FOOT OPERATED WATER SAVING FAUCETS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a foot-operated water saving faucet, and more particularly to a foot-operated water saving faucet capable of saving water and being implemented by adding some simple elements to a conventional faucet. Since a user can easily and freely operate the faucet without using a hand but using a foot, it is possible to prevent water waste generally caused when a user let water continuously runs from a faucet while using water because it is troublesome to frequently open and close the faucet.

[2] The foot-operated water saving faucet is configured and operated in a manner such that the faucet includes an opening and closing disc which is capable of stopping and starting water flow and is connected via a wire to a foot-operated pushing device installed under a sink, such that a user can open and close the faucet by pushing the foot-operated pushing device. Background Art

[3] In a faucet, a flexible cable enclosing a wire therein is installed through an opening and a sink hole of a sink and is connected to a foot-operated pushing device. Accordingly, if a user wants to replace a used conventional faucet with a new faucet according to the present invention, such faucet replacement is performed in a manner such that the used faucet is merely detached from a sink, and then a new faucet is installed at the place where the used facet used to be installed. That is, no modification of the subsidiary facility of a sink is not required. Accordingly, it is simple to install the new faucet according to the present invention, so that even someone unskilled can easily install the faucet according to the present invention.

[4] In order to solve the problem in which a user usually washes his or her face while water continuously runs from a faucet because it is troublesome to frequently open and close the faucet for short periods such as when washing the face, foot-operated water saving faucets have been developed. However, conventional foot-operated water saving faucets still have some problems. That is, the conventional water saving faucets require that a valve body be installed under a sink, and that a first cold and hot water supply pipe connected between the valve body and a cold and hot water valve and a second cold and hot water supply pipe connected between the valve body and a faucet be replaced with new ones that fit the valve body. Conventional water saving faucets have a further problem in that they require that a plurality of water supply pipes be installed under a sink, water supply valves have to be installed to the water supply

pipes, and a foot-operated device for operating the water supply valves has to be connected to the water supply valves. Accordingly, it is difficult for an unskilled user to simply and easily install the conventional water saving faucet, resulting in reluctance to install faucets. Further, the complex structure of the conventional faucets decreases productivity, and deteriorates cost efficiency and practicality. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in consideration of the aforementioned problems and situations, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a foot-operated water saving faucet which includes an opening and closing disc installed therein and which can be operated using a foot, so that the faucet is conveniently and easily used. Technical Solution

[6] In order to achieve the above objects and advantageous effects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foot operated water saving faucet implemented by adding a water supply hole and an opening and closing disc to a conventional faucet, in which the water supply hole is opened and closed by using the opening and closing disc in a manner such that the opening and closing disc is connected to a first end of a first corrugated member, a second send of the first corrugated member is connected to a wire enclosed in a flexible cable, and the wire is connected to a foot-operated pushing device installed under a sink through a burred passage and an opening and a sink hole (a hole into which a plug is inserted in order to prevent water from being drained) of a sink, so that flow of water is stopped and started by operating the foot-operated pushing device.

[7] The water saving faucet includes: an opening and closing disc having a disc pad for opening and closing a water supply hole provided in a faucet;

[8] a movable bracket for supporting the opening and closing disc, the movable bracket coupled to the opening and closing disc in a hinging manner so that the opening and closing easily can pivot;

[9]

[10] * a first corrugated member (or a member having the same function as the first corrugated member) contracting and extracting between a water supply storage unit and a buried passage for allowing a wire to pass therethrough;

[11] a movable bracket subsidiary member for maintaining an attraction point when the first corrugated member pulls the opening and closing disc by the wire, wherein the opening and closing disc is connected to the first corrugated member so that it is opened or closed in response to operation of a foot-operated pushing device;

[12] a first corrugated member holder which is made of metal and holds the first corrugated member for sealing the water supply storage unit; [13] an input/output hole for allowing the wire to move between the water supply storage unit and the buried passage through a through hole of the first corrugated member holder; [14] a first coupling nut for coupling the first corrugated member holder at the input/ output hole;

[15] the buried passage in which a flexible cable enclosing the wire therein is disposed;

