HK1115422A - Faucet assembly with integral water supply shut-off valve - Google Patents

Description

Faucet assembly with integral water supply shut-off valve

Cross reference to related applications

The priority claim of this application is U.S. provisional patent application No.60/656,180 entitled "faucet assembly with integral water shut-off valve" filed on 23/2/2005.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to faucets for sanitary fixtures such as sinks, washbasins, bidets and the like, and more particularly to a faucet assembly having a detachable faucet head (faucet head) and an automatic water supply shut-off valve that allows the faucet head to be quickly and easily installed in a sanitary fixture engagement base without requiring manual opening and closing of the water supply line.

Background

As is known, faucets are generally applied to their respective sanitary fixtures by providing a through hole on a certain portion of the sanitary fixture to which the faucet is to be applied, with the base of the faucet inserted into the through hole. In some types of taps, the tap is fixed to the sanitary fixture by means of a plate placed on the lower side of the sanitary fixture and intended to engage the edge of the through hole. The plate is then fastened to the lower surface of the sanitary ware by means of two or more screws which engage with the base of the faucet after it has been inserted into the through hole. In other types of faucets, the base of the faucet projects below the through hole and has a thread so that it can engage with a ring nut. The ring nut engages the lower surface of the sanitary fixture near the edge of the through hole to secure the faucet to the sanitary fixture. The installation operation of a conventional faucet fixed to a sanitary fixture is troublesome in that the installer must necessarily work under the sanitary fixture where the space is narrow and it is difficult to reach the parts necessary for installation. Especially in the case of sinks having two parts, with the through hole for the faucet application being provided between the two partitions, the installation operation of the faucet is particularly difficult, since the installer must operate from the front of the sink, with the faucet mounting hole on the rear side between the two partitions, which makes access thereto particularly difficult. In addition, the sanitary ware is generally placed against a wall, and the hole for fixing the faucet is located closest to the wall so as to hinder the installation operation of the faucet. The installation operation of the tap is complicated not only by the presence of the wall against which the sanitary fixture rests, but also by the presence of the trap or downpipe (column), especially when the tap is mounted on the washbasin.

A more complex installation of these faucets requires that the water supply lines supplying the faucet be shut off before installation or removal can be performed. The water supply lines must be connected or disconnected and reconnected due to replacement or repair of the faucets, thereby presenting the same access difficulties as described above. In some installations, particularly wall mounted faucets, the supply line shut-off valve may be on the other side of the wall. Once the faucet is installed, the supply line valve must be opened again to resume running water flow. In any case, the operation of installing the faucet of the sanitary fixture is an awkward task, as the installer is forced to work under the sanitary fixture. Thus, the time required to properly install a faucet significantly increases engineering costs.

In the prior art of this application we have found several patents on faucet assemblies relevant to this application, namely Mueller, Schmitt, Farrell et al, McGhee, Botnick, sheeh, Mikol, tischeler et al, Sauter et al, german patent office 8805671 and 8815235, and european 0293655, and several references.

U.S. patent No.6,328,059 to Testori and Brown discloses a faucet assembly for mounting to a sanitary fixture surface that includes a pad portion that is inserted into a hole in the sanitary fixture surface, the sanitary fixture surface being connected downwardly to a water supply spout and upwardly to a faucet head. However, before the faucet head can be removed or reconnected, the water supply lines must first be manually shut off to prevent water flow.

Disclosure of Invention

Object of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a faucet assembly that is attached to a sanitary fixture, such as a sink, washbasin, bidet, etc., and that allows an installer or service person to remove or replace the faucet head without having to manually shut down the water supply lines that supply water to the faucet assembly.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an automatic shut-off valve system that enables a faucet head to be easily installed or removed from a faucet base, which is installed on a sanitary fixture, without requiring an installer to climb down or work under the sanitary fixture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can be fitted with both conventional faucets and lever-type single-control mixing valves and that enables their quick replacement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which is manufactured at very low cost and is therefore very price competitive in the market.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that enables a faucet assembly to be fitted to a wide variety of sanitary fixtures, including wash basins, bidets, and bathtubs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can position a faucet water mixing assembly at a fixed angle relative to the plumbing fixture to which it is mounted.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a faucet assembly having a low-voltage wire and power connection to enable automatic faucet actuation using a device such as an optical sensor.

