Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K35/00—Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation
  • F16K35/02—Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation to be locked or disconnected by means of a pushing or pulling action
  • F16K35/022—Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation to be locked or disconnected by means of a pushing or pulling action the locking mechanism being actuated by a separate actuating element
  • F16K35/025—Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation to be locked or disconnected by means of a pushing or pulling action the locking mechanism being actuated by a separate actuating element said actuating element being operated manually (e.g. a push-button located in the valve actuator)
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
  • E03C1/041—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths having provisions against scalding, e.g. temperature limiting devices, external covers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/44—Mechanical actuating means
  • F16K31/60—Handles
  • F16K31/602—Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to liquid dispensers, and more particularly to a lever lock for such dispensers.
• Liquid dispensers that mount to sinks are common.
• such dispensers may be used to dispense filtered drinking water or instant hot water.
• these dispensers consist of two main parts, a faucet that would be situated above a sink for dispensing the liquid as desired, and another unit for mounting below the sink so it is out of view of the user and does not occupy counter space.
• the under-sink unit would include a filter or other water treatment unit connected to the faucet.
• the under-sink unit would have a water heater and a tank for holding hot water connected to the faucet.
• the faucet is usually mounted above the sink such that a user can dispense the amount liquid desired, while excess liquid falls into the sink.
• Such dispensers are typically used by opening a valve on the faucet to dispense the filtered water or hot water stored in the tank to the user.
• Several different methods may be used to open the valve such as twisting a handle, depressing a lever, or pushing a button on the faucet.
• Locking devices may be costly. Further, retrofitting existing faucets to include a locking device may be too complicated for the typical consumer.
• the present application addresses shortcomings associated with the prior art.
• a liquid dispensing system includes a valve having an inlet for receiving liquid and an outlet.
• a spout is in fluid communication with an outlet of the valve to dispense fluid therefrom.
• a lever is connected to the actuator to open and close the valve to dispense liquid as desired.
• a locking member is positionable in a locked position where the lever seats in a notch formed in the locking member to prevent moving the lever from the closed position to the open position.
• the locking member is movable from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the lever is not seated in the notch, allowing movement of the lever from the closed position to the open position.
• An exemplary locking member defines an opening therethrough, such as a cylindrical bore to receive a tubular spout. The spout opening receives the spout such that the locking member is rotatable about the spout so that it may be rotated between the locked and unlocked positions.
• the notch may be shaped such that movement of the lever from the open position towards the closed position causes the locking member to automatically move to the locked position.
• the valve may be a normally closed valve, wherein the lever automatically moves from the open position to the closed position upon releasing the lever.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view generally illustrating components of a single-lever liquid dispensing system.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view generally illustrating components of a double-lever liquid dispensing system.
• FIG. 3 illustrates portions of a faucet in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
• Figure 4 illustrates a locking member in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 5 illustrates a locking member in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the locking device shown in Figure 4 shown in the locked position.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of the locking device shown in Figure 5 shown in the locked position.
• FIGS 1-3 generally illustrate components of a typical water dispensing system 100.
• the dispensing system 100 includes a faucet 110 that would be situated above a sink for dispensing the liquid as desired, and an under-sink unit 112 for mounting below the sink so it is out of view of the user and does not occupy counter space.
• the under-sink unit 112 would include a filter or other water treatment unit connected to the faucet 110.
• the under- sink unit 112 would have a water heater and a tank for holding hot water connected to the faucet 110.
• the faucet 110 of the illustrated dispenser includes an arched spout 114 to allow ample access to the dispenser, and a dispenser lever 116 that is actuated to dispense liquid as desired.
• additional dispenser levers may be provided for dispensing different liquids via the spout 114.
• Such a faucet is illustrated in Figure 2, where the faucet 111 includes two levers 116, 117.
• one lever 116 could dispense filtered drinking water, while the other lever 117 could dispense instant hot water.
• the faucet 110 includes a valve 118 that has an inlet for receiving liquid from the under- sink unit 112 and an outlet connected to the spout 114.
• the lever 116 is connected to the valve actuator such that moving the lever 116 opens the valve 118 to dispense liquid through the spout 114.
