Patent Application
20080178954
The present invention relates interfaces of fluid conduits and in particular to interfaces provided as apart of an overmold of a portion of a fluid conduit.
Water delivery devices, such as faucets, are known which include a valve which may be controlled to regulate the flow of water.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve is provided. The water delivery system comprises a spout member having a discharge end, an aerator for positioning adjacent the discharge end of the spout member, a fluid transport member, a first component coupled to the fluid transport member, and a second component coupled to the aerator. The fluid transport member has a fluid conduit with a first end in fluid communication with the at least one valve and a second end positioned proximate the discharge end of the spout member. The first component includes a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the fluid transport member and including an interface. The second component positioning the first component relative to the aerator. The aerator and the interface of the first component cooperating to form a water tight seal there between.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve is provided. The water delivery system comprises a body and a fluid transport member positioned within the body and adapted to be in fluid communication with the at least one valve. The fluid transport member has a first end through which water exits. The water delivery device further comprises a holder supported by the body and includes a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end. The first end of the fluid transport member is received in the first end of the holder. The first end of the fluid transport member is held within the fluid conduit of the holder by translating the holder to a first position in a first direction and the first end of the fluid transport member is removable from within the fluid conduit of the holder by translating the holder to a second position in a second direction.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve is provided. The water delivery system comprises a spout including a body having a base portion and a spout portion. The spout is made of a non-metallic material. The spout portion includes a channel extending from the base portion to a location proximate a discharge end of the spout portion. The water delivery system further comprises a fluid transport member having a fluid conduit with a first end in fluid communication with the at least one valve and a second end positioned proximate the discharge end of the spout portion of the body of the spout. A portion of the fluid transport member is received in the channel.
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 the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Although the disclosure is described in connection with water, it should be understood that additional types of fluids may be used.
Referring to
Spout assembly 100 includes a spout body 102, a fluid carrying system 101, a holder 106 for holding an end portion 108 of fluid carrying system 101, a cover 110, and an aerator assembly 112. Aerator assembly 112 includes an aerator body 114 which is coupled to spout body 102, an aerator device 116, and a seal 118. Seal 118 creates a fluid type connection between the end portion 108 of fluid carrying system 101 and aerator device 116, as shown in
In one embodiment, spout body 102 is made from a non-metallic material. Exemplary non-metallic materials include thermoplastic and thermoset materials, including polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Further illustratively cross-linked materials may be utilized such as cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). Exemplary thermoset materials include polyesters, melamine, melamine urea, melamine phenolic, and phenolic. Additional details about exemplary PEX materials may be found in one or more of U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,695, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,780, U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,501, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,210, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. In one embodiment, the spout body 102 is made from a metallic material.
Fluid carrying system 101 includes a fluid transport component 104 and an overmold component 120. Fluid transport component 104 may be made of a flexible material or a non-flexible material. Further, fluid transport component 104 may include a metallic material or a non-metallic material. In one embodiment, fluid transport component 104 is made from a polymeric material. In one embodiment, fluid transport component 104 is made from a cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) material. In one embodiment, fluid transport component 104 is made from a pre-formed PEX tubing. In one embodiment, fluid transport component 104 is made from a corrugated PEX tubing to increase flexibility. Additional details about PEX materials and methods for creating a fluid transport component 104 therefrom are found in one or more of U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,695, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,780, U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,501, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,210, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
A first end 122 of fluid transport component 104 is coupled to a fluid supply (not shown). In one example, first end 122 is coupled to the faucet assembly including a valve disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. (unknown), filed Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “FAUCET INCLUDING A MOLDED WATERWAY ASSEMBLY,” Attorney Docket DFC-P0052-01, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Fluid provided by the faucet assembly is transported through a fluid conduit 124 of fluid transport component 104. A second end 126 of fluid transport component 104 is coupled to overmold component 120. Overmold component 120 provides an interface 130 including a sealing surface 132. Overmold component 120 includes a fluid conduit 134 which is in fluid communication with fluid conduit 124 of fluid transport component 104. Sealing surface 132, in the illustrated embodiment, is angled relative to fluid conduit 134. In the illustrated embodiment, sealing surface 132 is generally flat. In the illustrated embodiment, a terminal end of fluid conduit is provided inside an outer perimeter of sealing surface 132. Additional details concerning overmold component 120 are found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. (unknown), filed Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “OVERMOLD INTERFACE FOR FLUID CARRYING SYSTEM,” Attorney Docket DFC-P0071, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
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Opening 158 includes a generally cylindrical part 160 to receive a cylindrical portion 162 (see
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To assemble the spout assembly 100, overmold component 120 is received in opening 158 of holder 106. The assembly of fluid carrying system 101 and holder 106 are positioned in channel 142 such that a ledge 188 of the lower portion 150 which includes perimeter 180 is received in the recess 190 provided in enlarged portion 184 of channel 142.
In order to assemble the combination of the assembly of holder 106 and fluid carrying system 101 with spout body 102, the combination is moved downward in a direction 192. Once ledge 188 of holder 106 is positioned in recess 190, overmold component 120 may not be moved in direction 194 due to the interference with a wall 195 of channel 142. Wall 195 blocks the egress of or retains overmold component within holder 106. As such, end portion 108 of fluid carrying system 101 is held in place through the cooperation of holder 106 and spout body 102. In other words, to remove overmold component 120 from holder 106, holder 106 and fluid carrying system 101 must be translated upward in direction 196 until ledge 188 is no longer received in recess 190.
Once the combination of holder 106 and fluid carrying system 101 is properly positioned in recess 190, cover 110 is assembled to spout body 102. Seal 118 is positioned adjacent to sealing surface 132 of overmold component 120. Aerator device 116 is positioned adjacent to seal 118. Aerator body 114 is threadably received by threads 152 of holder 106. The tightening of aerator body 114 compresses seal 118 and forms a water tight seal between aerator device 116 and sealing surface 132 of overmold component.
In one embodiment, the fluid carrying system 101 is held in place relative to holder 106 snap features provided on one or both of overmold component 120 and holder 106. In one embodiment, the fluid carrying system 101 is held in place relative to holder 106 by clips.
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.
This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. (unknown), filed Jan. 31, 2007, titled “OVERMOLD INTERFACE FOR FLUID CARRYING SYSTEM”, Attorney Docket DFC-P0071, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
