Overmold interface for fluid carrying system

• US 7,748,409 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation), Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Derek A., Thomas, Kurt J., Pinette, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider; Craig M
• Application Number:
  US11/700,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 137/801, 4675-678
• US Class Current: 137/801
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14598 Coating tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/769 Sanitary equipment diapers B29L2031/4878
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7043 Guards and shields
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A fluid carrying system is disclosed including a fluid transport component and an overmold component.

Claims

1. A fluid carrying system, comprising:

a fluid transport component including a body portion with a fluid conduit therein, the body portion having an end portion including a longitudinal axis; and

an overmold component including;

a body including a first portion overlapping a portion of an exterior of the body portion of the fluid transport component and a second portion extending beyond the end portion of the body portion of the fluid transport component, and

a fluid conduit formed in the body of the overmold component, the fluid conduit of the overmold component having a longitudinal axis, the fluid conduit of the overmold component being in fluid communication with an exterior of the body of the overmold component and with the fluid conduit of the fluid transport component, wherein the body of the overmold component includes a first end including a sealing surface and a terminal end of the fluid conduit of the overmold component, wherein the sealing surface is bounded by an inner perimeter, at least a portion of the terminal end of the fluid conduit of the overmold component is spaced apart from the inner perimeter of the sealing surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

2. The fluid carrying system of claim 1, wherein the sealing surface is a flat sealing surface.

3. The fluid carrying system of claim 2, wherein the flat sealing surface surrounds the terminal end of the fluid conduit of the overmold component.

4. The fluid carrying system of claim 2, wherein the overmold component is asymmetrical about a first plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component and including the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component.

5. The fluid carrying system of claim 4, wherein the overmold component is symmetrical about a second plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component and normal to the flat sealing surface.

6. The fluid carrying system of claim 2, wherein an angle between the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component and the flat sealing surface of the overmold component is less than ninety degrees.

7. The fluid carrying system of claim 6, wherein the angle is at least equal to an inverse cosine of a limiting extent of the fluid conduit of the overmold component divided by a limiting extent of a sealing region of the flat sealing surface.

8. The fluid carrying system of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component is generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the fluid transport component.

9. The fluid carrying system of claim 8, wherein a diameter of the fluid conduit of the overmold component is generally equal to a diameter of the fluid conduit of the fluid transport component.

10. The fluid carrying system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport component is made of a non-metallic material.

11. The fluid carrying system of claim 10, wherein the fluid transport component is made of a polymeric material.

12. The fluid carrying system of claim 10, wherein the fluid transport component is made of a PEX material.

13. A fluid carrying system, comprising:

a fluid transport component including a body portion with a fluid conduit therein, the body portion having an end portion including a longitudinal axis; and

an overmold component including;

a body including a first portion overlapping a portion of an exterior of the body portion of the fluid transport component and a second portion extending beyond the end portion of the body portion of the fluid transport component, the second portion including an end surface; and

a fluid conduit located in the body of the overmold component, the fluid conduit of the overmold component having a longitudinal axis, the fluid conduit of the overmold component being in fluid communication with an exterior of the body of the overmold component and with the fluid conduit of the fluid transport component, wherein the end surface of the body of the overmold component is asymmetrical about a first plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component and including the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component and the end surface of the body of the overmold component is symmetrical about a second plane including the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component, the second plane being angled relative to the first plane, wherein the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component is generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the end portion of the fluid transport component.

14. The fluid carrying system of claim 13, wherein the fluid transport component is made of a flexible material.

15. The fluid carrying system of claim 14, wherein the fluid transport component is made of a polymeric material.

16. The fluid carrying system of claim 13, wherein the fluid transport component is made of a PEX material.

17. The fluid carrying system of claim 16, wherein the fluid transport component has a circular cross-section.

18. The fluid carrying system of claim 13, further comprising a spout body having a recess, wherein the fluid transport component and the overmold component are received in the recess of the spout body.

19. The fluid carrying system of claim 18, wherein a diameter of the fluid conduit of the overmold component is generally equal to a diameter of the fluid conduit of the fluid transport component.

20. The fluid carrying system of claim 13, wherein the body of the overmold component includes a flat sealing surface being bounded by an outer perimeter, the fluid conduit of the overmold component being in fluid communication with the exterior of the body of the overmold component at a location within the outer perimeter of the flat sealing surface.

21. The fluid carrying system of claim 20, wherein the flat sealing surface is further bounded by an inner perimeter, the location wherein the fluid conduit of the overmold component is in fluid communication with the exterior of the body of the overmold component is spaced apart from the flat sealing surface.

22. The fluid carrying system of claim 20, wherein the second plane is normal to the flat sealing surface of the overmold component.

23. The fluid carrying system of claim 20, wherein an angle between the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit of the overmold component and the flat sealing surface of the overmold component is less than ninety degrees.

24. The fluid carrying system of claim 23, wherein the angle is at least equal to an inverse cosine of a limiting extent of the fluid conduit of the overmold component divided by a limiting extent of a sealing region of the flat sealing surface.

25. The fluid carrying system of claim 24, wherein the limiting extent of the sealing region corresponds to an inner perimeter of the flat sealing surface, the inner perimeter being circular and wherein the fluid conduit of the overmold component is cylindrical and the limiting extent of the fluid conduit of the overmold component is a diameter of the fluid conduit of the overmold component.