A faucet assembly includes: a linear first waterway defining a first fluid pathway therethrough, wherein the first waterway comprises a valve configured to open and close the first fluid pathway; a curved second waterway defining a second fluid pathway therethrough, wherein a proximal end of the second waterway is configured to fluidically couple to a distal end of the first waterway to define a common fluid pathway through the faucet assembly; a faucet body having an interior surface defining one or more engagement features configured to retain the first waterway in place within the faucet body; and a spray face configured to removably couple to a distal mouth of the faucet body to retain the second waterway within the faucet body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to sinks and faucets.

BACKGROUND

A sink unit, such as a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink, an industrial sink, or the like, typically includes at least one faucet configured to dispense water from a water supply. In addition to the main faucet, many kitchen sinks include a separate sprayer unit coupled to a flexible hose, wherein the increased range-of-motion is configured to provide the user with greater control over washing tasks. Because the sizes of faucets and spray heads are frequently limited based on size of components and an ability to couple them within the faucet body, it would be advantageous to provide a spray head or faucet assembly having components that are configured to interlock and fit within the faucet body, thereby enabling a reduction in the sizes of faucet parts and thus, the cost of the faucet assembly.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a faucet having a body configured to house two waterways, wherein the first waterway is configured to interlock with the second waterway. In various examples, the first waterway is a diverter and includes a valve assembly configured to control water flow through the first waterway. In some examples, the second waterway is curved. In some examples, an interior surface of the body defines one or more ridges configured to retain the first waterway, the second waterway, or both. In some examples, a distal end of the first waterway includes a ramped feature defining a circumferential slot configured to engage with a lip disposed on the interior surface of the body, where rotation of the first waterway relative to the second waterway engages the ramped feature and the slot with the lip. In other examples, the ramped feature includes a stop disposed at an end of the circumferential slot, wherein the stop defines a rotational limit of the first waterway relative to the second waterway. In yet other examples, the valve assembly is coupled to a button configured to change an operational state of the valve assembly. In various examples, a second end of the first waterway is configured to be coupled to a hose. In some examples, a second end of the second waterway is configured to couple to a spray face. This summary is illustrative only and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a faucet system10. Faucet system10may include, or may be, a kitchen faucet, a shower spray head, or any other faucet system compatible with a plumbing assembly. Faucet system10includes a faucet assembly100, which is fluidly coupled to a hose105configured to provide water to faucet assembly100, e.g., from a water supply.

FIG.2shows a side cross-sectional view of faucet assembly100ofFIG.1, as taken along line2-2ofFIG.1. Faucet assembly100includes a faucet body110(or “shell”), which has a substantially linear proximal portion115and a curved distal portion120, which are defined between a proximal end125(e.g., adjacent linear proximal portion115) and a distal end130(e.g., adjacent curved distal portion120). A first tubular waterway135disposed within linear proximal portion115, and a second tubular waterway140disposed within curved distal portion120, collectively enable water to flow through faucet assembly100. That is, a distal end180of first waterway135is configured to operably and fluidically couple to a proximal end of second waterway140, thereby defining a common fluid pathway therethrough.

In various examples, first waterway135may be, or may include, a diverter configured to control water flow through the inner lumen thereof. For instance, as shown inFIG.2, first waterway135includes a valve assembly150configured to permit, prevent, or adjust a rate of a flow of water through the inner lumen of first waterway135(and thus, through faucet assembly100). In some examples, valve assembly150is operable to divert the flow of water through faucet assembly100(e.g., through different flow paths, to different sets of water outlets, etc.) to change the spray pattern of the water flowing out of faucet assembly100. In some examples, valve assembly150is operable to enable or disable water flow through a single flow path, and thus functions as an on/off switch for the flow of water. Valve assembly150may be operably coupled to, or disposed adjacent to, a button145configured to change an operational state of valve assembly150. As shown, valve assembly150is disposed between a base portion155and an outermost wall of first waterway135. A spring160biases valve assembly150toward the outermost wall of first waterway135(i.e., in the upward direction, from the perspective ofFIG.2), e.g., to prevent flow of water therethrough. As shown, button145includes a piston or shaft165coupled to or integrally formed with an interior portion of button145, where shaft165is configured to engage with or contact a portion of valve body150. Accordingly, to change an operational state of valve body150, a user can depress button145relative to faucet body110to forcibly displace valve body150within first waterway135and allow water flow therethrough.

