US 4,592,388 AGranted

Connector assembly for swivel type faucet spout

AssigneeIndiana Brass, Inc.

InventorThomas J. Wilcox

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Abstract

A connector assembly for connecting a faucet body to a swivel spout. The connector assembly comprises a spout hub fixedly attached to the spout, a spout socket fixedly connected to the faucet body and rotatably received within a through passageway in the spout socket, and a resilient flexible lock ring disposed between the spout hub and spout socket. The lock ring integrally comprises a collar extending at least partially around the spout hub and a pin projecting outwardly from the collar. The lock ring collar is normally inwardly flexed and urges against the interior of the spout socket. The spout socket is provided with a side opening which receives the lock ring pin under urging from the collar. Interference contact between the spout socket and the pin within the side opening serves to limit longitudinal movement of the spout hub inside the spout socket. The connector assembly permits smooth swivel movement of the spout during faucet operation by distributing the area of moving contact between the spout hub and lock ring along the collar.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A connector assembly for connecting a faucet body to a swivel spout, comprising:

a spout hub fixedly attached to said spout and defining a first through passageway in flow communication with said spout;
a spout socket defining a second through passageway within which said spout hub is rotatably received, said spout socket connected to said faucet body so as to permit said spout to swivel relative to said faucet body as said spout hub rotates in said spout socket, said spout socket further having a side opening communicating between said second through passageway and the exterior of said spout socket;
and
a lock ring including a resilient flexible collar extending at least partially around said spout hub, said lock ring further including a pin integrally formed with and projecting outwardly from said collar, said collar urging against said spout socket along said second passageway thereby urging said pin within said side opening without said pin extending outwardly of said side opening exteriorly of said faucet, whereby, said lock ring limits longitudinal movement of said spout hub relative to said spout socket by interference contact between said spout socket and said pin within said side opening while also permitting smooth swivel movement of the spout during faucet operation by distributing the area of moving contact between said spout hub and said lock ring along said collar.

1 more element

A connector assembly for coupling a plurality of fluid conduits, comprising:

a hub fixedly attached to a first one of said fluid conduits and defining a first through passageway in flow communication with said first fluid conduit;
a socket defining a second through passageway within which said hub is rotatably received, said socket mounted to a second one of said fluid conduits so as to permit said first fluid conduit to rotate relative to said second fluid conduit as said hub rotates in said socket, said socket further having a side opening communicating between said second through passageway and the exterior of said socket;
and
a lock ring including a resilient flexible collar extending at least partially around said hub, said lock ring further including a pin integrally formed with and projecting outwardly from said collar, said collar urging against said socket along said second passageway thereby urging said pin within said side opening without said pin extending outwardly of said side opening to the exterior of said socket, whereby, said lock ring limits longitudinal movement of said hub relative to said socket by interference contact between said socket and said pin within said side opening, said lock ring also permitting smooth rotation of said second fluid conduit relative to said first fluid conduit during a flow condition by distributing the area of moving contact between said hub and said lock ring along said collar.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.