Patent Application
20200011037
The present invention relates to a basin accessory, and more particularly to a pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly adapted for the basin.
A conventional pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,136,179 B2 and contains: a lift rod fixed on a basin on which a faucet is mounted and configured to be pulled upward and pressed downward; a drain base screwed with a bottom of the basin and cooperating with a screwing element, the draining base including an outlet defined on a top thereof and a through hole formed on a peripheral side thereof; a connector connected with the through hole of the drain base; a coupling rod retained with a bottom of the lift rod and moving vertically in response to the lift rod, the coupling rod including a plurality of orifices formed thereon; a driving rod including a first segment, a second segment, and a spherical ball adjacent to the first segment and rotatably connected with the connector so as to form a fulcrum, wherein the first segment extends into the drain base from the through hole, the driving rod also includes plural fitting portions arranged proximate to the second segment, and one of the plural fitting portions selectively fits with one of the plurality of orifices on the coupling rod, such that the driving rod moves upward or downward in response to the coupling rod and causes a lever movement along the fulcrum; a drain stopper including a bottom end retaining with the first segment of the driving rod from the outlet of the drain base, and the drain stopper moving upward or downward in response to the lever movement of the driving rod, wherein the drain stopper moves downward, the outlet of the drain base is turned off, and when the drain stopper moves upward, the outlet of the drain base is turned off. However, the coupling rod is removed from and is fitted with the first segment of the driving rod repeatedly, thus fixing the conventional pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly under the basin troublesomely.
A distance exits between any two adjacent orifices on the coupling rod, so the first segment of the driving rod cannot be adjustably moved on the coupling rod.
The driving rod selectively retains with the one of the plurality of orifices on the coupling rod by using the plural fitting portions, and a protrusion of any two adjacent fitting portions resists against the plurality of orifices, thus adjusting the driving rod difficulty.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly which contains the lift rod fixed in a limited space under the basin easily and quickly, and the drain stopper is turned on/off to discharge or accommodate water when the lift rod is pulled upward or is pressed downward.
To obtain the above aspect, a pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly provided by a first embodiment of the present invention contains: a drain base, a connector, a lift rod, a connection seat, a flexible clamper, an adjustment member, a driving rod, and a drain stopper.
The drain base includes an outlet, the connector is fixed on the drain base, and the lift rod is pulled upward and pressed downward by a user. The connection seat includes a first through orifice in which the lift rod is fitted, an accommodation groove defined in the first through orifice, and at least one locking structure formed on the accommodation groove. The flexible clamper is housed in the accommodation groove, and the adjustment member is disposed on the connection seat. The driving rod includes a first end rotatably connected with the connector and includes a second end connecting with the connection seat. Furthermore, the drain stopper is secured on the drain base.
Preferably, the accommodation groove of the connection seat has two opposite locking structures formed on a peripheral wall thereof.
Preferably, each of the at least one fixing structure is a channel spirally and obliquely extending around the peripheral wall of the accommodation groove, and each locking structure has at least two recesses configured to form the at least one locking position and the at least one unlocking position; the adjustment member includes at least one protrusion, when the adjustment member is rotated, and the at least one protrusion is retained in the at least two recesses respectively.
Preferably, each of the least two recesses extends from a first upper fringe of each locking structure along an extending direction and has a height difference on an axial direction, wherein a lower portion of each recess has each of the at least one locking position, and an upper section of each recess has each of the at least one unlocking position.
Preferably, each locking structure has four recesses which are a first recess, a second recess, a third recess, and a fourth recess formed from a bottom of each locking structure to a top of each locking structure; the first recess is configured to retain a lift rod of a smallest diameter, the second recess is configured to retain a lift rod of a small diameter, the third recess is configured to retain a lift rod of a large diameter or a lift rod of a largest diameter, and the fourth recess is configured to remove the lift rod of the largest diameter.
Preferably, the adjustment member includes a grip portion, a cylinder portion extending from the grip portion, an opening defined on a center of the grip portion and communicating with the cylinder portion so as to accommodate the lift rod, two opposite tabs extending outward from the cylinder portion so as to be rotated by the user, a bottom of the cylinder portion abutting against the flexible clamper, the at least one protrusion formed below the two opposite tabs, and a cutout defined between the at least one protrusion.
Preferably, the accommodation groove of the connection seat has a first inverted conical fence, and the flexible clamper is in an inverted cone shape and includes a second inverted conical fence so as to be accommodated inside the first inverted conical fence of the accommodation grove; the flexible clamper further includes a second upper fringe formed on an upper portion of an inner wall thereof so as to be forced by a bottom of the adjustment member, a second through orifice defined in the flexible clamper and having the flexible clamping portion, a mouth defined in the second through orifice proximate to a bottom of the connection seat, such that when the second upper fringe is pressed downward to abut against the first inverted conical fence, the flexible clamping portion retracts flexibly by way of the mouth so as to clamp the lift rod.
Preferably, the flexible clamper is annular and includes a peripheral ring and multiple flexible feet separately and circumferentially extending inward from the peripheral ring; wherein the peripheral ring is forced by a bottom of the adjustment member; a cavity is defined among distal ends of the multiple flexible feet so that the lift rod is inserted through the cavity and is clamped by the distal ends of the multiple flexible feet.
Preferably, each of the multiple flexible feet has two first extensions obliquely extending downward from an inner side of the peripheral ring, each flexible foot has two second extensions obliquely extending upward from distal ends of the two first extensions respectively, and the two second extensions connect together, such that a hollow orifice is defined between each flexible foot and the peripheral ring, and a connecting section of the two first extensions and the two second extensions abuts against the first inverted conical fence of the accommodation groove.
Preferably, the pop-up drain stopper linkage assembly further contains a buffer member fitted on the lift rod between the adjustment member and the flexible clamper so that the flexible clamper deforms, after the bottom of the adjustment member forces a top of the flexible clamper via the buffer member.
With reference to
The drain base 10 is disposed on the basin 2 and includes an outlet 11.
The connector 20 is fixed on the drain base 10.
The lift rod 30 extends through the basin 2, and wherein when a faucet is mounted on the basin 2, the lift rod 30 also extends through the faucet, such that the lift rod 30 is pulled upward and is pressed downward by a user after extending through the basin 2 or the faucet.
Referring to
As shown in
With reference to
The driving rod 70 is rotatably connected with the connector 20 and a bottom of the connection seat 40 so as to have a lever movement, when the lift rod 30 moves upward or downward with the connection seat 40.
The drain stopper 80 is secured on the drain base 10 and includes a bottom end moving upward or downward in response to the lever movement of the driving rod 70, such that the outlet 11 of the drain base 10 turns on/off, when the bottom end of the drain stopper 70 moves upward or downward respectively.
The accommodation groove 42 of the connection seat 40 has two opposite locking structures 43 formed on the peripheral wall thereof. Referring to
As shown in
As illustrated in
With reference to
For example, the lift rod 30 of 4 mm or the lift rod 30 of 5 mm are provided. When the lift rod 30 of 4 mm is provided, the second recess 433 has one of the at least one locking position P1 so that after one of the at least one protrusion 61 is retained in the second recess 433, the one protrusion 61 forces the flexible clamper 50, and the flexible clamping portion 51 retracts inward to clamp the lift rod 30 of 4 mm.
The third recess 434 has one of the at least one unlocking position P2 so that after the one protrusion 61 is retained in the third recess 433, it does not force the flexible clamper 50, and the flexible clamping portion 51 expends outward to unclamp the lift rod 30 of 4 mm. Thereafter, the lift rod 30 of 4 mm is moved upward or downward, and the one protrusion 61 of the adjustment member 60 is rotated to move back to the second recess 433 so that the lift rod 30 is retained, thus controlling an angle of the driving rod 70 so as to adjust the drain stopper 80 to a desired position.
When the third recess 434 is configured to retain the lift rod 30 of 5 mm, the adjustment member 60 moves downward to force the flexible clamper 50. When the third recess 434 is higher than the fourth recess 435, it is configured to remove the lift rod 30 of 5 mm, i.e., the third recess 434 has the one unlocking position P2 so that after the one protrusion 61 is rotated into the fourth recess 433, it does not force the flexible clamper 50 downward, such that the flexible clamping portion 51 expands outward to unclamp the lift rod 30 of 5 mm, thus moving the lift rod 30 upward or downward.
Accordingly, the third recess 434 is configured to remove the lift rod 30 of 4 mm or to retain the lift rod 30 of 5 mm, and the third recess 434 has the one locking position P1 and the one unlocking position P2. In this embodiment, the third recess 434 is configured to retain the lift rod 30 of 5 mm and the fourth recess 435 is configured to remove the lift 30 of 4 mm. Preferably, the first recess 432 is configured to retain another lift rod 30 of less than 4 mm, and the second recess 433 is configured to remove another lift 30 of less than 4 mm, thus fixing the lift rods 30 of various diameters.
When the at least one protrusion 61 of the adjustment member 60 is located in the at least two recesses 430 of different heights, a height difference between any two adjacent of the at least two recesses 430 is 1.5 mm so that the flexible clamper 50 retains and removes the lift rod 30.
The at least two recesses 430 windingly extend from the first upper fringe 431 of each locking structure 43, so the adjustment member 60 is not rotated directly. For example, the at least one protrusion 61 of the adjustment member 60 is rotated into the other recesses 430 by pressing the adjustment member 60 downward so that the adjustment member 60 removes from the one recess 430 and is rotated. When the lift rod 30 is retained, the flexible clamper 50 expends upward so that the at least one protrusion 61 is retained in the other recesses 430 tightly.
Accordingly, the adjustment member 60 is rotated directly to move into the at least two recesses 430 easily and quickly.
With reference to
Referring to
The second through orifice 54 has multiple first ribs 541 arranged thereon so as to contact with the lift rod 30 matingly.
As shown in
As illustrated in
Preferably, the column has a spherical surface so as to insert through and engage with the hole matingly.
With reference to
Referring further to
As shown in
The internal end 211 of the positioning member 21 has a support peg 214 formed thereon and partially inserting into the second through orifice 12 of the metal tube 101, a first aperture 215 defined in the internal end 211 so that the first segment 71 of the driving rod 70 is inserted into the metal tube 101 via the first aperture 215 of the internal end 211. The connector 20 further includes a seal sleeve 24 fitted between an outer wall of the support peg 214 and the fourth through orifice 14 of the plastic sleeve 102 so as to avoid water leaking out of the fourth through orifice 14 from the drain stopper 80 via the second through orifice 12.
With reference to
a flexible clamper 50a being annular, as shown in
Each of the multiple flexible feet 56 has two first extensions 561 obliquely extending downward from an inner side of the peripheral ring 55, each flexible foot 56 has two second extensions 562 obliquely extending upward from distal ends of the two first extensions 561 respectively, and the two second extensions 562 connect together, such that a hollow orifice 563 is defined between each flexible foot 56 and the peripheral ring 55, and a connecting section of the two first extensions 561 and the two second extensions 562 abuts against the first inverted conical fence 421 of the accommodation groove 42.
Thereby, the hollow orifice 563 is configured to enhance deformation of each flexible foot 45, and each flexible foot 56 has flexibility by using the two first extensions 561 and the two second extensions 562 so as to clamp the lift rod 30 securely.
When the peripheral ring 55 of the flexible clamper 50a is forced, it is accommodated in the accommodation groove 42, and the connecting section of the two first extensions 561 and the two second extensions 562 abuts against the first inverted conical fence 421 of the accommodation groove 42, so a tilted angle of the two first extensions 561 and the two second extensions 562 changes, and the flexible clamping portion 51 defined by distal ends of the multiple flexible feet 56 retract inward to clamp the lift rod 30. When the peripheral ring 55 of the flexible clamper 50a is released, the tilted angle does not change and the flexible clamping portion 51 expands outward so that the lift rod 30 is not clamped by the flexible clamping portion 51 and is moved adjustably.
The flexible clamper 50a is integrally stamped from metal material so as to obtain flexible deformation and brilliant reinforcement, wherein the metal material is stainless steel.
A buffer member 90 is fitted on the lift rod 30 between the adjustment member 60 and the flexible clamper 50a so that the flexible clamper 50 deforms, after the bottom of the adjustment member 60 forces a top of the flexible clamper 50a via the buffer member 90.
When the at least one protrusion 61 of the adjustment member 60 is located in the at least two recesses 430 of different heights, a height difference between any two adjacent of the at least two recesses 430 is 0.8 mm so that the flexible clamper 50a clamps and unclamps the lift rod 30.
In this embodiment, the metal tube 101 extends downward in a predetermined length so as to replace the plastic tube 103 of the first embodiment.
The plastic sleeve 102 has a fitting section 17 extending outward from an outer wall thereof, and the fitting section 17 has a receiving room 171 defined therein and communicating with the fourth through orifice 14. The connector 20a includes a first sheath 25, a cap 26, and a second sheath 27, wherein the first sheath 25 is accommodated in the receiving room 171 and has an internal end 251, an external end 252, a support peg 253 formed on the internal end 251 and partially inserting into the second through orifice 12 of the metal tube 101, and a spherical concave face 254 defined on an inner wall of the external end 252. The cap 26 is screwed on the external end 252 of the first sheath 25 so that the spherical knob 73 of the driving rod 70 is rotatably connected between the cap 25 and the spherical concave face 254 of the first sheath 25. The second sheath 27 is fitted between the support peg 253 and the fourth through orifice 14.
Accordingly, the lift rod 30 is rotatably fixed among the at least one locking position P1 and the at least one unlocking position P2 by way of the adjustment member 60 so as to be adjustably moved and positioned on the connection seat 40.
Thereby, the lift rod 30 is fixed in a limited space under the basin 2 easily and quickly, and the drain stopper 80 is turned on/off to discharge or accommodate the water when the lift rod 30 is pulled upward or is pressed downward.
The connection seat 40 and the driving rod 70 are connected quickly and exactly by using the first engagement portion 44 and the multiple second engagement portions 74.
The lift rod 30 is rotatably fixed among the at least one locking position P1 and the at least one unlocking position P2, and the lift rod 30 is clamped by the flexible clamper 50 properly so as to avoid damage.
The plastic sleeve 102 is rotatably limited on the outer wall of the metal tube 101 or the plastic tube 103 is formed on the drain base 10 so as to reduce the material cost. The coupling portion 16 or the fitting section 17 is molded from plastic material so as to decrease the material cost.
The support peg 214 of the positioning member 21 or the support peg 253 of the first sheath 25 supports the seal sleeve 24 so as to avoid the water leaking out of the fourth through orifice 14.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
