Abstract:
Aeration devices for generating bubbles in a flow of water are disclosed including an aerator body ( 1 ), a diverter ( 3 ) including orifices ( 31 ) for receiving the flow of water, each of the orifices ( 31 ) including a decreasing pore size in the direction from the upper portion of the diverter ( 3   b ) towards the lower portion of the diverter ( 3   a ), and a lower body portion ( 2 ) including a water chamber ( 2   a ) for receiving and aerating the flow of water from the orifices ( 31 ) in the diverter ( 3 ). Aeration devices are also disclosed including a pressure compensator ( 6 ) mounted on the upper portion of the diverter ( 3 b) for regulation of the maximum flow of water therethrough, the aerator body ( 1 ) including a ball joint opening ( 11 ) and a ball joint ( 12 ) mounted within the ball joint opening ( 11 ), the ball joint ( 12 ) comprising plastic and the upper ball joint ( 13 ) comprising metal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Applications Nos. 200920183323.3, 200920183324.8, and 200920183325.2 filed on Oct. 15, 2009 in the Chinese Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to aerators for generating bubbles in a flow of water. More particularly, the present invention relates to kitchen aerators including flow compensators which are capable of providing improved flow patterns. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Aerator nozzles, faucets, kitchen aerators, spray heads, shower heads, and the like for controlling the fluid flow of water are well known in the art. Aerator faucets, for example, such as those for use in the kitchen, are generally complicated mechanical devices having numerous parts including water discharge heads that can be rotated to regulate the discharge spray of water from the discharge spray head. Since these types of rotating spray heads can easily break down in view of the numerous internal moving component parts therein, kitchen aerators have been improved upon. Thus, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,248 (“the &#39;248 Patent”), assigned to the assignee of the present application, there has been provided a kitchen aerator which includes a flow compensator for increasing the flow rate of water at low pressures and which utilizes a flip lever to regulate the water flow rate. The pressure compensator is thus capable of regulating the flow rate or maintaining the flow rate regardless of pressure variations in the stream of water. It can also ensure that the flow rate does not exceed the maximum rated flow rate for the particular device in question. 
         [0004]    The disclosure of the &#39;248 Patent is therefore incorporated herein by reference thereto in its entirety. In  FIGS. 1 and 2  hereof, which correspond to FIGS. 3 and 3 a  of the &#39;248 Patent, the kitchen aerator or faucet aerator 10 is shown in detail. These figures show this prior art device, which includes a flow compensator assembly  30 , including flow compensator member  32 , as well as a ball joint  36  and a pin  40  with a water flow opening  41  which is adjusted by flip lever  46 . The device shown in the &#39;248 Patent also includes a spray subassembly  60  connected to the flow compensator subassembly  30 . This spray subassembly includes a chrome spray adjusting ring  80  and a rubber spray adjusting ring  82  which are used to produce either a needle spray pattern or a bubble stream (full) spray pattern by lateral movement thereof. The water out seat member  84  thereof includes water openings  85  to produce the desired spray patterns. 
         [0005]    The search, however, has continued to improve upon these aerators and to provide superior products in terms of the materials used and the costs for producing same. 
       SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION  
       [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects have now been realized by the invention of an aerator for generating bubbles in a flow of water comprising an aerator body, a diverter having an upper portion and a lower portion attached to the aerator body, the diverter including a plurality of orifices for receiving the flow of water, each of the plurality of orifices including a decreasing pore size in a direction from the upper portion of the diverter towards the lower portion of the diverter, and a lower body portion including a water chamber having an inner surface and an outer surface for receiving and aerating the flow of water from the plurality of orifices in the diverter. In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the water chamber includes a plurality of baffles interrupted by a corresponding plurality of trenches therebetween for increasing the aeration of the flow of water exiting from the plurality of orifices. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the diverter includes an upper diverter portion including the plurality of orifices and a lower diverter portion extending into the lower body portion. Preferably, the lower body portion is movable between a lower position in which the lower body portion is in sealable contact with the lower portion of the diverter, thereby preventing the flow of water from flowing therebetween, and an upper position in which the lower body portion is separated from the lower portion of the diverter thereby permitting the flow of water therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the water chamber includes a plurality of water openings on the outer periphery thereof, whereby when the lower body portion is in the lower position the flow of water flows through the plurality of water openings, and when the lower body portion is in the upper position, the flow of water ceases through the plurality of water openings, thereby causing the flow of water to draw air through the plurality of water openings and further aerate the flow of water thereby. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the aerator includes an inner frame surrounding the diverter and contained within the lower body portion. In a preferred embodiment, the inner frame includes an upper threaded portion, and including an upper body portion threadably affixed to the inner frame. In a preferred embodiment, the upper body portion includes an upper opening, and including a ball joint rotatably mounted within the upper opening in the upper body portion for rotatable mounting of the aerator. Preferably, the ball joint comprises a plastic ball joint. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the aerator includes a pressure compensator mounted on the upper portion of the diverter for regulation of the maximum flow of the flow of water. Preferably, the aerator includes a screen associated with the pressure compensator for filtering the flow of water through the pressure compensator. 
