US20140150896A1

US20140150896A1 - Assemblable faucet

Info

Publication number: US20140150896A1
Application number: US14/174,306
Authority: US
Inventors: Bichang Guan; Chucheng Chu
Original assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp
Current assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp
Priority date: 2010-02-04
Filing date: 2014-02-06
Publication date: 2014-06-05

Abstract

An assemblable faucet includes a body having a holder, at least one inlet, an outlet located at the holder, a channel communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and at least one valve seat communicating with the channel; the valve seat being used to receive and position a control valve set to control water from the inlet to flow toward the outlet; an outlet pipe including an inflow connector with an aperture, including a spray head with a spout, and including a tunnel communicating with the inflow connector and the spray head; the inflow connector being tightly connected to the holder of the body so that the aperture is in communication with the outlet of the holder, such that the water from the outlet of the body flows to the spout along the tunnel of the outlet pipe.

Description

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No 12/700,431, filed Feb. 4, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an assemblable faucet.
2. Background of the Invention
A body of conventional assemblable faucet and a conventional outlet pipe are made of cooper material with lead substances by casting and cooper tube inflating method, and then they are worked mechanically, trimmed, and polished in order. To prevent lead pollution, a lead eliminating process is necessary, and an inflow connector and an outlet connector are pre-formed and then welded manually to connect with the body to form the outlet pipe. Thereafter, the formed outlet pipe are welded with the body of the faucet together to have the surface working process, hence the body of the faucet and the outlet pipe are integrally welded, casing pollution, high production cost, and low product yield. Besides, the body is made of cooper material to have heavy weight that is carried inconveniently.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an assemblable faucet which is capable of overcoming the shortcomings of the conventional plastic outlet pipe and making process thereof.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an assemblable faucet which the body and the outlet pipe are assembled together in a movable assembling manner instead of a conventional welding structure so that the body and the outlet pipe are one piece made of plastic material instead of cooper material with lead substances to lower welding and lead-eliminating costs, to enhance product yield, and to simplify manufacturing process.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assemblable faucet which the manufacture pollution is overcome, and the assemblable faucet is mass produced quickly and at good quality.
Also another object of the present invention is to provide an assemblable faucet which the assemblable faucet rejection molded from plastic material is light to be portable easily.
An assemblable faucet in accordance with the present invention contains:
a body one piece one piece made of plastic material and including a holder, at least one inlet, an outlet located at the holder, a channel communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and at least one valve seat communicating with the channel; the valve seat being used to receive and position a control valve set so as to control water from the inlet to flow toward the outlet;
an outlet pipe one piece made of plastic material and including an inflow connector with an aperture, a spray head with a spout, and a tunnel communicating with the inflow connector and the spray head; the inflow connector being tightly connected to the holder of the body so that the aperture is in communication with the outlet of the holder, such that the water from the outlet of the body flows to the spout along the tunnel of the outlet pipe;
wherein the insertion of the outlet pipe is inserted to the holder of the body to be retained;
wherein the holder includes an engaging portion integrally extending from an outer wall of the body, and an inner chamber located at the engaging portion, the engaging portion includes an engagement room, and the engagement room includes at least one orifice disposed on an inner rim thereof, and includes an inner chamber mounted on a lower side thereof; and the inner chamber includes an outlet disposed on a bottom end thereof and a hole mounted on a top end thereof; the inflow connector of the outlet pipe includes an insertion and a connection portion fixed in the insertion, the insertion is inserted to the inner chamber from the engagement room and the hole of the body, and includes at least one slot arranged around an outer rim thereof to fit a pad so as to engage with an inner wall of the inner chamber; and the connecting portion includes at least one defining ball secured on an outer rim thereof, and the at least one defining ball is pressed by a compression spring to extend outward so as to be engaged in the at least one orifice of the engagement room.
The engagement room of the body includes at least one attracting element retained in an inner rim thereof, and each of the at least one attracting element of the engagement room has the at least one orifice, such that the at least one defining ball is retained and attracted in the at least one orifice.
The engagement room is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and each defining ball is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a body of an assemblable faucet being assembled with an outlet pipe in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the body of the assemblable faucet and the outlet pipe in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cross section of the assemblable faucet in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view showing the cross section of the assemblable faucet in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cross section of the outlet pipe in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of an outlet of the body in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of the outlet pipe in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of an outlet of the body in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is another partial perspective view showing the connection of the outlet of the body