Foldable faucet assembly

Abstract

A faucet assembly constructed with a plug and socket arrangement, suitable for use in a bathtub, shower, or basin. The plug may be a ball or cylinder and the socket may be spherical receptacle or a drum. The spout is configured to rotate out of the way when struck by a falling or moving object. A diverter channel may be provided to redirect water flow from the faucet spout to a shower head when the spout is rotated away from a tub filling position.

1 . A faucet assembly for installation on a substantially vertical surface, comprising: 
 a socket having (a) a wall, (b) a cup formed at least in part by the wall, (c) a socket inlet bore having a first end configured for attachment to a water source and a second end that terminates in the cup, and (d) a slot formed in the wall, the slot having a first extension limit and a second extension limit;    a rotatable plug disposed in the cup, the rotatable plug having a plug bore and the rotatable plug being sized to fit snugly in the cup;    a spout having a discharge passage that is in fluid communication with the plug bore, wherein the spout is attached to the rotatable plug through the slot and wherein the spout is rotatable between an extended position adjacent the first extension limit of the slot to an unextended position adjacent the second extension limit of the slot and wherein the position of the spout adjacent the second extension limit of the slot is downwardly directed to the unextended position;    wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are in fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the first extension limit of the slot and wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are out of fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot.    
   
   
       2 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the socket further comprises a socket outlet bore and the rotatable plug further comprises a diversion passage, wherein when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot, the socket inlet bore and the socket outlet bore are in fluid communication through the diversion passage.  
   
   
       3 . The faucet assembly of  claim 2  wherein the first extension limit of the slot is positioned whereby the spout is rotatable to an extended position having an inclination angle not more than approximately forty-five degrees above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface.  
   
   
       4 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first extension limit of the slot is positioned whereby the spout is rotatable to an extended position having an inclination angle not more than approximately forty-five degrees above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface.  
   
   
       5 . A faucet assembly for installation on a substantially vertical surface, comprising: 
 a socket having (a) a wall, (b) a cup formed at least in part by the wall, (c) a socket inlet bore having a first end configured for attachment to a water source and a second end that terminates in the cup, and (d) a slot formed in the wall, the slot having a first extension limit and a second extension limit;    a rotatable plug disposed in the cup, the rotatable plug having a plug bore and the rotatable plug being sized to fit snugly in the cup and to rotate smoothly in the cup;    a spout having a discharge passage that is in fluid communication with the plug bore, wherein the spout is attached to the rotatable plug through the slot and wherein the spout is smoothly rotatable between an extended position adjacent the first extension limit of the slot to an unextended position adjacent the second extension limit of the slot and wherein the position of the spout adjacent the second extension limit of the slot is downwardly directed to the unextended position;    wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are in fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the first extension limit of the slot.    
   
   
       6 . The faucet assembly of  claim 5  wherein the socket further comprises a socket outlet bore and the rotatable plug further comprises a diversion passage, wherein when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot, the socket inlet bore and the socket outlet bore are in fluid communication through the diversion passage.  
   
   
       7 . The faucet assembly of  claim 6  wherein the first extension limit of the slot is positioned whereby the spout is rotatable to an extended position having an inclination angle not more than approximately forty-five degrees above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface.  
   
   
       8 . The faucet assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first extension limit of the slot is positioned whereby the spout is rotatable to an extended position having an inclination angle not more than approximately forty-five degrees above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface.  
   
   
       9 . The faucet assembly of  claim 8  wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are out of fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot.  
   
   
       10 . The faucet assembly of  claim 5  wherein the first extension limit of the slot is positioned whereby the spout is rotatable to an extended position having an inclination angle not more than approximately forty-five degrees above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface.  
   
   
       11 . The faucet assembly of  claim 10  wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are out of fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot.  
   
   
       12 . The faucet assembly of  claim 5  wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are out of fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot.  
   
