Faucet spray head magnetic docking systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016237663-A1
Application number	US-201615045904-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A faucet spray head magnetic docking system includes a socket that couples to an end of the spout, and a bonnet that couples to the spray head and that engages with the socket. The socket includes a shell configured to be arranged in the mouth of the spout, and integrated with one or more magnetic elements. The magnetic elements may be inserted into corresponding holes of the socket shell. Alternatively, the magnetic elements may be incorporated directly into the shell. The bonnet includes a threaded portion for coupling to corresponding threads of a connector at the spray head, and includes one or more corresponding magnets configured to magnetically attract to the magnetic elements of the socket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A faucet comprising:
a spout having a male connector disposed proximate an end of the spout and protruding toward an interior of the spout; and a socket insertable into the end of the spout, the socket having a female connector and at least one magnetic coupling element, the female connector being configured to couple to the male connector to at least partially retain the socket when the socket is inserted into the end of the spout.

2 . The faucet of claim 1 further comprising:
a hose disposable in the spout and through the socket when the socket is inserted into the end of the spout;
a pull-out spray head fluidly connectable to the hose and configured to dock at the end of the spout; and
at least one complementary magnetic coupling element configured to magnetically couple to the at least one magnetic coupling element of the socket when the pull-out spray head is docked.

3 . The faucet of claim 2 , wherein the hose includes a bonnet disposed at an end of the hose and configured to couple to the pull-out spray head, and wherein the at least one complementary magnetic coupling element is disposed on the bonnet.

4 . The faucet of claim 2 , wherein the at least one complementary magnetic coupling element is disposed on an end of the pull-out spray head.

5 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the socket comprises at least one groove.

6 . The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the at least one magnetic coupling element is disposed in the at least one groove.

7 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the male connector is formed as a depression in an exterior surface of the spout that points inwardly into the interior of the spout.

8 . The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising an opening defined proximate the end of the spout, wherein the male connector comprises an engagement member having a tail disposed in the opening and a head pointing inwardly into the interior of the spout.

9 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the socket comprises a clip member.

10 . The faucet of claim 9 , wherein the female connector comprises a through-hole defined in the clip member.

11 . The faucet of claim 9 , wherein the clip member comprises an outwardly protruding engagement member.

12 . The faucet of claim 11 , wherein the female connector is a recess in the engagement member.

13 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the spout comprises at least one alignment member disposed at the end of the spout, and wherein the socket comprises at least one channel configured to receive the at least one alignment member during insertion of the socket to the end of the spout.

14 . A socket for facilitating docking of a pull-out spray head to a faucet spout, comprising: an outer surface having at least one groove defined therein; a clip member having a female connector; and at least one magnetic coupling element disposed in the at least one groove, the female connector being configured to couple to a male connector of a spout to at least partially retain the socket to the spout when the socket is inserted into the spout, and the at least one magnetic coupling element being configured to magnetically couple to at least one complementary magnetic coupling element disposed on one of a hose and a pull-out spray head.

15 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes a bonnet disposed at an end of the hose and configured to couple to the pull-out spray head, and wherein the at least one complementary magnetic coupling element is disposed on the bonnet.

16 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the at least one complementary magnetic coupling element is disposed on an end of the pull-out spray head.

17 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the female connector comprises a through-hole defined in the clip member.

18 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the clip member is adjacent to the at least one groove.

19 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the clip member comprises an outwardly protruding engagement member.

20 . The socket of claim 19 , wherein the female connector is a recess in the engagement member.

21 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the outer surface comprises at least one channel configured to interact with at least one alignment member of the spout during insertion of the socket to the spout.

22 . The socket of claim 21 , wherein the at least one channel comprises two channels.

23 . The socket of claim 22 , wherein the clip member is disposed between the two channels.

24 . The socket of claim 14 , wherein the outer surface comprises at least one slot adjacent the clip member.

25 . The socket of claim 24 , wherein the at least one slot is configured to receive at least one alignment component on the spray head.

26 . A faucet comprising:
a spout having an engagement member disposed proximate an end of the spout, the engagement member including a portion of the spout that bends from the exterior of the spout into the interior of the spout; and a socket insertable into the end of the spout, the socket having a clip member and at least one magnetic coupling element, the clip member being configured to engage the engagement member to at least partially retain the socket when the socket is inserted into the spout.

27 . The faucet of claim 26 , further comprising:
a hose disposable in the spout and through the socket when the socket is inserted into the spout; and a pull-out spray head fluidly connectable to the hose and configured to dock at the end of the spout, one of the hose and the pull-out spray head having at least one complementary magnetic coupling element configured to magnetically couple to the at least one magnetic coupling element of the socket when the pull-out spray head is docked.

Assignees

• As Ip Holdco Llc

Inventors

• Myers Verne H
• Ye Xiaojing
• Wicker Nathan J
• Pitsch Walter
• Anthony Iii Philip M
• Eiger Aaron B

Classifications

• E03C2001/0415

  having an extendable water outlet · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title