Low Profile Bathtub Faucet

Abstract

A bathtub faucet includes a body defining a channel for the flow of water. The back end of the channel fluidly connects to a water source. The front end of the channel terminates at a diverter. The diverter directs the flow of water into a volume defined by the bathtub. When not operational, the bathtub faucet does not substantially project into the bathtub volume.

1 . A faucet for delivering a stream of water into a volume defined by a bathtub, the faucet comprising a body that substantially limits projection into the volume of the bathtub, the body comprising a rear face and a front face including a diverter, the body defining a channel for delivering the stream of water from the rear face to the diverter at the front face, the diverter capable of directing the stream of water away from the front face and into the volume defined by the bathtub 
   
   
       2 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter is capable of moving from a closed position to an open position in response to the stream of water passing through the channel. 
   
   
       3 . The faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the front face defines a recess and the diverter fits into the recess in the closed position, so that the diverter is substantially flush with the front face. 
   
   
       4 . The faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the diverter rotates about an axis when moving from the closed to the open position. 
   
   
       5 . The faucet of  claim 4 , wherein the diverter includes a center of mass and the axis is above the center of mass so that the diverter will remain in the closed position unless the stream of water is moving through the channel. 
   
   
       6 . The faucet of  claim 4 , wherein the diverter is fixed to the front face by a pin extending along the axis. 
   
   
       7 . The faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the diverter translates from the front face towards the volume of the bathtub when moving from the closed to the open position. 
   
   
       8 . The faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the faucet includes a mechanism to move the diverter from the open position to the closed position. 
   
   
       9 . The faucet of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanism is selected from a group consisting of springs, magnets, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the body is smooth. 
   
   
       11 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an oval perimeter. 
   
   
       12 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a material selected from a group comprising metal, ceramic, plastic, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the front face comprises a resilient material. 
   
   
       14 . The faucet of  claim 13 , wherein the resilient material is selected from a group consisting of rubber, foam, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the faucet includes a cover that is removably secured over at least the front face of the body, and the cover defines an opening that permits the diverter to move away from the front face of the body. 
   
   
       16 . The faucet of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is secured to the body using a fastener selected from a group consisting of a screw, a friction fitting, an O-ring, an adhesive, a snap fitting, a protrusion that fits into a complementary indentation, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the faucet includes a gate that prevents water from flowing through the channel and redirects the stream of water. 
   
   
       18 . The faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a chamfer. 
   
   
       19 . A faucet for delivering a stream of water into a volume defined by a bathtub, the faucet comprising:
 a) a smooth body that substantially limits projection into the volume of the bathtub, comprising a rear face and a front face defining a recess, and defining a channel from the rear face to the front face; and   b) a diverter that fits into the recess, is substantially flush with the front face in a closed position, and is capable of moving from the closed position to an open position in response to the stream of water passing through the channel so that in the open position the diverter directs the stream of water away from the front face and into the volume defined by the bathtub.   
   
   
       20 . A faucet for delivering a stream of water into a volume defined by a bathtub, the faucet comprising:
 a) a body that substantially limits projection into the volume of the bathtub, comprising a front face comprising a resilient material, a rear face, and defining a channel from the rear face to the front face;   b) a diverter secured to the front face that directs the stream of water away from the front face and into the volume defined by the bathtub.