MXPA06012825A - Combination spout stop/bottom bushing. - Google Patents

Abstract

A faucet assembly includes a faucet housing including at least one rotational limit feature positioned with respect to an axis. A spout assembly includes a spout, the spout having attached thereto a stop member positioned to engage the rotational limit feature when the spout is rotated about the axis.

Description

COMBINATION OF SUPPLIER STOP / LOWER BUSHING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to taps and, more particularly, to a combination of spout stop and bottom bushing for use with a tap.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND A typical faucet, such as a kitchen faucet, has a movable spout that can rotate to supply water to a desired location, such as, for example, any of two sinks. A problem associated with such design, however, is that the spout can turn too far resulting in water being watered on the counter surface behind the sink. In addition, in some configurations the spout can rotate in a full rotation of 360 ° and more, which can result in the winding of a removable hose located in the spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a limit stop arrangement for the dispenser so that the dispenser can only rotate a fixed amount such as approximately 150 ° instead of 360 °. The present invention in a form thereof, is directed to a tap assembly. The tap assembly includes a tap housing that includes at least one rotational limit feature positioned with respect to an axis. A spout assembly includes a spout, the spout having attached thereto a stop element positioned to engage the rotational limit feature when the spout rotates about the axis. The present invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a bushing for a tap assembly. The bushing includes a cylindrical bushing body having an inner side surface and an outer side surface. An axis passes through the cylindrical body. At least one cantilever spring element is formed in the cylindrical hub body. Each cantilever spring element has at its free end a flange extending inward towards the axis beyond the inner side surface. A stop element is formed as an annular ridge extending outwardly away from the axis beyond the outer side surface. The present invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a method for assembling a faucet assembly, including attaching a bushing having a stop element to a jet; inserting the bushing into a cylindrical element of a tap housing; and positioning the stop element between a pair of rotational limit features located on the cylindrical element. The present invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a method for assembling a faucet assembly, including inserting an upper bushing into an upper opening of a faucet housing; passing one end of a spout down through the upper hub of the spout housing; install a lower bushing on the end of the spout; and sliding the lower bushing over an elongated portion of the jet until a bushing spring tab engages a corresponding annular groove in the jet. An advantage of the present invention is that it helps prevent the winding of a removable hose located inside the spout by overrotation of the spout. Another advantage of the present invention is that the limit stop also functions as the lower bushing for the spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features as well as advantages of this invention and the manner of achieving them will be more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tap assembly that modalizes the following invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the bushing having a limit stop that is inserted into the bushing housing of the faucet assembly of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a one meter flow chart for assembling the faucet assembly of Figure 1. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts through the various views. The exemplifications set forth herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention and such exemplifications should not be construed as restricting the scope of the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a tap assembly 10 that modalizes the present invention. The tap assembly 10 includes a tap housing 12 and a spout assembly 14. The tap housing 12 has installed therein a valve assembly for hot water 16 and a valve assembly for cold water 18. The tap housing 12 includes a body 20 for rotatably mounting the spout assembly 14. The body 20 includes a cylindrical member 22 having an axis 23. Referring also to Figure 2, the cylindrical member 22 includes an interior surface 24, an exterior surface 26 and a circumferential channel 28 defining a pair of rotational limit features 30, 32. The circumferential channel 28 and the rotational limit features 30, 32 can be formed in the cylindrical element 22, for example, by removing an annular portion of the cylindrical element. 22, thus forming a cut that has a predetermined depth D and which provides a predetermined angular separation of the rotational limit characteristics 30, 32 at an angle 33 (see figure 2) with respect to the axis 23. Each of the rotational limit features 30, 32 formed in the cylindrical element 22 extends radially from an interior surface 24 to the exterior surface 26. The assembly of spout 14 includes a spout 34, a spout housing 36, an upper bushing 38 and a lower bushing 40. Shaft 23 also forms spout shaft 34, spout housing 36, upper bushing 38 and lower bushing 40. The spout 34 includes a first end 42, a second end 44 and an elongated portion 45. A spray head (not shown) extends from the first end 42. Annular grooves 46, 48 are formed through the elongate portion 45 near of the second end 44. The spout housing 36 includes a top opening 50 and a bottom opening 52.

