Flexible tub spout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10415217-B2
Application number	US-201615178051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2016
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A spout for a tub. The spout for the tub includes a spout body having opposite first and second sides. The spout also includes an inlet portion extending from the first side, where the inlet portion includes an inlet bore and an outlet portion extending from the second side, where the outlet portion includes an outlet bore that is in fluid communication with the inlet bore. The spout further includes an engine configured with waterway geometry, wherein the engine is installed in the spout body through the inlet portion. In addition, the spout body is made of a flexible material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spout for a tub, the spout comprising:
an engine configured to be coupled to a water pipe; and
a spout body constructed from a single flexible material and having opposite first and second sides, the spout body comprising:
an inlet portion extending from the first side; and
an outlet portion extending from the second side, wherein the outlet portion is in fluid communication with the inlet portion;

wherein the spout body receives the engine through the inlet portion;
wherein the engine is entirely contained within the spout body;
wherein the engine is coupled to the spout body via a deformation of the engine; and
wherein the spout body is configured to contact fluid within the outlet portion.

2. The spout of claim 1 , further comprising a diverter.

3. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is resistant to bacterial growth.

4. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the engine is attached to the spout body via over-molding.

5. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is silicone.

6. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is rubber.

7. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the spout body can be manipulated to direct a flow of water.

8. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the engine is configured with national pipe threading (NPT).

9. The spout of claim 1 , wherein the engine is configured with a slip-fit connection.

10. The spout of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sealing components.

11. A spout for a tub, the spout comprising:
an engine configured to be coupled to a water pipe; and
a spout body constructed from a single flexible material and being of a single unitary construction and having opposite first and second sides, the spout body comprising:
an inlet portion extending from the first side; and
an outlet portion extending from the second side, wherein the outlet portion is in fluid communication with the inlet portion;

wherein the spout body receives the engine through the inlet portion;
wherein the engine is entirely positioned within the spout body;
wherein the engine is coupled to the spout body via a deformation of the engine; and
wherein the spout body is configured to contact fluid within the outlet portion.

12. The spout of claim 11 , further comprising a diverter.

13. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the flexible material is resistant to bacterial growth.

14. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the engine is contained within the spout body.

15. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the flexible material is silicone.

16. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the flexible material is rubber.

17. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the spout body can be manipulated to direct a flow of water.

18. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the engine is configured with national pipe threading (NPT).

19. The spout of claim 11 , wherein the engine is configured with a slip-fit connection.

20. The spout of claim 11 , further comprising one or more sealing components.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Shay Christopher M
• Varma Shashank

Classifications

• E03C1/0403

  Connecting the supply lines to the tap body · CPC title

• A47K3/02

  Baths (combined with showers A47K3/20) · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title