Filter assembly for a faucet

Details Filter assembly for a faucet Filter assembly for a faucet

2001-07-06

2002-10-15

Lithgow, Thomas M. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

With repair or assembling means

C210S136000, C210S238000, C210S418000, C210S443000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06464869

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a filter assembly, more particularly to a filter assembly for a faucet, which includes a filtering element that can be easily mounted and dismounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional filter assembly
10
for a faucet is shown to include a filter body
11
, an upper valve seat
12
, a lower valve seat
13
, a stop valve
14
, a filtering element
15
, an adjusting valve
16
, and a cover
17
. Before the filtering element
15
is mounted into the filter body
11
, the stop valve
14
is biased upward by a spring
141
to prevent water flow from a water inlet
131
to a valve hole
130
in the lower valve seat
13
. When the filtering element
15
is mounted into the filter body
11
, it pushes the stop valve
14
downwardly within the lower valve seat
13
against the biasing action of the spring
141
, thereby permitting water flow from the inlet
131
into the filtering element
15
through the valve hole
130
in the lower valve seat
13
. The adjusting valve
16
can be rotated between an open position, where water flows from an interior passage of the filtering element
15
to an annular passage
151
defined between the filtering element
15
and a surrounding wall of the filter body
11
and subsequently to a water outlet
132
in the lower valve seat
13
, and a closed position, where water flow between the interior passage in the filtering element
15
and the annular passage
151
is stopped. The aforesaid conventional filter assembly
10
has the following drawbacks:
When one intends to replace the filtering element
15
, it is necessary to dismount the upper valve seat
12
from the filter body
11
. Also, in order to dismount the upper valve seat
12
, it is necessary to remove the cover
17
and two threaded members
18
,
19
in advance. It is both labor and time-consuming to remove the threaded members
18
,
19
in view of the condition that two spanners of different sizes are required to drive hexagonal upper ends of the threaded members
18
,
19
. Furthermore, when the adjusting valve
16
is closed, because the filtering element
15
remains in the filter body
11
, water still flows from the interior passage in the filtering element
15
to the annular passage
151
, thereby resulting in difficulty in rotating the threaded members
18
,
19
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a filter assembly for a faucet, which includes a filtering element that can be easily mounted and dismounted.
According to this invention, a filter assembly for a faucet includes a filtering element accommodated within a filter body. A sleeve is disposed within a neck portion of the filter body. A lock ring is sleeved threadably on the filter body, and pushes a ball to project partially from an inner surface of the neck portion so that the ball presses downwardly against a stop shoulder of the sleeve, thereby preventing upward removal of the sleeve from the neck portion. In assembly, when the sleeve is mounted into the neck portion, a curved pushing surface of the sleeve pushes the ball to project partially from an outer surface of the neck portion. Subsequently, when the lock ring is mounted on the filter body, it pushes the ball to project partially from the inner surface of the neck portion.
Preferably, a rotary knob is connected fixedly to a stop valve so as to rotate the latter in the filter body between an open position for permitting water flow from a water inlet to a water outlet via the filtering element, and a closed position for stopping completely water flow in the filter assembly. When the stop valve is disposed at the closed position, the filtering element can be easily replaced.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5753118 (1998-05-01), Yang
patent: 5983938 (1999-11-01), Bowers et al.
patent: 6135151 (2000-10-01), Bowers et al.
patent: 6183636 (2001-02-01), Bowers et al.

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