Patent Publication Number: US-2022213977-A1

Title: Arbitrary directional touch switch

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a water supply device, and more particularly to a water supply device mounted at a pipework outlet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional handwash sink faucets or bathroom sink faucets have separately arranged water outlets and controls, such that the water outlets are positioned above the sink, and the controls are positioned near an edge of the sink. After a user has finished handwashing, the user needs to move his/her hands to the edge of the sink in order to operate the control to turn the faucet off This would result in the countertop near the sink being wetted by water dripping from the user&#39;s hands. 
     A conventional valve mounted at a water outlet of a faucet has been available on the market, which allows on/off switch operation at the outlet of the faucet and avoids the need for users to move their wet hands to the control to turn off the faucet. The countertop can therefore be kept from getting wet. However, the conventional valve mounted at the water outlet of the faucet can only operate the faucet by upward or sideward pressing of a switch of the valve. This limits application of the valve. 
     In view of this, the present invention provides an improved solution to the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     The main object of the invention is to provide a multi-directional touch valve, which may turn on/off water supply by pressing from multiple directions, such as upwards, sidewards or at oblique angles. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a multi-directional touch valve which comprises: 
     a valve body, including: 
     a housing having a water outlet end and a pipe connecting end opposite to each other, wherein an axial direction is defined as a direction along a line connecting the water outlet end and the pipe connecting end, and a transverse direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the housing being provided with: 
     at least one support portion formed at the water outlet end of the housing and protruding transversely outwardly, 
     a primary flow channel formed in the housing and extending from to the water outlet end to the pipe connecting end, and 
     a switching mechanism mounted in the housing and configured to selectively block the primary flow channel; and 
     a pressing member movably connected with the valve body, including: 
     a push-abutment portion configured to selectively drive the switching mechanism to block the primary flow channel, 
     a water passage portion surrounding the push-abutment portion and allowing water to flow therethrough, and 
     at least one suspension portion fixed around an outer circumference of the water passage portion and movably hang on the at least one support portion, 
     wherein a motion space is formed on an inner side of each of the at least one suspension portion and on a side of the suspension portion facing the pipe connecting end of the housing, such that the pressing member is operable to move away from the center of the valve body and to move towards the pipe connecting end, and 
     wherein when the pressing member moves relative to the valve body, the push-abutment portion drives the switching mechanism to block or unblock the primary flow channel. 
     The present invention is advantageous in that a user can push the pressing member in axial, transverse, or oblique directions to actuate the switching mechanism, thereby switching the valve between an open state and a closed state by pushing the pressing member in any direction. This makes the touch valve very convenient to use. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve, the support portion comprises: 
     a first transverse extension member protruding transversely outwardly from the water outlet end, and 
     a first axial extension member protruding from an outer edge of the first transverse extension member towards the pipe connecting end of the housing; and 
     each of the at least one suspension portion comprises: 
     a second axial extension member protruding from an outer edge of the water passage portion towards the pipe connecting end of the housing, 
     a second transverse extension member protruding transversely inwardly from an end portion of the second axial extension member adjacent to the pipe connecting end of the housing, and 
     a positioning groove formed on the second transverse extension member and including two opposite inclined surfaces facing each other, the first axial extension member movably positioned in the positioning groove. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve, the positioning groove of each of the at least one suspension portion has two opposite inclined surfaces facing each other. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve, the first axial extension member of each of the at least one support portion has two opposite inclined surfaces facing away from each other and selectively abutting the inclined surfaces of the positioning groove. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve, the second transverse extension member of each of the at least one suspension portion has a bevel formed on an inner edge of the second transverse extension member and inclined with respect to the axial direction. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve, the housing has at least one groove formed thereon, and each of the at least one support portion forms a surface of the at least one groove respectively; the motion space of each of the at least one suspension portion is located in the at least one groove; and the at least one groove has a support surface, the support surface being parallel to the bevel of corresponding the suspension portion. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve: 
     the number of the at least one support portion is one, and the support portion is annular and protrudes radially; and 
     the number of the at least one suspension portion is one, and the suspension portion is annular and extends radially inwardly, and selectively abuts a side surface of the support portion facing the pipe connecting end of the housing. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve: 
     the number of the at least one support portion is one, and the first transverse extension member and the first axial extension member of the support portion are annular; and 
     the number of the at least one suspension portion is one, and the second axial extension member, the second transverse extension member, and the positioning groove of the suspension portion are annular. 
