Portable water-jet system

• US 4,650,470 A
• Filed: 04/03/1985
• Issued: 03/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry Epstein
• Original Assignee: Harry Epstein
• Inventors: Epstein, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/719,259
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 239/310, 239/317, 239/318, 239/428, 604/275, 604/149, 604/30, 604/33, 604/82, 604/85, 604/131, 604/150, 604/155, 604/323, 604/902, 137/625.48
• US Class Current: 604/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/032 using pressurised tap-water , e.g. rinsing devices specially adapted for being connected to the main water supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/025 supplied directly from the pressurised water source, e.g. with medicament supply combined with bidets A61M3/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86879 Reciprocating valve unit

Abstract

A modular, portable water-jet system for attachment to the faucet of a kitchen or bathroom sink. The system includes a diverter valve assembly that can be screwed to the faucet and which has one outlet having an aerator and another outlet to which is removably attached a control valve assembly to which is removably attached a jet-flow device, such as an oral cleaning nozzle. The diverter valve assembly includes a spool valve slidably mounted in the housing. One end of the spool valve forms a passage from the inlet of the housing leading to the outlet port to the control valves assembly. A modular solution mixing and metering container can be optionally positioned between the diverter valve assembly and the control valve assembly when a liquid medicant or cleaning agent, for example, is desired. A cross-channel at the top of the container opens to the container where water mixes with and pressures the resulting mixture up a vertical pipe back to the cross-channel where it is pressured to the jet-flow device.

Claims

1. A modular water-jet system for attachment to the faucet of a water outlet, compromising, in combination,

a water-resistant diverter housing,

inlet means formed by said housing removably connected to the faucet for passing water from the faucet to said housing,

valve means positioned in said housing for directing water from said inlet means,

first outlet means formed by said housing adapted to pass water from said housing,

first passage means formed by said housing for passing water from said inlet means to said first outlet means,

second outlet means associated with said housing and said valve means for passing water from said housing,

second passage means formed by said valve means for passing water from said inlet means to said second outlet means,

said valve means being movable between a first open position and a second open position, wherein in said first open position water is directed from said inlet means to said first outlet means and blocked from said second outlet means, and in said second open position water is diverted from said inlet means to said second outlet means and blocked from said first outlet means,

said valve means being a spool valve having an elongated cylinder member having a handle end and an opposed mounting end, both said handle end and said mounting end being positioned external to said housing, said housing having an internal wall forming a bore, said cylinder member being slidably movable in and in sealing relationship with said bore, said first passage means including said internal wall forming at least one inlet hole between said inlet means and said bore and at least one outlet hole between said bore and said first outlet means, wherein said first passage means is said inlet side hole, said bore, and said outlet side hole, said cylinder member forming an axial passage between said second outlet means and a position axially spaced from said second outlet means, said cylinder member also forming a first outer circular passage radially spaced from the axis of said cylinder member, said cylinder member also forming an inlet aperture joining said axial passage and said first outer circular passage, said cylinder member also forming a second outer circular passage axially spaced from said first outer circular passage towards said handle end, said spool valve being operable between diverting and non-diverting positions, wherein in said diverting position said cylinder member is positioned so that said first outer circular passage is aligned with said at least one inlet hole so as to create said first passage means, and wherein is said non-diverting position said cylinder member is positioned so that said second outer circular passage is aligned with said at least one inlet hole and said at least one outlet hole so as to create said second passage means, said axial passage including an inner passage portion, said cylindrical member forming an inlet port between said inner passage portion and said first circular passage, said axial passage also including a cylindrical pocket downstream of said inner passage portion, a ball member having a smaller diameter smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical pocket being positioned in said cylindrical pocket, said cylindrical pocket having an axial length adapted to allow axial movement of said ball member, said cylindrical member forming a constricted passage having a downstream orifice downstream of said pocket, said second outlet means opening to said constricted passage, said contricted passage being of greater diameter than said ball member, wherein when said ball valve is spaced from said contricted passage water can flow through said pocket around said ball member through said second outlet means, and when said ball valve is positioned against said downstream orifice by the force of flow of the water, the water is prevented from flowing through said contricted passage and said second outlet means.

