Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6311729
-
Patent Number
6,311,729
-
Date Filed
Monday, April 24, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 6, 200122 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Cook, Alex, McFarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 137 801
- 137 615
- 004 678
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A faucet spout assembly includes a centerbody, a spout hub with an outwardly extending spout and a retainer located therebetween to limit rotational movement of the spout hub on the centerbody and more specifically to limit the rotational movement of the spout to a range defined by the open area of the sink. The centerbody includes a recess which receives an inward projection of the retainer and limits rotational movement thereof relative to the centerbody. The spout hub includes a cavity with an arcuate recess which receives a retainer outward projection. The length of the arcuate recess is preferably sized to limit the rotational movement of the spout to the open area of the sink. The centerbody includes an annular groove which receives a ledge of the retainer to assist in retainer positioning around the centerbody.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to faucet spouts, particularly kitchen faucet spouts, and specifically relates to spouts which have limited rotational movement. By limiting rotational movement of the spout, the user will not be able to rotate the spout outside of the range of the sink. This is important to the user because the water from the spout will always be directed toward the sink so that less clean up is required adjacent the sink. The present invention provides a kitchen faucet spout retainer which limits rotational movement of the faucet spout and prevents the spout from rotating outside of the range of the sink.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a faucet spout retainer particularly for kitchen faucets which limits the rotational movement of the faucet spout and specifically limits the rotational movement of the faucet spout within a range defined by the open area of the sink.
A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a faucet spout assembly which includes a retainer positioned between the spout hub and the centerbody, and which the retainer restrains rotational movement of the spout.
Another purpose of the invention is to provide a faucet spout which has a range of rotational movement limited to the open area of the sink.
Another purpose is a spout retainer as described which will shear at a calculated force to prevent possible faucet damage.
Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a section of a faucet spout assembly with some parts shown in solid;
FIG. 2
is an axial section of a valve body;
FIG. 3
is a section along line
3
—
3
of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a section of a spout hub;
FIG. 5
is a plan view of a retainer; and
FIG. 6
is a section along line
6
—
6
of FIG.
5
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Current faucet spouts, particularly kitchen faucet spouts, may have the ability to rotate as desired by the user. While rotational movement is generally advantageous, the spout may also be rotated outside of the sink range. This has been perceived by the user as an imperfection. If the spout is rotated outside of the sink range during use, then water from the spout may flow to areas adjacent to the sink and require additional cleaning time by the user. The present invention is specifically directed to a restraint on the rotational movement of the spout such that the user cannot rotate the spout outside of a sink range. It further provides for restraint failure at a specified force to prevent possible spout damage.
In
FIG. 1
, a faucet spout assembly
10
includes a centerbody
12
, a spout hub
14
with an outwardly extending spout
16
and a retainer
18
. The centerbody
12
includes a valve body
20
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, and a valve mixing cartridge assembly
22
positioned therein. The cartridge may be of the type sold by Moen, Incorporated, assignee herein, under the trademark 1225. The centerbody
12
has an internal water chamber
23
which is in fluid communication with hot water and cold water inlet ports
24
. The exterior surface
25
of the centerbody
12
includes a recess
26
adjacent an annular groove
27
and has outlet ports
29
. The spout hub
14
is positioned around the centerbody
12
in fluid communication with the chamber
23
through ports
29
and generally includes a cavity
28
and a hub outlet port
30
. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the cavity
28
includes an arcuate recess
32
formed on the internal surface thereof. The hub outlet port
30
provides a fluid communication between the centerbody
12
and the spout
16
when the valve cartridge
22
is rotated and reciprocated by handle
34
.
Positioned between the centerbody
12
and the spout hub
14
, there is the retainer
18
. Although other shapes are also possible, the retainer
18
is generally U-shaped and fits snugly around a substantial portion of the centerbody
12
. The retainer
18
includes an internal surface
36
with an inwardly directed projection
38
and a ledge
40
located thereon. The external surface
42
of the retainer has an outwardly directed projection
44
located thereon. Although the projections
38
,
44
are shown at the same circumferential position on the retainer
18
and on opposite sides thereof, resulting in a symmetrical retainer shape, the projections may be independently located at any position along the retainer such that non-symmetrical retainer shapes are possible. The ledge
40
is located along a substantial circumferential length of the retainer
18
and is received by the centerbody annular groove
27
to assist in positioning the retainer on the centerbody
12
.
During assembly the retainer
18
is positioned on the centerbody
12
and the centerbody recess
26
securely receives the inward projection
38
. The centerbody recess
26
thus secures the retainer and prevents retainer rotational movement relative thereto. As the spout hub
14
is positioned around the centerbody
12
and the retainer
18
, the arcuate recess
32
receives the outward projection
44
. The arcuate extent of the recess
32
will determine the range of rotational movement of the spout hub
14
relative to the retainer outward projection
44
with the projection
44
acting as a stop at either edge of the arcuate recess
32
. The arc length of the recess
32
is preferably sized to limit the spout to rotation to a range defined by the open area of the sink.
During use of the assembly
10
, the user may rotate the spout
16
as desired. As the spout rotates, the spout hub arcuate recess
32
rotates in either direction along its length until one edge thereof is stopped by the retainer outward projection
44
. Once stopped, the spout is prevented from rotating further with the preferred spout swing area being defined by the sink open area. Thus, the spout is restrained from rotating outside of the sink range and any water from the spout will be directed within the sink. During spout rotation, movement of the retainer
18
is prevented by the connection between the retainer inward projection
38
and the centerbody recess
26
. Failure of the retainer is designed to occur at a calculable stress load to prevent possible damage to the faucet components by excessive rotational force. If failure occurs, the retainer may easily be removed from the assembly and replaced.
Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there may be many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto.
Claims
- 1. A faucet spout assembly including:a centerbody having a recess located on the outside surface thereof; a spout hub positioned around the centerbody and being rotatable thereto, said spout hub having a cavity with an arcuate recess facing the centerbody recess; and a retainer positioned between the centerbody and the spout hub and having an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface being adjacent the centerbody and having an inward projection located thereon, the external surface being adjacent the spout hub and having an outward projection located thereon, the retainer inward projection being positioned in the centerbody recess to prevent rotational movement of the retainer relative to the centerbody and the retainer outward projection being positioned in the spout hub arcuate recess to limit rotational movement of the spout hub relative to the centerbody.
- 2. The faucet spout assembly of claim 1 wherein the spout hub arcuate recess has a predetermined length to prevent rotational movement of a spout of the assembly outside of an open sink area.
- 3. The faucet spout assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainer is primarily U-shaped.
- 4. The faucet spout assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainer inward projection is located on the retainer directly opposite the outward projection.
- 5. The faucet spout assembly of claim 4 wherein the retainer is symmetrical.
- 6. The faucet spout assembly of claim 1 wherein the centerbody has an annular groove adjacent the recess to receive a portion of the retainer to assist in retainer positioning on the centerbody.
US Referenced Citations (12)