[16] an opening formed on a faucet mounting surface of a sink, wherein a first end of the wire in the flexible cable is coupled to the faucet in a screwing manner at the opening connected to a first end of the buried passage, and a second end of the wire is directed to a lower part of the sink through the buried passage; [17] a sink hole used as a connection means for connecting the faucet installed on the sink to the foot-operated pushing device installed under the sink; [18] the foot-operated pushing device coupled to an end of the flexible cable by a second coupling nut, the flexible cable extending from the opening of the faucet to the foot-operated pushing device through the sink hole (into which a plug is inserted in order to prevent water from draining); [19] an elastic member for enabling a lever of the foot-operated pushing device to elastically move in vertical direction; [20] a second corrugated member for sealing the lever of the foot-operated pushing device; [21] a separation prevention key (round) for preventing the lever from being separated when the lever is restored to its original position in vertical movement of the lever; [22] a rotation body pivoting left and right in response to movement of the lever;

[23] a guide groove for coupling with the lever by guiding movement of an projection at an end of a vertical axis of the lever, wherein the rotation body is coupled to a support pole by an axial pin of the rotation body; [24] the projection provided at the end of the vertical axis of the lever for coupling the lever to the rotation body, wherein the lever slides along an upper surface of the rotation body when the lever is pushed by a user's foot in vertical direction, so that the rotation body rotates; [25] a groove formed on a circumferential outer surface of the rotation body so that an end of the wire is held in the groove by a dividing pin; [26] a tension adjusting hole formed on the rotation body for adjusting tension of the wire; [27] the diving pin for holding the end of the wire in the tension adjusting hole of the rotation body; and

[28] a hooking member, a hooking member lifting device, a hooking groove, and a hooking movable bracket which are structured in a manner such that the flow of water is maintained when the lever of the foot-operated pushing device is pushed, but the flow of water is intercepted when the lever of the foot-operated pushing device is pushed again.

Advantageous Effects

[29] The faucet according to the present invention can control the flow and interception of water when a foot-operated device is pushed with a foot. Accordingly, the faucet can prevent water waste for occurring when a user washes, letting water continuously run from a faucet due to troublesomeness of frequently operating a handle of the faucet. Further, the faucet according to the present invention can be easily and simply installed in a manner such that a used conventional faucet is detached from a sink and subsidiary facility, the faucet according to the present invention is installed at the place where the used faucet used to be installed, and then a flexible cable enclosing a wire therein is connected to a foot-operated pushing device installed under a sink via a sink hole. Accordingly, anyone, even an unskilled person, can easily install the faucet according to the present invention, thereby being capable of saving water because a user can conveniently operate the faucet. Brief Description of the Drawings

[30] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a water saving faucet according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[31] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a faucet lacking interior devices;

[32] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a faucet having interior devices, in which the faucet is in a state of being closed;

[33] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a faucet in an open state;

[34] FIG. 5 is a rear view illustrating a faucet having interior devices;

[35] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a pushing device;

[36] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a foot-operated pushing device in the state in which water is running from the faucet; and

[37] FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a foot-operated pushing device in a state in which water flow is about to be stopped as a hooking member is unhooked from a hooking groove. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[38] Hereinafter, a foot-operated water saving faucet according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[39] FIG 1 is a schematic view illustrating a water saving faucet using a foot-operated pushing device 6v, according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG 2 is a

sectional view illustrating a faucet without an opening and closing device 3a, FIG 3 and FIG 4 are sectional views illustrating a faucet equipped with an opening and closing device 6v, in which the faucet is in a state of being closed and in a state of being open, respectively, FIG 5 is a rear view illustrating the state of the faucet shown in FIG. 3; and FIG 6 and FIG 7 are sectional views illustrating respective foot-operated pushing devices in states in which water is running and water is stopped, respectively.

[40] FIG 8 is a sectional view illustrating a foot-operated pushing device 6v in a state in which water is about to be stopped when a hooking member 6r is unhooked from a hooking groove 6u, such state being reached by pushing the foot-operated pushing device 6v again.

[41] As shown in the above drawings, a sink hole is used as a connection means for connecting a faucet installed on a sink and a foot-operated pushing device installed under the sink. A flexible cable 5e enclosing a wire 6q connected to an opening and closing disc 3a in the faucet extends from an opening 5d on a faucet mounting surface of a sink, passes a sink hole (drain of a sink, plugged with a drain plug) and reaches a foot-operated pushing device 6v installed under a sink. Accordingly, if a user push the foot-operated pushing device 6v with his or her foot, a lever 6a pressed by a user's foot in perpendicular direction rotates a rotation body 6f while it slides along the upper surface of the rotation body 6f. In this instance, since the opening and closing disc 3a is pulled by an amount corresponding to the extent of rotation of the rotation body 6f, a water supply hole 2a is opened, so that cold water or hot water is discharged from the faucet.

