LAVATORY FAUCET HAVING DOUBLE OUTLET

ROBINET A DOUBLE SORTIE POUR SALLE DE BAINS

Description

CA 02217403 1997-10-06
This invention relates to taps ~faucets) for use with
sinks in a bathroom or a washroom.
The conventional construction of such a water tap is
well known. It may, for example, have a valve for hot water
and a valve for cold water and a mixer outlet. Shapes may
vary but the principal is always the same. The mixer outlet
is directed downwardly to deliver water into the sink. I~
it is desired to rinse out the mouth, it is necessary to
either fill a glass of water ~rom the tap or to contort the
body so that the downwardly directed stream of water may be
received in the mouth.
According to the present invention there is provided a
double purpose tap having a downwardly direct outlet to
direct water downwardly into the sink and an upwardly
directed outlet to direct water upwardly as a drinking or
mouth rinsing fountain, and means to switch water flow from
one outlet to the other.
Pre~erably the upwardly directed outlet may be angled
to the vertical so that water does not fall directly onto
the body of the tap. Moreover, means may be provided to
reduce water pressure in the upwardly directed outlet so
that the height and strength of the fountain is not too
great.
A tap according to the invention may for example
include a tap body having an upstream end and a downstream
end, a valve including a handle located at the upstream end
of the tap body, the valve being openable by means of the
handle to allow water flow to the tap body or closable by
means of the handle against such water flow, an upwardly
directed outlet and a downwardly directed outlet for water
at the downstream end of the tap body and manually operable
means to direct water flow in the tap body to either one of

CA 02217403 1997-10-06
the upwardly directed outlet and the downwardly directed
outlet.
Preferably the manually operable means comprises a
turnable handle or a lever connected to rotate a ball valve
between a position in which it allows water flow to the
downwardly directed outlet and a position in which it allows
water flow to the upwardly directed outlet.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described
with reference to the drawing in which the single figure
illustrates a tap according to the invention.
The tap comprises a tap body 10 having a tap handle 12
at its upstream end and a downwardly directed outlet 14 at
its upstream end. It will be appreciated that the shape of
the tap can vary considerably. The handle 12 is operable to
open and close a valve 11 which, when open, allows water to
flow into the tap body or which, when closed, stops such
flow. Valve 11 may, of course, be either a single valve, a
mixer valve, or may include paired valves for hot and cold
water.
In addition to downwardly directed outlet 1*, the tap
body 10 is provided, near its downstream end, with an
upwardly directed nozzle 16. Within the tap body 10 a water
channel 18 ends in a T-junction, one arm 20 of which leads
to the upwardly directed nozzle 16 and the other arm o~
which forms the downwardly directed outlet 14.
Within the T-junction, a ball valve 24 operates to
allow water flow from channel 18 to either arm 20 or to
downwardly directed outlet 14. The ball valve may have a
right angled channel 26 therethrough, one leg of the channel
being aligned with the pipe 18. The ~all valve 24 has a

. ~ CA 02217403 1997-10-06
stem 27 axially aligned with pipe 18 to project outwardly
from the tap body 10 and ending in a handle 30. Ball valve
24 is operable by turning handle 30 to rotate the ball to
connect channel 26 with either arm 22 and hence to the
downwardly directed outlet 14 or with arm ZO and hence with
the upwardly directed nozzle 16.
In order to fill the sink the tap may be used in the
usual way by operating valve 11 by handle 12 and allowing
water to flow through downwardly directed outlet 14. When
it is desired to use the water fountain, handle 30 may be
rotated to rotate ball valve 24 to direct water upwardly.
Conveniently upwardly directed nozzle 16 is adjustable
at an angle to the vertical so that upward water flow may be
directed so that it does not fall onto the tap body or at an
angle convenient to the user. Moreover, pressure reduction
means may be included ~or upwardly directed nozzle 16 for
adjustment of the height and strength of the water fountain.

Representative Drawing