Patent Publication Number: US-10329747-B2

Title: Faucet mounting mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a faucet mounting mechanism, and more particularly to a faucet mounting mechanism for mounting and dismounting a faucet on a mounting countertop quickly. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A kitchen faucet or a basin faucet is installed at a position close to the wall. Due to the shape of the kitchen stainless steel sink and the basin body, the space under the countertop for locking the faucet is limited. According to the traditional operation to lock the nut on the bolt, the nut is rotated from the lower end of the bolt. The effective length of the bolt depends on the thickness of the countertop, which determines the length of the nut to be locked. Thus, to lock or unlock the nut takes time and energy. It is not easy to install the faucet. 
     Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a faucet mounting mechanism for mounting a faucet on a countertop quickly. 
     In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the faucet mounting mechanism of the present invention comprises a faucet body and a fastening device. The fastening device includes a fixing seat, a linkage mechanism, a return mechanism, and at least one bolt. The fixing seat has a mounting passage through which a pipe passes. An upper end of the fixing seat is mated with the faucet body. A lower end of the fixing seat is provided with a limit mechanism for restricting rotation of the linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes an upper connecting member, a lower connecting member, and a plurality of connecting rods linked by the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member. The upper connecting member has a through hole to slidably mate with the bolt. The lower connecting member has a screw hole screwed with the bolt. The return mechanism is disposed on the linkage mechanism and has an elastic force to extend the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member. By rotating the bolt on a mounting countertop, the linkage mechanism is tightly attached to a bottom of the mounting countertop under the action of the upper connecting member, the lower connecting member and the limit mechanism. 
     Preferably, the fixing seat is provided with a fixing plate at one side of the mounting passage. The fixing plate has a perforation through which the bolt passes. The limit mechanism is disposed at a bottom of the fixing plate. 
     Preferably, the plurality of connecting rods include a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, a third connecting rod, and a fourth connecting rod. The first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are pivotally connected to two ends of the upper connecting member or the lower connecting member. First ends of the third connecting rod and the fourth connecting rods are pivotally connected to free ends of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, respectively. Second ends of the third connecting rod and the fourth connecting rod are pivotally connected to the two ends of the upper connecting member or the lower connecting member. 
     Preferably, the return mechanism is a return spring. The return spring is disposed between the through hole of the upper connecting member and the screw hole of the lower connecting member. 
     Preferably, the return mechanism is two torsion springs. The two torsion springs are disposed at the junction of the first connecting rod and the third connecting rod as well as the junction of the second connecting rod and the fourth connecting rod, respectively. Two arms of each torsion spring correspond to and hold against the first connecting rod and the third connecting rod as well as the second connecting rod and the fourth connecting rod. Adjacent ends of the first connecting rod and the third connecting rod as well as the second connecting rod and the fourth connecting rod are respectively formed with grooves for accommodating the arms of the torsion springs. 
     Preferably, a bottom end of the bolt is provided with a nut for preventing the linkage mechanism from disengaging from the bolt. 
     Preferably, one of the upper connecting member and the linkage mechanism has a skidproof portion. A gasket is provided at bottom surfaces of the fixing seat and the mounting hole of the mounting countertop. 
     Preferably, the junction of the first connecting rod and the third connecting rod as well as the junction of the second connecting rod and the fourth connecting rod is provided with a directional joint. 
     Preferably, an outer side of the faucet body has a receiving hole. The receiving hole is mated with a fastening screw. An outer periphery of a top end of the fixing seat of the fastening device is provided with a flange for engagement of the fastening screw. 
     Preferably, the fixing seat includes a limit mounting ring to mate with the mounting hole of the mounting countertop. The limit mounting ring is eccentrically disposed relative to the fixing seat. 
     Accordingly, the present invention comprises the fixing seat, the bolt, the return mechanism and the linkage mechanism to realize the faucet mounting mechanism for mounting and dismounting the faucet body on the mounting countertop quickly. When installed, the fastening device is inserted from the mounting hole of the mounting countertop to the bottom of the mounting countertop. By tightening the bolt on the mounting countertop, the linkage mechanism is driven to move upward, thereby fastening the linkage mechanism and the mounting countertop. When the bolt is loosened on the mounting countertop, the return mechanism pushes the linkage mechanism downward so that the linkage mechanism is disengaged from the mounting hole of the mounting countertop. The present invention solves the problem of the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fixing seat in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the linkage mechanism in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing the installation process of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the disassembly process of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart showing the installation process of the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart showing the disassembly process of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12 , the present invention discloses a faucet mounting mechanism. The faucet mounting mechanism comprises a faucet body  100 , a mounting countertop  200 , and a fastening device  300 . 
