IP Library Granted Patent US 7,070,125
Granted Patent B2
US 7,070,125 · App. 10/439,355 · Granted Jul 4, 2006

Multi-pattern pull-out spray head

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,070,125
App. No.
10/439,355
Granted
Jul 4, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A faucet head having a multi-pattern head and a fluid diversion system. The multi-pattern head has a stream outlet, a first spray outlet, and a second spray outlet. The fluid diversion system comprises a first valve, a second valve, and a water supply input. A first discharge pattern is characterized by the fluid diversion system connecting the stream outlet to the water supply input. A second discharge pattern is characterized by the fluid diversion system connecting the first spray outlet to the water supply input. A third discharge pattern is characterized by the fluid diversion system connecting the first spray outlet and the second spray outlet to the water supply input.

Claims (80)

1. A faucet head comprising:

a housing having a housing inlet, an intermediate flow path, a first outlet flow path, a second outlet flow path and a third outlet flow path;

a first valve operable in a first mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the first outlet flow path and operable in a second mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the intermediate flow path, the first valve having a first spring biasing the first valve in the first mode;

a second valve operable in a third mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second outlet flow path when the first valve is in the second mode, the second valve operable in a fourth mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second and third outlet flow paths simultaneously when the first valve is in the second mode, said second valve being inoperable when said first valve is in said first mode; and

a spray head having a first outlet in fluid communication with the first outlet flow path, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second flow path and a third outlet in fluid communication with the third outlet flow path.

2. The faucet head of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet comprises an aerator assembly.

3. The faucet head of claim 1 , wherein the second outlet comprises an annular outlet assembly.

4. The faucet head of claim 3 , wherein the annular outlet assembly defines a plurality of apertures adapted to produce a high velocity spray.

5. The faucet head of claim 3 , wherein the third outlet comprises a second annular outlet assembly.

6. The faucet head of claim 5 , wherein the second annular outlet assembly defines a plurality of orifices, the plurality of orifices in combination with the plurality of apertures adapted to produce a low velocity spray.

7. The faucet head of claim 1 , wherein the second valve further includes a second spring biasing the second valve in the third mode.

8. A pull-out head of the type having a housing and a fluid diversion system, said fluid diversion system comprising:

a first flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from an inlet to a first outlet;

a first valve interposed in said first flow path between said inlet and said first outlet, the first valve having a first spring biasing the first valve in a first position;

a second flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said first valve to a second outlet;

a second valve interposed in said second flow path between said first valve and said second outlet;

a third flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said second valve to a third outlet;

wherein said first valve is operable in a first position to provide fluid communication from said inlet through said first flow path to said first outlet and a second position to provide fluid communication from said inlet to said second flow path; and

wherein said second valve independent from said first valve is operable in a third position to provide fluid communication from said first valve to said second outlet through said second flow path and a fourth position to provide fluid communication from said first valve through said third flow path to said third outlet.

9. The pull-out head of claim 8 wherein said first outlet comprises an aerator assembly.

10. The pull-out head of claim 8 wherein said second outlet comprises a plurality of apertures formed in said housing in a generally circular arrangement.

11. The pull-out head of claim 10 wherein said third outlet comprises a plurality of apertures formed in said housing in a generally circular arrangement.

12. The faucet of claim 8 , wherein the second valve further includes a second spring, the second spring biasing the second valve in the third position.

13. The faucet of claim 8 , wherein the first valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the first valve in the first position and wherein the second valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the second valve in the third position.

14. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body having a flow control valve assembly operable to provide temperature control and flow regulation of a fluid;

a pull-out head adapted to be displaced from said faucet body, said pull-out head including:

a housing;

a first component releaseably secured in said housing and in fluid communication with said flow control valve, said first component including a first valve element movable between a first position and a second position; wherein the first valve is spring biased to the first position,

a second component releaseably secured in said housing and in fluid communication with said first component, said second component having a second valve element moveable between a third position and a fourth position;

a multi-pattern head disposed in said housing and in fluid communication with said second component, said multi-pattern head having a stream outlet, a first spray outlet and a second spray outlet;

wherein said pull-out head is operable in a stream mode for emitting said fluid from said stream outlet when said first valve element is in said first position, a first spray mode for emitting said fluid from said first spray outlet when said first valve element is in said second position and said second valve element is in said third position and a second spray mode for emitting said fluid from said second spray outlet when said first valve element is in said second position and said second valve element is in said fourth position.

15. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said pull-out head further comprises an inlet component releaseably secured in said housing and providing fluid communication between said flow control valve and said first module.

16. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said pull-out head further comprises an outlet component releaseably secured in said housing and providing fluid communication between said second module and said multi-pattern head.

17. The faucet of claim 14 further comprising a flexible hose interconnecting said flow control valve and said pull-out head to permit said pull-out head to be displaced from said faucet body.

