WO2004104459A1

WO2004104459A1 - Faucet with peripheral handle

Info

Publication number: WO2004104459A1
Application number: PCT/CA2004/000751
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Messier; Laurent Deschamps
Original assignee: Messier Designers Inc.
Priority date: 2003-05-21
Filing date: 2004-05-21
Publication date: 2004-12-02
Also published as: CA2429241A1

Abstract

A faucet (14; 114) for delivering a flow of liquid comprises a faucet body (24; 124), at least two inlets (30, 32, 36, 38; 130, 132, 136, 138) for receiving first and second liquids, a mixing valve (34; 134), an inner passageway defined in the body, a handle (18; 118) provided around the body and connected to the valve, a liquid delivery mechanism (52; 152) provided at a distal end of the handle. The inlets (30, 32, 36, 38; 130, 132, 136, 138) are in fluid communication with the mixing valve (34; 134). The handle (18; 118) is adapted to be displaced along the body between open and closed positions thereof and to be rotated about the body between first and second positions thereof. In the closed position, the valve (34 134) prevents the first and second liquids from flowing from the inlets (30, 32,' 36, 38; 130, 132, 136, 136) to the delivery mechanism (52; 152). In the open position, the valve (34; 134) allows at least one of the first and second fluids to flow from at least one of the inlets (30, 32, 36, 38; 130, 132, 136, 138) to the delivery mechanism (52; 152). When the valve (34; 134) is in the open and first positions, only the first fluid flows through the delivery mechanism (52; 152), whereas when the valve is in the open and second positions, only the second fluid flows through the delivery mechanism (52; 152). The delivery mechanism (52; 152) is provided at a distal or downstream end of the handle (18; 118), whereby the liquid flows out of the faucet (14; 114) at the handle.

Description

FAUCET WITH PERIPHERAL HANDLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to plumbing fixtures and, more particularly, to a water faucet having a novel flow and temperature control handle.

(b) Description of Prior Art Faucet assemblies for use, for instance, in home sinks and bathtubs having handles to control the flow and temperature of the water are well known. Hot and cold water pipes located upstream of the faucet convey hot and cold water thereto with the faucets typically mixing the incoming hot and cold water with the flow of both the hot and cold water into the mixing faucet being adjustable via one or more handles so as to obtain downstream of the faucet a desired combined flow of water at a desired temperature. Various handle configurations and mixing mechanisms are used to achieve the above result.

United States Patent No. 4,986,303 issued on January 22, 1991 to Kennedy discloses a faucet assembly that has hot and cold water inlet and outlet lines . The faucet assembly includes visibly clear water conduits or tubes that are attached to the handles of the faucet assembly and that are in water flow communication with both the water inlet and outlet lines, thereby assisting in determining water flow problems in the faucet assembly. Furthermore, the clear tubes are aesthetic.

United States Patent No. 4,330,011 issued on May 18, 1982 to Moen teaches a faucet having a mixing valve that includes a sleeve with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports and a valve member movable within the sleeve to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. A seal at the inlet port extends through the sleeve and into contact with the valve member. The valve member has a first portion adjacent the inlet port to control flow of the fluid therethrough and a second portion adjacent the outlet port to similarly control flow of fluid therethrough. The first and second portions of the valve member are spaced apart such that movement of the valve member toward a closing position causes the second portion to close the outlet port before the first portion closes the inlet port thereby reducing pressure on the seal at closure of the inlet port.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a novel water faucet.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a water faucet having a handle adapted to control the flow and the temperature of the water emanating from the faucet.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a faucet for delivering a flow of liquid, comprising a faucet body, at least two inlets for receiving first and second liquids, a mixing valve, an inner passageway defined in said body, a handle provided around said body and connected to said valve, a liquid delivery means provided at a distal end of said handle, said inlets being in fluid communication with said mixing valve, said handle being adapted to be displaced along said body between open and closed positions thereof and to be rotated about said body between first and second positions thereof, wherein in said closed position, said valve prevents the first and second liquids from flowing from said inlets -to said delivery means, wherein in said open position, said valve allows at least one of the first and second fluids to flow from at least one of said inlets to said delivery means, wherein when said valve is in said open and first positions, only the first fluid flows through said delivery means, whereas when said valve is in said open and second positions, only the second fluid flows through said delivery means. Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a faucet for expelling a flow of water, comprising:

- a coupling, destined to be fluidly connected to a hot and a cold water supply line; - a handle member defining a longitudinal axis extending between an upstream end provided with a water-ejecting spout and a downstream end rotatably and slidably mounted onto said coupling, wherein said handle member is ^' axially slidable along said longitudinal axis between an extracted limit position and a retracted limit position, and wherein said handle member is rotatable about said longitudinal axis in a first and a second direction; wherein by slidably displacing said handle member between said retracted limit position and said extracted limit position, the rate of the water flow being expelled from said water ejecting spout can be selectively controlled, and wherein by rotating said handle member, towards a selected one of said first and second directions, the temperature of the water flow being expelled from said water ejecting spout can be selectively calibrated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be_. made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure .1 is a top perspective view of a sink equipped with a faucet having a peripheral handle • in accordance with the present invention, the faucet being installed at the upper extremity of a water pipe; Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged perspective views of part of the faucet of Figure 1 showing the faucet in closed and in open positions thereof, respectively;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively an enlarged top plan cross-sectional view and an enlarged side elevation cross-sectional view of the faucet of Figure 1 in its closed position;

Figures 6 and 7 are similar to Figures 4 and 5 respectively, but with the faucet in its open position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of two co-operating inner abutment sleeves of the faucet of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an exploded view of a variant of the faucet of Figures 4 to 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged view of two components of the faucet shown in Figure 9;

Figures 11 and 12 are respectively an enlarged top plan cross-sectional view and ^' an enlarged side elevation cross-sectional view of the ^' assembled faucet of Figure 9 in a closed position thereof; and Figures 13 and 14 are similar to Figures 11 and

12 respectively, but with the faucet in an open position thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a sink 10 supported spacedly above ground by a base 12. A faucet 14 according to the present invention is operatively installed over sink 10. More particularly, faucet 14 is an integral part and the free extremity of a water pipe 16 that extends through the ground and is elbowed at its upper extremity to form faucet 14. Faucet 14 defines a downstream extremity 14a at its outer free end portion, and an opposite upstream extremity 14b.

Faucet 14, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises an outer handle 18 that can be moved between a first closed or retracted position in which it is moved upstream, and a second open or extracted position in which it is moved downstream, as detailed hereinafter. Water will flow through faucet 14 when handle 18 is in its open position (Figure 3) , and will be prevented from flowing through faucet 14 when handle 18 is in its closed position

(Figure 2) . Figures 4 to 7 show that pipe 16 comprises an outer sheath 20 and an inner operative pipe 22 operatively connected to the main water grid (not shown) .

Faucet 14 comprises a fixed inner body portion 24 that is fixed to a pipe coupling 26 by means of a screw 28. Pipe coupling 26 is in turn fixed to and in fluid connection with inner water pipe 22. Indeed, coupling 26 comprises two vertical bores 30, 32 that are each connected -to a corresponding one of the hot and cold water pipe portions of main inner pipe 22 and are continuously fed with hot and cold water, respectively.

Main body 24 comprises a central bore in which is fixedly attached an inner sleeve 33 in which a faucet pipe (mixing valve) 34 is axially slidable. Main body 24 further comprises near its, upstream end a pair of radially extending water outlets 24a, 24b that may correspond to the position of corresponding water inlets 34a, 34b radially bored through faucet pipe 34, as detailed hereinafter. The downstream¹ end of faucet pipe 34 protrudes beyond main body 24.

Short inner pipe connectors 36, 38 link hot and cold water inlet bores 30, 32 respectively to passages 40, 42 made in main body 24 to allow hot and cold water to reach main body outlets 24a and 24b respectively. Sealing plates 44 close passages 40, 42.

A first abutment sleeve 48 (also shown in Figure 8) is coaxially rotatably installed over main body 24. Sleeve 48 comprises an abutment tongue 48a that projects towards the downstream end 14a of faucet 14.,

A hollow cylindrical main body casing member 50 covers the upstream end portion of faucet 14, extending from pipe 16 to an intermediate portion of main body 24.

