Patent Publication Number: US-11391022-B1

Title: Faucet diverter

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a faucet diverter, especially to a faucet diverter which is connected to an outlet of a faucet and provided with a plurality of channels and a control part for switching the channel water flow passes. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 9,663,927, a faucet diverter is revealed. The faucet diverter includes a main body, an inlet part, a first outlet part, a second outlet part, and a control part. The inlet part is used for being coupled to an outlet of the faucet. The first outlet part comprises a pipe member, a positioning member, a first rotary member, a second rotary member and an outlet head. The outlet head of the first outlet part can be turned around 180 degrees by the assembly of the first rotary member with the second rotary member. The outlet head is connected to a hose and then the water is discharged through the outlet head. The inlet part is arranged at the top of the main body while the first outlet part and the control part are disposed on two sides of the main body respectively and corresponding to each other. That means the first outlet part and the control part are disposed on two sides of the main body respectively and correspondingly at the front view of the main body after the inlet part being coupled to the outlet of the faucet. While operating the control part to switch the water flow, the control part is fully visible only from a side view. Thus it is not convenient for users to operate the control part. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a faucet diverter which features on rotary members able to rotate to different directions and the position where the control part for switching the channel for water discharge is arranged. Thereby the above shortcomings are addressed and the faucet diverter is more convenient to use. 
     In order to achieve the above object, a faucet diverter according to the present invention is coupled to a faucet and having a plurality of channels for connection to a plurality of hoses. The faucet diverter includes a main body, a coupling part, a first assembly part, a second assembly part, a spray part and a control part. A first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end are extended from the main body while the first assembly part and the second assembly part are arranged at the second end and the third end respectively. The main body includes an inlet channel, a first channel, a second channel, a third channel, a fourth channel, and a diversion part. The inlet channel, the first channel, and the second channel are communicating with the coupling part, the first assembly part, and the second assembly part respectively while the third channel and the fourth channel are communicating with the spray part. 
     The coupling part is coupled to a faucet. 
     The first assembly part consists of a first rotary member, a first rotating part, and a second rotary member which is fixed and connected to a first connection part. 
     The second assembly part consists of a second rotating part, a third rotary member, and a fourth rotary member which is fixed and connected to a second connection part. 
     The spray part is fixed and connected to the fourth end of the main body firmly and is composed of a spray disc and a baffle plate mounted into the spray disc. The baffle plate is provided with a first guiding hole and at least one second guiding slot. The spray disc includes a first outlet hole and second outlet holes which are corresponding to the first guiding hole and the second guiding slots of the baffle plate respectively. The first guiding hole and the second guiding slot of the baffle plate are correspondingly to the third channel and the fourth channel respectively. 
     The control part includes a valve and an operation member. 
     The first rotary member is connected to the first channel of the main body and able to rotate 360 degrees in relation to the main body. The first rotary member is pivotally connected to the second rotary member so that the second rotary member can turn 180 degrees in relation to the first rotary member. The first connection part can be connected to a hose to let water flow out. 
     The third rotary member is pivotally connected to the second channel of the main body and able to rotate 360 degrees in relation to the main body. The third rotary member is pivotally connected to the fourth rotary member so that the fourth rotary member can turn 180 degrees in relation to the third rotary member. The second connection part can be connected to a hose to let water flow out. 
     Thereby users can rotate the control part to switch the water flow from the inlet channel to the spray part, the first assembly part, or the second assembly part through the valve to be discharged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an explosive view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is another sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an embodiment showing a valve hole aligned with a first outlet port according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is another sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 5  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a further sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 5  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of an embodiment showing a water flow passed through a valve hole and a first outlet port aligned with each other and then flowing out through second outlet holes of a spray part according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of an embodiment showing a valve hole aligned with a fourth outlet port according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is another sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of an embodiment showing a valve hole aligned with a third outlet port according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is another sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 11  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of an embodiment showing a valve hole aligned with a third outlet port according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is another sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 13  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an embodiment showing a first assembly part and a second assembly part before being rotated according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an embodiment showing a first assembly part and a second assembly part being rotated according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is another perspective view of an embodiment showing a first assembly part and a second assembly part being rotated to another direction according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a further perspective view of an embodiment showing a first assembly part and a second assembly part being rotated to a further direction according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic drawing showing an embodiment being connected to a faucet and its location relative to a wall surface according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In order to learn technical content and functions of the present invention more completely and clearly, please refer to the following embodiments with detailed descriptions and with reference to the related figures and numbers therein. 
     Refer to  FIGS. 1-5  and  FIG. 15 , a faucet diverter according to the present invention includes a main body  1 , a coupling part  2 , a first assembly part  3 , a second assembly part  4 , a spray part  5  and a control part  6 . 
