Abstract:
A three position valve suitable for use in a trigger nozzle assembly is disclosed which is suitable for use in kitchen utensil rinsing areas has a valve housing with a bore, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A biased slidable member is positioned in the bore and provides for fluid flow between the fluid inlet and outlet when the valve is in a first position. High flow and stop flow positions are also provided upon compression of the trigger. The valve can be employed in conjunction with a combined spray and aerator head, as well as a hose take-up assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/291,393, filed Apr. 14, 1999. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fluid valves useful in conjunction with kitchen sinks. More particularly, it relates to valves of the foregoing type particularly useful in conjunction with kitchen faucets used with dish or kitchen utensil rinsing sinks and the like. 
     It is known in conjunction with commercial dish washing to provide a spray head for rinsing utensils prior to them being placed in an automated commercial dishwasher. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,520 there is shown a trigger nozzle 40 which is connected to a flexible conduit 36 which in turn is connected to a hose 32 with the hose being contained in a candy cane configured tube 30. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,969,923. 
     It is also known in the art to provide hose guide assemblies. One is shown in U.S. Pat. No. Re 25,642 which discloses a pulley 44 for a hose 66 with the pulley housed in a conduit 12. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,888 and 5,390,695 retractable hose reel assemblies are disclosed utilizing springs. 
     The prior art also teaches the use of combined spray and aerator faucets which can be selected by merely rotating the water discharge head. See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,221,338, 4,598,866 and 5,383,604. 
     The prior art does not, however, provide a valve which when in an “inactivated” position affords a low flow pattern, and with subsequent activation provides first a high flow rate and then upon further activation provides a stoppage of flow. This pattern is particularly desirable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect the invention provides a valve having a valve body with an axial bore, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. There is a chamber in the valve body which can be brought into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and outlet. A slidable member is positioned in the axial bore and the chamber, the slidable member having a fluid passage therein. A biasing means is constructed and arranged in conjunction with the slidable member to bias it towards a first outward position. When the slidable member is in the first outward position, a first low flow can be produced through the valve, when the slidable member is in a second partially outward position, a higher flow can be produced through the valve, and when the slidable member is in a third further inward position, flow through the valve is stopped. 
     In another aspect, the fluid passage of the slidable member is defined by an open ended spool, and there is a cap member connected to the valve body, the cap member having a cavity for receiving a portion of the slidable member. 
     In yet another aspect, a valve seat is provided adjacent a junction of the axial bore and chamber by a shoulder portion and a surface of a passage. 
     In still another aspect, the slidable member is moved by a trigger member connected to the valve body. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the fluid outlet is connected to a combined spray and aerator selector head. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the valve body includes a trigger assembly connected to a flexible hose and the flexible hose is connected to a hose take-up assembly, comprising a pulley having a groove and a housing for rotatably guiding the pulley. The hose is placed in a portion of the groove and the pulley is of sufficient weight to assist gravitationally in pulling the trigger assembly toward the end of a spout. 
     In an additional aspect, there is provided a three position biased valve including a valve body having an axial bore, an inlet and an outlet in communication with the bore. A biased flow regulating member is slidably positioned in the axial bore. The axial bore and the biased flow regulating member are constructed and arranged to provide a limited fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet when at a first position, at a second position a second flow rate is produced greater than the first flow rate, and at a third position flow is stopped. The first, second and third positions are correlated with the biasing of the flow regulating member so that at the first position the biasing is at a least amount, at the third position, it is at a most amount and at the second position, it is biased to an amount between the least and most amounts. 
     The objects of the invention therefore include: 
     a. providing a three position valve which allows for flow when in an inactivated position; 
     b. providing a three position valve of the foregoing type for use with a spray and aeration function; 
     c. providing a valve of the foregoing type which is housed in a trigger nozzle; 
     d. providing a valve of the foregoing type which is connected to a flexible hose having a take up feature; 
     e. providing a valve of the foregoing type wherein the flow of water is conveniently terminated. 
     These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. Rather the invention may be employed in other embodiments. Reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the breadth of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trigger nozzle assembly employing the valve of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the spray nozzle of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a hose take up feature; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the hose take up in another position; 
     FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4B is a section view similar to FIG. 4A, however, with a one-piece pulley; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the valve with the handle in its rest position; 
     FIG. 6B is a section view of the valve similar to FIG. 6A, however, with the slidable member having only one radial port; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6A, albeit showing how the valve appears when the handle is in an intermediate position; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6A, albeit showing how the valve appears when the handle is in a full inward position; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 10 when a spray function is provided; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9, albeit illustrating parts rotated to provide an aerating function; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line  14 — 14  of FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and  6 A, the main valve, generally  10 , of this invention is shown in conjunction with a trigger nozzle assembly  12  and a spray/aerator head  16 . The trigger nozzle assembly  12  has a trigger handle  14  and a loop  18  to hold the handle in an intermediate position as desired by the user. 
