Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FAUCETS PROVIDING MIXED WATER AND AIR FLOW
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to faucets providing mixed water and air flow,
including
faucets having a faucet head with a control member to control a water valve
enabling the mixing
of water and air.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Control valves for faucets have various components, many of which are discrete
parts
that are assembled to ensure good water-tight seal and long-term durability or
reliability. The
manufacturing of faucets, however, can become complicated and expensive as the
features,
controls, and/or functions of faucets are revised over time.
For certain water faucet applications, one-touch valves were developed so a
tap on an
actuation element can control the water flow. An example of one-touch valves
is those supplied
by the 3M Company for mounting externally to a faucet. A one-touch valve may
simplify the
operation of a faucet. However, these one-touch valves are add-on components
for placements at
where water is discharged, i.e., directly at the outlet of a faucet. This also
means that the valves
are operated directly at the outlet where water flows through.
But adding a one-touch valve changes the overall design, dimension, and
aesthetic
appearance of a faucet, limiting the flexibility and/or attractiveness of the
design or application.
A post-sale-modification may raise reliability, durability, or repair issues.
Further, operating a
faucet outlet with hands, arms, or other parts of one's body, which may have
grease, bacteria, or
other contaminants may add grease, bacteria, or other contaminants to the
faucet outlet itself,
leading to hygiene or other concerns.
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Conventional faucets contain handles to control water flow. When the faucet is
operated
in circumstances that require frequent onioff operations, having handles that
are away from the
location where water is discharged may cause inconvenience. Although placing a
handle near the
location where water is discharged may be a solution, it may limit design
options. For example,
.. if a faucet has a removable head that travels with a connecting hose, the
location of the control
may affect the faucet hose or faucet design or limit its portability. As
another example, closing
the distance between the location where water is discharged and the control
handle may limit
design aesthetics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a disclosed embodiment, there is provided a faucet. The faucet
can include
a faucet base, a water hose, a faucet head, a chamber, a water valve, and a
control member.
The faucet head can include a first and second end. The faucet base can be
adapted to be
mounted to support the faucet near the first end and to regulate a water flow
through the faucet.
The water hose can be coupled with the faucet base by extending through the
first end
and second end of the faucet base. The water hose can be adapted to be
flexible and movable
through an opening in the first end and through an opening in the second end.
The faucet head can be movably coupled to the second end of the faucet base.
The
faucet head can be adapted to be dismountable from the second end of the
faucet base while
.. remaining coupled to the water hose to direct a mixture of water-and-air
flow to a location away
from the faucet base and to be relocated back to the second end the faucet
base to discharge the
mixture of water-and-air flow while being coupled to the faucet base.
The chamber can be provided within the faucet head and have a first end and a
second
end. The first end of the chamber can be coupled with the water hose and
coupled, in a
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dismountable manner, to the second end of the faucet base. The second end of
the chamber can
provide an outlet to discharge the mixture of water-and-air flow.
The water valve can be provided within the chamber and located between the
first end
and the second end of the chamber. The water valve can include at least one
air inlet and a water
inlet to enable mixing air from the at least one air inlet with water from the
water inlet. The water
inlet can be coupled with the water hose. The at least one air inlet can be
coupled with the
chamber.
The water valve can further include a control valve movable within the water
valve
between a first position and a second position. The first position can enable
mixing air from the
at least one air inlet with water from the water inlet to provide the mixture
of water-and-air flow.
The second position can enable shut-off of the mixture of water-and-air flow.
A direction of the
control valve's movement between the first position and the second position
can be substantially
parallel to a direction of a water flow from the first end of the chamber to
the second end of the
chamber. The control valve can use a water pressure supplied by the water hose
to facilitate an
operation of the control valve.
The control member can be movably coupled with the faucet head. The control
member
can be adapted to enable an operation of the control valve within the water
valve by pressing the
control member from a side of the faucet head to move the control valve
between the first
position and the second position.
According to another disclosed embodiment, there is provided a faucet. The
faucet can
include a faucet base, a water hose, a faucet head, a water valve, and a
control member.
