Magnetic docking faucet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506229-B2
Application number	US-201514841148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Jul 27, 2012
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A faucet is provided. The faucet has a spout and a sprayhead releasably coupled to the spout. A hose having a magnetically responsive collar thereon provides fluid through the spout to the sprayhead. A magnet is located in the faucet such that when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout, the collar magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby applying sufficient magnetic force to the hose to retain the sprayhead against the spout.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A faucet, comprising:
a spout;
a sprayhead releasably coupled to the spout;
a hose coupled to the sprayhead and having a magnetically responsive collar thereon, the hose providing fluid through the spout to the sprayhead; and
a magnet located in the faucet such that when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout, the collar magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby applying sufficient magnetic force to the hose to retain the sprayhead against the spout; and
a retainer having a wall extending through an internal bore of the magnet to couple the magnet and the retainer.

2. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the hose passes through the internal bore of the magnet.

3. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is located in the spout.

4. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a base coupled to the spout and configured to mount the faucet to another object, wherein the magnet is located in the base.

5. A faucet, comprising:
a spout;
a sprayhead releasably coupled to the spout;
a hose coupled to the sprayhead and having a magnetically responsive collar thereon, the hose providing fluid through the spout to the sprayhead;
a magnet located in the faucet such that when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout, the collar magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby applying sufficient magnetic force to the hose to retain the sprayhead against the spout; and
a retainer having a wall extending through a bore of the magnet to support the magnet, wherein when the collar and the magnet are magnetically coupled, the collar is disposed in a bore of the retainer, such that the wall of the retainer is positioned between the magnet and the collar.

6. A faucet, comprising:
a spout;
a sprayhead releasably coupled to the spout;
a hose coupled to the sprayhead and having a magnetically responsive collar thereon, the hose providing fluid through the spout to the sprayhead;
a magnet located in the faucet such that when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout, the collar magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby applying sufficient magnetic force to the hose to retain the sprayhead against the spout;
a retainer having a wall extending through a bore of the magnet to support the magnet; and
a field expander configured to expand a magnetic field created by the magnet, wherein the wall of the retainer also extends through a bore of the field expander to support the field expander.

7. The faucet of claim 6 , wherein when the collar and the magnet are magnetically coupled, the collar is disposed in a bore of the retainer, such that the wall of the retainer is positioned between the field expander and the collar.

8. A faucet, comprising:
a spout having a first end, a second end, and an apex disposed between the first and second ends;
a sprayhead detachably coupled directly to the second end of the spout;
a hose coupled to the sprayhead and configured to carry fluid thereto;
a magnetically responsive collar coupled to the hose; and
a magnet located in the spout between the apex and the first end;
wherein the collar magnetically couples to the magnet when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout to retain the sprayhead to the spout.

9. The faucet of claim 8 , wherein the magnet comprises a rare earth element having a low magnetic density relative to other rare earth elements.

10. The faucet of claim 8 , further comprising a retainer that supports the magnet, wherein at least a portion of the retainer is positioned between the magnet and the collar when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout.

11. The faucet of claim 10 , wherein the collar is disposed in an internal bore of the retainer when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout, and wherein the retainer is disposed in an internal bore of the magnet.

12. The faucet of claim 8 , wherein the sprayhead includes a touch sensor that is configured to send a signal to a controller upon a user touching the sprayhead, wherein the signal is configured to reverse the polarity of the magnet.

13. The faucet of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sensor disposed in the spout between the magnet and the second end, the sensor configured to cause actuation of the faucet upon a detection; and
a wire passing through the second end of the spout and configured to supply electric power to at least one of the sensor and the magnet.

14. A faucet comprising:
a spout having a first end, a second end, and an apex disposed between the first and second ends;
a sprayhead detachably coupled to the second end of the spout;
a hose coupled to the sprayhead and configured to carry fluid thereto;
a magnetically responsive collar coupled to the hose;
a magnet located in the spout between the apex and the first end, wherein the collar magnetically couples to the magnet when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout to retain the sprayhead to the spout; and
a base that is configured to support the magnet and mount the faucet to another object, wherein the first end of the spout is coupled to the base.

15. The faucet of claim 14 , wherein the spout is rotatably coupled to the base.

16. A faucet, comprising:
a spout;
a sprayhead detachably coupled to the spout;
a hose coupled to the sprayhead and configured to carry fluid thereto;
a magnetically responsive collar coupled to the hose;
a magnet configured to magnetically couple to the collar when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout to retain the sprayhead to the spout; and
a retainer including a first end that engages an internal bore of the magnet and a second end having a fin that guides the collar into a bore of the retainer and the bore of the magnet.

17. The faucet of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the retainer is an annular sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the second end of the retainer is an annular flange that extends outward from the sidewall, and wherein the fin extends radially from the longitudinal axis and from the flange opposite the sidewall.

18. The faucet of claim 17 , wherein the fin comprises a plurality of fins, each fin extending radially from the longitudinal axis and from the flange opposite the sidewall.

19. The faucet of claim 18 , wherein a cutout is provided in the flange between two adjacent fins to allow for routing of another element of the faucet by the retainer.

20. The faucet of claim 16 , wherein a top surface of the fin slopes toward the first end of the retainer moving from outboard to inboard.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Esche John C
• Erickson Perry D
• Murphy Roger W
• Bares William R

Classifications

• E03C2001/028

  Alignment aids for plumbing installations · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• Y10T137/598

  With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means · CPC title

• Y10T137/1842

  Ambient condition change responsive · CPC title

• E03C2001/0415

  having an extendable water outlet · CPC title