Faucet with orientation-based flow rate control
OwnerRandolph Henry Gerner, Ryan Christopher Tatzelinventors
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Abstract
A faucet is disclosed comprising a main body having a lower inlet operative to receive a waterway and an upper outlet. A spout has a first portion connected to the upper outlet of the main body and operative to receive water flowing from the waterway, and a second portion extending along a plane outward from the main body and operative to allow water from the waterway to flow therethrough. A spout tip connected to the second portion of the spout provides an exit for water flowing from the waterway. A flow rate controller is connected to at least one of the spout or the spout tip to provide for maintaining or adjusting a flow rate of water flowing through the exit as at least one of the spout or the spout tip pivots in response to a user input.
Claims24
A faucet comprising:
- a main body having a lower inlet operative to receive a waterway and an upper outlet;
- a spout having a first portion connected to the upper outlet of the main body and operative to receive water flowing from the waterway and a second portion extending along a plane outward from the main body and operative to allow water from the waterway to flow therethrough, wherein the spout is operative to pivot around a first axis in response to a first user input;
- a spout tip connected to the second portion of the spout, the spout tip providing an exit for water flowing from the waterway, wherein the spout tip is operative to rotate with 360 degrees of freedom around a second axis in response to a second user input;
- and
- a flow rate controller connected to at least one of the spout or spout tip and operative to provide for maintaining or adjusting a flow rate of water flowing through the exit in response to at least one of the spout pivoting around the first axis or the spout tip pivoting around the second axis.
A method of manufacturing a faucet, the method comprising:
- providing a main body having a lower inlet operative to receive a waterway and an upper outlet;
- providing a spout having a first portion connected to the upper outlet of the main body and operative to receive water flowing from the waterway and a second portion extending along a plane outward from the main body and operative to allow water from the waterway to flow therethrough, wherein the spout is operative to pivot around a first axis in response to a first user input;
- providing a spout tip connected to the second portion of the spout, the spout tip providing an exit for water flowing from the waterway, wherein the spout tip is operative to rotate with 360 degrees of freedom around a second axis in response to a second user input;
- and
- providing a flow rate controller connected to at least one of the spout or spout tip and operative to provide for adjusting a flow rate of water flowing through the exit in response to at least one of the spout pivoting around the first axis or the spout tip pivoting around the second axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.