U.S. patent application number 12/079092 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-01 for internal assembly for a faucet.
Invention is credited to Wu Pingliang, Lan Xinlu.
Application Number | 20090242051 12/079092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41115309 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090242051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xinlu; Lan ; et al. |
October 1, 2009 |
Internal assembly for a faucet
Abstract
The invention is an internal assembly for a faucet comprising an
independent base portion; a main body portion; a sealing element;
at least one discharge element; a handle that an operator actuates
to deliver water at a desired temperature through the discharge
element; an annulus, and a radial seal. The main body portion
includes a lower disk. The lower disk has a cold water inlet, a hot
water inlet and a mixed water outlet. An intermediate disk is
positioned adjacent the lower disk. The intermediate disk has a
recessed mixing cavity, and further has a dual lobe sealing element
to provide the mixing cavity with an arcuate configuration. An
upper disk is positioned adjacent to the intermediate disk, and has
a central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably
couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk. A seat is
positioned adjacent the upper disk, and the seat has a central
opening. A post and a fixing element, including a flange and an
opening, receive a portion of the actuator ball of a joystick, and
facilitate operable connection of the joystick with the upper disk.
A joystick having a shaft extends through the seat opening, and
through the main body. The joystick has a depending actuator that
is received in the upper disk aperture to operably connect the
joystick to the upper disk. Actuation of the joystick results in
movement of the upper disk and intermediate disk, to vary the
position of the mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water
inlets.
Inventors: |
Xinlu; Lan; (Xiamen, CN)
; Pingliang; Wu; (Xiamen, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY LLP;Attn: IP Department
227 WEST MONROE STREET, SUITE 4400
CHICAGO
IL
60606-5096
US
|
Family ID: |
41115309 |
Appl. No.: |
12/079092 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/603 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/87579 20150401;
F16K 11/0785 20130101; E03C 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/603 |
International
Class: |
E03B 1/00 20060101
E03B001/00 |
Claims
1. An internal assembly for a faucet comprising: an independent
base portion; a main body portion; a sealing element; at least one
discharge element; a handle that an operator actuates to deliver
water at a desired temperature through the discharge element; an
annulus, and a radial seal; the main body portion including: a
lower disk, the lower disk having a cold water inlet, a hot water
inlet and a mixed water outlet; an intermediate disk positioned
adjacent the lower disk, the intermediate disk having a recessed
mixing cavity, and further having a dual lobe sealing element to
provide the mixing cavity with an arcuate configuration; an upper
disk positioned adjacent to the intermediate disk and having a
central aperture and at least one engaging member that operably
couples the upper disk to the intermediate disk; a seat positioned
adjacent the upper disk, the seat having a central opening; a post
and a fixing element, including a flange and an opening, the
opening receiving a portion of the actuator ball of a joystick, and
facilitating operable connection of the joystick with the upper
disk; the joystick further having a shaft extending through the
seat opening and through the main body, the joystick further having
a depending actuator that is received in the upper disk aperture to
operably connect the joystick to the upper disk; wherein actuation
of the joystick results in movement of the upper disk and
intermediate disk to vary the position of the mixing cavity
relative to the hot and cold water inlets.
2. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein the
independent base portion is connected to a cold water line and a
hot water line, and is mounted to a surface, wherein the main body
portion is secured to the independent base portion by screws, and
wherein the main body portion may be removed from the independent
base portion without disconnecting the cold water line or the hot
water line from the independent base portion.
3. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein the main
body portion has a cold water inlet hole, a hot water inlet hole,
and a mixed water outlet hole such that the mixed water may be
discharged directly from the main body through at least one of the
discharge elements.
4. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 3, wherein the
discharge elements comprise a spout connected to the main body
portion, and a discharge line connected to the independent base
portion, wherein the main body portion contains a change valve
wherein actuation of the change valve changes the flow of
discharged water between the spout and the discharge line.
5. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein the
radial seal comprises a U-ring, and the main body portion has an
external arcuate recess and two holes for receiving the U-ring.
6. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein the seat
contains two outward projections and the main body has two internal
arcuate recesses for receiving the seat and the annulus to
transversely seal the faucet.
7. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein the
discharge elements include a spout and a water outlet line through
the independent base portion.
8. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein actuation
of the joystick results in movement of the upper disk and
intermediate disk to vary the position of the mixing cavity
relative to the hot and cold water inlets and the mixed water
outlet.
