Abstract:
The present invention provides for a sleeve that screws into the same opening in a faucet that a typical aerator screws into. This sleeve replaces the aerator and includes a smaller aerator that is inserted within the sleeve. In this fashion, water aeration can still occur when aeration is desired. However, when a hose attachment is inserted into the sleeve, one of the hose attachment moves up and into the sleeve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is, in general, related to detachable hose assemblies for use with existing faucets. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for coupling a hose to a faucet that provides for a bypassable aerator.  
         [0002]     Most faucets employ an aerator for mixing air and water coming out of the faucet to provide a softer stream of water. Aerators also reduce splashing of the water when the water coming out of the faucet comes into contact with, for example, the bottom of a sink. In most aerators of current manufacture, the aerator screws into the delivery end of the spout. The aerator has small openings about its perimeter which, based on the Venturi principle, draw air into the water that flows through the aerator. The water thus delivered has small air bubbles contained within it. While the presence of the air bubbles is usually desired, there are some situations where it is also desirable to stop this aeration of the flowing water.  
         [0003]     Occasionally, however, there is a need for cleaning something that may not fit underneath a particular faucet or it may be extremely inconvenient to maneuver an object, such as a large pot, underneath the faucet. Pets are also difficult to coax underneath a faucet. Many sinks provide a hose attachment to use in combination with a standard faucet. However, these types of sinks are generally confined to use in kitchens.  
         [0004]     Therefore, what is needed is a device that can be attached to any faucet and that provides for the use of a hose and sprayer in conjunction therewith. While it would seem that one might simply provide a faucet having some attachment means for connecting a hose and sprayer assembly, the presence of an aerator in the faucet causes bubble formation within the hose and sprayer assembly, which interrupts water flow. Therefore, what is also needed is a coupling for a hose and sprayer to a faucet that does not require removal of the aerator within the faucet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides for a sleeve that screws into the same opening in a faucet that a typical aerator screws into. This sleeve replaces the aerator and includes a smaller aerator that is inserted within the sleeve. In this fashion, water aeration can still occur when aeration is desired. However, when a hose attachment is inserted into the sleeve, one end of the hose attachment moves up and into the sleeve. The hose attachment end additionally has arms that extend up and into the sleeve. Each arm has a small “L-shaped” hook defined at its distal end. Each hook points in the same circular direction and these hooks are used to engage aeration openings defined within the small aerator when the attachment is rotated within the sleeve. The attachment includes a seal or o-ring that contacts the inner surface of the sleeve. When fully engaged, the attachment end effectively blocks the flow of air into the sleeve, thereby preventing aeration. The foregoing and other features of the device of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1   a  shows a front and side perspective view of the device of the present invention shown attached to a faucet.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1   b  shows a front elevational view of the aerator sleeve attachment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1   c  shows a side elevational view of the aerator sleeve attachment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  shows top elevational view of female hose assembly of the device of the present inventor.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  shows a side elevational view of the female hose assembly.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2   c  shows a side elevational cutaway view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2   a  of the female hose assembly.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   d  shows an exploded view of the female hose assembly.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3   a  shows a top elevational view of the flow restrictor disk.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3   b  shows a side elevational view of faucet connector.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3   c  shows a side elevational cutaway view of the aerator assembly along line C-C of  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0016]      FIG. 3   d  shows a side and bottom perspective view of the aerator assembly.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3   e  shows a bottom plan view of the stream straightener.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3   f  shows an exploded view of the aerator assembly.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4   a  is a side elevational cutaway view of the hose connector.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4   b  is a side and top perspective view of the hose connector.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5   a  is a top and side perspective view of the faucet connector.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5   b  is a top and side perspective cutaway view of the faucet connector of the aerator assembly of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5   c  is a side cutaway view of the faucet connector shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     Now referring to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements through,  FIG. 1  shows the aerator sleeve attachment  1  as installed on a faucet. In general, the aerator sleeve attachment  1  is comprised of three larger parts, the female hose assembly  3 , the aerator assembly  5  and the hose connector  7 .  
         [0025]     In more detail, the female hose assembly is comprised of a seal ring  9 , the seal ring  9  having a center aperture  11 . The seal ring  9  additionally features a central groove  13 . The central groove  13  of the seal ring  9  fits over the retaining lip  17  of the hose barb  15  such that the seal ring  9  seals against the seal rim  19  of the hose barb  15 . The hose barb  15  also features a plurality of ridges  21 . The ridges  21  of the hose barb snap  15  into a hose ferrule  23 .  
