Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~
ACCESSORY FAUCET
Background of the Invention
The invention relates to an accessory faucet for use as a
water dispenser. The faucet is of an in-line configuration and
additionally includes a ~eparable plastic air-gap module for use
with a reverse osmosis unit which ~upplies purified water to the
faucet and brine waste flow past an air-gap in the air-gap module
as mandated by various government requirements~
Faucets and other valving arrangements generally with an
in-line configuration for inlet and outlet flow along a common
center line or axis are well known. Such faucets and other
valving arrangemen~s generally suffer from various disadvantages
relatiny to ~he manufacture, assembly, mounting and/or operation
thereof. Representative o prior art faucets and other valving
arrangements of various configurations are the devices dlsclosed
in U.S. Patents Nos. 25,853; 428~199; 695,6g7; 1,016,956;
1,088,822; 1,351,780; 2~551,688; 2,664,266; 4fl53,233; and
4,260,130.
Accessory faucets operable with reverse osmosis uni~s and
having air-gap means are also well knownO Such faucets also
suffer from various disadvantages relating to the manufacture,
assembly, mounting and/or operation thereof, and generally include
such features a~ air-gap means or bores therefor integrally built
into a faucet structure, complex shapes with auxiliary bores to
accommodate air gap means generally or brine flow passages
specifically, brine flow passages that may become clogged,
r78
off-line inlet and outlet configurations~ complicated valving,
mounting and assembly arrangements, a bulky appearance, etc.
Representative of such prior art are the devices disclosed in
U.S. Patents Nos. 3,620,241; 3,967,638; 4,134,41~; 4,210,533; and
4,~5~,891.
Summary of the Invention
The accessory faucet of the present invention serves to
eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention
includes an in-line faucet configuration having a threaded pipe
conduit for attachment to a water inlet, a housing containing
in-line valving means, a faucet outlet, an operation handle, and
a separable plastic air-gap module which can economically and
easily be made of plastic to also avoid corrosion and slid on~o
the pipe condui~ so as to be positioned between ~he fauce~ housing
and a sink 17p or the like if the faucet is to be used with a
reverse osmosis unit providing purified water. If the faucet is
to be used to dispense unpurified water, the separable air gap
module is eliminated and the faucet is installed directly upon
the sink lip or the like. The ~eparable air-gap module is o a
very simple construction with the tops of its brine passages and
a connecting channel formed in the top surface of the module
being closed off by the lower flat surface of a base member
positioned between the housing and module, isolating sealing
rings also being provided.
The in-line configuration provides a very simple shape of
housing that can be easily and economically manufactured. The
pipe conduit~ parts of the valving means and the faucet outlet
all lie along the common center line to obtain the ~ame advantage,
and a valve seat within the housing is attached to and locks
together both the housing and pipe conduit. A very 6imple
assembly of parts is provided.
The accessory aucet may be top-mounted through a hole in
the sink lip by means of a mounting nut connected on the pipe
conduit and having a radially collapsible - expandable portion,
which collapses as the mounting nut is inserted through the sink
lip hole from above and expands after insertion to lock the nut
below the hole. Channels inwardly of the outer periphery of the
mounting nut adYantageously permi~ passage therethro~gh of brine
s
$~be for connection to the air-gap module~
Still further, slotted handle means are provided which
encircle the faucet outlet and interact with trunnion means on
the faucet outlet defining a pivot axis in a manner providing a
strong valve operatinq mechanism and action and also permitting
the handle and ~he faucet outlet ~o independently rotate about
the center line to thereby provide ease and versatility of
operation. The handle operates in a downward direction on one
camming surface under continuing hand pressure to obtain water
flow from the faucet outlet, and also can be operated in the same
downward direction to a further extent onto a second camming
surface to lock the faucet in an automatically - on position
without hand pressure; operation of the handle solely in the
downward direction is easier and more desirable from a usage
!
3~78
point of view than conventional accessory faucet handles which
operate in a downward direction or pre6sure controlled flow
but in a vertically upward position for automatically locked - on
flow.
Other details and advantages of the present ~nvention are
disclosed in ~he drawings and following detailed description.
