. The housing may include two or more shells (not separately shown or numbered) that may be snap fit, fastened, or otherwise coupled together around the internal structure.
The body handle portion 120 may extend along a handle axis A, and may include a rear portion 136, a front portion 138, side portions 140 between the rear and front portions 136, 138, and an upstream portion 142. The upstream portion 142 may be coupled to a conduit 144, which may have a coupling 146 coupled to the upstream portion 142 of the sprayer 110 such that the sprayer 110 and the conduit 144 constitute at least part of a fluid distribution assembly. The inlet 112 of the sprayer 110 may be part of the upstream portion 142 of the body 118.
The body nozzle portion 122 may extend along a nozzle axis B disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the handle axis A, and may include a top 148, a bottom 150, sides 152 between the top 148 and the bottom 150, and a downstream portion 154. The thumb-engageable actuator 132 may be carried through at least one of the sides 152. The nozzle portion 122 may include an actuator opening 156 through a wall of the body 118. The opening may include a slot having a first end 158, a second end 160, and guide surfaces 162 extending therebetween. The nozzle axis B may be disposed at an angle of about 110 degrees, plus or minus twenty degrees, or at any other suitable non-zero angle, with respect to the handle axis A. Preferably, the actuator 132 is carried by and movable along the side(s) 152 and perhaps a portion of the bottom 50, but not the top 48, for good accessibility and smooth operation.
With reference to
The finger-engageable actuator 126 may include a trigger as illustrated, but instead may include a button, a slider, lever, or any other suitable mechanical actuator, or even a capacitive touch actuator, or any other suitable electrical actuator. In any case, the actuator 126 may be carried by the handle portions 120 of the body 118.
A user may grasp the sprayer 110, actuate the finger-engageable actuator 126 by application of pressure by one or more fingers of one hand and, simultaneously, actuate the thumb-engageable actuator 132 by application of pressure by the thumb of the same hand without having to release the finger actuator 126. For example, the thumb-engageable actuator 132 may be positioned on the nozzle portion 122 of the sprayer body 118 in a location rearward of the finger-engageable actuator 126 in a direction along the nozzle axis B. More specifically, a central portion or centroid 132a of the thumb-engageable actuator 132 may be located axially rearward of a central portion or centroid 126a of the finger-engageable actuator 126.
In operation, a user may grasp the handle portion 120 of the sprayer 110 with one hand by trapping the handle portion 120 between a palm of the hand and one or more of the middle, ring, or little fingers of the same hand. Then the user may pull one or more of those fingers against the actuator 126 to cause the actuator 126 to move toward the body 118 to displace the valve 202 to allow fluid F to flow downstream toward the discharge mode valve 130.
Accordingly, and with reference to
The valve 130 also may include a valve body 214 that cooperates with the poppet 206 to redirect fluid F flow. The valve body 214 may include a radially outer wall 216 that may be carried in the sprayer body nozzle portion 122 directly in contact therewith or via a bushing 218 therebetween. The valve body 214 also may include a radially inner wall 220 that may establish a first valve seat to cooperate with the valve element 206.
The valve 130 also may include another radially inner wall 222 that may establish a second valve seat axially opposite the first valve seat to cooperate with the valve element 206. The wall 222 may include an extension of the nozzle 128, which also may include a radially outer wall 224, which may be carried in the nozzle portion 122 proximate the outlet 114 and may be coupled thereto via cooperating external and internal threads, or via snap-fit, a retainer ring, or in any other suitable manner.
With reference to
In the first discharge mode, and with reference to
In accordance with that mode, and with reference to
With reference to
In general, the sprayers 10, 110 may be manufactured according to techniques known to those skilled in the art, including molding, machining, stamping, casting, and/or the like. For example, various portions of the bodies 12, 112 may be molded as a single piece. For instance, one half side of the bodies 12, 112 may be molded to include portions of the handle portions 20, 120, the nozzle portions 22, 122, and/or the actuator guard 34. Likewise, any suitable materials can be used in making the sprayers 10, 110, such as metals, composites, polymeric materials, and/or the like.
