Abstract:
A fluid spigot with a spigot body, a spigot tube, a rotary disc valve located in a valve cavity in the spigot body, the rotary disc valve having an opened and closed positions, a valve stem for turning the rotary disc valve, and a handle for turning the valve stem. The invention further provides a filter unit for attachment to a water spigot or faucet. The filter unit has a filter cannister with a hollow body with a fluid inlet and an open mouth portion, a filter sized to fit within the filter cannister, and an adapter that fits over the open mouth portion of the filter canister, wherein the filter cannister is sized to fit through a hole in a sink rim, the filter being replaceable from above the sink by removing the adapter to access the filter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a new fluid spigot design, and more particularly to a spigot design that utilizes a disc valve design to simplify the construction of the spigot design, as well as a a filter unit that can be used in an in sink rim hole and the like, used in combination with the fluid spigot design or other water spigots and faucets.  
           [0002]    With growing concern about water quality, many individuals prefer not to drink tap water unless it is first filtered. There exists a variety of different filtration systems including reverse osmosis systems, activated carbon filtration systems, distillation systems, activated metal particle filtration systems and the like. Some of these systems have a portion that sits on the user&#39;s countertop. Some of these systems attach directly to a user&#39;s water faucet, and some systems are located undercounter below a sink or outdoors. In the case of undercounter filtration systems which are located below a sink surface, replacing the filter, which is recommended in many systems every three to six months, requires the user to go under the sink, typically remove many items from under the sink, remove a filtration cannister, and replace the filter. Since the workspace under a sink can be limited, it can sometimes be difficult to easily access a filter cannister.  
           [0003]    In the case of hot or filtered water spigots, water spigot designs typically have a water spigot body, a water outlet nozzle, some type of valve located within the spigot body, and a handle or lever to operate the hot water.  
           [0004]    It would be desirable to have an improved water spigot designed that has an inexpensive to manufacture yet highly reliable valve design. It would also be desirable to have a water filter that permits a user to replace a filter located below a sink from above the sink.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention provides a fluid spigot, comprising:  
           [0006]    a spigot body having a valve stem tunnel, a fluid outlet tunnel, a valve cavity, and an opening between the fluid outlet tunnel and the valve cavity;  
           [0007]    a rotary disc valve, comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having at least one aperture formed therethrough, the second portion having a blocking region that will cover the at least one aperture in the first portion when the first and second portions are in a first, closed orientation, with the region at least partially uncover the at least one aperture in the first portion when the first and second portions are in a second, opened orientation, the rotary disc valve being located in the valve cavity;  
           [0008]    a valve stem that is inserted into the valve seat cavity and through the valve stem tunnel, the valve stem having an upper, turning end and a lower engagement end which engages with and can turns one of the first and second portions of the rotary disc valve; and  
           [0009]    a handle that engages with the upper, turning end of the valve stem.  
           [0010]    The invention further provides a fluid spigot, comprising:  
           [0011]    a spigot body having a valve stem tunnel, a fluid outlet tunnel, a valve cavity, and an opening between the fluid outlet tunnel and the valve cavity;  
           [0012]    a rotary disc valve, comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having at least one aperture formed therethrough, the second portion having a blocking region that will cover the at least one aperture in the first portion when the first and second portions are in a first, closed orientation, with the region at least partially uncover the at least one aperture in the first portion when the first and second portions are in a second, opened orientation, the rotary disc valve being located in the valve cavity;  
           [0013]    a valve stem that is inserted into the valve seat cavity and through the valve stem tunnel, the valve stem having an upper, turning end and a lower engagement end which engages with and turns one of the first and second portions of the rotary disc valve;  
           [0014]    a handle that engages with the upper, turning end of the valve stem; and  
           [0015]    a spigot tube that is inserted into the fluid outlet tunnel.  