     In the multi-directional touch valve: 
     the number of the at least one support portion is greater than one; and 
     the number of the at least one suspension portion is greater than one and equals the number of the at least one support portion, wherein: 
     the first axial extension member of each support portion corresponds to the positioning groove of one of the suspension portions, and a transverse width of the positioning groove is greater than a transverse width of the first axial extension member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multi-directional touch valve in accordance with the present invention mounted in a water faucet; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded perspective view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention at a closed state; 
         FIG. 5  is another cross-sectional view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention at the closed state; 
         FIG. 6  is an operational cross-sectional view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention, showing a transitional state of the multi-directional touch valve subjected to a transverse pressing force; 
         FIG. 7  is an operational cross-sectional side view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention, showing a transitional state of the multi-directional touch valve subjected to an axial pressing force; 
         FIG. 8  is an operational cross-sectional side view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention, showing a transitional state of the multi-directional touch valve subjected to an oblique pressing force; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention at an open state; and 
         FIG. 10  is another cross-sectional view of the multi-directional touch valve of the present invention at the open state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the present invention provides a multi-directional touch valve which has a valve body  10  and a pressing member  20 . 
     The valve body  10  has a housing  11 , a switching mechanism  12 , and a primary flow channel. Two ends of the housing  11  are a water outlet end and a pipe connecting end respectively. The water outlet end is operable to output water, and the pipe connecting end is to be connected with a spout of a faucet or an outlet of a water pipe. An axial direction is defined as a direction along a line connecting the water outlet end and the pipe connecting end. A transverse direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In the description below, an upward direction is defined as an axial direction from the water outlet end towards the pipe connecting end, and a downward direction is defined as an axial direction from the pipe connecting end towards the water outlet end, but the invention is not limited in this respect. 
     The switching mechanism  12  is mounted in the housing  11 . The primary flow channel is formed in the housing  11  and extends from the pipe connecting end through the switching mechanism  12  to the water outlet end. The primary flow channel is connected to external units at the water outlet end and the pipe connecting end. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the housing  11  has at least one support portion  111  formed on an outer circumference of the water outlet end of the housing  11  and protruding outwardly therefrom. The at least one support portion  111  may have a first transverse extension member  1111  and a first axial extension member  1112 . The first transverse extension member  1111  protrudes outwardly from the water outlet end of the housing  11 . The first axial extension member  1112  protrudes from an outer edge of the first transverse extension member  1111  towards the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 . A cross section of the at least one support portion  111  has a transversely arranged L-shape, but the invention is not limited thereto. In the embodiment, one support portion  111  is included, and the support portion  111  is annular and extends radially outwardly. The first transverse extension member  1111  and the first axial extension member  1112  of the support portion  111  are annular. 
     In the embodiment, the first transverse extension member  1111  of each support portion  111  has two opposite inclined surfaces facing away from each other. One of the inclined surfaces is located near the exterior, and the other inclined surface is located near the interior. The inclined surface located near the exterior faces outwardly and is inclined upwards, and the inclined surface located near the interior faces inwardly and is inclined upwards. Consequently, the cross section of the first transverse extension member  1111  is tapered in shape. 
     In the embodiment, the housing  11  has at least one groove  112 , and a wall of the at least one groove  112  forms the support portion  111 . The number of the at least one groove  112  equals the number of the at least one support portion  111 . The groove  112  has a support surface  1120  which is inclined relative to the axial direction. A cross section of the groove  112  may have a transversely arranged L-shape, and the support surface  1120  is provided at the turning portion of the L-shape. In another embodiment, the housing  11  may have no groove  112 , and the support portion  111  may protrude from an outer surface of the housing  11 . 
     The pressing member  20  is movably connected with the valve body  10  and has a water passage portion  21 , at least one suspension portion  22 , and a push-abutment portion  23 . The water passage portion  21  is configured to allow water to flow therethrough. In other words, water flowing from the primary flow channel  13  flows out of the multi-directional touch valve via the water passage portion  21 . In the embodiment, the water passage portion  21  may be arranged in mesh patterns, radial patterns, grid patterns, and so on to allow water to flow through. 
     The at least one suspension portion  22  is fixed at an outer side of the water passage portion  21  and is movably held on the support portion  111 . The suspension portion  22  has a second axial extension member  221 , a second transverse extension member  222 , and a positioning groove  223 . The second axial extension member  221  is fixed at the outer side of the water passage portion  21  and protrudes from the outer side of the water passage portion  21  towards the pipe connecting end of the housing. The second transverse extension member  222  extends transversely inwardly from an end of the second axial extension member  221  adjacent to the pipe connecting portion of the housing  11 . In other words, a cross section of the suspension portion  22  also has a transversely arranged L-shape in a reversed direction to the support portion  111 . The second transverse extension member  222  has a bevel  224  formed on an inner edge of the second transverse extension member  222  facing the housing  11 . The bevel  224  is inclined upwards relative to the axial direction and is parallel to the support surface  1120  of the groove  112  of the housing  11 . 
     The positioning groove  223  is formed on a side of the second transverse extension member  222  facing the water outlet end. In the embodiment, the positioning groove  223  has two opposite inclined downward facing surfaces, but the invention is not limited thereto. The positioning groove  223  may also be a concave surface recessed upwardly. One of the inclined surface is located near the exterior, and the other inclined surface is located near the interior. The inclined surface near the exterior faces inwardly and is inclined downwards, and the inclined surface near the interior faces outwardly and is inclined downwards. The first axial extension member  1112  of the support portion  111  is movably mounted in the positioning groove  223 . The suspension portion  22  selectively abuts a side of the support portion  111  facing the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 . When no external force is applied to the pressing member  20 , the first axial extension member 1112  moves under gravity along the two inclined surfaces to the deepest position of the positioning groove  223 , i.e., where the two inclined surfaces meet each other. At this time, a central axis of the pressing member  20  is aligned with a central axis of the housing  11 . 
     The number of the at least one suspension portion  22  equals the number of the at least one support portion  111 . In the embodiment, the number of the at least one suspension portion  22  is one. The suspension portion  22  is annular and extends radially inwardly. The second axial extension member  221 , the second transverse extension member  222 , and the positioning groove  223  are annular. 
     With respect to the housing  11 , a motion space is formed on an inner side of the suspension portion  22  and on a side of the suspension portion  22  facing the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 . The motion space is located in the groove  112  of the housing  11 . In other words, the space within the groove  112  is the motion space. The motion space allows the pressing member  20  to move relative to the valve body  10  along a direction away from the center or the axis of the valve body  10  and to move towards the pipe connecting end of the housing. In other words, the inner side of the suspension portion  22  and the housing  11  do not contact each other, and the side of the suspension portion  22  facing the pipe connecting portion of the housing  11  and the housing  11  do not contact each other either. Instead, a space is formed therebetween. Thus, movement of the suspension portion  22  will not be obstructed, thereby allowing the pressing member  20  to move along axial, transverse or oblique directions. 
     The push-abutment portion  23  is fixed on the center of the water passage portion  21 . In other words, the water passage portion surrounds the push-abutment portion. The push-abutment portion  23  selectively drives the switching mechanism  12  to block or unblock the primary flow channel. The push-abutment portion  23  of the pressing member  20  has a protrusion surface facing the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 . The push-abutment portion  23  protrudes towards the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 . In alternative embodiments, the push-abutment portion  23  may alternatively have a recessed surface. When the pressing member  20  moves relative to the valve body  10 , the push-abutment portion  23  drives the switching mechanism  12  to block or unblock the primary flow channel. 
     In alternative embodiments, a plurality of support portions and a plurality of suspension portions may be provided, with each suspension portion arranged on a support portion. Each support portion and the corresponding suspension portion may be matching plate members. Specifically, the first axial extension member of each support portion is located within a positioning groove of a corresponding suspension portion. A transverse width of the positioning groove is greater than a transverse width of the first axial extension member, thereby allowing the pressing member to move transversely or obliquely without obstruction. 
     In another embodiment, the support portion may have a first transverse extension member without a first axial extension member. The suspension portion may have a second transverse extension member without a second axial extension member. In other words, the support portion and the suspension portion may only extend transversely. 
