Patent ID: 12195955

Reference numerals in the drawings:100. thumb nut;1. annular plate;2. columnar nut main body;21. internal thread;3. hexagonal bottom sleeve;4. reinforcing rib;41. radial edge;42. axial edge;43. curved edge;5. radial protrusion;6. breaker bar receiving hole;7. reinforcing ring;200. regulating valve;201. valve body;202. valve threaded body;203. handle;200a. hot water valve;200b. cold water valve;300. sanitary appliance countertop;400. faucet spout;401. spout threaded body; %402. spout water inlet pipe;500a. hot water inlet pipe;600a. hot water outlet pipe;500b. cold water inlet pipe;600b. cold water outlet pipe;700. three-way pipe;701. first horizontal quick coupling;702. second horizontal quick coupling;703. vertical quick coupling;101. first thumb nut;102. second thumb nut;103. second thumb nut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Technical solutions in embodiments of the present disclosure ARE clearly and completely described below with reference to accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure, obviously, the described embodiments are only a part but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those who skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within a protection scope of the present disclosure.

First Embodiment

Please refer toFIG.1, the first embodiment provides a water outlet device capable of being quickly mounted, including a regulating valve200and a thumb nut100, the regulating valve200and the thumb nut100cooperate with each other and are fixed in a mounting hole defined on a sanitary appliance countertop300, and the mounting hole of the sanitary appliance countertop300is a single hole. Specifically, the regulating valve200includes a valve body201disposed at an upper portion thereof and a valve threaded body202disposed at a lower portion thereof, a handle is disposed on the valve body201for controlling the valve body201, pipes are disposed at a lower end of the valve body201of the regulating valve200, and the pipes extend downward. The pipes include at least one valve water inlet pipe, and the at least one valve water inlet pipe includes a hot water inlet pipe500aand a cold water inlet pipe500b, a distal end of the hot water inlet pipe500ais communicated with a hot water source, and a distal end of the cold water inlet pipe500bis communicated with a cold water source. The valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200cooperates with the thumb nut100to quickly fix the regulating valve200on the sanitary appliance countertop300. When using the water outlet device, the handle203on the valve body201of the regulating valve200is controlled to drive the valve body201of the regulating valve200to communicate the hot water inlet pipe500aand the cold water inlet pipe500b, the valve body201of the regulating valve200mixes hot water and cold water respectively coming from the hot water source and the cold water source through the hot water inlet pipe500aand the cold water inlet pipe500bto obtain mixed water, and the mixed water flows out through a valve water outlet pipe of the regulating valve200.

When mounting the water outlet device, the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200and the pipes first pass from a top portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300to a lower portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300, then the thumb nut100is sleeved onto the pipes and the valve threaded body202of the at least one regulating valve200from bottom to top at the lower portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300, the thumb nut100is manually tightened to fix the regulating valve200on the sanitary appliance countertop300, and finally, the distal end of the hot water inlet pipe500aand the distal end of the cold water inlet pipe500bare respectively communicated with the hot water source and the cold water source to finish mounting.

An external diameter of a lower portion of the valve body201of the regulating valve200of the first embodiment is greater than an internal diameter of the mounting hole of the sanitary appliance countertop300, an external diameter of the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200is smaller than the internal diameter of the mounting hole of the sanitary appliance countertop300, so that the valve body201of the regulating valve200is disposed at the top portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300, and the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200is disposed at the lower portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300.

In the water outlet device of the first embodiment, the regulating valve200, the valve body201, the valve thread body202, the handle203, and the valve water outlet pipe are integrated as a whole, the water outlet device of the first embodiment is referred to as an integrated faucet, in which the valve threaded body202cooperates with the thumb nut100to mount the integrated faucet in the single hole of the sanitary appliance countertop300.

