Aerator And Spray Device

Abstract

A fitting forms a passage for flow of liquid from a supply duct through a rounded body of the fitting, and a liquid aerator is carried by a support which swivels on the rounded body from a first position to a second position, the support defining spray channels for the liquid. The support also carries means operable in said first position to direct flow of liquid from the fitting passage to the aerator inlet while blocking flow from this passage to the spray channels, such means being operable in the second position of the support to direct flow of liquid from the fitting passage to the spray channels while blocking flow from this passage to the aerator inlet.

Description

THE DISCLOSURE

This invention relates to devices of the type adapted for connection to a liquid supply duct, such as a water tap, and operable selectively to discharge the liquid in aerated condition or as an unaerated spray.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the type described which is relatively simple in construction and which is operable quickly and easily to change from one kind of liquid discharge to the other kind.

A device made according to the invention comprises a fitting having an intake end adapted for connection to the liquid supply duct and also having a rounded body which is preferably spherical, the fitting forming a passage for flow of liquid from the supply duct through the rounded body. A liquid aerator is carried by a support mounted on the rounded body for swiveling movements relative thereto and defining spray channels for the liquid, the support being adapted to swivel from a first position to a second position of the rounded body. The support also carries means operable in this first position to direct liquid from the fitting passage to the aerator inlet while blocking flow from the passage to the spray channels, such means being operable in the second position of the support to direct liquid from the fitting passage to the spray channels while blocking flow from the passage to the aerator inlet.

Thus, the new device can be readily operated to change from an aerated discharge to a spray discharge of the liquid, or vice versa, simply by swiveling the support by which the aerator is mounted on the rounded body of the fitting.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred form of the new device, showing the aerator support in position for aerating the liquid, and

FIG. 2 is a similar view, with parts broken away, showing the aerator support in position for spraying the liquid.

The device as illustrated comprises a fitting 1 which is externally threaded at 1a so that it can be screwed into the outlet of a conventional water tap (not shown). The fitting has a depending rounded body 2, shown as spherical, and forms a central passage 2a for flow of water from the threaded intake end of the fitting through its spherical body 2.

Closely surrounding the spherical body 2 is a member 3 having a skirt 3a depending from this body, the member 3 containing an annular gasket 4 engaging the spherical body around its maximum circumference or "equator." The gasket 4 is retained against displacement relative to the member 3, partly by means of the latter's upper part 3b which has an internal circumference somewhat less than the maximum circumference of the body 2, whereby the member 3 is held against downward movement relative to this body. As shown, the spherical body is secured to the fitting part 1 by a threaded connection 2b, which permits placement of member 3 around the spherical body before the latter is secured to the fitting part 1. It will be understood that member 3 can be swiveled in any direction relative to the spherical body 2 and that gasket 4 serves to seal the space between this body and the member 3 regardless of the position to which the latter is swiveled.

A ring 5 is externally threaded at 5a so that it can be screwed into the member 3 from the lower end thereof. This ring has an internal shoulder 5b which supports an aerator basket 6, the bottom 7 of which is constituted by a screen or wire mesh whereby the bottom is provided with a large number of perforations forming an outlet for the aerated liquid. At its upper end, the basket 6 has circumferentially spaced prongs 6a resting upon the shoulder 5b. Thus, the prongs 6a are separated by spaces (not shown) which permit passage of air between the prongs from an annular passage 12 defined by the parts 5 and 6, the air passage 12 extending upwardly from the bottom of the device. A hollow button assembly 8 rests upon the open upper end of the basket 6 and forms a distributing space 9 which, as shown in FIG. 1, receives liquid from the lower end of passage 2a in the spherical body 2. The liquid passes from chamber 9 through circumferentially spaced slots 10 in the button assembly and is directed downwardly toward the screen 7 by an annular deflecting ring 11. The resulting spray of droplets is aerated by the air which is drawn upwardly through passage 12 and through the spaces (not shown) between prongs 6a, this air then passing downwardly adjacent the deflector ring 11 and being admixed with the water droplets emerging from the bottom of the deflector ring.

The button assembly 8 comprises the button-shaped element 10a containing the slots 10 and also comprises the deflector ring 11 and a disc 20. The periphery of button element 10a is clamped between the lower surface of disc 20 and the upper portion of deflector ring 11, the latter portion being formed to extend upwardly around the periphery of disc 20 and then inwardly over the upper surface of the disc, thereby securing the parts 10a, 11 and 20 to each other. The disc 20 has a centrally depressed portion provided with an opening 20a which forms the liquid inlet of the aerator.

A sealing element 13 in the form of an annular gasket is seated on the disc 20 and closely surrounded by the ring 5. This gasket has a central opening 13a aligned with the aerator inlet 20a. As shown in FIG. 1, the gasket 13 engages the spherical body 2 around the lower end of passage 2a. The central portion of the gasket is deflected downwardly by the spherical body 2 into the centrally depressed portion of disc 20. An annular member 14 is provided at the bottom with an inturned flange resting upon gasket 13 and surrounding the spherical body 2 in spaced relation thereto. The vertical wall of the annular member 14 is provided with diametrically opposed slots or openings 14a leading from an annular chamber 15 surrounding the spherical body 2. At its upper end, the annular member 14 has an outwardly extending flange 14b which is clamped between the upper end of ring 5 and an internal shoulder of member 3.

