Patent Abstract:
A plumbing valve cover is disclosed for use in conjunction with under-sink plumbing to avoid interference with the operation of a flexible spray nozzle hose used in conjunction with a spray nozzle. The plumbing valve cover may be coupled to the under-sink plumbing or cabinet wall. The plumbing valve cover may partially cover the under-sink plumbing and include clearances for multiple plumbing lines which may exit a supply valve. The plumbing valve cover may include markings to aid in sizing the cover to variations in the length of a supply line. The preferred embodiment would be a single piece, injection molded plastic apparatus which includes structural ribs and C-shaped mounting clips which mechanically couple the plumbing valve cover to the supply valve.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to the field of under-sink plumbing valve covers, and in particular to a removable plumbing valve cover which is placed below and proximate an under-sink supply valve or similar object which may interfere with the operation of a spray nozzle and associated flexible movable hose, which may be used in conjunction with a kitchen sink. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sinks or washbasins may include a spray nozzle or water dispenser which is attached to a flexible hose, where the flexible hose retracts into an opening and is stored freely under the sink. A weight may be attached to the hose to assist in retracting the hose into the opening and improve storage control of the flexible hose under the sink. The hose generally is provided through an opening on the side or rear of the sink or through an opening in the center of a faucet. 
     Water supply lines enter from the wall, pass through an opening in a cabinet and are coupled to a valve. A supply line exits the valve and connects to a faucet control such that the user can turn the water on and off. It is recognized that there may be hot and cold water lines, as well as multiple inlet lines exiting from each valve for other appliances such as refrigerators or dish washing machines. 
     The supply line is normally horizontal which may be the optimal orientation for installing the cabinets. The valve generally has an oval shaped handle. The handle is generally larger than the water supply line. The orientation of the plumbing and the handle on the valve creates a scenario that can interfere with the movement of the loose hose. It can be seen that a hose of sufficient length can loop below the horizontal water supply line or lines and, become entrapped. This may preclude the spray nozzle from fully deploying and render the nozzle useless. 
     Thus, what is necessary is a low cost and efficient apparatus for avoiding the interference between the retractable hose and the plumbing and valves. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a low cost apparatus for at least partially shielding under-sink plumbing. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is the design of the low cost apparatus such that the apparatus will preclude interference from the under-sink plumbing with the retractable hose. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is the design of the apparatus for easy installation and removal. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention is the design of the apparatus such that the apparatus snaps onto a feature of the plumbing. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention would be a design that includes a two-piece system which can snap, be screwed together, and the like to fasten around a feature of the plumbing. 
     A sixth aspect of the present invention is a design such that the knob for the respective valve remains exposed to allow operation without removal of the present invention. 
     A seventh aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of reference markings, notch, removable feature, and the like to provide for clearances for various supply and inlet lines as well as fitting between the cabinet and the plumbing valves. 
     A seventh aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of a label or printed identifier used for advertisement or promotional means, such as including the contact information for a respective plumber. 
     An eighth aspect of the present invention is the ability to manufacture the apparatus using injection molding. 
     A ninth aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of a slot(s), the slots providing for cable ties as a means to couple the present invention to the under-sink plumbing. 
     A tenth aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of a means to secure the present invention to at least one of the cabinet or a wall. 
     An eleventh aspect of the present invention is to fabricate the present invention of a semi-rigid or rigid material. 
     A twelfth aspect of the present invention is an application or design such to reinforce or increase the rigidity of the present invention along a line of contact of the hose. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     !FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a kitchen sink, a supporting cabinet, and respective plumbing. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a plumbing valve shield installed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the plumbing valve shield. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view of FIG. 3 including a free body diagram further illustrating the forces provided which move a flexible hose around the plumbing valve. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a strip style valve shield in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a plumbing valve shield that partially covers the supply valve in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a valve shield with a clearance for a plumbing valve cover handle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a sink  10  mounted within a cabinet  12  to illustrate the need for the present invention. A faucet  14  and faucet handles  16  are generally mounted through holes located in either the sink  10  or the top of the cabinet  12 . A spray nozzle  18  may be accessed through a flexible hose opening  22  located adjacent to the faucet  14  or through a flexible hose opening in the faucet  14  (not shown in that configuration). The spray nozzle  18  is coupled to an exit end of a flexible hose  20  with an inlet end of the flexible hose  20  coupled to the plumbing (not shown) to provide water (not shown) to the spray nozzle  18 . There are many methods known to couple the hose to each fixture. The water is provided to the system through supply line plumbing  24 , a supply line valve  26  and inlet line plumbing  30 , normally one for cold water and a second for hot water. The supply line valve  26  may be designed in various configurations. The supply line valve  26  is illustrated in an angled configuration, where the supply valve handle  28  would be located in front of the plumbing. Alternatively, supply line valves  26  may be configured as a through valve where the supply valve handle  28  is located on the top of the valve. The supply line valve  26  may be configured to include one or more connections for outputs to provide for inlet lines  30  to the sink or other appliances. The water drains through a P-Trap  32  which has a first end of the P-Trap  32  is coupled to a drain (not shown) located at the bottom of the bowl of the sink  10  and a second end of the P-Trap  32  is coupled to a sewage line (not shown) generally located at the back of the cabinet. 
     It can be recognized from the illustration that the under-sink plumbing comprising supply line plumbing  24 , supply line valve(s)  26 , and supply line valve handle(s)  28  would interfere with the flexible hose  20  when the flexible hose  20  is pulled through the flexible hose opening  22  by the user. 
