Connector assembly for connecting valve seat with outlet pipe and faucet having the same

A connector assembly for connecting a valve seat with an outlet pipe and a faucet having the same are provided. The valve seat includes an outlet channel provided with an insertion hole and a first axial connection portion arranged at an outer cylindrical wall thereof. The first axial connection portion is located below the insertion hole. The outlet pipe includes an inlet end provided with a mounting portion and a second axial connection portion arranged at an outer surface of the outlet pipe and located close to the mounting portion. The second axial connection portion is detachably mounted into the first axial connection portion from bottom up to form a rotation point. By the outlet pipe rotated around the rotation point, the mounting portion is forced to be mounted and positioned inside the insertion hole of the valve seat firmly with sealing effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present relates to a faucet, especially to a connector assembly for connecting a valve seat with an outlet pipe and a faucet having the same.

PRIOR ART

A conventional faucet integrally formed by metal materials such as copper has many shortcomings. In order to overcome these shortcomings, a faucet which includes both a valve seat and an outlet pipe made of plastic, used as water passing parts and mounted in a faucet housing is applied widely. For example, please refer to Chinese granted utility model Pub. No. CN 203384565 U. A fixing structure for an outlet pipe joint and an outlet pipe is provided. The outlet pipe joint includes a bend having one end fitted and connected with the outlet pipe, and the other end fitted and connected with a joint of a control valve assembly. A positioning portion in a form of a rib is disposed on the bend while a recess is arranged at a support member. Thus the bend is fixed by the positioning portion being mounted and positioned in the recess.

Although the outlet pipe in the above prior art can be fixed to a certain degree by a simple design of the positioning portion of the bend being mounted with and positioned by the recess of the support member, there are still some disadvantages. For example, the common valve seat needs to be designed into two-piece type, the joint of the control valve assembly and the support member. Otherwise, the valve seat and the outlet pipe are unable to be assembled.

Moreover, during assembly process, the joint of the control valve assembly is first mounted into the faucet housing through an opening on top of the faucet housing. Then the outlet pipe is placed into the faucet housing through an opening of a spout and the bend connected with the outlet pipe is inserted and positioned in the control valve assembly. Next the control valve assembly is installed. The support member is mounted into the faucet housing through an opening on bottom of the faucet housing and the recess on the support member is used to mount and position the positioning portion of the bend. Now the assembly of the support and the bend is completed. The joint of the control valve assembly and the support member are assembled at different stages. The assembly process can't be completed once the joint of the control valve assembly and the support member are integrated into one part. Each of the two components need to make its own mold separately. Thus not only cost of mold-making is increased, assembly cost is also raised due to one more assembly process.

Furthermore, there is no positioning-related design disposed on a circumference of the bend. Thus it is difficult to ensure position accuracy of the bend after being mounted to the joint of the control valve assembly. It should be easily understood that the assembly process is unable to be completed smoothly once the recess is aligned with the positioning portion of the bend during assembling of the support member.

Refer to Chinese granted utility model Pub. No. CN 211082944 U, a water outlet assembly of a faucet valve seat is provided. The water outlet assembly mainly includes a sleeve mounted to a mounting hole of a valve seat for fitting and positioning an outlet pipe. By the design of a plurality of insertion holes of the sleeves with different extending angles, users can choose a suitable sleeve for mounting and positioning the outlet pipe to meet requirements for faucets with different shapes. An outer surface of the sleeve is provided with two protruding blocks which are used for being mounted into two mounting slots on an inner surface of the mounting hole to make positioning therebetween more stable.

In the above water outlet structure of the faucet valve seat, an additional sleeve is required so that one more assembly process of the sleeve is required and assembly cost is increased. Moreover, there is no positioning or limiting structure formed between the sleeve and the outlet pipe in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of water flow. Thereby the structure is unable to be assembled fast and accurately and the completed assembly is not secured, may get loosening or become wobbly. Although the sleeve can be provided with protruding blocks mounted in and engaged with the recess of the valve seat for positioning, the positioning only works in the circumferential direction, without effects on positioning or limiting in the direction of water flow. Thereby the water outlet assembly may still have loosening or wobbling under action of the water flow. The above loosening or wobbling not only makes noise, more seriously or after a long run, sealing structure or sealing effect may be damaged or affected so that water leakage is easy to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly for connecting a valve seat with an outlet pipe, which has simple structure and fewer components required to achieve quick and easy assembly with good sealing effect. Moreover, not only cost of manufacturing and moldmaking is dramatically reduced, assembly efficiency is also increased. Assembly quality is guaranteed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a faucet which is assembled easily by the design of the connector assembly for connecting a valve seat with an outlet pipe.

