Patent Publication Number: US-7717133-B2

Title: Spout tip attachment

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/700,801, filed Jan. 31, 2007, titled “OVERMOLD INTERFACE FOR FLUID CARRYING SYSTEM”, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a spout assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of portion of the spout assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the partial spout assembly of  FIG. 2  along lines  3 - 3 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is the sectional view of  FIG. 3 , shown with a non-metallic spout body and a non-metallic fluid transport component; 
       FIG. 4  is a first perspective view of the holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a back view of the holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a second perspective view of the holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the spout body of the spout assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   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  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of a spout assembly  100  is shown. Spout assembly  100  is an exemplary water delivery system. Spout assembly  100  may be used with a faucet assembly having a faucet valve, such as the faucet assembly shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/700,634, filed Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “FAUCET INCLUDING A MOLDED WATERWAY ASSEMBLY”, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
   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  FIG. 9 . Aerator body  114  is coupled to holder  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, aerator body  114  includes threads  151  which are threadably coupled with threads  152  on holder  106 . Aerator assembly  112  is positioned adjacent a discharge end of spout body  102 . Water is received from the faucet assembly and flows through fluid carrying system  101 , exits overmold component  120 , flows through aerator assembly  112 , and is discharged from spout assembly  100 . 
   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. 11/700,634, filed Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “FAUCET INCLUDING A MOLDED WATERWAY ASSEMBLY,” 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. 11/700,801, filed Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “OVERMOLD INTERFACE FOR FLUID CARRYING SYSTEM,” the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , seal  118  is positioned adjacent sealing surface  132  when aerator device  116  is assembled to spout body  102 . Seal  118  is compressed to form a water tight seal between overmold component  120  and aerator device  116 . In one embodiment, seal  118  is an o-ring which is positioned proximate an outer periphery edge of aerator device  116  and the sealing surface is a downwardly extending wall. The o-ring is positioned between aerator  116  and the downwardly extending wall of interface  150  when assembled. 
   Returning to  FIG. 1 , spout body  102  includes a base portion  137  and a spout portion  139 . Base portion  137  includes a passageway  140  which houses the faucet assembly of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/700,634, filed Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “FAUCET INCLUDING A MOLDED WATERWAY ASSEMBLY,” as mentioned above. Further, spout portion  139  of spout body  102  includes a channel  142  which receives a first portion  143  fluid transport component  104 . Channel  142  extends from passageway  140  to a location proximate the discharge end of spout body  102 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , fluid transport component  104  rests in channel  142  when spout assembly  100  is assembled. Cover  110  is positioned over channel  142  and conceals channel  142  from the view of an outside observer. A lip  146  on cover  110  is positioned in a recess  144  of spout body  102 . Recess  144  is provided around a complete outside perimeter of spout body  102 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 through 7 , holder  106  is shown. Holder  106  includes a lower portion  150  which includes threads  152  on an inner surface of a fluid conduit  154 . Threads  152  threadably couple aerator body  114  to assemble aerator device  116  to the remainder of spout assembly  100 . An upper portion  156  of holder  106  includes an opening  158  of fluid conduit  154 . Opening  158  is sized to receive overmold component  120 . In one embodiment, the shape of fluid conduit  154  and opening  158  generally are chosen to match the shape of overmold component  120 . By matching the shape of the overmold component  120  and the opening  158  of holder  106  the movement of overmold component  120  relative to holder  106  is generally constrained except for in direction  194 . 
   Opening  158  includes a generally cylindrical part  160  to receive a cylindrical portion  162  (see  FIG. 1 ) of overmold component  120  and a lower disk shaped portion  164  sized to receive a disk shaped portion  166  of overmold component  120 . An outer portion of holder  106  includes a plurality of ribs  170  which provide structural support to holder  106 . In one embodiment, the shape of ribs  170  is chosen such that when cover  110  is assembled to spout body  102  an inside surface of cover  110  is positioned generally against a top surface  172  of ribs  170  of holder  106 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , lower portion  150  of holder  106  has a perimeter  180 . Perimeter  180  includes a tab  182  positioned below opening  158  of holder  106 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , an enlarged portion  184  of channel  142  of spout body  102  is sized to correspond with the perimeter  180 . A perimeter  186  of enlarged portion  184  of channel  142  is recessed. During assembly lower portion  150  of holder  106  is received in recess  190 . 
   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.