Sprayer assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9272295-B2
Application number	US-36806809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2009
Priority date	Feb 12, 2008
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides a sprayer that has on the sprayer itself capability for simultaneously controlling on/off function and flow selection. A forward button can be pressed by a forefinger to turn flow on, while a rearward rocker can be controlled by a thumb to select between aerated and non-aerated flow. The on/off control is biased to the off position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sprayer, comprising:
a sprayer body having a handle portion and an outlet head, with a passage extending through the sprayer body from the handle portion through the outlet head;
a flow selector valve positioned within the outlet head to direct flow between two exit pathways;
a first actuator positioned on an exterior rear side of the outlet head to control the flow selector valve;
an on/off valve positioned in the handle portion to control flow from the handle to the outlet head; and
a second actuator positioned on an exterior frontal side of the handle portion to control the on/off valve;
wherein the first and second actuators are located on opposing frontal and rear sides of the sprayer body to allow the first actuator to be pressed by a thumb while the second actuator is simultaneously contacted by another finger on the same hand as the thumb while said same hand is grasping the handle portion; and
wherein the second actuator is biased to a position that directs the on/off valve to a closed position.

2. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is positioned on an exterior rear portion of the outlet head.

3. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is linked to a spool valve, the spool valve forming a portion of the on/off valve.

4. The sprayer of claim 3 , wherein the spool valve has an o-ring mounted on its periphery.

5. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is a button, and the first actuator is a rocker.

6. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the first exit pathway extends to an aerator suitable to provide an aerated flow pattern and the second exit pathway extends to a set of nozzles providing a non-aerated flow pathway.

7. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the sprayer body is generally L-shaped in side view.

8. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the sprayer is a side spray suitable to be linked to water flow permitted from a mixing valve of a faucet.

9. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuators are positioned such that pressing the first actuator with a thumb can alter flow between the two exit pathways by driving a part of the flow selector valve forward while to some extent also offsetting a rearward force provided by contacting the second actuator with said finger while said finger is thereby holding the on/off valve on by forcing a part of the on/off valve rearward.

10. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator located on the rear portion of the outlet head is configured such that the force applied to the first actuator opposes the force from the water exiting the outlet head.

11. The sprayer of claim 1 , wherein the flow selector valve includes a sliding portion that is configured to move between first and second positions in a direction that is substantially parallel to a central axis defined by a first exit of the outlet head.

12. The sprayer of claim 11 , wherein the on/off valve includes a spool that is configured to move between on and off positions along a second direction that is substantially parallel to the direction that the sliding portion is able to move along.

13. The sprayer of claim 11 , wherein the sliding portion and the first exit are substantially concentric such that the force to activate the sliding portion directly opposes the force induced by the water exiting the first exit.

14. A sprayer, comprising:
a sprayer body having an outlet head and an axially elongated handle, the handle having a first end that receives a water supply and a second end that is in fluid communication with the outlet head, the outlet head being configured to direct fluid in a transverse direction relative to the handle;
a flow selector valve positioned within the outlet head to direct flow between two exit pathways;
a first actuator that is configured to control the flow selector valve;
an on/off valve positioned in the handle portion to control flow from the handle to the outlet head; and
a second actuator to control the on/off valve;
wherein the first actuator is positioned on a rear side of the outlet head proximate the second end of the handle, and the second actuator is positioned on a frontal side of the handle between the first and second ends, the frontal side being radially opposite the rear side; and
wherein the forces applied to the oppositely disposed first and second actuators at least partially offset each other when both-the first actuator and the second actuator are depressed.

15. The sprayer of claim 14 , wherein the first and second actuators are positioned such that pressing the first actuator with a thumb can alter flow between the two exit pathways by driving a part of the flow selector valve forward while to some extent also offsetting a rearward force provided by depressing the second actuator with the other finger while said finger is thereby holding the on/off valve on by forcing a part of the on/off valve rearward.

16. The sprayer of claim 14 , wherein the second actuator is linked to a spool valve, the spool valve forming a portion of the on/off valve.

17. The sprayer of claim 14 , wherein the spool valve has an o-ring mounted on its periphery, the o-ring configured to form a seal with a valve seat when the valve is in a closed position.

18. The sprayer of claim 17 , wherein the spool also includes a cavity that engages a guiding post to guide the spool when the spool moves between open and closed positions.

19. The sprayer of claim 14 , wherein the second actuator is biased to a position that directs the on/off valve to a closed position.

20. A sprayer, comprising:
a sprayer body having an outlet head and an axially elongated handle, the handle having a first end that receives a water supply and a second end that is in fluid communication with the outlet head, the outlet head being configured to direct fluid in a transverse direction relative to the handle;
a flow selector valve positioned within the outlet head and configured to direct flow between two exit pathways;
a first actuator positioned on a rear side of the outlet head and configured to control the flow selector valve;
an on/off valve positioned in the handle portion and configured to control flow from the handle to the outlet head; and
a second actuator positioned on a frontal side of the handle, the frontal side radially opposite the rear side, and configured to control the on/off valve, the second actuator biased to a position that directs the on/off valve to a closed position.

Assignees

• Esche John C
• Bares William R
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Esche John C
• Bares William R

Classifications

• B05B1/16

  having selectively- effective outlets · CPC title

• B05B12/002

  Manually-actuated controlling means, e.g. push buttons, levers or triggers (for single units B05B11/00) · CPC title

• E03C1/0409

  Shower handles · CPC title

• B05B1/1618 Primary

  where said valve is a double-seat lift valve · CPC title

• B05B1/18

  Roses; Shower heads · CPC title