The present invention relates to a spigot, according to the preamble of claim 1, and more particularly to an outlet of a spigot that can provide an improved cleaning effect.

A conventional spigot is mounted on a washbasin to spray water out from an outlet to allow a user to washing hands or objects.

The shape of the outlet of the conventional spigot may be circular or flat, so the water column sprayed out from the outlet is also circular or flat. However, the circular or flat water column cannot meet the requirement of washing a long object, such as hands and may decrease washing efficiency. In addition, the water column may spray everywhere when the water pressure is increased and this wastes water. From US 2005/223490 and DE 202005010110 spigots with flat outlet holes are known.

From WO 2007/144918 a spigot with an elliptic outlet hole is known. In DE 20 2006 007478 variously shaped outlet holes are suggested. But all these forms are not suitable for producing a water column meeting the requirement of washing a long object like hands. Moreover, such spigot outlets are not formed to reduce water spilling. Document DE 20 2006 007478 represents the closest prior art, and discloses the technical features described in the preamble of claim 1.

The invention provides an outlet of a spigot that mitigates or obviates the aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a spigot with an outlet thereof that can provide an improved cleaning effect, in particular improving the cleaning of long objects like hands and reducing spilling during use.

This object is achieved by a spigot as defined in claim1.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent form the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spigot ;
• Fig. 2 is a front view of the outlet of a spigot in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is an operational perspective view of the spigot in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a spigot in accordance with the present invention;
• Fig. 5 is a front view of the spigot in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spigot ; and
• Fig. 7 is a front view of the spigot in Fig. 6.

The embodiments dislcosed in figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, do not fall within the scope of claim 1.

With reference to Figs. 1, 4 and 6, a spigot (10) comprises a bottom, a bottom seat (11), a neck (12) a head (13) and a flow passage (14). Figures 4 and 5 disclose a spigot in accordance with the present invention.

The bottom seat (11) may be quadrate, is formed on the bottom of the spigot (10) and has a flat bottom face. The neck (12) is curvedly formed on and protrudes upward from the bottom seat (11). The head (13) is formed on and protrudes forward from the neck (12) and has a front side.

The flow passage (14) is formed in the spigot (10) between the bottom seat (11), the neck (12) and the head (13) and has at least one inlet hole (141) and an outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B). The inlet hole (141) is formed through the bottom face of the bottom seat (11) and communicates with the flow passage (14).

With reference to Figs. 2, 5 and 7, the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B) may have an inverted triangular shape or be rectangular, is formed through the front side of the head (13) and communicates with the flow passage (14) and has a width and a length. The length of the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B) is wider than the width of the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B).

In accordance with the present invention, with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the outlet hole (142A) further has an upper side, a middle, a lower side, a first opening segment (1421A) a second opening segment (1422A) and a third opening segment (1423A). The first opening segment (1421A) is rectangular, is formed in the upper side of the outlet hole (142A) and has a width. The second opening segment (1422A) is rectangular, is formed in the middle of the outlet hole (142A) and communicates with the first opening segment (1421A) and has a width narrower than the width of the first opening segment (1421A). The third opening segment (1423A) is rectangular, is formed in the lower side of the outlet hole (142A) and communicates with the second opening segment (1422A) and has a width narrower than the width of the second opening segment (1422A).

With reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 6, when using the spigot (10) to wash hands, water flows into the flow passage (14) via the inlet hole (141) and flows out of the spigot (10) from the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B). Because the length of the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B) is wider than the width of the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B), the water column sprayed out from the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B) has a corresponding shape as the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B). Consequently, water can spray on the whole hands and provide an excellent washing effect. In the same volume of water, the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B) of the spigot (10) can provide an improved washing effect than that provided by the conventional circular or flat outlet of the conventional spigot. Furthermore, when the water pressure is increased, the shape of the outlet hole (142, 142A, 142B) can prevent the water column from spraying everywhere and this can reduce the waste of water.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claim is expressed.