Faucet and Faucet Assembly

The instant application claims priority to Chinese Utility Model Patent Application No. 202421134971.0, filed May 23, 2024, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of sanitary products, and more particularly, to faucets and faucet assemblies.

An existing faucet may be provided with a washing assembly, such as a cup washer, to a side of a faucet body, which is convenient for users to clean or wash objects. Such faucet is particularly suitable as a kitchen faucet, which is convenient for users to wash dishes, cups and the like.

Chinese utility model patent with the publication number of CN218845251U discloses a pull-out faucet with an integrated cup washer, in which a cup washer branch pipe is provided on a side of a main body, an end of the cup washer branch pipe is connected to a water distribution base, and the water distribution base is provided with a cup washer. The main body is provided with a branch channel connected with a water inlet channel or a water outlet channel and in communication with an inner cavity of the water distribution base through the cup washer branch pipe. An outer wall of the main body is provided with a rotary section, and an outer wall of the rotary section is provided with a rotary sleeve which may rotate relative to the rotary section. A water-passing gap is left between an inner wall of the rotary sleeve and an outer wall of the rotary section, and two groups of first sealing rings are provided at intervals along an axial direction of the inner wall of the rotary sleeve and the outer wall of the rotary section. A channel outlet of the branch channel is located between the two groups of first sealing rings, and the cup washer branch pipe is butted with the rotary sleeve and in communication with the water-passing gap.

However, an inner side of the rotary sleeve is a water cavity, which needs to be sealed with the rotary section by means of a sealing ring. Further, the assembly method is complicated, and the rotation of the rotary sleeve is affected by static pressure in the water cavity such that it is not smooth enough. There remains a need for an improved faucet and faucet assembly with an integrated cup washer or vessel rinser.

Examples of the present disclosure are directed to improved faucets and faucet assemblies. According to the faucet and the faucet assembly provided by the present disclosure, the faucet comprises the faucet body and the washing mechanism, and the washing mechanism is connected to the side of the faucet body. The bottom of the faucet body is connected to the fixing sleeve, and the sleeve wall of the fixing sleeve is provided with the wall opening extending along the circumferential direction. The washing mechanism comprises the washing bracket with the water cavity and the connecting sleeve, the water jet provided at the top of the washing bracket, the control valve core connected between the water cavity and the water jet, and the water supply pipe for supplying water to the water cavity. The connecting sleeve is pivotally sleeved on the fixing sleeve, one end of the water supply pipe passes through the wall opening and is connected to the water cavity, and the other end of the water supply pipe protrudes out below the fixing sleeve.

According to the faucet and the faucet assembly provided by the present disclosure, by providing one water supply pipe to the washing mechanism separately, there is no need to provide the water cavity at the junction between the connecting sleeve and the fixing sleeve, and there is no need to use the sealing ring to seal between the connecting sleeve and the fixing sleeve. The assembly method of the connecting sleeve and the fixing sleeve is simple, and the rotation of the connecting sleeve will not be affected by the static pressure of water, and the rotation of the connecting sleeve relative to the fixing sleeve is relatively smooth, which enhances the smoothness of the rotation or the swinging of the washing mechanism.

The summary above is not intended to describe each illustrated example or every implementation of the present disclosure. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these examples.

While various examples are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular examples described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter of the present disclosure.

The specific implementation of the present application will be further described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. Same parts are denoted by same reference numerals. It should be noted that, the terms of “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down” used in the following description refer to directions in the drawings, and the terms of “inner” and “outer” refer to directions toward and away from the geometric centers of the specific parts, respectively.

As shown in, an example of the present disclosure provides a faucet, which generally, may comprise a faucet bodyand a washing mechanismoperably coupled to the faucet body. In use, for example, the faucets provided by the present disclosure may be assembled on a kitchen sink and used as a kitchen faucet, and when configured with the washing mechanism, provides convenience for users to clean objects, such as dishes and cups.

In non-limiting examples, the faucet bodymay comprise a pipe body, a fluid outlet such as a spray head or nozzleconnected to an end of the pipe body, a faucet valve coreconnected to a lower end of the pipe body, a handleconnected to a side of the pipe body for operating the valve core to control water temperature and/or flow rate, and a fixing sleeveconnected to a bottom of the pipe body, as described in more detail infra. The assembly method of the pipe body, the nozzle, the faucet valve core, and the handleis known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and will not be repeated here.

Referring to, a bottom endA of the faucet bodymay be connected with a fixing sleeve, and a sleeve wallof the fixing sleevemay be provided with structure defining a wall openingextending along a circumferential direction of the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve may further include one or more projectionsat a top end for securing the fixing sleeve within the faucet body.