It should be noted that a pipe extending downward is generally disposed at a lower end of a valve body of a regulating valve of an integrated faucet in the prior art, in the embodiment, the pipes include the hot water inlet pipe500aand the cold water inlet pipe500b, or the pipes may be integrated to be a single pipe, a distal end of the single water pipe is connected to a tap water source, and at this time, the regulating valve200is configured to control a water flow rate of the integrated faucet of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIGS.1-2, the first embodiment further provides the thumb nut100, including an annular plate1, a columnar nut main body2, and a hexagonal bottom sleeve3. The annular plate1, the columnar nut main body2, and the hexagonal bottom sleeve3are vertically and coaxially connected in sequence. A height of the columnar nut main body2is greater than an external diameter of the columnar nut main body2. Furthermore, the height of the columnar nut main body2is 1.5 to 2 times the external diameter of the columnar nut main body2. The thumb nut100is screwed with the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200, which is convenient for users to manually rotate the thumb nut100. An inner edge of the annular plate1is connected to a top portion of the columnar nut main body2, an external diameter of the annular plate1is greater than the external diameter of the columnar nut main body2. The annular plate1is configured to increase a contact area between the thumb nut100and a surface of the sanitary appliance countertop300to further increase a friction area for preventing loosening after tightening the thumb nut100. The hexagonal bottom sleeve3is disposed at a bottom portion of the columnar nut main body2, that is, a top portion of the hexagonal bottom sleeve3is connected to the bottom portion of the columnar nut main body2. The hexagonal bottom sleeve3is a polygon and is preferably hexagonal-shaped. The hexagonal bottom sleeve3is configured to increase a running torque of the thumb nut100when tightening the thumb nut100.

As shown inFIG.3, furthermore, reinforcing ribs4are disposed between an outer surface of the columnar nut main body2and a lower surface of the annular plate1, in one embodiment, the reinforcing ribs4are uniformly distributed between the outer surface of the columnar nut main body2and the lower surface of the annular plate1, and the reinforcing ribs4are configured to improve rigidity of the annular plate1. Specifically, each of the reinforcing ribs4includes a radial edge41, an axial edge42, and a curved edge43. Each radial edge41radially extends along the lower surface of the annular plate1. Each axial edge42is connected to a corresponding radial edge41and extends along a corresponding generatrix of the columnar nut main body2. Each curved edge43is curved inward and is respectively connected to an end of the corresponding radial edge41and an end of a corresponding axial edge42.

As shown inFIG.3, a reinforcing ring7is disposed at a joint of the lower surface of the annular plate1and the outer surface of the columnar nut main body2, the reinforcing ring7is configured to improve connecting strength of the annular plate1and the columnar nut main body2.

As shown inFIGS.1and4, an internal thread21is disposed on an inner hole wall of an upper section of the columnar nut main body2, and the internal thread21is configured to match with the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200at the lower end of the sanitary appliance countertop300, that is, the columnar nut main body2is screwed with the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200, the internal thread21extends upward to an inner side surface of the annular plate1, an internal diameter of the annular plate1is equal to an internal diameter of the columnar nut main body2. A major diameter of the internal thread21of the columnar nut main body2is smaller than an internal diameter of a non-internal thread section of the columnar nut main body2.

As shown inFIGS.1and5-7, radial protrusions5are disposed on an upper surface of the annular plate1, the radial protrusions5are configured to increase a friction force between the thumb nut100and a lower surface of the sanitary appliance countertop300, thereby preventing the thumb nut100from easily loosening from the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200after the thumb nut100is screwed with the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200, the radial protrusions5are radially distributed on the upper surface of the annular plate1. A first end of each of the radial protrusions5is flush with an inner edge of the annular plate1, and a second end of each of the radial protrusions5radially extends toward an outer edge of the annular plate1.

Furthermore, an area of a cross section of each of the radial protrusions5gradually increases from a top portion thereof to a bottom portion thereof, the top portion of each of the radial protrusions5is plane or curved, and preferably, the top portion of each of the radial protrusions5is curved.

