Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 60/656,180, entitled FAUCET ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRAL WATER SUPPLY
SHUT-OFF VALVE," filed February 23, 2005.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to faucets for sanitary fixtures such
as sinks,
washbasins, bidets, or the like, and more particularly to a faucet assembly
having a separable
faucet head and a sanitary fixture-engaging base having automatic water supply
shut-off
valves that allow quick and easy installation of the faucet head onto the
sanitary fixture-
engaging base without the need to manually turn the supply lines off and on.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known, faucets are generally applied to their respective sanitary
fixtures by
providing a through hole in a portion of the sanitary fixture where the faucet
is to be applied,
the base portion of said faucet being inserted into said through hole. In some
kinds of
faucets, the faucet is fixed to the sanitary fixture by means of a plate that
is placed on the
lower side of the sanitary fixture and which is meant for engaging the edge of
the through
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hole. The plate is then tightened against the lower face of the sanitary
fixture by means of
two or more screws which engage with the base portion of the faucet, after it
is inserted in the
through hole. In other kinds of faucets, the base portion of the faucet
protrudes below the
through hole and has a screw threading so that it can be engaged by a ring
nut. The ring nut
engages the lower face of the sanitary fixture, in the proximity of the edge
of the through
hole, thus fixing the faucet to the sanitary fixture. The mounting operation
of conventional
faucets to sanitary fixtures is troublesome in that an installer must
necessarily work under the
sanitary fixture where space is cramped and difficult to reach parts necessary
to the
installation. Particularly in the case of sinks having two compartments, in
which the through
hole for the application of the faucet is placed at the partition between the
two compartments,
the mounting operation of the faucet is particularly difficult in that the
installer must operate
from the front of the sink whereas the faucet mounting hole is near the rear
side between the
two compartments which makes the access thereto particularly difficult. In
addition, the
sanitary fixtures are usually placed resting against a wall, and the hole
where the faucet is to
be fixed, is proximate to this wall that hinders mounting operations of the
faucet. The
mounting operations of faucets are also made complicated by the presence of a
draining trap
or column particularly when the faucet is installed onto a washbasin, as well
as by the
presence of the wall against which the sanitary fixture rests.
Further complicating installation of these faucets is the need to shut off the
water
supply lines feeding the faucet before installation or removal can be
performed. The supply
lines must then be connected, or disconnected and reconnected for faucet
replacement or
repair, with the same accessibility difficulties as described above. In some
installations,
particularly for wall-mounted faucets, supply line shut-off valves may be on
another side of a
wall. Once a faucet is installed, the supply line valves must then be opened
again to resume
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operational water flow. In any event, the mounting operation of faucets to
sanitary fixtures is
an awkward task in that the installer is compelled to work under the sanitary
fixture itself.
The time required to properly install a faucet therefore contributes
significantly to the cost of
a project.
In the prior art filed with this application we find several faucet devices as
patents
relevant to the present application, i.e., Mueller, Schmitt, Farrell et al.,
McGhee, Botnick,
Shieh, Mikol, Tischler et al., Sauter et al., Deutsches Patentamt 8805671 and
8815235, and
European 0293655 as well as several articles of reference.
US Patent No. 6,328,059 to Testori and Brown discloses a faucet apparatus for
mounting on sanitary surfaces comprising a block portion that is inserted into
a hole within a
sanitary surface that is connected below to water intake ducts, and above to a
faucet head.
Before the faucet head can be removed or reconnected, however, the water
supply lines must
first be manually shut off to prevent free-flow of water.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above
mentioned
drawbacks by providing a faucet assembly that is connected to sanitary
fixtures such as sinks,
washbasins, bidets, or the like, and allows an installer or service personnel
to remove or
replace a faucet head without the installer's having to manually shut off the
water supply
lines feeding the faucet assembly.
A particular object of the invention is to provide an automatic shut-off valve
system
that enables a faucet head to be easily mounted or removed from a faucet base,
which is
mounted on a sanitary fixture, without requiring that the installer climb or
work from under
the sanitary fixture.
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Another object of the invention is to provide a device that enables the
mounting
of both conventional faucets and lever-type mono-control mixing valves and to
enable their
quick replacement.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device that can be
manufactured at
extremely low costs and thus will be very price-competitive in the
marketplace.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device that enables coupling
of faucet
assemblies to a wide range of sanitary fixtures, including wash basins,
bidets, and bathtubs.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device enabled for
positioning the
faucet water mixing assembly at a set angle relative to the sanitary fixture
upon which it is
mounted.
