COMBINATION SPRAY AND AERATOR DEVICE

• US 3,768,735 A
• Filed: 01/07/1972
• Issued: 10/30/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irving A. Ward
• Original Assignee: Irving A. Ward
• Inventors: Ward, Irving A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/216,015
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 239/428.5,460,587,439,441
• 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

Abstract

A combination spray and aerator device is disclosed for attachment to a faucet and includes a deflector selectively movable between a stream deflecting position in which the water is caused to flow through an aerator assembly and a nondeflecting position in which the water flows unobstructed to a spray skirt. The deflector may comprise a sleeve axially displaceable between the deflecting and non-deflecting positions. A filtering arrangement including a strainer cup positioned within a swivel ball at the upper extremity of the device prevents particles larger than a predetermined size from passing through the device. To aid in providing a high quality aerated stream, the area of the flow passage is made progressively larger from the inlet to the discharge region of the device.

Claims

1. In a spray-aerator device including a conduit-defining means adapted to be connected to a faucet and conduct a flow of water therefrom, a spray-forming element attached to said conduitdefining means, an aerator assembly attached to said conduitdefining means and means coupled to said conduit-defining means for selectively directing said flow of water to emerge from said spray-forming element or from said aerator assemblY, the improvement in which said flow-directing means includes a substantially smooth, continuous surface and is selectively movable between a first position in which said flow of water passes unobstructed to said spray-forming element and a second position in which said flow of water impinges upon said smooth, continuous surface of said flow-directing means and is broken up and deflected thereby to pass through said aerator assembly.

2. In a spray-aerator device, the combination including:

threaded nut means for attaching said device to a water source;

means coupled to said nut means for conducting water from said water source, said conducting means including water discharge ports;

spray-forming means coupled to said water-conducting means and having an internal, spray-forming surface;

aerator means coupled to said water-conducting means;

means operatively associated with said water-conducting means for directing said water flowing from said discharge ports, said water-directing means having a substantially smooth, continuous surface extending generally perpendicular to the direction of water flowing from said ports, said water-directing means being movable relative to said ports and having a first position in which said water flows to said internal, spray-forming surface and a second position in which said water-directing means breaks up said water flowing from said ports and constrains said water to flow through said aerator means.

3. The combination, as defined in claim 2, including means adjacent said discharge ports for constraining the water issuing from said ports to flow as a substantialy uniform sheet outwardly toward said water-directing means.

4. The combination, as defined in claim 3, in which said spray-forming means is coupled to move said water-directing means between said first and second positions.

5. The combination, as defined in claim 2, in which the water-conducting means includes an inlet opening, the area of the flow passages of said device increasing progressively from that of said inlet opening.

6. A combination spray and aerator device adapted to be coupled to a faucet in swivable relation thereto, comprising:

means for attaching said device to said faucet;

a post having on the upper end thereof a swivel ball coupled to said faucet attaching means, said post including in the lower portion thereof a plurality of discharge ports, said post further having a longitudinal bore for conducting water from said faucet to said discharge ports;

means adjacent said discharge ports for confining the water issuing from said discharge ports to flow outwardly from said ports as a substantially uniform sheet transverse to said longitudinal bore;

a spray skirt coupled to said post and having an internal, spray-forming surface;

an aerator attached to the lower portion of said post; and

, a sleeve interposed between said post and said spray skirt, said sleeve being movable longitudinally relative to said post, said sleeve having a lower end portion and being coupled to said spray skirt for actuation thereby, said sleeve having an upper position in which said water flows unobstructed from said water-confining means to said internal, spray-forming surface, and a lower position in which said lower end portion of said sleeve deflects said water from said water-confining means to flow through said aerator.

7. A combination spray and aerator device, according to claim 6, in which:

said device includes a water inlet opening defined by said longitudinal bore at the upper end thereof; and

, the area of the flow passage increases progressively from that of said inlet opening.

8. A combination spray and aerator device, according to claim 6, in which:

said sleeve is constrained to longitudinal movement relative to said post and includes skew cam surfaces;

said spray skirt is constrained to rotational movement relative to said post; and

which device includes;

sleeve actuaTing means secured to said spray skirt for rotation therewith and bearing against said cam surfaces, rotation of said skirt in one direction moving said sleeve upwardly to said upper position and rotation of said skirt in the other direction moving said sleeve downwardly to said lower position.

9. A combination spray and aerator device, according to claim 6, in which:

said spray skirt and said sleeve are joined for movement as a single element and include means operatively associated with said post allowing longitudinal movement of said skirt and sleeve between limits defining said upper and lower positions.

10. A combination spray and aerator device, according to claim 6, in which:

a strainer cup having an upper, circular edge is seated within the upper portion of said longitudinal bore, the upper edge of said cup and the upper edge of said bore being concentric and in close approximation to form a narrow, annular inlet opening; and

, a wiper ring disposed within said faucet-attaching means, said ring having an inner edge maintained in wiping contact with the outer surface of said swivel ball, said inner edge being thereby adapted to push into said strainer cup any particles trapped in said annular inlet opening upon swiveling of said post.

11. A combination spray and aerator device, according to claim 6, in which:

said aerator is retained on said post by a washer coupled to the lower tip of said post, said washer having an overall diameter sufficient to spread and dampen the velocity of the water flowing through said aerator.

12. In a swivel-type flow control device for attachment to a water faucet, the combination including:

a post having an upper end including a swivel ball, said post including a longitudinal, central bore for conducting water from said faucet, said bore and the outer surface of said swivel ball intersecting along a circular edge;

a generally cylindrical strainer cup seated within said bore, said cup having an upper edge adjacent to and concentric with said circular edge, said upper edge of said cup and said circular edge being spaced apart to define a narrow annular inlet opening preventing particles larger than a minimum size from passing therethrough;

a threaded nut disposed about said swivel ball for attaching said device to said faucet; and

a wiper ring seated within said nut, said ring having an inner wiping edge in contact with said swivel ball, said wiping edge being thereby adapted to push into said cup any particles trapped in said annular inlet opening upon swiveling of said swivel member.

13. In a spray-aerator device, the combination including:

threaded nut means for attaching said device to a water source;

means coupled to said nut means for conducting water from said water source, said conducting means including water discharge ports;

spray-forming means coupled to said water-conducting means and having an internal, spray-forming surface;

aerator means coupled to said water-conducting means;

means operatively associated with said water-conducting means for directing said water flowing from said discharge ports, said water-directing means being movable relative to said ports and having a first position in which said water flows to said internal, spray-forming surface and a second position in which said water-directing means deflects said water to flow through said aerator means, said device including means adjacent said discharge ports for constraining the water issuing from said ports to flow as a substantially uniform sheet outwardly toward said water-directing means.

14. The combination, as defined in claim 13, in which said spray-forming means is coupled to move said water-directing means between said first and second positions.

15. The combination, as defined in claim 13, in which the water-conducting means includes an inlet opening, the area of the flow passages of said device increasing progressively from that of said inlet opening.