EP-4737655-A1 - PURIFIED-WATER FAUCET

EP4737655A1EP 4737655 A1EP4737655 A1EP 4737655A1EP-4737655-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to purified-water faucets, in general. In particular, the invention falls into the field of purified-water faucets with a single flow-channel for cold drinking water and designed to supply drinking water from a water purifier (or a filter) in fluid connection with the faucet. A purified-water faucet comprising a spout, a cover, a faucet body and a valve box accommodating a valve with a valve axle, and a handle installed on the valve axle for enabling actuation of the valve by a user. When the water faucet is assembled, a gap forms between the cover and the faucet body, said gap accommodates the handle movably for said actuation of the valve, the handle is equipped with a protective element with a shape conforming to the shape of the gap, wherein said protective element covers the gap in any position of the handle in use, thereby fully closing the gap of the water faucet.

Inventors

CHERNY, ALEXANDER
Ogdansky, Ivan
GUBAREV, Maxim
Shmidt, Joseph

Assignees

Aquaphor International OÜ

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20241101

Claims (13)

A purified-water faucet comprising a spout (1), a cover (5), a faucet body (2) and a valve box (3) accommodating a valve with a valve axle (3a), and a handle (4) installed on the valve axle (3a) for enabling actuation of the valve by a user, characterized in that when the water faucet is assembled, a gap forms between the cover (5) and the faucet body (2), said gap accommodates the handle (4) movably for said actuation of the valve, the handle (4) is equipped with a protective element (12) with a shape conforming to the shape of the gap, wherein said protective element (2) covers the gap in any position of the handle (4) in use, thereby fully closing the gap of the water faucet.
The purified-water faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (5) covers the protective element (12) like a marquee.
The purified-water faucet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shape of the protective element (12) is arcuate in top view.
The purified-water faucet according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the shape of the protective element (12) corresponds to an arc portion of any of a circle and an oval in top view.
The purified-water faucet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the faucet body (2) further comprises a core (6) inserted into a casing (7), said core (6) being configured to receive both the spout (1) and the valve box (3), and said cover (5) further comprises a hole configured as a seat (13) for the spout (1) led through the cover (5) to be received in the core (6).
The purified-water faucet according to claim 5, characterized in that the seat (13) forms a watertight closure with the spout (1).
The purified-water faucet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing (7) has a spatial shape of a truncated cone and is made by rolling from a thin-walled sheet material.
The purified-water faucet according to claim 7, characterized in that the sheet material has a thickness of less than 3 mm, preferably less than 1 mm.
The purified-water faucet according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the sheet material is additionally rolled along a lower edge and/or along an upper edge thereof.
The purified-water faucet according to claim 5, characterized in that the casing (7) is made from any of a metal, preferably stainless steel, brass, and a polymeric material, plastics, preferably coated with metal.
The purified-water faucet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (2) is divided into two sections by the handle (4).
The purified-water faucet according to claim 11, characterized in that the sections of the protective element (12) are painted in different colors and/or equipped with lighting elements.
The purified-water faucet according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water faucet further comprises a control unit and/or an indicator and/or an electronic display arranged on/in/within the cover (5).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to purified-water faucets, in general. In particular, the invention falls into the field of purified-water faucets with a single flow-channel for cold drinking water and designed to supply drinking water from a water purifier (or a filter) in fluid connection with the faucet. There are many designs of purified-water faucets known from the state of the art: with different locations of the spout and the handle, with and without a display, with a solid cast and a prefabricated body, with different types of control - touch, mechanical, remote, etc. At the same time, a disadvantage of water faucets with touch control is that the sensor does not respond to pressing with wet hands, that is, the water faucet will not work correctly, if water gets on the surface of the display or the user's hands are wet. Furthermore, a disadvantage of a remote-controlled water faucet, such as a voice controlled one, is that background noise may create interference that makes it difficult to be operated. A further disadvantage of a faucet with remote control, for example, with Bluetooth / Wi-Fi control, is that the faucet does not work in the absence of an Internet network and/or shielding of the Bluetooth / Wi-Fi connection. Thus, mechanically controlled faucets remain the most reliable and trouble-free design, and further in the state of the art only mechanically controlled variants will be considered. BACKGROUND A purified-water faucet is known from the state of art according to Chinese patent no. CN209229121 (Xiamen Fule Spring Intelligent Technology Co Ltd, priority 11/21/2018). The faucet consists of a spout, a faucet body in which there is a faucet valve with a handle mounted on it, and a cover. The cover is a flat panel with a hole for the spout. The cover is additionally equipped with a display. A spout base is inserted into the faucet body through the hole in the cover. A faucet box is located perpendicular to the spout. The handle is made in the form of a cap and is placed on the faucet valve from above. The water faucet according to CN209229121 operates as follows. The user turns the faucet handle. When the user turns the handle to the left, the hole in the faucet valve opens, which allows the flow of water to flow freely into the faucet spout. When the user turns the handle to the right, opening of the axle box and the flow of water are blocked. A disadvantage of the water faucet according to CN209229121 is the presence of a split along the entire perimeter between the side walls of the handle and the body of the faucet. Contaminants accumulate in this split, which can subsequently lead to breakdown of the faucet. Furthermore, the handle is made smooth without any protrusions, which reduces the ease of use, as it can slip when grabbed and be difficult to be turned. In addition, the faucet body is made of a complex shape which increases the costs of the faucet and complicates its production. A water faucet is known from the prior art according to Chinese patent no. CN206860911 (YUHUAN DAFENG ENVIRONMENT EGIS EQUIPMENT CO., LTD, China, priority 05/27/2017). The purified-water faucet consists of a spout, a faucet body, a faucet axle with a handle mounted on it. The water faucet is equipped with a lid having a display. The faucet body consists of a body and a core. The body is made in the form of a cast cylindrical part. The body has holes for the spout and the core. The core is made of a complex shape and contains axle box (as central part of the core). The spout is inserted into a hole in the rear wall of the body. The handle is made in the form of a lever and is put on the faucet axle box from above. The water faucet according to CN206860911 operates as follows. To open the water faucet, the user lifts up the faucet handle, which leads to the opening of the hole in the faucet axle and allows the flow of water to flow freely into the faucet spout. To close the water faucet, the user lowers down the faucet handle, which leads to blocking the opening in the faucet axle and thus the flow of water. The water faucet according to CN206860911 has a number of disadvantages, the main one of which is the design of the handle. In particular, the handle is put on the faucet axle box from above, and a cavity is formed between the rear wall of the housing and the handle, narrowed to the point of their connection. Dirt freely enters this cavity, which is difficult to be removed, especially from the narrow part. In addition, repeated movement of the faucet handle during operation might lead to a damage of the axle box, which is responsible for tilting the handle with the lid. A water faucet is known from the prior art according to Chinese patent no. CN202418907 (AO Smith China Water Heater Co Ltd, priority 09/01/2012), regarded as the closest analogue. The faucet consists of a spout, a faucet body in which there is an axel box with a handle mounted on it, and a cover with a display mou