Slidable faucet pipe 34 fixedly carries at its downstream end which protrudes beyond main body 24, a second abutment sleeve 56 (also shown in Figure 8) that has a tongue 56a projecting in the upstream direction. Second abutment sleeve 56 has a larger upstream inner bore 57 that allows second abutment sleeve 56 to extend upstream slidably over the downstream end of faucet main body 24. Tongue 56a of second abutment sleeve 56 can rotatably co-operate with tongue 48a of first abutment sleeve 48 through selective abutment therewith, as detailed hereinafter. Screws 54 fix second abutment sleeve to slidable faucet pipe 34. A spout 52 is fixedly attached at the downstream end of second abutment sleeve A hollow cylindrical handle casing member 58 covers second abutment sleeve 56 and spout 52 and is integrally linked thereto.

In use, in the closed position of faucet 14, handle 18 is in a retracted position, wherein second abutment sleeve 56 axially abuts against the fixed first abutment sleeve 48 and wherein the radial shoulder formed in second abutment sleeve 56 by bore 57 axially abuts against the downstream end of main body 24, as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5. In this retracted position of handle 18, faucet pipe 34 is located in a upstream position within main body 24, and the water inlets 34a, 34b of faucet pipe 34 are located upstream of and do not register with the water outlets 24a, 24b of main body 24. Outlets 24a, 24b face the exterior wall of faucet pipe 34, and water cannot flow through faucet pipe 34.

If handle 18 is moved into its extracted position shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7, slidable faucet pipe 34 will slide downstream within inner sleeve 33 until the faucet pipe water inlets 34a, 34b register with the main body water outlets 24a, 24b. At this point, water will be allowed to flow through faucet pipe 34, and out through spout 52 for use by the faucet user.

The hot and cold water ratio may be calibrated by the faucet user by rotating handle 18 about the faucet longitudinal axis defined between its upstream and downstream ends. Handle 18 is free to rotate between two limit positions defined by the abutment of tongues 48a and 56a against each other, on one side and the other. Indeed, tongues 48a, 56a are sized to allow a partial rotation of handle 18 about the longitudinal axis of faucet 14, i.e. the proportion of the periphery occupied by both tongues 48a, 56a is sufficiently inferior to 100% to allow a peripheral play between tongues 48a, 56a for rotating handle 18. As handle 18 is rotated on one side or the other, the percentage of the outlet 24a that will register with inlet 34a will become inversely proportional ^' to the percentage of the outlet 24b that will register with inlet 34b. Thus, the hot and cold water ratio may be selectively calibrated.

Figures 9; to 14 relate to a variant faucet 114 and in the following description and drawings which pertain thereto, components which are identical in function and identical or similar in structure to corresponding components of the faucet 14 of Figures 4 to 8 bear the same reference as in Figures 4 to 8 but are tagged with the suffix "1" and are thus in the hundreds with the last two digits thereof being identical to the reference numerals of corresponding components of faucet 14. New components (or components not identified for faucet 14) provided in faucet 114 start at reference numeral 160. Figures 1 to 3 apply both to faucets 14 and 114.

Faucet 114 is similar to faucet 14, but includes the following additional components. U clip 160 is used to secure the inner sleeve 133 to the body portion 124, with the U clip 160 extending through a slot 162 defined in the body portion 124. Set screws 164 are provided to secure the handle casing member 158 to the second abutment sleeve 156. Set screws 166 are used to secure the first abutment sleeve 148 to the body portion 124. As seen in Figures 12 and 14, anti-vacuum canals 168 are provided between the faucet 114 and the hollow water pipe 116. A stream controller 170 is provided within the spout 152, with a sealing gasket 172 being provided between the steam controller 170 and the second abutment sleeve 156 and spout 152.

Figures 11 and 13 show with arrows the flow of the hot and cold water in-streams within the faucet 114 as well as, in the open position of the faucet 114 of Figure 13, the combined flow that is produced in the longitudinal central passageway of the faucet pipe/mixing valve 133 and that ultimately emerges downstream through the spout 152.

Various liquids other than water can be mixed and delivered using the present faucets 14, 114, such liquids being at a same or at different temperatures and being, or not, of the same type.

The faucets 14, 114 can be used, not only in sinks, but also in bathtubs, showers, etc. The faucet can become a showerhead by using a different stream controller 170. Different types- of controllers 170 can be used for nozzles with or without air (shower) , and may be provided with a flow pressure regulator.

