Abstract:
A faucet assembly includes a faucet body, a pipe unit and a control unit. The pipe unit is disposed outside the faucet body. The pipe unit uses an inlet pipe, a junction pipe and an outlet pipe to complete the pipe configuration of the faucet body. It is easy to manufacture the faucet of the present invention. To assemble the faucet of the present invention, the user can connect the relative pipes with ease.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a faucet assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a conventional faucet structure comprises a faucet base  1 . The faucet base  1  includes a cold water control  2 , a hot water control  3 , and a main outlet pipe  4 . A first inlet pipe  5  is to connect a water supply and the cold water control  2 . A first outlet pipe  6  is to connect the cold water control  2  and the main outlet pipe  4 . A second inlet pipe  7  is to connect the water supply and the hot water control  3 . A second outlet pipe  8  is to connect the hot water control  3  and the main outlet pipe  4 . The second outlet pipe  8  is further connected with a heating device  9  for heating cold water to be hot water. When in use, the cold water control  2  is used to control the cold water to flow through the main outlet pipe  4 , and the hot water control  3  is used to control the hot water to flow through the main outlet pipe  4 . However, the space in the faucet base  1  is not enough. To install the main outlet pipe  4 , the first inlet pipe  5 , the first outlet pipe  6 , the second inlet pipe  7  and the second outlet pipe  8  in the faucet base  1  is somewhat crowded. This causes a difficulty in manufacturing the faucet. Besides, it is not easy for the user to connect so many pipes. To install this faucet takes a lot of time and is inconvenient. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve this problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is to provide a faucet assembly which comprises a faucet body, a pipe unit and a control unit. The faucet body comprises an installation portion and an outlet portion at two ends thereof. The faucet body has an outer wall formed with a first fixing hole and a second fixing hole. The faucet body has an inlet passage, a first outlet passage and a main passage. The inlet passage communicates with the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole. The first outlet passage communicates with the first fixing hole. The main passage passes through the installation portion and the outlet portion. The installation portion has an inlet to communicate with the main passage. The outlet portion has an outlet to communicate with the main passage. The faucet body further has a second outlet passage. Two ends of the second outlet passage is connected with the second fixing hole and the main passage respectively, so that the inlet passage communicates with the main passage. The pipe unit comprises an inlet pipe, a junction pipe and an outlet pipe. One end of the inlet pipe is connected to a water supply and another end of the inlet pipe is connected to the inlet passage. One end of the junction pipe is connected to the first outlet passage and another end of the junction pipe is connected to a water inlet of a temperature adjuster. One end of the outlet pipe is connected to a water outlet of the temperature adjuster and another end of the outlet pipe is connected to the main passage through the inlet of the faucet body and fixed at the outlet. A gap is defined between the outlet pipe and an inner wall of the main passage to form a third outlet passage. The control unit comprises a first control and a second control. The first control is disposed at the first fixing hole for controlling water from the water supply to enter the inlet passage and flow to the first outlet passage. The second control is disposed at the second fixing hole for controlling water from the water supply to enter the inlet passage and flow to the second outlet passage. Thereby, the user only needs to connect the pipes outside the faucet body to complete the assembly of the entire faucet. Compared to the conventional faucet having all the pipes in the faucet base, the present invention can be assembled easily. Besides, it is easy to manufacture the faucet of the present invention so as lower the cost. Through the simplified pipes, the pipe unit only has the inlet pipe, the junction pipe and the outlet pipe, so that the user can connect the relative pipes with ease. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional faucet; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a diagram to show the connection of pipes in the conventional faucet; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a facet body in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the faucet body in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partially enlarged and cross-sectional view in accordance with the faucet body of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a diagram to show the connection of pipes in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 7 , a faucet assembly  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a faucet body  10 , a retaining base  20 , a temperature adjuster  30 , a pipe unit  40 , and a control unit  50 . 
         [0015]    The faucet body  10  comprises an installation portion  11  and an outlet portion  12  at two ends thereof. The faucet body  10  has an outer wall formed with a first fixing hole  13  and a second fixing hole  14 . The faucet body  10  has an inlet passage  15 , a first outlet passage  16  and a main passage  17 . The inlet passage  15  communicates with the first fixing hole  13  and the second fixing hole  14 . The first outlet passage  16  communicates with the first fixing hole  13 . The main passage  17  passes through the installation portion  11  and the outlet portion  12 . The installation portion  11  has an inlet  171  to communicate with the main passage  17 . The outlet portion  12  has an outlet  172  to communicate with the main passage  17 . The faucet body  10  further has a second outlet passage  18 . Two ends of the second outlet passage  18  are connected with the second fixing hole  14  and the main passage  17 , respectively, so that the inlet passage  15  communicates with the main passage  17 . 
