Mixer water faucet

Abstract

A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, includes a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a main and auxiliary spouts extending from the housing; main and auxiliary supply hoses extending through the housing for conveying water to the main and auxiliary spouts, respectively; and a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to the main and auxiliary spouts, wherein the main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending through the faucet body, the rotation causing a lateral movement and partial twisting of the auxiliary water supply hose with respect to the main water supply hose thereby to allow thereby to allow freedom of movement of the auxiliary spout and the auxiliary hose during extension and retraction thereof.

Claims

1. A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, which includes: a) a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; b) a faucet body mounted onto said housing, rotatable relative thereto; c) a main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from said housing; d) a main water supply hose for conveying water to said main spout and an auxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to said auxiliary spout, said main water supply hose and said auxiliary water supply hose extending through said housing; e) a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to said main spout and said auxiliary spout, and wherein said main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending through said faucet body, said rotation causing a lateral movement and partial twisting of said auxiliary water supply hose with respect to said main water supply hose thereby to allow freedom of movement of said auxiliary spout and said auxiliary hose during extension and retraction thereof.

2. A mixer water faucet according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary spout is removably mounted onto a rear portion of said faucet body for use at a location relatively remote from said main spout, and said auxiliary water supply hose is adapted for extension through said housing when said auxiliary spout is removed from said faucet body, and for retraction through said housing when re-mounted onto said faucet body.

3. A mixer water faucet according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary spout is a pull-up water spraying element which is located and mounted behind said faucet body and is held or mounted generally-vertically therebehind; and said pull-up water spraying element is releasable from the faucet body by being pulled in an upward direction.

4. A water faucet according to claim 1, wherein said stationary housing has a base having a base opening formed therein and an upper portion having formed therein a main opening aligned with said base opening, and further having an auxiliary opening communicating with said base opening aligned along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from a main axis, said main water supply hose enters said housing through said base opening, and exits said housing though said main opening, and said auxiliary water supply hose enters said housing through said base opening adjacent to said main water supply hose, and exits said housing through said auxiliary opening, the alignment of said auxiliary water supply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis on entry into said base opening to a second auxiliary axis on exit from said auxiliary opening, wherein said first and second auxiliary axes are eccentric with respect to said rotation axis.

5. A mixer water faucet according to claim 4, wherein said base opening is formed to allow said lateral movement and partial twisting of said auxiliary water supply hose with respect to said main water supply hose with respect to each other.

6. A mixer water faucet according to claim 5, wherein said main water supply hose is aligned along said main axis which is eccentric with respect to said rotation axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A is a pictorial representation of a water faucet constructed in accordance with an embodiment the present invention, as viewed from above a work surface in which the faucet is installed, wherein the auxiliary spout is in a retracted position;

(3) FIG. 1B is similar to FIG. 1A, but wherein the auxiliary spout is in an extended position;

(4) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the faucet of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the faucet of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is an exploded, schematic diagram showing the flow and distribution of water supplied to the faucet of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5 is a side-sectional, partially exploded view of a faucet body 16 and main spout 20 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of main spout when rotated from a first position to a second position;

(9) FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the faucet body of the invention, showing a base opening for the hoses through which water is provided to the main spout and the auxiliary spout, the eccentric positioning of both the main spout supply hose and the auxiliary spout supply hose relative to the axis of rotation of the main faucet body, and their movement consequent to the rotation of the main spout as shown in FIG. 6; and

(10) FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the base opening and its position relative to the axis of rotation of the main faucet body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is seen a water faucet, referenced generally 10, generally as described above, installed in a single hole 12, formed in a work surface or platform 14. Typically, but way of non-limiting example only, hole 12 has a diameter which is typically 35 mm as known in the art. Faucet 10 includes a faucet body 16 which may have an outside diameter of 35-50 mm as known in the art, and is supported on platform 14 via a housing 18 and shank 29. Body 16 is rotatable relative to housing 18 which has a fixed position relative to platform 14, and both are held in position via a suitable system of fasteners as illustrated and as generally known in the art. Faucet body 16 has a main spout 20 to which water is supplied as shown and described herein, inter alia, in conjunction with FIG. 4, by suitable operation of selector handle 5 and mode selector switch 24, mounted onto auxiliary spout 26. Operation of handle 5 and mode selector switch are generally as known in the art and are thus not described herein in detail, Auxiliary spout 26 is extendably mounted onto a rearward facing portion 28 (FIG. 1B) of faucet body 16. As described above, mode selector switch 24 may be any suitable switch, lever, button or slider to operate diverter 40 (seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), also as known in the art.