in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the cross section of an assemblable faucet in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the cross section of an assemblable faucet in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an amplified perspective view of a part of A portion of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an amplified perspective view showing the cross section of an assemblable faucet in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a body of an assemblable faucet and an outlet pipe in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of an outlet of the body in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of an outlet of a body in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of an outlet of a body in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view showing a connection of an outlet pipe in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an assemblable faucet according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 10 and an outlet pipe 20, wherein
the body 10 is one piece made of plastic material, and the plastic material includes nylon mixed and glass fiber mixed together, the body 10 includes a first part member pre-injection molded and a second part member rejection molded and integrally wrapped by the first part member. In this embodiment, the body 10 is provided with double inlets and formed in a H shape, and also includes two longitudinal segments 101 disposed on two sides thereof respectively, and includes a lateral segment 102 defined between and communicating with the two longitudinal segments 101. The body 10 further includes a holder 11, two inlets 12, an outlet 13 located at the holder 11, a channel 14 communicating with the inlets 12 and the outlet 13, and two valve seats 15 communicating with the channel 14.
The valve seat 15 is formed on a top end of the longitudinal segment 101, and the longitudinal segment 101 includes a support foot 16 extending from a bottom end of the valve seat 15, the inlet 12 is formed on a bottom end of the support foot 16, wherein one inlet 12 is used to feed cold water, and another inlet 12 is applied to feed hot water. The valve seat 15 includes a receiving groove 151 as shown in FIG. 5 to receive and position a control valve set used to control cold and hot waters to flow toward the outlet 13 individually. The holder 11 and the outlet 13 are defined on a middle portion of the lateral segment 102.
The holder 11 includes two fixing paws 11 a integrally extending from an outer wall of the body 10, and an inner chamber 11 b defined between the fixing paws 11 a as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. The fixing paw 11 a includes a vertically extending portion 111, and the extending portion 111 includes a hook 112 disposed on a top end thereof. The inner chamber 11 b includes the outlet 12 disposed on a bottom end thereof and a hole 113 mounted on a top end thereof, and the hole 113 includes a retaining recess 115 defined between a peripheral side 114 thereof and the fixing paws 11 a as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.
The outlet pipe 20 includes an inflow connector 21 with an aperture 211 and a spray head 22 with a spout 221, and a tunnel 23 communicating with the inflow connector 21 and the spray head 22. The inflow connector 21 is tightly connected to the holder 11 of the body 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 so that the aperture 211 is in communication with the outlet 13 of the holder 11, such that the cold, hot, or mixed cold and hot water flows to the spout 221 along the tunnel 23 of the outlet pipe 20.
The inflow connector 21 of the outlet pipe 20 includes an insertion 21 a and a rotatable locking portion 21 b fixed in the insertion 21 a as shown in FIG. 7, the insertion 21 a is inserted to the inner chamber 11 b from the hole 113 of the body 10, and includes two slots 212 arranged around an outer rim thereof to fit two pads 213 individually so as to engage with an inner wall of the inner chamber 11 b. The rotatable locking portion 21 b includes two symmetrical L-shaped projections 214 attached on an outer surface thereof to be retained to the retaining recesses 115. The projection 214 includes a stop wall 215 disposed thereon so that the projection 214 is rotated into the retaining recess 115 at a predetermined angle, and the hooks 112 are stopped and limited by each other, and the projection 214 includes a guiding plane 216 formed on a top end thereof proximate to a rotated side thereof so that the projection 214 is rotated into the retaining recess 115 by using the guiding plane 216, and the top and the bottom surfaces of the projection 214 engage with a bottom surface of the hook 112 and the peripheral side 114 tightly.
In the assembly, the insertion 21 a of the inflow connector 21 is aligned to the inner chamber 11 b of the body 10, and the projection 214 leaves the fixing paw 11 a away so that the insertion 21 a is inserted to the inner chamber 11 b from the hole 113 until the top surface of the projection 214 engages with the peripheral side 114. Thereafter, the outlet pipe 20 is rotated 90 degrees in anticlockwise direction so that the rotated side of the projection 214 is rotated to engage with the retaining recess 115 until the stop wall 215 contacts with the hook 112, therefore the projection 214 is retained in the retaining recess 115, and the insertion 21 a of the outlet pipe 20 is fitted to the inner chamber 11 b tightly, assembling the outlet pipe 20 to the body 10 easily.
The support foot 16 of body 10 further includes a section of outer thread integrally formed thereon to position the body 10. However, the outer threads of the support foot 16 can be replaced by a cooper sleeve fitted thereon, and the cooper sleeve includes external threads formed on an outer periphery thereof.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a difference of an assemblable faucet according to a second embodiment of the present invention from that of the first embodiment comprises:
at least one fixing paw 11 a, and each fixing paw 11 a including a hook 112, wherein the hook 112 has a first attracting element 10 a; and
each of two symmetrical L-shaped projections 214 having a stop wall 215, wherein the stop wall 215 has a second attracting element 20 a;
such that the first attracting element 10 a attracts with the second attracting element 20 a so as to connect a body 10 with an outlet pipe 20 fixedly and accurately.