A further object of the invention is to provide a faucet asseinbly having low-
voltage
wiring and electrical connections to enable use of devices such as optical
sensors for
automatic faucet actuation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A faucet apparatus for mounting on sanitary fixtures such as sinks, washbasins
or the
like, provides simple and quick installation of a faucet head without the need
to manually
shut off water supply lines. The apparatus comprises the faucet head and a
fixture engaging
base portion that is inserted into a through hole in the sanitary fixture and
is with a portion
thereof above the sanitary fixture. The faucet head is removable from the
base, which stays
attached to the sanitary fixture. A pair of passages or conduits extends
through the base and
are adapted to be connected below the sanitary fixture to water supply lines,
and above the
sanitary fixture for supplying the faucet head. The faucet apparatus further
comprises
automatic water supply shut-off valves disposed within the passages of the
base and
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corresponding valve actuators disposed within the faucet head that allow quick
and easy
installation or removal of the faucet head assembly onto the sanitary fixture-
engaging base
without the need to manually turn the supply lines off and on. The shut-off
valves are each
comprised of a normally closed valve assembly that, when the faucet head is
not present,
remain in a closed position by the presence of water pressure from the supply
lines or by
spring tension. The faucet head assembly is comprised of a water dispensing
unit, a pair of
passages that align with the passages or conduits of the base, coupler
fittings that engage with
the faucet head passages at one end and with the base passages at a second
end. The
corresponding valve actuators are located on the second end of the coupler
fittings. A
plurality of o-ring seals affixed on the coupler fittings prevents undesired
escape of water.
When the faucet head is mounted on the base, the coupler fittings engage and
seal against the
base passages, and as the faucet assembly moves axially with respect to the
base conduits, the
actuators engage and open each valve assembly, enabling water flow to the
faucet head as the
faucet head is fully seated onto the base. In one embodiment of the faucet
assembly, the base
further comprises an additional passage for allowing installation of low-
voltage conductors
and electrical connections to enable features such as automatic faucet
actuation. The faucet
apparatus further comprises an attachment means for fixing the base portion to
the sanitary
fixture. The attachment means comprises a fixing member associated with the
base and
moved from an insertion position in which the fixing member is axially aligned
with the hole
in the sanitary fixture, and a locking position in which the fixing member is
able to engage
the lower surface of the sanitary fixture in which the hole is made.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. I is a side elevational view partly in section of a faucet assembly
according to
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1. The faucet
assembly
of this invention with the elements shown about to be assembled.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 of a faucet
assembly
showing parts thereon assembled.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of internal parts of the faucet
assembly
according to the present invention, showing the manner in which a faucet head
assembly is
engaged with the base portion.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of a second einbodiment showing a
base
portion of a faucet assembly, having a ball-type valve structure with the
faucet conduits
positioned above the base.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 5 with
the conduits
of the faucet inserted into the base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
For a complete understanding of the features and operation of the present
invention,
reference is now made to the drawings of the invention along with the
accompanying figures
in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to
corresponding parts of the
invention.
With reference to the above mentioned FIGS. 1- 7, the apparatus comprises a
base
portion 2, which mounts within a through hole 3 defined in a sanitary fixture
4. Preferably,
the sanitary fixture 4 is a sink, washbasin, bidet or the like. An upper
portion of the base
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portion 2 protrudes above the sanitary fixture 4 and can be housed within a
lower cavity 51 of
the faucet apparatus 5, and is removably fixed thereto.
The base portioii 2, preferably of a substantially cylindrical shape, is
coupled
coaxially in the through hole 3 so as to be aligned with a vertical axis and
in a perpendicular
attitude to a upper face 4a of the sanitary fixture 4.
A relatively narrow portion of the lower base of base portion 2 defines a
border 8 and
engages the upper face 4a of the sanitary fixture 4 at the edge of the through
hole 3.
A plurality of conduits, preferably a pair of conduits 6 and 7, extend
vertically
through base portion 2, and can be connected below sanitary fixture 4 to water
supply ducts
(now shown). The water intake ducts provide hot water and cold water, to a
plurality of
fittings 12 and 13, supplying the faucet apparatus 5 to be mounted to the
sanitary fixture 4.
The water supply ducts 10 and 11 are connected to the lower mouths of the
conduits 6
and 7, preferably by means of a threaded coupling, or by welding or other
known connection
techniques.
Cylindrical sealing gaskets 16 and 17 fit tightly around supply fittings 12
and 13. In
turn, the cylindrical sealing gaskets 16 and 17 frictionally engage the inside
surfaces of the
cylindrical passages 6 and 7.
The supply fittings 12 and 13 protrude upwardly from the base portion 2 and
engage,
with the interposition of sealing gaskets 14 and 15, the mouth of a supply
duct 50 leading into
a dispensing portion cavity 51 provided in the dispensing portion of the
faucet apparatus 5.
