DROPPING HEAD FOR WASH BASIN OR BATHTUB

A dropping head for a wash basin or a bath basin includes a base which is installed with an upper and a lower filter disk which are detachable for cleaning or updating. Cleaning grains can be placed between the upper filter disk and the lower filter disk. Cleaning material in the cleaning grains is released with draining water so as to have the function of odor-proof and cleanness of the pipes. A periphery of the outer threads of the base is sequentially engaged with an upper, a lower and a hard plastic washer and a first nut for locking the base to a water drain hole of a basin. A rubber washer installed between the two second nuts and they further encircles a periphery of the base for adjusting the outer diameter of the base to tightly resist against an inner wall of a tube connect thereto.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dropping heads, and in particular to a dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, there are three kinds of dropping head, which are separable water-blocking plugs, linking rod controlled dropping heads, and push-controlled dropping heads. The first one has the defect of easy lose because positioning of the plug is uncontrollable and the plug easily deformed due to heat so as to reduce the size thereof, as a result water drains out. Moreover, the prior art water blocking plug is locked by a chain which is deformable and has an unbeautiful outlook. Even it is easy to twist with a shower nozzle. For the second kind of dropping head, it requires to install another cover and a control button. The cost is high and the repair and maintenance works are increased dramatically. Furthermore, a rotating button for control opening and closing must be installed at an inner side or upper edge of a bathtub causing outlook of the bathtub is not beautiful. Thus this kind of dropping head is only used in large scale bathtub or massage bathtub. It is seldom to be used in small size bathtub. The third dropping head is a resilient one, which is popular recently. Basically, it contains a metal cover, a resilient pressible set and a seat which are assembled as an integral body for being installed to a bathtub. In use, a cover at the top can be opened or closed easily by using fingers or toes to press the cover repeatedly so as to have the functions of water storage or drainage. When hairs or dirt need to be removed, the seat can be opened for cleaning.

FIG. 4 shows one prior art dropping heads, in that a dropping head includes a body 5 and a movable cover set 6. The body 5 is a tube-like body. A top of the body 5 is formed with a flange 50. A middle section of the body 5 is formed with at least one hole. A bottom of the body 5 is installed with a locking unit 52. The locking unit 52 has an inner thread 530. The cover set 6 is engaged to the body 5. The cover set 6 includes a cover 6 and a pressible tube 61. An outer wall of the lower portion of the tube 61 is formed with outer thread 642 for engaging with the inner thread 530 so that the cover 6 is locked to the body 5. When the dropping head is installed to a bathtub or a wash basin, the cover set 6 is pressed so that the cover 60 will seal an upper opening of the body 5, causing no water to drain out. When the cover set 6 is repressed, water in the basin can drain out from the hole of the body and gaps at the bottom of the locking unit 52.

When above mentioned structure is used for a long time, a part of water flowing through gaps aside the locking unit 52 is obstructed so that hairs and dirt will accumulate gradually. As a result, water flow becomes smaller and smaller, even no water can drain out. At this moment, it is required to screw the cover 60 counterclockwise to release from active tube for cleaning interior of the dropping head. Even when the draining path is blocked completely, the active pipe 61 must be released from the body for cleaning completely. However, in the original design, the cover, active pipe and body are normally locked to each other. The releasing operations are affected by the original tighten forces. If the force is too great, it is difficult to release one from another, even another tool is needed, but this is not in the original design scope. Furthermore, repeated screwing and de-screwing operations will destroy or deform the threads so as to affect the whole structure of the dropping head.

Above mentioned prior art structure is not designed with any filter. As a result, hairs or other dirt will flow with draining water to enter into water drain pipe so as to block the pipes, or have undesired smell. From the viewpoint of environment protection, it is helpful if the hair or dirt can be filtered at the input end to cause they are not enter into the proceeding pipes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To improve above mentioned prior art defects, the present invention provides a dropping head for a wash basin or a bath basin, in that a base of a dropping head is installed with an upper filter disk and a lower filter disk for filtering hairs and dirt. The upper filter disk and lower filter disk are detachable for cleaning or updating. Cleaning grains can be placed between the upper filter disk and the lower filter disk. Cleaning material in the cleaning grains is released with draining water so as to have the function of odor-proof and cleanness of the pipes. Furthermore, in the present invention, the resilient press unit is engaged with the base of the dropping head along a straight axis. The thread engagement can be neglected so that cost is down and costs about repair and maintenance are also reduced. The control of water storage and draining is easy only by pressing operation. The cover and the resilient press unit are detachable for cleaning.

