Articulating faucet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214946-B2
Application number	US-201916429970-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2019
Priority date	Jun 4, 2018
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A faucet having a base, an articulable spout, and a valve operable in an open position and a closed position to control the flow of water to the outlet. The base is configured to mount to a support. The spout includes an outlet for dispensing water and a plurality of segments operatively coupled together sequentially, with a first segment of the plurality of segments rotatably coupled to the base. The plurality of segments are rotatable relative to one another and to the base to move the outlet between a first position, in which the valve is in the closed position, and a second position, in which the valve is in the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A faucet comprising:
a base configured to mount to a support;
an articulable spout comprising:
an outlet for dispensing water; and
a plurality of segments operatively coupled together sequentially, wherein a first segment of the plurality of segments is rotatably coupled to the base;

a valve operable in an open position and a closed position to control a flow of water to the outlet;
wherein the plurality of segments are rotatable relative to one another and to the base to move the outlet between a first position, in which the valve is in the closed position, and a second position, in which the valve is in the open position; and
an actuator operatively coupled to a segment of the plurality of segments and configured to rotate the segment relative to a sequential segment of the plurality of segments to automatically move the outlet between the first position and the second position.

2. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments rotate sequentially starting with the first segment and ending with an end segment of the plurality of segments, and wherein the end segment includes the outlet.

3. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments rotate randomly to move the outlet between the first and the second positions.

4. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments rotate substantially simultaneously to move the outlet between the first and the second positions.

5. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the actuator rotates each segment of the plurality of segments, the actuator comprising:
a motor; and
a cable operatively coupled to the motor and to the segment such that the motor can rotate the segment through the cable.

6. The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the actuator further comprises a plurality of cables operatively coupled to the motor, wherein each of the plurality of cables is associated with a corresponding segment of the plurality of segments to rotate each of the plurality of segments with the actuator.

7. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is rotated by a force created by the flow of water to the outlet.

8. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a universal joint rotatably coupling at least one pair of adjacent segments of the plurality of segments.

9. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments form a substantially cylindrical shaped spout when the outlet is in the first position, and wherein the plurality of segments form a non-cylindrical shape spout when the outlet is in the second position.

10. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments form an arcuate shaped spout when the spout is in the second position such that the base and the spout together have a substantially inverted J-shape, and wherein the plurality of segments form a shape that is different than the arcuate shape spout when the outlet is in the first position.

11. A faucet comprising:
a stationary base having a first end, which is mountable to a support;
a spout operatively coupled to a second end of the base, wherein the spout has an outlet for dispensing water and the spout is articulable relative to the base between a first position and a second position;
an actuator operatively coupled to the spout and configured to rotate the spout relative to the base to automatically move the outlet between the first position and the second position;
wherein in the first position, the base and the spout together have a substantially cylindrical shape; and
wherein in the second position, the base and the spout together have a substantially inverted J-shape.

12. The faucet of claim 11 , wherein the spout comprises a plurality of segments operatively coupled together sequentially, and wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is articulable relative to the other segments of the plurality of segments and relative to the base to move the spout between the first and second positions.

13. The faucet of claim 12 , wherein a first segment of the plurality of segments is rotatably coupled to the base, and wherein each additional segment of the plurality of segments is rotatable relative to the first segment and the base to move the spout between the first and second positions.

14. The faucet of claim 13 , wherein the spout further comprises an end segment having the outlet, wherein the end segment is detachable from an adjacent segment of the plurality of segments, and wherein a flexible hose fluidly connects the outlet of the end segment to the base.

15. The faucet of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of segments comprises an end segment having the outlet, and wherein the end segment is rotatably coupled to an adjacent segment of the plurality of segments.

16. A faucet comprising:
a base extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end that is configured to mount to a support;
a spout comprising:
a first segment movably coupled to a second end of the base;
a last segment having an outlet for dispensing water; and
a plurality of intervening segments provided between the first segment and the last segment; and

an actuator operatively coupled to the plurality of intervening segments,
wherein each of the plurality of intervening segments is movable by the actuator relative to the first segment to move the last segment between a first position, in which each segment of the plurality of intervening segments is aligned along the longitudinal axis, and a second position, in which each segment of the plurality of intervening segments is aligned along an arcuate axis.

17. The faucet of claim 16 , wherein each segment of the plurality of intervening segments comprises:
a hollow inner body defining a bore through which a water line is configured to route, each inner body being configured to rotatably couple to the inner body of at least one adjacent intervening segment of the plurality of intervening segments; and
an outer body fixedly coupled to the associated inner body such that the outer body rotates with the associated inner body, the outer body defining a portion of an exterior shape of the faucet.

18. The faucet of claim 17 , wherein each segment of the plurality of intervening segments further comprises a bearing disposed in the associated bore between the associated inner body and the water line, and wherein each bearing has an annular channel that receives an annular flange of the associated inner body to retain the bearing relative to the inner body.

19. The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the inner body comprises a first part and a second part, each of the first and second parts defines at least part of the annular flange, each segment of the plurality of intervening segments further comprises a magnet that is configured to magnetically attract another magnet of an adjacent intervening segment of the plurality of intervening segments in at least one of the first and second positions, and the arcuate axis that intersects the longitudinal axis.

20. The faucet of claim 18 , further comprising:
a first cable configured to route through a first channel of at least one intervening segment of the plurality of intervening segments; and
a second cable configured to route through a second channel of the at least one intervening segment of the plurality of intervening segments;
wherein the first cable is configured to rotate the at least one intervening segment in a first rotational direction about a pivot axis, the second cable is configured to rotate the at least one intervening segment in a second rotatio

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Chung Chanseol

Classifications

• Y10T137/9464

  Faucets and spouts · CPC title

• B05B1/22 Primary

  Spouts (anti-splash devices for water-taps E03C1/08) · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• E03C2001/0414

  allowing different orientations of the spout or the outlet nozzle · CPC title

• E03C2001/0415

  having an extendable water outlet · CPC title