2. A system according to claim 1, further including anti-backflow means for preventing backflow from said second outlet means through said inlet means, said anti-backflow means including said axial passage having an upstream orifice between said inner axial portion and said pocket, said upstream orifice being cylindrical and having a smaller diameter than said ball member, said ball member being adapted to close off said upstream orifice and thus prevent backflow from said second outlet means to said inlet means.

3. A system according to claim 1, further including control means for receiving flow from said second outlet means of said housing, discharging the flow, and controlling the rate of discharge of the flow.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes a control valve, a hose having an upstream end connector adapted to be removably placed in operative flow connection with said second outlet means and a downstream end connected to said control valve, and a rigid tube having an outlet end and an opposed inlet end connected to said control valve, said control valve being movable to a plurality of intermediate selected positions between and including a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein in said fully open position water from said hose is fully passed to said inlet end of said tube and in said fully closed position water from said hose is fully blocked from said inlet end of said tube.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said upstream end connector of said blocking includes hose means for keeping said ball member free from said downstream orifice.

6. A system according claim 5, wherein said blocking means includes said upstream end connector of said hose being a male connector and said second outlet means being a female connector, said male connector including a finger extending axially inward through said second orifice to a distance upstream of said second orifice wherein said ball member is pressed free of said second orifice, said finger forming an axial channel and opposed cutaways forming flow passages to said axial channel, said axial channel being fluidly connected with said male connector.

7. A system according to claim 4, further including enclosure means for mounting said control valve and said tube.

8. A system according to claim 7, further including container means directly connected to said second outlet means, said container means being for holding a liquid concentrated solution for mixing with the flow of water received upstream from said outlet means and having the resulting mixture sent downstream to said upstream end of said hose.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said container means includes a container having a bottom wall, said container forming a closed volume and an aperture opposite said bottom wall;

cap means for removably sealing said aperture;

channel means integral with said cap means having an inlet portion and an opposed outlet portion, said cap mean forming a small hole to said channel means opening to said volume;

an elongated pipe connected to said cap means and positioned in said volume and having one end opening to said channel means downstream of said small hole and an opposed open end spaced from said bottom wall;

a container inlet connector integral with said cap means positioned at said inlet portion adapted to be removably mounted to said connecting means at said second passage means; and

a container outlet connector integral with said cap means at said outlet portion adapted to be removably mounted with said upstream end of said hose of said control valve means;

said liquid concentrated solution being disposed in said container.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said container inlet connector includes blocking means for keeping said ball free from said second orifice.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said blocking means includes said container inlet connector being a male connector and said second outlet means being a female connector, said male connector including a finger extending axially inwardly through said second orifice to a position upstream of said second orifice, said finger forming an axial channel and opposed cutaways forming flow passages to said axial channel, said axial channel being fluidly connected with said male connector.

12. A system according to claims 6 or 11, further including a pressure relief line formed in said housing between the atmosphere proximate to said first outlet means and said bore at a position opening to said first outer circular passage when said cylinder member is in said second open position, whereby water under pressure in the system downstream of said second outlet means is relieved through said pressure relief line.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein said male connector of said container is removably mounted to said second outlet means and said downstream end of said hose of said control means being a hose male connector, said hose male connector being removably connected to said female outlet connector of said container.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said container is removably mounted to said connecting means at said second outlet means and said downstream end of said hose of said control means being a hose male connector, said hose male connector being removably connected to said female outlet connector of said container.

15. A system according to claim 14, further including application means removably connected to said outlet end of said tube of said control means, said application means being for directing the flow of mixture received from said tube to a selected object.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said channel means has a constricted venturi passage means at said pipe for restricting the flow so as to create a jet flow from said outlet portion.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said application means includes a male connector adapted to be slidingly received by said discharge end of said tube of said control valve and opposed spray nozzle adapted to direct a jet spray at an object such as teeth.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein said application means includes an anal jet member positioned in another toilet and a tube connected to said outlet end of said control valve means.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein said container means is positioned downstream of said control means, said hose male connector being removably connected to said outlet end of said tube of said control means.