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US 12,729,521 B2Granted
Faucet bearing assembly
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsPerry D. Erickson, Steven Thomas Radder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid delivery system including a first and a second faucet tube coupled with a swivel bearing assembly wherein the first faucet tube is rotatable relative the second faucet tube about the swivel bearing and a portion of the swivel bearing is configured to be at least partially tapered at a distal end to provide a sealing resistance between a fastener and a coupling member of the swivel bearing assembly.
Claims18
A fluid delivery system, comprising:
- a faucet spout having a first faucet tube and a second faucet tube;
- and
- a swivel bearing assembly coupled to the first and second faucet tubes, the swivel bearing assembly having a first swivel bearing and a fastener extending from the first faucet tube to the second faucet tube,
- wherein the first faucet tube is rotatable relative to the second faucet tube about the first swivel bearing, wherein the fastener exerts a pressure against the first swivel bearing to secure the swivel bearing assembly within the first and second faucet tubes, and
- wherein a portion of the first swivel bearing is at least partially tapered at a distal end to provide a sealing resistance between the fastener and a coupling member positioned within the second faucet tube, wherein the fastener extends the tapered distal end of the first swivel bearing from a relaxed position to an extended position to secure the swivel bearing assembly within the first and second faucet tubes.
2 more elements
A swivel bearing assembly for use with a fluid delivery system having a faucet spout with a first faucet tube and a second faucet tube, comprising:
- a fastener defining a flow passageway;
- a coupling member proximate the fastener;
- and
- a first swivel bearing positioned between the fastener and the coupling member,
- wherein the fastener extends through the coupling member and the first swivel bearing, wherein fluid is configured to flow through the flow passageway of the fastener when used with a fluid delivery system,
- wherein the swivel bearing assembly is configured to enable rotation between a first faucet tube relative to a second faucet tube, thereby enabling swivel motion of a faucet spout during fluid flow from the first faucet tube to the second faucet tube through the swivel bearing assembly, and
- wherein a portion of the first swivel bearing is at least partially tapered at a distal end to provide a sealing resistance between the fastener and the coupling member, wherein the fastener extends the tapered distal end of the first swivel bearing from a relaxed position to an extended position to secure the swivel bearing assembly within the first and second faucet tubes.
4 more elements
A method for rotatably repositioning a fluid outlet system, comprising:
- providing a fluid delivery system comprising a faucet spout having a first faucet tube and a second faucet tube, the fluid delivery system further comprising a swivel bearing assembly coupled to the first and second faucet tubes, the swivel bearing assembly having a first swivel bearing and a fastener extending from the first faucet tube to the second faucet tube, wherein the fastener exerts a pressure against the first swivel bearing to secure the swivel bearing assembly within the first and second faucet tubes, wherein a portion of the first swivel bearing is at least partially tapered at a distal end to provide a sealing resistance between the fastener and the coupling member, wherein the fastener extends the tapered distal end of the first swivel bearing from a relaxed position to an extended position to secure the swivel bearing assembly within the first and second faucet tubes;
- and
- rotating the first faucet tube relative to the second faucet tube about the first swivel bearing, thereby enabling swivel motion of the faucet spout during fluid flow from the first faucet tube to the second faucet tube through the swivel bearing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.