Brief Description of Drawinqs
Fig. 1 is a side view of the accessory faucet with the
portion to the right side of center line x-x being in vertical
section
Pig. 2 is an overhead view of the air gap module taken at
the position of lines 2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air-gap module ~aken
along lines 3-3 of Fiq. 2;
Fig. 4 is an overhead view of the mounting nut,
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of ~he mounting nut taken
along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the accessory faucet handle
and means for mounting to the faucet outlet, the parts being
partially disassembled to facilita~e understandinq.
Detailed Description of Invention
Referring to Fig. 1, accessory faucet 10 is ~hown assembled
and mounted on sink lip 11 or the like having mounting hole 120
The parts of accessory faucet 10, except as otherwise indicated,
take a generally circular configuration in planes perpendicular
to central axis (center line) x-x. Threaded pipe conduit 13
-4-
~ ~ )
extends through a portion of the accessory faucet and i5 connected
at its lower end to a source of water (not shown) which may be
normally available water to a household or purified water from a
reverse osmosis purifier. Moun~ing nut 14 attaches to threaded
pipe conduit 13 extending throu~h mounting hole 12, and by virtue
of the particular construction o~ mounting nut 14 (described
hereafter), it serves to both secure the accessory faucet 10 to
the sink lip and yet allow the Paucet 10 to be installed
completely from above the mounting hole 12. Fig. 1 further
illustrates separable air-gap module 15 above the ~ink lip
surrounding threaded pipe conduit 13; base member 16 overlying
air-gap module 15; hollow housing 17 overlying base member 16 and
positioned between threaded pipe conduit 13 and faucet outlet 18;
and, handle 19 for opera~ing valving means contained within
housing 17 to control the flow of water from the water source out
the faucet outlet 18.
Separable air-gap module lS represents an impor~ant feature
of the present invention. The air-gap module 15 is slidable over
threaded pipe conduit 13 during assembly and thus may be utilized
where the source of water to ~he bottom end of pipe conduit 13 is
purified water from a conventional reverse osmosis unit. If,
however, a reverse osmosis unit is not utilized and the water
source to the faucet is such as is available from a well or
municipal water s~pply, etc~ without further purification, the
air-gap module 15 may be eliminated; in the latter eventt base
member 16 will rest directly upon sink lip 11 after mounting.
--5--
. ' '~ . I i
3~3
Air-gap module 15, being a separable entity rom the
remainder of the faucet which includes brass parts hereafter
described, is easily, economically and desirably formed solely of
plastic. Referring ~o Figs. 1-3, air-gap module 15 has central
opening 20 of a size sufficient to slide over the threads of pipe
conduit 15. Module 15 further has generally vertical brine flow
inlet passage 21 and ~enerally vertical brine flow outlet passage
22 channeled therein, inlet passage 21 having a smaller diameter
than outlet passage 22 and the passages being separated from one
another by a ninety degree angle as shown in Pig~ 2. Passages 21
and 22 extend ~hrough he top ~urface 15a of air~gap module 15,
and generally horizontal channel 23 formed in ~aid top sur~ace
15a connects inlet and outlet passages 21 and 22. An air gap
opening 24 formed in the plastic through the module side wall
extends laterally from the atmosphere outside of air-gap module
15 into outlet passage 22. ~s shown, the air gap 24 is positioned
below the ~op surface 15a of module 15, though it may if desired
be extended up to the top ~urface. The well-known brine inlet
and outlet tubes 25 and 26, respectively from the conventional
reverse osmosis uni~ and to waste, are connected to the bottoms
of the inlet 21 and outlet 22 brine passages in air-gap module 15
in any suitable water-tight manner.