The faucet base can have a first and second end.
The water hose can extend within the faucet base and can be movable through
the
second end of the faucet base.
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The faucet head can have a first end, a second end, a chamber between the
first and
second end of the faucet head and coupled with the water hose, and an outlet
coupled with the
chamber at or near the second end of the faucet head to discharge a mixture of
water-and-air flow.
The first end of the faucet head can be adapted to be coupled to the second
end of the faucet base
while remaining coupled to the water hose and to be dismountable from the
second end of the
faucet base while remaining coupled to the water hose.
The water valve can be provided within the chamber. The water valve can
include one
or more air inlets and a water inlet to enable mixing air from the one or more
air inlets with water
from the water inlet. The water inlet can be coupled with the water hose. The
one or more air
inlets can be coupled with the chamber.
The water valve can further include a control valve movable within the water
valve
between a first position and a second position. The first position can enable
mixing air from the
air inlet with water from the water inlet to provide the mixture of water-and-
air flow. The second
position can enable shut-off of the mixture of water-and-air flow. The control
valve can be
adapted to move between the first position and the second position in a
direction substantially
parallel to a direction of a water flow from the first end of the faucet head
to the second end of
the faucet head. The control valve can use a water pressure supplied by the
water hose to
facilitate an operation of the control valve.
The control member can be movably coupled with the faucet head at a side of
the faucet
head. The control member can be adapted for user operation by pressing to
cause the control
valve to move between the first position and the second position.
According to yet another disclosed embodiment, there is provided a faucet. The
faucet
can include a faucet base, a water hose, a faucet head, a chamber, a water
valve, and a control
member.
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The faucet base can have a first end, second end, and a water flow control
coupled near
the first end for regulating a water flow through the faucet. The first end of
the faucet base can be
adapted to be mounted to support the faucet.
The water hose can be accommodated between the first end and second end of the
faucet base and movable through an opening near the first end and an opening
near the second
end of the faucet base.
The faucet head can be coupled to the water hose and, in a dismountable
manner, to the
second end of the faucet base while remaining coupled to the water hose.
The chamber can be provided within the faucet head. The chamber can have a
first and
second end. The first end of the chamber can be coupled with the water hose
and can be coupled,
in a dismountable manner, to the second end of the faucet base. The chamber
can be adapted to
discharge a mixture of water-and-air flow near the second end of the chamber.
The water valve can be provided within the chamber and located between the
first and
second end of the chamber. The water valve can include an air inlet and a
water inlet to enable
mixing air from the air inlet with water from the water inlet to provide the
mixture of
water-and-air flow. The water inlet can be coupled with the water hose. The
air inlet can be
coupled with the chamber.
The water valve can further include a control valve movable within the water
valve
between a first position and a second position in a direction approximately
parallel with a
direction of a water flow from the first end of the chamber to the second end
of the chamber. The
first position can enable mixing air from the air inlet with water from the
water inlet to provide
the mixture of water-and-air flow. The second position can enable shut-off of
the mixture of
water-and-air flow. An operation of the control valve can be facilitated by a
water pressure
supplied by the water hose.
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The control member can be movably coupled with the faucet head. The control
member can include a first surface being adapted for user operation in a
direction
approximately perpendicular to a side surface of the faucet head. The control
member can
further include a second surface mechanically coupled with the first surface.
