US3568928A - Drinking fountain - Google Patents

Abstract

A drinking fountain having a faucet from which water discharges upwardly and inwardly toward the center of a basin equipped with an antisplash ridge projecting from the concave bottom wall of the basin and terminating in a narrow crown having downwardly and outwardly curved slopes merging into the bottom wall of the basin. The ridge is aligned with the water discharge from the faucet to prevent splashing impingement of the water against the basin bottom wall, and the ridge is provided along the crown thereof with a port communicating with the basin waste outlet and serving normally as a ventilation opening therefor. The fountain also includes a hollow pedestal containing both the waste conduit and water supply conduit, the latter of which serves as a locating device to establish the relative orientation of the basin and pedestal for assembly thereof.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Allen C. Wright 7 FOREIGN PATENTS [21] A l N 22:31: Calif- 101 1/1902 Great Britain 239/28 p o. [22] July 26 1968 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [45] patented Man 9, 1971 Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church [73] Assignee Haws Drinking Faucet Company Ammey 6ardner and Zlmmerman Berkeley, Calif.

ABSTRACT: A drinking fountain having a faucet from which water discharges upwardly and inwardly toward the center of [54] DRINKING FOUNTAIN a basin equipped with an antisplash ridge projecting from the 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. concave bottom wall of the basm and terminating in a narrow crown havlng downwardly and outwardly curved slopes merg- [52] US Cl 239/28 1ng1nto the bottom wall of the basin; The rldge is aligned with [51] Cl 1 E03! 9/20 the water discharge from the faucet to prevent splashing [50] Field ofSearch 239/28, 29; impingement f the water against h basin bottom wall, and 4/ l 89; 62/389, 391 the ridge is provided along the crown thereof with a port communicating with the basin waste outlet and serving normally as [56] References Cned a ventilation opening therefor. The fountain also includes a UNITED STATES PATENTS hollow pedestal containing both the waste conduit and water 3,286,484 1 1/1966 Bush et al. 62/391 supply conduit, the latter of which serves as a locating device ,756 6/ 1956 Canter 62/399(X) to establish the relative orientation of the basin and pedestal 1,632,842 6/ 1927 Liening 239/28 for assembly thereof.

. tam na FOi iNTAIN DISCLOSURE.

This invention relates to a drinking fountain or the likeand,

more particularly; to a drinking fountain of the type in which areas to which the public has access and, as a consequence,

such fountains are especially susceptible to damage and some.- times complete destruction by vandals. Further, as in. the case of anydrinking fountain, splash resulting from the impingetn'ent of water into the basin or 'receptaclerfor the. water discharge is an annoyance, as'is the relativelyslow drainageuof Water from such a basin. ln'viewof these undesirable factors-, an object of the'presentinvention lSftO provide an improved drinking fountain in which each .isminimized ifv not substantially obviated. i 3 .nI'AIlOil'lflI'ObjGC! of the invention is that of providing a ventilation portcommunicating with the waste outlet of the basin and being oriented dl'ong the crown ofanantisplash ridge' -to serve, in the'ordinaiyicase, as a vent forlthe waste utlet.- t i A further object of the inventionis. to provide a drinking fountain having a bowl structure and, a hollow pedestal supporting the same asa free-standing unit, and inwhich the waste conduitand supply conduit for the "fountain are concealed withinthe pedestalwith the water supply conduit serving to locate the relative positions of the bowl structure pedestal during assembly'of the fountain.

Yet a further object is in the provisionof a-fountain of the type described in which the fasteners, mounting devices, and interconnections are concealed so that the fountain can not be disassembled readily or otherwise tampered with,by vandals. 131 Additional objects and advantageso f the invention willxbe apparentas the specification continues through a description of the specific embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: r r FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking fountain embody.-

