US3443753A

US3443753A - Fountain attachment for faucets

Info

Publication number: US3443753A
Application number: US690653A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas M Mcdonnell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-12-14
Filing date: 1967-12-14
Publication date: 1969-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-13

Description

y 1969 T. M. M DONNELL FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR FAUCETS Filed Dec. 14, 1967 rivenror Thomas M. McDonnell y Attorney United States Patent 3,443,753 FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR FAUCETS Thomas M. McDonnell, Oak Park, Ill., assignor of one-half to John Farina, Chicago, Ill. Filed Dec. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 690,653 Int. Cl. E03b 9/20; E03c 1/00 US. Cl. 239-27 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A removable attachment for converting an ordinary water faucet into a drinking fountain comprising a resilient tubular body having opposed valve shaft openings and a dispensing hole extending laterally therethrough, a deflector valve mounted on a shaft having ends received in said openings and a handle on the outside of said body for deflecting water from the bore of the body through the dispensing hole, and a non-resilient cap over the lower free end of the body having recesses to journal the ends of the shaft and a spout spaced from but aligned with the body dispensing hole for directing water deflected through the hole in an upward direction.

This invention relates to drinking fountain attachments of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,524,956.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved fountain attachment of simple design and construction which is economical to produce and which may be readily attached to the discharge spout of a conventional water faucet without requiring any tools or special equipment.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the type described, of a resilient tubular body having an internal valve for deflecting water from the bore of the body through a discharge hole, and a nonresilient cap sleeved over the lower end of the tube to keep the tube rigid, to journal the ends of the valve shaft, and to afford a spout for directing water deflected through the discharge hole in an upward direction.

These and other objects will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a device embodying features of the invention, as shown attached to the discharge spout of a conventional water faucet;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, with portions of the structure shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of the body valve and cap components, respectively, of the device illustrated in the other views.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements may have been omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that an attachment A for converting an ordinary water faucet into a drinking fountain is shown as applied to the spout or outlet 0 of a faucet.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the attachment of the invention includes a body 10, having a cap 12 over the lower or free end thereof, and having an internal valve 14.

Body 10, as best seen in FIGURES 2, and 4, is a generally cylindrical tube preferably formed of a resilient material such as rubber.

Body is provided, at a location spaced upward, ap-

3,443,753 Patented May 13, 1969 "Ice proximately one-third of the distance from its lower end, with a pair of diametrically opposed shaft receiving openings 20 and a pair of vertical slits 22 extending from the respective openings 20 downward to the lower free edge of the body. The slits 22 serve two distinct functions: one is to afford a simple means of inserting the valve into position within the body, and the other is to facilitate positioning of cap 12 over the lower end of body 10.

Body 10 is also provided with a discharge hole 24 which is located at approximately the same distance from the lower end of the body as openings 20 but is spaced circumferentially approximately degrees from the openings. Discharge hole 24 extends laterally completely through the wall of the body and is preferably inclined upwardly and forwardly from the bore of the body.

Cap 12, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, is preferably formed of a non-resilient material such as metal, and is cylindrical in shape having a skirt or side wall 30 and an integral inturned peripheral flange 32 at the lower end thereof.

Also, cap 12 is provided with an integral outwardly flared discharge spout 34.

At the upper edges of cap side wall 30 there are provided a pair of diametrically opposed recesses 36.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 5, valve 14, also preferably formed of a non-resilient material such as metal, includes a shaft 40 having a handle 42 formed integrally with one end thereof and a deflector plate 44 formed integrally with or fixed to a medial portion of shaft 40. Plate 44 may be provided with an operative 46, the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

Again referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that valve 14 is mounted within body 10 so that valve plate 44 is positioned within the bore of the body and the opposite ends of valve shaft 40 project out of body side openings 20, with handle 42 being positioned on the outside of the body.

In assembling the device, slits 22 in the body permit the valve to be inserted into the body by passing the ends of the shaft up through the slits until they are received within openings 20.

After valve 14 has been positioned within body 10, cap 12 is slipped over the lower end of the body until cap flange 32 is snugly abutting the lower free end of the body side wall. It will be seen that the width of the cap flange is approximately equal to the Wall thickness of the body. External pressure is then applied to the cap to press fit it over the body. Slits 22 in the body facilitate the press fit of the non-resilient cap over the resilient body.