The faucets 14, 114 can be used on various surfaces, and at any orientation.

It is noted that the handle casing member 58, 158 can be made of different materials (generally of aesthetic finish), e.g. wood, metal, polymers, etc.

The spout 52, 152 determines the type of stream that is obtained and may include a flow pressure regulator. It is made of a ^■ material preventing conductivity with the handle casing member 58, 158 for providing thermal and electrical insulation.

The first and second abutment sleeves 48, 148, 56, 156 are made of a material that prevents conductivity with the handle casing member 58, 158 for providing thermal and electrical insulation, and that reduces friction forces between the first and second abutment sleeves 48, 148, 56, 156.

The body 24, 124 is designed to adapt to various water inlet configurations. The anti-vacuum canals 168 prevent suction in the body 24, 124 and thus also the unwanted return of the valve 34, 134 and of the handle 18, 118 to the closed position thereof.

Notches 174 on^' said valve 134 receive set screws 166.

10

HEET RULE 28)

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A faucet for delivering a flow of liquid, comprising a faucet body, at least two inlets for receiving first and second liquids, a mixing valve, an inner passageway defined in said body, a handle provided around said body and connected to said valve, a liquid delivery means provided at a distal end of said handle, said inlets being in fluid communication with said mixing valve, said handle being adapted to be displaced along said body between open and closed positions thereof and to be rotated about said body between first and second positions thereof, wherein in said closed position, said valve prevents the first and second liquids from flowing from said inlets to said delivery means, wherein in said open position, said valve allows at least one of the first and second fluids to flow from at least one of said inlets to said delivery means, wherein when said valve is in said open and first positions, only the first fluid flows through said delivery means, whereas when said valve is in said open and second positions, only the second fluid flows through said delivery means.

2. A faucet as defined in claim 1, wherein between said open and closed positions, said valve is adapted to adopt partly open positions, thereby allowing the liquid flow through said delivery means to be adjusted.

3. A faucet as defined in claim 1, wherein between said first and second positions, said valve is adapted to adopt intermediate positions for providing various mixtures in said in said faucet of the first and second liquids.

4. A faucet as defined in claim 2, wherein between said first and second positions, said valve is adapted to adopt intermediate positions for providing various mixtures in said in said faucet of the first and second liquids.

5. A faucet as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve is slidably and rotatably mounted within a sleeve fixedly mounted in said body, said valve defining a longitudinal inner passageway in liquid communication at a distal end thereof with said delivery means, said sleeve defining a pair of holes each in communication with a respective one of said inlets, said valve defining a pair of openings axially offset from said holes in said closed position such that said holes and said openings do not register thereby preventing liquid flow through said passageway of said valve, said holes and said openings being adapted to register in said open position of said valve thereby allowing at least one of the first and second liquids to flow into and through said passageway and through said delivery means.

6. A faucet as defined in claim 5, wherein said handle is adapted to adopt various axial positions along said body intermediate said closed and open positions, thereby providing various areas of communication between said holes and said openings, whereby the flow of liquid through said delivery means can be adjusted by gradual axial displacement of said handle.

7. A faucet as defined in claim 5, wherein said handle is adapted to adopt various rotary. positions with respect to said body intermediate said first and second positions, thereby providing various areas of communication between said holes and said openings, whereby various mixtures of the first and second liquids can be obtained in said valve.

8. A faucet as defined in claim 1, wherein abutments are provided on said body and on said handle, said abutments being adapted to co-operate for limiting a rotation of said handle relative to said body at said first and second positions .

9. A faucet for expelling a flow of water, comprising:

- a coupling, destined to be fluidly connected to a hot and a cold water supply line;

- a handle member defining a longitudinal axis extending between an upstream end provided with a water-ejecting spout and a downstream end rotatably and slidably mounted onto said coupling,

• wherein said handle member is axially slidable along said longitudinal axis between an extracted. limit position and a retracted limit position, and wherein said handle member is rotatable about said longitudinal axis in a first and a second direction; wherein by slidably displacing said handle member between said retracted limit position and said extracted limit position, the rate of the water flow being expelled from said water ejecting spout can be selectively controlled, and wherein ,by rotating said handle member towards a selected one of said first and second directions, the temperature of the water flow being expelled from said water ejecting spout can be selectively calibrated.