Abstract:
In a swivel water spout assembly, two spouts are arranged one above the other with the upper spout extending past the lower spout at the distal end region where each spout is configured with a downwardly-facing outlet, typically a nozzle with a strainer screen. Each spout is configured with a circular hub portion at the proximal end. The two hub portions are stacked one above the other, surrounding a tubular support sleeve connected to a supply of pressurized water. Each spout can swivel independently about the support sleeve to service two sink regions or two different items in a sink simultaneously.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of plumbing fixtures and more particularly to a dual swivel water spout assembly for providing two water streams at different locations simultaneously. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In addition to single sinks equipped with one or two fixed water spouts, sinks with two side-by-side sink compartments are commonly equipped with a single swivel spout which can supply water to only one compartment at a time and which must be relocated manually between the two corresponding working locations each time it is desired to change the compartment receiving water. Even in a single compartment sink, it would often be beneficial to be able to direct tap water to two items in the sink simultaneously; however with the conventional single spout, even the swivel type, the water can only be directed to the two items sequentially, requiring twice the time that would be required if the water could be directed to the two items simultaneously. 
   DISCUSSION OF KNOWN ART 
   DUAL OUTLET FAUCET disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,191 to Brandebusemeyer et al provides a single spout containing a pair of passageways receiving liquids from different sources and a corresponding pair of downwardly facing outlets, capable of joint rotation but not mutually independent rotation. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a primary object of the invention to provide a water spout assembly having two spouts that can be rotated about a common support sleeve independent of each other for convenient co-operation with a doubly-compartmented kitchen sink or laundry tub wherewith each spout can be positioned optimally for each corresponding compartment so that both compartments can receive water simultaneously. 
   It is a further object to provide alternative embodiments regarding the status of water passage as a function of the location of each swivel spout throughout its range of rotation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a preferred embodiment, two spouts are arranged one above the other with the upper spout extending past the lower spout. Each spout is configured at the outward end region with a downwardly-facing water outlet, typically a threadedly attached nozzle including a strainer screen, and with a circular hub portion at the opposite end, the two hub portions being stacked one above the other, surrounding a generally cylindrical support sleeve that provides a supply of water and that enables each spout to swivel independently. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, by way of example. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual compartment sink equipped with a dual swivel spout assembly representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the water spout assembly of  FIG. 1  with the two spouts in alignment. 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the water spout assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the water spout assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIGS. 5-8  are cross-sections of the four components of the water spout assembly of  FIGS. 1-4 , taken in a vertical plane through axis  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sections of the components of  FIGS. 5-8  shown assembled together to form the water spout assembly of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-section taken in a horizontal plane through axis  11 - 11  of the assembled components of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-section taken in a horizontal plane through axis  12 - 12  of the assembled components of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-section as in  FIG. 12  but with the upper spout rotated out of alignment with the lower spout. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  are cross-sections showing an alternative inner configuration of upper and lower hub portions respectively of an alternative embodiment of the water spout assembly of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-section showing the hubs of  FIGS. 14 and 15  assembled with a top cap and an alternatively configured support sleeve in the alternative embodiment. 
       FIG. 17  is a three-dimensional view of the support sleeve configuration shown in  FIG. 16  showing two water apertures. 
       FIG. 18  is a three-dimensional view of a support sleeve as in  FIG. 17  in a modified four-aperture configuration. 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  are three-dimensional views of three-aperture versions of the support sleeves shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a dual swivel spout assembly  10  of the present invention having a support sleeve of which flange  12 A is visible, a lower spout  14 , an upper spout  16  and a top cap  18 . Spouts  14  and  16  are independently rotatable and are shown rotated to optimal locations above the corresponding compartments  20 A and  20 B of a sink  20  that is equipped with faucet handles  22 A and  22 B, typically cold and hot, and installed in a counter-top  24 . When either or both faucet handles are turned on, water flows from both spouts as shown as long as the spouts are located non-parallel to each other. 
     FIG. 2  is a top view of the water spout assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  with the two spouts in alignment so that only upper spout  16  is visible, along with a circular top cap  18  retained by a machine screw  18 A. 
     FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the water spout assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  installed with the flange  12 A held down onto a counter-top  24  (shown in broken lines) by the threaded lower end portion  12 B of the support sleeve, secured in place by a hex nut  12 C. 
   Stacked above flange  12 A are the hub portion  14 A of lower spout  14 , the hub portion  16 A of upper spout  16 , and top cap  18 . Spouts  14  and  16  as shown are rotated to be in alignment and are fitted with threadedly attached downward-facing strainer nozzles  14 B and  16 B. 
     FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the water spout assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1-3  showing support sleeve  12  with its central water passageway in the threaded lower end portion  12 B secured by nut  12 C, the bottom side of spout  14  and the over-extending portion of spout  16 , along with strainer nozzles  14 B and  16 B. 
     FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the top cap  18  and its retaining machine screw  18 A. 
     FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the hub portion  16 A of upper spout  16 , configured with a main central cylindrical bore  16 D and a spout passageway  16 C that exits downwardly at the bottom interface surface. 
     FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the hub portion  14 A of lower spout  14 , configured with a main central cylindrical bore  14 D, an enlarged cavity region  14 E and a further enlarged cavity region  14 F dimensioned to provide a sliding fit around the lower stepped region of upper hub portion  16 A. 
     FIG. 8  is a cross-section the support sleeve  12  showing the lower end threaded portion  12 B, mounting flange  12 A, central water passageway  12 D, a water aperture  12 E through the wall, an upper cap attachment region  12 F with threaded hole  12 G, and two annular grooves  12 H for O-ring seals. The cap attachment region  12 F is typically made square to engage a mating square recess configured on the underside of top cap  18  ( FIG. 5 ) to prevent the top cap  18  from loosening or rotating. Cap  18  is held in place by screw  18 A engaging threaded hole  12 G in support sleeve  12 . 
     FIG. 9  is a cross-section showing the four components of  FIGS. 5-8  assembled together to form the water spout assembly of  FIGS. 1-4 . The cylindrical outside diameter of the main portion of support sleeve  12  above flange  12 A is dimensioned to provide a sliding fit inside the bores of hub portions  14 A and  16 A as shown. Water-tightness at the three swiveling interfaces is provided by three sealing rings  26 , typically neoprene O-rings, located at the three key locations shown. The sealing rings  26  are seated in machined annular grooves; two around support sleeve  12  and one around the lower region of hub portion  16 A as shown. 
   Water entering passageway  12 D, from the supply beneath, flows through aperture  12 E into cavity  14 E, which communicates with passageway  14 C in the lower spout  14  to provide water flow from lower spout  14  regardless of its rotational position. However, whenever the two spouts  14  and  16  are aligned together as shown, there is no water flow from the upper spout  16  since its passageway  16 C is blocked by the top surface of lower hub portion  14 A, as shown. 
     FIG. 10 , replicating  FIG. 9 , is shown to indicate the location of two axis of cross-section  11 - 11  and  12 - 12  in horizontal planes. 
     FIG. 11  is a cross-section of the water spout assembly in the primary embodiment of the invention taken in a horizontal plane through axis  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 . Water flow is indicated by arrows from the central passageway  12 D through aperture  12 E of support sleeve  12 , thence past both sides of support sleeve  12  into two branches of passageway  14 C in lower spout  14 , causing water to flow from spout  14  regardless of its orientation about the support sleeve  12 . 
     FIG. 12  is a cross-section of the water spout assembly taken in a horizontal plane through axis  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10 . Shown in broken lines is the location of the bottom end of the passageway ( 16 C of upper spout  16 ) which is blocked off by the upper surface of a “plateau” region formed in hub portion  14 A, shown interfacing the right hand side of support sleeve  12 . 
     FIG. 13  is a cross-section as in  FIG. 12  but with the upper spout  16  now visible, having been rotated clockwise out of alignment with the lower spout  14 . In this location, the lower end of its passageway  16 C is no longer blocked and receives water from cavity region  16 A so that water flows from both spouts  14  and  16  whenever they are non-aligned by a sufficient angle, typically made to be about 20 to 30 degrees by dimensioning the size of the “plateau” blocking segment of hub portion  14 A. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15  are cross-sections of hub portions  28 A and  30 A of lower and upper spouts  28  and  30  that are similar externally to previously described spouts  14  and  16 ; however internally, the passageways  28 A and  30 A are both configured to simply extend through the hub walls as shown, and the cavity region  14 E ( FIG. 7 ) in the lower hub region is eliminated, being replaced with solid metal. 
