Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Supply outlet for a sink or bath – Faucet or spout
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-11-20
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Supply outlet for a sink or bath
Faucet or spout
C137S217000, C137S801000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317905
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 spouts that have internal back flow protection.
Plumbing codes typically require back flow protection when a plumbing outlet is likely to be adjacent contaminated water. For example, kitchen spray units of the type which can be pulled out from the sink or a faucet are typically provided with back flow protection. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,322. The disclosure of this patent and of all other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Back flow protection has also been provided in stop cocks. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,133,804.
Back flow protection can be provided to some extent by including a one-way check valve in the supply line, or preferably (and/or additionally) by providing a means to bleed air into the fitting should upstream negative pressure develop (e.g. a supply line to a high rise apartment breaks). This latter approach significantly offsets any suction which might cause contaminated water to be sucked back into the line, and is known as vacuum breaking.
However, there is another type of faucet where the hot water is controlled by a first stop cock positioned at one location on a sink, the cold water is controlled by a second stop cock positioned at a second separate location on a sink, and outlets from both valves feed to a centrally located spout which has no valving to control water flow. While each such stop cock could be provided with separate vacuum breaker protection (compare U.S. Pat. No. 2,133,804), this requires two separate stop cocks to be modified to provide such protection.
Providing vacuum breaker protection in connection with such spouts is not typical as such spouts are often slanted upward so that their outlets are sufficiently far away from contaminated water below that plumbing codes don't usually require such protection. However, very low profile designs have been developed for such spouts where the outlet is very close to the base of the spout. Some plumbing codes require back flow protection in connection with such spouts.
Complicating matters is the fact that such designs are often provided with a pull up knob that rests on top of the spout. The knob is connected to an extension which projects downwardly through the spout in parallel to the water supply line to link to the drain control mechanism.
Thus, it can be seen that a need exists for back flow protection in such spouts.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a plumbing spout connectible to a supply of a fluid (typically water) in order to deliver the fluid to a selected site (preferably a lavatory or bath tub basin). The spout has a housing having an internal hollow. A lower inlet, upper opening and a side outlet passageway are provided in the housing and are all in communication with the hollow.
There is also a pull up knob having a downward extension that passes through the housing so as to be suitable to be connected to a drain control valve. Further, there is a plug mounted adjacent the upper opening, the plug having a bore which is in communication with atmosphere at its top and is also in communication with the lower inlet.
A check valve is positioned in the plug bore. The valve is normally biased to restrict air from entering the hollow through the bore. However, it permits air to enter the hollow through the bore if negative pressure develops in the hollow.
In preferred aspects the plug extension passes through a second bore in the plug, the check valve is spring biased in an upward direction (and is also urged into the closed position by water when water is supplied to the spout), and the spout does not contain any valve for controlling water flow to the housing outlet. Also, the side outlet passageway can be part of a generally horizontal spout outlet extension. If the pull up knob is removed from the spout the check valve can be accessed through the upper opening.
It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides back flow protection for a spout that is not part of a fluid control valve. The check valve itself can be hidden underneath the pull up knob so as to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance than would occur if an air access were readily visible. Further, the assembly can be easily manufactured and assembled. Should the check valve require maintenance, it can easily be accessed without removing the spout from its mounting on a plumbing fixture.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In this description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which there is shown by way of illustration preferred embodiments of the invention. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. Thus, the claims should be looked to in order to judge the scope of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2133804 (1938-10-01), Brooks
patent: 3056418 (1962-10-01), Adams et al.
patent: 3104674 (1963-09-01), Bills et al.
patent: 3796380 (1974-03-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 4696322 (1987-09-01), Knapp et al.
patent: 4757841 (1988-07-01), Lucas
patent: 5063619 (1991-11-01), Ross et al.
patent: 5325885 (1994-07-01), Ivan et al.
patent: 5533546 (1996-07-01), Dixon
Fetsuga Robert M.
Kallista, Inc.
Quarles & Brady LLP
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