Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a faucet ( 10 ), comprising: a gearbox having an engaged state in which a handle ( 24 ) of the faucet is engaged to a valve ( 36 ) of the faucet, and a disengaged state in which the handle ( 24 ) is disengaged from the valve ( 36 ); wherein the gearbox is adapted to turn to the engaged state by pressing the handle towards the valve, and to turn to the disengaged state otherwise; thereby preventing unintentional turning on/off of the faucet, resulting in not putting a user thereof in jeopardy.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of faucets, including domestic water faucets. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A faucet is a valve for controlling a release of liquids or gas. Indoor faucets are commonly found in domestic bathrooms and kitchens. 
         [0003]    Water for baths, sinks and basins can be provided by separate hot and cold faucets. This arrangement is common in older installations, particularly in public washrooms and utility rooms. In kitchens and bathrooms, mixer faucets are commonly used. In this case, hot and cold water from the two valves is mixed before reaching the outlet, allowing the water to emerge at any temperature between that of the hot and cold water supplies. 
         [0004]    It may not be immediately clear which faucet is for the hot water and which is for the cold. The hot faucet usually has a red indicator, while the cold faucet usually has a blue or green indicator. In the United States, the faucets are frequently also labeled with an “H” for hot, and “C” for cold. But in countries with Romance languages, such as France or Italy, the letter “C” is used for hot, and “F” is used for cold. (In French, “C” stands for “chaud”, meaning hot, and “F” stands for “froid”, meaning cold; and in Italian “C” stands for “caldo”, meaning hot, while “F” stands for “freddo”, meaning cold). This can create confusion when English speakers visit these countries, or vice versa. 
         [0005]    In most countries, there is a standard arrangement for hot and cold faucets. For example, in the United States and many other countries, the hot faucet is on the left due to building code requirements. However, many installations exist in which this standard has been ignored (called “crossed connections” by plumbers). 
         [0006]    Due to distraction of mind or unintentional action, people sometimes open a hot water faucet while the spout is directed towards them, and get severe burns from the hot water. The water from the faucet can be very hot, and an unintentional opening of a hot tap can even cause bad injuries to babies, when a parent washes a baby. A child who is showered by a parent, may sometime play with the faucet without the parent noticing it, resulting in opening the hot water, which could result in the child suffering a burn. Also, a similar problem may happen with the cold water tap: in cold countries, an unintentional opening of the cold water may result in a very unpleasant experience, especially if it happens to a baby or a small child. 
         [0007]    All the faucet devices of the prior art have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of preventing unintentional opening/closing of a faucet. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
         [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a faucet ( 10 ), comprising:
       a gearbox having an engaged state in which a handle ( 24 ) of the faucet is engaged to a valve ( 36 ) of the faucet, and a disengaged state in which the handle ( 24 ) is disengaged from the valve ( 36 );   wherein the gearbox is adapted to turn to the engaged state by pressing the handle towards the valve, and to turn to the disengaged state otherwise;
 
thereby preventing unintentional turning on/off of the faucet, resulting in not putting a user thereof in jeopardy.
       
 
         [0013]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the gearbox comprises:
       a first cogwheel ( 32 ), engaged to the valve ( 36 );   a second cogwheel ( 26 ), engaged to the handle ( 24 ), wherein the first cogwheel ( 32 ) corresponds to the second cogwheel ( 26 ); and   a spring ( 28 ) for separating the second cogwheel ( 26 ) from the first cogwheel ( 32 ), thereby situating the faucet in the disengaged state.       
 
