Spray aerator
First Claim
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1. A liquid aerator and spray device for selectively producing either an aerated stream of liquid or a needle spray, said device comprising:
- a member having a stem with a longitudinally extending passageway and at least one laterally directed aperture connected to said passageway, means for connecting said stem to a liquid supply pipe; and
an assembly for receiving liquid passing out of said at least one aperture and selectively discharging said liquid as an aerated stream or a needle spray, said assembly comprising a liquid valving member, spray forming means and aerating means;
said valving member being mounted on said stem and having at least one side opening, saiD valving member being slidable on said stem between a first position in which said at least one side opening communicates with said at least one aperture and a second position in which said at least one side opening is blocked from receiving liquid discharged from said at least one aperture;
said spray forming means being mounted for movement with said valving member relative to said stem and comprising means defining a plurality of discharge openings that are disposed in a concentric array around said stem and are in liquid communication with said at least one side opening in said valving member;
said aerating means being mounted for movement with said valving member and said spray forming means relative to said stem and comprising means for mixing air with liquid delivered thereto via said at least one aperture of said stem;
said valving member comprising means for directing liquid discharged from said at least one aperture of said stem into said aerating means when said valving member is in said second position.
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Abstract
The invention is an improved combination spray aerator device for attachment to water taps. It comprises a valving member, a spray-forming means, and an aerator assembly, with the valving member being operative to direct water either to the sprayforming means for discharge as a non-aerated spray or to the aerator assembly from which it is discharged as an aerated spray.
120 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A liquid aerator and spray device for selectively producing either an aerated stream of liquid or a needle spray, said device comprising:
- a member having a stem with a longitudinally extending passageway and at least one laterally directed aperture connected to said passageway, means for connecting said stem to a liquid supply pipe; and
an assembly for receiving liquid passing out of said at least one aperture and selectively discharging said liquid as an aerated stream or a needle spray, said assembly comprising a liquid valving member, spray forming means and aerating means;
said valving member being mounted on said stem and having at least one side opening, saiD valving member being slidable on said stem between a first position in which said at least one side opening communicates with said at least one aperture and a second position in which said at least one side opening is blocked from receiving liquid discharged from said at least one aperture;
said spray forming means being mounted for movement with said valving member relative to said stem and comprising means defining a plurality of discharge openings that are disposed in a concentric array around said stem and are in liquid communication with said at least one side opening in said valving member;
said aerating means being mounted for movement with said valving member and said spray forming means relative to said stem and comprising means for mixing air with liquid delivered thereto via said at least one aperture of said stem;
said valving member comprising means for directing liquid discharged from said at least one aperture of said stem into said aerating means when said valving member is in said second position.
- a member having a stem with a longitudinally extending passageway and at least one laterally directed aperture connected to said passageway, means for connecting said stem to a liquid supply pipe; and
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2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said spray forming means is clamped between a portion of said valving member and a portion of said aerating means, whereby said valving member, spray forming means and aerating means are slidable as a unit on said stem.
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3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said valving member comprises a cup-shaped portion and said aerating means comprises a barrel which is secured to said cup-shaped portion of said valving member.
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4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said spray forming means is clamped between a portion of said valving member and said barrel.
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5. A device according to claim 3 further including a diffuser disc attached to the end of said stem and disposed within the cup-shaped portion of said valving member, said diffuser disc and said cup-shaped portion coacting with said valving member is in said second position to define a flow chamber for receiving liquid flowing out of said passageway via said at least one aperture of said stem, and further wherein said disc is provided with openings for conducting liquid from said chamber into said aerating means.
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6. A device according to claim 5 further including means engageable with said disc and coacting therewith to determine said second position of said valving member.
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7. A device according to claim 5 wherein said valving member comprises means defining a shoulder that is engageable with said disc to determine said first position of said valving member.
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8. A device according to claim 5 wherein said openings provided in said disc are smaller than said at least one aperture of said stem.
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9. A device according to claim 5 further including sealing means between said disc and said cup-shaped portion for preventing leakage of liquid between said disc and said cup-shaped portion of said valving member.
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10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said sealing means is attached to said disc at its periphery.
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11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said periphery of said disc is provided with a groove and said sealing means is an O-ring mounted in said groove.
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12. A device according to claim 5 further including fastener means for securing said disc to said stem, said fastener means extending through a hole in said disc and being secured in a hole in said stem.
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13. A device according to claim 1 wherein said spray forming means comprises a spray cap mounted on said valving member, and a spray body mounted between said spray cap and a portion of said aerating means, said spray body and said spray cap being clamped between said aerating means and a portion of said valving member.
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14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the exterior of said spray cap is shaped to form a handle for moving said spray cap so as to slide said valving member along said stem.
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15. A liquid aerator and spray device for selectively producing either an aerated stream of liquid or a needle spray, said device comprising:
- a member having a sTem with a longitudinally extending passageway and at least one laterally directed aperture connected to said passageway, means for connecting said stem to a liquid supply pipe;
a diffuser disc attached to the end of said stem; and
an assembly for receiving liquid passing out of said at least one aperture and selectively discharging said liquid as an aerated stream or a needle spray, said assembly comprising a liquid valving member, spray forming means and aerating means;
said valving member being mounted on said stem and having at least one side opening and a cup-shaped portion, said valving member being slidable on said stem between a first position in which said at least one side opening communicates with said at least one aperture and a second position in which said at least one side opening is blocked from receiving liquid discharged from said at least one aperture;
said spray forming means being mounted for movement with said valving member relative to said stem and comprising means defining a plurality of discharge openings that are disposed in a concentric array around said stem and are in liquid communication with said at least one side opening in said valving member;
said aerating means being mounted for movement with said valving member and said spray forming means relative to said stem and comprising means for mixing air with liquid delivered thereto via said at least one aperture of said stem;
said valving member comprising means for directing liquid discharged from said at least one aperture of said stem into said aerating means when said valving member is in said second position; and
said disc being disposed so as to coact with said cup-shaped portion when said valving member is in said second position to define a flow chamber for receiving liquid flowing out of said passageway via said at least one aperture of said stem, said disc having at least one discharge opening for conducting liquid from said flow chamber into said aerating means, said disc providing an impedance to discharge of liquid from said flow chamber whereby to provide a liquid pressure in said flow chamber which opposes movement of said valving member from said second position to said first position.
- a member having a sTem with a longitudinally extending passageway and at least one laterally directed aperture connected to said passageway, means for connecting said stem to a liquid supply pipe;
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16. A device according to claim 15 further including sealing means around the periphery of said disc for preventing leakage of liquid between said disc and said cup-shaped portion.
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17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said periphery of said disc is provided with a groove and said sealing means is an O-ring seated in said groove.
Specification