         [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, other objects have now been realized by the invention of an aerator for generating bubbles in a flow of water comprising an aerator body, a diverter having an upper portion and a lower portion attached to the aerator body, a pressure compensator mounted on the upper portion of the diverter for regulation of the maximum flow of the flow of water therethrough, the aerator body including an upper portion including a ball joint opening, and a ball joint including an upper ball joint portion including threads for connection to a faucet and a lower ball joint portion mounted within the ball joint opening for swiveling movement therein, the lower ball joint portion comprising plastic and the upper ball joint portion comprising metal. In a preferred embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the lower ball joint portion is capable of swiveling in a 360° rotation in the ball joint opening. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the diverter includes a plurality of orifices for receiving the flow of water. Preferably, the plurality of orifices includes a decreasing pore size in a direction from the upper portion of the diverter towards the lower portion of the diverter. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the aerator includes a lower body portion including a water chamber having an inner surface and an outer surface for receiving and aerating the flow of water from the plurality of orifices in the diverter. Preferably the inner surface of the water chamber includes a plurality of baffles interrupted by a corresponding plurality of trenches therebetween for increasing the aeration of the flow of water exiting from the plurality of orifices. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the diverter includes an upper diverter portion including the plurality of orifices and a lower diverter portion extending into the lower body portion. Preferably the lower body portion is movable between a lower position in which the lower body portion is in sealable contact with the lower portion of the diverter, therefore preventing the flow of water from flowing therebetween, and an upper position in which the lower body portion is separated from the lower portion of the diverter thereby permitting the flow of water therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the water chamber includes a plurality of water openings on the outer periphery thereof, whereby when the lower body portion is in the lower position, the flow of water can flow through the plurality of water openings, and when the lower body portion is in the upper position, the flow of water ceases through the plurality of water openings, thereby causing the flow of water to draw air through the plurality of water openings and further aerate the flow of water thereby. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the aerator includes an inner frame surrounding the diverter and contained within the lower body portion. Preferably the inner frame includes an upper threaded portion, and including an upper body portion threadably affixed to the inner frame. 