9. The internal assembly for a faucet of claim 1, wherein the
intermediate disk has a diameter less than a diameter of the lower
disk.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] N/A
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] N/A
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to an internal assembly for a faucet
in which mixed water may discharge directly from the assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Single handle water faucets suitable for commercial and
residential use are well-known. These faucets typically include,
for example, a base plate, an upwardly extending main body portion,
a discharge segment or spout, and a centrally located handle. A
mixing valve or cartridge is positioned within the main body, and
includes a vertically extending joystick that is operably connected
to the handle. A hot water line or conduit is connected to a hot
water inlet of the cartridge, and a cold water line or conduit is
connected to a cold water inlet of the cartridge. The cartridge
also includes a mixed water outlet, and a discharge line extends
from the water outlet through the spout to provide mixed water for
discharge. In operation, an operator actuates the handle to
discharge water through the spout at a desired temperature and
volume.
[0005] Examples of single handle water faucets known in the art are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,155,297, 4,337,795, 4,043,359,
3,965,935, 3,788,354, 3,035,612, 2,977,986, and U.S. Pub. Nos.
2007/0289648 and 2004/0074543. Mixing valve or cartridges known in
the art are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,957,160 and
4,979,539.
[0006] Conventional single-handle water faucets suffer from a
number of limitations that negatively affect their performance,
durability and cost of manufacture. For example, some conventional
water faucets locate the mixed water outlet in the rear portion of
the cartridge. As a result, the discharge line in such faucets
assumes an unnecessarily long and circuitous path to the spout that
compromises durability and installation of the cartridge in the
faucet body. Another disadvantage of conventional water faucets and
mixing valves or cartridges is that water lines must be
disconnected before the main body of the faucet may be removed for
maintenance or replacement.
[0007] The present invention is intended to solve these limitations
and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by conventional
faucet mixing valves or cartridges. A full discussion of the
features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to an internal assembly
for a faucet having an independent base portion, a main body
portion, a sealing element, at least one discharge element, a
handle that an operator actuates to deliver water at a desired
temperature through the discharge element, an annulus, and a radial
seal.
[0009] According to an aspect of the invention, the main body
portion includes a lower disk with a cold water inlet, a hot water
inlet, and a mixed water outlet; an intermediate disk with a
recessed, arcuate mixing cavity, and a dual lobe sealing element
positioned adjacent the lower disk; an upper disk with a central
aperture positioned adjacent to the intermediate disk, with at
least one engaging member that operably couples it to the
intermediate disk; a seat with a central opening positioned
adjacent to the upper disk; and a joystick, with a shaft extending
through the seat opening and the main body.
[0010] The joystick has a depending actuator that is received in
the central aperture of the upper disk that operably connects it to
the upper disk. Actuation of the joystick results in movement of
the upper disk and intermediate disk, varying the position of the
mixing cavity relative to the hot and cold water inlets.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the
independent base is connected to a cold water line and a hot water
line, and is mounted to a surface. The main body portion is secured
to the independent base with screws, and is removable from the base
without disconnecting the water lines.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the main body
portion has cold and hot water inlet holes, and a mixed water
outlet hole so that the mixed water may be discharged directly from
the main body through a discharge element. The main body portion
may include a change valve, which valve changes the flow of
discharged water from one discharge element to another, such as
between a spout and a water discharge line connected to the base
portion of the assembly.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the radial
seal is a U-ring, and the main body has an external, arcuate recess
and two holes, all for receiving the U-ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the inventive internal
assembly for a faucet, showing the various components of the
assembly.
[0015] FIG. 2 is perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, but in
an assembled condition.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of one embodiment of the invention,
including a handle, a cover, and a spout.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an intermediate disk of the
assembly, with the intermediate disk depicted as having an arcuate
mixing cavity and a dual lobe sealing element
[0018] FIG. 5. is a bottom, perspective view of the sealing element
and lower disk, showing the cold water and hot water inlets, and
the mixed water outlet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of an internal assembly 10 for
a faucet of the present invention. The internal assembly 10
includes an independent base 1, a main body 2, a sealing element 3,
a lower disk 4, an intermediate disk 5, an upper disk 6, a fixing
element 7, a post 8, a joystick 9, a seat 20, an annulus 30, and a
retaining U-ring 40.
[0020] A cold water inlet 11, a hot water inlet 12 and a water
discharge line 13 may be connected to the independent base 1. The
sidewall of independent base 1 includes at least one screw hole
14.
[0021] The main body 2 includes a cold water inlet hole 21, a hot
water inlet hole 22, a mixed water outlet hole 23, a spout
discharge hole 25, and optionally, a hole 24 for installing a
change valve 60.
[0022] The inner wall of the main body 2 includes projections 26. A
groove 27 is located around the cold water inlet hole 21, hot water
inlet hole 22, and mixed water outlet hole 23. Groove 27 receives
sealing element 3.
[0023] The top wall of the main body 2 includes an arcuate hole 28
and two small holes 216 for retaining U-ring 40.