As shown inFIGS.1and3, in the first embodiment, an internal diameter of the hexagonal bottom sleeve3is greater than an internal diameter of the non-internal thread section of the columnar nut main body2, and a minimum external diameter of the hexagonal bottom sleeve3is greater than the external diameter of the columnar nut main body2. Breaker bar receiving holes6are respectively defined on two parallel outer walls of a hexagonal surrounding surface of the hexagonal bottom sleeve3, the breaker bar receiving holes6are perpendicular to an axis of the columnar nut main body2and are configured to cooperate with a breaker bar to increase a maximum torque when tightening the thumb nut100. When using the thumb nut100, the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200of the water outlet device is matched with the thumb nut100, and the users hold the columnar nut main body2of the thumb nut100by hands to rotate the thumb nut100, so that the thumb nut100is screwed with the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200to fix the regulating valve200on the sanitary appliance countertop300.

Furthermore, a movable wrench or an open-end wrench is provided for cooperating with the hexagonal bottom sleeve3for rotation, or, the breaker bar is provided to cooperate with the hexagonal bottom sleeve3for rotation, so as to increase the running torque of the thumb nut100, and the thumb nut100cooperates with the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200to firmly fix the regulating valve200on the sanitary appliance countertop300.

As shown inFIGS.2-4and8, the annular plate1, the radial protrusions5, the reinforcing ring7, the reinforcing ribs4, the columnar nut main body2, and the hexagonal bottom sleeve3are integrally formed and are made of plastic material. Preferably, the annular plate1, the radial protrusions5, the reinforcing ring7, the reinforcing ribs4, the columnar nut main body2, and the hexagonal bottom sleeve3are integrally formed and are made of high-toughness plastic material, the thumb nut100has high strength, high toughness, and aging resistance, thereby prolonging a service life thereof.

In the prior art, tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, etc., are provided for assembling a faucet main body, a gasket, and a screw nut, since there is a large number of accessories, operation in a narrow space below a basin wastes time and labor and has low mounting efficiency. As shown inFIG.1, the water outlet device of the first embodiment is the integrated faucet, the valve body201of the regulating valve200is disposed on the sanitary appliance countertop300, the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200passes from the top portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300, and the thumb nut100is manually tightened to fix the integrated faucet on the sanitary appliance countertop300. The present disclosure has advantages of easy and convenient mounting and high efficiency.

Second Embodiment

As shown inFIGS.1and9, the second embodiment provides a water outlet device, capable of being quickly mounted, including at least one thumb nut100having the same structure of the thumb nut100provided in the first embodiment, therefore, the structure of the hand nut100is not described again. Difference lies in that the water outlet device of the first embodiment and the water outlet device of the second embodiment is that the water outlet device of the first embodiment is the integrated faucet, the integrated faucet is disposed in the single hole of the sanitary appliance countertop300, but the water outlet device of the second embodiment is a three-hole faucet, a hot water valve200a, a cold water valve200b, and a faucet spout400of the three-hole faucet are respectively disposed in three mounting holes of a three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.

As shown inFIG.9, in the second embodiment, the water outlet device includes the faucet spout400, at least one regulating valve200, and the at least one thumb nut100, the faucet spout400, the at least one regulating valve200, and the at least one thumb nut100are respectively disposed on the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300. The three mounting holes of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300include a left mounting hole, a middle mounting hole, and a right mounting hole. The at least one regulating valve200includes the hot water valve200aand the cold water valve200b. The at least one thumb nut100includes two first thumb nuts102,103and a second thumb nut101. The water outlet device further includes a three-way pipe700configured to mix cold water and hot water, the three-way pipe700includes a first horizontal quick coupling701, a second horizontal quick coupling702, and a vertical quick coupling703.

Specifically, a spout threaded body401at a lower end of the faucet spout400passes through the middle mounting hole of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, the spout threaded body401of the faucet spout400is disposed at the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, the second thumb nut101is provided to fix the faucet spout400on the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, a spout water inlet pipe402is disposed in the spout threaded body401of the faucet spout400, the spout water inlet pipe402extends downward.