         [0015]    In accordance with another embodiment of the aerator of the present invention, the aerator includes a screen associated with the pressure compensator for filtering the flow of water through the pressure compensator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TEE DRAWINGS  
         [0016]    The present invention may be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description which in turn refers to the figures in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side, perspective exploded view of a kitchen aerator in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side, perspective, exploded view of a kitchen aerator of the prior art; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side, elevational, sectional view of the exit portion of an aerator in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a top, perspective view of a lower body portion of the aerator shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side, elevational, sectional view of an aerator in accordance with the present invention including a pressure compensator; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side, elevational, sectional view of a kitchen aerator in accordance with the present invention including a ball joint attachment, and in which the lower body portion is toggled to the lower portion; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side, elevational view of the kitchen aerator shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a top, elevational view of the kitchen aerator shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a bottom, elevational view of the kitchen aerator shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a side, elevational, partial sectional view of a portion of a kitchen aerator of the present invention including the ball joint therefor; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side, elevational, sectional view of the kitchen aerator shown in  FIG. 6 , with the lower body portion toggled to the up position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    Referring first to  FIG. 3 , an aerator body  1 , is shown in this figure, which is intended to alternate between two positions, one of which is effective to generate a large amount of bubbles, in this case to provide softer and smoother bubble formation than has been possible in the past. The aerator body  1  has an inner frame  4  which can be attached to the upper body portion (see discussion below) by means of threads  4   a  in a manner discussed below. The inner frame  4  is attached to a lower body portion  2 . This is accomplished during assembly by the inner frame  4  being pushed downwardly into the lower body portion  2 . In doing so, and since the lower body portion  2  includes an O-ring  2   c  which snaps into a corresponding slot  4   c  in the outer surface of the inner base  4 , not only are these two parts attached to each other, but the leakage of water is prevented through this connection. Within the inner frame  4  is contained a diverter  3  including a lower diverter portion  3   a  having an increased diameter portion at the bottom thereof, and an upper diverter portion  3   b.  Preferably, the diverter  3  is a one-piece unit including both the upper and lower diverter portions  3   b  and  3   a,  respectively. During assembly, the diverter  3  is thus pushed downwardly into the top of the inner frame  4 , and is then pressed into the lower body portion  2 . Since the diameter of the lower diverter portion  3   a  is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the lower body portion  2 , it is necessary to force fit the diverter thereinto. Furthermore, since the diverter is preferably a one-piece unit, it is therefore able to hold these parts together by these pressure fits alone. Furthermore, as discussed in more detail below, and since the lower diverter portion  3   a  is on the lower side of the lower body portion  2 , it can create an inner seal therebetween. 
         [0029]    The upper diverter portion  3   b  is intended to equally distribute water flow throughout the entire body of the aerator body  1 . The lower diverter portion  3   a,  as noted, creates a seal against the lower body portion  2 , which toggles the water flow to the center bubble stream or the outer spray streams, as discussed in detail below. The diverter  3  directs the flow of water down to the lower surface of the water chamber for expulsion in the appropriate aerated manner. The upper portion of the diverter  3  includes an open mounting portion  7 , and a plurality of pores  31  therebelow for the flow of water therefrom. Preferably, these pores are disposed in a circular pattern around the entire floor of the open mounting portion  7 , thus distributing the flow of water as discussed above. The upper mounting portion will contain a pressure compensator (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) as will be discussed in more detail below. These evenly distributed pores form an important element of the present invention in that they are of decreasing diameter as the water flows downwardly through them. This decreasing diameter can be step-wise, as shown in the drawings, or it can be of a continuous or semi-continuous decreasing diameter. This results in an increase in the rate of flow of the water which exits the diverter  3  as it passes through these pores  31  for aeration purposes. In the case where a two-step set of pores  31  are utilized, in a preferred embodiment the upper pores will have a diameter of about 1.2 mm, and the lower pores will then have a stepped-down diameter of about 0.6 mm. These stepped-down or reduced diameters thus create a venturi effect in which the water velocity will increase through the smaller diameter stepped portion. This, in turn, creates a much more powerful stream of water exiting from the device without changing the overall water volume itself. 
         [0030]    In the lower portion of the aerator body  1  there is disposed lower body portion  2  which is shown in  FIG. 4 , and which includes an inner water chamber  2   a.  The lower body portion  2 , including inner water chamber  2   a,  can be toggled between two positions, an upper position, as is shown in  FIG. 11 , and a lower position, as is shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 . The user can simply slide the lower body portion  2  between these two positions by grasping its outer surface and sliding it up or down, as desired. In the down position, as in  FIG. 3 , a seal is created between the lower diverter portion  3   a  and the inwardly directed portion  2   b  of the inner water chamber  2   a.  This seal, in turn, prevents the water exiting the pores  31  from passing between the lower diverter portion  3   a  and the inner water chamber  2   a,  but the flow of water is thus directed radially outwardly, through a series of outlet ports  33  contained around the inner circumference of the lower body portion  2 . This water flow then freely exits the aerator body  1 . 
