Abstract:
The present invention provides an oscillating faucet structure of a dual-outlet system to improve the shortcomings of a typical faucet of a dual-outlet system. The faucet structure includes a main body, seat post and combined footstock. A hollow groove is assembled within the seat post at top of the main body and used to accommodate the first and second water regulators. The main body has first and oscillating outlet heads, which can freely oscillate for flexible regulation. The combined footstock is assembled on top of the seat post of main body for mounting the second oscillating outlet head, thus enabling easy removal, repair or replacement of defective components with improved applicability.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates generally to a faucet, and more particularly to an innovative faucet with a dual-outlet system for oscillating regulation. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
         [0008]    A variety of faucet structures have been developed so far, such as faucets on cooking tables that are mostly designed with a single outlet. However, cooking tables for many users are currently equipped with water filters (e.g. water purifiers) for convenient operation, making it difficult to provide an orderly and aesthetically-pleasing environment. For this reason, an improved faucet for a dual-outlet system has been developed. The feature is that a dual-outlet tube in the faucet structure is linked separately to the pipelines of both a tap water system and a water filter. Thus, the tap water system and water purifier are combined into the same faucet structure. 
         [0009]    As for the typical faucet structure of the dual-outlet system, the pipelines of both the tap water system and water filter are assembled into the same outlet tube of the faucet, and the control switches of tap water and purified water are assembled at both sides of the faucet. 
         [0010]    However, there are shortcomings are observed during actual application. 
         [0011]    First, the outlet of purified water is limited to the same outflow position as the tap water, leading to inconvenient and inflexible operation. 
         [0012]    Second, the outlets of new water filters are designed with multiple water supply modes (e.g. cold water, hot water and bubbled water), so the aforementioned design of a typical structure will make it difficult to accommodate several pipelines in a single space and to assemble the switching mechanism easily. 
         [0013]    Third, in case of damage of any outlet system of the typical faucet structure, maintenance or replacement is inconvenient since the possibility of replacement is not taken into consideration in overall structural design. 
         [0014]    Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy. 
         [0015]    Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    There is enhanced efficacy of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the faucet A of the dual-outlet system is provided with the first and second oscillating outlet heads  30 ,  60  in a freely oscillating state, so the users are allowed to adjust freely the angle for more flexible and convenient operation. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the seat post  13  at a top of the main body  10  is provided with hollow groove  14 , and the main body  10  is provided with through-hole  17  for the penetration of pipeline  413 . The second outflow pipeline  413 , corresponding to the second oscillating outlet head  60 , may have a bigger accommodating space to meet the functional requirements of new water filters with multiple water supply modes (e.g. cold, hot water and bubbled water). 
         [0019]    Also, the combined footstock  40  is assembled on a top of the seat post  13  of the main body  10  for mounting the second oscillating outlet head  60 . Thus, it is possible to remove, repair or replace the main body  10  easily in the event of damage to the second oscillating outlet head  60  and second water regulator  80 . 
         [0020]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows an assembled perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a partially exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  shows another partially exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  shows the third partially exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of the application of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  shows an assembled sectional view of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  shows a partially enlarged sectional view of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of second control switch of the present invention in an operational state. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  shows a partially enlarged sectional view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  shows a schematic view of the second control switch of the present invention in mode  1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  shows a schematic view of the second control switch of the present invention in mode  2 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  shows a schematic view of the second control switch of the present invention in mode  3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 1-14  depict preferred embodiments of oscillating faucet structure of a dual-outlet system of the present invention. The embodiments are provided only for explanatory purposes. The scope of the invention is set by the patent claims. 
         [0037]    Faucet A comprises a main body  10 , with an inlet port  11  at a bottom thereof, a valve spool  12  at one side thereof, and a seat post  13  at top thereof. There is also a hollow groove  14  assembled within the seat post  13 . The main body  10  is also provided with inlet passage  15  linking the inlet port  11  and valve spool  12 , and the main body  10  is also provided with outlet passage  16  linking the valve spool  12  and seat post  13 . The main body  10  is fitted with a through-hole  17  penetrating its top and bottom. 
         [0038]    The invention includes a first water regulator  20 , which comprises a valve core  21  and a first control switch  22 . The valve core  21  is assembled into valve spool  12  of the main body  10 , and the control switch  22  is assembled externally onto the valve spool  12  for control of the valve core  21 . 
         [0039]    A first oscillating outlet head  30  has a bushing portion  31  for sleeving externally onto the seat post  13  of the main body  10 . A first outflow tube  32  is laterally assembled onto one side of the bushing portion  31 . First water-crossing spaces  33  arranged alternatively are formed between the bushing portion  31  and seat post  13 . 
         [0040]    A combined footstock  40  is assembled on a top of seat post  13  of the main body  10 . The combined footstock  40  is linked to the seat post  13  via a localizer  44  (e.g. a positioning spigot). The combined footstock  40  is designed with accommodating hole  41  penetrating it vertically. The bottom of said accommodating hole  41  aligns with the hollow groove  14  of seat post  13 . The accommodating hole  41  is connected to the outer wall of combined footstock  40  via water-crossing hole  42 . 