It will be noted that recesses 36 in the upper edge of cap side wall 30 are aligned with openings 22 in body 10 and serve to journal the ends of valve shaft 40. If the entire device were formed of rubber the fitting between the body openings and the shaft ends would become increasingly sloppy with continued. use until the valve could no longer be positioned in proper alignment within the bore of the body.

It will also be noted that discharge spout 34 is spaced outwardly from but aligned with discharge hole 24 in the front part of the body.

After the upper end of the body has been slipped over the lower end of a water faucet discharge spout, without the use of any tools or special equipment, the device is ready for use.

To convert the faucet to a drinking fountain, after the water has been turned on, valve handle 42 is moved a sufiicient distance to cause shaft 40 to rotate and bring plate 44 from a vertical, non-operative position, to an inclined position, as shown in FIGURE 2, where it serves to deflect the water without passing through the bore of the body outwardly through body opening 24 where it is further deflected and directed upwardly by cap discharge spout 34. The purpose of aperture 46 in plate 44 is to permit a certain amount of the Water to pass through the plate and thereby minimize the water pressure, as very little pressure is required for the drinking fountain attachments.

After the attachment has been used as a drinking fountain, the valve may be returned to the vertical or nonoperative position.

Thus, it will be understood that the invention comprises a relatively simple and inexpensive attachment which, because of its resilient body, may be readily slipped over a faucet spout, and yet which because of its non-resilient cap and valve, will have a long service life.

I claim:

1. A drinking fountain attachment for a water faucet, comprising:

(a) a generally cylindrical, resilient, tubular body having a bore of generally uniform diameter throughout its length;

(b) said body being uninterrupted throughout its circumference at its upper end to accommodate its attachment to a discharge spout of a water faucet;

(c) said body having a pair of diametrically opposed valve shaft receiving openings spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof, and a discharge hole disposed approximately 90 degrees circumferentially from said openings;

(d) a valve positioned in said body and including:

(i) a horizontal shaft with ends disposed to extend through said openings;

(ii) a deflector plate mounted on said shaft in said body bore for movement between an inoperative position, parallel to the axis of the bore, and an operative position, angularly related to the axis of the bore, where it can deflect water from the bore through the discharge hole of the body;

(iii) a handle on one end of said shaft disposed outside of said body for moving said plate between inoperative and operative positions;

(e) a generally cylindrical, non-resilient discharge cap snugly fitted over the lower end of said body and including:

(i) a side wall having at its lower end an integral,

inwardly extending flange;

(ii) said side wall having in its upper edge a pair of recesses aligned with respective openings in said body for receiving and journalling opposite ends of said shaft;

(iii) said side wall also having at its upper edge an integral, outwardly flared discharge spout aligned with said body discharge hole and operable to direct forwardly and upwardly the water that is deflected by said valve plate through said body discharge hole.

2. drinking fountain attachment for a water faucet, compnsing:

(a) a generally cylindrical, resilient, tubular body having a bore throughout its length;

(c) said body having a pair of diametrically opposed valve shaft receiving openings spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof, and a discharge hole disposed approximately degrees circumferentially from said openings;

(d) a valve positioned in said body and including:

(i) a horizontal shaft with ends disposed to extend through said openings;

(e) a generally cylindrical, non-resilient discharge cap snugly fitted over the lower end of said body and:

(i) said cap having in its upper edge a pair of recesses aligned with respective openings in said body for receiving and journalling opposite ends of said shaft;

(ii) said cap also having at its upper edge an integral, outwardly flared discharge spout aligned with said body discharge hole and operable to direct forwardly and upwardly the water that is deflected by said valve plate through said body discharge hole.

3. An attachment according to claim 2, wherein said body has a pair of opposed slits extending upwardly from the bottom end thereof to the respective valve shaft receiving openings to permit the insertion of said valve into said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,524,956 10/1950 Brunetti 137-119 XR 3,371,868 3/1968 Abbott 239-27 HAROLD W. WEAKLEY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. l371l9, 603