IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,915,817
Granted Patent B2
US 6,915,817 · App. 10/428,203 · Granted Jul 12, 2005

Moveable hose retractor for a pull-out faucet

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,915,817
App. No.
10/428,203
Granted
Jul 12, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a device comprising a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with a pull-out hose, said hose retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of said hose retractor defining a conic segment having a focal point and a conic segment radius measured from said focal point.

Claims (47)

1. A device comprising: a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with a pull-out hose, said hose retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of said hose retractor defining a conic segment having a focal point and a conic segment radius measured from said focal point, wherein a static coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose retractor and a surface of the pull-out hose is less than about 0.20.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said static coefficient of friction is less than about 0.15.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said static coefficient of friction is less than about 0.10.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said static coefficient of friction is less than about 0.075.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said hose retractor is slideably coupleable to the pull-out hose.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said hose retractor is adapted to slideably surround a portion of the pull-out hose.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said hose retractor comprises a polymer-encased metallic core.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said conic segment radius is greater than a minimum bending radius of the pull-out hose.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said conic segment radius is less than a minimum bending radius of the pull-out hose.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said conic segment radius is approximately equal to a minimum bending radius of the pull-out hose.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said hose retractor has a hose retractor mass greater than a combined mass of a fluid dispensing device, a first portion of the pull-out hose located between said hose retractor and the fluid dispensing device, and a fluid contained within the first portion, said hose retractor mass less than a deformation mass required to dysfunctionally deform the pull-out hose when said hose retractor mass is applied over an area defined by contact of said hose retractor mass with the pull-out hose.

12. A system comprising:

a pull-out hose; and

a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with said pull-out hose, said hose retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of said pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of said hose retractor defining a conic segment.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said pull-out hose is connectable to a moveable fluid flow regulation device at a first terminal end of said pull-out hose.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein said pull-out hose is connectable to a fluid dispensing device at a second terminal end of said hose.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the pull-out hose is connectable to a moveable faucet at a first terminal end of said pull-out hose.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the pull-out hose is connectable to a moveable spray nozzle at a first terminal end of said pull-out hose.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein said pull-out hose is connectable to a pipe at a second terminal end of said hose.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein said hose retractor has a hose retractor mass greater than a combined mass of a fluid dispensing device, a first portion of said pull-out hose located between said hose retractor and the fluid dispensing device, a fluid contained within said first portion, said hose retractor mass less than a mass required to dysfunctionally deform said pull-out hose when said hose retractor mass is applied over an area defined by contact of said hose retractor mass with said pull-out hose.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein a static coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose retractor and a surface of the pull-out hose is less than about 0.18.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein a static coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose retractor and a surface of the pull-out hose is less than about 0.12.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein a static coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose retractor end a surface of the pull-out hose is less than about 0.09.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein a static coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose retractor and a surface of the pull-out hose is less than about 0.06.

23. A method of providing a pull-out hose and a hose retraction device comprising the activities of:

providing a pull-out hose; and

providing a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with the pull-out hose, the hose retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of the hose retractor defining a conic segment.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising inserting the pull-out hose through the passage of the hose retractor.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising attaching a first terminal end of the hose to a fluid flow regulation device.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising attaching a second terminal end of the hose to a fixed fluid dispensing device.

27. The method of claim 25 , further comprising placing the fluid flow regulation device in an initial position of rest.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising repositioning the fluid flow regulation device in a desired position away from an initial position.

29. The method of claim 25 , further comprising allowing the hose retractor to assist with returning the fluid flow regulation device from a desired position to an initial position.

30. The method of claim 23 , further comprising allowing the hose retractor to slide along the pull-out hose.

31. The method of claim 23 , wherein the contact coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose refractor and a surface of the pull-out hose is sufficiently low in friction to allow said hose retractor to freely slide along the pull-out hose.

32. The method of claim 23 , wherein said hose retractor has a hose retractor mass greater than a combined mass of a first portion of the pull-out hose located between the hose retractor and a fluid dispensing device, a fluid contained within the first portion, and the fluid dispensing device, said hose retractor mass less than a mass required to dysfunctlonally deform the pull-out hose when said hose retractor mass is applied over an area defined by contact of said hose retractor mass with the pull-out hose.

33. A method of retracting a pull-out hose comprising the activities of:

inserting a pull-out hose through a passage defined by a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with the pull-out hose, defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of the hose retractor defining a conic segment;

attaching a first terminal end of the pull-out hose to a fluid flow regulation device;

attaching a second terminal end of the pull-out hose to a fixed fluid dispensing device;

positioning the pull-out hose in a manner that allows the hose retractor to freely slide to a position between the first terminal end of the pull-out hose and the second fixed terminal end of the pull-out hose.

34. The method of claim 33 , further comprising slideably coupling the hose retractor to the pull out hose.

35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the contact coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said hose retractor and a surface of the pull-out hose is sufficiently low in friction to allow said hose retractor to freely slide along the pull-out hose.

36. The method of claim 33 , wherein said hose retractor has a hose retractor mass greater than a combined mass of a first portion of the pull-out hose located between the hose retractor and a fluid dispensing device, a fluid contained within the first portion, and the fluid dispensing device, said hose retractor mass less than a mass required to dysfunctionally deform the pull-out hose when said hose retractor mass is applied over an area defined by contact of said hose retractor mass with the pull-out hose.

37. A device comprising: a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with a pull-out hose, said hose retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of said hose retractor defining a retractor inner radius of curvature greater than a minimum bending radius of the pull-out hose.

38. A device comprising: a unitary toroidal hose retractor for use with a pull-out hose, said hose retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the pull-out hose, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of said hose retractor defining a conic segment having a focal point and a conic segment radius measured from said focal point, said conic segment radius equal to or less than a minimum bending radius of the pull-out hose.

39. A device comprising: a unitary toroidal retractor for use with a elongate flexible member, said retractor defining a passage there-through having a passage width greater than an outer width of the elongated flexible member, an inner portion of a radial cross-section of said retractor defining a conic segment having a focal point and a conic segment radius measured from said focal point wherein a static coefficient of friction between a surface of said inner portion of the radial cross-section of said retrector and a surface of the elongated flexible member is less than about 0.30.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064029/0313 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 22, 2016
From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039116/0806 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 036052/0845 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2013
From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 029731/0589 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029538/0186 →