Locking pressurized fluid connection

• US 8,870,095 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation), Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hughett, Michael S., Thomas, Kurt J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): Valvis, Alexander M
• Application Number:
  US12/993,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20110089263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 239/428.5, 467/5, 467/8, 285/313, 285/292.1, 285/396, 285/402, 137/801
• US Class Current: 239/428.5
• 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: B05B 7/0425 without any source of compressed gas, e.g. the air being sucked by the pressurised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/08 Jet regulators or jet guides, e.g. anti-splash devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/084 Jet regulators with aerating means
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/082 Outlets connected by an universal joint
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/248 Bayonet-type couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Abstract

A water delivery system (10) includes a first component (52) coupled to a fluid transport member (20) and a second component (66) coupled to an aerator (34) for positioning within a faucet spout (26).

Claims

1. A water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve, the water delivery system comprising:

a spout including a discharge end;

an aerator for positioning adjacent the discharge end of the spout;

a fluid transport member having a first 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 and upstream from the aerator;

a first component directly coupled to the fluid transport member, the first component including a side wall defining a longitudinal axis and a second fluid conduit extending along the longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit of the fluid transport member, the first component further including at least one guide pin extending radially outwardly from the side wall;

a second component coupled to the aerator, the second component including a side wall defining a bore sealingly receiving the first component and having a channel to receive the at least one guide pin wherein the second component is rotatable relative to the first component between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one guide pin being free to move axially within the channel when in the unlocked position and being restrained from axial movement within the channel when in the locked position;

wherein the channel of the second component includes an axially extending portion and a circumferentially extending portion extending perpendicular to the axially extending portion; and

wherein the first component further comprises a locking tab wherein the side wall of the second component includes a lip configured to engage the at least one locking tab and prevent rotational movement of the second component relative to the first component in a first direction.

2. The water delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first component is an overmold component coupled to the fluid transport member.

3. The water delivery system of claim 1, wherein the second component includes a first set of threads and the aerator includes a second set of threads, the first set of threads and the second set of threads cooperating to couple the aerator to the second component.

4. The water delivery system of claim 1, wherein a seal is positioned between the first component and the second component.

5. The water delivery system of claim 1, wherein the spout member includes a channel for receiving the fluid transport member, the channel including a portion receiving the second component.

6. The water delivery system of claim 5, wherein the second component is held in position relative to the spout by a downwardly facing surface of the spout engaging an upper surface of the second component.

7. The water delivery system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport member is made of a non-metallic material.

8. The water delivery system of claim 7, wherein the fluid transport member is made of a PEX material.

9. A water delivery system in fluid communication with at least one valve, the water delivery system comprising:

a body including a side wall defining a longitudinal axis;

a fluid transport member having an end positioned within the body and adapted to be in fluid communication with the at least one valve;

a coupling member supported by the body and including a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, the end of the fluid transport member being received in the first end of the coupling member;

an aerator coupled to the second end of the coupling member, the aerator positioned downstream from the body;

wherein the body includes a pair of diametrically opposed guide pins, and the coupling member includes a pair of diametrically opposed channels configured to receive the guide pins;

wherein the end of the fluid transport member is held within the fluid conduit of the coupling member by translating the coupling member along the longitudinal axis of the body in a first direction and then rotating the coupling member about the longitudinal axis in a second direction to a locked position at which the pair of guide pins are restrained from axial movement relative to the channels, and the end of the fluid transport member is removable from within the fluid conduit of the coupling member by rotating the coupling member about the longitudinal axis in a third direction opposite the second direction and translating the coupling member along the longitudinal axis of the body in a fourth direction opposite the first direction to an unlocked position at which the pair of guide pins can axially move relative to the channels; and

wherein the body includes a pair of diametrically opposed locking tabs, and the first end of the holder including a pair of lips configured to engage the locking tabs and prevent rotational movement of the holder relative to the body in the third direction.

10. The water delivery system of claim 9, wherein the body comprises an overmold component coupled to the first end of the fluid transport member.

11. The water delivery system of claim 10, wherein the body is made of a non-metallic material.

12. The water delivery system of claim 11, wherein the body is made of a PEX material.

13. The water delivery system of claim 9, wherein the fluid transport member is made of a non-metallic material.

14. The water delivery system of claim 13, wherein the fluid transport member is made of a PEX material.

15. A fluid coupling comprising:

a fluid transport member having a fluid conduit with an end;

a first component formed of a polymer overmolded about the end of the fluid transport member;

a second component including a bore having opposing first and second ends, the first end of the bore sealingly receiving the first component;

an aerator coupled to the second end of the second component;

a bayonet coupling configured to axially and rotationally secure the first component to the second component and upstream from the aerator;

wherein the first component includes a side wall and at least one guide pin extending radially outwardly from the side wall, the second component includes a side wall having at least one channel to receive the at least one guide pin, the second component being rotatable relative to the first component between an unlocked position and a locked position, the at least one guide pin being free to move axially relative to the channel when in the unlocked position and being restrained from axial movement relative to the channel when in the extending portion; and

wherein the first component further comprises a locking tab wherein the side wall of the second component includes a lip configured to engage the at least one locking tab and prevent rotational movement of the second component relative to the first component in a first direction.