SELECTABLE SPRAY TAP

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/667,216, filed Jul. 3, 2024, entitled, “SELECTABLE SPRAY TAP,” the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many consumers enjoy using faucets (e.g., showerheads, sink faucets, etc.) that provide variable spray characteristics. As one example, a user may prefer a strong spray while cleaning dishes but prefer a lighter, more gentle spray for other uses. Further, certain spray characteristics may aid in conserving water while providing desirable spray patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example faucet.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an example spray pattern.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an example spray pattern.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an example faucet.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example faucet.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an example faucet.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an example faucet.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

Turning first to FIG. 1, a faucet 1 may include a handle 5 (as illustrated) or knob for controlling operation of the faucet 1 via a valve. As one example, a user may use the handle 5 to turn the faucet 1 “on” (by lifting the handle 5) and cause water to flow out of a spout 10. The handle 5 may be moveably mounted to a body 15 of the faucet 1, and as one example, the handle 5 may be hingedly and/or rotatably attachable to the body 15. The handle 5 may be moved relative to the body 15 to adjust, for example, the flow rate and/or the temperature of water emitted from the faucet 1.

The handle 5 may be made of any suitable material, including recycled plastic, and the handle 5 may have any suitable configuration (e.g., shape, location, etc.). According to other examples, the faucet 1 may include more than one handle or no handles at all, such as if the faucet 1 includes sensing technology to control operation of the faucet 1. The faucet 1 may include any suitable mechanism for turning the faucet 1 “on” or “off,” and the description of the handle 5 is included as an exemplary mechanism. As another example, the handle 5 may be located remotely from a valve within the faucet 1. The faucet 1 may include an electronically controlled valve (e.g., solenoid valve) in addition to or instead of a manual valve.

The body 15 of the faucet 1 may be made of any suitable material, including recycled plastic with a ceramic cartridge inside the body 15. An end portion 20 of the body 15 may include the spout 10. The body 15 may be attached to or integrally formed with a base 25, which may be attached to a countertop for use. The base 25 may be made of any suitable material, including aluminum.

The faucet 1 may include an option for a user to actively select a spray pattern or characteristic of the water output from the spout 10 of the faucet 1 via a selectable spray mechanism 30. To do so, the user may press a spray override button 35 positioned on a top side 40 of the body 15. Pressing the spray override button 35 may cause the water output to adjust. In a first mode (which may be the “default” when the faucet 1 is turned on), water may flow out of the spout 10 in any suitable fashion, which may be a “forceful” spray. As one example, the water may flow out at a rate of 1 liter per minute. In such a configuration of a “forceful” spray, a user may use the water to, for example, wash her hands. To switch to a new spray pattern, a user may press the spray override button 35. As one example, the user may press the spray override button 35 to change from a “forceful” spray to a “laminar” spray. When in such a configuration of a “laminar spray,” the water may flow out at a rate of 5 liters per minute. As will be discussed in greater detail herein, the spray override button 35 may be latched by pressure such that, when the faucet 1 is turned “off,” the water output from the spout 10 is switched to the “default” spray (which may be the “forceful” spray).

The “forceful” spray as described herein may be similar to a first spray pattern 45 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The “laminar” spray as described herein may be similar to a second spray pattern 50 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the selectable spray mechanism 30 may be activated by the button 35. The button 35 may adjust within a button chamber 40. When pressed, the button 35 may translate in a downward direction within the button chamber 40. A bottom portion 55 of the button 35 may be attached to or integrally formed with a shuttle 60, which may translate within an interior 65 of the faucet 1. Movement or translation of the button 35 may cause movement or translation of the shuttle 60. A spring 70 may surround the shuttle 60, and a top portion 75 of the spring 70 may abut a base 80 of a middle portion 85 of the shuttle 60. The spring 70 may bias the shuttle 60 to a first position, which may correspond to the “default” position of the button 35. Movement or translation of the shuttle 60 may cause movement or translation of the button 35.

