Abstract:
A faucet assembly is disclosed having internal carrier tubes, where the faucet spout can swivel relative to a faucet base without stressing the tubes. One tube connects a mixing valve to a connector sleeve. Another tube connects a spout outlet to another connector sleeve. The connector sleeves telescope within each other, have a seal there between, and are provided with a clip structure to hold them axially together while permitting relative rotation there between.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority based on U.S. provisional application 61/027,888 filed Feb. 12, 2008. 
     
    
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to faucets having swiveling spouts. More particularly it relates to structures for accommodating an internal tubing carrying water from a mixing valve to the spout outlet in such a swiveling spout. 
         [0004]    Many sinks have faucets positioned at the rearward end thereof, or immediately behind the sink. Such sinks may have relatively wide single basins, or may have multiple basins. Thus, it is often desirable for a faucet spout used therewith to be able to swivel so as to be able to direct water between multiple basins, or to a specific part of a wide basin. 
         [0005]    Even where a basin is not very large, it may be desirable to direct water to a pot or other reservoir positioned in the basin. Again, swiveling of the spout is a traditional solution for this need. 
         [0006]    However, in recent years there has been an increased desire to minimize the contact between potable water and the metallic spout housing. This can be because one wants to reduce the corrosive effects of water on the housing. Alternatively, this can be because the metal housing is a leaded brass which regulators wish to keep separate from potable water. 
         [0007]    One means of reducing the exposure of the potable water to lead-containing components has been to direct the water from a mixing valve through a polymeric tubing housing with the faucet spout. The tubing exits at the spout outlet to minimize the spout metal contacting the potable water. 
         [0008]    However, the inclusion of such a tube in a fixed spout is relatively straightforward. On the other hand, including such a tube in a spout that swivels as desired for use in a kitchen environment is more problematic. 
         [0009]    In this regard, if one end of the tube is fixed to a mixing valve, and the other swivels with the spout, the middle of the tube will be subjected to strain. This can create resistance to the swiveling, a tendency of the spout to remain in a swiveled position, and a potential wear point that may break. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved swiveling spout that incorporates an internal tubing without also causing the above problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    This invention provides a faucet which has a faucet base connected to a fluid control valve, a faucet spout mounted on the base to be able to swivel relative thereto, and a conduit assembly positioned within the faucet and extended between the fluid control valve and an outlet of the faucet spout. The conduit assembly has a female connector sleeve having an axial through channel, and a male connector sleeve having an axial through channel in fluid communication with the axial through channel of the female connector sleeve. Thus, the male connector sleeve is telescopically received within the female connector sleeve. 
         [0012]    There is also a first tube connected between a connector sleeve and the fluid control valve, and a second tube connected between another connector sleeve and the outlet of the spout. The male connector sleeve can rotate within and relative to the female connector sleeve when the spout swivels relative to the base. 
         [0013]    In preferred forms there is a seal is located between the male connector sleeve and the female connector sleeve. For example, the seal can be an o-ring seal mounted in a recess on a radial periphery of the male connector sleeve. 
         [0014]    Preferably the first tube is crimped or otherwise attached onto an end of the female connector sleeve and the second tube is crimped or otherwise attached onto an end of the male connector sleeve. A clip retains the male connector sleeve telescoped into the female connector sleeve. In a particularly preferred form the clip has a resilient barb that snaps onto a projection of the male connector sleeve to retain the male connector sleeve against disassembly from the female connector sleeve. 
         [0015]    Hence, when the spout swivels it carries with it one of the tubes and one of the connectors. However, the other tube and connector do not rotate. Thus, there is no stress along the tube, and the tube provides no resistance to rotation. 
         [0016]    Importantly, the combination of the telescoping connection and seal between the connector sleeves avoids leakage, while still permitting relative rotation. Also, means are provided to keep the telescoping parts from axially separating from each other, without introducing undesired resistance to spout swiveling. 
         [0017]    As a polymeric tube structure can carry potable water from the mixing valve to the spout outlet, contact between the potable water and the spout housing is reduced or avoided. This avoids corrosion of the metallic housing, and may avoid any perceived risk of lead or other content of the metal housing leaching into the potable water. 
         [0018]    These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as this preferred embodiment is not intended to be the only embodiment within the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a faucet of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a detailed cross-sectional view of the portion of the faucet highlighted in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a faucet  10  suitable for use adjacent a basin (e.g. a kitchen sink or other plumbing basin). The faucet  10  has a spout  12  extending up and out from a base  14 . Extending out from a side of the base  14  is a control handle  16  that can be rotated or otherwise moved to control the flow and temperature of water from a mixing valve  17  through the spout  12 . 
         [0024]    The spout  12  can be swiveled about an essentially vertical axis A relative to the base  14 , about a connector assembly  18 . This swiveling alters the location of the spout outlet  20  relative to the base  14 , to direct the flow of water from the spout  12  to various locations or basins. 
         [0025]    Now referring more to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , there is shown a spout housing  21  containing a polymeric tube  22  having on one end an outlet linked to aerator  26 . The other end of the polymeric tube  22  is mounted to a male connector sleeve  30  that has a barbed portion  32  inserted into the tube  22 . 
         [0026]    The barbed portion  32  is further secured to the tube  22  by crimping a crimping structure  34  over the outer surface of the tube  22  in the region in which the barbed portion  32  of the male connector sleeve  30  is inserted. This crimping structure  34  can be made of a deformable material such as, for example, brass and rigidly links the male connector sleeve  30  to the tube  22 . 
         [0027]    The male connector sleeve  30  has a hollow cylindrical extension  35  that extends down from the tube  22 . The cylindrical extension  35  has an outer surface  36  that has an annular recess  38  for receiving a retaining clip  40  and an annular recess  42  for receiving an o-ring  44 . The cylindrical extension  35  also has an axially extending channel  45 . 
         [0028]    A female connector sleeve  46  has a barbed portion  48  that is inserted into another polymeric tube  50 . Similarly, tube  50  can be crimped to the barbed portion  48  using a crimping structure  52 . 
         [0029]    The female connector sleeve  46  has an inner through channel  54 , in part for receiving the cylindrical extension  35  of the male connector sleeve  30 . This inner through channel  54  extends axially through the female connector sleeve  46 , including via portion  56  that extends through the barbed portion  48 . 
         [0030]    On the outer surface  58  of the female connector sleeve  46  are various features. Two annular recesses  60  and  62  are provided for receiving additional o-rings  64  and  66  that extend around the outer surface  58  and create friction between the female connector and the base  14 . Additionally, the outer surface  58  has an annular recess  68  including two parallel slots  70  and  72 . The two parallel slots  70  and  72  extend from the outer surface  58  into the inner through channel  54 . 
         [0031]    The annular recess  68  is defined between an upper stop surface  74  and a lower stop surface  76 . This structure permits the legs  78  and  80  of the retaining clip  40  to be inserted into the two parallel slots  70  and  72  such that the retaining clip  40  engages the annular flange  38  of the male connector sleeve  30 . 
         [0032]    When the retaining clip  40  engages the male connector sleeve  30  and the female connector sleeve  46 , the axially extending through channels  45  and  56  are held in fluid communication with one another. In this way, the tubes  22  and  50  are also placed in fluid communication with one another. The seals prevent leakage. 
         [0033]    It should be appreciated that the connector sleeve assembly permits the rotation of the spout, and thus upper tube, without stressing the lower tube. At the same time, the retaining clip  40  prevents the sleeves  30  and  46  from disconnecting. 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment the female connector sleeve  46  is inserted into a cylindrical hollow portion  82  of the base  14 , and is, in part, compressively held in the cylindrical hollow portion  82  by the o-rings  64  and  66 . In addition to the o-rings  64  and  66 , a round flange  84  is placed on the top of the cylindrical hollow portion  82  to hold the top of the female connector sleeve  46  in the base  14 . 
         [0035]    The bearing components  86  and  88  permit the rotation of the spout  12  relative to the base  14 . The bearing component  86  has a inwardly extending circular ledge  87  holds an o-ring  90  against the round flange  84 , thus preventing the connector sleeve sub-assembly from sliding into the spout housing  21 . 
         [0036]    Thus, the present invention provides a faucet with the swiveling capability and the desired advantages, but without the undesired disadvantages. It should be appreciated that a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above. However, many modifications and variations to this preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the female connector could be linked to the spout tube, with the male connector linked to the mixing valve tube. 
         [0037]    Therefore, the invention should not be limited to just the specifically described embodiments. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0038]    The invention provides faucets having internal carrier tubes, where the faucet spout can swivel relative to the faucet base without stressing the tubes.