The present invention relates generally to faucets and, more particularly, to a spout mounting assembly for coupling faucet spouts to a mounting deck, such as a wash basin or sink deck.
Many faucets include a spout coupled to a mounting deck for dispensing water into a sink. Often, particularly in kitchen faucets, the spout is rotatably supported to supply water to different desired locations, for example, to multiple sink basins.
It would be advantageous for a mounting assembly for a rotatable faucet spout to reduce the number of components, simplify assembly, rotate smoothly, include rotational limit stops, reduce undesired wobble of the spout, and eliminate visible above deck couplers.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a spout mounting assembly includes a mounting hub defining a longitudinal axis and a spout supported for rotation relative to the mounting hub. A retaining member is operably coupled to the spout and to the mounting hub. The retaining member is configured to restrain axial movement of the spout relative to the mounting hub. A biasing member is operably coupled to the spout and to the mounting hub. The biasing member is configured to provide an axial load between the spout and the mounting hub.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a spout mounting assembly includes a mounting hub defining a longitudinal axis, and a spout supported for rotation relative to the mounting hub. The spout includes a passageway extending between an inlet end and an outlet end, and a mounting member at the inlet end. A retaining member is operably coupled to the mounting member of the spout and to the mounting hub. The retaining member is configured to restrain axial movement of the spout relative to the mounting hub. The retaining member includes opposing first and second ends, a first resilient coupler supported at the first end and configured to releasably couple with the mounting hub, and a second resilient coupler supported at the second end and configured to releasably couple with the mounting member of the spout.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a spout mounting assembly includes a mounting hub defining a longitudinal axis, and a spout supported for rotation relative to the mounting hub. A biasing member is operably coupled to the spout and to the mounting hub. The biasing member is configured to provide an axial load between the spout and the mounting hub. The mounting hub and the spout include opposing engagement surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The biasing member includes a body portion supporting at least one resilient arm extending between the engagement surface of the mounting hub and the engagement surface of the spout.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiment selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.
With reference initially to
While the spout mounting assembly 15 of the present disclosure is shown for use with a conventional kitchen faucet assembly 10, it should be appreciated that it may be used with other faucet assemblies, including lavatory faucets and roman tub faucets. Furthermore, while the illustrative valve assembly 18 is a conventional mixing valve, other control valves may be substituted therefor, such as independent hot and cold water control valves (not shown).
With reference now to
The tubular body 40 of spout 16 may be formed of a rigid material, such as brass, steel, a rigid polymer, or a rigid ceramic. The outlet conduit 36 illustratively includes a tubular body 58 formed of a flexible polymer, such as a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX).
With reference to
With reference to
In certain illustrative embodiments as shown in
Referring now to
With further reference to
Support ribs 124 are positioned adjacent the lips 108 of the first and second couplers 100 and 102. The ribs 124 include angled surfaces 126 that, during assembly, are configured to cooperate with the ramp surfaces 114 and 118 for forcing the arms 104 radially inwardly as the couplers 100 and 102 move axially relative to the mounting hub 52 and the mounting member 50 of the spout 16, respectively. Moreover, the respective ramp surfaces 114 and 118 of the mounting hub 52 and the mounting member 50 are configured to aid in assembly by forcing the resilient arms 104 radially inwardly as the retaining member 54 is moved in an axial direction toward the first end 82 of the mounting hub 52 (e.g., downwardly in
With reference to
The resilient arms 134 create an axial or vertical load between the spout 16 and the mounting hub 52 within the dimensional tolerance ranges of the spout mounting assembly 15. More particularly, the annular flange 72 of the mounting member 50 of the spout 16 includes an engagement surface 143 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 81. Likewise, the enlarged head 90 of the mounting hub 52 includes an engagement surface 145 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 81. The engagement surfaces 143 and 145 face each other and the resilient arms 134 of the biasing member 56 are spaced therebetween. Moreover, the second biasing surfaces 140 of the resilient arms 134 bias the engagement surface 143, and hence the spout 16, away from the mounting hub 52 since the first biasing surfaces 138 of the resilient arms 134 provide a reaction force against the engagement surface 145. The retaining member 54 is axially compliant in that it provides for limited axial movement of the spout 16 relative to the mounting hub 52 until the biasing member 56 causes the resilient couplers 100 and 102 of the retaining member 54 to engage the respective locking ridges 116 and 120 of the mounting hub 52 and mounting member 50 of the spout 16.
The biasing member 56 further includes a locating member 142 configured to partially receive an axially extending tab 144 supported by the mounting hub 52 to provide for proper rotational orientation of the biasing member 56 relative to the mounting hub 52, and to prevent direct metal-to-metal contact between the spout 16 and the mounting hub 52. A plurality of inner ribs 146 extend radially inwardly from the mounting ring 132 and are configured to cooperate with the outer diameter of the annular flange 72 of the mounting member 50. The o-ring 68 is supported by the mounting member 50 and cooperates with an inner surface 147 (
With reference to
Referring now to
The adapter 170 is illustratively received within an insert 182 that may be formed of a metal, such as brass, and brazed within the outlet end 46 of the tubular body 40 of the spout 16. The adapter 170 illustratively includes first and second pairs of resilient arms 184 and 186 which are configured to be biased radially inwardly within the insert 182 during assembly, and then secure the adapter 170 relative to the insert 182 when expanded back to a natural state. A conventional aerator 190 may be threadably received within an outlet end 192 of the adapter 170.
During assembly of the spout mounting assembly 15, the mounting hub 52 is coupled to the spout 16 by first inserting the retaining member 54 into the tubular body 78 of the mounting hub 52. As the retaining member 54 is moved axially toward the first or lower end 82 of the mounting hub 52, the arms 104 of the first resilient coupler 100 move inwardly over the ramp surface 114 until the retaining lips 108 engage the locking ridge 116. In other words, the retaining member 54 snaps into the mounting hub 52. Next, the o-ring 68 is coupled to the mounting member 50 which is then threaded into the insert 62 of the spout 16.
The biasing member 56 is then assembled to the second or upper end 84 of the mounting hub 52. The spout 16 is then assembled such that the mounting member 50 passes down through the biasing member 56 and inside the mounting hub 52. As the mounting member 50 is moved axially toward the first or lower end 94 of the mounting hub 52, the arms 104 of the second resilient coupler 102 move inwardly over the ramp surface 118 until the retaining lips 108 engage the locking ridge 120. In other words, the retaining member 54 snaps into the mounting member 50.
The spout mounting assembly 15 is then coupled to the mounting deck 12. The tubular body 78 of the mounting hub 52 is passed through the base 91, which is illustratively keyed thereto. Next the tubular body 78 is passed through an opening of the mounting deck 12. The mounting nut assembly 86 is then rotated along threads 85 to secure the mounting hub 52 to the mounting deck 12. The jack screws 88 may be tightened as desired to provide additional clamping force.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
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