18. The faucet of claim 14 wherein said pull-out head is operable in said second spray mode to emit said fluid from said first and second spray outlets when said first valve element is in said second position and said second valve element is in said fourth position.

19. The faucet of claim 14 further comprising a first switch supported for rocking movement in said housing, said first switch coupled to said first valve to move said first valve element between said first position and said second position.

20. The faucet of claim 19 wherein said housing has a longitudinal axis and said first switch rocks about a pivot axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

21. The faucet of claim 14 further comprising a second switch supported for sliding movement in said housing, said second switch coupled to said second valve to move said second valve element between said third position and said fourth position.

22. The faucet of claim 21 wherein said housing has a longitudinal axis and said second switch sliding within said housing about an axis generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

23. A method of operating a pull-out head of a faucet in multiple modes, the method comprising:

manipulating a first valve to a first position to emit water from a stream outlet in a stream mode; wherein the first valve is spring biased to be in the stream mode;

manipulating said first valve to a second position to emit water from a first spray outlet in a first spray mode when a second valve is in a third position; and

manipulating said second valve to a fourth position when said first valve is in said second position to emit water from a second spray outlet in a second spray mode.

24. The method of operating a pull-out head of a faucet of claim 23 wherein manipulating said second valve to said fourth position emits water from said first and second spray outlets in said second spray mode.

25. A faucet comprising:

a housing, adapted to be manipulated by a user;

a first module adapted to connect to a water supply

a second module having a first valve switchable between a first position and a second position;

a third module having a second valve switchable between a third position and a fourth position;

a fourth module;

a multi-pattern head adapted to emit a fluid; the multi-pattern head having a first pattern output, a second pattern output and a third pattern output;

the second module fluidly connects the first module to the third module;

the fourth module fluidly connects the third module to the multi-pattern head;

the first valve in the first position fluidly communicating the fluid to the first pattern output;

the first valve in the second position fluidly communicating the fluid to one of the second pattern output, the third pattern output, or combinations thereof;

the second valve in the third position fluidly communicating the fluid to the second pattern output; and

the second valve in the fourth position fluidly communicating the fluid to the second pattern output and the third pattern output.

26. The faucet of claim 25 , wherein the first module removably secures to the second module to secure said first module and said second module in said housing.

27. A faucet head comprising:

a housing having a housing inlet, an intermediate flow path, a first outlet flow path, a second outlet flow path and a third outlet flow path;

a first valve operable in a first mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the first outlet flow path and operable in a second mode to enable fluid communication between the housing inlet and the intermediate flow path;

a second valve operable in a third mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second outlet flow path when the first valve is in the second mode, the second valve operable in a fourth mode to enable fluid communication between the intermediate flow path and the second and third outlet flow paths simultaneously when the first valve is in the second mode, the second valve being inoperable when said first valve is in said first mode, wherein the second valve further includes a second spring biasing the second valve in the third mode; and

a spray head having a first outlet in fluid communication with the first outlet flow path, a second outlet in fluid communication with the second flow path and a third outlet in fluid communication with the third outlet flow path.

28. A pull-out head of the type having a housing and a fluid diversion system, said fluid diversion system comprising:

a first flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from an inlet to a first outlet;

a first valve interposed in said first flow path between said inlet and said first outlet;

a second flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said first valve to a second outlet;

a second valve interposed in said second flow path between said first valve and said second outlet wherein the second valve further includes a second spring, the second spring biasing the second valve in the third position;

a third flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said second valve to a third outlet;

wherein said first valve is operable in a first position to provide fluid communication from said inlet through said first flow path to said first outlet and a second position to provide fluid communication from said inlet to said second flow path; and

wherein said second valve independent from said first valve is operable in a third position to provide fluid communication from said first valve to said second outlet through said second flow path and a fourth position to provide fluid communication from said first valve through said third flow path to said third outlet.

29. A pull-out head of the type having a housing and a fluid diversion system, said fluid diversion system comprising:

a first flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from an inlet to a first outlet;

a first valve interposed in said first flow path between said inlet and said first outlet, wherein the first valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the first valve in the first position;

a second flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said first valve to a second outlet;

a second valve interposed in said second flow path between said first valve and said second outlet, wherein the second valve is configured so that a fluid pressure in the faucet maintains the second valve in the third position;

a third flow path formed in said housing to provide fluid communication from said second valve to a third outlet;

wherein said first valve is operable in a first position to provide fluid communication from said inlet through said first flow path to said first outlet and a second position to provide fluid communication from said inlet to said second flow path; and

wherein said second valve independent from said first valve is operable in a third position to provide fluid communication from said first valve to said second outlet through said second flow path and a fourth position to provide fluid communication from said first valve through said third flow path to said third outlet.

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 →