US3438577A - Drinking fountain attachment - Google Patents

Description

April 1969 c. G. MACKIE ETAL 3,438,577

DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT Filed April 28, 1967 United States Patent 3,438,577 DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT Charles G. Mackie, Glen Ellen, and Gordon J. Rahr,

River Forest, 111., assignors, by Inesne assignments, to Milton Brav, Chicago, Ill.

Filed Apr. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 634,729 Int. Cl. E03c 1 02; F16k /00 US. Cl. 23925 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a device suitable for mounting on a faucet or other water discharge means. It is provided with an adjustable member. In one position of adjustment, that member permits normal flow of water through the faucet, the water being discharged from the device in the normal direction of its discharge from the faucet without the device. In another position of adjustment, the member causes a column of water to be directed upwardly for drinking. The device thus comprises an attachment for a conventional faucet by means of which water may be discharged in a direction convenient for drinking when desired. It makes a drinking fountain of the conventional faucet for use at will.

An object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a conventional faucet or water discharge means to act as a converting device to make the faucet a drinking fountain with a jet of water discharged in a direction suitable for drinking so that any conventional faucet may be used for drinking directly and without the necessity of using a glass or other receptacle.

Another object is to provide such a drinking fountain attachment with means to insure that the opening through which the stream of water for drinking is discharged shall at all times except when in use be withdrawn and protected from any foreign matter which might otherwise fall upon it if it were constantly exposed.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a faucet with the device of the invention in place,

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the device on an enlarged scale showing it in the non-discharging position,

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to FIGURE 2 showing the device in the discharging position,

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the device taken at line 44 of FIGURE 2, with parts removed,

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the moving member removed from the housing in which it is positioned when the device is in use, and

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation of the cap member which surrounds the spring in the assembled device.

Like numerals will be used to designate like parts in the following description of the drawings.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the drinking fountain device is in position on a faucet. The faucet includes a connection 1, a housing 2, and a controlling handle 3, by means of which the faucet is opened and closed. A spout 4 has a downwardly depending portion 5, to which the housing 6 of the drinking fountain device is mounted.

The housing 6 is hollow, as shown in the figures, and is provided with an internally threaded opening 7, by means of which it may be engaged with and mounted upon the faucet portion 5.

A central passage 8 is formed in the housing and communicates with a longitudinal or transverse bore 9. Two discharge passages 10, 10 extend downwardly from the bore 9 to the lower open end which is internally threaded at 11 to receive an aerator or other device which may be positioned upon the housing.

3,438,577 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 The device includes a member 12 which is mounted in the transverse bore, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The member 12 is provided with an enlarged head portion 13 at one end, within which a water discharge passage 14 is formed. A relief groove 33 is formed about the head 13 and in communication with the discharge passage 14. The discharge passage 14 communicates at its inner end with a groove 15' to which water may flow from within the housing to the passage 14 when the member 12 is in the position of FIGURE 3.-The member 13 is also grooved at 1 6 to receive a sealing O-ring 17, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3.

Intermediate its ends, the member 12 is notched as at 18. At its opposite end, it is provided with a threaded, preferably central, bore 19 within which a screw 20 may be received. The head of the screw 20 is positioned in a depression 21 formed in a cap 22 which is inwardly grooved as at 23.

The housing 6 is provided with a depression 24 within which a sealing ring 25 is positioned and a retaining ring 26 may be positioned against the sealing ring 25.

The housing 6 is also provided with a groove 27 within which a sealing ring 28 is positioned, which is in contact with a retaining ring 29.

A spring 30 is positioned within the cap 22 and partially within the housing 6. It bears against the retaining ring 29 at one end and it bears against an outward portion of the cap 22 at its other end. The spring is biased to hold the member 12 and the cap which is attached to it in the position of FIGURE 2. The spring may be depressed however to permit movement of the controlling member 12 from the position of FIGURE 2 to the position of FIGURE 3 to permit discharge of fluid from the faucet and from within the housing outwardly through the opening. The housing preferably is provided with a raised member 31 which, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, extends into the groove 23 of the cap 22 and prevents its rotation.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows.

The device, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, is suitable for attachment to a conventional faucet. Many faucets are threaded externally. In that case, the arrangement of FIGURES 2 and 3 may be screwed directly into place. Should the faucet be internally threaded, an adaptor may be used. The adaptor forms no part of the present invention and will not be described. Such adaptors are readily available on the market today.

If desired, an aerator may be attached to the threads 11 so that the water discharged from the faucet will be aerated as it leaves the housing 6. Such aerators are very common and readily available on the market. The form no part of the present invention and will not be described. Such an aerator is indicated in FIGURE 1 at 32.

