Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – With hose storage or retrieval means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-14
2001-10-02
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
With hose storage or retrieval means
C239S530000, C239S583000, C239S586000, C251S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296011
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fluid valves useful in conjunction with kitchen sinks. More particularly; it relates to valves of the foregoing type particularly useful in conjunction with kitchen faucets used with dish or kitchen utensil rinsing sinks and the like.
It is known in conjunction with commercial dish washing to provide a spray head for rinsing utensils prior to them being placed in an automated commercial dishwasher. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,520 there is shown a trigger nozzle
40
which is connected to a flexible conduit
36
which in turn is connected to a hose
32
with the hose being contained in a candy cane configured tube
30
. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,969,923.
It is also known in the art to provide hose guide assemblies. One is shown in U.S. Pat. No. Re 25,642 which discloses a pulley
44
for a hose
66
with the pulley housed in a conduit
12
. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,888 and 5,390,695 retractable hose reel assemblies are disclosed utilizing springs.
The prior art also teaches the use of combined spray and aerator faucets which can be selected by merely rotating the water discharge head. See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,221,338, 4,598,866 and 5,383,604.
The prior art does not, however, provide a valve which when in an “inactivated” position affords a low flow pattern, and with subsequent activation provides first a high flow rate and then upon further activation provides a stoppage of flow. This pattern is particularly desirable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the invention provides a valve having a valve body with an axial bore, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. There is a chamber in the valve body which can be brought into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and outlet. A slidable member is positioned in the axial bore and the chamber, the slidable member having a fluid passage therein. A biasing means is constructed and arranged in conjunction with the slidable member to bias it towards a first outward position. When the slidable member is in the first outward position, a first low flow can be produced through the valve, when the slidable member is in a second partially outward position, a higher flow can be produced through the valve, and when the slidable member is in a third further inward position, flow through the valve is stopped.
In another aspect, the fluid passage of the slidable member is defined by an open ended spool, and there is a cap member connected to the valve body, the cap member having a cavity for receiving a portion of the slidable member.
In yet another aspect, a valve seat is provided adjacent a junction of the axial bore and chamber by a shoulder portion and a surface of a passage.
In still another aspect, the slidable member is moved by a trigger member connected to the valve body.
In a preferred embodiment, the fluid outlet is connected to a combined spray and aerator selector head.
In another preferred embodiment, the valve body includes a trigger assembly connected to a flexible hose and the flexible hose is connected to a hose take-up assembly, comprising a pulley having a groove and a housing for rotatably guiding the pulley. The hose is placed in a portion of the groove and the pulley is of sufficient weight to gravitationally pull the trigger assembly toward the end of a spout.
In an additional aspect, there is provided a three position biased valve including a valve body having an axial bore, an inlet and an outlet in communication with the bore. A biased flow regulating member is slidably positioned in the axial bore. The axial bore and the biased flow regulating member are constructed and arranged to provide fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet when at a first position, at a second position a second flow rate is produced faster than the first flow rate, and at a third position flow is stopped. The first, second and third positions are correlated with the biasing of the flow regulating member so that at the first position the biasing is at a least amount, at the third position, it is at a most amount and at the second position, it is biased to an amount between the least and most amounts.
The objects of the invention therefore include:
a. providing a three position valve which allows for flow when in an inactivated position;
b. providing a three position valve of the foregoing type for use with a spray and aeration function;
c. providing a valve of the foregoing type which is housed in a trigger nozzle;
d. providing a valve of the foregoing type which is connected to a flexible hose having a take up feature;
e. providing a valve of the foregoing type wherein the flow of water is conveniently terminated.
These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. Rather the invention may be employed in other embodiments. Reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the breadth of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 25642 (1964-09-01), Hagelthorn
patent: 1516226 (1924-11-01), Wixom
patent: 1821725 (1931-09-01), Rinehart
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patent: 2168951 (1939-08-01), Caldwell
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patent: 2969923 (1961-01-01), Fremion
patent: 2971520 (1961-02-01), Motis et al.
patent: 2991945 (1961-07-01), Rosenkranz
patent: 3185172 (1965-05-01), Hajek
patent: 3498546 (1970-03-01), Logan et al.
patent: 3515355 (1970-06-01), Shanks
patent: 3915382 (1975-10-01), Davis
patent: 4221337 (1980-09-01), Shames et al.
patent: 4221338 (1980-09-01), Shames et al.
patent: 4598866 (1986-07-01), Cammack et al.
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patent: 4962888 (1990-10-01), Beccaria et al.
patent: 5383604 (1995-01-01), Boesch
patent: 5390695 (1995-02-01), Howard
patent: 5574424 (1996-11-01), Fleischmann
patent: 5758690 (1998-06-01), Humpert et al.
patent: 5806770 (1998-09-01), Wang
Esche John C.
O'Connell David J.
Slothower Erich D.
Chambers A. Michael
Kohler Co.
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