The first attracting element 10 a of each fixing paw 11 a is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and the second attracting element 20 a of each L-shaped projections 214 is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.
Referring to FIG. 10, a difference of an assemblable faucet according to a third embodiment of the present invention from that of the first embodiment is change a rotatably engaging method of the first embodiment to a rotatably screwing method. For example, the two fixing paws 11 a are changed to a screwing portion 11 c with a bore 116, and the inner chamber 11 b, the outlet 13, and the hole 113 are kept. The rotatable locking portion 21 b of the inflow connector 21 of the outlet pipe 20 is changed to a coupling portion 21 c with external screws 217 arranged around an outer rim thereof such that when the external screws 217 of the coupling portion 21 c of the inflow connector 21 is screwed with the bore 116 of the screwing portion 11 c, the insertion 21 a is rotatably screwed to the inner chamber 11 b from the hole 113 of the body 10 so that the insertion 21 a engages with the inner chamber 11 b tightly, assembling the body 10 to the outlet pipe 20 easily.
With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a difference of an assemblable faucet according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention from that of the first embodiment is change a rotatably engaging method of the first embodiment to an engageably inserted method. For example, the two fixing paws 11 a are changed to an engaging portion 11 d. The engaging portion 11 d includes an engagement room 117, and the engagement room 117 includes at least one orifice 118 disposed on an inner rim thereof. In this embodiment, two symmetrical orifices 118 are provided, and the engagement room 117 includes an inner chamber 11 b mounted on a lower side thereof, a hole 113 fixed on a top end thereof, and an outlet 13 attached on a bottom end thereof. The rotatable locking portion 21 b of the inflow connector 21 of the outlet pipe 20 is changed to a connecting portion 21 d, and the connecting portion 21 d includes at least one defining ball 218 secured on an outer rim thereof. In this embodiment, two symmetrical defining balls 218 are provided, and the defining ball 218 is pressed by a compression spring 219 to extend outward so as to be engaged in the orifice 118 of the engagement room 117 of the body 10. To align the defining ball 218 to the orifice 118 easily, a sliding groove fixed to an inner rim of an upper side of the orifice 118 relative to the engagement room 117 to position the defining ball 218 precisely and quickly and to slide the defining ball 118 to the sliding groove, accordingly when the outlet pipe 20 is retained with the orifice 118 of the engagement room 117 of the body 10 by using the defining ball 218 of the connecting portion 21 d of the inflow connector 21, the insertion 21 a is inserted to the hole 113 of the inner chamber 11 b from the body 10 to be retained.
With reference to FIG. 13, a difference of an assemblable faucet according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention from that of the fourth embodiment comprises:
an engagement room 117 of a body 10 including at least one third attracting element 10 b retained in an inner rim thereof, and each of the at least one third attracting element 10 b having two symmetrical orifices 118, such that two symmetrical defining balls 218 are retained and attracted in the two symmetrical orifices 118 so as to connect a body 10 with an outlet pipe 20 fixedly and accurately.
Each third attracting element 10 b is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and the defining ball 218 is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.
The body 10 and the outlet pipe 20 are assembled together in a movable assembling manner instead of a conventional welding structure so that the body 10 and the outlet pipe 20 are one piece made of plastic material instead of cooper material with lead substances to lower welding and lead-eliminating costs, to enhance product yield, and to simplify manufacturing process. Furthermore, the manufacture pollution is overcome, and the assemblable faucet is mass produced quickly and at good quality. Also, the assemblable faucet rejection molded from plastic material is light to be portable easily.
With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, a difference of an assemblable faucet according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention comprises:
a holder 11 including a peripheral fringe 110 extending from an outer wall of a body 10 so as to replace the two fixing paws 11 a and to define the inner chamber 11 b; the inner chamber 11 b including two L-shaped fastening trenches 17 symmetrically defined on an inner wall thereof, and each L-shaped fastening trench 17 having a longitudinal passageway 171 axially extending therealong and a horizontal passageway 172 circumferentially extending therealong and communicating with the longitudinal passageway 171.
A rotatable locking portion 21 b of an inflow connector 21 of an outlet pipe 20 includes two locating protrusions 24 symmetrically projecting from an outer wall thereof so as to slide into two longitudinal passageways 171 of two L-shaped fastening trenches 17 and to retain with two horizontal passageways 172.
With reference to FIG. 16, a difference of an assemblable faucet of a seventh embodiment from that of the sixth embodiment comprises:
a horizontal passageway 172 of each L-shaped fastening trench 17 having at least one engagement tooth 173 and a notch 174, such that each of two locating protrusions 24 is retained in the notch 174 via the at least one engagement tooth 173 securely so as to increase rotary resistance.
With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, a difference of an assemblable faucet of an eighth embodiment from that of the sixth embodiment comprises:
a horizontal passageway 172 of each L-shaped fastening trench 17 having a fourth attracting element 175 mounted therein, and each of two locating protrusions 24 having a fifth attracting element 241, such that the fourth attracting element 175 attracts with the fifth attracting element 241 after rotating each locating protrusion 24 into the horizontal passageway 172, thus connecting a body 10 with an outlet pipe 20 fixedly and accurately.
The fourth attracting element 175 is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and the fifth attracting element 241 of each locating protrusions 24 is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An assemblable faucet comprising

