COMBINED AERATOR-SPRAY ASSEMBLY

• US 3,722,798 A
• Filed: 10/29/1970
• Issued: 03/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack K. Rauh, James H. Bletcher
• Original Assignee: Jack K. Rauh, James H. Bletcher
• Inventors: Bletcher, James H., Rauh, Jack K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schacher, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thieme, Reinhold W.
• Application Number:
  US05/085,102
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 239/396,428.5,442,445,446,447,449,575,DIG.18 137/625.5
• US Class Current: 239/428.5
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/084 Jet regulators with aerating means
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/082 Outlets connected by an universal joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86895 Plural disk or plug

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a swinging spray assembly including both aerator and spray devices. A push button valve is provided to divert water through either an aerator or through openings around the aerator to provide a spray. The valve assembly includes collar members formed of a resilient mvterial and which are formed in a manner such that in either position of the valve fluid pressure tends to maintain the valve in a selected position.

Claims

1. A combined aerator-spray assembly for selectively providing a flow of fluid or a spray of fluid comprising body means having an inlet chamber for receiving fluid, and including a valve chamber communicating with and positioned below said inlet chamber and including valve seats forming an internal shoulder in said valve chamber, and outlets communicating with said valve chamber for respectively providing said flow of fluid or said spray of fluid, valve means extending through said body means and disposed within said valve chamber and selectively reciprocal therein to provide fluid communication from said inlet chamber selectively to one or the other of said outlets, said valve means including an intermediate section having resilient button members thereon selectively engageable with said valve seats, said button members providing a larger effective surface area when positioned away from one of said valve seats than when in contact with one of said valve seats for enabling said valve means to remain in the selected position independent of fluid flow, and means for coupling an aerator to said body means.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a pair of valve plugs spaced apart by a valve spacer, and said button members are disposed on said valve spacer intermediate said valve plugs.

3. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said body means includes nozzle adapter means having a first passageway communicating with the first of said outlets and coupled the aerator, and having a spray forming member communicating with the second of said outlets.

4. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said body means includes nozzle adapter means having a first passageway communicating with the first of said outlets and coupled in fluid communication with the aerator, and having a spray forming member communicating with the second of said outlets, and said valve means comprises a pair of valve plugs spaced apart by a valve spacer secured at said intermediate section thereof, and said button members are disposed on said valve spacer intermediate said valve plugs.

5. An assembly as in claim 4 wherein said valve spacer has an intermediate enlarged portion with said button members disposed on opposite sides of said intermediate portion of said valve spacer and said button members flare outwardly generally from the axis of said valve spacer thereby defining enlarged movable valve seats cooperating with the valve seats of said body means.

6. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said body means includes nozzle adapter means having a first passageway communicating with said valve chamber through the first of said outlets to said aerator means, and a second substantially annular passageway communicating with the second of said outlets, said nozzle adapter means having a plurality of peripheral slots communicating with said substantially annular passageway for providing said spray of fluid.

7. A combined aerator-spray assembly for selectively providing a flow of fluid or a spray of fluid comprising a body having an inlet chamber for receiving fluid, a valve chamber communicating with and positioned below said inlet chamber, and outlets communicating with said valve chamber for respectively providing selectable outlet flOws of fluid, said valve chamber having an internal shoulder defining valve seats, nozzle adapter means coupled with said body and including first and second passageways respectively communicating with said outlets of said body, the second of said passageways terminating in a plurality of openings for providing said spray of fluid, valve means extending through said body means and disposed within said valve chamber and selectively movable therein to provide fluid communication from said inlet chamber selectively to one or the other of said outlets in said body, said valve means including an intermediate section having resilient button members thereon with enlarged portions respectively selectively engageable with said valve seats of said body to provide a larger effective surface area when positioned away from one of said valve seats of said body than when in contact with one of said valve seats of said body for enabling said valve means to remain in the selected position independent of fluid flow, and means for coupling an aerator with said nozzle adapter means and communicating with said first passageway of said nozzle adapter means to provide an aerated flow of fluid.