' ing the invention;

and

along a'floor or other support surface-l3. Ordinarily, the support surface 13 will be a solid or finished component formed .of tile,-concrete orof other similar materials used for lobbies and other interior floor surfaces of a building. However, other support surfaces may be used especially ,if the fountain is :located outdoors, and in such. event special support platforms might -be provided upon which the fountain is mountedwAs shown in -FlG. l, the mounting plate 12 is secured to the floor 913 by a plurality offasteners 14 which rnay, be conventional studs onscrews and arelocated at the four corner portions of l the generally square-shaped plate, 12.-; D esirably, such fasteners are countersunkinto the plate, 12 so as not. to protrude thereabove, and quite often the entire plate will be overlaid by carpeting, linoleum or other floor covering in the caseof the fountain beinglocated within the interior of a,

therebetween. The basin part 15 has a concave wall 18 forming a basin or receptacle l9, an'd the wall 18 at the upper edge thereof is provided 'with a perimet'ric, laterally extending flange 20 which along the undersurface thereof may have a downwardly opening channel 21 seating the upper edge of the bottom closure 16 therein. Extendingupwardly from the concave wall, 18 is an antisplash ridge '22 which is medially disposed with respect to the basin 19 and substantially divides the same centrally, as shown in FIG; 2.

', The ridge 22 isfsyrnme'trical and is provided along the center thereof with'a crown 23 that is relatively narrow, and it is further provided withcurv ed slopes or sidewalls 24 and 25 that diverge downwardly and outwardly from the crown to merge smoothly init'o th'e concave configuration of thewall 18. As is mostevident iniFlG. 2,,ridge-22'also varies in cross-see tional extent so as"to :merge or vanish at one narrow end thereof irito the contour of the wall 18 (asshown at 2 6) and it progressively enlarges in widththeref roin toward a wide opposite end that effectively ,i'nerges irito the flange 20 (as indicated generally at ml. I bstantially planar alignment with the flange 20 is a land 28 provided bythe ridge 22 adjacent the end-27 thereof, and mountedjupon the land 28 is afaucet 29. As. respects .Ithe present invention; the faucet 29 may be completely c'onventipnal and is equipped with a valve manipulated by 'a hand control which regulates "or controls the discharge of water from an exit aperture or nozzle 31. As is noste'vide'n't inFlG. 2, the aperture3l isinsubstantial longitudinal alignment with the ridge 22am especially with the narrow crown 23ltherejof so that irrespective of thevolu'me of water'permitted to discharge fromthe aperture, the water impinges on th ecrown 23 and upon the: slopes 24 and 25 curving upwardlyyand inwardlyiheretoward. Evidently then, the aperture 31 is oriented so, that the direction of water discharge therefromis upwardly and inwardly toward the center of the basin1 9; and as the water drops downwardly, it is divided by .the crown23 into separate streamsrespectively impinging 21 In the particularfountain being considered, there are seven such ports 32 on'e"of which (denoted with the numeral 33), is located along the crown 23 Because of its location along the crown, port 33 islnormallyiabove the lev'el of water within the "basin l9and theref or'e; sei'v'es as a ventilation opening'for the .outlet. The provision of' ventilation port 33 facilitates the discharge of water through' 'the other parts to assure a quick discharge of waste wate'r from the bowl and the prevention of any water buildup the bowl, Four" of the ports 32 are disposed along the slopes 24 and 25 of the antisplash ridge 22, andtwoofthe ports are generally at the base of the ridge so as to be oriented at about the lowest points in the basin 19. As shown in FIG. 3,the;'co nc ai/e wall 18 ofthe basin'p'art is provided centrally along the underside thereof with an enlargement defining adepending collar 34 which is hollow, and all of theports 32 communicate therewith. l

- The collar 34 is internally threaded and threadedly receives therein an externally threaded sleeve 3;5'mounted upon the upper end ofa wastefconduit 3 6which at its'lowr end is similarly equippedwith an externally threaded sleeve 37. The waste conduit do is centrallydisposed 'with respect to the pedestal 11 which is hollow, and the waste conduit extends downwardly .the rethrough. an analogous manner, a water supply conduit 3 ,9-extends downwardly through the hollow interior of the pedestal 11,,and' at iis upper end is coupled yia a connector conduit 4 0 with the faucet 29 so as to supply water thereto in this r'especythe connectorconduit 40 may be'connected with thefaucet'f29 and supply conduit 39 byastandardslip merals 41 and 42. In this reference, the conduit 40 at one end thereof telescopes into the somewhat larger passage provided therefor by the faucet 29, and a watertight interconnection therebetween is defined by the slip nut 41 which is threadedly received on the end of the tube or pipe of the faucet providing such larger passage and compresses a rubber washer or O-ring into sealing interengagement with the conduit 40 and terminal end of the faucet passage. Similarly, the conduit 40 at its opposite end telescopes into the somewhat larger conduit 39, and the slip nut 42 being tightened onto the threaded end of the conduit 39 compresses a resilient washer into sealing engagement with the conduits 39 and 40.