a body one piece one piece made of plastic material and including a holder, at least one inlet, an outlet located at the holder, a channel communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and at least one valve seat communicating with the channel; the valve seat being used to receive and position a control valve set so as to control water from the inlet to flow toward the outlet;

an outlet pipe one piece made of plastic material and including an inflow connector with an aperture, a spray head with a spout, and a tunnel communicating with the inflow connector and the spray head; the inflow connector being tightly connected to the holder of the body so that the aperture is in communication with the outlet of the holder, such that the water from the outlet of the body flows to the spout along the tunnel of the outlet pipe;

wherein the insertion of the outlet pipe is inserted to the holder of the body to be retained;

wherein the holder includes an engaging portion integrally extending from an outer wall of the body, and an inner chamber located at the engaging portion, the engaging portion includes an engagement room, and the engagement room includes at least one orifice disposed on an inner rim thereof, and includes an inner chamber mounted on a lower side thereof; and the inner chamber includes an outlet disposed on a bottom end thereof and a hole mounted on a top end thereof; the inflow connector of the outlet pipe includes an insertion and a connection portion fixed in the insertion, the insertion is inserted to the inner chamber from the engagement room and the hole of the body, and includes at least one slot arranged around an outer rim thereof to fit a pad so as to engage with an inner wall of the inner chamber; and the connecting portion includes at least one defining ball secured on an outer rim thereof, and the at least one defining ball is pressed by a compression spring to extend outward so as to be engaged in the at least one orifice of the engagement room.

2. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement room of the body includes at least one attracting element retained in an inner rim thereof, and each of the at least one attracting element of the engagement room has the at least one orifice, such that the at least one defining ball is retained and attracted in the at least one orifice.

3. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the engagement room is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and each defining ball is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.

4. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is formed in a H shape, and includes two longitudinal segments disposed on two sides thereof respectively, and includes a lateral segment defined between and communicating with the two longitudinal segments; the longitudinal segment includes the valve seat formed on a top end thereof, and includes a support foot extending from a bottom end thereof, the support foot includes the inlet formed on a bottom end thereof, the holder and the outlet are defined on a middle portion of the lateral segment.

5. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support foot further includes a section of outer thread integrally formed thereon

6. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support foot includes a cooper sleeve fitted thereon, and the cooper sleeve includes external threads formed on an outer periphery thereof.