The hot water valve200aand the cold water valve200bare respectively disposed in the left mounting hole and the right mounting hole at two sides of the faucet spout400, a hot water inlet pipe500aextending downward and a hot water outlet pipe600aextending downward are fixed in a valve threaded body202of the hot water valve200a, both a distal end of the hot water inlet pipe500aand a distal end of the hot water outlet pipe600aare male connectors. The hot water inlet pipe500aand the hot water outlet pipe600aare disposed at a lower end of the hot water valve200a, the hot water inlet pipe500ais communicated with a hot water source, and the hot water outlet pipe600ais communicated with the spout water inlet pipe402. A cold water inlet pipe500bextending downward and a cold water outlet pipe600bextending downward are fixed in a valve threaded body202of the cold water valve200b, both a distal end of the cold water inlet pipe500band a distal end of the cold water outlet pipe600bare male connectors. The cold water inlet pipe500band the cold water outlet pipe600bare disposed at a lower end of the cold water valve200b, the cold water inlet pipe500bis communicated with a cold water source, and the cold water outlet pipe600bis communicated with the spout water inlet pipe402.

In the second embodiment, the valve threaded body202at the lower end of the hot water valve200a, the distal end of the hot water inlet pipe500a, and the distal end of the hot water outlet pipe600apass from the top portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300through the left mounting hole of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, and one first thumb nut102cooperates with the valve threaded body202of the hot water valve200ato fix the hot water valve200aon the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300. The valve threaded body202at the lower end of the cold water valve200b, the distal end of the cold water inlet pipe500b, and the distal end of the cold water outlet pipe600bpass from the top portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300through the right mounting hole of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, and one first thumb nut103cooperates with the valve threaded body202of the cold water valve200bto fix the cold water valve200bon the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300. The first horizontal quick coupling701of the three-way pipe700is connected to the distal end of the hot water outlet pipe600aat the lower end of the hot water valve200a, the second horizontal quick coupling702of the three-way pipe700is connected to the distal end of the cold outlet pipe600b, the vertical quick coupling703of the three-way pipe700is connected to a distal end of the spout inlet pipe402of the faucet spout400.

It should be noted that, in the second embodiment, the two first thumb nuts102,103and the second thumb nut101are provided, the two first thumb nuts102,103are respectively configured to lock the hot water valve200aand the cold water valve200b, the second thumb nut101is configured to lock the faucet spout400, structures of the two first thumb nuts102,103and the second thumb nut101are the same, and in order to distinguish the two first thumb nuts102,103and the second thumb nut101, different colors are selected to show differences. For example, the one first thumb nut102for locking the hot water valve200ais red, the one first thumb nut103for locking the cold water valve200bis blue, and the second thumb nut101for locking the faucet spout400is black.

The second embodiment provides the three-hole faucet, in the prior art, the tools, such as the wrenches, the screwdrivers, etc., are provided for assembling a regulating valve, a faucet spout, a gasket ring, and a screw nut, since there is a large number of accessories, operation in a narrow space below a basin wastes time and labor and has low mounting efficiency. However, according to the three-hole faucet of the second embodiment, the hot water valve200a, the faucet spout400, and the cold water valve200brespectively passes through the left mounting hole, the middle mounting hole, and the right mounting hole of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300from the top portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300. The valve threaded body202of the hot water valve200a, the spout threaded body401of the faucet spout400, and the valve threaded body202of the cold water valve200bare disposed at the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300and respectively cooperate with the two first thumb nuts102,103and the second thumb101, the two first thumb nuts102,103and the second thumb101are manually tightened to fix the three-hole faucet on the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300. Moreover, the distal end of hot water outlet pipe600a, the distal end of the cold water outlet pipe600b, and the distal end of the spout water inlet pipe402are connected through the three-way pipe700, which is simple in operation and is high in mounting efficiency.