     A first end  11 , a second end  12 , a third end  13 , a fourth end  14  and a fifth end  15  are extended from the main body  1 . The first end  11 , the second end  12 , and the third end  13  include an inlet channel  11   a , a first channel  12   a , and a second channel  13   a  respectively while the fourth end  14  includes a third channel  14   a  and a fourth channel  14   b . The inlet channel  11   a , the first channel  12   a , the second channel  13   a , the third channel  14   a  and the fourth channel  14   b  are separated from each other, which is defined as each of the first end  11 , the second end  12 , the third end  13 , and the fourth end  14  has an independent channel and the respective independent channels are not communicating with one another. As to the fifth end  15 , it is provided with a diversion part  15   a  while a first outlet port  151   a , a second outlet port  151   b , a third outlet port  151   c , and a fourth outlet port  151   d  are extended from the diversion part  15   a  and communicating with the respective independent channels of the first end  11 , the second end  12 , the third end  13 , and the fourth end  14 . A water stop gasket  152  is fitted around the first outlet port  151   a , the second outlet port  151   b , the third outlet port  151   c , and the fourth outlet port  151   d . A second circular groove  11   b  is formed by extension of the outer circumference of the first end  11 . The first outlet port  151   a  is aligned and communicating with the fourth channel  14   b  while the second outlet port  151   b , the third outlet port  151   c , and the fourth outlet port  151   d  are aligned and communicating with the first channel  12   a , the second channel  13   a , and the third channel  14   a  respectively. 
     The inlet channel  11   a , the first channel  12   a , and the second channel  13   a  are connected to the coupling part  2 , the first assembly part  3 , and the second assembly part  4  respectively while the third channel  14   a  and the fourth channel  14   b  are connected to the spray part  5 . 
     The coupling part  2  which is coupled to a faucet A is composed of a coupling head  21 , a bushing part  22 , and a stop collar  23 . A first circular grove  22   a  is formed on an inner circumference of bushing part  22  while the coupling head  21  is tightly connected to an upper edge of the bushing part  22  to form one part. The stop collar  23  is an elastic ring with an opening so that the stop collar  23  can be expanded or contracted. The stop collar  23  is mounted in the second circular groove  11   b  at the first end  11  of the main body  1  and the bushing part  22  is mounted to the outer circumference of the first end  11  of the main body  1 . By the elasticity of the stop collar  23 , the bushing part  22  is kept at the first end  11  of the main body  1 , without falling off, and able to rotate around the axis for pivotal rotation and fastening while the coupling head  21  is connected to the faucet A. In order to assemble the coupling head  21  with the faucet A, the coupling part  2  can be released in a non-destructive way, preferably released manually without using any tools. The coupling part  2  can also include other assembly structure such as snap fasteners or screws for being mounted and fixed to the faucet A. 
     The first assembly part  3  consists of a first rotary member  31  and a second rotary member  32 . A first rotating part  31   a  is extended from the first rotary member  31 . After a first water stop collar  311  and a second water stop collar  312  being disposed around the first rotating part  31   a  and the first rotating part  31   a  being pivotally connected to the second end  12 , the first rotating part  31   a  can rotate 360 degrees in relation to the second end  12 . One end of the second rotary member  32  is extended to form a first axle tube  322  while a first connection part  321  is disposed on the other end thereof. The first connection part  321  can be connected to a water hose. After a third water stop collar  323  being arranged around the first axle tube  322 , the first axle tube  322  is pivotally connected to the first rotary member  31 . Thereby the second rotary member  32  can rotate 180 degrees in relation to the first rotary member  31 . The first rotating part  31   a , the first rotary member  31 , the second rotary member  32 , and the first connection part  321  all include passages communicating with one another and combined to form a second passage  33   a  which is aligned and communicating with the first channel  12   a  of the main body  1 . 
     The second assembly part  4  is composed of a third rotary member  41  and a fourth rotary member  42 . A second rotating part  41   a  is extended from the third rotary member  41  and able to rotate 360 degrees in relation to the third end  13  after being arranged with a fourth water stop collar  411  and a fifth water stop collar  412  and pivotally connected to the third end  13 . One end of the fourth rotary member  42  is extended to form a second axle tube  422  while a second connection part  421  is disposed on the other end thereof. The second connection part  421  can be connected to a water hose. The second axle tube  422  is pivotally connected to the third rotary member  41  after being arranged with a sixth water stop collar  423 . Thereby the fourth rotary member  42  can rotate 180 degrees in relation to the third rotary member  41 . The first second pivotally rotating part  41   a , the third rotary member  41 , the fourth rotary member  42 , and the second connection part  421  all include passages communicating with one another and combined to form a third passage  43   a  which is aligned and communicating with the second channel  13   a  of the main body  1 . 
