AERATOR SPRAY ATTACHMENT FOR FAUCETS

• US 3,786,995 A
• Filed: 05/03/1972
• Issued: 01/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alex Manoogian, Eric V. Pullen
• Original Assignee: Alex Manoogian, Eric V. Pullen
• Inventors: Manoogian, Alex, Pullen, Eric V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/250,007
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 239/396,428.5,436,437,579,587,446,448,449
• US Class Current: 239/428.5
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/084 Jet regulators with aerating means

Abstract

A combination spray and aerator device for attachment to a faucet to selectively discharge water in the form of a conical spray or an aerated stream. The device includes a housing attached to the faucet by a swivel member through which water is discharged into a chamber in the housing having two outlet ports, one of which discharges through an aerating device and the other of which discharges through spray-forming passages. A ball valve member in the chamber is adapted to close one outlet port while opening the other. Rotation of the housing on the swivel member brings one or the other of the outlet ports beneath the ball valve member so as to be closed thereby.

Claims

1. In a spray aerator for attachment to a faucet for selectively discharging water in the form of a spray or an aerated stream, a swivel member having a water passage therein, means for attaching said swivel member to a faucet, housing having a chamber therein into which water is discharged from said swivel member and a pair of outlet ports opening from said chamber, said housing including a spray-forming passage means communicating with one of said outlet ports for discharging water from said one outlet port in the form of a spray, said housing being rotatable on said swivel member, said outlet ports being offset from the axis of rotation of said housing, a valve member in said chamber and means confining said valve member to a predetermined angular position offset from the axis of rotation of said housing whereby rotation of said housing brings a selected one of said outlet ports into engagement with said valve member so as to close said selected outlet port while opening the other, said housing having provisions for securing an aerator thereto in communication with the other of said outlet ports for discharging water from said other outlet port through said aerator.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has a bottom wall and said outlet ports are in said bottom wall.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said valve member rests on said bottom wall of said chamber.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein each of said outlet ports is smaller than said passage in said swivel member.

5. A device according to claim 3 including means on said swivel member engageable with said valve member to confine said valve member to said predetermined angular position.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said valve member comprises a ball.

7. A spray aerator for attachment to a faucet for selectively providing a spray or an aerated stream of water, comprising a swivel member having a water passage therein, means for attaching said swivel member to a faucet, a housing mounted on said swivel member and having a chamber therein into which water is discharged from said passage in said swivel member and a pair of outlet ports opening from said chamber, an aerating device secured to said housing and communicating with one of said outlet ports for discharging water therefrom in the form of an aerated stream, said housing including spray-forming passage means communicating with the other of said outlet ports for discharging water therefrom in the form of a spray, said housing being rotatable on said swivel member, said outlet ports being offset from the axis of rotation of said housing, a valve member in said chamber and means confining said valve member to a predetermined angular position offset from the axis of rotation of said housing whereby rotation of said housing brings a selected one of said outlet ports into engagement with said valve member to close said selected port while opening the other.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said chamber has a bottom wall and said outlet ports are in said bottom wall.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said valve member rests on said bottom wall of said chamber.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein each of said outlet ports is smaller than said passage in said swivel member.

11. A device according to claim 9 including means on said swivel member engageable with said valve member to confine said valve member to said predetermined angular position.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said valve member comprises a ball.

13. A device according to claim 6 wherein said ball has a limited area of movement relative to said swivel member so that water pressure in said chamber tends to move said ball into engagement with said selected outlet port.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said ball has a limited area of movement relative to said swivel member so that water pressure in said chamber tends to move said ball into engagement with said selected outlet port.