     The switching mechanism  12  is mounted in the housing  11  and selectively blocks the primary flow channel. In the embodiment, the switching mechanism  12  has a flow seat  121 , a gasket  122 , a control seat  123 , a shifting element  124 , a rotation member 125 , an elastic element 126 , and a blocking element  127 , but the invention is not limited as such. 
     The flow seat  121  is fixed in the housing  11 , and the primary flow channel  13  is formed through the flow seat  121 . The flow seat  121  has a chamber  1211 , an opening  1212 , and a first through hole  1213 . The chamber  1211  is formed in the flow seat  121 . The primary flow channel  13  extends through the chamber  1211 . In other words, the chamber  1211  is a segment of the primary flow channel  13 . The opening  1212  extends through a side wall of the flow seat facing the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 . The first through hole  1213  extends through a side wall of the flow seat facing the water outlet end of the housing  11 . The opening  1212  and the first through hole  1213  are respectively formed in opposite sides of the flow seat  121 . The opening  1212  and the first through hole  1213  are connected within the chamber  1211 . The primary flow channel goes through the opening  1212 , and is divided to an input path  131  and an output path  132  at the opening  1212 . 
     The gasket  122  is movably mounted in the chamber  1211  to divide the chamber  1211  into a primary compartment and an auxiliary compartment. The primary compartment is located near the water outlet end and the auxiliary compartment is located near the pipe connecting end. The primary flow channel extends through the auxiliary compartment. More specifically, the input path  131  of the primary flow channel extends through the auxiliary compartment. The gasket  122  selectively seals the opening  1212  to block the input path  131  and the output path  132 . The gasket  122  may bend upwards or move upwards to seal the opening  1212 . The gasket  122  has a second through hole  1220  formed therethrough and connected with the first through hole  1213 . The second through hole  1220  of the gasket  122 , the auxiliary compartment of the chamber  1211 , and the first through hole  1213  of the flow seat  121  form an auxiliary flow channel. 
     The control seat  123  is mounted in the housing  11  and is disposed closer to the water outlet end than the flow seat  121 . The control seat  123  has a through cavity and multiple serrated portions  1230 . The serrated portions  1230  are formed on a side wall of the through cavity and spaced part from each other to form a recess portion between each two adjacent serrated portions  1230 . Each recess portion extends axially. A shifting element  124  is mounted in the through cavity of the control seat  123  and has multiple guiding protrusions  1240  transversely protruding therefrom. Each guiding protrusion  1240  is mounted in a respective one of the recess portions. The width of each guiding protrusion  1240  is equal to the width of the respective recess portion. The sliding direction of the shifting element  124  is limited in the axial direction by the guiding protrusion  1240 . The bottom of the shifting element  124  abuts the pressing member  20 . The push-abutment portion  23  corresponding to the pressing member  20  is formed at the bottom of the shifting element  124 . The shifting element  124  has a recess at its lower end to receive the top of the push-abutment portion  23 . 
     The rotation member  125  is mounted in the control seat  123  and is disposed closer to the pipe connecting end of the housing  11  than the shifting element  124 . The rotation member  125  is rotatably and axially movably mounted in the control seat  123  and selectively abuts the shifting element  124 . The rotation member  125  has multiple guided protrusions  1250  transversely protruding therefrom. The guided protrusions  1250  are selectively mounted in the recess portions, stacked on the guiding protrusions  1240  or selectively stacked on the serrated portions  1230  of the control seat  123 . That is, the rotation member  125  can be mounted in the recess portions and stacked on the shifting element  124  and stacked on the serrated portions  1230  upon rotation or movement. An end of the elastic element  126  abuts the flow seat  121 , and the other end of the elastic element  126  abuts the rotation member  125  to press the rotation member  125  towards the water outlet end of the housing  11 . The blocking element  127  is axially movably mounted in the control seat  123  and is connected with the rotation member  125 . The blocking element  127  is driven by the rotation member  125  to selectively block the first through hole  1213 . 