   
       13 . A faucet assembly for installation on a substantially vertical surface, comprising: 
 a socket having (a) a wall, (b) a cup formed at least in part by the wall, (c) a socket inlet bore having a first end configured for attachment to a water source and a second end that terminates in the cup, and (d) a slot formed in the wall, the slot having a first extension limit and a second extension limit;    a rotatable plug disposed in the cup, the rotatable plug having a plug bore and the rotatable plug being sized to fit snugly in the cup;    a spout having a discharge passage that is in fluid communication with the plug bore, wherein the spout is attached to the rotatable plug through the slot and wherein the spout is rotatable between an extended position adjacent the first extension limit of the slot to an extended position adjacent the second extension limit of the slot and wherein the spout is rotatable to a position that is on a substantially horizontal plane that is orthogonal to the substantially vertical mounting surface and wherein the position of the spout adjacent the second extension limit of the slot is downwardly directed to the unextended position and wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are in fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the first extension limit of the slot; and    a nozzle in flow communication with the discharge passage, wherein the nozzle is directed substantially vertically downward when the spout on the substantially horizontal plane that is orthogonal to the substantially vertical mounting surface.    
   
   
       14 . The faucet assembly of  claim 13  wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are out of fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot.  
   
   
       15 . The faucet assembly of  claim 14  wherein the socket further comprises a socket outlet bore and the rotatable plug further comprises a diversion passage, wherein when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot, the socket inlet bore and the socket outlet bore are in fluid communication through the diversion passage.  
   
   
       16 . A faucet assembly for installation on a substantially vertical surface, comprising: 
 a socket having (a) a wall, (b) a cup formed at least in part by the wall, (c) a socket inlet bore having a first end configured for attachment to a water source and a second end that terminates in the cup, (d) a slot formed in the wall, the slot having a first extension limit and a second extension limit;    a rotatable plug disposed in the cup, the rotatable plug having a plug bore and the rotatable plug being sized to fit snugly in the cup;    a spout having a discharge passage that is in communication with the plug bore, wherein the spout is attached to the plug through the slot and wherein the spout is rotatable between a position adjacent the first extension limit of the slot to a position adjacent the second extension limit of the slot and wherein the position of the spout adjacent the second extension limit of the slot is downwardly directed to the unextended position;    wherein the socket bore and the plug bore and the discharge passage are in fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the first extension limit of the slot; and    wherein the torque required to move the spout between any two locations within a range from (a) a position adjacent the first extension limit of the slot to (b) a position adjacent the second extension limit of the slot is not more than approximately five foot-pounds of torque.    
   
   
       17 . The faucet assembly of  claim 16  wherein the socket further comprises a socket outlet bore and the rotatable plug further comprises a diversion passage wherein when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot, the socket inlet bore and the socket outlet bore are in fluid communication through the diversion passage.  
   
   
       18 . The faucet assembly of  claim 16  wherein the first extension limit of the slot is positioned whereby the spout is rotatable to an extended position having an inclination angle not more than approximately forty-five degrees above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface.  
   
   
       19 . A faucet assembly for installation on a substantially vertical surface, comprising: 
 a socket having (a) a wall, (b) a cup formed at least in part by the wall, (c) a socket inlet bore having a first end configured for attachment to a water source and a second end that terminates in the cup, and (d) a slot formed in the wall, the slot having a first extension limit and a second extension limit;    a rotatable plug disposed in the cup, the rotatable plug having a plug bore and the rotatable plug being sized to fit snugly in the cup;    a spout having a discharge passage that is in fluid communication with the plug bore, wherein the spout is attached to the rotatable plug through the slot and wherein the spout is rotatable between an extended position adjacent the first extension limit of the slot to an unextended position adjacent the second extension limit of the slot and wherein at any rotatable position the spout has an inclination angle is not above a substantially horizontal plane orthogonal to the substantially vertical surface;    wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are in fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the first extension limit of the slot and wherein the socket bore and the plug bore are out of fluid communication when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot.    
   
   
       20 . The faucet assembly of  claim 19  wherein the socket further comprises a socket outlet bore and the rotatable plug further comprises a diversion passage wherein when the spout is positioned adjacent the second extension limit of the slot, the socket inlet bore and the socket outlet bore are in fluid communication through the diversion passage.