Multi-pattern pull-out spray head

• US 7,070,125 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Alston Edward, Nadler, Steve, Bloom, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/439,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 239/443, 239/444, 239/445, 239/390, 239/391, 239/396, 239/436, 239/442, 239/574
• US Class Current: 239/443
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1618 where said valve is a double-seat lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0405 enabling multiple spray patterns
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0415 having an extendable water outlet

Abstract

A faucet head having a multi-pattern head and a fluid diversion system. The multi-pattern head has a stream outlet, a first spray outlet, and a second spray outlet. The fluid diversion system comprises a first valve, a second valve, and a water supply input. A first discharge pattern is characterized by the fluid diversion system connecting the stream outlet to the water supply input. A second discharge pattern is characterized by the fluid diversion system connecting the first spray outlet to the water supply input. A third discharge pattern is characterized by the fluid diversion system connecting the first spray outlet and the second spray outlet to the water supply input.

Claims

1. A faucet head comprising:

a housing having a housing inlet, an intermediate flow path, a first outlet flow path, a second outlet flow path and a third outlet flow path;

a first valve operable in a first mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the first outlet flow path and operable in a second mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the intermediate flow path, the first valve having a first spring biasing the first valve in the first mode;

a second valve operable in a third mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second outlet flow path when the first valve is in the second mode, the second valve operable in a fourth mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second and third outlet flow paths simultaneously when the first valve is in the second mode, said second valve being inoperable when said first valve is in said first mode; and

a spray head having a first outlet in fluid communication with the first outlet flow path, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second flow path and a third outlet in fluid communication with the third outlet flow path.

2. The faucet head of claim 1, wherein the first outlet comprises an aerator assembly.

3. The faucet head of claim 1, wherein the second outlet comprises an annular outlet assembly.

4. The faucet head of claim 3, wherein the annular outlet assembly defines a plurality of apertures adapted to produce a high velocity spray.

5. The faucet head of claim 3, wherein the third outlet comprises a second annular outlet assembly.

6. The faucet head of claim 5, wherein the second annular outlet assembly defines a plurality of orifices, the plurality of orifices in combination with the plurality of apertures adapted to produce a low velocity spray.

7. The faucet head of claim 1, wherein the second valve further includes a second spring biasing the second valve in the third mode.

8. A pull-out head of the type having a housing and a fluid diversion system, said fluid diversion system comprising:

a first flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from an inlet to a first outlet;

a first valve interposed in said first flow path between said inlet and said first outlet, the first valve having a first spring biasing the first valve in a first position;

a second flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said first valve to a second outlet;

a second valve interposed in said second flow path between said first valve and said second outlet;

a third flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said second valve to a third outlet;

wherein said first valve is operable in a first position to provide fluid communication from said inlet through said first flow path to said first outlet and a second position to provide fluid communication from said inlet to said second flow path; and

wherein said second valve independent from said first valve is operable in a third position to provide fluid communication from said first valve to said second outlet through said second flow path and a fourth position to provide fluid communication from said first valve through said third flow path to said third outlet.

9. The pull-out head of claim 8 wherein said first outlet comprises an aerator assembly.

10. The pull-out head of claim 8 wherein said second outlet comprises a plurality of apertures formed in said housing in a generally circular arrangement.

11. The pull-out head of claim 10 wherein said third outlet comprises a plurality of apertures formed in said housing in a generally circular arrangement.

12. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the second valve further includes a second spring, the second spring biasing the second valve in the third position.

13. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the first valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the first valve in the first position and wherein the second valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the second valve in the third position.

14. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body having a flow control valve assembly operable to provide temperature control and flow regulation of a fluid;

a pull-out head adapted to be displaced from said faucet body, said pull-out head including;

a housing;

a first component releaseably secured in said housing and in fluid communication with said flow control valve, said first component including a first valve element movable between a first position and a second position;

wherein the first valve is spring biased to the first position,

a second component releaseably secured in said housing and in fluid communication with said first component, said second component having a second valve element moveable between a third position and a fourth position;

a multi-pattern head disposed in said housing and in fluid communication with said second component, said multi-pattern head having a stream outlet, a first spray outlet and a second spray outlet;

wherein said pull-out head is operable in a stream mode for emitting said fluid from said stream outlet when said first valve element is in said first position, a first spray mode for emitting said fluid from said first spray outlet when said first valve element is in said second position and said second valve element is in said third position and a second spray mode for emitting said fluid from said second spray outlet when said first valve element is in said second position and said second valve element is in said fourth position.

15. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said pull-out head further comprises an inlet component releaseably secured in said housing and providing fluid communication between said flow control valve and said first module.

16. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said pull-out head further comprises an outlet component releaseably secured in said housing and providing fluid communication between said second module and said multi-pattern head.

17. The faucet of claim 14 further comprising a flexible hose interconnecting said flow control valve and said pull-out head to permit said pull-out head to be displaced from said faucet body.

18. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said pull-out head is operable in said second spray mode to emit said fluid from said first and second spray outlets when said first valve element is in said second position and said second valve element is in said fourth position.

19. The faucet of claim 14 further comprising a first switch supported for rocking movement in said housing, said first switch coupled to said first valve to move said first valve element between said first position and said second position.

20. The faucet of claim 19 wherein said housing has a longitudinal axis and said first switch rocks about a pivot axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

21. The faucet of claim 14 further comprising a second switch supported for sliding movement in said housing, said second switch coupled to said second valve to move said second valve element between said third position and said fourth position.

22. The faucet of claim 21 wherein said housing has a longitudinal axis and said second switch sliding within said housing about an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

23. A method of operating a pull-out head of a faucet in multiple modes, the method comprising:

manipulating a first valve to a first position to emit water from a stream outlet in a stream mode;

wherein the first valve is spring biased to be in the stream mode;

manipulating said first valve to a second position to emit water from a first spray outlet in a first spray mode when a second valve is in a third position; and

manipulating said second valve to a fourth position when said first valve is in said second position to emit water from a second spray outlet in a second spray mode.

24. The method of operating a pull-out head of a faucet of claim 23 wherein manipulating said second valve to said fourth position emits water from said first and second spray outlets in said second spray mode.

25. A faucet comprising:

a housing, adapted to be manipulated by a user;

a first module adapted to connect to a water supply

a second module having a first valve switchable between a first position and a second position;

a third module having a second valve switchable between a third position and a fourth position;

a fourth module;

a multi-pattern head adapted to emit a fluid;

the multi-pattern head having a first pattern output, a second pattern output and a third pattern output;

the second module fluidly connects the first module to the third module;

the fourth module fluidly connects the third module to the multi-pattern head;

the first valve in the first position fluidly communicating the fluid to the first pattern output;

the first valve in the second position fluidly communicating the fluid to one of the second pattern output, the third pattern output, or combinations thereof;

the second valve in the third position fluidly communicating the fluid to the second pattern output; and

the second valve in the fourth position fluidly communicating the fluid to the second pattern output and the third pattern output.

26. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the first module removably secures to the second module to secure said first module and said second module in said housing.

27. A faucet head comprising:

a housing having a housing inlet, an intermediate flow path, a first outlet flow path, a second outlet flow path and a third outlet flow path;

a first valve operable in a first mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the first outlet flow path and operable in a second mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the intermediate flow path;

a second valve operable in a third mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second outlet flow path when the first valve is in the second mode, the second valve operable in a fourth mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second and third outlet flow paths simultaneously when the first valve is in the second mode, the second valve being inoperable when said first valve is in said first mode, wherein the second valve further includes a second spring biasing the second valve in the third mode; and

a spray head having a first outlet in fluid communication with the first outlet flow path, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second flow path and a third outlet in fluid communication with the third outlet flow path.

28. A pull-out head of the type having a housing and a fluid diversion system, said fluid diversion system comprising:

a first flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from an inlet to a first outlet;

a first valve interposed in said first flow path between said inlet and said first outlet;

a second flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said first valve to a second outlet;

a second valve interposed in said second flow path between said first valve and said second outlet wherein the second valve further includes a second spring, the second spring biasing the second valve in the third position;

a third flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said second valve to a third outlet;

wherein said first valve is operable in a first position to provide fluid communication from said inlet through said first flow path to said first outlet and a second position to provide fluid communication from said inlet to said second flow path; and

wherein said second valve independent from said first valve is operable in a third position to provide fluid communication from said first valve to said second outlet through said second flow path and a fourth position to provide fluid communication from said first valve through said third flow path to said third outlet.

29. A pull-out head of the type having a housing and a fluid diversion system, said fluid diversion system comprising:

a first flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from an inlet to a first outlet;

a first valve interposed in said first flow path between said inlet and said first outlet, wherein the first valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the first valve in the first position;

a second flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said first valve to a second outlet;

a second valve interposed in said second flow path between said first valve and said second outlet, wherein the second valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the second valve in the third position;

a third flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said second valve to a third outlet;

wherein said first valve is operable in a first position to provide fluid communication from said inlet through said first flow path to said first outlet and a second position to provide fluid communication from said inlet to said second flow path; and

wherein said second valve independent from said first valve is operable in a third position to provide fluid communication from said first valve to said second outlet through said second flow path and a fourth position to provide fluid communication from said first valve through said third flow path to said third outlet.