To achieve above object, the present invention provides a dropping head for a wash basin or a bath basin, comprising: a base, a resilient press unit and a water block cover. The base is a hollow tube with a water drainage passage therein. A lower inner wall is installed with a bridge. A hollow cylinder is formed in a middle section of the bridge. The hollow cylinder is formed with a straight inner hole. A resilient press unit is installed within the base; a lower wall of the resilient press unit being a smooth wall and having a resisting edge at a middle section thereof. A size of the resisting edge being greater than an inner radius of a hollow cylinder so that the resilient press unit passes through the penetrating hole of the hollow cylinder and the resisting edge of the resilient press unit resisting against an upper edge of the hollow cylinder so as to be fixed to bridge of the base. A water blocking cover set is combined and fixed to the top of the resilient press unit.

Further, a periphery of the outer threads of the base is engaged with an upper rubber washer, a lower rubber washer, a hard plastic washer and a first nut for locking the base to a water drain hole of a basin.

Moreover, in the present invention, a rubber washer installed between the two second nuts and they further encircles a periphery of the base for adjusting the outer diameter of the base to tightly resist against an inner wall of a tube connect thereto.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the elements of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view showing the base of the dropping head of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an upper view showing the base of the dropping head of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a cross sectional view showing that the present invention is combined to a basin by using an upper rubber washer, a lower rubber washer, a hard plastic washer and a nut.

FIG. 2D is a schematic view showing the present invention with a structure for locking to a basin.

FIG. 2E is a schematic view showing the present invention with a structure for locking to a tube.

FIG. 2F is another schematic view showing the usage about the structure of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 2G is another schematic view showing one application example about another structure of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 2H is another schematic view showing another application example about another structure of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view showing the resilient press unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view showing the combination of the resilient press unit and other elements of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view about the FIG. 3B, where the cover has sealed the opening of the resilient press unit.

FIG. 4 shows a prior art structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, a description will be described in the following in details. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are only used to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C, the structure of the present invention includes the following elements.

A base 10 has a T shape cross section. A top thereof has a flange 12 by which the base 10 can be placed upon a through hole in a basin 90 (for example a basin of a bathtub or a wash-basin). An inner middle section of the base 10 is formed with a bridge 14. A center of the bridge 14 is formed with a hollow cylinder 16. An inner side of the hollow cylinder 16 is formed with a smooth hole. The base 10 serves for draining water.

With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2C and 2D, an outer side of the base 10 is formed with outer threads 181 and inner side thereof is formed with inner threads 182. An upper rubber washer 80, a lower rubber washer 81, a hard plastic washer 82 and a nut 88 are arranged round an outer periphery of the outer threads 181 for locking the base 10 to a hole of the basin 90. The inner threads 182 serves to combine with outer threads of a tube 87 connected to the base 10.

In application, the upper rubber washer 80 and the lower rubber washer 81 clamps the basin 90. The hard plastic washer 82 is installed below the lower rubber washer 81. Then the nut 88 presses the hard plastic washer 82 and the lower rubber washer 81 to tightly resist against the lower wall of the basin 90.

With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2E, 2F and 2G, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in that, other than above mentioned elements, two nuts 86 and a rubber washer 84 are arranged around an outer wall of the outer threads 181. The rubber washer 84 is installed between the two nuts 86. In using, the two nuts 86 tightly clamp the rubber washer 84 so that the rubber washer 84 expands outwards to increase the outer diameter of the integral base 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2F.

With reference to FIG. 2G, in application, the base 10 is installed in to the basin 90. Then the lower end of the base 10 is inserted into a tube. The expanded rubber washer 84 is adjustable and thus it will tightly resist against the inner wall of the tube so as to fix the base 10 to the tube. Moreover, the basin(g) and the tube are communicated with one another.

Referring to FIG. 2H, another application of the present invention is shown. In this application, the lower rubber washer 81, hard plastic washer 82 and nut 88 are not used. The other application is identical to those shown in FIG. 2G and thus the detailed will not be further described herein. However, this structure has the effect of easy installation.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a resilient press unit 20 is illustrated. The resilient press unit 20 is one like a prior art resilient press unit. When the upper end of the resilient press unit 20 is pressed, the resilient press unit 20 will descend and then fix at that point. When the resilient press unit 20 is pressed again, it will return to the original position. One resilient press unit is shown in Taiwan Patent No. M421346. The structure of resilient press unit can be seen in many prior arts and thus the details will not be described herein.

In this embodiment, the resilient press unit 20 is shown with an integral form containing a casing and internal element (not shown).