The second
surface can be adapted to engage with the control valve in a way to move the
control valve
from the second position to the first position when the first surface is
pressed.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a faucet
comprising: a
faucet base having a first and second end, the faucet base being adapted to be
mounted to
support the faucet near the first end and to regulate a water flow through the
faucet; a water
hose coupled with the faucet base by extending through the first end and
second end of the
faucet base, the water hose being adapted to be flexible and movable through
an opening in the
first end and through an opening in the second end; a faucet head movably
coupled to the
second end of the faucet base, the faucet head being adapted to be
dismountable from the
second end of the faucet base while remaining coupled to the water hose to
direct a mixture of
water-and-air flow to a location away from the faucet base and to be relocated
back to the
second end the faucet base to discharge the mixture of water-and-air flow
while being coupled
to the faucet base; a chamber within the faucet head having a first end and a
second end, the
first end of the chamber being coupled with the water hose and being coupled,
in a
dismountable manner, to the second end of the faucet base, the second end of
the chamber
providing an outlet to discharge the mixture of water-and-air flow; a water
valve within the
chamber and located between the first end and the second end of the chamber,
the water valve
comprising; at least one air inlet and a water inlet to enable mixing air from
the at least one air
inlet with water from the water inlet, the water inlet being coupled with the
water hose, the at
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least one air inlet being coupled with the chamber, and a control valve
movable within the
water valve between a first position and a second position, the first position
enabling mixing
air from the at least one air inlet with water from the water inlet to provide
the mixture of
water-and-air flow, and the second position enabling shut-off of the mixture
of water-and-air
flow, a direction of the control valve's movement between the first position
and the second
position being substantially parallel to a direction of a water flow from the
first end of the
chamber to the second end of the chamber, the control valve using a water
pressure supplied by
the water hose to facilitate an operation of the control valve; and a control
member movably
coupled with the faucet head, the control member being adapted to enable an
operation of the
control valve within the water valve by pressing the control member from a
side of the faucet
head to move the control valve between the first position and the second
position; wherein the
chamber includes a cavity between the first end and the second end of the
chamber for
receiving the water valve, and the water valve is a pre-assembled assembly
with the control
valve inside the water valve and with a driving member protruding through one
end of the
water valve and coupled with the control valve to cause the control valve to
move between the
first and the second position.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a faucet
comprising: a
faucet base having a first and second end; a water hose extending within the
faucet base and
being movable through the second end of the faucet base; a faucet head having
a first end, a
second end, a chamber between the first and second end of the faucet head and
coupled with
the water hose, and an outlet coupled with the chamber at or near the second
end of the faucet
head to discharge a mixture of water-and-air flow, the first end of the faucet
head being
adapted to be coupled to the second end of the faucet base while remaining
coupled to the
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water hose and to be dismountable from the second end of the faucet base while
remaining
coupled to the water hose; a water valve within the chamber, the water valve
comprising: one
or more air inlets and a water inlet to enable mixing air from the one or more
air inlets with
water from the water inlet, the water inlet coupled with the water hose, the
one or more air
inlets being coupled with the chamber, and a control valve movable within the
water valve
between a first position and a second position, the first position enabling
mixing air from the
air inlet with water from the water inlet to provide the mixture of water-and-
air flow, and the
second position enabling shut-off of the mixture of water-and-air flow, the
control valve being
adapted to move between the first position and the second position in a
direction substantially
parallel to a direction of a water flow from the first end of the faucet head
to the second end of
the faucet head, the control valve using a water pressure supplied by the
water hose to facilitate
an operation of the control valve; and a control member movably coupled with
the faucet head
at a side of the faucet head, the control member being adapted for user
operation by pressing to
cause the control valve to move between the first position and the second
position; wherein the
control valve comprises a driving member protruding from the water valve, the
driving
member being adapted to be moved by the control member to cause the movement
of the
control valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a faucet consistent
with the
present invention.
FIG 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a faucet head
consistent
with the present invention, with dotted line illustrating a water hose.
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FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a faucet head, taken
along line 1-
1 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a faucet head, taken
along line 2-
2 of FIG 2.
FIG 5 is an exploded-view diagram illustrating an embodiment of a faucet head
consistent with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective-section diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
portion of a
chamber in a faucet head consistent with the present invention.
FIG. 7 is another perspective-section diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
portion
of a chamber in a faucet head consistent with the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a control member
consistent with the present invention.
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FIG 9 is another perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a control
member
consistent with the present invention.