         [0017]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the second cogwheel ( 26 ) is slideable along the axle ( 30 ). 
         [0018]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the handle is implemented as a knob. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a faucet system, comprising a safety mechanism for the hot water faucet, and a safety mechanism for the cold water faucet, the strength of a spring of a hot water faucet being greater than the strength of a spring of a cold water faucet, thereby requiring additional force for turning the hot water faucet than the force of turning the cold water faucet. 
         [0020]    In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a faucet system having a hot water faucet and a cold water faucet, wherein only the hot water faucet uses the safety mechanism. 
         [0021]    The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a faucet system, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the hot-water faucet of  FIG. 1 , in an engaged state thereof. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the cold/hot water faucet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4   a  is a cross-section of a faucet in the disengaged state thereof, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4   b  is a cross-section of the engaged state thereof. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
         [0030]    The present invention is directed to a faucet which prevents unintentional turning on/off, thereby providing safe operation. The safe operation is achieved by employing a gearbox between the handle of the faucet and the valve of the faucet. The gearbox comprises two states: an “engaged state”, and a “disengaged state”, which is the default state. 
         [0031]    In order to situate the faucet in its engaged state, a user has to push the handle towards the valve, thereby causing the separated parts of the transmission of the gearbox to get engaged. In this situation, rotating the handle causes rotation of the valve. Upon releasing the handle, the gearbox returns to its disengaged state. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a faucet system, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0033]    According to this embodiment, a safety mechanism for opening a water tap is installed inside each of the faucets  10  of the faucet system. 
         [0034]    It should be noted that a similar mechanism can be installed in other faucet configurations, such as a single-handle double-spout faucet (one spout for hot, one spout for cold), single-handle single-spout faucet, etc. The safety faucet can also replace an existing faucet. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the hot-water faucet of  FIG. 1 , in an engaged state thereof. 
         [0036]    According to this embodiment of the invention, handle  24  can be in one of two different states: an engaged state in which turning handle  24  of the faucet results in turning the valve of the faucet (not seen in this figure), and a disengaged state, in which turning the handle does not have any influence on the faucet. 
         [0037]    Situating the faucet in its engaged state is carried out by pressing the faucet in the direction of arrow  20  by a user hand  18 . In this situation, a rotation of handle (knob)  24  results in rotating the valve of the faucet. The rotation is marked herein by arrow  22 . 
         [0038]    Leaving the handle up puts the faucet in its disengaged state. Thus, the disengaged state is the default state of the faucet. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the cold/hot water faucet of  FIG. 1 . For illustration purpose, handle  24  is transparent. 
         [0040]    The mechanism comprises: a first cogwheel  32 , engaged to axle  30  of a valve of the faucet; a second cogwheel  26  engaged to handle  24 ; and a spring  28 , for keeping the cogwheels separated while the mechanism is in its disengaged state, which is the default state thereof. 
         [0041]    While handle  24  is not pushed in an inward direction  20 , spring  28  keeps the cogwheels disengaged, allowing the handle to freely slide on the axle without affecting the valve of the faucet. 
         [0042]    In order to open the valve, a user must push handle  24  in an inward direction (reference numeral  20  in  FIG. 2 ). Only while the user pushes handle  24  in the inward direction, the cogwheels are engaged, and the operation of turning the valve on/off is effective. 
         [0043]    While the user pushes the handle  24 , the force operated on the handle overcomes the force of spring  28 . The inwards movement of handle  24  with the compression of spring  28  approximates second cogwheel  26  to first cogwheel  32 , until engaged. 
         [0044]    It should be noted that according to another embodiment of the invention, first cogwheel  32  and second cogwheel  26  can be replaced by a male member and a female member. A cogwheel has a plurality of male members subsequent to female members. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4   a  is a cross-section of a faucet in the disengaged state thereof, according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4   b  is a cross-section of the engaged state thereof. 
         [0046]    Cogwheel  26  is “permanently” engaged to handle  24 . Cogwheel  32  is “permanently” engaged to axle  30 , which closes/opens valve  36 . However, the cogwheels  32  and  26  are disengaged in  FIG. 4   a , and engaged in  FIG. 4   b . In order to engage the cogwheels, a user must push handle  24  to which cogwheel  26  is engaged, towards axle  30  to which cogwheel  32  is engaged, until the cogwheels get engaged. In this situation, turning handle  24  results in turning axle  30 , which turns valve  36 . 
         [0047]    In these figures, space  34  enables axle  30  to enter therein, thereby allowing handle  24  to slide over axle  30 . 
         [0048]    The safety mechanism can be used only for hot water in a faucet system having hot and cold water, as the hot water is the water that puts a user in jeopardy. 
         [0049]    Furthermore, in a faucet system having hot and cold water, the spring strength of the hot water faucet may be stronger than the spring of the cold water faucet, as the hot water is the water that puts a user in jeopardy. 
         [0050]    In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
       numeral  10  denotes a faucet, according to one embodiment of the invention;   numeral  12  denotes a cold water handle;   numeral  14  denotes a spout (nozzle);   numeral  16  denotes a hot water handle;   numeral  18  denotes a hand of a user;   numeral  20  denotes pushing the handle ( 24 ) in an inward direction;   numeral  22  denotes turning the handle ( 24 ) in a clockwise direction;   numeral  24  denotes a handle of the faucet;   numeral  26  denotes a second cogwheel;   numeral  28  denotes a spring;   numeral  30  denotes an axle;   numeral  32  denotes a first cogwheel;   numeral  34  denotes a space; and   numeral  36  denotes a valve of said faucet.       
 
         [0065]    The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
         [0066]    Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition. 
         [0067]    The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.