     The spray part  5  includes a spray disc  51  and a baffle plate  52 . The baffle plate  52  is provided with a first guiding hole  521  disposed on the center of the baffle plate  52  and two guiding slot  522  on two sides of the first guiding hole  521 . In other embodiments, there is at least one guiding slot  522 . The spray disc  51  includes a first outlet hole  511  and a plurality of second outlet holes  512  which are corresponding to the first guiding hole  521  and the second guiding slots  522  of the baffle plate  52  respectively. The baffle plate  52  is mounted into the spray disc  51  to form the spray part  5  which is fixed and connected to the fourth end  14  of the main body  1  firmly. The first guiding hole  521  and the second guiding slot  522  of the baffle plate  52  are aligned with the third channel  14   a  and the fourth channel  14   b  respectively. 
     The control part  6  includes an operation member  61 , a cover body  62 , and a valve  63 . The operation member  61  is provided with a mounting part  611  and a connection part  612  while a seal member  614  is mounted to the mounting part  611 . As to the cover body  62 , it consists of a side hole  621 , a pin  622 , and an axial hole  623 . After being fit with a spring, one end of the pin  622  is mounted into the side hole  621 . The valve  63  is a round disc  63   a  provided with a valve hole  631  while a rod  63   b  is extended from the center of the disc  63   a  and is provided with a circular groove  633  in which an oil seal ring  634  is mounted. One side of the operation member  61  facing the cover body  62  is provided with a plurality of recesses  613  arranged circularly. The other end of the pin  622  can be selectively mounted into one of the recesses  613  for temporary positioning after the operation member  61  being rotated. 
     The disc  63   a  of the valve  63  is mounted into the fifth end  15  and corresponding to a surface on one end of the diversion part  15   a  while the valve hole  631  of the disc  63   a  can be selectively aligned with the first outlet port  151   a , the second outlet port  151   b , the third outlet port  151   c , or the fourth outlet port  151   d  of the diversion part  15   a . The rod  63   b  is inserted through the axial hole  623  of the cover body  62  to be fixed and connected to the connection part  612  of the operation member  61 . The periphery of the cover body  62  can be tightly connected to the outer circumference of the fifth end  15  by ultrasonic waves. 
     Refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6-9 , how does the control part  6  work to control directions of water flows is revealed. In the beginning, couple the coupling part  2  to the faucet A and rotate the coupling part  2  for fastening the coupling part  2  to the faucet A. After the faucet A being turned on, a water flow is flowing from the inlet channel  11   a  to the diversion part  15   a  and then rotate the operation member  61  to make the valve hole  631  of the valve  63  align with the second outlet port  151   b  or the third outlet port  151   c  for switching the water flow to pass through the first channel  12   a  or the second channel  13   a , and then flow to the first assembly part  3  or the second assembly part  4  respectively, as shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 14 . The operation member  61  can also be rotated to make the valve hole  631  of the valve  63  align with the fourth outlet port  151   d  for switching the water flow to pass through the third channel  14   a  and the first guiding hole  521  of the spray part  5  and then spray out vertically through the first outlet hole  511 , as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . Or the operation member  61  is rotated to make the valve hole  631  of the valve  63  align with the first outlet port  151   a  for switching the water flow to pass through the fourth channel  14   b  and the second guiding holes  522  of the spray part  5  and then flow out in a radial pattern through the second outlet holes  512 , as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8 . 
     In summary, the present invention has the following advantages: 
     Refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 19 , the control part  6  is arranged at the front side of the main body  1  while the two sides of the control part  6  are provided with the first assembly part  3  and the second assembly part  4  respectively. The spray part  5  is disposed under the control part  6  while the control part  6  is located between the first assembly part  3  and the second assembly part  4 . The coupling part  2  is mounted on the main body  1  and located on the connection between the first assembly part  3  and the second assembly part  4 . Refer to  FIG. 19 , the coupling part  2  is coupled to the faucet A and the back side is close to a wall surface B. The control part  6  is on the front side of the main body  1 , just facing the user so that the user can see the control part  6  clearly and rotate the operation member  61  for switching directions of water flow conveniently. 
     The present invention provides the first assembly part  3  and the second assembly part  4  able to rotate to multiple directions so that directions of the first assembly part  3  and the second assembly part  4  can be changed freely for users to connect to a hose conveniently. As shown in  FIG. 15-18 , the first assembly part  3  and the second assembly part  4  are pivotally connected to two sides of the main body  1  respectively and able to rotate 360 degrees while the second rotary member  32  can rotate 180 degrees in relation to the first rotary member  31  and the fourth rotary member  42  can rotate 180 degrees in relation to the third rotary member  41 . 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.