     With such arrangements, the multi-directional touch valve has a closed state, a transitional state, and an open state. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in the closed state, the suspension portion  22  of the pressing member  20  abuts the support portion  111  of the valve body  10 . A surface of the positioning groove  223  abuts the support portion  111 . In the embodiment, the surface of the positioning groove  223  abuts the first axial extension member  1112  of the support portion  111 . In other words, the first axial extension member  1112  of the support portion  111  is mounted in the positioning groove  223 . At the same time, the rotation member  125  is stacked on the shifting element  124 , and the guided protrusions  1250  of the rotation member  125  are mounted in the recess portions and stacked on the guiding protrusions  1240  of the shifting element  124 . Thus, the rotation member  125  is disposed at a position away from the pipe connecting end of the housing  11 , and the blocking element  127  is in a position away from the pipe connecting end of the housing  11  to seal the first through hole  1213  of the flow seat  121 . When water flows into the primary flow channel, water first flows through the input path  131  to the primary compartment of the chamber  1211 , and because the second through hole  1220  of the gasket  122  is not sealed, water can flow through the second through hole  1220  to the auxiliary compartment, but cannot flow through the first through hole  1213 . In other words, water inside the auxiliary compartment cannot flow out. Consequently, water pressure builds up to push the gasket  122  upwards, such that the gasket  122  abuts and seals the opening  1212  and blocks the primary flow channel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 , the pressing member  20  can be pressed axially, transversely, or obliquely. Due to the motion space formed on the side of the suspension portion of the pressing member  20  facing the pipe connecting end of the housing, or the motion space between the suspension portion and the housing  11 , the pressing member  20  can move axially upwards. Because the inner side of the suspension portion  22  has a motion space or is spaced from the housing  11 , the pressing member  20  can move transversely in any radial direction. In the invention, as a motion space is provided above and inside the suspension portion  22 , the suspension portion  22  can also move obliquely, i.e., the pressing member  20  can move obliquely. 
     The transitional state is defined as the movement process of the pressing member  20 . In the transitional state, the push-abutment portion  23  of the pressing member  20  is shifted away from a preset position, and the push-abutment portion  23  moves away from the shifting element  124  to allow the shifting element  124  to be pushed up. When the shifting element  124  is pushed up, the guiding protrusions  1240  of the shifting element  124  slide upwards along the extension direction of the recess portions formed between the serrated portions  1230  of the control seat  123 , to push the rotation member  125  upwards and cause the guided protrusions  1250  to move out from the recess portions. Because contact surfaces between the guiding protrusions  1240  and the guided protrusions  1250  are inclined surfaces, the rotation member  125  can rotate after the guided protrusions  1250  move out of the recess portions and cause the guided protrusions  1250  to be stacked on the serrated portion  1230 . When a user stops pushing the pressing member  20 , the elastic element  126  causes the shifting element  124  to return to the preset position and to drive the push-abutment portion  23  to return to the preset position. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when a user pushes the pressing member  20  in a transverse direction, the inclined surfaces of the first transverse extension member  1111  of the support portion  111  or the inclined surfaces of the positioning groove  223  of the suspension portion  22  cause the suspension portion  22  to slide along the inclined surfaces. In other words, movement of the pressing member  20  includes an element of axial movement even when it is transversely pressed, thus ensuring that the shifting element  124  can be pushed upwards by the push-abutment portion  23 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , while in the transitional state, the state transitions to the open state at the moment when the rotation member  125  moves upwards. Upward movement of the rotation member  125  drives the blocking element  127  to move and unseal the first through hole  1213 . Water in the auxiliary compartment can flow out from the first through hole  1213  to release pressure, causing the gasket  122  to move downwards or deform downwardly to unblock the opening  1212 . The input path  131  of the primary flow channel is then connected with the output path  132  via the opening  1212 , and water can flow to the output path  132  to provide a water supply. 
     When the pressing member  20  is pressed again by a user in any direction, the rotation member  125  rotates again, and the guided protrusions  1250  of the rotation member  125  are driven into the recess portions formed between the serrated portions  1230  of the control seat  123  and move away from the pipe connecting end. At the same time, the blocking element  127  can move downwards to seal the first through hole  1213  again. Water cannot flow out from the first through hole  1213  and instead accumulates in the auxiliary compartment. Water pressure then builds up to push the gasket  122  to seal the opening  1212 , causing the multi-directional touch valve to return to the closed state. 
     As discussed above, a user can press the pressing member  20  in axial, transverse, and oblique directions to drive the switching mechanism  12  and cause the multi-directional touch valve to switch between the open state and the closed state, thereby render the touch valve convenient to use.