FIG 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a faucet head
consistent
with the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a water valve
consistent
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention provides a faucet
including a faucet base 4, a water hose 2, and a faucet head 1. Faucet base 4
can include a first
end 401 and a second end 402. Water hose 2 can be coupled to faucet base 4 by
extending
through first end 401 and second end 402 of faucet base 4. Water hose 2 can be
adapted to be
flexible and movable through an opening of first end 401 and through an
opening of second end
402 of faucet base 4. Faucet head I can be movably coupled to second end 402
of faucet base 4.
Faucet head 1 can be adapted to be dismountable, and can be pulled away, for
example, from
faucet base 4 while remaining coupled to water hose 2 to direct water to a
location away from
faucet base 4. Faucet head I can be adapted to be relocated back to faucet
base 4.
Faucet base 4 can be mounted to support the faucet near first end 401 and to
regulate
water flow through the faucet. Faucet base 4 can include a water flow control
5 coupled with
water hose 2 and located near first end 401 of faucet base 4 to control an
amount of water
flowing through water hose 2 and to vary a mix of cold water and hot water
going into water
hose 2. For example, water flow control 5 can be mounted near a lower portion
of faucet base 4
near a side opening of faucet base 4. Water flow control 5 can be coupled with
water hose 2, a
cold water intake, and a hot water intake to vary, when a water flow is
enabled, a mix of cold
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water and hot water going into water hose 2.
Referring to FIGS. I and 2, a faucet head 1 can be mounted on a pull-out
faucet base 4
or a pull-down faucet base 4, which can include a body portion 3 and, for
example, can be
mounted in a kitchen or a bathroom, such as over or near a sink. Faucet head I
can be coupled
with a water supply segment 2a of water hose 2, and water hose 2 can be
movably
accommodated within and slidable through faucet base 4. Water hose 2 can
include a water
conduit 2b defined therein. Faucet head 1 and water hose 2 can be pulled out
and retracted back
to an outlet 3a at second end 402 of faucet base 4. Body portion 3 of faucet
base 4 can include a
base holder 3b and a tubular extension 3c extending from holder 3b and, in
some embodiments,
bend forward and downward as illustrated in FIG 1. The amount of the bend,
illustrated like a
swan neck in FIG 1, may depend on aesthetic designs, faucet applications,
cost/manufacturing
considerations, and/or other factors. Water hose 2 can extend through holder
3b and tubular
extension 3c.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, faucet head 1 can include an outer casing 10, a
chamber 11, a
water valve 30, and a control member 40. In some embodiments, chamber 11 may
be an opening
provided within faucet head 1 (or within outer casing 10), and faucet head 1
may provide
chamber 11 therein, such as through a uni-body construction or a multiple-part
construction.
With a uni-body or integrated construction, a substantially-cylindrical space
(cylinder) 20 within
outer casing 10 may serve as a portion of chamber 11. Outer casing 10 can be
manually operated
by user, such as for holding and/or pulling faucet head I, and can include
chamber I I . Chamber
11 can be configured to be within faucet head 1 and include a first end 111
and a second end 112.
First cnd 111 of chamber 11 can provide a water inlet coupled with water hose
2, and second end
112 of chamber 11 can provide a water and air outlet to discharge a mixture of
water-and-air
flow near second end 112 of chamber 11. First end 111 of chamber 11 can be
coupled, in a
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dismountable manner, to second end 402 of faucet base 4.
For example, faucet head 1 can be dismountable from second end 402 of faucet
base 4
while remaining coupled to water hose 2 to direct a mixture of water-and-air
flow to a location
away from faucet base 4 and to be relocated back to second end 402 of faucet
base 4 to discharge
the mixture of water-and-air flow while being coupled to faucet base 4.
Referring to FIGS. 3-7, cylinder 20 can be housed in chamber 11 of outer
casing 10 and
can include an inlet segment 201 communicating with water conduit 2b of water
hose 2 via an
inflow connector 91 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), an outlet segment 202, at least one
first orifice 21, a
second orifice 22, and a first connection portion 23. As shown in FIGS. 6-7,
first orifice 21,
second orifice 22, and first connection portion 23 can be defined between
inlet segment 201 and
outlet segment 202.
