Patent Application
20140166128
The present invention relates generally to a hose management system, and, more particularly, to a hose management system for a plumbing fixture fitting.
Faucets and other plumbing fixture fittings with wands that can be pulled away from the faucets are well known. Such faucets have a hose that connects the wand to valve components within the faucet. When the wand is docked in the faucet, the hose extends through the faucet and below the mounting surface upon which the faucet is mounted. As the wand is pulled away from the faucet, the hose extends out of the faucet. As the wand is returned to the faucet, the hose retracts through the faucet. When the hose is extended and retracted, the hose can get caught on obstructions beneath the mounting surface, such as pipes and garbage disposals. Difficulties can be encountered in designing faucets with wands so that the hose does not get caught on obstructions when the hose is extended and retracted.
The present invention provides a hose management system for a plumbing fixture fitting.
In an exemplary embodiment, the hose management system includes a housing. The housing is configured to form a non-closed surface. The non-closed surface has a first end and a second end. At least one end of the non-closed surface has an opening. The non-closed surface has a first cross-section at or near the first end that is a first simple closed curve. The non-closed surface has a second cross-section at or near the second end that is a second simple closed curve. The housing is operable to move with a plumbing hose. In an installed, non-deformed state, the non-closed surface has a straight line from each point on the first simple closed curve to at least one point on the second simple closed curve. In an installed state, the housing is operable to deform upon contact with an obstruction.
In an exemplary embodiment, the hose management system includes a housing. The housing is configured to form a non-closed surface. The non-closed surface has a first end and a second end. At least one end of the non-closed surface has an opening. The non-closed surface has a first cross-section at or near the first end that is a first simple closed curve. The non-closed surface has a second cross-section at or near the second end that is a second simple closed curve. The housing is operable to be attached to and move with a plumbing hose. In an installed, non-deformed state, the non-closed surface has a straight line from each point on the first simple closed curve to at least one point on the second simple closed curve. In an installed state, the housing is operable to deform upon contact with an obstruction.
In an exemplary embodiment, the hose management system includes a housing. The housing is configured to form a non-closed surface. The non-closed surface has a first end and a second end. At least one end of the non-closed surface has an opening. The non-closed surface has a first cross-section at or near the first end that is a first simple closed curve. The non-closed surface has a second cross-section at or near the second end that is a second simple closed curve. The housing is operable to move with a plumbing hose. In an installed, non-deformed state, the non-closed surface has a straight line from each point on the first simple closed curve to at least one point on the second simple closed curve. In an installed state, the housing is operable to deform upon contact with an obstruction. Upon contact with an obstruction that causes deformation of the housing, the non-closed surface does not have the straight line from each point on the first simple closed curve to at least one point on the second simple closed curve. Upon discontinuation of contact with the obstruction that causes deformation of the housing, the non-closed surface returns to the non-deformed state and again has the straight line from each point on the first simple closed curve to at least one point on the second simple closed curve.
a-2e are views of a housing of the hose management system of FIG. 1—
a-3d are views of a clip of the hose management system of FIG. 1—
a-4c are perspective views of the hose management system of
a-6c are front elevational views of the hose management system of
The present invention provides a hose management system for a plumbing fixture fitting.
An exemplary embodiment of a hose management system 10 of the present invention is shown in
The hose management system 10, 10′ includes a housing 20, 20′. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is operable to move with the hose 12, 12′. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is operable to be attached to the hose 12, 12′. The housing 20, 20′ can be directly or indirectly attached to the hose 12, 12′. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the housing 20, 20′ could be attached to an object other than the hose 20, 20′, such as an underside of the mounting surface, an underside of the sink, or a mounting shank for the faucet.
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is formed of a semi-rigid material. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is formed of polypropylene. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the housing 20, 20′ could be formed of other semi-rigid materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is self-supporting, i.e., the housing 20, 20′ can stand upright without any support.
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is formed from a single flat sheet of material having first and second opposing edges 70, 72. When assembled, the sheet is folded and the first and second opposing edges 70, 72 are attached. In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second opposing edges 70, 72 overlap to form an overlap joint 74 and the overlap joint 74 is welded (in
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20, 20′ is configured to form a non-closed surface 22, 22′. A non-closed surface is a surface with a boundary. In an exemplary embodiment, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ generally forms an open conical frustum. In another exemplary embodiment, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ generally forms an open cylinder. In another exemplary embodiment, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ generally forms an open pyramidal frustum. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the non-closed surface 22, 22′ could form other shapes. In an exemplary embodiment, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ is generally smooth.
