Abstract:
A faucet spout having interior surfaces sloping in the direction of its base so that any liquid in its interior will drain when the faucet spout is supported in a generally upstanding position with its outlet end above its base.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    A faucet body such as a spout having exterior and interior surfaces formed so that the faucet body does not trap and retain liquids during the processes used to manufacture the faucet body and provide finishes on the exterior surface of the faucet body.  
           [0002]    Modern faucet bodies, particularly those cast of base metals such as brass, etc., are coated with various finishes for both aesthetic and durability reasons. These finishes are applied by moving the faucet body sequentially through a series of baths containing the finishes which finishes are usually in liquid form. The faucet bodies are conventionally moved through each bath and on to the next bath using a conveyor apparatus. Each faucet body is suspended from the conveyor by a hook with the faucet body oriented so that its water outlet is located above its base and the body is generally supported in a generally upright position relative to its longitudinal axis.  
           [0003]    Prior faucet bodies have trapped liquids which required hand manipulation to remove the trapped liquids. If the liquids were not removed, they many times resulted in contamination of downstream baths. The retention of liquids in the faucet bodies has been due to the interior construction of the faucet bodies. Faucet bodies are, of necessity, formed with interior partitions or septums which separate the water passage cavity from the drain plug rod cavity. These partitions, in conjunction with the exterior walls of the faucet bodies, form pockets which trap or retain liquids when the faucet bodies are supported in a generally upright orientation.  
           [0004]    This invention is directed to a faucet body having interior partitions arranged to allow drainage of all liquids which enter the hollow interior of the body as it is moved into and out of process baths during its finishing and coating processes without the need for manual manipulation of the faucet bodies.  
           [0005]    Another object of this invention is a faucet body having interior partitions and exterior walls that slope without obstruction to the base end of the faucet body when the faucet body is oriented in a generally upright direction relative to its longitudinal axis.  
           [0006]    Yet another object of this invention is a faucet body having a water chamber connected to the base end of the faucet by a water inlet passage which water inlet passage is formed to permit complete drainage of liquid from the water chamber when the faucet body is in a generally upright position.  
           [0007]    Still another object of this invention is a faucet body having a drain rod compartment which is open at its base end to permit complete drainage of liquid from the drain rod compartment when the faucet body is supported in a generally upright position.  
           [0008]    Another object of this invention is to allow the complete drainage of metal-bearing electroplating solutions from the faucet body as it is being processed by automatic electroplating equipment, so that the solutions drain completely into their respective original process tanks. this allows for the reuse of those solutions, saving substantial chemical makeup costs.  
           [0009]    Yet another object of this invention is that it allows for the complete drainage of metal-bearing electroplating solutions from the faucet body as it is being processed by automatic plating equipment so that the solutions drain completely into their respective original process tanks. This minimizes the transfer of those electroplating solution into subsequent processes, where they are a contaminant that must be removed. This reduces the waste treatment and process purification costs, saving substantial costs.  
           [0010]    An additional object of this invention is that it allows for the complete drainage of metal-bearing electroplating solutions from the faucet body as it is being processed by automatic plating equipment, so that the solutions can be completely rinsed from the interior of the faucet body. This eliminates the solutions being trapped within the faucet body, where they could come in contact with the end user. This results in a safer faucet body through which to pass potable water, as the water cannot be contaminated by residual electroplating solutions.  
           [0011]    Other objects of the invention will be found in the following specification, claims and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a faucet body embodying the novel aspects of this invention supported in a generally upright or vertical position by a hook;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the faucet body of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of the faucet body of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention with the faucet body supported in a vertical position by a hook;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the faucet body of FIG. 4; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the faucet body of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    FIGS.  1 - 3  of the drawings shows a first form of this invention embodied in a faucet spout body  11 . This body, which is cast of a base metal, usually brass, is treated during the course of its manufacturing and finishing processes in numerous baths. Some of the baths are for cleaning, some apply plating and others apply protective coatings, generally to the outside surfaces of the spout body. The spout body includes a distal or far end  13  and a base end  15 . The faucet body is elongated and has a generally longitudinal axis shown by line  17 .  
         [0020]    The hollow faucet spout body includes a top wall  21  and a bottom wall  23  as are shown most clearly in FIG. 3 of the drawings. A septum  25 , which is an extension of the top wall  21 , divides the hollow faucet spout body into a water passage compartment  27  and a plunger rod compartment  29 . The plunger rod compartment has a dome  31  with a flat top wall  33 . The flat top wall has a plunger rod slot  35  and a rear wall  37  completes the faucet spout body.  
         [0021]    A recessed portion  41  of the bottom wall  23  forms a water outlet passage  43  near the distal end  13  of the faucet spout body. Threads  45  are formed around the water outlet passage to receive an aerator which is customarily installed on faucet spouts but is not shown in these drawings.  