Third Embodiment

As shown inFIG.1, the third embodiment provides a method of mounting the water outlet device of the first embodiment, including following steps.S10: passing the valve threaded body202of the regulating valve200, the hot water inlet pipe500a, and the cold water inlet pipe500bfrom the top portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300.S20: manually sleeving the thumb nut100onto the hot water inlet pipe500a, the cold water inlet pipe500b, and the valve threaded body202from the bottom to the top at the lower portion of the sanitary appliance countertop300.S30: manually tightening the thumb nut100to fix the at least one regulating valve200on the sanitary appliance countertop300, respectively connecting distal end of the hot water inlet pipe500aand the cold water inlet pipe500bto the hot water source and the cold water source to finish mounting.

The water outlet device of the third embodiment is the integrated faucet, and the integrated faucet may include one water inlet pipe or two water inlet pipes. In the third embodiment, the integrated faucet includes two water inlet pipes, the two water inlet pipes include the hot water inlet pipe500aconfigured to communicate with the hot water source and the cold water inlet pipe500bconfigured to communicate with the cold water source. The method of mounting the integrated faucet is simple and convenient in operation and high in efficiency.

Fourth Embodiment

As shown inFIG.9, the fourth embodiment provides a method of mounting the water outlet device of the second embodiment, including following stepsS11: passing the valve threaded body202at the lower end of the hot water valve200a, the distal end of the hot water inlet pipe500a, and the distal end of the hot water outlet pipe600afrom the top portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S12: passing the valve threaded body202at the lower end of the cold water valve200b, the distal end of the cold water inlet pipe500b, and the distal end of the cold water outlet pipe600bfrom the top portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S21: manually sleeving the one first thumb nut102onto the hot water inlet pipe500a, the hot water outlet pipe600a, and the valve threaded body202at the lower end of the hot water valve200afrom the bottom to the top at the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S22: manually sleeving the one first thumb nut103onto the cold water inlet pipe500b, the cold water outlet pipe600b, and the valve threaded body202at the lower end of the cold water valve200bfrom the bottom to the top at the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S31: manually tightening the one first thumb nut102to quickly fix the hot water valve200aon the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S32: manually tightening the one first thumb nut103to quickly fix the hot water valve200bon the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S40: passing the spout threaded body401of the faucet spout400and the spout water inlet pipe402from the top portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300to the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300through the middle mounting hole of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S50: manually sleeving the second thumb nut101onto the spout water inlet pipe402and the spout threaded body401of the faucet spout400from the bottom to the top at the lower portion of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S60: manually tightening the second thumb nut101to fix the faucet spout400on the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300.S70: connecting the first horizontal quick coupling701of the three-way pipe700to the distal end of the hot water outlet pipe600aat the lower end of the hot water valve200a.S80: connecting the second horizontal quick coupling702of the three-way pipe700to the distal end of the cold water outlet pipe600bat the lower end of the cold water valve200b.S90: connecting the vertical quick coupling703of the three-way pipe700to the distal end of the spout water inlet pipe402.

It should be noted that, in the fourth embodiment, the water outlet device is the three-hole faucet, and in the method of mounting the three-hole faucet, the S11and the S12are not required to be performed in sequence, the S21and the S22are not required to be performed in sequence, and the S11, the S12, and the S40are not required to be performed in sequence. That is, when mounting the three-hole faucet on the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, the hot water valve200a, the cold water valve200b, and the faucet spout400are respectively disposed in the three mounting holes of the three-hole sanitary appliance countertop300, and there is no specific mounting sequence required therefor, which is beneficial for quickly mounting the three-hole faucet.

Compared with the prior art, the method of mounting the three-hole faucet of the fourth embodiment requires fewer mounting accessories, is simpler to operate, and is higher in the mounting efficiency.

The above are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure, and any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within a spirit and principle of the present disclosure shall fall within a protection scope of the present disclosure.