Abstract:
A combined faucet spout and diverter valve for attaching a dispensing system to a water source. In a first mode, water flows through the diverter valve to a first outlet which can be a faucet outlet. In a second mode, water is diverted to a fluid conduit which is fastened to a connecting member and a chemical dispenser. The connecting member provides movement of a shuttle valve which directs water in the second mode to the fluid conduit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/385,359 filed Mar. 21, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,626. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a device for connecting a dispenser to a water outlet. More particularly, it relates to a combined faucet spout and diverter valve for diverting water from a water outlet to the dispenser. 
     Diverter valves for connecting spray devices to a shower head are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,548 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,073. A diverter valve for connecting a spray device to a toilet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,946. These devices are specifically designed for use with a shower head or a toilet. They do not lend themselves for use in conjunction with a faucet. 
     There is a need for a combined faucet and diverter valve which can be attached to a water outlet in a manner to provide a normal water flow from the faucet and alternatively afford a diversion of water from the faucet to a dispenser. There is also a need for a diverter valve for use with a faucet which affords a stable connection to a water outlet. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved diverter valve for use with a water outlet. 
     The objects of the invention therefore are: 
     a. Providing an improved diverter valve. 
     b. Providing a combined faucet and diverter valve. 
     c. Providing a combined faucet and diverter valve of the foregoing type which is easily connected to a water outlet. 
     d. Providing a combined faucet and diverter valve of the foregoing type which includes a by-pass function. 
     e. Providing a combined faucet and diverter valve of the foregoing type which can be manufactured without special tooling and thus be cost effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the combined faucet spout and diverter valve of this invention which include a valve housing having an annular cavity defined within said valve housing, a fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet. The annular cavity allows fluid communication between the fluid inlet, the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet. A shuttle valve is slidingly mounted in the annular cavity of the valve housing. There are means for constraining the shuttle valve within the cavity. The shuttle valve is constructed and arranged to be slideable within the annular cavity by water pressure to a first position in which said shuttle valve is seated adjacent said means for constraining said valve such that fluid flows between the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet. The shuttle valve is slideable within the annular cavity to a second position in which said shuttle valve is positioned in the annular cavity of said valve housing such that fluid flows between the fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet. A faucet spout is connected to the first fluid outlet. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a valve member is positioned in the shuttle valve. 
     In another preferred embodiment, there is a biasing member positioned to close the shuttle valve and a valve opening member to open the shuttle valve. 
     In one aspect there is a third fluid outlet or bypass wherein the annular cavity allows fluid communication with the third outlet when the shuttle valve is in the second position. 
     In another aspect, a flow passage is constructed and arranged to permit the passage of water to the first fluid outlet at a slower rate than that when the shuttle valve is moved to the second position to permit the passage of water to the second fluid outlet. 
     In still another aspect, a flexible conduit is fastened to a connecting member opposite the connection to the valve housing and a chemical spray device is connected to the fluid conduit at an end opposite the connection to the connecting member. 
     In yet another aspect, the connecting member is a quick connect-disconnect member. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the first fluid outlet is in the form of a faucet outlet. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view showing the combined faucet spout and diverter valve in conjunction with a multifunction dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view showing the combined faucet spout and diverter valve of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  of the combined faucet and diverter valve rotated ninety degrees; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the diverter valve of the combined faucet and diverter valve in a non-diverting position; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the diverter valve in a diverting position with a connecting member attached thereto; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the diverter valve showing a by-pass feature. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the combined faucet and diverter valve generally  10  is shown connected to a Multiple Function Dispenser generally  11  by the hose  13 . This preferred dispenser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,901. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , combined faucet and diverter valve  10  includes a valve housing  12  connected to a faucet  20  by means of threaded connectors  15  and  17 . At the opposite end is another thread connector  45  for connecting the valve housing  12  to the usual valved plumbing fixture (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  valve housing  12  includes a first annular cavity  14  with a second annular cavity  17  connected thereto. A fluid inlet passage  16  is provided by the threaded opening  63  in fluid communication with annular cavity  14 . There is a cavity  18  in fluid communication with annular cavity  14  which conveys fluid to faucet  20 . A one-way valve  19  is located in cavity  18 . 
     A pipe interrupter/backflow device  47  is positioned in cavity  14 . There are the usual openings  49  in the valve housing  12  for this purpose. Slideably positioned in annular cavities  14  and  17  is a shuttle valve  22 . A ball valve  23  is positioned in cavity portion  31  of shuttle valve  22 . It is biased against valve seat  26  by spring  39  acting against retainer  25  and valve actuating member  28 . Shuttle valve  22  is in contact with valve actuating member  28  having a seal  32  for contact with shoulder  30  in housing member  21 . Additional seals  40  and  43  are also provided on actuating member  28 . 
     A Gardena connecting device in the form of a quick connect-disconnect coupling part is shown in  FIG. 5  at  41 . It is readily available from Gardena Manufacturing GmbH. It comprises an outer sleeve  42  and an inner retaining collar  44  with an annulus portion  48  for retentive contact with tabs  46  extending from outer sleeve  42 . There are locking elements  50  pivotally attached to retaining collar  44  and extending through apertures  51 . A spring  52  biases the tabs  46  of outer sleeve  42  against the annulus portion  48 . A one-way valve  54  is disposed in the central passageway  38  of the coupling part  41 . A seal is provided at  56  as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     As described in  FIG. 6 , water bypass  64  with housing  65  is connected to valve housing  12 . Housing  65  has a passageway  68  in fluid communication with cavity  14 . A metering device  66  is positioned in passageway  68 . This provides a flow rate of 0.1 gpm. It is available from Neoperl Inc. in Waterbury, Conn. A push in, pull to lock tube fitting  67  is also located in passageway  68 . It seals swivel elbow  71 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , to seal  69 . Tube fitting is available from John Guest International Ltd. Located in Middlesex, England. There are seals shown at  69 . The swivel elbow  71  is attached to housing  65  with a discharge tube  73  connected to elbow  71 . 