[42] In comparison with a conventional faucet, as shown in FIG 2, the faucet according to the present invention further includes a water supply hole 2a, a checking hole 3c provided to the bottom of a water supply storage unit 2d, and a wire input/output hole 2e disposed between the water supply storage unit 2d and a buried passage 5e.

[43] An opening 5d is formed on the faucet mounting surface on a sink, and the buried passage 5a is formed under the faucet so that the wire 5e enclosed in the flexible cable 6q and passing out the water supply storage 2d is directed to the opening 5d.

[44] Referring to FIG 3, the opening and closing disc 3a having a water supply hole pressing pad 3b for opening and closing the water supply hole 2a in the faucet shown in FIG 2 is installed. The opening and closing disc 3a is coupled to a movable bracket member 3 a in a hinging manner so that it pivots left and right.

[45] The movable bracket member 3c is provided with an attraction point keeping member 3d for maintaining an attraction point of a wire when the opening and closing disc 3a is pulled by the foot-operated pushing device 6v and a first corrugated member 3e.

[46] The opening and closing disc 3a is connected to a front end of the first corrugated

member 3e installed between the water supply storage 2d and the buried passage 5a for sealing and allowing the wire 6q to pass therethrough, a rear side (the inner side of the corrugated member) of the front end of the first corrugated member 3e is connected to an end of the wire 6q, the first corrugated member 3e is mounted on a first corrugated member holder 3f which is made of metal that can be combined by means of compression for sealing, and the first corrugated member holder 3f is inserted through the entrance 2e of the water supply storage unit 2d and the buried passage 5a, and is coupled by a first nut 3h.

[47] The wire 6q passes through a through hole of the first corrugated member holder 3f and through the buried passage 5a. The wire 6q is enclosed in the flexible cable 5e. One end of the flexible cable 5e enclosing the wire 6q is coupled to the bottom of the buried passage 5a in a screwing manner using a connection member 5f, and the other end of the flexible cable is connected to the foot-operated pushing device 6b installed under the sink through the buried passage 5a and the opening 5d and the sink hole into which a sink plug is inserted.

[48] FIG. 4 illustrates the faucet in the state of discharging cold or hot water because the faucet is open. The faucet is opened in a manner such that if the foot-operated pushing device 6v is pushed, the lever 6v is pressed, whereby the rotation body 6f rotates, so that the opening and closing disc 3a connected to the first corrugated member 3e is pulled, opening a water supply hole.

[49] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the foot-operated pushing device 6v. When a fixing member 6n provided at the end of the flexible cable is coupled to the foot- operated pushing device 6v, the end 61 of the wire is coupled to the foot-operated pushing device 6v by means of a dividing pin 6m in a tension adjusting hole 6j of the rotation body 6f, and the rotation body 6f is coupled to the rotation body supporting pole 6e by means of a rotation body axis pin 6g, so that the rotation body is able to rotate left and right.

[50] The rotation body 6f is rotated left and right by the pressure exerted by the lever

6a. The faucet further comprises an elastic member 6b for elastic motion of the lever 6a in the vertical direction, a separation prevention key (round key) 6d for preventing the lever 6a from being separated when the lever 6a is retracted and a second corrugated member 6c for sealing the foot-operated pushing device 6v.

[51] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the foot-operated pushing device 6v in the state in which water is running.

[52] If a user operates the foot-operated pushing device 6v, the lever 6a pressed in the vertical direction slides along the upper surface of the rotation body 6f, thereby rotating the rotation body 6f. At this time, the opening and closing disc 3a connected to the wire 6q is pulled by the amount corresponding to the extent of the rotational

movement of the rotation body 6f, so that the water supply hole is opened and cold or hot water is discharged from the faucet. In this instance, the hooking member 6r combined with the movable bracket member 6t in a hinging manner above the rotation body 6f is directed to the hooking groove 6u thanks to the inclination of the rotation body 6f, and is received in the hooking groove 6u, so that the rotation body 6f is not restored to its initial position, and the water discharge state is maintained.

[53] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the foot-operated pushing device 6v in the water stopping state. In the state in which water is running from the faucet, if a user presses the lever 6a of the foot-operated pushing device 6v again in order to intercept the flow of water, a hooking member lifting device 6s is lifted, so that the hooking member is removed from the hooking groove 6u of the hooking member 6r, and the rotation body 6f is restored to its initial position. As a result, the wire having an end connected to the rotation body 6f is pulled, whereby the opening and closing disc 3a connected to the wire 6q is restored to its original position. That is, the water supply hole 2a is closed by the opening and closing disc 3a and water discharge is stopped.

[54]