EP0275084A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Sheet flow spout
Assignee: Kohler Co
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Filing: 1988-01-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A spout (10) for providing a flow of water in the form of a sheet is disclosed. Water from a supply pipe (p) is diverted orthogonally in two directions as it enters a reservoir inside the spout. Water pooled in the reservoir (37) spills over a weir (46) to form a sheet-shaped flow stream as it flows down the weir. The weir has a raised section (50) which helps define a flow chamber (54) to promote and develop a stream which maintains a sheet shape even relatively great distances from the spout.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Gaffney
- 👤 Patrick S. Wahlen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:17
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/02; B05B1/04; B05B1/044; E; E03; E03C; E03C1/00; E03C1/02; E03C1/04; E03C1/0404; E03C1/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A spout connectable to a water supply pipe for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet and having a flow surface past which the water flows and then exits the spout, characterized in that a center section of the flow surface is raised relative to side sections of the flow surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A spout connectable to a water supply pipe for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet and having a flow surface past which the water flows and then exits the spout, characterized in that a center section of the flow surface is raised relative to side sections of the flow surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spout of claim 1, characterized in that the flow surface, preferably the center section thereof, diverges in width in the direction of flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The spout of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the center section of the flow surface is arcuate in each of two orthogonal directions, and wherein one of said directions is in the direction of flow and the other of said directions is transverse to the direction of flow, said spout further characterized in that a first radius preferably defines the center section in the flow direction to be concave up, and a second radius preferably defines the center section in the transverse direction to be convex up.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The spout of any of claims 1 to 3, characterized by wall means in combination with the flow surface defining a flow chamber, the center section of the flow surface making the flow chamber thinner in the area of the center section than at the sides of the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The spout of claim 4, characterized in that the flow chamber defines an elongated mouth through which the water exits the flow chamber and the center section is adjacent to the mouth so that the mouth is thinner in the center than at the sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The spout of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the wall means is in the form of a surface opposite from the flow surface with at least a portion of said wall surface converging toward the flow surface in the direction of flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A spout connectable to a water supply pipe for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet and having a flow chamber through which the water flows and then exits the spout, characterized in that a center section of the flow chamber is thinner than the side sections of the flow chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A spout connectable to a water supply pipe for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet and having a flow chamber through which the water flows and then exits the spout, characterized in that a center section of the flow chamber is thinner than the side sections of the flow chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The spout of claim 7, wherein the flow chamber defines a mouth through which the flow stream exits the spout and the flow chamber diverges in width in the direction of flow preferably up to the mouth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The spout of claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the chamber defines an elongated mouth through which the water exits the chamber and the center section is adjacent to the mouth so that the mouth is thinner in the center than at the sides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spout of claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the flow chamber is defined at least in part by two surfaces which converge toward one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A spout for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet, of the type having an inlet for admitting a flow of water and an elongated outlet for permitting the water to exit the spout, characterized in that the outlet is narrower in the central region of the outlet than at the outer regions of the outlet, whereby the narrowing assists in inhibiting the exiting sheet of water for collapsing toward the center of the water stream.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A spout for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet, of the type having an inlet for admitting a flow of water and an elongated outlet for permitting the water to exit the spout, characterized in that the outlet is narrower in the central region of the outlet than at the outer regions of the outlet, whereby the narrowing assists in inhibiting the exiting sheet of water for collapsing toward the center of the water stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spout of claim 11, characterized in that the outlet is in the shape of a single concave lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
A spout for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet, characterized by a reservoir for pooling a flow of water, inlet means for admitting a flow of water to the reservoir, an elongated outlet for permitting the water to exit the spout, a weir having a crest in communication with the reservoir and a flow surface extending from the crest to the outlet, means in combination with the flow surface defining a flow chamber, at least a portion of said flow chamber being thinner in the central region than at the side regions, and wherein water pooled in the reservoir flows past the crest and the flow surface to exit the spout through the outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
A spout for providing a flow of water in the shape of a sheet, characterized by a reservoir for pooling a flow of water, inlet means for admitting a flow of water to the reservoir, an elongated outlet for permitting the water to exit the spout, a weir having a crest in communication with the reservoir and a flow surface extending from the crest to the outlet, means in combination with the flow surface defining a flow chamber, at least a portion of said flow chamber being thinner in the central region than at the side regions, and wherein water pooled in the reservoir flows past the crest and the flow surface to exit the spout through the outlet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The spout of claim 13, characterized in that a central section of the flow surface is raised to define the thinner region of the flow chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spout of claim 13, or 14, characterized in that the flow surface diverges in width in the direction of flow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The spout of claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the water is diverted in two opposite directions orthogonal to the flow of water through the inlet means upon entering the reservoir.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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