The shuttle 60 may cause certain outlet chambers to be open and/or closed. The middle portion 85 of the shuttle 60 may include a sealing mechanism 90, which may aid in preventing water from passing between the outlet chambers after a mode is selected. As illustrated, the interior 65 of the faucet 1 may include a first outlet chamber 95 and a second outlet chamber 100. The first outlet chamber 95 may be positioned in a space between a top side 105 of the middle portion 85 of the shuttle 60 and the bottom portion 55 of the button 35. The second outlet chamber 100 may be positioned in a space between the base 80 of the middle portion 85 of the shuttle 60 and an interior base 110 of the interior 65 of the faucet 1. The first outlet chamber 95 and the second outlet chamber 100 may be connected to a first outlet route 115 and a second outlet route 120, respectively.

In FIG. 4, the shuttle 60 is illustrated in the first position. As such, water entering the faucet 1 via an inlet 125 (which may be attached to any suitable water source) may travel around the base 80 of the middle portion 85 of the shuttle 60 into the first outlet chamber 95. The water may then travel into the first outlet route 115, as illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 5. The first outlet route 115 may include a first flow regulator 130, which may be used to adjust, regulate, and/or control the flow rate of the water passing into and through the first outlet route 115. The water may then exit the faucet 1 via a first plurality of outlets 135 of the spout 10. As one example, in the configuration as described herein, water may follow the path illustrated by arrows 140.

Turning now to FIG. 6, when the button 35 is pressed, it may translate in a downward direction within the button chamber 40. The translation of the button 35 may cause the shuttle 60 to translate in a downward direction. Such translation may cause a back pressure in the interior 65 of the faucet 1, which may cause the spring 70 to contract. Such contraction may allow the shuttle 60 to cause the second outlet chamber 100 to be open. As such, water entering the faucet 1 via the inlet 125 may travel around the top side 105 of the middle portion 85 of the shuttle 60 into the second outlet chamber 100. The water may then travel into the second outlet route 120, as illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 7. The second outlet route 120 may include a second flow regulator 145, which may be used to adjust, regulate, and/or control the flow rate of the water passing into and through the second outlet route 120. The water may then exit the faucet 1 via a second plurality of outlets 150 of the spout 10. As one example, in the configuration as described herein, water may follow the path illustrated by arrows 155.

When the faucet 1 is turned off, a force of the spring 70 may cause the spring 70 (not illustrated in FIG. 7) to expand, causing the shuttle 60 (not illustrated in FIG. 7), and, as such, the button 35, to translate in an upward direction and return to the “default” position.

The present disclosure is disclosed in the context of faucets but not limited to faucets. Aspects of the present disclosure that are depicted in the illustrated embodiments or otherwise described herein may be used in conjunction with other ablutionary fittings or water distribution systems. Water distribution systems encompassed by the present disclosure include, without limitation, water distribution systems that dispense water for consumption and/or washing and water distribution systems used for private, public, domestic, residential, commercial, and/or industrial use. Water distribution systems such as, for example and without limitation, showers, baths, washtubs, hot tubs, sinks, fountains, water dispensers, and the like may incorporate aspects of the present disclosure and are encompassed herein. Example water distribution systems may include an outlet dispensing water or other fluid. The outlet may include any suitable device that is configured to dispense liquid or water. The outlet may include an ablutionary fitting, such as, for example and without limitation, a showerhead, shower spray, wand hand shower, faucet, wand, spigot, tap, spout, or the like. The outlet can include a single outlet or more than one outlet. Where the outlet includes multiple, e.g., two or more outlets, the outlets can be similar types of outlets or dissimilar types of outlets. Elements and features described with reference to one illustrated embodiment are not limited to that embodiment only; the features and elements of any one or more of the illustrated embodiments can be utilized in any other embodiment in any combination.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications, applications, variations, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present inventions are deemed to be covered by the inventions which are limited only by the claims which follow.