Patent ID: 7326334
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: B01D,E03C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus connected to an outlet end of a faucet, comprising: a header assembly; said header assembly including an inlet in fluid communication with a remote source of water under pressure; a first header assembly outlet in fluid communication with said inlet; a second header assembly outlet in fluid communication with said inlet; a third header assembly outlet in fluid communication with said inlet; said first header assembly outlet being disposed in substantial axial alignment with said outlet end of said faucet so that water flowing through said faucet flows through said first header assembly outlet in a substantially straight path of travel; an aerator disposed in substantial axial alignment with said substantially straight path of travel so that water flowing through said faucet enters said header assembly, flows through said aerator, and exits said header assembly through said first header assembly outlet so that water flowing out of said first header assembly outlet is aerated; said second header assembly outlet disposed in fluid communication with said outlet end of said faucet, said second header assembly outlet disposed laterally with respect to said first header assembly outlet; a jet spray adapter secured to said second header assembly outlet so that water flowing out of said second header assembly outlet is pulsating; said third header assembly outlet disposed in fluid communication with said outlet end of said faucet, said third header assembly outlet disposed laterally with respect to said first and second header assembly outlets; a filter cartridge in fluid communication with said third header assembly outlet, said filter cartridge being in fluid communication with said outlet end of said faucet so that water flowing out of said third header assembly outlet is filtered; a manifold disposed within said header assembly; said manifold including a first manifold chamber in fluid communication with said inlet; said manifold including a second manifold chamber in fluid communication with said inlet; a jet duct, formed in said manifold, providing fluid communication between said first manifold chamber and said second header assembly outlet; a filter duct, formed in said manifold, providing fluid communication between said second manifold chamber and said third header assembly outlet; a valve body disposed within said manifold; said valve body including a jet valve lumen and a jet valve slideably disposed within said jet valve lumen; said valve body including a filter valve lumen and a filter valve slidably disposed within said filter valve lumen; said slideably mounted jet valve having a normally closed position that prevents water from said inlet from flowing to said jet duct and having an open position that constrains water from said inlet to flow to said jet duct and hence to said second header assembly outlet only, to the exclusion of said first and third header assembly outlets; said slideably mounted filter valve having a normally closed position that prevents water from said inlet from flowing to said fitter duct and having an open position that constrains water from said inlet to flow to said filter duct and hence to said third header assembly outlet only, to the exclusion of said first and second header assembly outlets; a slot formed in said header assembly; a finger grip mounted externally of said header assembly so that it can be gripped by a user; said finger grip having a neutral, first position that positions said jet valve and said filter valve in their respective closed positions so that water from said inlet flows to said first header assembly outlet only, to the exclusion of said second and third header assembly outlets; said finger grip having a second position that positions said jet valve in an open position and said filter valve in a closed position so that water flowing from said inlet flows to said second header assembly outlet; said finger grip having a third position that positions said jet valve in a closed position and said filter valve in an open position so that water flowing from said inlet flows to said third header assembly outlet; a snap collar disposed internally of said header assembly; said snap collar being mounted for rotation within said header assembly; an actuator bridge extending though said slot and interconnecting said finger grip and said snap collar; a linkage that independently engages said snap collar to said slideably mounted jet valve and to said slideably mounted filter valve; said second position of said finger grip being rotatably spaced apart from said first, neutral position; said third position of said finger grip being rotatably spaced apart from said first, neutral position in a direction opposite to said second position; whereby movement of said finger grip from said first, neutral position to said second position causes rotation of said snap collar, movement of said linkage that independently engages said snap collar to said slideably mounted jet valve, and opening of said slideably mounted jet valve so that water flowing from said inlet is constrained to flow to said second header assembly outlet; and whereby movement of said finger grip from said first, neutral position to said third position causes rotation of said snap collar, movement of said linkage that independently engages said snap collar to said slideably mounted filter valve, and opening of said slideably mounted filter valve so that water flowing from said inlet is constrained to flow to said third header assembly outlet.