         [0041]    A positioning backing ring  50  is assembled between the combined footstock  40  and seat post  13  of the main body  10 , enabling positioning of the combined footstock  40 . The bottom of the positioning backing ring  50  allows for secure pressing the first oscillating outlet head  30 . 
         [0042]    A second oscillating outlet head  60  has a bushing portion  61  for sleeving externally onto the combined footstock  40 . A second outflow tube  62  is laterally assembled onto one side of the bushing portion  61 . Second water-crossing spaces  63  arranged alternatively are formed between the bushing portion  61  and combined footstock  40 . 
         [0043]    A limiting cover  70  is assembled at top of the combined footstock  40 . The bottom of the limiting cover  70  is used to press securely the second oscillating outlet head  60 . 
         [0044]    A second water regulator  80  comprises a water control valve  81  and a second control switch  82 . The water control valve  81  is assembled into accommodating hole  41  of the combined footstock  40 , and the second control switch  82  is assembled onto the limiting cover  70  for the water control valve  81 . 
         [0045]    The localizer  44  is a positioning spigot. The recessed holes  131 ,  401  are provided on the top of seat post  13  of the main body  10  and the bottom of combined footstock  40  for assembly of said localizer  44 . 
         [0046]    O-ring seals are arranged between the positioning backing ring  50  and bushing portion  31 ,  61  of first and second oscillating outlet heads  30 ,  60 , or between the limiting cover  70  and bushing portion  61  of the second oscillating outlet head  60 . 
         [0047]    The positioning backing ring  50  is screwed securely on top of the seat post  13  of the main body  10 . The positioning backing ring  50  is provided with a rebated portion  51 , so that a circular flange  43  formed at bottom of the combined footstock  40  is limited by the rebated portion  51 . 
         [0048]    The water control valve  81  of second water regulator  80  comprises several valve levers  811 , at top of which a spring  812  is provided to support normally the valve lever  811 . At bottom of which, a water-stop portion  813  is assembled. Thus, accommodating holes  41  are arranged uniformly on the combined footstock  40 , and a shoulder  410  is formed on top of the accommodating hole  41  for coupling with the spring  812 . An expanded flange  411  is assembled on the bottom of the accommodating hole  41  for coupling with the water-stop portion  813 . The second control switch  82  is a switch knob, at bottom of which a brake rod  821  is assembled (shown in  FIG. 5 ). So, the center of limiting cover  70  is screwed via a pivot bolt  71  onto the combined footstock  40  in a rotary state. The limiting cover  70  is provided with a recess  72  for assembly of the second control switch  82 . The limiting cover  70  is fitted with a through-hole  73  enabling the brake rod  821  to be mated with the top of valve lever  811 . A flexible member  83  is arranged between the recess  72  and second control switch  82  to support flexibly the second control switch  82 . 
         [0049]    At the bottom of the second control switch  82 , there is a gag lever post  822  positioned at an interval with the brake rod  821 . 
         [0050]    Flexible beads  91  and spaced positioning slots  92  are assembled correspondingly onto the combined footstock  40  and limiting cover  70 , so that the rotating state of limiting cover  70  can be sectionally positioned. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , at the bottom of accommodating hole  41  of the combined footstock  40 , a pipe joint  412  is assembled for coupling with the pipeline  413 . The bottom of said pipeline  413  penetrates downwards the hollow groove  14  within seat post  13  of the main body  10 , while the through-hole  17  of the main body  10  is extended outside of the main body  10 . 
         [0052]    Based upon above-specified structures, the present invention is operated. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , said first oscillating outlet head  30  has an oscillating state. If water supply is normally required, the control switch  22  is turned to control the valve core  21  in the valve spool  12 , thus providing waterflow W 1  (e.g. cold, hot water) within the outlet passage  16  in a controlled manner. The waterflow W 1  enters from inlet port  11  to the inlet passage  15 , then from outlet passage  16  to the first water-crossing space  33  and finally to the first oscillating outlet head  30 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , when purified water is to be used, the second control switch  82  is pressed to obliquely hold down the brake rod  821  and gag lever post  822  at bottom of the second control switch  82 . In such a case, the brake rod  821  presses the top of the valve lever  811 , so that the valve lever  811  shifts downwards, and a flow passage is formed between the water-stop portion  813  and expanded flange  411  at bottom of accommodating hole  41 . So, waterflow W 2  enters through pipeline  413  to the water-crossing hole  42  on the wall of the accommodating hole  41 , then into the second water-crossing space  63  and finally to the second outflow tube  62 . 
         [0055]    Referring also to  FIGS. 12-14 , when the outflow mode of purified water is to be regulated (e.g. cold, hot water and bubble water), the limiting cover  70  is turned to a preset angle with the help of flexible beads  91  and spaced positioning slots  92  assembled correspondingly onto the combined footstock  40  and limiting cover  70 . The flexible beads  91  are embedded into the positioning slot  92 , so that the rotating state of limiting cover  70  can be sectionally positioned.