With the device in position as shown in FIGURE 1, it is available for use as a drinking fountain. When the faucet is turned on by proper manipulation of the handle 3, water will fiow through the spout 4 and be discharged from the housing in the normal downward direction. This will take place because the spring 30 is biased to hold the movable member 12 in the position of FIGURE 2. In that position, the unnotched part of the member 12 is in close contact with the sealing ring 25 and water cannot reach the groove 15 for discharge through the outlet passage 14. In this position also, the discharge end of the passage 14 is fully withdrawn into the housing 6 and is protected from contamination or any foreign matter which might otherwise have fallen upon or into it had it been in the exposed position.

When it is desired to use the device as a drinking fountain, pressure is applied to the screw 20 or the cap 22. The spring is compressed to the position of FIGURE 3 and the discharge opening 14 is moved to the open posi- (19 tion. Water then moves through the passage 8 and the notch 18 into that portion of the housing 6 with which the groove communicates. Since the groove 15 communicates also with the outlet passage 14, water flows from the groove to the passage 14 and outwardly through it. Thus, as long as the parts are maintained in the position of FIGURE 3, water will be discharged upwardly through the opening of the passage 14 and a user may move his lips close enough to drink the water as it moves outwardly in a jet-like formation through the passage 14.

When pressure is no longer applied to the screw or the cap 22, the spring 30 is eifective to move the parts to the position of FIGURE 2 and thus to withdraw the opening of the passage 14 to the interior or protected position of FIGURE 2. The device will remain in the position of FIGURE 2 until positive pressure is applied to compress the spring and to move the device to the open position.

The groove 33 serves to relieve pressure of liquid entrapped in the passage 14 when the head 13 moves from the position of FIGURE 2 to that of FIGURE 3. The groove 33 prevents what is called a spitting action as the member closes.

The angular direction of the jet of water from the passage 14 may be varied by loosening the screw 20 and rotating the part 12 until the passage 14 is tilted to the right or left to the degree necessary to give the jet of water its desired direction.

The size and inclination of the notch 18 serves as a metering means. As soon as the member 12 has been moved to the right from the position of FIGURE 2 sutficiently to cause any part of the notch 18 to pass the O- ring 25, water will move into the groove 15. As the Water moves past the O-ring and the retaining ring 26, there is a baffling effect since these members extend into the path of Water moving along the inclined bottom of the notch 18. The farther the movement of the member 12 is continued, the greater the clearance between the notch 18 and the O-ring 25. Hence, more water is discharged. In the full open position of FIGURE 3, the maximum clearance between the O-ring 25 and the notch 18 is provided. By this means, it is possible to vary the quantity of water discharged through the oulet passage 14.

The member 12 does not completely block the passages 10. This is clear from FIGURE 4. Thus at no time is the movement of water from the passage 8 through the passages 16 blocked. Whatever the position of adjustment of the member 12, water will always discharge downwardly through the passages 11} whenever the faucet has been opened by suitable manipulation of the handle 3 which controls the valve mechanism in the faucet.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it should be realized that there are many modifications, alterations and substitutions thereto within the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination in a drinking fountain attachment for faucets,

a hollow housing with a normal discharge outlet,

a movable member within said housing and shaped to provide a drinking outlet,

means biased to yieldingly hold said movable member in such position that the drinking outlet is wholly within said housing,

the movable member being adapted upon movement in one direction to bring the drinking outlet into the open position for the discharge of water therethrough.

2. The device of claim 1 characterized by the fact that the movable member is provided with a reduced portion intermediate its ends.

3. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the movable member is provided with a water passage communicating with said drinking outlet.

4. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said yielding means comprises a spring positioned about said movable member and bearing at one end thereagainst and at the other end against said housing.

5. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said housing is threaded at each end.

6. The device of claim 1 characterized by the fact that said normal discharge is directed generally downwardly and that said drinking outlet is directed generally upwardly.

7. In combination in a drinking fountain attachment for faucets,

a hollow housing,

openings at each end thereof,

a transverse passage therethrough,

a movable member positioned in said passage for longitudinal movement,

a spring positioned about said movable member and bearing at one end against a portion of said housing and hearing at the other end against a member fixed to said movable member,

said movable member having a portion of reduced diameter intermediate its ends,

a first passage formed in said movable member and an outlet passage connected with said first passage and extending to the exterior of said movable member,

said spring biased to move the movable member into such position that the outlet opening is withdrawn within the housing.

8. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the fact that the reduced portion has a notch with an inclined bottom of gradually increasing depth in a direction away from said drinking outlet which acts as a water metering opening.

9. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that there is provided about one end of the movable member a groove communicating with the drinking outlet.

10. The device of claim 6 further characterized by the fact that adjusting means are provided for fastening the movable member in adjusted position to adjust the angle of discharge of the drinking faucet.

11. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the fact that bafiiing means are provided within the housing and along the path of flow to the drinking outlet, said baflling means being intermediate the interior of the housing and the drinking outlet and being positioned about said movable member.

12. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the fact the reduced portion is shaped to provide in connection with the housing a metering opening to meter the quantity of liquid discharged.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,458,718 6/1923 Lord 251-353 X 3,062,452 11/ 1962 Knight 23925 3,241,766 3/1966 Knight 23925 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

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