Water valve 30 can be positioned within chamber 11 and located between first
end 111
and second end 112 of chamber 11. Water valve 30 can be accommodated in
cylinder 20.
Referring to FIG. 11, water valve 30 can include one or more air inlets 302
and a water inlet 305
to enable mixing air from air inlets 302 with water from water inlet 305. Air
inlets 302 of water
valve 30 can be coupled with chamber 11. Water inlet 305 can be coupled with
water hose 2.
Chamber 11 can include at least one air inlet at or near a side of faucet head
1 or second end 112
of chamber 11. The at least one air inlet of chamber 11 can be in
communication with air inlets
302 of water valve 30 to enable the water valve's mixing of water and air. For
example, an
opening on faucet head 1 (or outer case 10) in communication with chamber 11
can serve as the
air inlet of chamber 11 to supply air to water valve 30. An opening 13 of
outer casing 10, as
shown in FIG. 3 and will be described further below, can be adapted to
communicate with and
allow air intake to air inlets 302 of water valve 30. A side opening of faucet
head 1 for
accommodating a switch valve 70, as shown in FIG. 3 and will be described
further below, can
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also be adapted to communicate with and allow air intake to air inlets 302 of
water valve 30.
Alternatively or additionally, a center outlet 81 and/or a plurality of
peripheral outlets
82, as shown in FIG 3, can serve as an air inlet of chamber 11 to supply air
to water valve 30. As
will be described further below, center outlet 81 and peripheral outlets 82
can be adapted to
communicate with chamber 11 to discharge a flow of the water-and-air mixture
in a stream
discharge mode and a spray discharge mode, respectively. When in the stream
discharge mode,
one or more peripheral outlets 82 can be adapted to communicate with and allow
air intake to air
inlets 302 of water valve 30. When in the spray discharge mode, center outlet
81 can be adapted
to communicate with and allow air intake to air inlets 302 of water valve 30.
Water valve 30 can include a control valve 301 movable within water valve 30
between
a first position and a second position. The first position can be a position
that enables mixing air
from air inlets 302 with water from water inlet 305 to provide a mixture of
water-and-air flow.
The second position can be a position that enables shut-off of a mixture of
water-and-air flow. A
direction of the movement of control valve 301 between the first position and
the second position
can be substantially parallel with a direction of a water flow (or a water-and-
air flow) from first
end 111 to second end 112 of chamber 11. Control valve 301 can be adapted to
use a water
pressure supplied by water hose 2 to facilitate an operation of control valve
301, either in one
direction or in both directions.
Water valve 30 can be a water-pressure-assisted aerator with a control valve.
In one
embodiment and referring to FIG. 11, water valve 30 can contain a screen 303
coupled with
control valve 301 and located downstream of control valve 301. Screen 303 can
include a
plurality of water passageways 304, with as little as two or four passageways
to as many as a
dozen or dozens of passageways. Water passageways 304 can be in communication
with one or
more air inlets 302 of water valve 30 to enable the water valve's mixing of
water and air into a
CA 2990920 2018-01-05
mixture of water-and-air flow. Air inlets 302 may have openings from the side,
from the above.
from the lower portion of water valve 30, or having the openings in any of the
combinations. The
air inlets may enable the faucet head and the chamber to be designed with
flexibilities and with
openings or gaps to enable air flow.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5 and 11, control valve 301 can include a driving member
31 that
protrudes out from one end of water valve 30, such as from a lower portion or
the bottom of
water valve 30. Driving member 31 can be engaged with and driven by control
member 40 to
control a position of control valve 301. For example, driving member 31 can be
driven to move
control valve 301, such as moving it up, to turn on water valve 30 so that
water flows into at least
one first orifice 21 of cylinder 20 from water conduit 2b of water hose 2 and
into water inlet 305
of water valve 30. When control valve 301 is pushed up, it breaks the water-
tight seal between
control valve 301 and a lateral or internal wall of water valve 30 to cause
the water from the
connected water hose 2, through water conduit 2b, to flow through water inlet
305. Water inlet
305 may be equipped with a screen, a mesh, or some other debris- or particle-
blocking design to
avoid any debris or particle from entering the water-tight seal of control
valve 301, which may
cause it to lead or malfunction. When control valve 301 is lowered, it returns
to its water-tight
seal state, and the control valve 301 may be designed with surface(s) onto
which water pressure
may exert additional force to reinforce the water-tight seal between control
valve 301 and an
internal wall of water valve 30. The seal between control valve 301 and water
valve 30 may be
formed with rubber, resin, or other suitable sealing materials.
