Patent ID: 6880573
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: E03B,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A frost-free faucet comprising: a spigot disposed at a first end of an elongated pipe; a valve assembly disposed at a second end of said elongated pipe, said valve assembly including a valve member located within a housing, said housing including an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion including a fluid inlet and said outlet portion including at least one radial outlet port, said valve member being rotatably positionable through 90 degrees between a closed position and an open position to selectively enable fluid communication from said inlet portion to said outlet portion, said valve member including a first valve element and a second valve element rotatably positionable with respect to said first valve element, said first valve element having a first passageway formed therein which aligns with a second passageway formed in said second valve element when said valve member is in said open position, said second valve element blocking said first passageway when said valve member is in said closed position; a check valve located in said housing between said inlet portion and said valve member to selectively disable fluid communication from said outlet portion to said inlet portion; and an operator including a handle disposed adjacent said spigot and a valve stem extending between said handle and said valve member such that said valve member is rotatably positionable by said operator; wherein when said valve member is in said open position, said second passageway aligns with said radial outlet port to define a fluid communication path through said first and second valve elements and said radial outlet port downstream along said valve stem toward said spigot.