Abstract:
A method of coupling a valve assembly to a housing including the steps of orienting a channel and retaining the valve assembly. The orienting step including the orienting of the channel on the valve assembly to dual spring arms on the housing thereby directing a portion of the valve assembly to an opening in the housing. The retaining step including retaining the valve assembly to the housing by way of a biased latch.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/243,429, entitled “WATER VALVE SNAP FIT RETENTION FOR A VACUUM BREAK”, filed Oct. 4, 2005 and which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/615,870, entitled “WATER VALVE SNAP-FIT RETENTION FOR VACUUM BREAK ASSEMBLY”, filed Oct. 5, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a water valve assembly, and, more particularly to a water valve assembly connected to a vacuum break. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Vacuum breaks are utilized in water systems in order to prevent a siphoning action from occurring between a device utilizing water and the water supply. For example, vacuum breaks are utilized in certain toilet flushing systems so that there is an opportunity for air to enter between the water source and the water being used by the device. Another application for vacuum breaks are in wash machines where the water supply may be a mixture of hot and cold water that is then supplied to a washing tub with the vacuum break serving the dual function of mixing the hot and cold water in a mixing chamber and providing a break between the water supply and the water in the washing tub. Vacuum breaks for washing machines allow for the introduction of atmospheric air in the water flow so that a siphon is not created that would draw additional water from the source or allow contamination from a water path that may be in contact with water in the tub and the valve. Contamination risk is greatest if water pressure from the water source is lost and the valve is opened and if the valve is in contact with water from the wash tub contamination of the source water would result. For this reason a vacuum break is utilized to prevent the possibility of a water source contamination. Additionally the vacuum break may allow a mixing of the water from the water sources prior to the water being utilized in the washing tub. 
         [0006]    Vacuum breaks have water valve assemblies associated therewith, which may be attached thereto. The water valve assemblies require the use of numerous tools and extensive assembly procedures in order to connect the vacuum break with water control valves. 
         [0007]    What is needed in the art is an inexpensive, easily assembled valve assembly/vacuum break combination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a vacuum break assembly with an easily attached valve assembly. 
         [0009]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a vacuum break assembly including a housing, at least one valve assembly and at least one biased latch. The housing has at least one opening therein. The at least one valve assembly is coupled to the at least one opening in a sliding manner. The at least one biased latch couples the valve assembly to the housing. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that the valve assembly is connected to the vacuum break without the need of any tools. 
         [0011]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it is coupled to the vacuum break assembly by simply pushing the assemblies together. 
         [0012]    Another advantage of the present invention is that a retaining feature additionally serves to orient and direct the valve assembly to an opening in the vacuum break. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the valve assembly can be removed from the vacuum break by providing a biasing force against a spring arm to thereby release the valve assembly from the vacuum break. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vacuum break assembly having solenoid valves of the present invention installed therein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing of a solenoid valve of  FIG. 1  installed in the housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates retention features of the housing of the vacuum break of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates the assembly of the solenoid valve assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2  to the housing of  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates the vacuum break assembly of  FIGS. 1-4  installed in a washing machine. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is illustrated a washing machine  10  including a vacuum break assembly  12 . Vacuum break assembly  12  includes a housing  14 , a temperature sensor  16 , a valve assembly  18  and a valve assembly  20 . Temperature sensor  16  is adjacent to a mixing cavity in which water from both the hot and cold supply are mixed and the temperature is controlled by a control device, not shown. Valve assemblies  18  and  20  are respectively assigned to cold and hot water supplies that are coupled in a conventional manner by way of a hose to hot and cold water supplies. Valve assemblies  18  and  20  are substantially similar and for all practical purposes are identical in every respect. For the sake of convenience only valve assembly  18  will be discussed, with the understanding that the attributes of valve assembly  18  are also included in valve assembly  20 . 
         [0022]    Valve assembly  18  includes a solenoid  22  for operative activation by a control system, not shown. Although solenoid  22  is depicted, it is understood that a control mechanism other than a solenoid may be utilized in operating valve assembly  18 . Valve assembly  18  additionally includes a sealing ring  24 , which co-acts with a surface of an opening  26  in housing  14  to provide a waterproof seal for the water that travels through valve assembly  18 . Hot and cold water is mixed in a mixing chamber contained in vacuum break assembly  12 , the chamber exists between valve assemblies  18  and  20 . A control system variously activates valve assemblies  18  and  20  to control the temperature of water that travels through the mixing chamber of vacuum break  12 . 
         [0023]    Housing  14  additionally includes features on each side that are replicated to accommodate each of valve assemblies  18  and  20 . Again for the sake of convenience, only those attributes on one side of housing  14  will be discussed. It is to be understood that the features discussed as existing on one side of housing  14  to accommodate valve assembly  18  are existent in a substantially similar fashion on an opposite side of housing  14  to accommodate valve assembly  20 . Housing  14  includes a spring arm  28  having a retaining feature  30 , and dual spring arms  32  having an over-center slot  34 . Spring arm  28  is flexible in a direction  36  allowing retainer  30  to engage a notch or ledge on valve assembly  18 . Dual spring arms  32  are flexible in directions  38 . Direction  36  is substantially perpendicular to direction  38 . Dual spring arms  32  additionally guide valve assembly  18  and orient it so that a portion of valve assembly  18  is directed toward opening  26 . 
         [0024]    Valve assembly  18  includes a body  40 , a ramped surface  42  and a channel  44 . Ramped surface  42  interacts with spring arm  28  so that as valve assembly  18  is assembled to housing  14  spring arm  28  flexes away from body  40  as it travels along ramped surface  42 . As retainer  30  moves past ramped surface  42 , spring arm  28  returns to its substantially unbiased position, thereby holding valve assembly  18  in an assembled position with housing  14 . 
         [0025]    In the assembly process of vacuum break  12 , channel  44  of valve assembly  18  is oriented relative to dual spring arms  32  and is moved toward housing  14  causing dual spring arms  32  to flex outwardly allowing a curved inner surface between channel  44 , which is substantially similar to a curved portion of over-center slot  34 . Channel  44  co-acts with dual spring arms  32  to orient and direct valve assembly  18  toward opening  26  and ramped surface  42  to contact retainer  30  of spring arm  28 . 
         [0026]    Once valve assembly  18  is snapped into place with housing  14 , it should be noted that the portion of body  40  that has entered opening  26  along with dual spring arms  32  securely hold valve assembly  18  so that valve assembly  18  will not rotate or move relative to housing  14  when a hose coupling is connected to the threaded portion of body  40 . Further, the assembly of valve assembly  18  with housing  14  is accomplished without the need for any tools. This hand operation is accomplished very quickly and can be undone by simply applying a biasing force on spring arm  28  to allow retainer  30  to be disengaged from body  40 . Valve assembly  18  can then be pulled from its position relative to housing  14 . 
         [0027]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.