The upper bushing 38 can be, for example, a split ring having outer shoulders 54, 56. When compressed, the upper bushing 38 is inserted into the upper opening 50 of the jet housing 36 and then when released it is kept in position in the spout housing 36 by the outer shoulders 54, 56. The lower hub 40 includes a cylindrical hub body 58, a cantilever spring element 60, a cantilever spring element 62 and a stop element 64. The hub body Cylindrical 58 has an inner side surface 66 and an outer side surface 68. The cantilever spring element 60 and the spring element 62 can be formed, respectively, by a pair of axial slits that pass from the outer side surface 38 to the side surface 66. The cantilevered spring element 60 has at its free end a flange 70 extending inward towards the axis 23 beyond the inner side surface 66. The The cantilevered spring element 62 has at its free end a flange 72 extending inward towards the axis 23. Thus, the flanges 70, 72 are sometimes referred to here as convenience as spring flanges 70, 72 due to their presence in the spring. corresponding cantilevered spring elements 60, 62. The flange 70 and the flange 72 are sized to be received in annular grooves 46, 48 of the spout 34, respectively. The stop element 64 is formed as an annular ridge extending outwardly away from the axis 23 beyond the outer side surface 68. The stop element 64 is arranged to be received in the circumferential channel 28 of the cylindrical element 22 of the housing of spout 12. The stop element 64 includes a stop surface 74 and a stop surface 76 that respectively engage rotational limit features 30, 32 formed in the cylindrical element 22 of the tap housing 12 when the spout 34 rotates about the axis 2. 3, depending on the direction of rotation. A method for assembling the faucet assembly 10 will now be described with additional reference to the flow chart of Figure 3, including steps S100-S112. In general, the spout assembly 14 is formed by the steps S100-S106, and the spout assembly 14 is mounted to the tap housing 12 by the steps S108-S112. In step S100, the upper bushing 38 is inserted into the upper opening 50 of the jet housing 36. In step S102, the second end 44 of the jet 34 passes through the upper bushing 38 in the spout housing 36. In In step S104, the lower bushing 40 is installed on the second end 44 of the spout 34. In step S106, the lower bushing 40 slides over the elongated portion 45 of the spout 34 until the spring tabs 70, 72 engage with angular grooves 46, 48 of the spout 34 respectively. In step S108, the lower bushing 40 is inserted into the cylindrical element 22 of the body 20 of the tap housing 12. In step S110, the stop element 64 is positioned in the circumferential channel 28 of the cylindrical element 22 of the tap housing 12 In step S112, the spout housing 36 of the spout assembly 14 is attached to the tap housing 12, as, for example, by the use of a plurality of fasteners 78 as screws. During operation, the spout 34 can rotate about the axis 23 but the degree of rotation is limited by the interaction of the stop element 64 of the lower hub 40 with the rotational limit characteristics 30, 32 defined by the ends of the circumferential channel 28. formed in the cylindrical element 22 of the tap housing 12. Referring to FIG. 1, the stop surface 74 of the stop element 64 engages with the rotational limit feature 30 of the tap housing 12 when the spout 34 rotates about the axis 23 in a rotational direction counterclockwise. Similarly, the abutment surface 76 of the stop element 64 engages with the rotational limit feature 32 of the tap housing 12 when the spout 34 rotates about the axis 23 in a clockwise rotational direction. Referring again to Figure 2, the degree of rotation of the spout 34 about the axis 23 is determined by the width W of the stop element 64, ie, the distance, or angular separation in the angle 80, between abutment surfaces 74. , 76 of the stop element 64 and also by the angular separation by the rotational limit characteristic angle 33, 32, 32 of the circumferential channel 28 formed in the cylindrical element 22 of the tap housing 12. Accordingly, the angular degree at which the the spout 34 can rotate about the axis 23 can be selected, for example, based on a selection of an appropriate combination of the width W of the stop element 64 and the angular separation by the angle 33 of the rotational limit characteristics 30, 32. In an embodiment, for example, the combination of the width W of the stop element 64 and the angular separation by the angle 33 of the rotational limit features 30, 32 can be selected for to limit the angular degree at which the spout 34 can rotate about the axis 23 to about 150 degrees. Although this invention has been described with respect to embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. By this application it was intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Additionally, this application is intended to encompass such deviations from the present disclosure as is understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and to change all limits of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A tap assembly comprising: a tap housing that includes at least one rotational limit feature positioned relative to an axis; and a spout assembly including a spout, said spout having attached thereto a stop element positioned to engage said at least one rotational limit feature when said spout rotates about said spindle.

