Kohler Company

Jacob R Frye

Rodney L Weekley

Gregory De Swarte

Drew Johnson

Gabriel M Niederlander

David Wortelboer

Gary N Clarke

William Robert Bares

Brian J Mooren

Perry D Erickson

Si He

Tonggang Pan

Luke Tian

Ryan Leichty

A faucet system includes a housing assembly configured to be coupled to a ceiling structure, wherein the housing includes a mixing valve disposed therein. The faucet system further includes a hose assembly coupled to the housing assembly. The hose assembly includes a flexible hose being fluidly coupled to the mixing valve and configured to hang below the housing assembly, a rotatable arm coupled to the housing assembly, and a control knob communicably coupled to the mixing valve. The rotatable arm is configured to facilitate rotation and adjustment of the hose and the control knob configured to control at least one of a temperature or a flow of water within the faucet system.

Ceiling mounted kitchen faucet

Disclosed is a bearing configured to couple a faucet spout to a faucet body. The bearing includes a plurality of fingers extending parallel to a central axis of the bearing. The plurality of fingers is configured to engage with the faucet spout at an intermediate position between a first end of the bearing and a second end of the bearing. The fingers are configured to exert an outward pressure to the faucet spout. The fingers are also configured to compress in a substantially axial direction.

Axially compressible bearing

A faucet mounting assembly for a faucet includes a conical nut and a receiving clip. The conical nut is coupled to a nozzle. The receiving clip is coupled to an inner surface of the faucet and is configured to receive the conical nut within. The receiving clip includes a substantially annular base, one or more tabs and a slot. The one or more tabs including fixed ends fixed to the substantially annular base and free ends opposite the fixed ends and bounded by the slot. The one or more tabs are configured to flex radially between a non-flexed position and a flexed position. The one or more tabs flex into the flexed position when the conical nut is repositioned in and out of engagement with the receiving clip and return to the non-flexed position when the conical nut is seated within the receiving clip.

Spray head retraction assembly

A faucet configured for single-hole installation includes a center body within which a connector body defining hot and cold water inlets and an outlet is supported. A pair of side bodies are attached to the center body about opposite sides of the center body. Bridges including flow paths extend between and connect each side body to the center body. A valve supported within the first side body fluidly couples the hot water inlet with the outlet via the flow path of the first bridge responsive to rotation of a handle supported by the first side body. A valve supported within the second side body fluidly couples the cold water inlet with the outlet via the flow path of the second bridge responsive to rotation of a handle supported by the second side body.

Bridge-style faucet for single-hole installation

Faucet

A faucet that includes a base; a collar extending from the base, wherein the collar is rotatable relative to the base about a longitudinal axis; a control arm comprising a first end movably coupled to the collar and a second end opposite the first end; a sprayhead configured to emit water; a magnetic spheroidal joint comprising a ball and a socket, wherein at least one of the ball and the socket is magnetic and attracts the other of the ball and the socket through a magnetic force, one of the ball and the socket is coupled to the sprayhead, and the other of the ball and the socket is coupled to the second end of the control arm; and a flexible hose separate from the control arm and configured to fluidly connect the sprayhead and the base.

A faucet that includes a base, a sprayhead, a flexible hose and a control arm. The base is mountable to a mounting surface. The sprayhead is movable relative to the base and is configured to emit water in at least one spray pattern. The flexible hose connects the sprayhead and the base. The control arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally connected to the base to allow rotation of the control arm relative to the base, and wherein the second end is detachably coupled to the sprayhead such that in a docked position, movement of the control arm moves the sprayhead relative to the base, and such that in a detached position, the sprayhead is movable relative to the base and the control arm.

Faucet including control arm

A weight for a faucet hose includes a body defining a channel extending therethrough, the channel having a non-linear axis, wherein the channel is configured to receive and frictionally engage a hose.

Growing community of inventors

Sheboygan, WI, United States of America

Jacob R Frye