• the lever 116 has a closed position in which the distal end of the lever 116 is positioned closer to the spout than when the lever 116 is in an open position where the valve is open to allow liquid to be dispensed from the spout 114.
• the lever 116 is pivoted between the closed and open positions; for example, to rotate the actuator when a ball valve is used.
• the dispensing system 100 further includes a locking member 120 that locks the lever 116 in the closed position.
• the lever 116 is locked in its normally closed position adjacent the spout 114, preventing moving the lever 116 to its open position farther from the spout 114.
• the locking member 120 is movable from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the lever 116 can be moved to its open position.
• FIG. 4 and Figure 5 show two exemplary locking members 120a, 120b in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
• the locking member 120a, 120b is movable between its locked and unlocked positions. In the illustrated embodiments, it may be rotated from one position to the other.
• the locking member 120a, 120b defines a spout opening 130 therethrough, which receives the spout 114 so that the locking member is rotatable about the spout 114.
• the illustrated spout openings 114 are generally cylindrical bores extending through the locking member 120a, 120b to receive the tube-shaped spout 114.
• the locking member 120a, 120b is slid over the spout 114 to allow simple retrofit of existing faucets.
• the locking member 120a, 120b may be rotatably connected to the faucet 110 by means other than the spout opening 130 receiving the spout 114.
• a separate cylindrical member extending from the faucet base may be provided to mate with the opening 130.
• the locking member 120a, 120b further defines a notch 132 therein for locking the lever 116 in the closed position closer to the spout 114.
• the opening 130 and the notch 132 are generally situated at opposite ends of the locking member 120a, 120b.
• the locking member 120a, 120b can be positioned in the locked position in which the lever 116 seats in the notch, thus preventing movement of the lever from the closed position to the open position as illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7.
• the locking member 120a, 120b is rotated such that the lever 116 is no longer seated in the notch 132, allowing movement of the lever 116 from the closed position to the open position to dispense liquid as desired.
• the notch 132 in the illustrated embodiments includes a radiused portion 134 that receives the lever 116 when in the locked position. Further, in the illustrated embodiments, the radiused portion 134 and the spout opening 130 are both centered on a longitudinal axis 140 of the locking member 120a, 120b, centering the locking member 120a,120b on the base of the faucet 112.
• the notch 132 typically would engage one of the levers 116 or 117.
• the locking member 120a, 120b would likely be situated such that the "hot water" lever 116 seats in the notch 132 when in the closed position.
• the locking member 120b provides an automatic locking feature.
• the notch 132 of the locking member 120b is shaped such that movement of the lever 116 from the open position towards the closed position closer to the spout 114 (as illustrated in Figure 7) causes the locking member 120b to move to the locked position.
• this automatic locking feature is achieved via a stop portion 142 of the notch 132, which extends from the radiused portion 134 to an outer edge of the locking member 120b.
• the stop portion 142 engages the lever 116, and the locking member 120b slides along the stop surface 142 as the lever 116 moves towards the spout 114 until it seats in the radiused portion 134 when the lever 116 reaches the closed position.
• the shape of the notch 132 facilitates the movement of the locking member 120b caused by the moving lever 116.
• the stop portion 142 of the notch 132 defines an angle ⁇ with the longitudinal axis 140.
• the angle ⁇ is an obtuse angle when determined relative to the side of the locking member 120b where the spout opening 130 is located.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Preventing Unauthorised Actuation Of Valves (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (6)

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• 2003
  • 2003-10-06 US US10/605,533 patent/US7021501B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-10-06 WO PCT/US2004/032812 patent/WO2005038324A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-10-06 AU AU2004282522A patent/AU2004282522A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-06 JP JP2006534262A patent/JP4669477B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-10-06 ES ES04794227T patent/ES2355566T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-06 DE DE602004030458T patent/DE602004030458D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-06 CA CA002540974A patent/CA2540974A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-10-06 EP EP04794227A patent/EP1671057B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-06 AT AT04794227T patent/ATE491109T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-10-06 CN CNB2004800358872A patent/CN100467924C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

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