In one embodiment, the control valve may be coupled or equipped with a spring
and a
cam that moves or locks control valve in two or more different positions each
time the driving
member 31 is pressed. The design or operation may be similar to or a variation
of those used in
retractable/clicking pens. U.S. Patent No. 3,819,282 discloses one example of
such design. In
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one embodiment of control valve 301, a second/resting position can provide a
water-tight seal
and stop water flow. A first position can open the seal between control valve
301 and internal
wall(s) of water 30, and the opening enables the water flow. A third position
or additional
positions are optional, and when used, it/they may keep the seal open, but
modulate the water
flow by providing a bigger (or smaller) gap(s) to provide more (or less) water
flow than the
water flow at the first position.
Driving member 31 can include a pin, rod, stem, tube, or an elongated
structure
protruding out of water valve 30. Driving member 31 can include a head for
coupling with push
member 40 and a body connected to the head for transmitting force and/or
motion.
With reference to FIGS. 3-5, faucet head 1 can include a pin 50 extending out
of a
cavity 25 from a through hole 26 to engage with control member 40 so that
control member 40
can actuate driving member 31 via pin 50.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 8, 9, and 10, control member 40 can be movably
coupled with
faucet head 1 at or near a side of faucet head 1 (or outer casing 10), to
enable an operation of
control valve 301 within water valve 30. The operation may occur by pressing
control member
40 from or near a side of faucet head 1 to cause control valve 301 to move
between the first
position and the second position. For example, control member 40 can be
pivotally coupled with
a side of faucet head 1 to convert a pressing of first surface 411 in a
substantially-lateral direction
to a substantially-upward movement of second surface 422, which is coupled
with first surface
411 to cause control valve 301 to move from the second position to the first
position in a
substantially-upward direction.
Control member 40 can include a first surface 411 and a second surface 422,
which is
mechanically coupled with first surface 411. First surface 411 can be adapted
for user operation,
such as to press control member 40 in a direction substantially perpendicular
to a side surface of
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faucet head 1, such as a side surface of outer casing 40. Second surface 422
can be adapted to
engage with control valve 301 to move control valve 301 from the second
position to the first
position when first surface 411 is pressed. Second surface 422 can be adapted
to engage with
control valve 301 to restore control valve 301 from the first position to the
second position when
first surface 411 is pressed again.
For example, control member 40 can include a press portion 41 including first
surface
411 and a lever 42 including second surface 422. Lever 42 can be coupled to
and extending from
press portion 41. First surface 411 can be configured to be substantially
perpendicular to second
surface 422. A part of lever 42 can be limited in second orifice 22 of
cylinder 20. First surface
411 can be an external face of control member 40. Control member can include
an internal face
412 coupled with lever 42. First surface 411 can include a pressing zone 413
(FIGS. 2 and 10),
which may have a curved profile, a dimple, or some other surface shape,
texture, or pattern so a
user can identify it by touching or without looking. Internal face 412 can
have a second
connection portion 414 rotatably connected with first connection portion 23.
When pressing zone
413 is pressed, control member 40 can pivot about where first connection
portion 23 and second
connection portion 414 connect, and second surface 422 of lever 42 can be
coupled with control
valve 301 to cause the movement of control valve 301. For example, second
surface 422 can be
caused to contact/push (or exert a force on) driving member 31 or pin 50 to
cause driving
member 31 to move control valve 301 to the first or second position.