     FIG. 16  is a cross-section showing spouts  28  and  30  of  FIGS. 14 and 15  assembled with a top cap  18  and an alternatively configured support sleeve  32  in the alternative embodiment. Support sleeve  32 , externally similar to previously described support sleeve  12  ( FIG. 8 ) but with wall aperture  12 E eliminated, is configured with two wall apertures  32 A and  32 B, located to align with passageways  28 A and  30 A as shown. In this configuration, water flows from both spouts regardless of their angular rotation, even when they are aligned together. 
     FIG. 17  is a three-dimensional view of the support sleeve  32  as shown in  FIG. 16 , showing two horizontally elongated water apertures  32 A and  32 B configured in the wall of support sleeve  32  as shown. The apertures each extend around the support sleeve  32  sufficiently to allow about 180 degrees of swivel range for each spout. At the upper end of sleeve  32  the square shape of portion  32 C is seen: this is the same as square portion  12 F ( FIG. 8 ) for holding top cap  18  against rotation, 
     FIG. 18  is a three-dimensional view of a support sleeve  34  which is an alternative version of support sleeve  32  ( FIG. 17 ) wherein the two apertures  32 A,  32 B of  FIG. 17  are replaced by four apertures  34 A-D arranged in side-by-side pairs as shown, in effect adding a flow barrier at the center of the full length single apertures ( 32 A, 32 B;  FIG. 17 ). This flow barrier acts to shut off the water flow from either spout whenever the spout is rotated to the center location. This arrangement avoids splashing of water flowing on the center divider between two sink compartments ( 12 A and  12 B,  FIG. 1 ), and also enables the user to select either the upper or the lower spout for single spout use by rotating it away from its central location while keeping the other spout centered. 
   There are two further versions of the secondary embodiment available as design options by configuring different aperture patterns in the support sleeve for the upper and lower spouts.  FIG. 19  shows sleeve  36  configured with dual apertures  36 A and  36 B flanking the central flow barrier to provide the central blockage for the lower spout, and a full length single aperture  36 C for the upper spout so that it will not have the central blockage. Conversely,  FIG. 20  shows sleeve  38  configured with a full length aperture  38 A associated with the lower spout, and dual apertures  38 B and  38 C associated with the upper spout. 
   The principle of the invention, i.e. dual swivel spouts, could be practiced with other variations in the embodiments shown as a matter of design choice, e.g. to trade off refinements for lower cost. 
   There are known alternatives to the square plug-and-socket arrangement shown for removably securing the top cap in place. 
   It is desirable for the top cap  18  to be firmly secured to the support sleeve and yet made easily removable so that the two spouts can be disassembled from the support sleeve for maintenance purposes, e.g. seal replacement, without disconnecting the water supply or removing the support sleeve. However such convenient removability of the top cap is not essential to the practice of the invention: at the sacrifice of convenience and serviceability, the top cap  18  could be made integral with the support sleeve and the mounting flange ( 12 A,  FIG. 8 ) could be made as a separate part that threads onto the support sleeve from the bottom. Such structure would require the water supply to be disconnected and the water spout assembly to be removed from its installation for any internal maintenance repairs such as seal replacement. 
   The stepped interface between the two hub portions of the spouts is believed to facilitate and enhance water sealing with the O-ring at cylindrical vertical interface surfaces; however, the step could be eliminated and an alternative approach to sealing implemented e.g. at the interface of two flat horizontal surfaces. 
   As an alternative to the two simple spouts shown, one or both spouts may be modified to have a swivel extension at the outlet end to increase the range of possible outlet locations. 
   As an alternative to utilizing faucet handles that are separate from the spout assembly, the principle of dual spouts in accordance with the present invention could be combined in an assembly together with one or more faucet handles or other water flow/shutoff controls connected to one or more (e.g. hot and cold) water sources. 
   The invention may be embodied and practiced in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all variations, substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.