Abstract:
A valve assembly adapted to be coupled to the spigot of a conventional sink faucet, which valve can selectively divert water from the spigot to either an auxiliary filter or to a drain. The valve incorporates a housing having a threaded inlet, an internal chamber and first and second outlets. A slidably mounted spool defines a valve head, and normally directs the flow toward the drain, but the spool can be shifted to divert the flow to the filter on either a continuous or a &#34;single-shot&#34; basis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to auxiliary water filters, and, more specifically, relates to a valve assembly adapted to be coupled to the spigot of a conventional faucet to divert the flow from the spigot, at will, to either the filter or the normal drain. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the past, contaminated public water supplies, and accompanying public concerns, gave rise to a substantial demand for water-purification devices for home installation. A need existed for domestic water filter devices, and for the hardware to install those filter devices. 
     A need existed for a valve assembly, which could be mounted on a conventional kitchen-sink faucet, to allow selective delivery of a flow to a counter-mounted water filter. 
     More specifically, a need existed for a valve, which could be operated to divert a flow from a faucet to a filter on a &#34;one-shot&#34; basis, so that after the flow was terminated, subsequent flow delivery occured into the normal drain without further action by the user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the disclosed valve. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the handle-portion of the valve of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the handle shown in an extended position. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the handle and spool shifted to the filter-flow position. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the disclosed invention to provide an improved valve assembly for diverting tap water through an auxiliary water filter. 
     It is a further object to provide a filter-diversion valve for a faucet spigot, which valve can automatically reset itself to provide a drain-directed flow after the filter flow ceases. 
     It is another object to provide a filter-diversion valve, which can be set to direct any flow to either the filter or to the normal drain. 
     It is an object to provide a spring-loaded filter diversion valve having a fluid-shielded spring. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accord with a first embodiment of this invention, a valve assembly for the spigot of a water faucet is disclosed, comprising: a housing defining an inner chamber, an inlet open to the inner chamber and adapted to be coupled to the faucet, a filter outlet adapted to be coupled to the housing, and a sink outlet; spool means having a spool slidably mounted within the chamber for blocking the filter outlet and opening the sink outlet when placed in a first position and for blocking the sink outlet and opening the filter outlet when placed in a second position; spring means in communication with the spool and the housing for biasing the spool toward the first position; and the spring means exerting sufficient force to shift the spool to the first position when the flow from the spigot ceases, but further exerting insufficient force to shift the spool from the second position while a flow from the spigot continues. 
     In accord with another embodiment of this invention, a method for controlling an auxiliary faucet-spigot valve for a water filter is disclosed, comprising the steps of: providing a valve body having an inlet, a sink outlet and a filter outlet; slidably mounting a spool within the body in a position to block either the sink outlet or the filter outlet from the inlet; loading the spool with a spring toward a position where it blocks the filter outlet; initiating a flow from the faucet; manually shifting the spool to block the sink outlet and open the filter outlet; and balancing the spool against the force exerted by the spring with the backpressure created by the flow leaving the filter outlet so that the filter outlet automatically remains open as long as the flow continues. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     THE SPECIFICATION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the disclosed valve 10. A body 12 defines a threaded inlet section 14, adapted to mate to the threaded-end of a conventional, controllable, kitchen-type water faucet (not shown). An outlet section 18 as a series of ridges 20, arranged to internally grip a hose (not shown) which leads to a water filter (not shown). An operating handle 22, shown in the closed position, is axially aligned with the outlet section 18. The handle 22 has a notch 23, which is shown straddling a shoulder 24 on the valve body 12. 
     Referring then to FIG. 2, a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 is shown. The handle 22 is rotatably coupled to a valve spool 26. An opening 27 permits the handle 22 to be slipped over an enlarged end of the spool 26. The valve spool 26 is installed in the body 12 through the opening occupied by the outlet section 18. A collar 28 on the spool 26 traps a spring 30 about the spool 26, and against the body 12 and prevents leakage around the handle-end of the spool 26. An o-ring 32 slidably seals the collar 28 to the body 12. The spool 26 also defines a valve head 34. The o-ring 32 slidably seals the valve head to the body 12, and protects the spring 30 from fluid-corrosion. 
     The valve body 12 defines an inlet opening 38, an internal cavity 40 and a sink outlet 42. The inlet opening 38 connects the inlet section 14 to the internal cavity 40. Preferably, the sink outlet 42 mounts an aerator cup 44, of conventional design. The spool 26 is shown in a sink-fow position, with the inlet opening 38 and the internal cavity 40 open to the sink outlet 42. By axially shifting the spool 26 to a filter-flow position, as hereafter described, the inlet opening 38 and the internal cavity 40 can be opened to a filter outlet 46 defined by the outlet section 18. 
     In FIG. 3, a top view of the handle portion of the valve 10 shows the relationship between the notch 23 in the handle 22, and the shoulder 24 of the body 12. As shown, the spring 30 drives the spool 26 inward, causing the valve head 34 and an o-ring 36 to seal the inlet opening 38 from the filter outlet 46, while allowing access from the inlet opening 38 to the sink outlet 42. 
     In FIG. 4, the handle 22 has been pulled away from the body 12, and rotated to bring the shoulder 24 to bear on a retaining detent 25 in the handle. 
     Referring also to FIG. 5, a section similar to that in FIG. 2 is shown, but with the handle 22 withdrawn to the position shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the valve head 34 and corresponding o-ring 36 seal the sink outlet 42 from the inlet opening 38, and cause a diversion of all of the faucet-flow through the filter opening 46. In such a handle position, opening the water faucet (not shown) will always cause a flow through the filter opening 46. 
     As long as a substantial flow continues into the filter outlet 46, the back-pressure operating on the filter-outlet-exposed face of the valve head 34 will keep the spool 26 driven fully against the pressure of the spring 30. Thus, the handle 22 only need be axially retracted to initiate the flow into the filter, and need not be held in place to maintain the flow. When the flow ends, the spring 30 shifts the spool 26 to provide a conventional sink-directed flow when the sink faucet is again turned on. 
     On the other hand, if it is desired to continue the flow through the filter outlet 46 whenever the sink faucet is opened, the handle 22 can be rotated as shown in FIG. 4, thereby locking the spool 26 in the filter-flow position and keeping the full flow diverted through the filter outlet 46. 
     The valve 10 can be easily installed on a conventional faucet by unthreading the aerator cup from the spigot, and replacing the cup with the valve 10. A filter-connected hose can be simply slipped over the outlet section 18, effecting a fluid connection to the filter. When a user wishes filtered water for a short period, the handle 22 can be briefly withdrawn while water is flowing from the faucet. The valve head 34 of the spool 26 then diverts water to the filter, and the backpressure acting on the exposed face of the valve head 34 keeps the spool 26 in the filter-flow position. When the faucet is terminated, the spring 30 returns the spool 26 to the sink-flow position. When the faucet flow is again started, the flow exits into the sink in a normal manner. When a user wishes to obtain filtered water whenever the faucet flow is started, the handle 22 can be axially retracted, and then rotated, to lock the spool 26 and the valve head 34 in the filter flow position, until the handle 22 is again rotated to permit the notch 23 to straddle the shoulder 24. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.