Base member 16 overlies air-gap module 15, surrounds threaded
pipe conduit 13 extendiny through a central opening of base 16,
and has lower flat surface 16a that abuts against top surface 15a
of air-gap module 15. When the accessory faucet is tightly
:~25;~'7~ `
assembled with ~he air-gap module 15~ 6urface 16a of base 16
closes off the top of horizontal channel 23 ~nd the top openings
of inlet and outlet passage 21,22 from atmosphere. Brine from
the reverse osmosis unit flows in brine inlet tube 25, passes up
brine inlet passage 21, strikes surface 16a of base 16, passes
across closed horizontal channel 23, and thence passes down brine
outlet passage 22 past air gap 24 and out brine outlet tube 26 to
waste. The brine will not flow in the reverse direction because
of air gap 24. To be sure that the brine flow from the reverse
osmosis unit is restricted as ~et forth above, sealing rings
27,28 set within grooves 29 and 30 in air-gap module top ~urface
lSa serve to surround and isolate the brine inlet and outlet
passages 21,22 and horizontal channel 23. The path of brine flow
is closed at all points except at the required air gap 24~
As shown in Figs. 1-3, air-gap module ~5 is a plastic member
with the above-described features formed therein~ Corrosive
problems from brine flow therefore are eliminated. Further excess
plastic can be removed from the configuration shown, if desired,
as long as sufficient plas~ic material remains where needed to
define the above-described ~eatures.
Base 16 is comprised of plastic and positioned as shown
between brass housing 17 and plastic air-gap module 15. If
desired, though less advantageous, housing 17 could have a lower
surface of appropriate circumference to perform the functions of
lower surface 16a of base 16 to thus eliminate base 16. As shown
in the preferred embodiment which includes base 16, hollow brass
l3'7~
housing 17 has its inner wall threadably connected to generally
tubular brass valve seat 31 nt outer periphery 32 of valve seat
31. Valve seat 31 has a down~ard portion 33 extending be~ween
base 16 slid thereon and pipe conduit 13, an inner peripheral
surface 33a of which i5 in turn threadably connected to threaded
pipe conduit 13. It will therefore be seen that when valve seat
31 and mounting nut 14 are threadably connected to pipe conduit
13; base 16 and air-gap module 15 can be tightly assembled
together with the bottom of air-gap module lS positioned on sink
lip 11. As noted above, the construction of mounting nut 1~
permits assembly and mounting solely from above the 6ink lip 11.
More ~pecifically, and referring to Figs. 1,4 and 5, plastic
mounting nut 14 includes lower portion 34 and an upper portion
35. Lower por~ion 34 has a threaded central opening 36 for
attachment to pipe conduit 13, and four top to bottom channels 37
in the outer periphery for ready placement and inclusion of brine
tubes 25 and 26 in two of the channels regardless of the tightened
nut position. The outer circumference of lower nut portion 34 is
slightly less than the circumference of mounting hole 12 in sink
lip 11. Upper nut portion 35 is comprised of four flexible tab
portions 38, which because of their 1exibility, are each radially
collapsible - expandableO Separations 39 between portions 38 in
upper nut portion 35 generally line up in a vertical direction
with channels 37 in lower nut portion 34, in order to accommodate
brine tubes 25r26. Tab portions 38 of upper nut portion 35 each
include a peripheral surface 38a which is flared outwardly in the
L3~7~
normal radially expanded position of tab 38 (as shown in Fig. 5~,
and horizontal flange surface 38b which meets ~urface 38a at
circumferential rim 38c. In the normal radially expanded position
of each tab portion 38, the circumference of rim 38c i8 greater
than the circumference of sink lip mounting hole 12 and flange
surfaces 38b rest against the bottom of 6ink lip 11 after the
accessory faucet 10 i6 mounted as shown in Fig. 1~
To mount the accessory faucet 10 frcm above sink lip 11,
air-gap module 15 can be slid onto the lower end of pipe conduit
13 above sink lip 11 to abut base 16, the overlying parts of the
faucet having already been assembled. Mounting nut 14 is screwed
onto pipe conduit 13 above sink lip 11, and the water cupply and
brine tube conventional connections are made above the sink lip
respectively to pipe conduit 13 and air-gap module 15. The pipe
conduit 13 with mountlng nut 14 thereon is.then pushed downwardly
through the mounting hole 1~. Lower nut portion 34 being of
smaller outer diameter clears mounting hole 12, and the brine
tubes in vertical channels 37 present no impediment. Upper nut
portion 35 is of larger diame~er at rim 38c than hole 12, bu~
since the tab por~ions 38 are flexible, they are collapsed
radially inwardly to allow the upper nut portion 35 to also pass
through hole 12. After the entire mounting nut 14 is below hole
12 in sink lip 11, the tab portions 38 expand back outwardly to
their normal positions shown in Fig. 5. The faucet's pipe conduit
13 is screwed further into nut 14 from above the sink lip and
surfaces 38b of ~he por~ions 38 come to rest against the lower
~5~
surface of sink lip 11 ~o clamp and hold the accessory f~ucet 10
in assembled and mounted position on the ~ink lip.