Control member 40 can include a button, a plate, a panel, a switch, a knob, a
toggle, a
stud, a key, or any structure having a surface adapted to enable user
operation, such as press,
push, or other movement. Second surface 422 can be adapted to engage with
control valve 301.
First surface 411 and second surface 422 can be provided through a uni-body
construction or a
multiple-part construction.
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As discussed above, control valve 301 can be configured to remain in the first
position
after control member 40 is pressed and released. For example, control member
40 can be
released after being pressed to cause control valve 301 to move to and remain
in the first position
until control member 40 is operated again, such as by pressing, to cause
control valve 301 to
move from the first position to the second position.
Control member 40 can also include a spring to return control member 40 to an
initial
position when control member 40 is not being operated. The spring may be part
of water valve
30 to provide the spring force to return control member 40 to its initial
position after a user
operate or releases it. The spring may also be a spring separated from a
spring of water valve 30
and be placed between control member 40 and one part of chamber 11.
Referring to FIGS. 3-7, chamber 11 can include, in cylinder 20, for example, a
cavity 24
located in inlet segment 201, cavity 25 formed at a bottom of cavity 24, and
through hole 26 in
spatial communication with cavity 25. At least one first orifice 21 can
communicate with cavity
24 and the outlet segment 202. Water valve 30 can be housed in cavity 24, and
driving member
31 can be accommodated in cavity 25.
Outer casing 10 can include a wall 12 configured to define chamber 11. Outer
casing 10
can include an opening 13 defined in wall 12 corresponding to control member
40 so that control
member 40 can be pressed into and/or through opening 13 when pressing portion
41 is pressed,
as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10. Preferably, a size of opening 13 is larger than
that of pressing
portion 41 of control member 40 so that pressing portion 41 can be
accommodated in opening 13
while exposing pressing zone 413.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 8, and 9, first connection portion 23 of cylinder 20 can
include at
least one rotary shaft, and second connection portion 414 of control member 40
can include at
least one rotatable tab rotatably connecting with the at least one rotary
shaft. For example, first
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connection portion 23 can be a rotary shaft, and second connection portion 414
can include two
rotatable tabs 415.
In another embodiment, first connection portion 23 of cylinder 20 can include
at least
one rotatable tab rotatably connecting with second connection portion 414 of
control member 40,
and second connection portion 414 can include at least one rotary shaft.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5 and 10, pin 50 can include a head 51 for sliding upward
and
downward in cavity 25 and a body 52 extending from head 51 and extending out
of through hole
26 from head 51. Head 51 can be configured to contact with and drive driving
member 31 of
water valve 30. A distal end of the body 52 can be in contact with and driven
by lever 42 of
control member 40.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5 and 10, faucet head 1 can further include a compression
spring
60 in cavity 25. Compression spring 60 can be accommodated between water valve
30 and head
51 of pin 50 to push pin 50 and control member 40 back to their previous
positions after control
member 40 is released.
An extension of through hole 22 of cylinder 20 can be defined by two opposing
limiters
221 formed proximate to through hole 22 so that movement of lever 42 of
control member 40
can be limited between two limiters 221 after control member 40 is pressed or
released.
Second connection portion 414 and pressing zone 413 of control member 40 can
be
located on two opposite sides of lever 42. As shown in FIG. 3, when control
member 40 is not
operated, pressing zone 413 (press portion 41) can protrude out of opening 13
of casing 10 so as
to be pressed easily. When pressing zone 413 of control member 40 is pressed,
control member
40 rotates about where first connection portion 23 and second connection
portion 414 connect to
move lever 42 substantially upward away from the lower limiter 221 to push pin
50 upwardly, as
shown in FIG. 10. Thus, driving member 31 of water valve 30 can be driven to
turn on water
CA 2990920 2018-01-05
valve 30,
As illustrated in FIG. 1, 2, or 5, an on-off indicator can be formed on
pressing zone 413
to indicate whether control member 40 is pressed or released. For example, the
indicator can
indicate an "on" status when control member 40 is pressed into opening 13 and
an "off' status
when control member 40 is not operated or is released after pressing.
