Magnetic docking faucet

摘要

A faucet includes a spout and a sprayhead movable between a docked position, in which the sprayhead is in contact with the spout, and an undocked position, in which the sprayhead is spaced apart from the spout. The faucet also includes a hose that includes a tubular portion having an inlet end and an outlet end and configured to provide fluid through the spout to the sprayhead and a magnetically responsive end portion coupled to the outlet end and configured to be freely and rotatably received within a portion of the sprayhead. A magnet is located in the spout such that when the sprayhead is in the docked position, the magnet magnetically attracts the magnetically responsive end portion of the hose so as to retain the sprayhead against the spout.

主权项

1. A faucet comprising:
a sprayhead; a spout; a hose assembly comprising:
a hose passing through the spout, the hose having a first end for receiving fluid from a fluid source and a second end for providing the fluid to the sprayhead;a ball rotatably coupled to the sprayhead; anda magnetically responsive ferrule securing the ball to the second end of the hose; a magnet located in the spout and configured such that when the sprayhead is brought toward the spout, the ferrule magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby generating sufficient magnetic force upon the ferrule to retain the sprayhead against the spout; and a docking assembly supported in the spout, the docking assembly comprising:
a retaining portion configured to support the magnet; anda receiving portion configured to receive a socket of the sprayhead when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout and comprises an annular groove configured to receive an o-ring, the o-ring also received in a corresponding annular groove in the spout, thereby securing the docking assembly to the spout.