IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,505,929
Granted Patent B2
US 11,505,929 · App. 17/205,073 · Granted Nov 22, 2022

Tub spout diverter seal member

Inventors: Shashank Varma (Sheboygan, WI); Matthew J. Ball (Sheboygan, WI); Andrew D. Wieberdink (Cedar Grove, WI); Evan Yee (Grafton, WI); Kellen D. Beauchesne (Spring Green, WI)
Assignee: KOHLER CO.
E03C1/0404E03C1/042E03C1/0408E03C2201/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,505,929
App. No.
17/205,073
Granted
Nov 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure includes a central body, a first seal extension, and a second seal extension. The central body includes a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body. The first seal extension extends from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture. The first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end. The extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension. The second seal extension extends from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture.

Claims (39)

1. A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure, the diverter seal member comprising:

a central body including a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body;

a first seal extension extending from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture, wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the first extension side and the second extension side extend at oblique angles toward each other and converge together at the extension end; and

a second seal extension extending from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture;

wherein the first seal extension has a substantially triangular cross-section, and wherein the extension end engages an inner wall of the tub spout structure.

2. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the extension end forms an edge of the first seal extension that extends substantially parallel to the first side of the central body.

3. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the first extension side and the second extension side each extend substantially linearly between the first side of the central body and the extension end.

4. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, an end, and an outer protrusion,

wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension,

wherein the outer protrusion protrudes radially outwardly from the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension, wherein the outer protrusion has a first protrusion side, a second protrusion side, and a protrusion end, wherein the protrusion end of the outer protrusion extends substantially perpendicularly to the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion.

5. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, an end, and an outer protrusion,

wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension,

wherein the outer protrusion protrudes radially outwardly from the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension, wherein the outer protrusion has a first protrusion side, a second protrusion side, and a protrusion end, wherein the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion extend at oblique angles towards each other from the outer side of the second seal extension and converge together at the protrusion end.

6. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, and an end,

wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension,

wherein the second seal extension does not include any protrusions along the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension.

7. The diverter seal member of claim 1 , wherein at least one of an outer side and an inner side of the second seal extension extends at an oblique angle relative to and from the second side of the central body.

8. A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure, the diverter seal member comprising:

a central body including a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body;

a first seal extension extending from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture; and

a second seal extension extending from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture, wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, an end, and an outer protrusion,

wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension,

wherein the outer protrusion protrudes radially outwardly from the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension, wherein the outer protrusion has a first protrusion side, a second protrusion side, and a protrusion end, wherein the protrusion end of the outer protrusion extends substantially perpendicularly to the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion.

9. The diverter seal member of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion end extends substantially parallel to the outer side of the second seal extension.

10. The diverter seal member of claim 8 , wherein the outer protrusion has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

11. The diverter seal member of claim 8 , wherein the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side each extend substantially linearly between the outer side of the second seal extension and the protrusion end.

12. The diverter seal member of claim 8 , wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the first extension side and the second extension side extend at oblique angles toward each other and converge together at the extension end.

13. The diverter seal member of claim 8 , wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension.

14. A diverter seal member for a diverter structure of a tub spout structure, the diverter seal member comprising:

a central body including a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending completely through the central body between the first side and the second side of the central body;

a first seal extension extending from the first side of the central body and around a central axis that extends axially through a center of the aperture; and

a second seal extension extending from the second side of the central body around the central axis of the aperture, wherein the second seal extension includes an outer side, an inner side, a base, an end, and an outer protrusion,

wherein the inner side is positioned radially inward from the outer side, wherein the base is positioned along the second side of the central body, wherein the end is positioned opposite to the base of the second seal extension,

wherein the outer protrusion protrudes radially outwardly from the outer side between the base and the end of the second seal extension, wherein the outer protrusion has a first protrusion side, a second protrusion side, and a protrusion end, wherein the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side of the outer protrusion extend at oblique angles towards each other from the outer side of the second seal extension and converge together at the protrusion end.

15. The diverter seal member of claim 14 , wherein the protrusion end forms an edge of the outer protrusion that extends substantially parallel to the outer side of the second seal extension.

16. The diverter seal member of claim 14 , wherein the outer protrusion has a substantially triangular cross-section.

17. The diverter seal member of claim 14 , wherein the first protrusion side and the second protrusion side each extend substantially linearly between the outer side of the second seal extension and the protrusion end.

18. The diverter seal member of claim 14 , wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the first extension side and the second extension side extend at oblique angles toward each other and converge together at the extension end.

19. The diverter seal member of claim 14 , wherein the first seal extension includes a first extension side, a second extension side, and an extension end, wherein the extension end of the first seal extension extends substantially perpendicularly to the first extension side and the second extension side of the first seal extension.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: VARMA, SHASHANK; BALL, MATTHEW J.; WIEBERDINK, ANDREW D.; YEE, EVAN; BEAUCHESNE, KELLEN D.
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 055634/0521 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16101873 · Aug 13, 2018
Related Publication 20210198875A1 · Jul 1, 2021