     An outer side of a lower end of the faucet body  100  has a receiving hole  101 . The receiving hole  101  is mated with a fastening screw  400 . 
     The mounting countertop  200  has a mounting hole  201 . 
     The fastening device  300  includes a fixing seat  1 , a linkage mechanism  2 , a return mechanism  3 , and a bolt  4 . 
       FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7  shows a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the return mechanism  3  is a return spring  3 A. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fixing seat  1  is fitted to the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . The fixing seat  1  has a mounting passage  11  through which a pipe passes. One side of the mounting passage  11  is provided with a fixing plate  12 . The fixing plate  12  has a perforation  13  through which the bolt  4  passes. The fixing seat  1  is provided with a limit mechanism fixed to the bottom of the fixing plate  12  for restricting the rotation of the linkage mechanism  2 . In this embodiment, as shown in the drawings, the limit mechanism is a baffle  14 , which may be a rib or other structure. The faucet body  100  is mated with the fixing seat  1 . An outer periphery of a top end of the fixing seat  1  is provided with a flange  15  for engagement of the fastening screw  400 . The fastening screw  400  is inserted into the receiving hole  101  of the faucet body  100  and extend to the bottom surface of the flange  15  of the fixing seat  1 , so that the faucet body  100  and the fixing seat  1  are connected together. The fixing seat  1  may be provided with a limit portion to limit the rotation of the faucet body  100 . A gasket  5  is provided at the bottom surfaces of the fixing seat  1  and the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . The fixing seat  1  includes a limit mounting ring  16  to mate with the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . The limit mounting ring  16  is eccentrically disposed relative to the fixing seat  1 , so that the fixing seat  1  is mated with the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200  and won&#39;t be rotated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the linkage mechanism  2  includes a plurality of connecting rods. As shown in the drawings, this embodiment illustrates four connecting rods as an example, a first connecting rod  21 , a second connecting rod  22 , a third connecting rod  23 , and a fourth connecting rod  24 . The linkage mechanism  2  further includes an upper connecting member  25  having a through hole  251  and a lower connecting member  26  having a screw hole  261 . The inner wall of the through hole  251  of the upper connecting member  25  is smooth, and the screw hole  261  of the lower connecting member  26  is mated with external threads of the bolt  4 . The first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are pivotally connected to two ends of the upper connecting member  25  or the lower connecting member  26 . As shown in the drawings, in this embodiment, the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are pivotally connected to two ends of the upper connecting member  25 , as an example. The first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  may be pivotally connected to two ends of the lower connecting member  26 . First ends of the third connecting rod  23  and the fourth connecting rods  24  are pivotally connected to free ends of the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22 , respectively. Second ends of the third connecting rod  23  and the fourth connecting rod  24  are pivotally connected to the two ends of the upper connecting member  25  or the two ends of the lower connecting member  26 . In this embodiment, because the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are pivotally connected to the two ends of the upper connecting member  25 , the second ends of the third connecting rod  23  and the fourth connecting rod  24  are pivotally connected to the two ends of the lower connecting member  26  to form a four-section linkage mechanism. In order to prevent reversion, the junction of the first connecting rod  21  and the third connecting rod  23  as well as the junction of the second connecting rod  22  and the fourth connecting rod  24  is provided with a directional joint  27 . After installed, the upper connecting member  25 , the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  2  lean against the countertop  200 . For the mounting countertop  200  to be more closely fitted with the linkage mechanism  2 , at least one of the upper connecting member  25 , the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  has a skidproof portion. 
     The return spring  3 A is disposed between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26 . 