2. The tap assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that said at least one rotational limit feature includes a first limit characteristic and a second limit characteristic, said first limit characteristic being separated from said second characteristic. of limit in a predetermined angular separation with respect to said axis.

3. The faucet assembly according to claim 2, further characterized in that said stop element includes a first stop surface that engages said first boundary feature when said jet rotates about said axis in a first rotational direction and said element The stopper includes a second stop surface that engages said second limit feature when said jet rotates about said axis in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction.

4. The faucet assembly according to claim 3, further characterized in that said first stop surface is separated from said second stop surface by another predetermined angular separation with respect to said axis.

5. The tap assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that said tap housing includes a cylindrical element having a circumferential channel defining a pair of rotational limit characteristics.

6. The tap assembly according to claim 5, further characterized in that said pair of rotational limit characteristics is positioned at a predetermined angular distance with respect to said axis.

7. The tap assembly according to claim 5, further characterized in that said circumferential channel and said pair of rotational limit features are formed in said cylindrical element by removing an annular portion of said cylindrical element.

8. The faucet assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that: said jet assembly further includes a bushing including said stop element, said bushing being attached to said jet; wherein said tap housing includes a cylindrical element having a circumferential channel defining a pair of rotational limit characteristics; and said bushing being positioned in said cylindrical element with said stop element being received in said circumferential channel between said pair of rotational limit characteristics.

9. The faucet assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that said spout assembly includes a bushing, said bushing being attached to said spout and said bushing including said stop element.

10. The tap assembly according to claim 9, further characterized in that said spout includes an annular groove and said hub includes a cantilever spring element having a flange positioned to couple said annular groove of said spout for attachment of said hub. to said supplier.

11. A bushing for a tap assembly, comprising: a cylindrical hub body having an inner side surface and an outer side surface, and an axle passing through said cylindrical body; at least one cantilever spring element formed in said cylindrical hub body, each said cantilever spring element having at its free end a flange extending inward toward said axis beyond said inner side surface; and a stop element formed as an annular ridge extending outwardly away from said axis beyond said outer side surface.

12. A method for assembling a faucet assembly, comprising: attaching a bushing having a stop element to a jet; inserting said bushing into a cylindrical element of a tap housing; and positioning said stop element between a pair of rotational limit features located in said cylindrical element.

13. The method according to claim 12, further characterized in that said spout includes an annular groove and said hub includes a cantilever spring element having a flange, the method further comprising: inserting one end of said spout into said hub; and coupling said flange of said bushing with said annular groove of said jet.

14. A method for assembling a faucet assembly, comprising: inserting an upper bushing into an upper opening of a jet housing; passing one end of a spout down through said top hub in said spout housing; installing a lower bushing on said end of said jet; and sliding said lower bushing over an elongated portion of said jet until a spring tab of said bushing engages a corresponding annular slot of said jet.

15. The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that it also comprises: inserting said lower bushing into a cylindrical element of a tap housing; positioning a stop element located on said lower hub in a circumferential channel of said cylindrical element of said tap housing; and attaching said spout housing to said tap housing.