It will be observed that the member 3 and ring 5 form in effect a support for the aerator 6-8 so that the support and aerator assembly can be swiveled as a unit on the spherical body 2. The support is provided with an annular space 16 formed between the ring 5 and the surrounding skirt 3a. The upper portion of space 16 communicates through diametrically opposed openings in ring 5 with the slots 14a of the annular member 14. Leading from the lower portion of space 16 are spray channels 17 arranged in closely spaced relation around the ring 5. As shown, the spray channels 17 are defined by notches or grooves in the periphery of a circumferential flange of ring 5 and by the lower portion of skirt 3a.

In assembling the illustrated device, the spherical body 2 with annular member 3 and gasket 4 mounted thereon is screwed into the bottom of the other part of fitting 1. The aerator 6-8 is seated in ring 5 on its shoulder 5b, and the sealing gasket 13 is inserted in the ring 5 on top of the aerator disc 20. With the annular member 14 placed on top of gasket 13, the ring 5 is then screwed into the member 3 from below until the flange 14b is clamped tightly between the upper end of ring 5 and the overlying shoulder in the member 3.

In the operation of the device, the support 3-5 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1 when it is desired to aerate the liquid discharging from the fixture passage 2a. In this position of the support, the liquid flows from passage 2a through gasket opening 13a to the inlet 20a of the aerator. Aeration of the liquid is effected as previously described and as will be well understood by those skilled in the art, since the illustrated form of the aerator is of a type known in the art. It will be observed that in this position of the support 3-5, the sealing gasket 13 firmly engages the spherical body 2 around the lower end of passage 2a and thus prevents liquid from entering the annular space 15.

When it is desired to spray the liquid through the spray channels 17, the support 3-5 is swiveled or tilted to the position shown in FIG. 2, where the gasket opening 13a is displaced from the fitting passage 2a and is sealed by a solid portion of the spherical body 2. In this position of the support, the liquid from the lower end of passage 2a enters the annular space 15 and passes to the annular space 16 by way of openings 14a and the aligned openings in ring 5. Accordingly, the liquid is now discharged as a spray through the channels 17.

It will be understood that the parts 13 and 14 form in effect a means carried by the support 3-5 and operable in the FIG. 1 position of the support to direct liquid from the fitting passage 2a to the aerator inlet 20a while blocking flow from this passage to the spray channels 17, and operable in the FIG. 2 position of the support to direct liquid from passage 2a to the spray channels 17 while blocking flow from this passage to the aerator inlet 20a.

The support 3-5 may be tilted in any direction on the spherical member 2 to change from the aerated discharge to the spray discharge, and this tilting may be effected readily by simply pressing against the lower portion of skirt 3a. The device may be easily operated to change from the spray discharge to the aerated discharge by pressing against the lower portion of skirt 3a so as to return the support to the FIG. 1 position.

Claims

I claim:

1. A liquid aerator and spray device comprising a fitting having an intake end adapted for connection to a duct to receive liquid therefrom and including a rounded body, said fitting forming a passage for flow of liquid from said intake end through the rounded body, an aerator having an inlet for said liquid and an outlet for discharging aerated liquid, a support for the aerator mounted on the rounded body for swiveling movements relative thereto and defining spray channels for the liquid, said support being adapted to swivel from a first position to a second position on said body, and means carried by said support and operable in said first position to direct liquid from said fitting passage to the aerator inlet while blocking flow from said passage to the spray channels, said means being operable in said second position to direct liquid from said passage to the spray channels while blocking flow from said passage to the aerator inlet.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said support includes a member closely surrounding the rounded body and having a skirt depending from said body, said support also including a ring extending into the skirt and removably secured thereto, the aerator being mounted within said ring.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the aerator includes a basket having a bottom provided with perforations forming said outlet, said basket and ring defining an air inlet.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said support includes a member closely surrounding the rounded body and having a skirt depending from said body, said support also including a ring extending into the skirt and removably secured thereto, the aerator being mounted within said ring, said skirt and ring defining said spray channels.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which said rounded body is spherical.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which said means include a sealing element engaging said rounded body and having an opening leading to the aerator inlet.

7. A device according to claim 1, in which said means include a sealing element engaging said rounded body and having an opening leading to the aerator inlet, and an annular member seated on said element around said opening and defining a chamber surrounding said rounded body, said member forming passage means through which said chamber communicates with the spray channels.

8. A device according to claim 1, in which said rounded body is spherical, said support including a member closely surrounding the spherical body and having a skirt depending from said body, said support also including a ring extending into the skirt and removably secured thereto, the aerator being mounted within said ring, said means including a sealing element seated in the ring above the aerator and engaging the spherical body, said element having an opening leading to the aerator inlet and communicating with said fitting passage in said first position of the support, said means also including an annular part having a lower end seated on the sealing element around its said opening and having an upper end seated against said skirted member, said annular part defining a chamber surrounding the spherical body and into which said fitting passage opens in said second position of the support, said part forming passage means through which said chamber communicates with the spray channels.