The resilient press unit 20 is installed within the base 10. A lower wall of the resilient press unit 20 is a smooth wall and has a resisting edge 201. The size of the resisting edge is greater than an inner radius of the hollow cylinder 16 so that the resilient press unit 20 can be fixed to the bridge 14 of the base 10. A top of the resilient press unit 20 has a short screw rod 261. When the resilient press unit 20 is pressed, the short screw rod 261 will descend and then fixed therein. When the short screw rod 261 is pressed again, the top of the short screw rod returns to the original position.

A lower filter disk 30 is installed upon the resisting edge 201 of the resilient press unit 20. The lower filter disk 30 has a plurality of holes for filtering undesired particles in the liquid flowing therethrough.

An upper filter disk 32 is installed around the resilient press unit 20 and above the lower filter disk 30. The upper filter disk 32 has a plurality of holes for filtering particles in the liquid flowing therethrough. The hole size of the holes of the upper filter disk 32 are greater than that of the lower filter disk 30 so that large or long particles (like hair) are firstly filtered by the upper filter disk 32 and small particles (like dirt) are then filtered by the lower filter disk 30 so that the flow is cleaned and thus no dirt will block the flow path between the basin and a tube connected to the base 10. Thus liquid in the basin can drain out smoothly.

A plurality of cleaning grains are installed between the lower filter disk 30 and the upper filter disk 32. The cleaning grains will release some cleaning material to cause the space between the upper filter disk 32 and the lower filter disk 30 to have no undesired smell. Furthermore, liquid can freely flow from the basin to the drain tube connected thereto.

A water blocking cover set 40 includes a cover 42 which is combined with the short screw rod 261 of the resilient press unit 20. A top of the cover 42 is formed as an umbrella. An outer periphery of the cover 42 is formed with an annular trench for engaging with a water proof rubber ring 44. When the cover 42 tightly engages to an opening of the base 10, the inner space of the basin is isolated with the base 10. A lower center of the water blocking cover set 40 is formed with a hollow post. Interior of the post is threaded for engaging with the short screw rod 261.

With reference to FIG. 3B and 3C, according to the above mentioned components and the functions thereof, when the short screw rod 261 of the present invention is pressed, the short screw rod 261 will descend and then the resilient press unit 20 is fixed as a lower position. When the short screw rod 261 is pressed again, the short screw rod 261 will resilient to the original position.

By above mentioned structure, when the cover 42 is pressed, the internal components of the resilient press unit 20 will cause the short screw rod 261 to descend and then fixed to the position. Then the cover 42 and the waterproof rubber ring 44 will complete seal the outer flange 12 of the base 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3C. On the contrary, when the cover 42 is pressed again, the top of the short screw rod 261 will return to the original position so that the cover 42 is released from the flange 12 of the base 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, as a result, water can drain out from the base 10.

The installation of the present invention will be described herein. Firstly, the water blocking cover set 40 is locked to the resilient press unit 20. Then the base 10 with the water blocking cover set 40 is installed to the base 10. Then the upper rubber washer 80 is engaged to the base 10. Then the structure of the present invention is installed to a water drain hole of a basin 90. The lower rubber washer 81, the hard plastic washer 82 and the nut 86 are sequentially engaged to the base 10 from the lower side of the basin so that the structure of the present invention is fixed to the basin. When the cover 42 of the water blocking cover set 40 is opened, the cover 42 can be pressed to be positioned to a predetermined position. Then the cover 42 will seal the opening of the base 10 so that water can be reserved in the basin. When cover 42 is pressed again, it will restore so that the opening of the base 10 is opened and water in the basin can drain out. Above mentioned operation can be positioned repeatedly. When it discovers that the water cannot be drained effectively or some undesired smell emits from the dropping head. The water blocking cover set 40 and the resilient press unit 20 can be pulled out easily when the cover 42 is opened for checking the upper filter disk 32, the lower filter disk 30 and the base 10 and to clean them. Furthermore, the drain tube of the wash basin can be retained in clear so that water can flow freely.

In the present invention, the resilient press unit 20 causes that an object connected to the top of the resilient press unit 20 is axially moved in the base 10 and is fixed to a predetermined position. However, the structure of the resilient press unit 20 is not used to confine the scope of the present invention.

Advantage of the present invention will be described herein. (1) The drainage and storage of water in the basin can be controlled easily by easy pressing operation. (2) The upper filter disk 32 and the lower filter disk 30 serve to block hairs and dirt, which conform to the current requirement of environment protection. Furthermore, by taking out of the cover 42, the upper filter disk 32 and lower filter disk 30 can be taken out easily for cleaning. (3) The water blocking cover set 40 and the resilient press unit 20 can be taken out easily for cleaning so that the dropping head and water drain tube are cleaned. It is not moldy and no undesired smell occurs. (4) The manufacturers are unnecessary to form threads in the dropping head and pipes connected thereto. The initial cost is down. The costs in repair, maintenance and update are reduced. (5) The installation of expandable rubber ring to combining with the tube is advantageous for reduction of cost and simplification of working process.

The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub, comprising:

a base having a T shape cross section; a top thereof having a flange; an interior of the base being hollowed for draining water; an inner middle section of the base being formed with a bridge; a center of the bridge being formed with a hollow cylinder; a center of the hollow cylinder being a penetrating hole;
a resilient press unit installed within the base; a lower wall of the resilient press unit being a smooth wall and having a resisting edge at a middle section thereof; a size of the resisting edge being greater than an inner radius of a hollow cylinder so that the resilient press unit passes through the penetrating hole of the hollow cylinder and the resisting edge of the resilient press unit resisting against an upper edge of the hollow cylinder to be fixed to bridge of the base; as a result, an object connected to a top of the resilient press unit being axially movable within the base; and
a water blocking cover set; a bottom of the water blocking cover set being combined and fixed to the top of the resilient press unit.

2. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower section of the base is sequentially installed with an outer threads and an inner threads; a periphery of the outer threads being engaged with an upper rubber washer, a lower rubber washer, a hard plastic washer and a first nut for locking the base to a water drain hole of a basin; and the inner threads serving for engaging with threads of a tube connected thereto.

3. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 2, wherein in application, the upper rubber washer and lower rubber washer clamps the basin; the hard plastic washer being installed below the lower rubber washer and the nut serves to tighten the lower rubber washer and the hard plastic washer.

4. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 3, wherein two second nuts and a rubber washer are arranged around an outer wall of the outer threads; the rubber washer installed between the two second nuts; in using, the two second nuts tightly clamp the rubber washer so that the rubber washer expands outwards to increase a outer diameter of the base; the expansion of the rubber washer is adjustable by adjusting a distance between the two second nuts; and

in application, the base is installed in to the basin, then the lower end of the base is inserted into a tube; the expanded rubber washer is adjustable by adjusting the distance between the two second nuts and thus it will tightly resist against the inner wall of the tube so as to fix the base to the tube.

5. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a half lower outer section of the base is formed with outer threads;
two second nuts and a rubber washer are arranged around an outer wall of the outer threads; the rubber washer installed between the two second nuts; in using, the two second nuts tightly clamp the rubber washer so that the rubber washer expands outwards to increase the outer diameter of the base; the expansion of the rubber washer is adjustable by adjusting a distance between the two second nuts; and
in application, the base is installed in to the basin, then the lower end of the base is inserted into a tube; the expanded rubber washer is adjustable by adjusting the distance between the two second nuts and thus it will tightly resist against the inner wall of the tube so as to fix the base to the tube.

6. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a lower filter disk installed upon the resisting edge of the resilient press unit, and the lower rubber washer having a plurality of holes for filtering the undesired particles in the liquid flowing therethrough.

7. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

an upper filter disk installed around the resilient press unit and above the lower filter disk; the upper filter disk having a plurality of holes for filtering particles in the liquid flowing therethrough; and
the hole size of the holes of the upper filter disk being greater than that of the lower filter disk so that large particles are firstly filtered by the upper filter disk and small particles are then filtered by the lower filter disk so that the flow is cleaned and has less undesired particles.

8. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of cleaning grains installed between the lower filter disk and the upper filter disk; the cleaning grains release some cleaning material to cause the space between the upper filter disk and the lower filter disk to have no undesired smell.

9. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower section of the base is installed with outer threads or inner threads, or the combination of the two.

10. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 1, wherein a half section of an inner side of the base is formed with inner thread for engaging with threads of a tube connected thereto.

11. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a water blocking cover set including a cover and a water blocking rubber washer; a lower side of the cover is formed with a plurality of posts and a plurality of screw holes for engaging with a short screw rod at an upper end of the resilient press unit.

12. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 11, wherein an outer edge of the cover is formed with an annular trench.

13. The dropping head for a wash basin or a bathtub as claimed in claim 11, wherein the water blocking rubber washer is expanded with a thin sheet.

Patent History
Publication number: 20140165276
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Inventor: YU-CHING HUANG (Taipei)
Application Number: 13/720,990
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Closure (4/293)
International Classification: E03C 1/23 (20060101);