In a non-limiting example as shown in at least, the washing mechanismmay comprise a washing bracket, a water jet, a control valve core, and a water supply conduit or pipe. Referring to, the washing bracketmay be provided with a water cavity, and the water jetmay be connected to a top of the washing bracket. The control valve coremay include a fluid pathway extending between between the water cavityand the water jetso as to fluidly couple the control valve coreand water jetwith the water supply conduit. In examples, one end of the water supply conduitmay pass through the wall openingof the fixing sleeveand be connected to the water cavity, while the other end of the water supply pipemay extend below the fixing sleeve.

Referring to, one end of the washing bracketmay be provided with a connecting sleevethat may be pivotally sleeved on an outer side of the fixing sleevesuch that the washing mechanism can rotate or pivot with respect to the faucet body. As mentioned, the sleeve wallof the fixing sleevemay be provided with the wall openingextending along the circumferential direction. A length of the wall openingcan account for a part of a circumference of the sleeve wall, so as to avoid the swinging of the washing mechanismand limit a swinging amplitude of the washing mechanism. In a non-limiting example, the length of the wall openingmay account for ¼ to ½ of the circumference of the sleeve wall. The washing mechanismmay swing relative to the fixing sleeveat an angle in a range from about 90° to about 180°.

In examples and referring to, the washing bracketmay be a supporting bracket that extends substantially along a radial direction of the fixing sleeve. One end of the washing bracketconnected with the fixing sleevemay be configured with or coupled to the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleevecan be sleeved on the fixing sleeveand may rotate relative to the fixing sleeve, as described above. The connecting sleevemay cover part or all of the wall opening. The water cavitymay be arranged in the washing bracket, such as, for example, at one end distal from the connecting sleeve.

The water jetmay be provided at the top of the washing bracket, which is used for spraying water upwards to clean objects placed thereon. The water jetmay include a single nozzle or a plurality of nozzles.

The control valve coremay be a solenoid valve core or a mechanical valve core. The control valve coremay be connected between the water cavityand the water jetto control on-off of a waterway between the water cavityand the water jet.

The water supply conduitmay be dedicated to supplying water to the water cavity. As discussed above, one end of the water supply conduitmay pass through the wall openingand to connect to the water cavity, while the other end of the water supply conduitextends out below the fixing sleeveand may be connected with a valve or a water line. In a non-limiting example, and referring to, the water supply conduitmay comprise a horizontal pipeand a vertical pipe. In this example, the horizontal pipepasses through the wall openingand is connected to the water cavity, and the vertical pipeof the water supply pipeextends out below the fixing sleeve. To facilitate connection of the vertical pipewith a valve or other water line, a lower end of the vertical pipemay be provided with a joint.

In use, as shown in, when the control valve coreis in a closed state, water may flow along an arrow A, and enter the water cavitythrough the water supply conduituntil the water cavityis full of water. As shown in, when a user desires to clean an object, the control valve coreis opened, such as by pressing the object down on the washing mechanism, and the water in the water cavityis dispensed or sprayed from the water jetalong an arrow B for the user to clean the object.

In a non-limiting example, the control valve coreis a push-type valve core. The push-type valve core may be a valve core known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and may comprise a bouncing valve core, a structure of which will not be described herein. When the push-type valve core is under pressure, the push-type valve core is pressed to open. After the pressure disappears, the push-type valve core is reset and closed. When a user desires to clean an object, the object is placed on the water jet, and the push-type valve core is pressed to open under the action of gravity. After the washing is completed, the user takes away the object, and the push-type valve core is automatically reset and closed, which is convenient for using.

In a non-limiting example, as shown in, the washing bracketmay be provided with a bracket channelin communication with the water cavity. A sleeve wall of the connecting sleevemay be provided with structure defining a sleeve wall through holein communication with the bracket channel, and the water supply pipemay pass through the bracket channeland the sleeve wall through hole.

In this example, the sleeve wall of the connecting sleevefacing the washing bracketmay be provided with the sleeve wall through hole, the washing bracketmay be provided with the bracket channel, and the bracket channelmay be in communication with the sleeve wall through holeand the water cavity. When assembling, the horizontal pipeof the water supply pipemay pass through the bracket channeland the sleeve wall through holeto accommodate the horizontal pipein the washing bracket.

In a non-limiting example, as shown in, the water supply pipeand/or an inner surface of the connecting sleevemay be provided with a stop protrusion. When the washing bracketrotates to a limiting position, the stop protrusionis contacted with a wall surface of the wall opening.

In this example, a junction between the horizontal pipeand the vertical pipeof the water supply pipeand/or the inner surface of the connecting sleevemay be provided with the stop protrusion. Two opposite sides of the water supply piperespectively may be provided with one stop protrusion. The stop protrusionmay be used to be in contact-fit with the wall surface of the wall openingto serve as a limiting function and prevent the pipe wall of the water supply pipefrom directly touching the wall surface of the wall opening.

Specifically, when the washing bracketrotates to the limiting position to one side, the stop protrusionon that side is contacted with the wall surface defining the wall openingto serve as a limiting function. When the washing bracketrotates to the limiting position to the other side, the stop protrusionon the other side is contacted with the wall surface defining the wall openingto serve as a limiting function.