     The trigger nozzle assembly  12  is connected to a hose  20  by means of grip tube  21 . Hose  20  is slidably contained in a J-spout  22 , that in turn is connected to a swivel bearing  24 . Hose  20  is connected at the end opposite the trigger nozzle assembly to a mixing faucet  26 . The mixing faucet  26  and the swivel  24  are suitably mounted on a counter  28  adjacent to a sink  30 . 
     Positioned under the sink  28  is a hose take-up assembly, generally  31 , having the housing  32  supported in part by the support  34  and the flange  35 . As seen in FIG. 4A, positioned inside the take-up housing  32  is a pulley  36  having a groove  38  which accommodates a portion of hose  20 . Housing  32  also includes enlarged cavity portions  40  and  41  to accommodate the flanges  42  and  43  of the pulley  36  to serve as a guide. The pulley is preferably composed of two sections which are mounted together by the nut and bolt  44 . The pulley in this instance is of sufficient weight that it will effect a downward gravitational force on the hose  20  and thus assist in its retracting from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that in FIG.  2 . The pulley housing  32  is also constructed in two sections as is the pulley with the sections being joined by the nut and bolt  45 . The opposing end of the housing  32  is connected to a support  46 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6A,  7  and  8 , there is shown in detail the main valve  10 . It includes a valve body  50  with an inlet  52  and an outlet  53 . There is also a chamber  55  which accommodates a slidable member  56  including an open ended spool. The slidable member  56  has axial passages  58  and  58   a,  as well as radial outlet ports  59 . A shoulder  60  is disposed in the valve body  50  for contact with flange  61  of the slidable member  56 . There is also the passage surface  63  which serves as a valve seat in combination with shoulder  60 . 
     A sealing member  65  is positioned in a groove  66  for sealing with passage surface  63 . There are also end caps  67  and  68  which are threadably connected to opposing ends of the valve body  50 . A head portion  69  which also forms a part of the slidable member  56  extends through the end cap  67 , whereas the end cap  68  has a cavity  71  for accommodating a portion of the slidable member  56  when it is in the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A spring  72  is positioned between the end cap  68  and the flange  61  for biasing the slidable member  56  in the direction of trigger handle  14 . 
     In FIG. 6A the valve  10  is in a first position with respect to the handle  14 . In this position the spring  72  forces handle  14  via plunger  69 . As will be seen from the flow arrows in FIG. 6A, water is able to enter through the inlet  52 , pass around the slidable member  56  and into the cavity  71 . From there it will pass through the axial passages  58  and  58   a,  out the radial outlet ports  59  and into the outlet  53 . Accordingly, at any time the mixing valve  26  is in an open position, water will flow from hose  20  and through valve  10 . The utilization of a valve  10  that is open when it is not compressed allows its use in conjunction with a pull-out spray assembly without having to employ a separate pressurized vacuum breaker. 
     Referring next to FIG. 7, the pivoting of the handle  14  toward the valve body  50 , and accordingly the slidable member  56  to a position farther into chamber  55 , moves the flange  61  away from the shoulder  60  and allows water to flow directly from the inlet  52  through the passage  62  and into the cavity  64 . From there it will flow out through outlet  53 . This effects a higher flow rate through the valve  10  with the spring  72  in a more compressed state. When handle  14  is in this position, the loop  18  can be placed in notch  19  of trigger handle  14 . This is seen in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 5. 
     Referring next to FIG. 8, as the handle  14  is pivoted more in the direction of the valve body  50 , this will move the slidable member to its most inward position. There it is seen that the sealing member  65  seals against the passage surface  63  which forms a valve seat and thereby closes all flow to the outlet  53 . This latter off position is when the handle  14  is in its most inward position with respect to the valve body  50 , and allows the operator to conveniently move the trigger nozzle assembly to various positions such as filling a pot with water on a counter top without spraying water in an undesired place. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9-14, there is shown the combined spray/aerator head  16 . The head  16  has a waterway member  74  threadably connected to the valve body  50 , a face member  81  downstream and adjacent the waterway member  74  has a spray mode water path and an aerator mode water path to provide a desired head exit water stream, and a shell  77  enclosing the waterway member  74  and face member  81 . Water exiting the valve outlet  53  passes through the waterway member  74  and one of the water paths in the face member  81 . Rotating the face member  81  changes the flow of water from one water path to the other. 