~ eferring back to Fig. 1, brass housing 17 includes brass
valve stem 40 located on central axis x-x. The lower portion of
the valve stem 40 is solid, and has circular washer 41 mounted and
held in flange 40a thereof by screw 42 screwed into the lower
solid portion of valve stem 40. Valve stem 40 is spaced about its
periphery from the inner wall 17a of hollow housing 17 to form a
circular channel 43 surrounding valve ætem 40 within which water
may flow and likewise within which a 6pring 44 is positioned.
Rousing 17 has internal circular flange 45, with spring 44
accordingly circling valve stem 40 and captured between housing
flange 45 and flange 40a of valve stem 40. If desired, plas~ic
stem guides 46,47 may also be inserted for the spring 44 to act
directly against, the stem guides then comprising washers with
protrusions at ninety degree spacings about the periphery of the
washer to thereby serve both as a stem guide and allow water flow
between the protrusions. Valve stem 40 fur~her has a plurality of
openings 48 cut through its side wall en~ering in~o central
water-flow conduit 49 in the upper portion and extending out ~he
top of valve stem 40. Openings 48 may for example comprise four
in number spaced at ninety degree intervals about the central axis
x-x. The openings 48 may be sized according to the water flow
desired out faucet outlet 18. The upper portion of valve stem 40
is threadably connected at an outer periphery 50 to brass tubular
upper stem 51 which is threadably connected at an inner periphery
--10--
53 to tubular gooseneck 52~ Upper stem 51 and gooseneck 52
together comprise faucet outlet 18. An aerator S4 may be attached
to the end of the gooseneck 52. Bandle 19 is connected to faucet
outlet 18 and opera~ed in a manner to be described hereinaf~er.
When handle 19 is in its non-actuated position as shown in
Fig. 1, valve stem 40 and specifically washer 41 at the solid
lower portion of valve ~tem 40 is biased by the action of spring
44 against circular lip 31a of valve seat 31 to prevent water
from the water source flowing past the valve seat. However, when
handle 19 is actuated in a downward direction, it lifts
interconnected gooseneck 52, upper stem 51 and valve stem 40
upwardly agains~ the bias of ~pring 44 so that washer 41 now
clears lip 31a of valve seat 310 Water flow now ~equentially
passes up pipe conduit 13~ through central recess 31b of valve
seat 31, between lifted washer 41 and lip 31a of valve sea~ 31,
between flange 40a spaced from the inner wall 17a of housing 17,
into channel 43, through openings 48 in the wall of valve stem
40, up central water flow conduit 49, then hrough the central
opening of upper stem 51 and through the central opening of
gooseneck 52 to exit the faucet. Sealing ring 17b near the top
of housing 17 and ~ealing ring 31c at the top of valve seat 31
may be used ~o assure proper confinement of the water flow.
Turning to the specific construction and operation of handle
19, reference is made to Figs. 1 and 6. Handle 19, made of
plastic, includes handle actuating extension 55, first lower
camming surface 56~ second lower camming surface 57, a top-to-
bottom opening ~8 in the handle main body, and identical slots 59in opposite interior handle ~ide walls defining the opening 58.
Brass ~pper stem 51 of faucet 18 has circumferential groove 60
therein, within which is snapped and contained a ~plit plastic
pivot bushing 61 occupying for example three hundred or so degrees
of the circumferential groove 60. Bushing 61 is slidable within
the groove about the central axis x-x, and has two diametrically
opposite trunnions 62. When handle 19 and upper stem 5.1 are
assembled by moving their parts as shown in Fig. 6 toward one
another ~o that handle top-to-bottom opening 58 ~uerounds upper
stem 51, trunnions 62 slide down into handle slots 59 to the
bottom thereof, ~hus serving as pivot points together defining a
pivo~ axis for handle 19.
