Slow close insert for faucets

Abstract

A faucet assembly includes a spout, a hand-held sprayer, and a slow-close insert. The hand-held sprayer is coupled to a hose that extends through the spot and movable between a retracted position in which a portion of the hand-held sprayer is located within the spout and an extended position. The slow-close insert includes an inner sleeve and a spring. The inner sleeve is disposed at least partially within the spout and operable between a first position and a second position. The inner sleeve includes a jaw configured to engage the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the first position and release the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the second position. The spring is configured to assist movement of the inner sleeve between the first position and the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A faucet assembly, comprising:
 a spout comprising an outer portion and an inner portion;   a hand-held sprayer coupled to a hose that extends through the spout and movable between a retracted position in which a portion of the hand-held sprayer is located within the spout and an extended position in which the portion of the hand-held sprayer is located outside the spout; and   a slow-close insert comprising:
 an inner sleeve disposed at least partially within the spout and operable between a first position and a second position, the inner sleeve comprising a jaw configured to engage the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the first position and release the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the second position; and 
 a spring coupled to the inner sleeve and configured to assist movement of the inner sleeve between the first position and the second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer sleeve coupled to the inner portion of the spout, wherein the inner sleeve is disposed at least partially within the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The faucet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner sleeve is wholly received within the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the first position, and wherein the inner sleeve is partially received within the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The faucet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a protrusion and the outer sleeve comprises a retention slot, wherein the spring is configured to move the inner sleeve from the second position to the first position when the protrusion disengages from the retention slot. 
     
     
         5 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises plurality of flanges oriented outward radially away from a center of the inner sleeve, and wherein the spring biases the plurality of flanges outward when the inner sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The faucet assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the spout applies a radially inward force on the inner sleeve to deflect the plurality of flanges inwards to maintain contact between the jaw and the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises a second spring positioned opposite the spring, and wherein the spring and the second spring are configured to assist the slow close insert when the inner sleeve transitions between the second position and the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured to damp movement of the inner sleeve between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         9 . A slow close mechanism for a faucet assembly including a spout and a hand-held sprayer movable relative to the spout, the slow close mechanism comprising:
 an inner sleeve configured to be disposed at least partially within a spout of the fauce and operable between a first position and a second position, the inner sleeve comprising a jaw configured to engage the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the first position and release the portion of the hand-held sprayer when the inner sleeve is in the second position; and   a spring coupled to the inner sleeve and configured to assist movement of the inner sleeve between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         10 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an outer sleeve comprising a track extending longitudinally along a length of the outer sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve at least partially disposed within the outer sleeve; and   wherein the inner sleeve includes structure defining a channel extending longitudinally along a length of the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the spring is at least partially provided within the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the inner sleeve is wholly received within the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the first position, and wherein the inner sleeve is partially received within the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         13 . A slow close mechanism, comprising:
 an outer sleeve comprising a track extending longitudinally along a length of the outer sleeve;   an inner sleeve at least partially disposed within the outer sleeve and repositionable between an open position and a closed position, the inner sleeve comprising a channel extending longitudinally along a length of the inner sleeve; and   a spring at least partially provided within the channel and configured to assist movement of the inner sleeve between the open position and the closed position;   wherein the inner sleeve is wholly received within the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the closed position, and wherein the inner sleeve is partially received within the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the open position.   
     
     
         14 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises a protrusion positioned at least partially within the track, and wherein the protrusion is selectively repositionable within the track when the inner sleeve is repositioned between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the spring is configured to move the inner sleeve from the open position to the closed position when the protrusion disengages from the track. 
     
     
         16 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a retention slot configured to receive the protrusion when the inner sleeve is in the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The slow close mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises:
 a plurality of flanges oriented outward radially away from a center of the inner sleeve; and   a plurality of jaws coupled to the flanges and defining a central opening therebetween.