     The bolt  4  is inserted through the perforation  13  of the fixing seat  31  and then mated with the through hole  251  of the upper connecting member  25 , the return spring  3 A, and the screw hole  261  of the lower connecting member  26 . The bottom surface of the bolt  4  is provided with a nut  6  for preventing the linkage mechanism  2  from disengaging from the bolt  4 . Through the arrangement of the nut  6 , the linkage mechanism  2  won&#39;t disengage from the bolt  4  during operation to ensure a smooth installation process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , when the fastening device  300  is assembled, the bottom end of the bolt  4  passes through the perforation  13  of the fixing seat  1 , and the linkage mechanism  2  is placed at one side of the baffle  14 , opposite to the mounting passage  11 , and the bottom of the bolt  4  is successively inserted through the through hole  251  of the upper connecting member  25 , the return spring  3 A, and the screw hole  261  of the lower connecting member  26 . The nut  6  is screwed to the bottom end of the bolt  4 . By the action of the elasticity of the return spring  3 A, the distance between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26  is maximized and the distance between the left and right connecting rods is minimized. In this state, the fastening device  300  can be mounted in or pulled out of the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the present invention is mounted, the linkage mechanism  2 , disposed at the bottom of the fixing seat  1  and biased by the return spring  3 A and located between the upper end of the bolt  4  and the nut  6 , is inserted in the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 , and then the bolt  4  is screwed. Because the lower connecting member  26  of the linkage mechanism  2  is engaged with the threads with the bolt  4 , the lower connecting member  26  is rotated while the bolt  4  is rotated. But, the linkage mechanism  2  is subjected to the baffle  14  of the fixing seat  1  and cannot be rotated. When the bolt  4  is tightened, the linkage mechanism  2  is driven to move upward, so that the upper connecting member  25  of the linkage mechanism  2  abuts against the bottom surface of the mounting countertop  200  and the lower connecting member  26  is moved upward with the rotation of the bolt  4  to compress the return spring  3 A. During the process that the lower connecting member  26  is moved upward, the first connecting rod  21 , the second connecting rod  22 , the third connecting rod  23 , and the fourth connecting rod  24  are linked to unfold outward, so that the entire linkage mechanism  2  is blocked at the bottom of the mounting hole  201  until the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are against the bottom surface of the mounting countertop  200 . The bolt  4  is locked, and the fastening device  300  is securely engaged with the mounting countertop  200 . Finally, the faucet body  100  is fitted on the fixing seat  1  of the fastening device  300  and the fastening screw  400  is inserted in the receiving hole  101  of the faucet body  100  to mate with the flange  15  of the fixing seat  1 , such that the faucet body  100 , the mounting countertop  200  and the fastening device  300  are joined together. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the faucet is to be removed, the fastening screw  400  on the faucet body  100  is removed by a tool. The faucet body  100  is pulled out, the bolt  4  is loosened, and the bolt  4  drives the linkage mechanism  2  to move downward. The lower connecting member  26  is continuously moved toward the nut  6 . The distance between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26  is increased by the action of the return spring  3 A until the four connecting rods are extended to the maximum distance between the connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26 . The lower connecting member  26  won&#39;t disengage from the bolt  4  due to the restriction of the nut  6 . When the distance between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26  is the maximum, the lateral distance of the four connecting rods is minimized. The fastening device  300  can pass through the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 , so that the entire fastening device  300  can be pulled out from the mounting hole  201  to complete the disassembly. 
       FIG. 8  to  FIG. 12  shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the return mechanism  3  includes two torsion springs  3 B. In the second embodiment, the fixing seat  1  the linkage mechanism  2 , and the bolt  4  are the same as the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fixing seat  1  is fitted to the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . The fixing seat  1  has a mounting passage  11  through which a pipe passes. One side of the mounting passage  11  is provided with a fixing plate  12 . The fixing plate  12  has a perforation  13  through which the bolt  4  passes. The fixing seat  1  is provided with a baffle  14  fixed to the bottom of the fixing plate  12 . The faucet body  100  is mated with the fixing seat  1 . An outer periphery of a top end of the fixing seat  1  is provided with a flange  15  for engagement of the fastening screw  400 . The fastening screw  400  is inserted into the receiving hole  101  of the faucet body  100  and extend to the bottom surface of the flange  15  of the fixing seat  1 , so that the faucet body  100  and the fixing seat  1  are connected together. The fixing seat  1  may be provided with a limit portion to limit the rotation of the faucet body  100 . A gasket  5  is provided at the bottom surfaces of the fixing seat  1  and the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10  in cooperation with  FIG. 5 , the linkage mechanism  2  includes a first connecting rod  21 , a second connecting rod  22 , a third connecting rod  23 , a fourth connecting rod  24 , an upper connecting member  25  having a through hole  251 , and a lower connecting member  26  having a screw hole  261 . The inner wall of the through hole  251  of the upper connecting member  25  is smooth, and the screw hole  261  of the lower connecting member  26  is mated with external threads of the bolt  4 . The first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are pivotally connected to two ends of the upper connecting member  25  or the lower connecting member  26 . As shown in the drawings, in this embodiment, the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are pivotally connected to two ends of the upper connecting member  25 , as an example. The first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  may be pivotally connected to two ends of the lower connecting member  26 . First ends of the third connecting rod  23  and the fourth connecting rods  24  are pivotally connected to free ends of the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22 , respectively. Second ends of the third connecting rod  23  and the fourth connecting rod  24  are pivotally connected to the two ends of the upper connecting member  25  or the two ends of the lower connecting member  26 . In this embodiment, the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are pivotally connected to the two ends of the upper connecting member  25 , so the second ends of the third connecting rod  23  and the fourth connecting rod  24  are pivotally connected to the two ends of the lower connecting member  26  to form a four-section linkage mechanism. In order to prevent reversion, the junction of the first connecting rod  21  and the third connecting rod  23  as well as the junction of the second connecting rod  22  and the fourth connecting rod  24  is provided with a directional joint  27 . After installed, the upper connecting member  25 , the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  2  lean against the countertop  200 . For the mounting countertop  200  to be more closely fitted with the linkage mechanism  2 , at least one of the upper connecting member  25 , the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  has a skidproof portion. 