In a non-limiting example, as shown inand, an upper end and a lower end of the fixing sleeve respectively may be provided with a retaining ring, and the connecting sleevemay be assembled between the two retaining ringslocated at the upper end and the lower end. The two retaining ringslocated at the upper end and the lower end provide an axial limiting for the connecting sleeve, which enhances the stability of the connecting sleevesleeved on the fixing sleeve. In one non-limiting example, the wall openingmay be located between the two retaining ringslocated at the upper end and the lower end, and the connecting sleevemay completely cover the wall opening.

In a non-limiting example, as shown in, the washing bracketmay comprise a connecting bracketand a washing carrier. The connecting sleevecan be provided at one end of the connecting bracket, and the washing carriermay be connected to the other end of the connecting bracket, as discuss previously. The water cavitymay be provided in the connecting bracket, and the water jetmay be connected to a top of the washing carrier.

In this embodiment, and as discussed above, the washing bracketmay comprise the connecting bracketand the washing carrier. The connecting bracketcan substantially extend along a radial direction of the fixing sleeve, the connecting sleevemay be connected to one end of the connecting bracketfit with the fixing sleeve, and the washing carriermay be connected to the other end of the connecting bracketand located above the connecting bracket. The connecting bracketserves as a supporting and connecting functions, as the water cavityis provided in the connecting bracket. The washing carrieris used to carry objects to be clean, and the water jetis connected to a top of the washing carrier.

In one non-limiting example, as shown in, a top surface of the washing carriermay be provided with a water chute. The water chutemay be lower than the water jetand an edge of the washing bracket, and the water chuteis used for guiding the water to flow into a water tank or vessel positioned below the faucet.

As shown in, a faucet assemblyaccording to an example of the present disclosure can comprise a cold water inlet pipe, a hot water inlet pipe, the faucetaccording to any one of the preceding examples along with the washing mechanism. Upper ends of the cold water inlet pipeand the hot water inlet pipemay be respectively connected with the faucet valve corein the faucet bodyto supply cold and hot water thereto. In one non-limiting example, the user may swing the handleback and forth to switch the faucet valve core, and the user may swing the handleleft and right to adjust the water temperature. However, any such other configurations can be considered.

Lower ends of the cold water inlet pipeand the hot water inlet pipemay be respectively connected with a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe in a structure such as a building, and may also be connected with one or more valves (not shown). The water supply conduitmay be connected with a cold water pipe in the structure or building, and may also be connected with a valve. When using a washing function, the user may directly use the water supply conduitto supply water to the washing mechanismwithout opening the faucet. When mounting, the faucet bodyor the fixing sleevemay be fixed by means of a mounting base. The mounting basemay also be used to connect and fix a basin, a sink, and the like.

In a non-limiting example, as shown in, the faucet assemblymay comprise a three-way valve. In this example, the cold water inlet pipeis connected with one water outlet of the three-way valve, and the water supply pipeis connected with another water outlet of the three-way valve. The water supply pipemay be connected with one water outlet of the three-way valveby means of a connecting pipe. In this example, the three-way valvemay be used to connect the cold water inlet pipe, the water supply pipe, and the cold water pipe in a structure or building, and no separate connection is needed, which is conducive to saving mounting space.

In a non-limiting example, as shown in, the faucet assembly may comprise a pull-out hose. The faucet bodymay comprise a detachable nozzle, in which one end of the pull-out hoseis connected with the nozzle, and the other end of the pull-out hoseis connected with a water outlet/a water outlet pipeof the faucet valve core.

In this example, the nozzlemay be detachably connected with a pipe body of the faucet body. One end of the pull-out hosemay be connected with the nozzle, and the other end of the pull-out hosemay be directly connected with the water outlet of the faucet valve core, and may also be connected with the water outlet pipeof the faucet valve core. The water outlet pipemay be connected with the pull-out hoseby means of a quick joint. The nozzlemay be pulled by the pull-out hose, and the user may also pull out the nozzle, which is convenient for use.

In the faucet and the faucet assembly provided by the present disclosure, by configuring one water supply conduitto the washing mechanismseparately, there is no need to configure the water cavity at the junction between the connecting sleeveand the fixing sleeve, and there is no need to use the sealing ring to seal between the connecting sleeveand the fixing sleeve. The assembly method of the connecting sleeveand the fixing sleeveis simple, the rotation of the connecting sleevewill not be affected by the static pressure of water, and the rotation of the connecting sleeverelative to the fixing sleevemay be relatively smooth, which enhances the smoothness of the rotation or the swinging of the washing mechanism.

The above technical solutions may be combined as required to achieve the best technical effect.

Various examples of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These examples are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the examples that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional examples. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed examples, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of this disclosure.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual example described above. The examples described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the examples are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various examples can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual examples, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one example can be implemented in other examples even when not described in such examples unless otherwise noted.

Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other examples can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.