As shown inFIG.2, first waterway135may be configured to fluidically couple to second waterway140, wherein first and second waterways135,140may be further retained within an interior volume of faucet body110via one or more placement features disposed within the interior volume of faucet body110. As shown, faucet body110may include a first placement feature170(e.g., ridge, lip, etc.) and a second placement feature175(e.g., ridge, lip, etc.), wherein first placement feature170is configured to engage with a counterpart placement feature190(e.g., ridge, lip, etc.) of second waterway140, wherein second placement feature175is configured to engage with a counterpart placement feature185(e.g., ridge, lip, slot, ramp, etc.) of first waterway135, and wherein a distal end180of first waterway135engages with (e.g., concentrically fits around) a proximal end of second waterway140.

Button145may also be configured to operably couple to first waterway135to facilitate depression of valve body150as desired. As shown, a distal end of button145may include an engagement feature195(e.g., hook, ridge, barb, latch, etc.) configured to engage with a counterpart engagement feature200(e.g., hook, barb, ridge, lip, latch, etc.) disposed on first waterway135.

As further shown inFIG.2, faucet assembly100includes a spray face205, which is configured couple to distal end130of faucet body110, and which is fluidly coupled to first and second waterways135,140. In various examples, spray face205may be configured to couple faucet body110(e.g., the outer shell), second waterway140(e.g., disposed within the shell), or both. For instance, faucet body110, second waterway140, or both may include a threaded surface configured to engage with a corresponding threaded surface of spray face205.

FIG.3shows a side perspective view of faucet body110ofFIG.2. As previously described, first and second waterways135,140(FIG.2) are configured to be inserted and retained within an interior volume of faucet body110. For instance, as shown inFIG.3, faucet body110forms a shell that defines a central, inner bore215(or “lumen”), which is configured to receive first and second waterways135,140. A sidewall of faucet body110also defines at least one aperture210configured to receive button145(FIG.2) such that button145may be coupled to first waterway135and protrude radially outward through opening210to facilitate user-access to button145.

FIG.4is a cross-sectional view of faucet body110ofFIGS.2and3, as taken along line4-4ofFIG.3. As described above with respect toFIG.2, faucet body110includes first placement feature170and second placement feature175. As shown inFIG.4, first placement feature175and second placement feature170may be disposed in an opposing arrangement along an interior surface220of inner bore215of faucet body110. As shown, first and second placement features170,175may be disposed between or adjacent a transition region between linear proximal portion115and curved distal portion120of faucet body110. In various examples, either or both of first and second placement features170,175may be substantially rectangular-prism shaped.

FIG.5is a perspective view of an example of first waterway135ofFIG.2. As described above, first waterway135may be a “diverter.” For instance, as shown inFIG.5, first waterway135may include a generally tubular elongated body225, wherein valve body150extends radially inward through elongated body225in a direction substantially perpendicular to a primary axis of elongated body225. In various examples, engagement feature200may be disposed near or adjacent to valve body150. Engagement feature200may also be disposed near or adjacent to a slot240defined by an outer surface of elongated body225. In addition, placement feature185of first waterway135may include a protrusion that extends distally outward from distal end180along an axial direction such that, when first and second waterways135,140are disposed within faucet body110(FIG.2), placement feature185extends distally toward second waterway140to facilitate coupling of first waterway135to second waterway140.

As shown inFIGS.5and6, engagement feature200may include an inclined proximal portion and a straight distal portion such that engagement feature200forms a hook, barb, or latch configured to engage with (e.g., “catch,” or form an interference fit with) corresponding hooked engagement feature195of button145(FIG.2). Slot240may be disposed adjacent (e.g., distal to) engagement feature200and may be configured to receive a portion of engagement feature195of button145(FIG.2).

In various examples, placement feature185protruding from distal end180may be configured to limit an amount of axial and/or rotational motion of first waterway135relative to second waterway140. For instance, as shown inFIG.6, placement feature185includes a circumferential first ridge250and an axial second ridge245, collectively defining a circumferential slot therebetween. First ridge250is disposed along a portion of the circumference of distal end180and extends radially outward from elongated body225. Accordingly, first ridge250is configured to engage with second placement feature175of faucet body110to inhibit or prevent axial motion of first waterway135relative to second waterway140and/or faucet body110.

Second ridge245may be oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to first ridge250. For instance, as shown inFIG.6, second ridge245may be substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of first waterway135(e.g., of elongated body225), and may extend radially outward from elongated body225. As described above, second placement feature175of faucet body110(FIG.2) is configured to be received within the circumferential slot defined by placement feature185. Accordingly, while first ridge250is configured to engage with second placement feature175to prevent axial movement of first waterway135relative to second waterway140, second ridge245is configured to engage with second placement feature175to limit rotational movement of first waterway135relative to second waterway140.

In various examples, such as the example shown inFIGS.5and7, a proximal end of first waterway135also defines a threaded outer surface230and a flange or lip235. Threaded surface230is configured to facilitate coupling of hose105(FIG.1) to faucet assembly100. In addition, first waterway135may include a keyway or key slot255disposed within the proximal end of elongated body225. In various examples, key slot255may define a rectangular cross-section, may be substantially axially aligned with elongated body225, and may be configured to facilitate placement and/or adjustment (e.g., rotation) of first waterway135within faucet body110(FIG.2). For instance, key slot255may be configured to receive a tool configured to help axially and/or rotationally adjust first waterway135relative to faucet body110.

FIG.8is a transparent cross-sectional view of a distal portion of faucet assembly100, the cross-section taken along line8-8ofFIG.1, in which first and second waterways135,140are retained within the inner volume of faucet body110. As shown inFIG.8, first waterway135is operably coupled to second waterway140in a concentrically overlapping arrangement. When in the overlapping arrangement shown inFIG.8, placement feature185(FIGS.5and6) engages with second placement feature175(FIGS.2and4), and placement feature190engages with first placement feature170(FIGS.2and4), as described above.

FIG.9is a cross-sectional view of a proximal portion of faucet assembly100, the cross-section taken along line9-9ofFIG.1, in which faucet assembly100is assembled, such that valve assembly150is engaged with shaft165of button145. Accordingly, as described previously, a user can depress button145by applying a downward (from the perspective ofFIG.9) force onto a top surface260of button145to displace (e.g., actuate) valve assembly150. Displacement of valve assembly150may constitute a relative sliding motion of valve assembly150relative to elongated body225of first waterway135and base portion155in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of first waterway135. As shown inFIG.9, valve assembly150may include a valve body262configured to obstruct a fluid pathway264through first waterway135while spring160biases valve assembly150upward (e.g., in the absence of a user-applied counterforce). Accordingly, when valve assembly150is displaced in response to user-actuation of button145, valve body262may shift so as to permit flow of water through fluid pathway264.

In various examples, second waterway140may be secured within faucet body110upon insertion and coupling of first waterway135within faucet body110. For instance, as shown inFIG.10, a proximal end265of second waterway140may be inserted proximally through distal end130(FIGS.2and3) of faucet body110, such that a radial gap270is formed between a lower side of the outer surface of second waterway140and inner surface220of faucet body110, which allows placement feature190to clear (e.g., not interfere or not engage with) first placement feature170during insertion. As shown inFIG.11, once proximal end265of second waterway140and placement feature190are both disposed proximal to placement feature170(i.e., disposed further inward from distal end130of faucet body110than placement feature170), second waterway140may be shifted downward (from the perspective shown inFIGS.10and11) within faucet body110such that radial gap270is reduced or eliminated, and a different radial gap275is formed between an upper side of the outer surface of second waterway140(e.g., opposite the first, lower side of the outer wall of the second waterway140) and inner surface220of faucet body110. Accordingly, as shown inFIG.11, upon shifting of second waterway140, placement feature190engages with placement feature170, and placement feature175may be separated from second waterway140.

Once second waterway140has been shifted within faucet body110to form upper radial gap275, as shown inFIG.12, the distal end180(FIGS.2and5) of first waterway135may be inserted distally into proximal end125of faucet body110, such that placement feature185of first waterway135extends distally toward second waterway140. Upon insertion, first waterway135may be positioned such that placement feature185extends into radial gap275(FIG.11) formed between second waterway140and faucet body110, and such that first ridge250(FIGS.6and8) engages (i.e., forms an interference fit) with placement feature175and distal end180of first waterway135surrounds proximal end265(FIGS.10and11) of second waterway140. Following placement of first waterway135within faucet body110, and after engagement of first ridge250of placement feature185with placement feature175, key slot255(FIG.7) of first waterway135may be used to rotate first waterway135relative to second waterway140until placement feature175engages with second ridge245.

Finally, as shown inFIG.13, after first and second waterways135,140are inserted within faucet body110and are mutually coupled via placement features185,190,170, and175, spray face205may be coupled to the distal end130of faucet body110and/or second waterway140, as described above with respect toFIG.2. Accordingly, because first and second waterways135,140may mutually engage and may be retained by placement features170,175within faucet body110, faucet assembly100may be assembled using relatively few, or even zero, designated fasteners (e.g., screws, pins, clips, etc.), which would otherwise require additional space within faucet assembly100. In this manner, the arrangements of faucet assembly100described herein allow for a substantial reduction in size and/or weight of the assembly100, and reduces the number of parts (and thus, the associated costs) required for manufacturing and assembly.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various described examples, are intended to indicate that such descriptions are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above.

It is important to note that any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.