In order to achieve the above objects, a connector assembly for connecting a valve seat with an outlet pipe according to the present invention includes a valve seat and an outlet pipe. The features of the connector assembly are as the followings.

The valve seat includes an outlet channel formed therein and a first axial connection portion. The outlet channel is provided with an insertion hole disposed on a discharge end of the outlet channel while the first axial connection portion is formed on an outer cylindrical wall of the valve seat and located below the insertion hole.

The outlet pipe is composed of an inlet end, an outlet end, a mounting portion disposed on the inlet end, and a second axial connection portion which is arranged at an outer surface of the outlet pipe, located below the inlet end and close to the mounting portion. The second axial connection portion is detachably mounted into the first axial connection portion from bottom up to form a rotation point. By the outlet pipe rotated around the rotation point, the mounting portion is forced to be mounted and positioned inside the insertion hole of the valve seat firmly with sealing effect.

A faucet according to the present invention includes the valve seat, the outlet pipe, a faucet housing, a valve core, a control handle, and a water supply pipe set. The faucet housing consists of a main body and a spout respectively provided with a first chamber and a second chamber for mounting the valve seat and the outlet pipe therein correspondingly. The valve seat further includes a cold-water inlet channel and a hot-water inlet channel. The valve core is mounted and positioned on an upper part of the valve seat while a ratio of cold water and hot water respectively coming from the cold-water inlet channel and the hot-water inlet channel and flowing into the valve core is controlled by operation of the control handle. The control handle also controls on and off of a mixed water flow which is formed by the hot and cold water and flowing into the outlet channel. As to the water supply pipe set, it includes a cold-water inlet tube and a hot-water inlet tube respectively connected and communicating with the cold-water inlet channel and the hot-water inlet channel.

By the special structural design, the present connector assembly for connecting the valve seat with the outlet pipe can be used, without in combination with other component. Thereby the whole structure is simple, fewer components is required, and cost of manufacturing and moldmaking is reduced significantly. The structural design of the outlet pipe being mounted and positioned after rotation can simplify assembly process and reduce assembly steps required for the outlet pipe and the valve seat. The assembly efficiency is further improved. The design of the guiding flange of the valve seat combined with the rim surface of the outlet pipe allows the mounting portion of the outlet pipe able to be guided and mounted into the insertion hole smoothly. Thereby smoothness of the assembly process and sealing effect after assembly are balanced. By the design of limitation on horizontal movement of the second axial connection portion after being mounted to the first axial connection portion of the valve seat, the mounting portion can be mounted into the insertion hole accurately and quickly to ensure assembly efficiency and quality. The structural design of the mounting portion being mounted into the insertion hole after rotation of the outlet pipe allows the mounting portion to provide resistance to loosening or slipping and maintain good sealing effect for a long term even subjected to water pressure. Thereby the loosening of the components or water leakage in use can be avoided. The special design of assembly structure and operation between the valve seat and the outlet pipe ensures the use of a single piece of the valve seat. There is no need to use a two-piece type valve seat. Thereby cost of manufacturing and moldmaking for the valve seat will not be increased and corresponding assembly process derived can be avoided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to the following embodiments together with the related figures.

As shown inFIG.1-4, a first embodiment of a connector assembly for connecting a valve seat with an outlet pipe according to the present invention includes a valve seat10and an outlet pipe20.

The valve seat10consists of an outlet channel11formed therein and a first axial connection portion12. The outlet channel11is provided with an insertion hole111formed at a discharge end of the outlet channel11and the first axial connection portion12is formed on an outer cylindrical wall of the valve seat10and located below the insertion hole111.

The outlet pipe20is composed of an inlet end21, an outlet end22, a mounting portion23disposed on the inlet end21, a second axial connection portion24which is arranged at an outer surface of the outlet pipe20, located below the inlet end21and close to the mounting portion23. As shown inFIG.5, the second axial connection portion24is detachably mounted into the first axial connection portion12from bottom up to form a rotation point. By the outlet pipe20being rotated around the rotation point, the mounting portion23is forced to be mounted and positioned inside the insertion hole111of the valve seat10with sealing effect, as shown inFIG.6. During rotation of the outlet pipe20, a rotation axis of the outlet pipe20is automatically moved vertically for fine adjustment along with mounting of the mounting portion23into the insertion hole111due to a force of interaction generated therebetween.