         [0022]    The bottom wall  23  of the faucet spout body  11  has a base end opening  49  which is shown most clearly in FIG. 2 of the drawings. A web  51  located at the base end opening connects to the septum  25 , front wall  21  and rear wall  37  of the faucet spout body. A rib  53  connects the bottom wall  23  of the faucet spout body with the septum  25  while a rib  55  connects the septum to the rear wall  29  of the faucet spout body. As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a water inlet passage  57  is formed in rib  53  and a threaded plunger rod passage  59  is formed in rib  55 . Later in the process of manufacturing the faucet spout body, a sleeve with exterior threads will be threaded into the threaded plunger rod passage  59 , but that will be after the liquid coating processes with which this application is concerned will have been completed. A groove  61  for receiving a trim ring is formed in the base end  15  of the faucet spout body.  
         [0023]    A tethered hook  65  supports the faucet spout body  11  during its movement between the various plating baths such as the liquid bath  67  in container  69  shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Due to the shape of the exterior walls of the faucet spout body, the interior septum  25  and the provision of openings, such as opening  49 , at the base end of the faucet spout body, liquid accumulated during its passage through the baths is not retained in the faucet spout body. When the body is hanging in its upright position relative to its longitudinal axis  17  as shown in the drawings, liquid will flow out of the opening  49  between the septum  25  and the rib  55 . The water inlet passage  57  and the threaded plunger rod passage  59  are both inclined to drain to the exterior when the faucet spout body is held in a generally upright position as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Thus, the faucet spout body of this invention provides complete drainage of the interior compartments above the water passage chamber  27  and the plunger rod chamber  29  without interfering with any of the functions of these compartments during use of the faucet spout body while functioning as a plumbing fixture.  
         [0024]    FIGS.  4 - 6  of the drawings shows a second form of this invention embodied in a faucet spout body  11 . This body, which is cast of a base metal, usually brass, is treated during the course of its manufacturing and finishing processes in numerous baths. Some of the baths are for cleaning, some apply plating and others apply protective coatings, generally to the outside surfaces of the spout body. The spout body includes a distal or far end  113  and a base end  115 . The faucet body is elongated and has a generally longitudinal axis shown by line  117 .  
         [0025]    The hollow faucet spout body includes a top wall  121  and a bottom wall  123  as are shown most clearly in FIG. 6 of the drawings. A septum  125 , which is an extension of the top wall  121 , divides the hollow faucet spout body into a water passage compartment  127  and a plunger rod compartment  129 . The plunger rod compartment has a dome  131  with a flat top wall  133 . The flat top wall has a plunger rod slot  135  and a rear wall  137  completes the faucet spout body.  
         [0026]    A recessed portion  141  of the bottom wall  123  forms a water outlet passage  143  near the distal end  113  of the faucet spout body. Threads  145  are formed around the water outlet passage to receive an aerator which is customarily installed on faucet spouts but is not shown in these drawings.  
         [0027]    The bottom wall  123  of the faucet spout body  111  has a base end opening  149  which is shown most clearly in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A web  151  located at the base end opening connect to the septum  125 , front wall  121  and rear wall  137  of the faucet spout body. A rib  153  connects the bottom wall  123  of the faucet spout body with the septum  125  while a rib  155  connects the septum to the rear wall  129  of the faucet spout body. As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, a water inlet passage  157  is formed in rib  153  and a threaded plunger rod passage  159  is formed in rib  155 . Later in the process of manufacturing the faucet spout body, a sleeve with exterior threads will be threaded into the threaded plunger rod passage  159 , but that will be after the liquid coating processes with which this application is concerned will have been completed. A groove  161  for receiving a trim ring is formed in the base end  115  of the faucet spout body.  
         [0028]    A tethered hook  165  supports the faucet spout body  111  during its movement between the various plating baths such as the liquid bath  167  in container  169  shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Due to the shape of the exterior walls of the faucet spout body, the interior septum  125  and the provision of openings, such as opening  149 , at the base end of the faucet spout body, liquid accumulated during its passage through the baths is not retained in the faucet spout body. When the body is hanging in its upright position relative to its longitudinal axis  117  as shown in the drawings, liquid will flow out of the opening  149  between the septum  125  and the rib  155 . The water inlet passage  157  and the threaded plunger rod passage  159  are both inclined to drain to the exterior when the faucet spout body is held in a generally upright position as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Thus, the faucet spout body of this invention provides complete drainage of the interior compartments above the water passage chamber  127  and the plunger rod chamber  129  without interfering with any of the functions of these compartments during use of the faucet spout body while functioning as a plumbing fixture.