[0024] The top wall of the main body 2 further includes two arcuate
recesses 29, 211 for receiving the seat 20 and the annulus 30. The
bottom wall of the main body 2 includes at least one screw hole
212, correspondingly aligned with at least the screw hole 14 on the
side of independent base 1, for securing the main body 2 to the
independent base 1.
[0025] Lower disk 4 includes holes 41, 42 and 43. The holes 41, 42,
43 are communicative with cold water inlet hole 21, hot water inlet
hole 22 and mixed water outlet hole 23, respectively. The lower
disk 4 also includes notches 44 that receive the projections 26,
thereby facilitating securement of the lower disk 4 to the main
body 2.
[0026] The intermediate disk 5 includes dual lobe sealing element
51 that is slidingly positioned on the lower disk 4. As a result,
the intermediate disk 5 is movable along an upper surface 45 of the
lower disk 4.
[0027] The bottom of the intermediate disk 5 includes a recessed
water mixing cavity 53. In addition, the upper disk 6 includes a
central aperture 62, and extending engaging members 61.
[0028] These engaging members 61 are received within recesses 52 of
the intermediate disk 5. The engaging members 61 operably couple
the upper disk 6 to the intermediate disk 5.
[0029] The upper disk 6 also includes an upwardly directed finger
63 that is received by a recess 203 in the bottom surface of the
seat 20. The upwardly directed finger 63 operably couples the upper
disk 6 to seat 20.
[0030] As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat 20 is positioned
adjacent the upper disk 6. The seat 20 has an upwardly extending
ring portion 201 having an opening 202 that receives the joystick
9.
[0031] Located within seat 20 is a ball surface 204. The ball
surface 204 includes a circumferential recess 205 and two
symmetrical vertical recesses. The seat 20 also includes
projections 207, 208 which engage the arcuate recesses 211, 29 of
the main body 2, to secure the seat 20 to the main body 2. Bottom
surfaces 209 of the projections 207, 208 abut against the bottom
surfaces 215 of the grooves 29,211.
[0032] The joystick 9 includes a number of components for operative
interaction with the components of the internal assembly 10. As may
be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the joystick 9 includes an elongated
shaft 94 extending through the seat 20, a rotary ball 91, and a
depending actuator ball 92 received by the central aperture or
opening 62 of the upper disk 6. The post 8 and the fixing element
7, including a flange 71 and an opening 72, receive a portion of
the actuator ball 92, and facilitate operable connection of the
joystick 9 with the upper disk 6.
[0033] Actuation of joystick 9 results in movement of the upper
disk 6 and the intermediate disk 5, varying the position of the
mixing cavity 53 relative to the cold 11 and hot water inlets 12,
and the water outlet 13.
[0034] The annulus 30 has a central opening 301 engaging the
upwardly extending ring portion 201 of the seat 20. The annulus 30
further includes projections 302, 303 which engage the arcuate
recesses 211, 29 of the main body 2, to secure the seat 20 to the
main body 2. Projection 302, arcuate recess 211, and projection 207
are sized to ensure a proper fit. Projection 303, arcuate recess
29, and projection 206 are also sized to ensure a proper fit.
[0035] The retaining U-ring 40 is inserted into the arcuate hole 28
and the two holes 216, to secure the seat 20 within the main body
2. This further radially seals the main body 2.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1, but in an assembled
condition. As shown in FIG. 2, a change valve 60 is located in hole
24. Screws 80 are used to secure the main body 2 to the independent
base 1. The main body 2 includes circumferential grooves 213, 214.
As seen in FIG. 3, these grooves receive a pair of O-rings 50.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention
including a spout 70 installed outside of the main body 2. A
semi-circular cover 90 is secured to the main body 2. A handle 100
is connected to the joystick 9.
[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, an operator actuates the
handle 100 and linked joystick assembly 9 to select the temperature
and volume of water discharged from the spout. Therefore, actuation
of the handle 100 enables the operator to select between an off
position (no water discharge), a hot water discharge position, a
warm (mixed) water discharge position, and a cold water discharge
position.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of intermediate disk 5, according to
one embodiment of the invention. Intermediate disk 5 includes a
dual lobe sealing element 51, recessed water mixing cavity 53, and
recess 52 for receiving engaging members 61 of upper disk 6. The
dual lobe sealing element 51 comprises a stem extending radially
inwardly, from the wall of the upper disk, a first lobe extending
from the stem, and a second lobe extending from the stem. The
recessed water mixing cavity 53 has a generally arcuate
configuration. The dual lobe sealing element 51 sealingly engages
the hot water inlet and/or the cold water inlet of the lower disk,
varying the relative position of the mixing cavity and the mixed
water outlet.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of main body portion 2, according to
one embodiment of the invention. The main body portion 2 includes
cold water inlet 21, hot water inlet 22, mixed water outlet 23, and
groove 27 for receiving sealing element 3.
[0041] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents fall within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *