Faucet assembly with integral water supply shut-off valve

Abstract

A faucet apparatus for mounting on sinks, washbasins and the like, is disclosed comprising automatic water supply shut-off valves that allow quick and easy installation or removal of a faucet head assembly on a faucet base mounted within a sink or similar fixture without the need to manually turn the supply lines off and on. The faucet head is removable from the base, which stays attached to the fixture. The shut-off valves are each comprised of a normally-closed valve assembly, and the faucet head has corresponding actuators that engage and open each valve assembly, enabling water flow to the faucet head as it is installed onto the base. The faucet apparatus further comprises an attachment means for mounting the base within a fixture. An alternate embodiment has a base comprising an additional passage for allowing installation of low-voltage conductors and electrical connections to enable features such as automatic faucet actuation.

1 . A faucet apparatus for mounting on sinks, washbasins and similar fixtures, the faucet apparatus comprising: 
 a base portion for insertion into a through hole in a sanitary fixture, said base comprising a top, a bottom, at least one base passage extending through the base portion from the top to the bottom, at least one water intake duct communicating with the passage at the bottom of the base portion and having a releasable connector affixed at a distal end for engaging a water supply line, and at least one automatic shut-off valve comprising a normally-closed valve assembly disposed within each passage at the top of the base portion;    a faucet head assembly having a dispensing portion with at least one dispensing passage, at least one coupler that communicates with each dispensing passage, a sealing means circumferentially disposed about each coupler, and a valve actuator corresponding to and aligned with each valve assembly, and disposed proximate to one end of the coupler that engages and opens each valve assembly, thereby enabling water flow as the faucet head is installed onto the base; and    an attachment means for fixing said faucet head to said base portion.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises a threaded fastener insertable into a threaded aperture in said faucet head assembly to engage and secure said faucet head assembly to said base.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means circumferentially disposed about each coupler is a plurality of deformable rings, such as O-rings, affixed about the coupler.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said base has a substantially cylindrical shape for being coupled coaxially with said through hole, said passages being oriented generally parallel to the axis of said base portion.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said faucet apparatus has two fluid passageways there through hot and cold water.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion provides means for fixing the dispensing portion at a plurality of selected angles relative to the base portion.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises at least one additional passage through the base for allowing installation of low-voltage conductors and electrical connections, whereby auxiliary features such as automatic faucet actuation are enabled.  
   
   
       8 . A method of releasably assembling a faucet on a base comprising the steps of: 
 providing a base with pressurized water supply, said base having a normally closed valve in an accessible terminal conduit;    engaging said accessible terminal conduit with a faucet assembly, said faucet assembly having an accessible faucet conduit sized to axially engage and seal with said accessible terminal conduit in said base, said accessible faucet conduit having a valve actuator to open said normally closed valve when said accessible faucet conduit engages and seals with said accessible terminal conduit;    fastening said faucet assembly to said base to prevent axial displacement of said faucet assembly.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said faucet conduit fits axially within said accessible terminal conduit and is sealed therein by O rings forming a fluid fight seal between said terminal conduit and said faucet conduit when said faucet conduit is inserted into said terminal conduit.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a pair of accessible terminal conduits are provided in said base and a pair of faucet conduits are provided in said faucet assembly, each positioned for engaging and sealing with corresponding base unit terminal conduits.  
   
   
       11 . A faucet apparatus for dispensing hot and cold water, said faucet apparatus adapted for mounting on sinks, washbasins and similar fixtures, the faucet apparatus comprising: 
 a base portion for insertion into a through hole in a sanitary fixture, said base comprising a top, a bottom, hot and cold water base passages extending through the base portion in a side by side configuration and extending from the top to the bottom of said base, pressurized water supply communicating with said passages at the bottom of the base portion, and a shut-off valve comprising a normally-closed valve assembly disposed within each passage at the top of the base portion;    a faucet head assembly having a dispensing portion with at least one dispensing passage, hot and cold water couplers that communicate with said dispensing passage, a sealing means circumferentially disposed about each coupler, and a valve actuator corresponding to and aligned with each valve assembly, and disposed proximate to one end of the coupler that engages and opens each valve assembly when said couplers are engaged axially with and sealed to said base passages, thereby enabling water flow as the faucet head is installed onto the base; and    an attachment means for fixing said base portion to the sanitary fixture.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the sealing means circumferentially disposed about each coupler is a plurality of deformable rings, such as O-rings, affixed about the coupler.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said base has a substantially cylindrical shape for being coupled coaxially with said through hole, said passages being oriented generally parallel to the axis of said base portion.