         [0026]     The hose ferrule  23  is capped around a length of tubing  25 . A handle  27  fits snugly over the tubing  25  at one end  29  but widens considerably at the other end  33  to admit the hose barb  15 , seal ring  9 , and ferrule  23 . In fact, the hose barb  15 , seal ring  9 , and ferrule  23  are accommodated within the handle  27 , which is also internally threaded  31  at its wider end  33 .  
         [0027]     In more detail, the female hose assembly  3  is assembled by sliding the handle  27  on to the tubing  25 . Next the seal ring  9  is installed on the seal rim  19  of the hose barb  15 . Third, the hose barb  15  is inserted into the ferrule  23  until the ferrule  23  snaps onto the hose barb  15 . Next, the ferrule  23  is clamped onto the end of the tubing  25  and the handle  27  slides over the other parts to complete the female hose assembly  3 .  
         [0028]     The aerator assembly  5  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   f . The aerator assembly  5  includes the faucet connector  35 . The faucet connector  35  has a top threaded end  37  which is threaded onto the receiving threads of a faucet (not shown). The faucet connector  35  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . Specifically  FIG. 5   b  shows the ledge  39  situated around the inside circumference  37  of the faucet connector  35 . As can be seen, the ledge  39  has a raised portion, or “catch”  41 . The faucet connector also includes an internal shoulder  43 .  
         [0029]     Water enters the aerator assembly  5  through a flow restrictor  45 . The flow restrictor  45  contains a circular aperture  47  that permits the flow of water. The flow restrictor  45  is snap fit into the top end of the stream straightener  39 . Additionally, the flow restrictor  45  is, in general, a circular disk upon which a seal washer  49  or perhaps an additional seal washer  51  may be seated. The seal washers  49 ,  51  are designed to create a watertight seal between the faucet and the faucet connector  35  and are compacted between the faucet and the faucet connector  35  when the faucet connector  35  is tightened onto the faucet.  
         [0030]     Under the flow restrictor  45  and inside the stream straightener  39  is the aerator  53 . The aerator  53  contains a plurality of apertures  55 . The aerator  53  fits over the diverter disk  57 , which in essence forms a ring around the aerator  53  and snaps into the stream straightener  39 . The stream straightener  39  has a wide upper end  59  and a narrow lower end  61 . The upper end  59  of the stream straightener  39  houses the diverter disc  57 , the aerator  53  and the flow restrictor  45 . This subassembly rests on the shoulder  63  formed within the stream straightener  39  by the narrowing of the lower end  61 . The stream straightener  39  also contains a plurality of apertures  65 , the purpose of which will be discussed in more detail later in this description. As installed, the upper portion of stream straightener  39  rests on the shoulder  43  of the faucet connector  35 .  
         [0031]     The hose connector  7  has a male threaded end  67  which threads into the female hose assembly  3 . The opposite end of the hose connector  7  is insertable into the lower end of the faucet connector  35 . The hose connector  7  generally contains a set of tabs  69  on the perimeter of the end. The tabs  69  on the hose connector  7  slide between the ledges  39  of the faucet connector  35 . The hose connector  7  is then rotated such that the tabs  69  fit over the catch  41  and on the ledge  39  such that the hose connector  7  is secured on the ledge  39  of the faucet connector  35 .  
         [0032]     In normal faucet operation, water flows through the apertures  55  in the aerator  53 . When the water flows through the aerator  53 , air is drawn in through the apertures  65  in the stream straightener  39  an introduced into the water stream to create a soft, aerated stream of water. The inflow of air is drawn through the apertures  65  because of a vacuum (or Venturi) produced by water normal flow through the narrowed passages of the apertures  55  in the aerator  53 . However, it is not advantageous to aerate water which will be directed, via a hose or a tube  25  as it interferes with the capacity of the tube  25  as well as interrupting continuous flow at the end of the tube  25 . Therefore, when the tabs  69  of the hose connector  7  are locked into place on the faucet connector  5 , the hose connector  7  cooperates with the faucet connector  5  to stop the inflow of air into the apertures  65  in the stream straightener  39 . Ultimately an O-ring  71 , which is installed to the hose connector  7  will seal and thus stop aeration of the water stream. Additionally, the hose connector  7  provides a passageway  73  for water, the water passageway  73  being narrowed to the general diameter of the tube  25 .  
         [0033]     Thus, the present invention provides for a new type of aerator that cooperates with a tube or hose attachment to stop the inflow of air into a water stream when the tube or hose is connected to the water faucet. This invention disclosure is to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims therefore are intended to be embraced therein.