     Looking at FIGS. 10,  11 ,  13 , and  14 , the waterway member, generally  74 , threadably engages the valve body  50  to attach the head  16  to the valve  10 , and supports the shell  77 . An oval bore  78  formed in the waterway member body  75  communicatively connects the valve outlet  53  to a chamber formed between the waterway member  74  and face member  81 . A disc  79  formed at one end of the body  75  has a downwardly facing cavity  76  which cooperates with the face member  81  to form the chamber. The disc  79  also has an upper surface  80  which supports the shell  77 . Preferably, a washer  99  interposed between the disc upper surface  80  and shell  77  allows rotation of the shell  77  with respect to the waterway member  74  when changing modes. Most preferably, the valve body  50  extends into the shell  77  to contact the disc upper surface  80  and provide a stop when tightened to the waterway member  74  on the valve body  50 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 12, opposing wings  100  extending from the cavity wall cover selected ports  83 ,  84  or  93 ,  94  formed in the face member  81  to block water from flowing through one of the water paths in the face member  81 . Seals  95 ,  96  retained in seal grooves  101  formed in the wings  100  abut the face member  81  and seal the selected ports  83 ,  84  or  93 ,  94  to prevent water from flowing therein. 
     Referring back to FIGS. 10,  11 ,  13 , and  14 , the face member  81  has an inlet end  104  which cooperates with the waterway member cavity  76  to form the chamber, and a downwardly facing outlet end  105 . Exterior threads  106  formed on the edge of the face member  81  proximal the inlet end  104  threadably engage the shell  77  to rigidly mounting the face member  81  in the shell  77 . A stepped groove  107  formed in the face member edge interposed between the inlet and outlet ends  104 ,  105  cooperates with the shell  77  to form an annular spray chamber  87 . Gasket grooves  108  formed in the face member edge above and below the stepped groove  107  receive gaskets  109  which abut the shell  77  to inhibit water from passing between the face member  81  and shell  77 . A gasket groove  102  formed in the disc edge receives a gasket  103  to allow movement of the shell  77  with respect to the waterway member  74  while inhibiting water from passing between the shell  77  and waterway member  74 . 
     Water passing through the face member water paths enters the path through the face member inlet end  104  and exits through the face member outlet end  105 . The face member inlet end  104  is substantially flat with a pair of spray ports  83 ,  84  and a pair of aerator ports  93 ,  94  formed therein, and cooperates with the waterway member cavity  76  to form the chamber. Preferably, a pair of tabs  110  formed on the face member inlet end  104  extend into the cavity  76 , and when engaging the wings  100  ensure the seals  95 ,  96  are aligned over one pair of the ports  83 ,  84  or  93 ,  94 . The face member outlet end  105  has a downwardly facing aerator cavity  90  surrounded by a spray rim  88 . 
     The face member  81  has an aerator mode water path which directs water through an aerator  91  in the aerator mode, and a spray mode water path which directs water through spray nozzles  89  in the spray mode. The spray mode water path, shown best in FIG. 10, is defined by spray passageways  85 ,  86  extending from the spray ports  83 ,  84  which communicatively connect the spray ports  83 ,  84  to the spray chamber  87 . Water in the spray chamber  87  is exhausted through a plurality of the spray nozzles  89  formed in the spray rim  87  to provide the desired water exit stream. The aerator mode water path, shown best in FIG. 13, is defined by aerator passageways  97 ,  98  extending from the aerator ports  94 ,  95  which communicatively connect the ports  94 ,  95  to the aerator cavity  90 . Water in the aerator cavity  90  exits the head  16  through the aerator  91 . 
     The tubular aerator  91  has an inlet  111 , an outlet  112 , and external threads  113  which engage internal threads  114  formed in the aerator cavity wall  115 . An aerator device  92  mounted proximal the outlet  112  aerates the water passing therethrough. 
     The bell shaped shell  77  encloses the waterway member  74  and face member  81 , and has an open top  116  and open bottom  117 . A boot  82  surrounding the shell bottom  117  provides a grip for rotating the shell  77 , and thus the face member  81  mounted therein, to change the water path between the aerator mode and the spray mode. A step  118  formed in the shell top  116  receives a gasket  119  to prevent debris from entering between the shell  77  and valve body  51 . 
     In the spray mode, shown in FIGS. 9-11, the waterway member seals  95 ,  96  block the aerator ports  93 ,  94 , and water in the waterway member cavity  76  enters the spray ports to follow the spray mode water path through the face member  81 , and out of the head  16  through spray nozzles  89 . Conversely, in the aerator mode, shown in FIGS. 12-14, the waterway member seals  95 ,  96  block the spray ports  83 ,  83 , and water in the waterway member cavity  76  enters the aerator ports  93 ,  94  to follow the aerator mode water path through the face member  81 , and out of the head  16  through the aerator  91 . Rotating the face member  81  positions the desired ports  83 ,  84  or  93 ,  94  beneath the seals  95 ,  96  to seal off the undesired water path. 
     The above is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the valve has been shown in conjunction with a hose take-up assembly and a spray and aerator head, the valve can be used without the hose take-up and a spray/aerator function. Neither is it necessary to employ a trigger valve with a loop. Also, as shown in FIG. 4B, the pulley  36  can be of a one-piece construction so that no fasteners are needed. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6B, the slidable member  56  of the main valve  10  can include only one radial outlet port  59 . 
     All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within its scope as defined by the appended claims.