Summary of The Invention

A faucet apparatus for mounting on sanitary fixtures such as sinks, washbasins and the like provides simple and quick faucet head installation without requiring manual shut-down of the water supply lines. The fixture includes a faucet head and a fixedly engaged base inserted into a through hole in the sanitary fixture and having a portion above the sanitary fixture therein. The faucet head is removable from the base that remains connected to the sanitary fixture. A pair of channels or conduits extend through the base and are adapted to connect to a water supply line below the sanitary fixture and to connect above the sanitary fixture to supply the faucet head. The faucet apparatus also includes an automatic water supply shut-off valve disposed in the base passage and a corresponding valve actuator disposed in the faucet head that allows quick and easy installation or removal of the adaptor faucet head on the plumbing adaptor base without requiring manual opening and closing of the water supply line. Each shut-off valve comprises a normally closed valve assembly which is held closed by water pressure from the water supply line or by spring tension when the faucet head is not present. The faucet head assembly is comprised of a water dispensing unit, a pair of passages aligned with the base passages or conduits, and a coupler fitting (coupler fitting) having one end engaged with the faucet head passages and a second end engaged with the base passages. A corresponding valve actuator is located at the second end of the connection fitting. A plurality of annular sealing rings attached to the connection fittings prevent unwanted water leakage. The connector fitting engages and seals the base passage when the faucet head is mounted on the base, and the actuator engages and opens each valve assembly when the faucet assembly is moved axially relative to the base pipe, allowing water to flow to the faucet head when the faucet head is fully seated on the base. In one embodiment of the faucet assembly, the base further includes an additional channel for allowing installation of low voltage electrical wiring and power connections to enable features such as automatic faucet actuation. The faucet assembly further includes an attachment device for securing the base to the sanitary fixture. The attachment means includes a securing member associated with the base member and movable from an insertion position in which the securing member is axially aligned with the aperture in the sanitary fixture and a locking position in which the securing member is able to engage the lower surface of the sanitary fixture in which the aperture is located.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a faucet assembly according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of fig. 1. Showing the state in which the various elements shown in the faucet assembly of the present invention are about to be assembled.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet assembly taken along line 2-2 of fig. 1 showing the components of the faucet assembly assembled.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the internal components of the faucet assembly according to the present invention, showing one manner in which the faucet assembly engages the base.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment showing the base of the faucet assembly with the ball valve structure and the faucet conduit above the base.

Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the device shown in fig. 5 with the faucet tube inserted into the base.

Detailed Description

For a fuller understanding of the nature and operation of the present invention, reference should now be made to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding numerals in the various figures represent corresponding parts of the invention.

With reference to figures 1-7 mentioned above, the device comprises a base 2 which is mounted in a through hole 3 defined in a sanitary fixture 4. The sanitary fixture 4 is preferably a sink, washbasin, bidet, etc. The upper part of the base 2 protrudes above the sanitary fixture 4 and can be received and detachably fixed in a lower cavity 51 of the faucet fixture 5.

The base 2, preferably substantially cylindrical in shape, is coaxially engaged within the through hole 3 so as to be aligned with a vertical axis and in an orthogonal condition to the upper surface 4a of the sanitary fixture 4.

The relatively narrow part of the lower bottom of the base 2 defines a rim 8 and engages the upper surface 4a of the sanitary fixture 4 at the edge of the through hole 3.

A plurality of pipes, preferably a pair of pipes 6 and 7, extend vertically through the base 2 and can be connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) below the item of sanitary ware 4. The inlet pipes supply hot and cold water to a plurality of fittings 12 and 13, which supply the faucet device 5 to be mounted on the sanitary fixture 4.

The water supply pipes 10 and 11 are preferably connected to the lower ports of the pipes 6 and 7 by means of threaded pipe joints, or by welding or other known connection techniques.