         [0031]    On the other hand, when the lower body portion  2  is moved into an up position, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the seal between the lower diverter portion  3   a  and the inner water chamber  2   a  is broken, allowing the water to flow from the pores  31  directly downwardly to the central portion  2   c  of the lower body portion  2 , as can be seen by the arrows in  FIG. 11 . The flow of water thus exits the pores  31  and impinges on the surface of the lower water chamber  2   a.  Furthermore, in this configuration, all of the water is flowing around the lower diverter portion  3   a  through the center of this device, and essentially no water is flowing through the outlet ports  33 . Therefore, these outlet ports  33  leave an open channel for the movement of air. Therefore, the central flow itself will draw air from the outlet ports  33  into the aerator device, where air can then mix into the flow of water to create the increased aeration of this invention. As can also be seen in  FIG. 4 , along the outer periphery of the inner wall of the inner water chamber  2   a  are located a plurality of circumferential baffles  51  separated by trenches  52  therebetween. The exits for the pores  31  are thus specifically directed so that the flow of water therefrom will impinge directly onto the baffles  51 , thus creating even greater aeration. In this manner, as the water rapidly exits from the decreased diameters pores  31 , it is mixed with air in the manner discussed above, and it then strikes against the baffles themselves inside inner the water chamber  2   a,  thus mixing more air with the water and generating even more evenly distributed bubbles. These bubbles then flow out of the lower end  3   a  of the diverter  3  and are sprayed out from the screen at a maximum size and angular dimensions to create more desirable bubble columns therein. In this manner, the problems of disturbed effluent and insufficient bubbles which are faced in the prior art are overcome. 
         [0032]    Referring next to  FIGS. 6 and 11 , a dual function aerator is shown utilizing the aerator body of  FIGS. 3 and 5 . This device, such as that of the &#39;248 Patent discussed above, includes a flip lever  10  for controlling the flow through the device itself. As can be seen in these figures, the aerator itself comprises an upper body portion  11  which can be affixed by corresponding threads to the inner frame  4  discussed above and as shown in  FIG. 6 . The upper body portion  11  is fixed to a ball joint  12 , preferably for rotary movement thereabout. In this manner, the aerated water exiting from the water chamber  5  can be directed in any desired angle by the user, such as in a 360° rotation about its axis. Once again, the lower body portion  2  is fixed to the inner frame  4  in the manner discussed above, and the diverter  3  is again fixed to the inner frame  4 . The inner frame  4  is bolted to the upper body portion  11  as discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  a pressure compensator  6  is mounted between the ball joint  12  and the diverter  3 . A seat  7  is maintained within the upper portion  3   a  of the diverter  3  for mounting of the pressure compensator  6  therein. Furthermore, a conical screen  8  is mounted on top of the pressure compensator  6  for filtering the water entering the pressure compensator itself. In this manner, the screen can filter out any sediment or other debris from the flow of water itself which could create clogging in the body of the aerator. The angled conical design of this screen  8  provides increased surface area for the device and allows for a longer period of time for sediment to build up before the screen requires cleaning. This particular design as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  includes ribs on the underside of the screen for reinforcement purposes, thus allowing it to hold its shape even in extremely high water pressure applications. As compared, for example, to the pressure compensators employed in the prior art, such as in the &#39;248 Patent, in this case access to the pressure compensator  6  and to the screen  8  is readily obtained by merely unscrewing the upper body portion  2  from the inner frame  4 . The screen  8 , for example, can thus be readily cleaned. To match the conically shaped upper portion of the diverter  6 , the screen  8  is also conically shaped, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The overall external upper and lower views of the aerator shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  are shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 . 
         [0033]    Turning next to  FIG. 10 , the upper portion of the aerator is shown, including the ball joint  12  as shown in the partial enlarged view thereof. The upper joint  13  for attachment to a kitchen tap, for example, is a copper fixture with threads as shown thereon. The body of the ball joint  12 , however, is preferably made of plastic, which is attached to the copper joint  13  in the manner shown. Thus, the lower end of the copper joint  13  includes an inwardly extending flange  13   a  and the upper portion of the ball joint  2  includes an outwardly extending flange  12   a,  which is captured by the inwardly extending flange  1   a  in the manner shown therein. The body of the ball joint  2  itself is connected to the aerator  3  in the manner shown hereinabove. 
         [0034]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0035]    Aerators are provided by this invention for the aeration of water in connection with aerator nozzles, faucets, kitchen aerators, spray heads, shower heads, and the like. The aerators can include adjustable flow control mechanisms for altering the flow through the aerator, and for producing greater aeration in one mode as compared to another, thus providing aerated water flow for each of these devices.