7. An assemblable faucet comprising

wherein the holder includes a peripheral fringe extending from an outer wall of the body so as to define an inner chamber in the peripheral fringe; the inner chamber includes two L-shaped fastening trenches symmetrically defined on an inner wall thereof, and each L-shaped fastening trench has a longitudinal passageway axially extending therealong and a horizontal passageway circumferentially extending therealong and communicating with the longitudinal passageway; the engagement room includes at least one orifice disposed on an inner rim thereof, and includes an inner chamber mounted on a lower side thereof; and the inner chamber includes the outlet disposed on a bottom end thereof and a hole mounted on a top end thereof; the inflow connector of the outlet pipe includes an insertion and a rotatable locking portion fixed in the insertion, the insertion is inserted to the inner chamber from the hole of the body and includes at least one slot arranged around an outer rim thereof to fit a pad so as to engage with an inner wall of the inner chamber; and the rotatable locking portion includes two locating protrusions symmetrically projecting from an outer wall thereof so as to slide into two longitudinal passageways of two L-shaped fastening trenches and to retain with two horizontal passageways.

8. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the horizontal passageway of each L-shaped fastening trench has at least one engagement tooth and a notch, such that each locating protrusion is retained in the notch via the at least one engagement tooth.

9. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the horizontal passageway of each L-shaped fastening trench has a first attracting element mounted therein, and each locating protrusion has a second attracting element, such that the first attracting element attracts with the second attracting element after rotating each locating protrusion into the horizontal passageway.

10. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first attracting element is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and the second attracting element of each locating protrusions is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.

11. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the body is formed in a H shape, and includes two longitudinal segments disposed on two sides thereof respectively, and includes a lateral segment defined between and communicating with the two longitudinal segments; the longitudinal segment includes the valve seat formed on a top end thereof, and includes a support foot extending from a bottom end thereof, the support foot includes the inlet formed on a bottom end thereof, the holder and the outlet are defined on a middle portion of the lateral segment.

12. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support foot further includes a section of outer thread integrally formed thereon

13. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support foot includes a cooper sleeve fitted thereon, and the cooper sleeve includes external threads formed on an outer periphery thereof.

14. An assemblable faucet comprising

wherein the inflow connector of the outlet pipe is rotatably engaged to the holder of the body;

wherein the holder includes two fixing paws integrally extending from an outer wall of the body, and an inner chamber defined between the fixing paws, and the extending portion includes a hook disposed on a top end thereof; the inner chamber includes the outlet disposed on a bottom end thereof and a hole mounted on a top end thereof, and the hole includes a retaining recess defined between a peripheral side thereof and the fixing paws; the inflow connector of the outlet pipe includes an insertion and a rotatable locking portion fixed in the insertion, the insertion is inserted to the inner chamber from the hole of the body, and includes at least one slot arranged around an outer rim thereof to fit a pad so as to engage with an inner wall of the inner chamber; the rotatable locking portion includes two symmetrical projections attached on an outer surface thereof to be retained to the retaining recesses;

wherein the projection includes a stop wall disposed thereon so that the projection is rotated into the retaining recess at a predetermined angle, and the hooks are stopped and limited by each other;

wherein the projection is formed in a L shape and includes a guiding plane formed on a top end thereof proximate to a rotated side thereof.

15. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hook has a first attracting element; and the stop wall has a second attracting element, such that the first attracting element attracts with the second attracting element.

16. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first attracting element of each fixing paw is one of a magnet and a magnetically attractive material, and the second attracting element of each L-shaped projection is the other of the magnet and the magnetically attractive material.

17. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 14, wherein the body is formed in a H shape, and includes two longitudinal segments disposed on two sides thereof respectively, and includes a lateral segment defined between and communicating with the two longitudinal segments; the longitudinal segment includes the valve seat formed on a top end thereof, and includes a support foot extending from a bottom end thereof, the support foot includes the inlet formed on a bottom end thereof, the holder and the outlet are defined on a middle portion of the lateral segment.

18. The as semblable faucet as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support foot further includes a section of outer thread integrally formed thereon

19. The assemblable faucet as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support foot includes a cooper sleeve fitted thereon, and the cooper sleeve includes external threads formed on an outer periphery thereof.