In this embodiment, a guiding flange112is mounted to an outer edge of the insertion hole111and extending outward while a rim surface231is formed on the outermost area of a rotation trace at an outer side of the mounting portion23of the outlet pipe20. The above design ensures the mounting portion23can be guided and mounted into the insertion hole111more smoothly by the rim surface231being moved along the guiding flange112. Both the rim surface231and the guiding flange112can be designed into geometric shapes which help smooth guidance and sliding movement such as a ramp or curved surface.

In this embodiment, refer toFIG.3, the first axial connection portion12consists of two axial bases121arranged adjacent to the insertion hole111symmetrically with the insertion hole111located therebetween and two axial slots122each of which is extending vertically and disposed on the corresponding axial base121. The second axial connection portion24is in a form of a shaft and provided with a mounting segment241which is disposed on each of two ends of the second axial connection portion24and able to be mounted into the corresponding axial slot122from bottom up to form the rotation point, as shown inFIG.2.

In this embodiment, the outlet pipe20further includes an outlet hose201, and an inlet joint202and an outlet joint203which are fixed and connected with two ends of the outlet hose201correspondingly. Both the mounting portion23and the second axial connection portion24are integrally formed on the inlet joint202.

As shown inFIG.7andFIG.8, another embodiment is provided. This embodiment is about the same as the above embodiment and the two embodiments are different in that the second axial connection portion24of this embodiment further includes a stopping flange242arranged adjacent to an inner side of the mounting segment241for abutting against an inner wall surface of the axial base121to limit horizontal movement of the second axial connection portion24between the axial bases121beyond control. Thereby in the following pivoting and operation of the outlet pipe20, the mounting portion23on the inlet end21can be mounted and positioned in the insertion hole111of the valve seat10accurately and quickly so that assembly quality and efficiency are further improved.

Refer toFIG.9, a further embodiment is provided. The structure of this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and a difference between the two embodiments is in that the first axial connection portion12of this embodiment includes only one axial base121while the first embodiment is provided with two symmetrical axial bases121. That means the first axial connection portion12is provided with the axial base121disposed adjacent to the insertion hole111. Similarly, the second axial connection portion24is only provided with one mounting segment241which is arranged at one side of the second axial connection portion24corresponding to the axial base121and able to be mounted into the corresponding axial slot122from bottom up to form the rotation point. Normally, such design can still allow the mounting portion23on the inlet end21to be mounted and positioned in the insertion hole111of the valve seat10effectively and assembly process is completed smoothly as expected in the following pivoting and operation of the outlet pipe20.

Refer toFIG.10andFIG.11, a fourth embodiment is provided. The structure of this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and a difference therebetween is in that a stopping wall123is disposed on an outer side of the axial slot122of the first axial connection portion12. Thus the mounting segments241on two lateral sides of the second axial connection portion24are mounted into the corresponding axial slots122from bottom up to form the rotation points. An edge243of the mounting segment241is stopped and limited by the corresponding stopping wall123of the axial base121. Thereby horizontal movement of the second axial connection portion24between the axial bases121beyond control is limited. The design ensures the mounting portion23on the inlet end21can be mounted and positioned in the insertion hole111of the valve seat10accurately and quickly in the following pivoting and operation of the outlet pipe20.

Refer toFIG.12andFIG.13, a fifth embodiment is provided. The structure of this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and a difference between the first and the fifth embodiments is in that the first axial connection portion12of this embodiment includes only one axial base121(similar to the third embodiment) disposed just under the insertion hole111and the second axial connection portion24is provided with two connecting walls244symmetrically arranged at two lateral sides thereof and a mounting segment241located between and connected with the two connecting walls244. The mounting segment241can also be mounted into the axial slot122from bottom up to form the rotation point. Two lateral wall surfaces of the axial base121and two opposite inner walls of the connecting walls244are designed to be just stopped and limited by each other. Thereby the second axial connection portion24is limited, without having uncontrollable horizontal movement in the axial base121and this is beneficial to the following assembly.

Refer toFIG.14andFIG.15, the above embodiments of the connector assembly for connecting the valve seat10with the outlet pipe20are installed and applied to form a faucet1. Take the first embodiment as an example, besides the valve seat10and the outlet pipe20, the faucet1further includes a faucet housing30, a valve core40, a control handle50, and a water supply pipe set60. The faucet housing30consists of a main body31and a spout32respectively provided with a first chamber311and a second chamber321for mounting the valve seat10and the outlet pipe20therein correspondingly. The valve seat10further includes a cold-water inlet channel13, a hot-water inlet channel14, and a valve assembly space15(as shown inFIG.1andFIG.2). The valve core40is mounted and positioned in the valve assembly space15on an upper part of the valve seat10and a ratio of cold water and hot water respectively coming from the cold-water inlet channel13and the hot-water inlet channel14and flowing into the valve core40can be controlled by operation of the control handle50. The control handle50also controls on and off of a mixed water flow which is formed by mixing the hot water with cold water and flowing into the outlet channel11. As to the water supply pipe set60, it includes a cold-water inlet tube61and a hot-water inlet tube62respectively connected and communicating with the cold-water inlet channel13and the hot-water inlet channel14.