Alternatively or
additionally, the indicator can indicate the "on" and/or "off' status using
symbols, illumination,
or other means. Moreover, the indicator can be adapted on control member 40,
such as on first
surface 411.
Body 52 of pin 50 has can include a first seal washer 501 fitted thereon and
sealing
cavity 25 so as to prevent water leakage via through hole 26 from cavity 25,
as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4.
Chamber 11 can provide a housing near second end 112 of chamber 11 to enclose
a
switch valve 70 guiding a flow of the water-and-air mixture between a stream
discharge and a
spray discharge. Switch valve 70 can be operated via a switch movably mounted
on a side
opening of faucet head 1.
For example, faucet head 1 can include switch valve 70 near second end 112 of
chamber
11 to switch a flow of the water-and-air mixture between a stream discharge
and a spray
discharge. For example, switch valve 70 can be arranged on cylinder 20 and
configured to switch
a water flow between a stream discharge mode and a spray discharge mode.
Faucet head 1 can
include a water outlet 80, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Switch valve 70 can be
operated, such as
by pressing, to cause the water to be guided through a center outlet 81 or a
plurality of peripheral
outlets 82 of water outlet 80 from the at least one first orifice 21 to
produce at least two water
discharge modes, such as a stream discharge mode and a spray discharge mode.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, cylinder 20 can include a cavity 27
communicating
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with the at least one first orifice 21 to accommodate switch valve 70.
Cylinder 20 can further
include a recess 28 for accommodating water outlet 80. Recess 28 can include a
central channel
281 and a peripheral channel 282 communicating with cavity 27.
Second end 112 of chamber 11 can provide a stream discharge of a water-and-air
mixture through center outlet 81 of water outlet 80 and a spray discharge of a
mixture of water
and air through the plurality of peripheral outlets 82 of water outlet 80.
Center outlet 81 can be in
communication with and discharge water from central channel 281. The plurality
of peripheral
outlets 82 can be in communication with and discharge water from peripheral
channel 282.
Center outlet 81 can include a foam generator 811 to produce foamy water.
Cylinder 20 can be adapted to match with a water outlet so as to discharge
water from
the at least one first orifice 21 in a particular discharge mode.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, faucet head I can further include an inflow connector
91
engaged at a top of cavity 24. Inflow connector 91 can include a threaded
portion 911 extending
from outer casing 10, a nut 92 engaging with threaded portion 911 of inflow
connector 91 and
locking inflow connector 91 and cylinder 20 to the top of outer casing 10, a
padding 93 located
between inflow connector 91 and a top of water valve 30 to limit water valve
30 in cavity 24, and
a second seal washer 94 fitted on padding 93 and contacting with cavity 24.
When control valve 301 of water valve 30 is configured to operate
automatically,
driving member 31 can be driven to move control valve 301 to a position
enabling water
discharge. Thereafter, control valve 301 can move back to an original position
to stop
discharging water.
When control valve 301 is not configured to be automatic, control member 40
can be
manually operated by the user to close control valve 301. Control member 40
can be operated to
drive driving member 31 of water valve 30 to move control valve 301 to a
position enabling
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shut-off of water.
Thus, water valve 30 can be driven by control member 40 so as to avoid
touching and
contaminating water valve 30. Control member 40 can be rotatably connected
with cylinder 20 to
simplify faucet head 1 and reduce fabrication cost.
Water valve 30 can be a pre-assembled assembly with a control valve, such as
control
valve 301, inside the water valve and with a driving member, such as driving
member 31,
protruding through one end of the water valve and coupled with the control
valve to cause the
control valve to move between a first and a second position, such as between
the first and second
position described above.
Faucet head 1 can be further adapted to discharge water in different discharge
modes
using means other than switch valve 70.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the
purpose of
disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as
well as other
embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. 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.
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