Cylindrical sealing gaskets 16 and 17 fit tightly around the water supply fittings 12 and 13. Cylindrical sealing gaskets 16 and 17 in turn frictionally engage the inner surfaces of the cylindrical channels 6 and 7.

The water supply fittings 12 and 13 project upwardly from the base 2 and engage with the mouths of water supply pipes 50 opening into water distribution chambers 51 provided in the water distribution portion of the faucet assembly 5 with the interposition of sealing gaskets 14 and 15.

The faucet assembly further includes automatic water supply shut-off valves 40, 41 disposed in the base passages and corresponding valve actuators 42, 43 disposed in the faucet head that allow the faucet head to be quickly and easily installed or removed on the sanitary fixture engagement base without the need for manual opening and closing of the water supply lines. Each shut-off valve consists of a normally closed valve assembly with a neoprene disk (44, 45) or ball check valve (46, 47) which is held closed by water pressure from the water supply line when there is no faucet head or by a spring (48, 45) which holds the shut-off element in engagement with the valve.

The faucet head assembly is comprised of a water distribution unit, a pair of passages aligned with the base passages, and a connector fitting having one end engaged with the faucet head passages and a second end engaged with the base passages. A corresponding valve actuator is located on the second end of the connection fitting. A plurality of ring seals attached to the connection fittings prevent unwanted water leakage. When the faucet is assembled on the base, the coupler fitting first engages and seals the base channel. After the seals have been engaged, the actuator engages and pushes open the stop element of each valve assembly. So that water can flow to the faucet head when the faucet head is fully secured to the base.

The actuators 42, 43 may be tapered, spherical or simply a protrusion extending from the end of the connector fitting with an opening that allows water to flow around the valve engaging tip of the actuator. The valve seat may be any of a variety of through-going check valves commonly found in the art, and is typically flat or tapered to engage and seal with the valve stop element. Neoprene stop elements are widely used due to their long service life and acceptable wear resistance. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a wide variety of valve stop and seat materials and engagement methods can achieve the same function. Unless an actuator from a fully installed faucet head assembly is present, water pressure from the water supply side of the valve pushes the stop toward the valve seat to prevent water from escaping before and during installation of the faucet head assembly. If water pressure is present but not sufficient to maintain the valve closed on its own, a biasing spring disposed within the faucet assembly applies pressure to hold the stop member in engagement with the valve seat.

The attachment means comprise a fixing member 22 and a threaded screw 21 for fixing the base 2 to the sanitary fitting 4. The threaded screw 21 is inserted into a connecting hole 27 extending axially through the base 2.

A threaded fastener (not shown) may be used to secure the faucet 5 in place on the base unit 4. Inserting and tightening the screw into the threaded hole 55 engages the base 4 and prevents the faucet 5 from moving therefrom.

Next, the faucet head 5 is placed on the base 2, thereby engaging the connector of the faucet head to the channel at the top end of the base, thereby engaging the valve actuator attached to the end of the connector with the normally closed valve assembly disposed within the channel of the base. The faucet device 5 is then tightened by means of threaded set screws inserted into the threaded holes 55 to secure the faucet 5 to the foundation 4.

In an alternative embodiment of the faucet assembly, the base further includes additional passages 60, 61 through the base for allowing installation of low voltage electrical wiring and power connections to enable features such as automatic faucet actuation. Infrared or ultrasonic sensors, as are known in the art, may be provided within the faucet assembly for detecting the hands of a user positioned under or proximate to the faucet head. When the presence of a hand is sensed, an electronic signal is transmitted from the sensor through an additional channel in the base to the power supply and electronic processing unit and to a faucet actuation unit that allows water to flow from the faucet head. Another embodiment may have a temperature sensor for providing a safe or desired mix of hot and cold water delivered to the faucet head.

While the invention has been described in terms of at least one preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be construed only in conjunction with the appended claims.