It should be noted that the above connector assembly for connecting the valve seat10with the outlet pipe20is especially suitable to be mounted to the faucet housing30which includes at least two pieces of components. For example, the faucet housing30is formed by a body part301and a lower cover part302able to be detached from each other. The body part301forms the main body31and at least an upper half of the sprout32while the lower cover part302constitutes a lower half of the sprout32. Thereby before the lower cover part302being mounted to the body part301, the second axial connection portion24of the outlet pipe20can be mounted into the first axial connection portion12of valve seat10set in a certain depth of the body part301by a preset space of the body part301used for mounting the lower cover part302. Then the valve seat10is positioned by downward movement and the outlet pipe20is forced to rotate around the rotation point during downward movement of the valve seat10since the outlet pipe20is stopped and limited in the body part301. It should be understood easily that the mounting portion23on the inlet end21of the outlet pipe20can be mounted into the insertion hole111of the valve seat10automatically together with the movement of the valve seat10so as to achieve quick and easy assembly with effective sealing effect.

The outlet pipe20in the above embodiments can be used in combination with a terminal sleeve20aused not only for mounting and positioning an aerator20bbut also for sealing and positioning the outlet joint203of the outlet pipe20. The terminal sleeve20acan be installed and positioned in the second chamber321of the faucet housing30. For example, the terminal sleeve20ais positioned between a space formed between the body part301and the cover component302so that the outlet end22of the outlet pipe20is further fixed. The design allows the outlet pipe20to be installed and positioned in the second chamber321of the faucet housing30easily and firmly.

The above two-piece type faucet housing30can also be formed by a body part301and an upper cover part able to be detached from each other. The body part301forms the main body31and at least a lower half of the sprout32while an upper half of the sprout32is formed by the upper cover part. It should be understood easily that the outlet pipe20is mounted into the body part301from top down since an opening of the upper cover part is facing upward, the same as the installation direction of the valve seat10. Thereby the outlet pipe20is mounted to the valve seat10first and then installed into the body part301together with the valve seat10. Next the upper cover part is mounted on the body part301. The assembly is a bit different but the effect achieved is about the same.

In summary, the connector assembly for connecting the valve seat10with the outlet pipe20according to the present invention has the following features and functions.

The assembly of the valve seat10with the outlet pipe20requires no other components so that the whole structure is simple and fewer components are required. Thus cost of manufacturing and moldmaking is significantly reduced.

By the second axial connection portion24of the outlet pipe20being mounted into the first axial connection portion12of the valve seat10to form a rotation point and rotation of the outlet pipe20around the rotation point, the mounting portion23on the outlet pipe20can be mounted and positioned in the insertion hole111of the valve seat10. The above design simplifies assembly process and reduces assembly steps significantly and further improves assembly efficiency.

By the structural design of the guiding flange112formed on the outer edge of the insertion hole111of the valve seat10in combination with the rim surface231arranged at the outer side of the mounting portion23of the outlet pipe20, the mounting portion23is guided and mounted into the insertion hole111more smoothly while the outlet pipe20being rotated. Thereby smoothness of the assembly process and sealing effect after the assembly are balanced.

By different forms of the second axial connection portion24of the outlet pipe20for limiting horizontal movement of the second axial connection portion24after being mounted to the first axial connection portion12of the valve seat10, it is ensured that the mounting portion23can be mounted into the insertion hole111accurately and quickly during rotation of the outlet pipe20. The design also ensures both assembly efficiency and quality.

By the structural design of the mounting portion23being mounted into the insertion hole111after the outlet pipe20being rotated, the mounting portion23still provides resistance to loosening or slipping and maintains good sealing effect for a long term even subjected to water pressure. Thereby the loosening of the components or water leakage in use can be avoided.

By special design of assembly structure and operation between the valve seat10and the outlet pipe20, the valve seat10used can be a single component. There is no need to use a two-piece type valve seat10. The cost of manufacturing and moldmaking for the two-piece type valve seat10can be saved and corresponding assembly process can also be avoided.