Abstract:
An outer housing having a faucet arm connected to a flow-through coupler, a water mixing and flow rate control device connected to the outer housing and disposed within the housing. Water flow rate and mixing of a first water source and a second water source are controlled by vertical and horizontal movement of the faucet arm.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field  
         [0002]     This invention relates to faucets, and more particularly to a faucet with temperature and flow control within a single body.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Many faucets exist today that have a spout, levers and valves to control water flow and temperature. Some faucets have automatic sensors to start water flow or foot pedals. These type of faucets allow hands-free operation and also help to prevent the spread of germs, viruses, etc. from being passed on to multiple users.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,788 issued to Egli includes a pivoting water outlet and a mixer valve next to the spout. The mixer valve controls flow and temperature by being rotated left and right. The mixer controls flow by being pulled toward a user or pushed away from a user. The mixer allows for one hand operation.  
         [0006]     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,318 issued to Hyde, a mixer is connected to the spout, and the hot and cold water arms control flow. This allows a user to use other parts of their arm to turn the water flow off and on without using their hands. The hot and cold water control mixer, however, would need to be either preset to a desired temperature or turned by using a hand to set a desired temperature.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     One embodiment includes an apparatus having a control arm with a position control brake and a flow rate control inlet. The control arm has a water passage way through the length of the control arm from the flow rate control inlet to an end outlet. A first housing and a second housing are coupled to the control arm. The first housing includes a mixed water outlet. The second housing has a position control brake. A first base is rotatably coupled to a second base. The second base is coupled to the first housing and the second housing. The control arm controls mixing of hot and cold water and water flow rate.  
         [0008]     Another embodiment includes a faucet having a housing with a faucet arm coupled to a top of the housing. A water mixing and flow rate control device is coupled to the housing and disposed within the housing. Water flow rate and mixing of a first water source and a second water source are controlled by vertical and horizontal movement of the faucet arm.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments,” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a device used within a faucet for controlling temperature mixing of hot and cold water and for controlling flow rate.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates the device illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the full “on” position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flow-through coupler having an opening.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a housing for the device illustrated in  FIG. 1  coupled with a flow-through coupler and with faucet arm in the “off” position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a housing for the device illustrated in  FIG. 1  coupled with a flow-through coupler with faucet arm in the “on” position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of a lower base of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the lower base illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of an upper base of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of the lower base and the upper base with a left housing showing and without illustrating the rest of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a side view of a control arm having a flow control opening being shown.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10B  illustrates a bottom side view of the control arm illustrated in  FIG. 10A .  
         [0022]      FIG. 10C  illustrates a side view of the control arm illustrated in  FIG. 10A  showing the flow path from control flow opening through the control arm.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11A  illustrates a side view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the right housing removed.  
         [0024]      FIG. 11B  illustrates an isolated view of the right housing.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11C  illustrates a side view close-up of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the right housing removed exposing the position control brake.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     The invention generally relates to a faucet apparatus. Referring to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described. The exemplary embodiments are provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a device used within a faucet for controlling temperature mixing of hot and cold water and for controlling flow rate. Device  100  includes lower base  110 , upper base  120  control arm  130  and right housing  140 . Lower base  110  and upper base  120  are rotatably coupled to one another. Rotation of the bases with respect to each other controls mixing of hot and cold water. Hot and cold water flows through lower base  110  through separate inlets (illustrated in  FIG. 6 ). In one embodiment lower base  110  and upper base  120  are made of Teflon® and form a self-sealing connection between lower base  110  and upper base  120 . A grooved mixing depression in upper base  120  covers inlets on lower base  110 . When upper base  120  rotates in relation to lower base  110 , the inlets are either covered, uncovered, or partially uncovered, which allows hot water, cold water, or a mix of hot water and cold water to flow through upper base  120 . In one embodiment, when control arm  130  is perpendicular to a top of base  120  (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) device  100  is in the “off” position (no flow of water).  
         [0028]     In one embodiment, upper base portion and lower base portion are Teflon® coated and adhere to one another. In one embodiment, upper and lower base portions are made of a hardened plastic material. In another embodiment, upper and lower bases are made of a metal (e.g., brass, stainless steel, etc.) or metal alloy. In yet another embodiment, the elements of device  100  can all be any combination of plastics, metal and metal alloy, including all elements being any of the aforementioned. In another embodiment upper base  120  and lower base  110  have an o-ring between the bases near the exterior edge with a groove the o-ring sits into to prevent leakage.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates device  100  illustrated in the full “on” position (i.e., maximum water flow rate). Any position for control arm  130  between the full “on” position ( FIG. 2 ) and the “off” position ( FIG. 1 ) has a flow rate between full and off. In one embodiment, the “off” position is at a 90 degree angle in reference to the upper and lower bases, and the full “on” position is at or near 60 degrees (i.e., approximately 30 degree range). It should be noted that other embodiments can have different ranges of motion for control arm  130 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of device  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , control arm  130  has lower portion  310 . Lower portion  310  is rotatably coupled between left housing  150  and right housing  140 . In one embodiment control arm  130  is coupled to gasket  135  to prevent leakage between control arm  130  and a flow-through coupler (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates flow-through coupler  410  having an opening  420 . One should note that while control arm  130  and opening  420  are illustrated having a square or rectangular shape, that control arm  130  and opening  420  can be other complimentary shapes in other embodiments, such as circular, triangular, etc. Flow-through coupler  410  is made of similar materials as device  100 . Flow-through coupler  420  is coupled to housing  500  (illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ).  