Seated upon the hollow pedestal 11, which is of cylindrical cross section, is a locking plate 43 provided at angularly spaced locations thereabout with a plurality of openings 44 therethrough there being four such openings equally spaced at 90". intervals, as shown in FIG. 4. The plate 43 is of substantially the same external diameter as that of the pedestal 11, and it seats within an annular recess 45 provided therefor along the underside of the enclosure part 16 of the bowl structure which enclosure part is enlarged somewhat in thickness along the center portion thereof, as shown in FIG. 3, to accommodate such recess. The locking plate 43 is provided centrally with a relatively large opening therein passing the threaded sleeve 35 freely therethrough.

In a corresponding manner, the mounting plate 12 along the upper surface thereof is provided with an annular recess 46 dimensioned to seat the hollow pedestal 11 therein, and it also is provided with a plurality of openings 47 therethrough communicating with the recess 46 and which openings are angularly spaced at 90 intervals, as shown in FIG. 4 with respect to the plate 43. The mounting plate 12 is also provided centrally with an opening of sufficient diameter to freely pass the threaded sleeve 37 therethrough which receives thereon a nut 48 used to constrain all of the components in the assembled condition thereof, as will be described subsequently. It should be observed that the enclosure part 16 is also provided with a plurality of angularly spaced openings 49. therethrough uniformly distributed so as to respectively align with the openings 44 in the plate 43, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

To assemble the fountain, and assuming the condition in which all of the components are separated, the coupling conduit 40, faucet 29 and basin part 15 of the bowl structure may be interconnected, and then the conduit 40, supply conduit 39 and enclosure part 16 may be interconnected whereupon the enclosure part and basin part of the bowl structure are placed together in the position thereof shown in FIG. 3. Evidently, the conduit 40 is flexible, and in this respect any flexible conduit may be used (plastic, for example although flexible metal conduits can be employed). The collar 34 of the basin part 15 is seen to be centrally aligned with the recess 45 in the enclosure part 16 and extends through a central opening provided therefor in the enclosure part. Thus, the threaded interior of the collar is available for insertion thereinto of the sleeve 35 with which the waste conduit 36 is equipped at its upper end. Accordingly, the waste conduit and sleeve 35 thereof are simply turned into the collar 34 and are tightened sufficiently to provide a watertight interconnection therewith.

The locking plate 43 may then be placed within the recess 45, if not previously positioned therein, by sliding it downwardly along the waste conduit 36 and water supply conduit 39 whereupon the hollow pedestal 11 is then slid over the waste and supply conduits and into abutment with the locking plate 43. Next, the mounting plate 12 is oriented so that one of the openings 47 therein is aligned with the supply conduit 39, and the plate is then slid over the waste and supply conduits to 'seat the lower end of the pedestal 11 within the recess 46.

Finally, the nut 48 is turned onto the sleeve 37 to bring the nut into engagement with the undersurface of the mounting plate 12; and as the nut is tightened, the mounting plate 12 is tightened against the lower end of the pedestal 11, the pedestal 11 and locking plate 43 are tightened against the undersurface of the enclosure part 16 of the bowl structure, and

the enclosure part is tightened against the flange 20 of the basin part 15 which is drawn downwardly because of its threaded interconnection with the waste conduit 36. Accordingly, tightening the nut 48 fixedly constrains all of the components in their assembled condition.

The sleeves 35 and 37 may be fixedly related to the waste conduit 36 in any suitable manner and, for example, in a typical installation the waste conduit is a copper tube (usually type M), and the sleeves may be sweated thereonto. The supply conduit 39 may also be a copper tube, and the mounting plate 12 and the locking plate 43 may be brass and can be soldered or otherwise fixedly secured to the pedestal 11, which may be formed of brass for example. It will be evident that all of the interconnections are concealed for once the fountain is located along the support surface 13 and is affixed thereto by the fasteners 14 no access is afforded to any of the connections along the supply conduit 39 or waste conduit 36 or to the faucet 29. Thus, vandals or other unauthorized persons cannot damage the fountain by loosening parts thereof or by removing parts. Interconnection of the waste conduit 36 and supply conduit 39 to theappropriate drainage and water supply services may be provided in any conventional manner prior to securing the mounting plate 12 to the surface 13.

Should any moisture accumulate within the space 17 defined between the basin part 15 and enclosure part 16 of the bowl structure, it is 'carried to waste via the aligned openings 49 in the enclosure part 16, openings 44 in the locking plate 43, hollow interior in the pedestal l1, and openings 47 in the mounting plate 12. Further, the openings 44 in the locking plate, openings 47 in the mounting plate, and opening 49 in the enclosure part 16 of the bowl structure define (in conjunction with the supply conduit 39) a locating or polarizing arrangement by means of which the position of the bowl structure is oriented with respect to the mounting plate 12.

When the valve control 30 is manipulated to initiate and control the flow of water through the aperture 31 of the faucet 29, the water will be directed upwardly and inwardly toward the center of the basin 19; and as it drops downwardly, very little if any splash will occur because of the presence of the ridge 22 as heretofore explained. Water accumulating within the basin will drain through the ports 32 into the interior of the waste conduit 36 via the collar 34 so that no water accumulation will be permitted within the basin. The drainage of water therefrom is facilitated by the port 33 which ordinarily serves as a vent because of its location along the crown 23 of the ridge. Should for any reason water accumulate within the basin 19 to an elevation above that of the port 33, such port simply serves to carry the water to the waste conduit 36.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

lclaim:

1. In a drinking fountain or the like bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to waste and being equipped with a faucet at the top rear of said wall above said basin and from which water can be discharged into said basin, an antisplash ridge projecting into said basin from said top rear of said concave wall and having a slope at each side of said ridge and generally aligned with said faucet so that water discharging therefrom into said basin can impact said slopes and thereby reduce splash otherwise resulting from said discharge of water onto said concave wall, a hollow pedestal having both a waste conduit and a supply conduit extending therethrough which are respectively connected at their upper ends with said outlet and with said faucet, said pedestal being equipped at the lower end thereof with a mounting plate through which said waste and supply conduits extend and being secured at its upper end to said bowl structure, said bowl structure having a passage therein aligned with the hollow interior of said pedestal and through which said supply conduit extends with the result that the supply conduit in cooperation with said passage establishes the relative orientation of said bowl structure and pedestal, said bowl structure including a basin part and a separable enclosure part underlying theisame and defining therewith a substantially closed spacetherebetween, and said enclosure part being provided with a plurality of the aforesaid passages each communicating with the hollow interior of said pedestal and with said space to provide drainage for the latter.

2. In a drinking fountain or the like, bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to waste and being equipped with a faucet at the top rear of said wall above said basin and from which water can be discharged into said basin, an antisplash ridge projecting into said basin from said top rear of said concave wall and having a slope at each side of said ridge and generally aligned with said faucet so that water discharging therefrom into said basin can impact said slopes and thereby reduce splash otherwise resulting from said discharge of water onto said concave wall, said bowl structure including a basin part and a separable enclosure part underlying the same and defining therewith a substantially closed space therebetween, and a hollow pedestal secured at its upper end to said bowl structure, said enclosure part being provided with a plurality of passages each communicating with the hollow interior of said pedestal and with said space to provide drainage for the latter.

3. In a drinking fountain or the like bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to waste and being equipped with a faucet at the top rear of said wall above said basin and from which water can be discharged into said basin, an antisplash ridge projecting into said basin from said top rear of said concave wall and having a slope at each side of said ridge and generally aligned with said faucet so that water discharging therefrom into said basin can impact said slopes and thereby reduce splash otherwise resulting'frorn said discharge of water onto said concave wall, said bowl structure including a basin part and a separable enclosure part underlying the same and defining therewith a closed space therebetween, said outlet including a drain passage in said 'drain passage, a hollow pedestal enclosing said waste conduit and having a closed connection with said enclosure part, and a supply conduit extending through said pedestal and through said closed space and being connectedwith said faucet.

