Magnetic self-docking faucet

Abstract

A self-docking faucet is provided. The faucet comprises a body and an arm extending from the body. A hose extends from the body and is fluidly coupled to an adapter, which is fluidly coupled to a sprayhead. The arm comprises a first magnetic component and the adapter comprises a second magnetic component. The first and second magnetic components exert an attractive magnetic force on one another to cause the adapter—and, therefore, the sprayhead—to be pulled toward and docked to a docking portion of the arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-docking faucet comprising:
 a faucet body;   an arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is attached to the faucet body and the second end of the arm comprises a docking portion comprising a first magnetic component;   a hose extending through and protruding out of the faucet body;   an adapter fluidly connected to an end of the hose and configured to receive flow of water from the hose into an adapter flow path, the adapter comprising a second magnetic component, wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured to exert an attractive magnetic force on one another to cause the adapter to dock to the docking portion of the arm; and   a spray head fluidly connected to the adapter and configured to receive flow of water from the adapter flow path into a spray head flow path, wherein a central axis of the spray head flow path is aligned with a central axis of the adapter flow path and with a central axis of the end of the hose.   
     
     
         2 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic component is disposed between the adapter flow path and a wall of the adapter. 
     
     
         3 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 2 , wherein a thickness of the second magnetic component is less than or equal to 4 millimeters in a direction extending from the adapter flow path toward the wall of the adapter. 
     
     
         4 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 2 , wherein the second magnetic component has a thickness in a direction extending from the adapter flow path toward the outer wall of the adapter that is less than or equal to 25% of a radius of the adapter in the direction extending from the adapter flow path toward the wall of the adapter. 
     
     
         5 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second magnetic component is less than or equal to 9 millimeters and a height of the second magnetic component is less than or equal to 22 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic component comprises a partial annular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 6 , wherein the partial annular shape of the second magnetic component is disposed against a corresponding annular portion of a wall of the adapter. 
     
     
         8 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the attractive magnetic force is greater than or equal to 5 Newtons when the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are in a docked position with respect to one another. 
     
     
         9 . A self-docking faucet comprising:
 a faucet body;   an arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is attached to the faucet body and the second end of the arm comprises a docking portion comprising a first magnetic component;   a hose extending through and protruding out of the body;   an adapter fluidly connected to an end of the hose and configured to receive flow of water from the hose, the adapter comprising a second magnetic component, wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured to exert an attractive magnetic force on one another to cause the adapter to dock to the docking portion of the arm; and   a spray head fluidly connected to the adapter and configured to receive flow of water from the adapter, wherein the spray head is operably rotatable with respect to the hose.   
     
     
         10 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the spray head is operably rotatable with respect to the adapter. 
     
     
         11 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 9 , wherein the adapter is operably rotatable with respect to the hose. 
     
     
         12 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 11 , wherein, when the adapter is in a docked position with respect to the docking portion of the arm, the adapter is rotated into a predefined docked orientation. 
     
     
         13 . A self-docking faucet comprising:
 a faucet body;   an arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is attached to the faucet body and the second end of the arm comprises a docking portion comprising a first magnetic component;   a hose extending through and protruding out of the faucet body; and   an adapter fluidly connected to an end of the hose and configured to receive flow of water from the hose, the adapter comprising a second magnetic component, wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured to exert an attractive magnetic force on one another to cause the adapter to dock to the docking portion of the arm, wherein the adapter comprises a sprayhead attachment portion configured to be removably attachable to a sprayhead.   
     
     
         14 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 13 , wherein the sprayhead attachment portion is configured to fluidly connect to a sprayhead such that water flows from the adapter to the sprayhead when the sprayhead is in the connected position. 
     
     
         15 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 13 , wherein the sprayhead attachment portion comprises a threaded connection portion. 
     
     
         16 . A self-docking faucet comprising:
 a faucet body;   an arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is attached to the faucet body and the second end of the arm comprises a docking portion comprising a first magnetic component;   a hose extending through and protruding out of the faucet body; and   an adapter fluidly connected to an end of the hose and configured to receive flow of water from the hose, the adapter comprising:
 a second magnetic component, wherein the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured to exert an attractive magnetic force on one another to pull the adapter toward a docked position with respect to the docking portion of the arm; 
 a shell comprising a recess, wherein the recess comprises one or more tapered side-walls, and wherein the recess is shaped to receive a corresponding portion of the docking portion of the arm when the adapter is in the docked position; and 
   a spray head fluidly connected to the adapter and configured to receive flow of water from the adapter.   
     
     
         17 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 16 , wherein the recess comprises one or more rounded corners. 
     
     
         18 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 16 , wherein the recess depth is less than or equal to 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 16 , wherein the recess extends circumferentially around less than or equal to 50% of the adapter. 
     
     
         20 . The self-docking faucet of  claim 16 , wherein the second magnetic component is disposed behind the recess inside the shell of the adapter.