Faucet device operatable either manually or automatically

• US 7,014,166 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsiang Hung Wang
• Original Assignee: Hsiang Hung Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Hsiang Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US11/022,254
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.03, 251/129.04, 462/3, 462/4
• US Class Current: 251/129.03
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K

Abstract

A faucet device includes a shank coupled to a water reservoir and having two outlets, a solenoid valve is coupled to one of the outlets of the shank, a faucet housing includes a chamber and includes an outlet spout. A valve casing is disposed in the faucet housing, and includes two passages coupled to the other outlet of the shank and an exit of the solenoid valve. An actuating device may selectively communicate either passage of the valve casing with the spout of the faucet housing, to allow the water from the shank and the solenoid valve to selectively flow out through the spout of the faucet housing, and to allow the faucet device to be selectively operated automatically or manually by users.

Claims

1. A faucet device comprising:

a shank for coupling to a water reservoir and for receiving water from the water reservoir, said shank including a space formed therein, and including a first outlet and a second outlet communicating with said space thereof, for allowing the water to flow out of said shank via either said first outlet or said second outlet of said shank,

a solenoid valve including an entrance coupled to said second outlet of said shank, and including an exit, for receiving the water from said shank, and for controlling the water to selectively flow out through said exit thereof,

a faucet housing including a chamber formed therein, and including a spout extended therefrom and communicating with said chamber thereof, to allow water to flow out of said faucet housing through said spout,

a valve casing disposed in said chamber of said faucet housing, and including a first passage and a second passage formed therein, and coupled to said first outlet of said shank and said exit 33 of said solenoid valve respectively, for selectively receiving the water from said shank and said solenoid valve respectively, and

actuating means for selectively communicating said first passage and said second passage of said valve casing with said spout of said faucet housing, to allow the water from said shank to selectively flow out through said spout of said faucet housing, and to allow the water from said solenoid valve to selectively flow out through said spout of said faucet housing.

2. The faucet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes a receptacle disposed in said chamber of said faucet housing, said receptacle includes a first port and a second port provided therein and coupled to said first and said second passages of said valve casing respectively, to receive the water from said shank and said solenoid valve respectively, said receptacle includes a central bore formed therein and offset from said first and said second ports, and communicating with said spout of said faucet housing.

3. The faucet device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuating means includes an adapter rotatably received in said receptacle, and having an oblong hole formed therein, for selectively connecting said center bore of said receptacle with either said first port or said second port of said receptacle.

4. The faucet device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adapter includes a stem extended therefrom, and a cap attached to said stem, for rotating said adapter relative to said receptacle.

5. The faucet device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said receptacle includes a valve plate disposed in the receptacle, and having two apertures and a central pathway formed therein, and aligned with said first and said second ports and said central bore of said receptacle respectively, said oblong hole of said adapter selectively connects said central pathway of said valve plate with either of said apertures of said valve plate.

6. The faucet device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a remote detecting device coupled to said solenoid valve, to detect whether people are going toward said faucet housing or not, and to actuate said solenoid valve and to allow the water to selectively flow out through said exit of said solenoid valve, when said detecting device has detected that people are going toward said faucet housing.

7. The faucet device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said receptacle includes a block secured to said valve casing, and said detecting device is secured to said block with a bracket.

8. The faucet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shank includes a filter device engaged therein, for filtering the water flowing into said shank.

9. The faucet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shank includes a partition disposed in said space thereof, and said partition is disposed between said first and said second outlets of said shank.

10. The faucet device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said partition has an orifice formed therein, to allow said first and said second outlets of said shank to be communicated with each other.

11. The faucet device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said shank includes a valve element treaded thereto, and selectively engageable with said partition, to selectively block said orifice of said partition, and to selectively prevent the water from flowing out through said second outlet of said shank.

12. The faucet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said faucet housing includes a peripheral protuberance radially extended into said chamber thereof, said valve casing includes a peripheral shoulder formed therein, for engaging with said peripheral protuberance of said faucet housing, and for securing said valve casing within said chamber of said faucet housing.