When handle extension 55 is operated to a sligh~ly lower
position from the non~actuated position of Fig. 1, first lower
camming surface 56 engaging the top of housing 17 is cammed
slightly against the top of housing and valve stem 40 is therefore
lifted lvia the bottom of the handle slots 59 acting upwardly
against trunnions 62 to lift interconnected upper stem 51 and
valve stem 40) to cause water flow out the faucet outlet 18. When
pressure on the handle actuating extension 55 is released, spring
44 biases valve stem 40 back downwardly to seat washer 41 against
valve seat lip 31a and stop the flow of water, with handle 19
automatically returning to the original Fig. 1 position. If
handle extension 55 is operated to a lower position of greater
extent, however, second camming surface 57 (at an angle to first
-12-
~5~378
camming surface 56) is pivoted into contact with the top of
housing 17 and first camming surface 56 is accordingly pivoted
out of contact with the top of housing 17. Again, valve 6tem 40
has lifted to cause wa~er flow out the faucet outlet, but when
pressure on handle extension 55 is released r ~econd camming
~urface 57 remains in contact with the top of housing 17 and the
faucet remains in an automatically-on water-flow condition without
any pressure applied to handle extension 55. Second camming
surface 57 engaging the top of housing 17 retains the valve seat
40 in lifted position against the bias of spring 44. To turn the
faucet off from its automatically-on position, handle extension
55 is physically lifted back to its Fig. 1 position so that first
camming surface 56 returns to contacty and second camming surf~ce
57 leaves contact, with the top of housing 17. Spring 44 then
biases valve stem 40 downwardly to again seat washer 41 against
valve seat lip 31a.
It will be noted that by virtue of pivot bushing ~1 being
slidable in circumferential groove 60 (Fig.6), faucet outlet 18
(upper stem 51 and gooseneck 52) and handle extension 55 can be
rotated independently of one another through a full circle in
planes perpendicular to central axis x-x. When handle extension
55 so rotates, it rotate^c pivot bushing 61 on upper stem 51.
bvsl~ln~
When faucet outlet 18 so rotates, it rotates within pivot btio~nr~
61 and there are no impediments in the remainder of the faucet
construction to prevent such rotation. This feature permits
great versatility in allowing gooseneck 52 to be rotated to a
3~
~onvenient water-delivesy position without rotating handle
extension 55, and handle extension 55 to be rotated to convenient
position for its operator without moving the water-delivering
position of the gooseneck 52. Further, handle extension 55 may
be rotating to a position one hundred and eighty degrees from
that shown in Fig. 1, 80 that the handle extension 55 underlies
the water flow and can be operated by pressing a container to be
filled downwardly against the handle extension to thereby fill ~he
container.
It further will be noted from the above description and
drawings that, in addition to the separable plastic alr-gap
modular feature, all the parts of the accessory faucet of the
present inven~ion essentially ~urround and are centered on ~he
same center-line, central axis x-x. Further, the water flow in
and out of the accessory faucet is along central axis x-x~ sin~e
the water flow from pipe conduit 13 that deviates past valve seat
31 and into ~hannel 43, enters back into the center line of
water-flow condui~ 49 in the upper portion of valve stem 40. This
in-line construction and operation permits parts with simpler
shapes to be utilized, thus re~uiring less machining, molding,
routing, channeling, etc. operations in manufacturing the
individual parts, and simplifying assembly.
Still further, the pivoting of the handle 19 occurs about an
axis perpendicular to and intersecting central axis x-x by virtue
of diametrically opposite trunnions 6~ and handle slots 59.
Trunnions 62 and pivot bushing 61 in groove 60 further provide
-14-
37i~3
excellent load dis~ribution when the handle 19 is operated. This
arrangement in conjunction with first and second camming surfaces
55,57 and handle extension 55 provides a very strong valve
operating mechanism and action for the faucet.
It is unders~ood that various changes and modifications may
be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.
-15-