Industrial applicability

The invention has utility in the field of plumbing (plumbing) and plumbing (plumbingfixing), particularly faucets for plumbing fixtures such as sinks, washbasins, bidets and the like. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in greater or lesser detail with respect to faucet and associated plumbing arrangements. Of course, however, since the methods and features shown or described include preferred modes of carrying out the invention, the invention is not limited to the methods or features shown or described.

Additionally, while the present invention is described for use with faucets and other plumbing fixtures, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may also be adapted for other suitable uses, including but not limited to other fields of liquid and gas control, and thus the present invention should not be construed as limited to faucets. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms and modifications within the legal and effective scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims (13)

1. A faucet apparatus for mounting on sinks, washbasins and the like, the faucet apparatus comprising:

a base for insertion into the through-hole of the sanitary fixture, said base comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, at least one base passage extending through the base from the top portion to the bottom portion, at least one inlet tube communicating with the passage at the bottom portion of the base and having a releasable connector attached to a distal end for engaging a water supply line, and at least one automatic shut-off valve comprising a normally closed valve assembly disposed within each passage at the top portion of the base;

a faucet head assembly having a water distribution portion with at least one water distribution conduit, at least one connector communicating with each water distribution passage, a seal circumferentially disposed about each connector, and a valve actuator corresponding to and aligned with each valve assembly and disposed proximate an end of the connector engaging and opening each valve assembly to enable water flow when the faucet head is mounted on the base; and

a connection means for securing the faucet head to the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises a threaded fastener insertable into a threaded hole in the faucet head assembly to engage and lock the faucet head assembly to the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal circumferentially disposed about each connection member is a plurality of deformable rings, such as annular sealing rings, attached about the connection member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base has a substantially cylindrical shape to coaxially connect with the through-hole, the channel being substantially parallel to an axis of the base.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the faucet device has two liquid passages through which hot and cold water, respectively, pass.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base provides means for securing the water distribution portion at a plurality of selected angles relative to the base.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises at least one additional channel through the base for allowing installation of low voltage wires and power connections, thereby enabling auxiliary performance such as automatic faucet actuation.

8. A method of releasably mounting a faucet to a base, comprising the steps of:

providing a base having a pressurized supply of water, said base having a normally closed valve positioned within a removable terminal conduit;

engaging the removable terminal tube to a faucet assembly having a removable faucet tube with a diameter sized to engage and seal with the removable terminal tube within the base, the removable faucet tube having a valve actuator to open the normally closed valve when the removable faucet tube is engaged and sealed to the removable terminal tube;

securing the faucet assembly to the base to prevent axial displacement of the faucet assembly.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the faucet tube is axially mounted within the removable terminal tube and sealed thereto by a gasket seal, forming a liquid-tight seal (fluidlight seal) between the terminal tube and the faucet tube when the faucet tube is inserted into the terminal tube.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a pair of removable terminal conduits are disposed within the base and a pair of faucet conduits are disposed within the faucet assembly, each positioned for engagement and sealing with a corresponding base unit terminal conduit.

11. A faucet apparatus for dispensing hot and cold water, said faucet apparatus adapted to be mounted on sinks, washbasins and similar fixtures, the faucet apparatus comprising:

a base for insertion into the through-hole of a sanitary fixture, the base comprising a top, a bottom, hot and cold water base passages extending side-by-side through the base and from the top to the bottom of the base, a source of pressurized water in communication with the passages at the bottom of the base, and a shut-off valve comprising a normally closed valve assembly disposed in each passage at the top end of the base;

a faucet head assembly having a dispensing portion with at least one dispensing passage, hot and cold water connections communicating with said dispensing passage, a seal circumferentially disposed about each connection, and a valve actuator corresponding to and aligned with each valve assembly and disposed proximate one end of the connection, the connection engaging and opening each valve assembly when the connection is axially engaged and sealed to said base passage, thereby allowing water to flow when the faucet head is mounted on the base; and

an attachment means is used to secure the base to the sanitary fixture.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the seal circumferentially disposed about each of the connectors is a plurality of deformable rings, such as annular sealing rings, attached about the connectors.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the base has a substantially cylindrical shape to coaxially connect with the through-hole, the channel being substantially parallel to an axis of the base.