           [0016]    In another aspect, the invention provides a fluid spigot, comprising:  
           [0017]    a spigot body having a valve stem tunnel, a fluid outlet tunnel, a valve cavity, and an opening between the fluid outlet tunnel and the valve cavity;  
           [0018]    a rotary disc valve, comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having at least one aperture formed therethrough, the second portion having a blocking region that will cover the at least one aperture in the first portion when the first and second portions are in a first, closed orientation, with the region at least partially uncover the at least one aperture in the first portion when the first and second portions are in a second, opened orientation, the rotary disc valve being located in the valve cavity;  
           [0019]    a valve stem that is inserted into the valve seat cavity and through the valve stem tunnel, the valve stem having an upper, turning end and a lower engagement end which engages with and turns one of the first and second portions of the rotary disc valve;  
           [0020]    a handle that engages with the upper, turning end of the valve stem;  
           [0021]    a spigot tube that is inserted into the fluid outlet tunnel; and  
           [0022]    a filter unit with a filter cannister with a hollow body with a fluid inlet and an open mouth portion, a filter sized to fit within the filter cannister, and an adapter that fits over the open mouth portion of the filter canister and has an engagement for removable attachment to the spigot body.  
           [0023]    In yet another aspect, the invention provides a combination fluid spigot and water filter, comprising:  
           [0024]    a spigot body;  
           [0025]    a valve located in the spigot body;  
           [0026]    a valve activation handle;  
           [0027]    a spigot tube that extends from the spigot body; and  
           [0028]    a filter unit, the filter unit having a filter cannister with a hollow body with a fluid inlet and an open mouth portion, a filter sized to fit within the filter cannister, and an adapter that fits over the open mouth portion of the filter canister, wherein the filter cannister is sized to fit through a hole in a sink rim, the filter being replaceable from above the sink by removing the adapter to access the filter.  
           [0029]    In a further aspect, the invention provides a filter unit for attachment to a water faucet, the filter unit having a filter cannister with a hollow body with a fluid inlet and an open mouth portion, a filter sized to fit within the filter cannister, and an adapter that fits over the open mouth portion of the filter canister, wherein the filter cannister is sized to fit through a hole in a sink rim, the filter being replaceable from above the sink by removing the adapter to access the filter. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary fluid spigot of the invention placed in a sink rim hole.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a combination exploded and partially exposed view of the exemplary spigot of FIG. 1.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a side view of the exemplary spigot body of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the exemplary spigot body of FIG. 1.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the exemplary spigot body of FIG. 1.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an exemplary first disk portion of an exemplary rotary disk valve used in the exemplary fluid spigot.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an exemplary second portion of the exemplary fluid disk valve using the exemplary spigot valve of FIG. 1.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing the first and second portions of the exemplary rotary disk valve in the open position.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the exemplary rotary disk valve in a partially closed position.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the exemplary rotary disk valve, but in a completely closed position.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 11 is a partially exposed view of the exemplary fluid spigot with a rotary disk valve, valve stem and a portion of the spigot tube inserted therein, with the rotary disk valve in the opened position.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 12 is a similar view of FIG. 11, but with the rotary disk valve in the closed position.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 13 is a perspective dissembled view of an exemplary filter unit showing its filter, a filter cannister and an adapter.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the filter of FIG. 13.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 15 is a partially exposed view of the filter unit of FIG. 13 in its assembled position inserted through a hole in a sink.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 16 is a side view of the exemplary fluid spigot used with the exemplary filter unit in a sink hole. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0046]    For the detailed description of the invention turning to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of an exemplary fluid spigot  10  inserted through an opening  12  in a sink&#39;s rim  14 , countertop or any other surface to which the fluid spigot  12  is attached. Fluid spigot has a spigot body  16 , a spigot tube  18  and a handle  20 . Extending from below spigot body  16  is a fluid supply adapter  42 . Fluid supply threaded adapter  42  has a threaded shaft portion  106  through which fluid will pass.