Tub spout diverter seal member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10961692-B2
Application number	US-201816101873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2018
Priority date	Aug 13, 2018
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure includes a central body, a first seal extension, and a second seal extension. The central body includes a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body. The first seal extension extends from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture. The first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end. The extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension. The second seal extension extends from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure, the diverter seal member comprising:
a central body including a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body;
a first seal extension extending from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture, wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension; and
a second seal extension extending from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture.

2. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension extend substantially perpendicularly from the first side of the central body.

3. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the second seal extension has a tapered cross-section.

4. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, and an end, wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension.

5. The diverter seal member of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the outer side and the inner side of the second seal extension extends at an oblique angle relative to and from the second side of the central body.

6. The diverter seal member of claim 4 , wherein the second seal extension includes an outer protrusion that protrudes radially outwardly from the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension.

7. The diverter seal member of claim 6 , wherein the outer protrusion has a first protrusion side, a second protrusion side, and a protrusion end, wherein the protrusion end of the outer protrusion extends substantially perpendicularly to the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion.

8. The diverter seal member of claim 7 , wherein the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the outer side of the second seal extension.

9. The diverter seal member of claim 4 , wherein the outer side extends substantially linearly from the base to the end of the second seal extension.

10. The diverter seal member of claim 4 , wherein the second seal extension does not include any protrusions along the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension.

11. A diverter structure for a tub spout structure, the diverter structure comprising:
a diverter gate including a seal housing, wherein the seal housing includes a back wall and a circumferential side wall that extends substantially perpendicularly to the back wall; and
a diverter seal member configured to be positioned within a cup defined by the back wall and the side wall of the seal housing of the diverter gate, the diverter seal member comprising:
a central body including a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body,
a first seal extension extending from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture, wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension, and
a second seal extension extending from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture.

12. The diverter structure of claim 11 , wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, and an end, wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension, wherein the second seal extension includes an outer protrusion that protrudes radially outwardly from the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension.

13. The diverter structure of claim 12 , wherein the outer protrusion has a first protrusion side, a second protrusion side, and a protrusion end, wherein the protrusion end of the outer protrusion extends substantially perpendicularly to the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion, wherein the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the outer side of the second seal extension.

14. The diverter structure of claim 12 , wherein the protrusion end of the outer protrusion of the second seal extension is configured to directly abut an inner side of the circumferential side wall of the seal housing.

15. The diverter structure of claim 11 , wherein the outer side extends substantially linearly from the base to the end of the second seal extension, wherein the second seal extension does not include any protrusions along the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension.

16. The diverter structure of claim 15 , wherein the outer side of the second seal extension is configured to directly abut an inner side of the circumferential side wall of the seal housing.

17. A tub spout structure comprising:
a tub spout body having an inlet configured to receive water, an outlet, and a through-hole fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet;
a diverter structure comprising a diverter gate, wherein the diverter gate includes a seal housing that includes a back wall and a circumferential side wall that extends substantially perpendicularly to the back wall; and
a diverter seal member configured to be positioned within a cup defined by the back wall and the side wall of the seal housing of the diverter gate, the diverter seal member comprising:
a central body including a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body,
a first seal extension extending from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture, wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension, and
a second seal extension extending from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture;

wherein the seal housing is moveable relative to the tub spout body such that the seal housing and the diverter seal member block a flow of the water to the outlet in a closed position.

18. The tub spout structure of claim 17 , wherein the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension extend substantially perpendicularly from the first side of the central body.

19. The tub spout stru

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Varma Shashank
• Ball Matthew J
• Wieberdink Andrew D
• Yee Evan
• Beauchesne Kellen D

Classifications

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• E03C1/042

  Arrangements on taps for wash-basins or baths for connecting to the wall · CPC title

• E03C2201/30

  Diverter valves in faucets or taps · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title