The faucet apparatus further comprises automatic water supply shut-off valves
40, 41
disposed within the passages of the base and corresponding valve actuators 42,
43 disposed
within the faucet head that allow quick and easy installation or removal of
the faucet head
assembly onto the sanitary fixture-engaging base without the need to manually
turn the
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supply lines off and on. The shut-off valves are each comprised of a normally
closed valve
assembly having a neoprene disk 44, 45 or ball stop 46, 47 that, when the
faucet head is not
present, remaiii in a closed position by the presence of water pressure from
the supply lines or
by spring 48, 45 that keeps the stop element engaged with the valve seat.
The faucet head assembly is comprised of a water dispensing unit, a pair of
passages
that align with the passages of the base, coupler fittings that engage with
the faucet head
passages at one end and with the base passages at a second end. The
corresponding valve
actuators are located on the second end of the coupler fittings. A plurality
of o-ring seals
affixed on the coupler fittings prevents undesired escape of water. When the
faucet head is
mounted onto the base, the coupler fittings first engage and seal against the
base passages.
After the seals have engaged, the actuators engage and push open the stop
element of each
valve assembly. Water flow to the faucet head is thereby enabled as the faucet
head is fully
seated onto the base.
The actuators 42, 43 may be cone-shaped, ball-shaped or may simply be a
protrusion
extending from the end of the coupler fitting, provided with apertures that
allow water flow
around a valve-engaging tip of the actuator. The valve seats may be those of
any of a variety
of in-line check valves as are commonly known in the art and are typically
flat or tapered to
engage and seal with a valve stop element. Neoprene stop elements are widely
used as they
provide long life and acceptable wear properties. It will be obvious to one of
skill in the art
that a wide ranger of valve stop and valve seat materials and methods of
engagement will
achieve the same function. Unless an actuator from a fully seated faucet head
asseinbly is
present, water pressure from the supply side of the valve pushes the stop
against the valve
seat, preventing the escape of water before or during installation of the
faucet head assembly.
If water pressure is present but is insufficient to maintain closure of the
valve by itself, a
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biasing spring disposed within the valve assembly applies force to keep the
stop element
engaged with the valve seat.
An attachment means comprises a fixing member 22 and a threaded screw 21 for
fixing the base portion 2 to the sanitary fixture 4. The threaded screw 21 is
inserted into a
attachment hole 27 that extends axially through the base portion 2.
A threaded fixing member (not shown) can be used to fix the faucet 5 in place
upon
base unit 4. Inserting and tightening the tlireaded meinber into threaded
aperture 55 engages
base 4 and prevents removal of faucet 5 therefrom.
In the next step, the faucet head 5 is placed on the base portion 2, thus
engaging the
couplers of the faucet head with the passages at the top of the base, thereby
engaging the
valve actuators affixed to the coupler ends with the normally-closed valve
assemblies
disposed withing the base passages. The faucet apparatus 5 is then secured by
means of a
threaded set screw inserted into threaded aperture 55 to fasten the faucet 5
to the base 4
In an alternate embodiment of the faucet assembly, the base further coinprises
additional passage 60, 61 through the base for allowing installation of low-
voltage conductors
and electrical connections to enable features such as automatic faucet
actuation. Infrared or
ultrasonic sensors as are commonly known in the art may be located within a
faucet assembly
for detection of a user's hands beneath or in proximity to the faucet head.
When the presence
of hands is sensed, an electronic signal passes from the sensor, through the
additional passage
within the base to a power supply and electronic processing unit, and to a
faucet actuation
unit that allows water to flow from the faucet head. Other embodiments can
have
temperature sensors for providing a safe or desired mix of hot and cold water
delivered to the
faucet head.
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While the invention has been described with reference to at least one
preferred
embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that
the invention is not
limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only
in conjunction
with the appended claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention has applicability to the field of plumbing and plumbing
fixtures, particularly to faucets for sanitary fixtures such as sinks,
washbasins, bidets, or the
like. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in
language more or
less specific as to faucets and related plumbing structures. It is to be
understood, however,
that the invention is not limited to the specific means or features shown or
described, since
the means and features shown or described comprise preferred ways of putting
the invention
into effect.
Additionally, while this invention is described in terms of being used for
faucets and
other plumbing fixtures, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art that the invention
can be adapted to other uses including, but not limited to, other fields in
which fluids and
gases are controlled, and therefore the invention should not be construed as
being limited to
faucets. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or
modifications within the
legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted
in accordance
with the doctrine of equivalents.