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 2 is a exploded and partially exposed view of the exemplary spigot body  16  of FIG. 1. Spigot body  16  has a top  22  and bottom  24 . A valve stem tunnel  26  is formed through a top  22  of spigot body and extends into a valve cavity  28 , which extends from bottom  24  of spigot body  16 . A fluid outlet tunnel  30  is formed through top  22  of spigot body and extends downwardly to a fluid outlet tunnel end  32 . There is an opening  34  formed between fluid outlet tunnel  30  and valve cavity  28  to permit fluid to flow from valve cavity  28  and out through fluid outlet tunnel  30 . Valve cavity  28  has an engagement  36  which can comprise a threaded rim, and a seat  38  is formed in valve cavity. Within valve cavity a relief  40  can be formed therein. A valve stem  50  is provided and has an upper turning end  52 , which can comprise knurls, and preferably has a screw hole  54 . Valve stem  50  has a lower engagement end  56  and a collar  64 . In order to provide a rotatable yet fluid type seal between valve stem  50  and the walls of valve stem tunnel  26 , sealing means such as O-rings  58  can be placed in grooves  60  formed on valve stem shaft  62 . A rotary disk valve  70  is provided, and has a first, disk shaped portion  72  with a flat upper face  74  with at least one aperture  76  formed therethrough. Protrusions  78  extend from a perimeter edge  80  of first portion. A second portion  82  has a flat lower face portion  84  and at least one region  86  (e.g., a lobe), which is sized to cover up at least one aperture  76  formed in first portion  72  when positioned thereover. In FIG. 2, the two lobes  86  are shown with reliefs  88  located therebetween. An engagement  90  is formed on a top surface  92  of second portion  82 , and lower engagement end  56  of valve stem  50  is adapted to be non-rotatably engaged with engagement  90  of second portions  82  so that rotating valve stem  50  along its axial axis will rotate second portion  82  relative to first portion  72  and thereby move lobes  86  so that they either cover aperture  76  or uncover apertures  76 . A gasket  100  is provided between first portion  72  (and seals on rim  38 ) and fluid supply for adapter  42  and seats on a collar portion  102  of fluid supply threaded adapter  42 . Collar  102  has a thready perimeter  104  which threads into female threaded engagement  36  to hold all pieces together. Handle  20  has a handle aperture at  110  formed therethrough. It is through handle aperture  110  that spigot tube  18  is inserted into fluid outlet tunnel  30 . Spigot tube  18  can preferably have sealing members  112 , such as O-rings, positioned thereon to provide a water type yet turnable engagement of spigot tubing  18  relative to spigot body  16 . Handle aperture  110  has an opening side  116  and a closing side  118 . A handle  20  has a engagement  120  which is sized to engage with upper turning end  52  of valve stem  50  to retain handle  20  on valve stem  50 . A set screw at  122  can be provided which screws through an opening in engagement  120  and into screw hole  54  of valve stem  50 . A cover  124  can be used to cover up set screw  122 . A handle will have a gripping portion  126  and optionally a rim portion  128  which extends from the opening side  116  to closing side  118 .  
         [0048]    Turning to FIG. 3, there is shown a side view of spigot body  16 . It is shown with various portions thereof as previously described with respect to FIG. 2. At the interface between valve stem tunnel  26  and valve cavity  28 , there is a collar seat  44  upon which collar  64  of valve stem makes contact (as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12). Reliefs  40  can comprise slots formed in sidewalls of valve cavity and provide stops to retain protrusions  78  to prevent disk portion  72  from turning in valve cavity  28 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of spigot body  16  and shows the valve stem tunnel  26  and fluid outlet tunnel  30  extending through top  22  thereof.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of spigot body  16 . Bottom  24  is shown along with threaded engagement  36  with reliefs  40  formed in walls of valve cavity  28 . Collar seat  44  is shown along with valve stem tunnel  26 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of first portion  72 , and shows its apertures  76 , its protrusions  78  extending from perimeter edge  80  thereof.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of second portion  82  and shows its lobes  86 . Its reliefs  88 , its engagement  90  and its top surface  92  are shown.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing second portion  82  placed on top of first portion  72 , with lobes  86  moved to uncover apertures  76 , which corresponds to the open position of the rotary disk valve  70 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 9 is a top plan view rotary disk valve  70 , with second portion moved such that its lobes  86  are partially covering apertures  76  of first portion  72 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing the rotary disk valve  70  in its closed position, with lobes  86  completely covering aperture  76 . In closed position shown in FIG. 10, no fluid can flow through apertures  76 . The first and second portions of rotary disk valve can preferably be made of hard, low friction corrosion resistant material, such as ceramics and for purposes of lowering the cost of manufacturing, can be selected from conventional ceramic valves used in other applications. Alternatively, a custom designed ceramic valve can be used. Although two apertures  76  and two lobes  86  are shown, a design with a single aperture and lobe, or even multiple lobes and apertures can be used.  
