Plumbing assembly with a swivel adapter and method of manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12366313-B2
Application number	US-202118551413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2021
Priority date	Mar 25, 2021
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A hose assembly for use with a tankless water heater. The hose assembly includes a flexible hose, a first connector assembly, and a second connector assembly. The first connector assembly is fluidly coupled with the flexible hose and includes a first fitting. The first fitting is rotatably coupled with the first connector assembly such that the first fitting is independently rotatable relative to the flexible hose. The second connector assembly is fluidly coupled with the flexible hose opposite to the first connector assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hose assembly configured to be communicated with a tankless water heater, the hose assembly comprising:
a flexible hose;
a first connector assembly fluidly coupled with the flexible hose;
a first fitting including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being a flange positioned between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second portions are aligned along a center axis, the first portion of the first fitting configured to be received by an end of the first connector assembly, the second portion of the first fitting configured to be fluidly coupled with a plumbing fitting, and the first fitting being rotatably coupled with the first connector assembly such that the first fitting is rotatable 360 degrees about the center axis relative to the first connector assembly while maintaining a water tight engagement between the first fitting and the first connector assembly, wherein the first fitting is independently rotatable relative to the flexible hose; and
a second connector assembly fluidly coupled with the flexible hose opposite to the first connector assembly;
wherein the flexible hose includes a first hose flange extending radially away from an end of the flexible hose; and
the first connector assembly further comprises:
a first adapter positioned at least partially about the flexible hose;
a second adapter having threads that threadably couple the second adapter with the first adapter such that the first hose flange is positioned between the first adapter and the second adapter, the second adapter having an outer stepped surface adjacent to the threads; and
a first sealing member compressed between the first adapter and the second adapter and configured to provide a watertight engagement between the flexible hose and the first connector assembly.

2. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second connector assembly includes a push-to-connect fitting.

3. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is an externally threaded fitting configured for coupling with a threaded female fitting.

4. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is rotatably and fluidly coupled with the second adapter such that the first fitting and the second adapter are independently rotatable while maintaining the watertight engagement between the first fitting and the second adapter.

5. The hose assembly claim 1 , wherein:
the second adapter includes an adapter groove;
the first fitting includes a fitting groove; and
the hose assembly further comprises:
a retainer positioned within both the adapter groove and the fitting groove, the retainer preventing axial movement of the first fitting relative to the second adapter.

6. The hose assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connector assembly further comprises:
a first connector fluidly coupled to the flexible hose such that rotation of the first connector relative to the flexible hose is prevented,
wherein the first fitting is rotatably coupled with the first connector such that the first fitting is rotatable relative to both the first connector and the flexible hose while maintaining a watertight engagement with the first connector.

7. The hose assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a retainer coupled with both the first fitting and the first connector, the retainer extending circumferentially about the first fitting and preventing axial movement of the first fitting relative to the first connector.

8. A plumbing assembly comprising:
a conduit and a first conduit end; and
a first connector assembly fluidly coupled to the conduit and defining a first axis, both of the first connector assembly and at least a portion of the conduit being centered on the first axis, the first connector assembly comprising:
a first connector fluidly coupled with the conduit such that rotation of the conduit about the first axis relative to the first connector is prevented; and
a first fitting including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being a flange positioned between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second portions are aligned along the first axis, the first portion of the first fitting configured to be received by an end of the first connector, the second portion of the first fitting configured to be fluidly coupled with a plumbing fitting, and the first fitting being rotatably coupled with the first connector such that rotation of the first fitting about the first axis relative to the first conduit end does not cause axial translation of the first fitting relative to the first connector along the first axis, wherein the first fitting is rotatable 360 degrees about the first axis relative to the first connector while maintaining a water tight engagement between the first fitting and the first connector

wherein the first connector assembly further comprises:
a first adapter positioned at least partially about a flexible hose;
a second adapter having threads that threadably couple the second adapter with the first adapter such that a first hose flange of the flexible hose is positioned between the first adapter and the second adapter, the second adapter having an outer stepped surface adjacent to the threads; and
a first sealing member compressed between the first adapter and the second adapter and configured to provide a watertight engagement between the flexible hose and the first connector assembly.

9. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is an externally threaded nipple.

10. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first portion comprises:
a sealing groove extending circumferentially about the first portion; and
the first sealing member being disposed within the sealing groove and configured to interface with the first connector to form a watertight seal, the first sealing member rotatable about the first axis such that the watertight seal is maintained when the first fitting is rotated relative to the first connector.

11. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a retainer extending radially into both the first fitting and the first connector, the retainer configured to facilitate rotational movement of the first fitting about the first axis relative to the first connector while inhibiting axial movement of the first fitting along the first axis relative to the first connector.

12. The plumbing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retainer is an external retaining ring.

13. The plumbing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retainer is formed of metallic material.

14. The plumbing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the conduit is a corrugated metal hose.

15. A method of assembling a plumbing assembly, the method comprising:
fluidly coupling a first connector with a first end of a conduit such that rotation of the conduit relative to the first connector is prevented:
positioning a retainer circumferentially within a coupling groove of a first fitting; and
inserting the first fitting into the first connector until the retainer expands into a connector groove of the first connector, the retainer configured to allow rotation of the first fitting relative to the first connector without causing axial translation of the first fitting relative to the first connector;
wherein the first fitting includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being a flange positioned between the first and second portions, wherein the first and second portions are aligned along a center axis, the first portion of the first fitting configured to be received by an end of the fi

Assignees

• Reliance Worldwide Corp

Inventors

• Wu Jun
• Liu Haiming
• Kornegay Michael John
• Boardman Iv Clayton Pierce

Classifications

• F16L33/223

  the sealing surfaces being pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts · CPC title

• F16L27/0804 Primary

  the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another · CPC title

• F16L19/025 Primary

  the pipe ends having integral collars or flanges · CPC title