Multi-channel plumbing products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11598076-B2
Application number	US-202017000042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2020
Priority date	Sep 10, 2014
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

Novel plumbing products, including faucets, are fabricated, e.g., using metallic 3-dimensional or other 3-D printing techniques, to have complex geometries, such as multiple channels that may diverge and re-converge near the spout. The geometries of the various channels can resemble interwoven net-like patterns that define various shapes between the channels. The plumbing fixtures may be formed from one or more of stainless steels, INCONEL, brass, bronze, polycarbonate, PVC, acrylics, rigid polyolefins, PET, carbon fiber, AES, or other plumbing fitting suitable corrosion resistant materials. In some embodiments, the handles of an exemplary faucet can include the same or a similar multiple channel configuration as the spout, providing an advantageously, aesthetically pleasing faucet system. In exemplary embodiments, faucet spouts and their handles are formed so as to couple to standard faucet underbodies, standard valve platforms, or standard threaded hose/waterway connections.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A faucet, comprising:
a water chamber;
a plurality of water channels fluidly connected to the water chamber, wherein:
each of the plurality of water channels is configured to receive flow of water from the water chamber and to transport water from a respective water inlet proximate to the water chamber to a respective water outlet, and
each of the plurality of water channels is configured to output water into a single combined water stream.

2. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of water channels extends upward from the water chamber.

3. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water channels forms a base portion of the faucet that extends upward from the water chamber, the plurality of water channels configured to transport water upward from the respective water inlets through the base portion.

4. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water channels forms a spout portion of the faucet that extends downward toward the respective water outlets, the plurality of water channels configured to transport water downward through the spout portion toward the respective water outlets.

5. The faucet of claim 4 , wherein:
a first channel of the plurality of channels terminates, at its respective water outlet, in the spout portion of the faucet, at a first vertical height, and
a second channel of the plurality of channels terminates, at its respective water outlet, in the spout portion of the faucet, at a second vertical height lower than the first vertical height.

6. The faucet of claim 5 , the first channel and second channel are configured such that water dispensed from the outlet of the first channel flows over and along an upper surface of an outer wall of the second channel.

7. The faucet of claim 4 , wherein the spout portion of the faucet comprises a parabolic arc shape.

8. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of water channels comprises a respective exterior surface extending around the respective water channel and forming a respective tubular structure.

9. The faucet of claim 8 , the respective exterior surfaces of each of the plurality of water channels are spaced apart from one another.

10. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein a third water channel of the plurality of water channels converges with and re-diverges from a fourth water channel of the plurality of water channels, thereby forming a first intersection located between the respective water inlets and the respective water outlets of the third and fourth water channels.

11. The faucet of claim 10 , wherein the third water channel of the plurality of water channels converges with and re-diverges from a fifth water channel of the plurality of water channels, thereby forming an second intersection, distinct from the first intersection, located between the respective water inlets and the water outlets of the third and fifth water channels.

12. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of all of the plurality of water channels in aggregate is greater than or equal to about 7 mm 2 .

13. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the average diameter of the plurality of water channels is greater than or equal to about 1 mm.

14. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the faucet is configured to couple to standard faucet underbodies, standard valve platforms, or standard threaded hose/waterway connections.

15. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water channels comprise six water channels.

16. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water channels are collectively formed as a unitary metal component.

17. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the faucet is formed of one or more of stainless steels, INCONEL, brass, or bronze, by metallic 3-D printing.

18. The faucet of claim 17 , wherein the faucet is formed by selective sintering of the outer walls of one or more of the channels.

Assignees

• As America Inc

Inventors

• Mchale James
• Ientile Joseph
• Pitsch Walter
• L'Henaff Jean-Jacques

Classifications

• Y10T137/87684

  Valve in each inlet · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title

• B29C64/153

  using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting · CPC title

• B22F5/10

  of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups · CPC title