Faucet spray head

• US 7,322,535 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA Abloy Americas Residential Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Erdely, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGAN, JAMES SEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/041,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 239/428.5, 239/390, 239/391, 239/394, 239/550, 239/551, 239/579, 239/581.1, 239/581.2, 239/587.1
• US Class Current: 239/581.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/30 Diverter valves in faucets or taps

Abstract

A faucet spray head for attachment to a faucet spout includes a spout adapter configured for attachment to the faucet spout. The spout adaptor has a body defining an interior chamber. The interior chamber has at least one exit passage. A spray head mechanism is rotatably coupled to the body. The spray head mechanism includes an aeration unit and a spray unit that are individually selected based on a rotational position of the spray head mechanism in relation to the spout adaptor.

Claims

1. A faucet spray head for attachment to a faucet spout, comprising:

a spout adapter configured for attachment to said faucet spout, said spout adaptor having a body defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having at least one exit passage;

a spray head mechanism rotatably coupled to said body, said spray head mechanism including an aeration unit and a spray unit that are individually selected based on a rotational position of said spray head mechanism in relation to said spout adaptor; and

a switching plate having at least one perimeter opening defining a first fluid path and at least one interior opening defining a second fluid path, said switching plate being rotated by said spray head mechanism to select one of said first fluid path and said second fluid path to thereby select said spray unit for operating, and said switching plate being rotated by said spray head mechanism to select the other of said first fluid path and said second fluid path to thereby select said aeration unit for operating.

2. A faucet spray head for attachment to a faucet spout, comprising:

a spout adapter configured for attachment to said faucet spout, said spout adaptor having a body defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having at least one exit passage; and

a spray head mechanism rotatably coupled to said body, said spray head mechanism including an aeration unit and a spray unit that are individually selected based on a rotational position of said spray head mechanism in relation to said spout adaptor, wherein;

said body of said spout adapter includes a cylindrical wall and a base wall attached to said cylindrical wall to define said interior chamber, said at least one exit passage being formed through said base wall; and

said spray head mechanism includes an outer housing and a diverter coupled to said outer housing for unitary rotational movement therewith, said outer housing being positioned in sealed rotational engagement with said cylindrical wall of said spout adapter and said diverter being positioned in sealed rotational engagement with said base wall of said spout adapter, said diverter directing a water flow to one of said aeration unit and said spray unit.

3. The faucet spray head of claim 2, wherein said spout adaptor is contained within said spray head mechanism.

4. The faucet spray head of claim 2, wherein said diverter is a switching plate having at least one perimeter opening defining a first water path and at least one interior opening defining a second water path, said sealed rotational engagement with said base wall being provided by a respective seal that surrounds a respective interior opening of said switching plate and that is positioned between said base wall of said spout adaptor and said switching plate.

5. The faucet spray head of claim 4, wherein said first water path leads to said spray unit and said second water path leads to said aeration unit.

6. The faucet spray head of claim 2, wherein:

said spray unit includes an annular body defining an opening, an annular chamber formed in said annular body, and a plurality of spray orifices leading from said annular chamber to outside said faucet spray head; and

said aeration unit is positioned in said opening defined by said annular body of said spray unit.

7. The faucet spray head of claim 6, wherein said spray unit includes a housing portion for mounting said annular body, said housing portion being connected to said outer housing.

8. The faucet spray head of claim 6, wherein said spray unit includes a housing portion formed integral with said annular body, said housing portion being connected to said outer housing.

9. A faucet spray head for attachment to a faucet spout, comprising:

a spout adapter configured for attachment to said faucet spout, said spout adaptor having a body defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having at least one exit passage; and

a spray head mechanism rotatably coupled to said body, said spray head mechanism including an aeration unit and a spray unit that are individually selected based on a rotational position of said spray head mechanism in relation to said spout adaptor, wherein;

said spray unit includes an annular body defining an opening, an annular chamber formed in said annular body, and a plurality of spray orifices leading from said annular chamber to outside said faucet spray head;

said aeration unit is positioned in said opening defined by said annular body of said spray unit;

said spout adapter includes a cylindrical wall and a base wall attached to said cylindrical wall to define said interior chamber, said at least one exit passage being formed through said base wall; and

said spray head mechanism includes an outer housing and a diverter coupled to said outer housing for unitary rotational movement therewith, said outer housing being positioned in sealed rotational engagement with said cylindrical wall of said spout adapter and said diverter being positioned in sealed rotational engagement with said base wall of said spout adapter, said diverter directing a water flow to one of said aeration unit and said spray unit.

10. The faucet spray head of claim 9, wherein said diverter is a switching plate having at least one perimeter opening defining a first water path and at least one interior opening defining a second water path, said sealed rotational engagement with said base wall being provided by a respective seal that surrounds a respective interior opening of said switching plate and that is positioned between said base wall of said spout adaptor and said switching plate.

11. The faucet spray head of claim 10, wherein said first water path leads to said spray unit and said second water path leads to said aeration unit.

12. A faucet spray head for attachment to a faucet spout, comprising:

a spout adapter configured for attachment to said faucet spout, said spout adaptor having a body defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having at least one exit passage; and

a spray head mechanism rotatably coupled to said body, said spray head mechanism including an aeration unit and a spray unit that are individually selected based on a rotational position of said spray head mechanism in relation to said spout adaptor,

said spout adaptor including a protrusion and said spray head mechanism including a stop channel having a first end and a second end, said first end engaging said protrusion when said spray head mechanism is rotated to a full extent in a first rotational direction relative to said spout adapter, and said second end engaging said protrusion when said spray head mechanism is rotated to a full extent in a second rotational direction relative to said spout adapter opposite to said first rotational direction.

13. The faucet spray head of claim 12, wherein said stop channel having said first end and said second end defines a maximum rotational displacement of said spray head mechanism relative to said spout adaptor.

14. The faucet spray head of claim 12, wherein a spray position of said spray head mechanism and an aeration position of said spray head mechanism is defined between said first end of said stop channel and said second end of said stop channel.

15. A method for operating a faucet spray head attached to a faucet spout, comprising:

rotating an outer housing of said faucet spray head in a first rotational direction to position a switching plate having at least one perimeter opening formed on a perimeter of said switching plate defining a first fluid path and at least one interior opening defining a second fluid path to select one of said first fluid path and said second fluid path to thereby select a spray unit for operating said faucet spray head in a spray mode; and

rotating said outer housing of said faucet spray head in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction to select the other of said first fluid path and said second fluid path to thereby select an aeration unit for operating said faucet spray head in an aeration mode.

16. A kit for a faucet spray head, comprising:

a switching plate having a perimeter with at least one perimeter opening located on said perimeter to define a first fluid path and at least one interior opening defining a second fluid path; and

a number of interior opening seals equal to or greater than the number of interior openings in said switching plate.

17. The kit of claim 16, further comprising at least one of a spout adaptor, an aeration unit, and a spray unit.

18. The kit of claim 16, wherein said perimeter includes a plurality of spacer protrusions to define said at least one perimeter opening.