         [0016]    The retaining base  20  is disposed at the joint of the main passage  17  of the faucet body  10  and the second outlet passage  18 . In this embodiment, the retaining base  20  has a hollow pipe  21 . The hollow pipe  21  has a diameter smaller than that of the main passage  17 . The hollow pipe  21  is laterally provided with a first retaining portion  22  at one end close to the inlet  171  and a second retaining portion  23  at another end thereof. The first retaining portion  22  and the second retaining portion  23  are against an inner wall of the main passage  17 , such that a chamber  24  is formed between the first retaining portion  22  and the second retaining portion  23 . The chamber  24  communicates with the second outlet passage  18 . The second retaining portion  23  has a plurality of through holes  25  to communicate with the chamber  24 , so that the chamber  24  can communicate with the main passage  17 . The first retaining portion  22  is provided with an O-shaped ring  26  on an outer wall thereof, and the second retaining portion  23  is also provided with an O-shaped ring  26  on an outer wall thereof to prevent leakage. The first retaining portion  22  has a locking hole  221  opposite to the second retaining portion  23 . The locking hole  221  is adapted to connect with a hollow metallic pipe  27 . The hollow metallic pipe  27  is further connected with an annular block  28  to enhance the leakage effect. 
         [0017]    The temperature adjuster  30  can be a heating device or a refrigeration device disposed close to the faucet body  10 . The temperature adjuster  30  has a water inlet  31  and a water outlet  32 . 
         [0018]    The pipe unit  40  comprises an inlet pipe  41 , a junction pipe  42  and an outlet pipe  43 . One end of the inlet pipe  41  is connected to a water supply  200 , and another end of the inlet pipe  41  is connected to the inlet passage  15 . One end of the junction pipe  42  is connected to the first outlet passage  16 , and another end of the junction pipe  42  is connected to the water inlet  31  of the temperature adjuster  30 . The outlet pipe  43  is made of silica gel. One end of the outlet pipe  43  is connected to the water outlet  32  of the temperature adjuster  30 , and another end of the outlet pipe  43  is connected to the main passage  17  through the inlet  171  of the faucet body  10  and fixed at the outlet  172 . In this embodiment, the outlet pipe  43  is first inserted through the hollow metallic pipe  27  and the hollow pipe  21  to enter into the main passage  17  and then fixed at the outlet  172 . A gap  17  is defined between the outlet pipe  43  and the inner wall of the main passage  17  to form a third outlet passage  19 . 
         [0019]    The control unit  50  comprises a first control  51  and a second control  52 . The first control  51  is disposed at the first fixing hole  13  for controlling the water from the water supply  200  to enter the inlet passage  15  and flow to the first outlet passage  16 . The second control  52  is disposed at the second fixing hole  14  for controlling the water from the water supply  200  to enter the inlet passage  15  and flow to the second outlet passage  18 . 
         [0020]    Referring to the drawings, the faucet body  10  is preset with the inlet passage  15 , the first outlet passage  16 , the main passage  17  and the second outlet passage  18 . To assemble the present invention, the two ends of the inlet pipe  41  are connected to the water supply  20  and the inlet passage  15 , respectively. The two ends of the junction pipe  42  are connected to the first outlet passage  16  and the water inlet  31  of the temperature adjuster  30 , respectively. The outlet pipe  43  is connected to the water outlet  32  of the temperature adjuster  30 . The assembly of the present invention is completed. Compared to the conventional faucet having all the pipes in the faucet base, the present invention can be assembled easily. Besides, it is easy to manufacture the faucet of the present invention so as lower the cost. After installation, the user can turn the second control  52  for cold water as desired, the cold water from the water supply  200  will flow through the inlet pipe  41  and the outlet passage  18  to the chamber  24 , and then enter the third outlet passage  19  through the through holes  25 , and finally flow out through the outlet  172 . The user can turn the first control  51  for hot water or icy water as desired, the cold water from the water supply  200  will flow through the inlet pipe  41  and the junction pipe  42  to be heated or refrigerated by the temperature adjuster  30 , and then flow out through the outlet pipe  43 . When the temperature adjuster  30  is a heating device, the temperature adjuster  30  is disposed outside the faucet body  10  and the outlet pipe  43  is made of silica gel to isolate the hot water effectively. The energy of the hot water won&#39;t be transferred to the faucet body  10  by heat conduction, preventing the user from being scalded. By the third outlet passage  19  between the outlet pipe  43  and the main passage  17 , the cold water flows through the third outlet passage  19  to lower the temperature of the outlet pipe  43  and the faucet body  10 , achieving a better effect to guard against scald. 
         [0021]    Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.