Tub spout engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280069-B2
Application number	US-201916697771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Jun 9, 2016
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A spout for a tub. The spout includes a spout shell having opposite first and second sides. The spout further includes an inlet portion extending from the first side. The spout further includes an outlet portion extending from the second side. The outlet portion includes an outlet bore that is in fluid communication with the inlet portion. The spout further includes a plastic engine configured with waterway connection geometry and one or more locking lips, where the plastic engine is installed in the spout shell through the annular inlet portion and is secured in place by the one or more locking lips prior to reaching the annular outlet portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine for a plumbing fixture, the engine comprising:
an inlet, wherein the inlet is configured as waterway connection geometry;
an outlet, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet;
a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises one or more locking lips configured to secure the engine in an interior of the plumbing fixture;
a body defining the inlet and the outlet, the body comprising an exterior surface; and
a plurality of ridges protruding from the exterior surface, the plurality of ridges disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface, each of the plurality of ridges extending between a first end of the body contiguous with the inlet and a second end of the body contiguous with the outlet;
wherein the engine is plastic.

2. The engine of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sealing receivers configured to receive one or more sealing components of the plumbing fixture.

3. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the waterway connection geometry is a slip-fit connection.

4. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the waterway connection geometry is national pipe threading (NPT).

5. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the engine has a cylindrical body.

6. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the engine has a tapered body.

7. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more locking lips surround a circumference of the engine.

8. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is integrally formed with the outlet.

9. The engine of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges extend from the first end to the second end.

10. The engine of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges is tapered from a first height proximate the first end to a second height proximate the second end, the first height greater than the second height.

11. The engine of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of grooves recessed in the exterior surface, the plurality of grooves disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface, each of the plurality of ridges extending from the second end towards the first end;
wherein the plurality of grooves and the plurality of ridges are arranged such that each of the plurality of grooves is separated from another of the plurality of grooves by at least one of the plurality of ridges.

12. An engine for a tub spout, the engine comprising:
a body comprising:
an inlet,
an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet, and
an exterior surface;
a lip integrally formed with the body and operable between a first position and a second position, the lip comprising a tongue, the tongue protruding from the exterior surface when the lip is in the first position and being recessed relative to the exterior surface when the lip is in the second position; and
a plurality of ridges protruding from the exterior surface, the plurality of ridges disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface, each of the plurality of ridges extending between a first end of the body contiguous with the inlet and a second end of the body contiguous with the outlet.

13. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising:
a trough extending from the body proximate the outlet; and
a diverter structured to partially reside in the trough such that the diverter is maintained proximate the outlet and moveable between an open position and a closed position, the diverter facilitating fluid communication out of the engine via the outlet in the open position and prohibiting fluid communication out of the engine via the outlet in the closed position.

14. The engine of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of grooves recessed in the exterior surface, the plurality of grooves disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface, each of the plurality of ridges extending from the second end towards the first end;
wherein the plurality of grooves and the plurality of ridges are arranged such that each of the plurality of grooves is separated from another of the plurality of grooves by at least one of the plurality of ridges; and
wherein each of the plurality of ridges is tapered from a first height proximate the first end to a second height proximate the second end, the first height greater than the second height.

15. An engine configured to be installed in spout shell of a tub spout, the engine comprising:
a body comprising:
an inlet with waterway connection geometry, and
an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet;
a trough extending from the body proximate the outlet; and
a diverter structured to partially reside in the trough such that the diverter is maintained proximate the outlet and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the trough is configured to facilitate rotation of the diverter within the trough around an axis that extends through the body.

16. The engine of claim 15 , further comprising a lip integrally formed with the body and operable between a first position and a second position, the lip comprising a tongue;
wherein the body comprises an exterior surface;
wherein the tongue protrudes from the exterior surface when the lip is in the first position; and
wherein the tongue is recessed relative to the exterior surface when the lip is in the second position.

17. The engine of claim 15 , wherein:
the body further comprises a mating hole proximate the outlet;
the diverter comprises a post configured to be received within the mating hole; and
the post and the mating hole cooperate to define the axis of rotation of the diverter when the post is received within the mating hole.

18. The spout of claim 15 , wherein the diverter comprises a depression that is configured to cover the outlet and to receive fluid from the outlet when the diverter is in the closed position.

19. The spout of claim 15 , wherein:
at least one of the engine or the diverter is plastic; and
a base of the diverter is teardrop shaped, the base of the diverter configured to move within the trough.

20. The engine of claim 15 , further comprising:
a plurality of ridges protruding from an exterior surface of the body, the plurality of ridges disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface, each of the plurality of ridges extending from a first end of the body contiguous with the inlet to a second end of the body contiguous with the outlet; and
a plurality of grooves recessed in the exterior surface, the plurality of grooves disposed circumferentially about the exterior surface, each of the plurality of ridges extending from the second end towards the first end;
wherein the plurality of grooves and the plurality of ridges are arranged such that each of the plurality of grooves is separated from another of the plurality of grooves by at least one of the plurality of ridges; and
wherein each of the plurality of ridges is tapered from a first height proximate the first end to a second height proximate the second end, the first height greater than the second height.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Varma Shashank

Classifications

• E03C1/0403

  Connecting the supply lines to the tap body · CPC title

• B22D25/02

  by its peculiarity of shape; of works of art {(cylinders, pistons B22D15/02)} · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title