In an exemplary embodiment, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ has a first end 24, 24′ and a second end 26, 26′. In an exemplary embodiment, the first end 24, 24′ of the non-closed surface 22, 22′ has a first opening 28, 28′. Additionally, the second end 26, 26′ of the non-closed surface 22, 22′ has a second opening 30, 30′. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the non-closed surface 22, 22′ could have more or less than two openings.
In an exemplary embodiment, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ has a first cross-section 32, 32′ at or near the first end 24, 24′ that is a first simple closed curve 34, 34′. Additionally, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ has a second cross-section 36, 36′ at or near the second end 26, 26′ that is a second simple closed curve 38, 38′. A simple closed curve is a closed plane curve that does not intersect itself, such as a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon. In the embodiment having a first opening 28, 28′ in the first end 24, 24′ and a second opening 30, 30′ in the second end 26, 26′, the first opening 28, 28′ is the first cross-section 32, 32′, and the second opening 30, 30′ is the second cross-section 36, 36′.
In an exemplary embodiment, the hose management system 10, 10′ includes an attachment mechanism 40, 40′. The attachment mechanism 40, 40′ is operable to attach the housing 20, 20′ to the hose 12, 12′. Again, the housing 20, 20′ can be directly or indirectly attached to the hose 12, 12′.
In the exemplary embodiment of
a-4c illustrate the installation of the hose management system 10 of
As illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment of
The environment beneath a faucet mounting surface can vary from faucet to faucet. For example, the depth of the sink, the placement of plumbing pipes, and the placement of water supply pipes and shut off handles can all vary. As a result, the hose 12, 12′ used in a faucet has a number of obstructions around which it needs to be maneuvered. During installation, the hose 12, 12′ can typically be placed in a location that avoids the obstructions. However, during use, when the hose 12, 12′ is extended and retracted, the hose 12, 12′ cannot simply be placed in a location that avoids the obstructions. As the hose 12, 12′ is extended and retracted, the hose 12, 12′ may get caught on obstructions beneath the faucet mounting surface.
The configuration of the hose management system 10, 10′ enables the hose 12, 12′ to be installed in a variety of environments beneath the faucet mounting surface without getting caught on obstructions beneath the faucet mounting surface.
During installation, the housing 20, 20′ is operable to deflect and/or deform upon contact with obstructions beneath the faucet mounting surface. As used herein, deflect refers to a movement of the entire housing 20, 20′ upon contact with an obstruction, whereas deform refers to a movement of a portion of the housing 20, 20′ upon contact with an obstruction.
a-6c illustrate the hose management system 10′ of
Similarly, the configuration of the hose management system 10, 10′ enables the hose 12, 12′ to be used in a variety of environments beneath the faucet mounting surface without getting caught on obstructions beneath the faucet mounting surface.
During use, the housing 20, 20′ is also operable to deflect and/or deform upon contact with obstructions beneath the faucet mounting surface. Again, as used herein, deflect refers to a movement of the entire housing 20, 20′ upon contact with an obstruction, whereas deform refers to a movement of a portion of the housing 20, 20′ upon contact with an obstruction.
In an installed, non-deflected, and non-deformed state, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ has a straight line (such as straight line 58, 64 on the non-closed surface 22) from each point on the first simple closed curve 34, 34′ (such as point 60, 66 on the first simple closed curve 34) to at least one point on the second simple closed curve 38, 38′ (such as point 62, 68 on the second simple closed curve 38). Upon contact with an obstruction, the housing 20, 20′ will deflect and/or deform.
Upon deflection of the housing 20, 20′, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ continues to have the straight line (such as straight line 58, 64 on the non-closed surface 22) from each point on the first simple closed curve 34, 34′ (such as point 60, 66 on the first simple closed curve 34) to at least one point on the second simple closed curve 38, 38′ (such as point 62, 68 on the second simple closed curve 38).
Upon deformation of the housing 20, 20′, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ does not have the straight line from each point on the first simple closed curve 34, 34′ to at least one point on the second simple closed curved 38, 38′. However, upon discontinuation of contact with an obstruction that causes deformation of the housing 20, 20′, the non-closed surface 22, 22′ returns to the non-deformed state and again has the straight line (such as straight line 58, 64 on the non-closed surface 22), from each point on the first simple closed curve 34, 34′ (such as point 60, 66 on the first simple closed curve 34) to at least one point on the second simple closed curve 38, 38′ (such as point 62, 68 on the second simple closed curve 38).
One of ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that the present invention provides a hose management system for a plumbing fixture fitting. Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, 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 and is limited only by the scope of the following claims in light of their full scope of equivalents.