     The two torsion springs B are disposed at the junction of the first connecting rod  21  and the third connecting rod  23  and the junction of the second connecting rod  22  and the fourth connecting rod  24 , respectively. Two arms  31  of each torsion spring  3 B correspond to and hold against the first connecting rod  21  and the third connecting rod  23  as well as the second connecting rod  22  and the fourth connecting rod  24 . Furthermore, the adjacent ends of the first connecting rod  21  and the third connecting rod  23  as well as the second connecting rod  22  and the fourth connecting rod  24  are respectively formed with grooves  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  241  for accommodating the arms  31  of the torsion springs  3 B. 
     The bolt  4  is inserted through the perforation  13  of the fixing seat  31  and then mated with the through hole  251  of the upper connecting member  25  and the screw hole  261  of the lower connecting member  26 . The bottom surface of the bolt  4  is provided with a nut  6  for preventing the linkage mechanism  2  from disengaging from the bolt  4 . Through the arrangement of the nut  6 , the linkage mechanism  2  won&#39;t disengage from the bolt  4  during operation to ensure a smooth installation process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10 , when the fastening device  300  is assembled, the bottom end of the bolt  4  passes through the perforation  13  of the fixing seat  1 , and the linkage mechanism  2  is placed at one side of the baffle  14 , opposite to the mounting passage  11 , and the bottom of the bolt  4  is successively inserted through the through hole  251  of the upper connecting member  25  and the screw hole  261  of the lower connecting member  26 . The nut  6  is screwed to the bottom end of the bolt  4 . By the action of the elasticity of the torsion springs  3 B, the first connecting rod  21 , the third connecting rod  23  and the second connecting rod  22  and the fourth connecting rod  24  are unfolded by the arms  31  of the torsion springs  3 B, so that the distance between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26  is maximized and the distance between the left and right connecting rods is minimized. In this state, the fastening device  300  can be mounted in or pulled out of the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the present invention is mounted, the linkage mechanism  2 , disposed at the bottom of the fixing seat  1  and biased by torsion springs  3 B and located between the upper end of the bolt  4  and the nut  6 , is inserted in the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 , and then the bolt  4  is screwed. Because the lower connecting member  26  of the linkage mechanism  2  is engaged with the threads with the bolt  4 , the lower connecting member  26  is rotated while the bolt  4  is rotated. But, the linkage mechanism  2  is subjected to the baffle  14  of the fixing seat  1  and cannot be rotated. When the bolt  4  is tightened, the linkage mechanism  2  is driven to move upward, so that the upper connecting member  25  of the linkage mechanism  2  abuts against the bottom surface of the mounting countertop  200  and the lower connecting member  26  is moved upward with the rotation of the bolt  4 . During the process that the lower connecting member  26  is moved upward, the first connecting rod  21 , the second connecting rod  22 , the third connecting rod  23 , and the fourth connecting rod  24  are linked to unfold outward and compress the arms  31  of the torsion springs  3 B, so that the entire linkage mechanism  2  is blocked at the bottom of the mounting hole  201  until the first connecting rod  21  and the second connecting rod  22  are against the bottom surface of the mounting countertop  200 . The bolt  4  is locked, and the fastening device  300  is securely engaged with the mounting countertop  200 . Finally, the faucet body  100  is fitted on the fixing seat  1  of the fastening device  300  and the fastening screw  400  is inserted in the receiving hole  101  of the faucet body  100  to mate with the flange  15  of the fixing seat  1 , such that the faucet body  100 , the mounting countertop  200  and the fastening device  300  are joined together. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , when the faucet is to be removed, the fastening screw  400  on the faucet body  100  is removed by a tool. The faucet body  100  is pulled out, the bolt  4  is loosened, and the bolt  4  drives the linkage mechanism  2  to move downward. The lower connecting member  26  is continuously moved toward the nut  6 . The distance between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26  is increased by the action of the torsion springs  3 B until the four connecting rods are extended to the maximum distance between the connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26 . The lower connecting member  26  won&#39;t disengage from the bolt  4  due to the restriction of the nut  6 . When the distance between the upper connecting member  25  and the lower connecting member  26  is the maximum, the lateral distance of the four connecting rods is minimized. The fastening device  300  can pass through the mounting hole  201  of the mounting countertop  200 , so that the entire fastening device  300  can be pulled out from the mounting hole  201  to complete the disassembly. 
     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.