Metering mixing faucet
First Claim
1. A faucet comprising:
- a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein;
a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mixing chamber comprising an elongated cylindrical body with a first inlet port and a second inlet port positioned at a bottom portion thereof and an outlet port positioned on a side wall of the elongated cylindrical body at a top portion thereof, the first inlet port and the second inlet port being in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and the outlet port being in fluid communication with the outlet of the body;
a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber, wherein the timing mechanism includes a timing cartridge positioned within and removable from the top of a central cavity of the mixing camber;
wherein the timing cartridge has a shutoff valve positioned above the mixing chamber inlet ports but below the mixing chamber outlet port and wherein the shutoff valve controls the flow of fluid through the faucet; and
an operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along the longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position,wherein the operating handle is rotated about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature by changing an area of the first inlet port relative to the second inlet port of the mixing chamber and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to the closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet of the body.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A faucet includes a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein, a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body, a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber and an operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along a longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position. The mixing chamber is rotatable about the longitudinal axis and includes a first inlet port and a second inlet port in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet of the body. The operating handle is rotated about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to the closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet of the body.
94 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A faucet comprising:
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a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein; a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mixing chamber comprising an elongated cylindrical body with a first inlet port and a second inlet port positioned at a bottom portion thereof and an outlet port positioned on a side wall of the elongated cylindrical body at a top portion thereof, the first inlet port and the second inlet port being in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and the outlet port being in fluid communication with the outlet of the body; a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber, wherein the timing mechanism includes a timing cartridge positioned within and removable from the top of a central cavity of the mixing camber;
wherein the timing cartridge has a shutoff valve positioned above the mixing chamber inlet ports but below the mixing chamber outlet port and wherein the shutoff valve controls the flow of fluid through the faucet; andan operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along the longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position, wherein the operating handle is rotated about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature by changing an area of the first inlet port relative to the second inlet port of the mixing chamber and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to the closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of adjusting a temperature of a dispensed fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a faucet comprising; a body with a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, an outlet and a neck portion with a central cavity defined therein; a mixing chamber positioned within the central cavity of the neck portion of the body which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the mixing chamber comprising an elongated cylindrical body with a first inlet port and a second inlet port positioned at a bottom portion thereof and an outlet port positioned on a side wall of the elongated cylindrical body at a top portion thereof, the first inlet port and the second inlet port being in fluid communication with the first and second fluid inlets of the body, respectively, and the outlet port being in fluid communication with the outlet of the body; a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber, wherein the timing mechanism includes a timing cartridge positioned within and removable from the top of a central cavity of the mixing chamber;
wherein the timing cartridge has a shutoff valve positioned above the mixing chamber inlet ports but below the mixing chamber outlet port and wherein the shutoff valve controls the flow of fluid through the faucet; andan operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism that is movable along the longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position; b) rotating the operating handle about the longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature by changing an area of the first inlet port relative to the second inlet port of the mixing chamber; c) applying a downward force on the operating handle along the longitudinal axis to move the operating handle into the open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet of the body; and d) releasing the operating handle, thereby causing the timing mechanism to return the operating handle to the closed position after a predetermined period of time which stops fluid flow through the outlet of the body. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A faucet assembly comprising:
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a body; a mixing chamber positioned within the body, the mixing chamber comprising an elongated cylindrical body with a first inlet port aligned with the first outlet hole of the body and a second inlet port aligned with the second outlet hole of the body each positioned at a bottom portion of the elongated cylindrical body and an outlet port positioned on a side wall of the elongated cylindrical body at a top portion thereof; a timing mechanism coupled to the mixing chamber, wherein the timing mechanism includes a timing cartridge positioned within and removable from the top of a central cavity of the mixing chamber;
wherein the timing cartridge has a shutoff valve positioned above the mixing chamber inlet ports but below the mixing chamber outlet port and wherein the shutoff valve controls the flow of fluid through the faucet; andan operating handle coupled to the timing mechanism, wherein the operating handle is rotated about a longitudinal axis to determine a fluid temperature by changing an area of the first inlet port relative to the first outlet hole of the body and an area of the second inlet port to the second outlet hole of the body and pressed down along the longitudinal axis to an open position, thereby causing fluid flow through the outlet port of the mixing chamber and, upon release of the operating handle, the timing mechanism causes the operating handle to return to a closed position after a predetermined period of time, thereby stopping fluid flow through the outlet port of the mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification