Patent Publication Number: US-2011061753-A1

Title: Split-Type Valve Seat For A Faucet

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a valve seat for a faucet, especially a split-type valve seat. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The water control assembly of a faucet is typically fixed to a valve seat by a fixed block. The faucet handle only can control the water control assembly after the valve seat is fixed to the basin. Therefore, the valve seat bears all the force imparted upon the faucet cartridge. If the strength of the valve seat is inadequate, the valve seat is prone to break in the process of installation and usage. Therefore, the valve seat for a faucet is typically made by true copper materials and formed to be one-piece by casting and forging. The strength of such a valve seat is high. However, the cost of using true copper materials is high. Moreover, the copper valve seat also contains heavy metals, such as Pb and Cd. Harmful heavy metals (such as Pb and Cd) will be released into the water after long usage. These metals will pollute the water and be harmful to human beings. The presence of such metals in water is inconsistent with environment protection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a split-type valve seat for a faucet, having the features of low manufacturing cost, high strength and non-toxicity. 
     The present split-type valve seat for a faucet includes a one-piece plastic valve seat body, a metal cover and a flange. The metal cover is set outside the valve seat body and is fixed to the valve seat body by the flange. 
     The two ends of the plastic valve seat body separately include a threaded portion. A collar flange whose diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the valve seat body is formed below the upper threaded portion of the plastic valve seat body. The outer edge of the valve seat body has several ribs. A water outlet hole is formed between the ribs and the lower threaded portion of the plastic valve seat body. 
     The entire outer wall of the metal cover includes an external thread. Several grooves which are coupled to the ribs of the valve seat body are formed in the inner wall of the lower portion of the metal cover. 
     The inventive split-type valve seat for a faucet includes a plastic valve seat body and a metal cover. It features an environmentally friendly construction, light weight and low materials cost. Since the metal cover has high strength and is combined with the plastic valve seat body, it can bear all the force given to the valve seat, and meets the requirements of practicality and environmental protection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the inventive valve seat for a faucet, showing the various components of the valve seat; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of  FIG. 1 , but in an assembled condition; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 , but in an assembled condition; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view taken along line “D-D” of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a faucet with the inventive valve seat; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a faucet with the inventive valve seat in a use position. 
     
    
    
     The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. The disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the inventive split-type valve seat for a faucet includes a one-piece plastic valve seat body  1 , a metal cover  2  and a flange  3 . The valve seat body  1  is made of plastic, to be of one-piece construction. The two ends of the plastic valve seat body  1  separately include a threaded portion  11  and  12 . The upper threaded portion  11  is connected to a fixed block  8  so that the water control assembly  4  (as seen in  FIG. 5 ) is tightly fixed to the valve seat body  1 . The lower threaded portion  12  is coupled to the water inlet assembly  5 . A collar flange  13  whose diameter is slightly larger than the external diameter of the valve seat body  1  is formed below the upper threaded portion  11  of the plastic valve seat body  1 . The outer edge of the valve seat body  1  has several ribs  14 . A water outlet hole  15  is formed between the ribs  14  and the lower threaded portion  12  of the plastic valve seat body  1 . 
     The whole outer wall of the metal cover  2  has an external thread  21 . Several grooves  22  which are coupled to the ribs  14  of the valve seat body  1  are formed in the inner wall of the lower portion of the metal cover  2 . The grooves  22  are coupled to the ribs  14  so that the metal cover  2  is tightly fixed to the valve seat body  1  and won&#39;t radially move between them. 
     In an assembled position, the metal cover  2  is set outside the valve seat body  1 . The grooves  22  of the metal cover  2  are coupled to the ribs  14  of the valve seat body  1 . The upward movement of the metal cover  2  is limited by the collar flange  13  of the valve seat body  1 . The metal cover  2  is fixed to the collar flange  13  of the valve seat body  1  by the internal thread of the flange  13 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     In a use position, the inventive valve seat for a faucet is coupled to a water control assembly  4  and forms flow paths between them, as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The water control assembly  4  is fixed in the valve seat body  1  by the fixed block  8 . A water inlet assembly  5  is connected to the water inlet  42  of the cartridge  41  of the water control assembly  4  and is fixed to the lower threaded portion  12  of the plastic valve seat body  2  by a nut  51 . Therefore, the water inlet assembly  5  is firmly connected to the water control assembly  4 . 
     The metal cover  2  is fixed to the basin by a locking piece  6 . The flow path is from the water inlet assembly  5  into the cartridge  41 . If the water control assembly is in an open position, the water will flow from the cartridge  41  into the valve seat body  1  via the water inlet  43  in the cartridge  41 . Then the water will flow from the flow path which is formed between the inner wall of the valve seat body  1  and the cartridge  41  to the water outlet conduit  7  via the water outlet hole  15  in the lower portion of the valve seat body  1 . 
     The inventive valve seat includes a one-piece plastic valve seat body, a metal cover and a flange. The valve seat is environmentally friendly, lightweight and has low-cost materials and low manufacturing costs. Since the metal cover has high strength and is combined with a plastic valve seat body, it can bear all the force given to the valve seat, and is more practical.