4. The drinking fountain of claim 3, in which said bowl structure is provided with a port located along said ridge and establishing communicatioh between said basin and outlet and forming a ventilation opening.

5. In a drinking fountain or the like, a bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to a waste disposal system and having drain openings in the bottom of said basin communicating with said outlet, said bowl being equipped with a faucet above said basin from which water can be discharged thereinto, an antisplash ridge in said basin projecting from the rear and bottom of said concave wall and having a slope at each side thereof aligned with the water discharge from said faucet so that the water in discharging therefrom into said basin can impinge on said slopes and thereby reduce water splash, said bowl structure being provided with a port located along the top of said ridge and establishing communication between said basin and outlet and forming a ventilation opening, said port being located at a higher level than said outlet.

Claims (5)

1. In a drinking fountain or the like bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to waste and being equipped with a faucet at the top rear of said wall above said basin and from which water can be discharged into said basin, an antisplash ridge projecting into said basin from said top rear of said concave wall and having a slope at each side of said ridge and generally aligned with said faucet so that water discharging therefrom into said basin can impact said slopes and thereby reduce splash otherwise resulting from said discharge of water onto said concave wall, a hollow pedestal having both a waste conduit and a supply conduit extending therethrough which are respectively connected at their upper ends with said outlet and with said faucet, said pedestal being equipped at the lower end thereof with a mounting plate through which said waste and supply conduits extend and being secured at its upper end to said bowl structure, said bowl structure having a passage therein aligned with the hollow interior of said pedestal and through which said supply conduit extends with the result that the supply conduit in cooperation with said passage establishes the relative orientation of said bowl structure and pedestal, said bowl structure including a basin part and a separable enclosure part underlying the same and defining therewith a substantially closed space therebetween, and said enclosure part being provided with a plurality of the aforesaid passages each communicating with the hollow interior of said pedestal and with said space to provide drainage for the latter.

2. In a drinking fountain or the like, bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to waste and being equipped with a faucet at the top rear of said wall above said basin and from which water can be discharged into said basin, an antisplash ridge projecting into said basin from said top rear of said concave wall and having a slope at each side of said ridge and generally aligned with said faucet so that water discharging therefrom into said basin can impact said slopes and thereby reduce splash otherwise resulting from said discharge of water onto said concave wall, said bowl structure including a basin part and a separable enclosure part underlying the same and defining therewith a substantially closed space therebetween, and a hollow pedestal secured at its upper end to said bowl structure, said enclosure part being provided with a plurality of passages each communicating with the hollow interior of said pedestal and with said space to provide drainage for the latter.

3. In a drinking fountain or the like bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to wAste and being equipped with a faucet at the top rear of said wall above said basin and from which water can be discharged into said basin, an antisplash ridge projecting into said basin from said top rear of said concave wall and having a slope at each side of said ridge and generally aligned with said faucet so that water discharging therefrom into said basin can impact said slopes and thereby reduce splash otherwise resulting from said discharge of water onto said concave wall, said bowl structure including a basin part and a separable enclosure part underlying the same and defining therewith a closed space therebetween, said outlet including a drain passage in said drain passage, a hollow pedestal enclosing said waste conduit and having a closed connection with said enclosure part, and a supply conduit extending through said pedestal and through said closed space and being connected with said faucet.

4. The drinking fountain of claim 3, in which said bowl structure is provided with a port located along said ridge and establishing communication between said basin and outlet and forming a ventilation opening.

5. In a drinking fountain or the like, a bowl structure providing a concave wall defining a basin having a bottom outlet adapted to be connected to a waste disposal system and having drain openings in the bottom of said basin communicating with said outlet, said bowl being equipped with a faucet above said basin from which water can be discharged thereinto, an antisplash ridge in said basin projecting from the rear and bottom of said concave wall and having a slope at each side thereof aligned with the water discharge from said faucet so that the water in discharging therefrom into said basin can impinge on said slopes and thereby reduce water splash, said bowl structure being provided with a port located along the top of said ridge and establishing communication between said basin and outlet and forming a ventilation opening, said port being located at a higher level than said outlet.

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