     The figure is provided to illustrate a general arrangement of plumbing located under a sink, where the plumbing includes a spray nozzle  18  coupled to the flexible hose  20 . 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of the isometric view of FIG. 1 including the present invention installed according to a preferred embodiment. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plumbing valve cover  40  is mechanically coupled to the supply valve  26  by a plumbing valve cover mount  42 . The preferred method to install the plumbing valve cover  40  would be to include a “C-shaped” snap mount which mechanically couples the plumbing valve cover  40  to the supply valve  26 . The “C-shaped” mount may be included within an injection molding manufacturing process to minimize manufacturing costs. It can be recognized that there are many other methods of coupling the plumbing valve cover  40  such as a pipe clamp around the supply valve  26 , secured by a snap feature, screws, and the line.; a first half that encompasses a portion of the when fastened to a second half, or of any known methods of coupling an object to a pipe or valve. Alternatively, the plumbing valve cover  40  may be mounted to the back of the cabinet or respective wall. It should be recognized that the method of installation should not limit the present invention. 
     The function of the plumbing valve cover is exhibited by the illustration whereby the design of the plumbing valve cover  40  allows at least one of the flexible hose  20  and flexible hose weight  34  to ride against the plumbing valve cover  40  thus avoiding interference between the lower service loop of the flexible hose  20  and the supply valve  26 , supply valve handle  28 , and other such plumbing. This will be described in more detail below. In the present state, as the flexible hose  20  is pulled through the flexible hose opening  22 , the plumbing would interfere with the lower service loop created by the geometry of the flexible hose  20 . The inclusion of the present invention provides an apparatus whereby when the lower service loop created in the flexible hose  20  rides against the bottom of the plumbing valve cover  40 ; the flexible hose  20  would not be caught in the plumbing. The bottom of the plumbing valve cover  40  is designed such that as the flexible hose  20  is pulled upwards through the flexible hose opening  22 , the lower service loop rides along the bottom of the plumbing valve cover  40  and moves in front of the supply valve  26 , supply valve handle  28 , and associated plumbing thus avoiding any interference. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plumbing valve cover  40  further illustrating the resulting motion of the flexible hose  20  respective to the plumbing valve cover  40  as the flexible hose  20  is lifted through the flexible hose opening  22 . The supply valve assembly  26  includes a supply line connector  44  for coupling the supply valve  26  to the supply line plumbing  24 , a valve to sink inlet line connector  46  for coupling the supply valve  26  to the inlet line plumbing  30  and the supply line valve handle  28 . The shape of the supply valve  26  provides ample locations for mechanically coupling the plumbing valve cover  40 , using any of known mechanical coupling methods such as a “C-shaped” clamp  42  which would partially wrap around the supply valve  26 . The plumbing valve cover  40  would be shaped in a manner to provide for the flexible hose  20  to move forward  50  when being raised through the flexible hose opening  22  by the user. The plumbing valve cover may include markings such as a molded in groove  48  to indicate areas to trim the plumbing valve cover  40  to fit for varying distances between the supply valve  26  and the back of the cabinet (not shown). It is recognized that there are many other means of providing a reference to indicate areas to trim the plumbing valve cover  40  to fit for varying distances between the supply valve  26  and the back of the cabinet (not shown). The plumbing valve cover  40  may further include a plumbing clearance section  52  for additional plumbing which may exit the sides (not shown) of the supply valve  26 . The clearance may be included in the design as shown or of removable sections. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the present invention as in FIG. 3 including a free body diagram illustrating the forces which move the flexible hose  20  to avoid interfering with the plumbing. When the user lifts the flexible hose  20  through the flexible hose opening  22 , the hose introduces a user applied force  60 . The user applied force  60  is composed of a normal force  62  and a tangential force  64 . The tangential force  64  moves the flexible hose  20  in a manner to avoid interference with the plumbing. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The described alternate embodiment includes the plumbing valve cover  40  which avoids interference with the flexible hose  20  (not shown in this figure), a valve handle clearance  70 , a wall mount  72 , and a adjusting mount slot  74 . The embodiment illustrated would mechanically couple a first end of the plumbing valve cover  40  to the supply valve  26  (not shown) proximate the supply valve handle  28  (not shown) and mechanically couple a second end of the plumbing valve cover  40  to the wall (not shown) using the wall mount  72 . The plumbing valve cover  40  may be manufactured from stamped metal molded plastic, or any other means to provide the desired shape. It would be preferred that the material allows for flexibility to provide a means to adjust the size of the overall apparatus. It can be recognized that there are many other methods of adjusting the size of the plumbing valve cover  40  whereby the means of sizing the plumbing valve cover  40  should not limit the spirit or intent of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view representative of a second embodiment of the present invention. The described embodiment includes the plumbing valve cover  40  which avoids interference with the flexible hose  20  (not shown in this figure) and a means of mounting the plumbing valve cover  40 . The illustration includes C-shaped clips  42  to mechanically couple the plumbing valve cover  40  to the supply valve  26 . The illustration further includes reinforcing member(s)  76  used to add strength to the body of the plumbing valve cover  40 . This particular embodiment would be preferably manufactured of pliable molded plastic to provide for the C-shaped clamps  42 . Additionally, the figure illustrates sizing indicators  48  for trimming the plumbing valve cover  40  to provide for variations, in the length of the supply line  24  (not shown). 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view representative of a third embodiment of the present invention, similar to the second embodiment of FIG. 6, with the addition of a valve handle clearance  70 . It can be recognized that the valve handle clearance  70  can be defined or referenced by reference markings similar to the length indicators  48 . 
     It can be recognized that the variations of design or features for achieving the aspects of the present invention should not limit the spirit, scope or intentions of the present invention. It can be recognized that advertisements may be applied via labels, printed onto the surface, embossed on the surface, molded into the material, and the like. 
     The plumbing valve cover can be manufactured using injection molding processes metal forming processes, machining processes (although they are normally cost prohibitive), and the like. The materials can be of rubber, plastic, resins, metal, or any other cost effective material.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8