         [0056]    Turning now to FIG. 11, there is shown a view of the partially assembled fluid spigot of FIG. 10, showing spigot body  16  revealed, with valve stem  50  inserted into valve stem tunnel  26  with its O-rings  58  forming watertight yet turnable seals with walls of valve stem tunnel  26 , and shows collar  64  riding on collar seat  44 . First portion  72  of rotary disk valve  70  is shown abutting collar  64  and is oriented such that it&#39;s lobes  86  are not blocking apertures  76  formed in first portion. Spigot tube  18  is inserted into fluid outlet tunnel  30  and its O-rings  112  form watertight seals with the walls of fluid outlet tunnel  30  so that fluid flowing up through valve cavity  28  will pass through aperture  76  in first portion, will not be blocked by lobes  86  of second portion, will pass through opening  34  between valve cavity, and up through fluid outlet tunnel  30  and out through spigot tube  18 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, except in this view, valve stem  50  has been turned such that second portion  82  has its lobes  86  blocking apertures  76  in first portion, thereby preventing any fluid from flowing from valve cavity  28  through opening  34  and into fluid outlet tunnel  30 . In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the gasket  100  and fluid supply threaded adapter  42  are not shown being inserted therein for simplicity; however, in operation both gasket  100  and fluid supply thread adapter would be inserted therein to retain valve stem  50 , and first and second portions  82  and  72 , respectively, of rotary disk valve  70  in place.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 13 is a perspective side view showing an exemplary filter unit  140  of the invention. Filter unit  140  has a filter cannister  142 , a filter  144  which is sized to be retained within a cavity  146  in the filter cannister  142 , and an adapter  148 . Filter cannister  142  has a fluid inlet end  150  and an open mouth  152  with a preferably threaded perimeter  154 . Adapter  148  has a matching threaded surface (not shown) which screwably engages with threaded perimeter  154  of cannister  142 . Adapter  148  has an engagement end  156  which is adapted to engaged with engagement  36  of spigot body  16 .  
         [0059]    Turning to FIG. 14, there is shown a bottom plan view of filter  144 . Standoffs  158  can be formed on a bottom  160  of filter so that when filter is placed in cavity  146  of filter cannister  142 , fluid will be able to flow up through fluid inlet in and around outside of filter through filter and out through engagement  156  of adapter  148  thereby providing for filtered fluid. Alternatively, instead of standoffs at  158  being formed on bottom  160  of filter, standoffs can be formed on a bottom surface of filter cannister&#39;s cavity  146 .  
         [0060]    Turning to FIG. 15, there is shown filter unit  140  in the process of being installed through a hole  12  in a sink  14 . Filter cannister  142  has a second threaded region  162  below threaded mouth portion  154 . A threaded ring  164  with a female threaded aperture will engage with second threaded rings  162  after filter cannister  142  is inserted through a top of the sink&#39;s hole  12 . Thereafter, the ring  164  can be threaded from below the top of the sink into engagement with a bottom surface  166  of the sink&#39;s rim  14 , thereby retaining the filter cannister in place. Also as shown, threaded mouth  154  is sized larger than the size of hole  12 , thereby preventing filter cannister  142  from being pulled down and out of hole  12 . A fluid supply line  168  can be attached to the fluid inlet end  150  of filter cannister. After installing the filter cannister  152 , a user, by simply unscrewing the adapter  148 , can easily replace the filter  144  without having to reach under the sink, which can be difficult at times.  
         [0061]    Lastly, FIG. 16 shows an exemplary fluid spigot  10  attached to adapter  148  of the filter unit  142 , with threaded ring  164  holding filter cannister  142  in place in hole  12  of a sink  14 , a countertop, or any other surface. Again, a user can, by simply unscrewing spigot  10  and if attached adapter  148  from threaded mouth  154  of filter cannister easily gain access to the filter located therein, and replace it without needing to go under the sink or under the counter. The filter unit can also be attached to other faucet designs and could be formed as part of a escutcheon of a faucet.  
         [0062]    The drawings in the foregoing description are not intended to represent the only form of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. In fact, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.