     OPERATION 
     A better understanding of combined faucet and diverter valve  10  will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , combined faucet and diverter valve  10  is connected to a valved plumbing fixture (not shown) by means of threaded connector  45 . Water flows into inlet  16 , into cavity  14 , into passage  18 , through one-way valve  19  and out through faucet  20 . This is shown by the directional arrows. Water pressure in cavity  14  acts against shuttle valve  22  to move it and activating member  28  to the position shown in FIG.  4 .*** In this position, shuttle valve  22  is restrained from further movement by seal  32  engaging shoulder  30 . 
     When it is desired to dispense product from dispenser  11  as seen in  FIG. 1 , the Gardena coupling part  41  is moved over actuating member  28  and a portion of housing member  21  until the Gardena coupling part  41  engages connecting member  24  of housing member  21 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . At the same time, flexible locking elements  50  engage the reduced diameter section  55  of housing member  21 . The movement of locking elements  50  onto the reduced diameter section  55  is effected by the flange  57  moving against them. In this position, actuating member  28  contacts valve  54  to open it and moves shuttle valve  22  and moves shuttle valve to the position shown in  FIG. 5 . In this position, it is seen that shuttle valve  22  covers a portion of cavity  14  and blocks flow therethrough. At the same time projecting member  58  engages ball valve  23  to open it. This causes pressurized water to flow through into cavity portion  31 . From there, water passes through orifice  34 , into passage  33  between valve  22  and valve housing member  12 , and into passage  37 . From there it passes into orifices  36 , into passage  38 , through valve  54  and into hose  13  through coupling  62  which connects to threaded portion  59  of retaining collar  44 . This is shown by the directional arrows. 
     When it is no longer desired to dispense product from dispenser  11 , the Gardena coupling part  41  is grasped on opposing sides through slots such as  60  on slotted shield  27  and pulled in a direction away from valve housing  12 . This is best seen in  FIG. 1 . This pulling action releases the contact of flange  57  with locking elements  50  and allows movement of the locking elements  50  out of the reduced diameter section  55  as well as the movement of shuttle valve away from cavity  14  and projecting member  58 . This causes ball valve  23  to close and assume the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Water then flows through cavity  18  and aerator  35  as in its normal position. Aerator  35  causes a slower flow rate to faucet  20  when the combined faucet and diverter valve  10  is in a non-diverting position shown in  FIG. 4 , than when in the diverting position shown in  FIG. 5 . This small amount of back pressure caused by the aerator acts on valve  22  and assists in moving it to the non-diverting position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , when the combined faucet and diverter valve  10  is in the diverting position, water will flow at a rate of 0.1 gpm through bypass  64 . Flow is metered by valve  66 . This feature is required by some plumbing codes to indicate that water is being diverted. 
     An important aspect of diverter valve  10  is the use of spring biased ball valve  23  and the projecting member  58  to open it. This affords closing the water flow out of passage  38  and not onto the user. 
     It will thus be seen there is now provided a combined faucet and diverter valve  10  which offers a quick-connect and disconnect with a water source. The combined faucet and diverter valve  10  is activated by coupling part which is readily available in the market place, thus reducing design and components costs. The combined faucet and dispenser valve  10  also provides a water bypass  64  which gives a visual and auditory indication that water is being diverted. In addition, this diverter valve  10  will allow users to attach many water powered devices without having a dedicated water source having a garden house thread. A diverter valve is placed between a faucet base and faucet arm thus providing backflow prevention, a connection point for a Gardena fitting, cross connection flow through and the ability to adapt to the three most popular North American faucets such as T&amp;S, Fisher, and Chicago. When the water is turned on the combined faucet and diverter valve  10 , it comes by default out of the normal faucet arm outlet. When a dispensing device is connected by means of the Gardena fitting, the water is then diverted to only the dispenser and the cross connection flow through. Once the dispenser  11  is disconnected, the water defaults back to the faucet arm  20 . If one were to push in the valve actuating member  28  and turn on the water, the shuttle valve  22  automatically closes such that a leak is prevented. The back pressure of the aerator pushes shuttle valve  22  back to default position. This is assisted by the ball valve that wants to close outlet passage  38 . 
     Another important aspect is in providing a combined faucet and diverter valve which obviates the need for a spring. This reduces maintenance costs due to faulty springs. 
     The preferred material for composing valve housing  12  and shuttle valve  22  is glass filled polypropylene. However, other plastic materials and metals can be employed. For example, acetyls and polycarbonates, as well as brass and aluminum. 
     The combined faucet and diverter valve  10  has been described for use with a particular Gardena connect-disconnect coupling part  41 . It will be appreciated any such coupling part could be employed which provides movement of the actuating member  28  of the shuttle valve  22 . Neither is it essential that the combined faucet and diverter valve  10  be employed with a particular dispenser  11 . It can be utilized in conjunction with any liquid dispensing device or apparatus. Slotted shield  27  could be eliminated. However, it does reduce accidental contact with actuating member  28  when extended from housing member  21 . A bypass  64  has been described to show water diversion. This is not an essential component and could be eliminated. All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within its scope as defined by the appended claims.