Some aspects of the configuration of the sink sprayers 10, 110 are significant in that they enable a solution to a problem apparently not addressed in the prior art of handheld sink sprayers. The presently disclosed sprayers 10, 110 provides multiple modes of operation in addition to metering states, including mode and metering valves that can be moved easily between different positions via single-handed operation. Moreover, the sprayers 10, 110 include thumb-engageable, axially slidable actuators located on sides of nozzle portions that are particularly easy to manipulate during single-handed operation. Accordingly, the presently disclosed sprayers 10, 110 provide a simple but effective solution to an everyday, common household problem. It is believed that the presently disclosed sprayers 10, 110 presents a new type of handheld sprayer: one capable of being metered or turned on and off with one or more fingers of one hand, and adjusted from one discharge mode to another with a thumb of the same hand without otherwise having to adjust a user's grip on the sprayer.
As used in this patent application, the terminology “for example,” “for instance,” “like,” “such as,” “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and the like, when used with a listing of one or more elements, is open-ended, meaning that the listing does not exclude additional elements. Likewise, when preceding an element, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” mean that there are one or more of the elements. Moreover, directional words such as front, rear, top, bottom, upper, lower, radial, circumferential, axial, lateral, longitudinal, vertical, horizontal, transverse, and/or the like are employed by way of example and not limitation. Other terms are to be interpreted and construed in the broadest reasonable manner in accordance with their ordinary and customary meaning in the art, unless the terms are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.
Finally, the present disclosure is not a definitive presentation of an invention claimed in this patent application, but is merely a presentation of examples of illustrative embodiments of the claimed invention. More specifically, the present disclosure sets forth one or more examples that are not limitations on the scope of the claimed invention or on terminology used in the accompanying claims, except where terminology is expressly defined herein. And although the present disclosure sets forth a limited number of examples, many other examples may exist now or are yet to be discovered and, thus, it is neither intended nor possible to disclose all possible manifestations of the claimed invention. In fact, various equivalents will become apparent to artisans of ordinary skill in view of the present disclosure and will fall within the spirit and broad scope of the accompanying claims. Therefore, the claimed invention is not limited to the particular examples of illustrative embodiments disclosed herein but, instead, is defined by the accompanying claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/034,335, filed Aug. 7, 2014. The content of the above application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1503296 | Bradley | Jul 1924 | A |
2641092 | Garrison | Jun 1953 | A |
2672621 | Drain | Mar 1954 | A |
3520481 | Moen | Jul 1970 | A |
3647144 | Parkison | Mar 1972 | A |
3786995 | Manoogian | Jan 1974 | A |
4310107 | Wesner | Jan 1982 | A |
5221050 | Jeffries | Jun 1993 | A |
5348231 | Arnold | Sep 1994 | A |
5450647 | Dorsey | Sep 1995 | A |
5752626 | Bachand | May 1998 | A |
D463005 | Lord | Sep 2002 | S |
D463006 | Lord | Sep 2002 | S |
D463526 | Lord | Sep 2002 | S |
D468395 | Lord | Jan 2003 | S |
D471955 | Lord | Mar 2003 | S |
D484217 | Lord | Dec 2003 | S |
7343930 | Rosko | Mar 2008 | B2 |
D582019 | Yuan | Dec 2008 | S |
7472846 | Thomas | Jan 2009 | B2 |
7731846 | Jones | Jun 2010 | B1 |
D621479 | McNerney | Aug 2010 | S |
7798429 | Porter | Sep 2010 | B1 |
D649053 | Van den Broeck | Nov 2011 | S |
8156580 | Paone | Apr 2012 | B1 |
D701288 | Andrew | Mar 2014 | S |
D709991 | Loudon | Jul 2014 | S |
D713014 | Schoenherr | Sep 2014 | S |
D717296 | Oh | Nov 2014 | S |
20050103893 | Birrenkott | May 2005 | A1 |
20060231140 | McNerney | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060237559 | Chih | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20140061233 | Lang | Mar 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160040404 A1 | Feb 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62034335 | Aug 2014 | US |