         [0032]      FIG. 5A  illustrates housing  500  coupled to faucet arm  521  and shown in the “off” position. Device  100  is coupled within housing  500 . Control arm  130  couples with flow-through coupler  410  through opening  420 . As illustrated, the dashed lines represent water flow within housing  500 , flow-through coupler  410  and faucet arm  521 . As faucet arm  521  is forced down, control arm  130  and flow-through coupler  410  are also forced down (flow-through coupler  410  rotates forward, back and side to side on housing  500 ) causing control arm  130  to move from the “off” position to an “on” position. As faucet arm  521  is moved either to the left or to the right, water temperature is adjusted by mixing hot and cold water. Housing  500  (including flow-through coupler  410 , body  500 ) can be made of various materials similar to device  100 . One should note that while  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrates housing  500  as cylindrical, other shapes can be used without varying from the other embodiments, such as ornamental shapes, traditional faucet shapes, etc.  FIG. 5B  illustrates housing  500  coupled to faucet arm  521  and shown in the “on” position. In another embodiment, the “off” and “on” positions can be reversed.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of lower base  110 . Water inlets  610  and  620  allow hot and cold water lines to flow through base  110  to base  120 . In one embodiment water lines are connected to water inlets  610  and  620 . Traditional plumbing can be used to connect device  100  to hot and cold water lines. Rubber o-rings (not shown) are removably coupled to each water inlet to prevent leakage.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of base  110 . Water outlets  710  and  720  are of a smaller diameter than water inlets  610  and  620  (illustrated in  FIG. 6 ). Centering pin  740  aligns lower base  110  with upper base  120  for a secure fit of the bases. Centering pin  740  fits within centering hole  840  (illustrated in  FIG. 8 ). In one embodiment, centering pin  740  is approximately 4 mm in height and 6 mm in diameter. It should be noted that other proportional dimensions for centering pin  740  (and also centering hole  840 ) can be used as well. Mixing pin  730  fits into mixing groove  810 , but is of a height allowing for water to pass through (i.e., mixing pin  730  will not block mixing inlet  820 ) mixing inlet  820  from water outlets  710  and  720 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of base  120 . Centering hole  840  couples to centering pin  740  to align base  110  with base  120  for a secure fit. Mixing groove  810  allows hot and cold water to mix together when base  120  is rotated. That is, mixing groove  810  can be rotated toward the hot or cold water outlets ( 710  and  720 ) to either block or allow water to flow into mixing groove  810 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of base  110  and base  120  with left housing  150  showing and without illustrating the rest of device  100 . Mixed water flow outlet  910  passes mixed water from mixing inlet  820  to allow for flow rate adjustment.  FIG. 9A  illustrates a close-up of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a side view of control arm  130  with flow control opening  1010  being shown. Flow control opening  1010  allows water to flow from mixed water flow outlet  910  to pass through a conduit formed within control arm  130  when control arm  130  is rotated to align flow control opening  1010  with water flow outlet  910 . When flow control opening  1010  is directly aligned with water flow outlet  910 , maximum flow rate is achieved. When control arm  130  is moved downward from an upright position, flow control opening  1010  rotates to cover water flow outlet  910 , which allows water to flow through control arm  130 . As control arm  130  is moved toward the upright position, flow control opening  1010  becomes misaligned with water flow outlet  910 , which reduces water flow through control arm  130 . When control arm  130  is in the absolute upright position, flow control opening  1010  is offset from water flow outlet  910  and water flow is blocked (“off” position). In one embodiment, a rubber o-ring is fitted within flow control opening  1010  to prevent leakage when in the “off” position.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10B  illustrates a bottom side view of control arm  130 . Position control brake  1020  limits rotational movement of control arm  130 . Position control brake  1020  fits within right housing  140 .  FIG. 10C  illustrates a side view of control arm  130  showing the flow path from control flow opening through control arm  130 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 11A  illustrates a side view of device  100  with right housing  140  removed to show position control brake  1020 . Position control brake  1020  fits within right housing  140  in hollowed portion  1125  and adjacent to brake stop  1126 . As control arm  130  is rotated to the “on” position or moved to the “off” position, position control brake  1020  is limited in movement by brake stop  1126 .  FIG. 11B  illustrates an isolated view of right housing  140 .  FIG. 11C  illustrates a side view close-up of device  100  with right housing  140  removed exposing position control brake  1020 .  
         [0040]     Device  100  and its various components can be made by manufacturing techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as injection molding, over molding, pultrusion, extrusion, casting, welding, machining, etc. It should also be noted that device  100  can be made by hand, robotics or a combination of both. Device  100  can be made in various sizes. The size of device  100  can be adapted depending on desired use of device  100 , e.g., residential, commercial use, hospital use, etc. In one embodiment, device  100  is sized to fit within faucet housings typically found in residential or commercial bathrooms and kitchens.  
         [0041]     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.