(12) Referring now also to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7A and 7B, the incorporation of main spout 20 and auxiliary spout 26 into a single, integrated faucet, requires a novel, bundled water flow circuitry into a single cluster of five hoses within shank 29 (FIG. 4) as described below in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 5.

(13) As seen in the exploded view of FIG. 4, a pair of hot and cold water hoses, respectively referenced 30 and 32, are connected to hot and cold water supplies, respectively referenced 34 and 36. A water mixer cartridge 38 (FIG. 4), as known in the art, is located within housing 18 in operative association with selector handle 5. Hot and cold water is supplied to cartridge 38 via hot and cold water hoses 30 and 32, and a mixed water supply is delivered from cartridge 38 to external diverter 40, via intermediate hose 42. Water reaching diverter 40 may then be supplied either to main spout 20 or to auxiliary spout 26, via main spout hose 44 or auxiliary spout hose 46, respectively, depending on the operation of the mode selector switch 24.

(14) Referring now particularly to FIG. 7A, the respective positions of the five hoses are shown, wherein hot water hose 30, cold water hose 32 and intermediate hose 42 are seen to extend through suitable openings formed in the base 48 of housing 18. Main spout hose 44 and auxiliary spout hose 46 extend up into main body 16 through the housing 18, as described below.

(15) A well-known problem of extendable hoses of spray faucets is that the extendable hose, which is required to move freely through the main faucet body, frequently becomes stuck, even though it is the only hose which extends through the faucet housing. For this reason, it is known to make use of a counterweight to assist in pulling the hose back through the main body of the faucet when seeking to retract the spray head.

(16) Due to the desire to limit the overall external diameter of the faucet housing to those generally accepted within the field, typically, 35-50 mm, as well as the requirement to provide a flow of water by both the main spout and the auxiliary spout, thus, in the present example, limiting the minimum external diameter of their associated hoses to no less than 8 mm, a base opening, such as the illustrated shaped opening 50, is formed in base 48 to accommodate the two hoses. It will be appreciated that main spout hose 44 is static and auxiliary spout hose 46 is arranged for extension and retraction.

(17) The main spout hose 44 is positioned along a main axis 102, which is parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation 103 of the main body 16 and main faucet 20, by a distance or eccentricity denoted as e1 (FIG. 5). Furthermore, the auxiliary spout hose 46, extends through housing 18 along a first auxiliary axis 104 which is parallel to but spaced from the rotation axis 103 by a distance or eccentricity denoted as e2.

(18) As seen in FIG. 5, the auxiliary spout hose 46 extends through an auxiliary opening 52 formed in an upward facing base portion 56 connecting faucet body 16 to housing 18, thereafter to connect to the auxiliary spout 26. Auxiliary opening 52 defines a second auxiliary axis 106 along which the auxiliary spout hose 46 connects to the auxiliary spout 26. Second auxiliary axis 106 is parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation 103 by a distance or eccentricity denoted as e3.

(19) In order to facilitate extension of the auxiliary spout 26, auxiliary spout hose 46 is provided with an additional length of hose which is adapted to hang down beneath the faucet and work surface 14 when auxiliary spout 26 is in an at rest, retracted position. When auxiliary spout 26 is extended from the main body 16, as seen in FIG. 1B, all or some of the additional length of hose is pulled through base opening 50 and auxiliary opening 52, as required.

(20) When main spout 20 is at an initial zero position relative to the faucet body 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as shown schematically as position 0 in FIG. 6, auxiliary spout hose 46 is retracted substantially along axes 104 and 106, being accommodated, in the present example, by a U-shaped depression portion 54 (FIG. 7B) of base opening 50, seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

(21) However, when main spout 20 is rotated to the position indicated as I, for example, thus rotating faucet body 16 relative to housing 18, this has the effect of applying a rotational force to both main spout hose 44 and auxiliary spout hose 46, pulling them in a lateral movement to one side or another, as shown by arrows 58 and 60 in FIG. 7A, depending on the direction in which main spout 20 is rotated. The extent of the pulling on each of the hoses is a function of the eccentricities e1, e2 and e3, and of the angle of rotation of main spout 20. In the illustrated example, base opening 50 opening is thus formed with additional end depressions 62 and 64, to accommodate the relative twisting motion of auxiliary spout hose 46 relative to main spout hose 44, while still allowing sufficient freedom of lateral movement therebetween when auxiliary spout hose 46 is extended or retracted when extending or retracting auxiliary spout 26.

(22) While certain features of some embodiments have been illustrated, and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents.