US3637143A - Handle-controlled spray - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle-controlled spray is provided for bathroom use with faucets or as a shower, wherein controlled flow therefrom is initiated by squeeze-type pressure. The handle-controlled spray has a safety flow valve that is self-closing with the pressure and a drip-preventing head.

Description

ll mted States Patent 1151 3,637,143

Shames et al. 1 Jan. 25, 1972 1 ANDLE-CONTROLLED SPRAY 3,042,312 7/1962 Packard ..239/586 x [72} Inventors: Harold Shames, Ardsley; Sidney J. 3l0786l 0/1963 pe-nkoffw "239/577 Shams B M b th f N 3,207,443 9/1965 Gilmour... ..239/586 x J h J 3,445,069 5/1969 Druge ..239/586X 3,461,870 8/l969 Van Linge ..239/310x [73] Assignee: Melard Manufacturing Corp., Bronx, NY. 2,104,468 V1938 by said Logan 2,873,941 2/1959 Kortchmar...

2,97 4 1 1. ..239 31871 221 Filed: May 28,1969 5 80 3/1961 e a I APPLNOJ 830,216 FOREIGN PATENTSORAPPLICATIONS 886,398 8 1953 Germany ..239 530 [52] Usfi "Hg/283339530,239/535 656,723 10 1963 Italy ..239/588 239/577 239/588 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. 51 11m. 01 ..B05b 15/06 A E J h J L [58] 11 16111 ofSearch ..239/282,285,530, 534,570,g 3.

529, 460, 318; 251/245, 303, 240 [57] ABSTRACT References Cited A handle-controlled spray is provided for bathroom use with faucets or as a shower, wherein controlled flow therefrom is UNITED STATES PATENTS initiated by squeeze-type pressure. The handle-controlled 2,789,013 4/1957 Bletcher et al ..239 570 x Spray has a Safety flow valve that is self-Closing Wiih the P 2,957,705 10/1960 Herbenar ..251/303 x We andadrip-preveming head- 2,984,452 5/1961 Hooper ..251/303 x 4 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED JANZS I972 SEEM l ow mm INVENTORS Y w mm MR AAG 0 HHO 55L T M5 M 1 m PATENIEUJANBSIQYZ 31637143 I NVENTURS HA R'OLD SHAMES,

s/a/vey u. SHAMES BY dOHN LOGAN ATTORNEYS HANDLE-CONTROLLED SPRAY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Handle-controlled sprays have been used heretofore in kitchens and bathrooms. Prior constructions have lacked appeal for use in bathrooms or as shower units either because of lack of a convenient control, inflexibility of adaptability to existing systems, tendency to leak from the spray head, or lack of simplicity, ease or reliability wherein control was attempted.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a handle-controlled spray that avoids the aforesaid problems and which provides spray flow therefrom upon exercise of simple and convenient squeeze-type pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handlecontrolled spray that is characterized by simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, and by efficiency of operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide the combination of a handle-controlled spray with diverter valve and support accessories which facilitate the use of such a spray in shower-type facilities.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing usage of the handle-controlled spray in a shower-type installation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the handle-com trolled spray taken looking at the spray face of the device;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the spray device taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the control valve closed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 3 but showing the control valve fully open;

FIG. 4a is similar to FIG. 4 but greatly enlarged;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the diverter valve shown located in the circle numbered 5 in the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an axially cross-sectional view taken online 66 of FIG. 5 showing the valve at one of its two alternate posi-. tions, namely the one for directing flow to the spray of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the valve in the other of its two alternate positions, namely the one for directing flow to the shower head shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the spray holder shown located in the circle numbered 8 in the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the holder shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken online 10--l0 of FIG. 9;

FIG. Ill is a top plan view taken on line 11-41 of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustable holder for the spray which is operable to keep the valve of the spray open without being held and thus permits use of the spray as a shower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates aspray 10 that is being supported in a nonuse position by a wall-mounted bracket 12- whose details are more fully disclosed in FIGS. 841. The spray I is supplied by asupply hose 14 of a length to permit desired operations and which connects at its upstream end to adiverter valve 16 whose details are shown in FIGS. 57.

In the installation of FIG. 1, water is supplied from an elevated wall-mounted type ofconduit 20 to one end of theelongated diverter valve 16. Atubular stud 22 extends from the other end ofdiverter valve 116 and supplies water to ashower head 24. Thesupply hose 14 connects to thediverter valve 16 intermediate its ends through a tubular stud 115 that extends transversely of the length of thevalve 16. The downwstream end ofhose 14 connects to the upstream end of spray Ill. The downstream end ofspray 10 has aspray head 11 that is diametrically enlarged relative to the adjacent neck Illa of spray It), and whichhead 11 engages and is supported by spaced support fingers of a wall-mounted spray-support bracket 12.

Referring now to the spray whose features are shown in FIGS. 2-4, thesupply hose 14 is shown as being provided at its downstream end with an elongated tubular stud orshank 30 having on the outer periphery thereof a series of annular downstream facingbarbs 32. The downstream end ofhose 14 is clamped between the barbed portion of tubular stud and aferrule 34 in a manner well known in the art. An axiallyelongated nut 36 with a radially reducedportion 38 is arranged to be rotatably mounted on theshank 30. The upstream end ofnut 36 has an enlargedbore portion 40 that operates to shieldferrule 34. The downstream end of thenut 36 is provided with a recess 42 which receives or fits over a. snapring 44 held in agroove 46 defined on the tubular stud 3th. The nut is provided withexterior threads 48. The downstream end ofstud 36 has a reducedportion 50 to provide anupstream shoulder 52, and a sealingwasher 54 is positioned on reducedportion 50 againstshoulder 52. The terminal end ofstud 30 is flared at 56 for retaining the sealingwasher 54 in position.

Thenut 36 connects to a valve-mounting insert generally indicated at 60 which is provided with an upstreamannular portion 62 havingthreads 64 for cooperation withthreads 48 on the nut. Afrustoconical sealing surface 66 is provided facing generally upstream and against which the sealing washer 54 abuts. Theinsert 60 is provided with an outerannular abutment shoulder 68 and a downstreamannular portion 70 having defined therein anannular recess 72 into which is fitted an O-ring 74 for purposes of sealing. Thedownstream portion 70 has attachment thread 76 thereon for connection to the upstream end of the spray. Theinsert 66 thus defines a flow chamber 78 that is bounded at its downstream end by anannular web 80 having an upstream facing valve seat 82 defined thereon with a central flow passageway 83 therethrough. Downstream of theweb 80 there is an annular axially extendingflange 84 that surrounds the annular spring seat 86. The valve-mounting insert 60 carries avalve member 88 having a cup-shaped valve head 90 with a plurality of outwardly extendingspaced ribs 91 which limit thehead 90 from engaging the inner wall of theinsert 60. Thevalve head 90 has an internally threadedcentral boss 92 andhead 90 carries anannular valve seal 94. An elongated assembly stem 96 is threaded inboss 92 and extends through flow passageway 83 into the interior of the spray member. The assembly stem 96 carries a seal-retaining flange 100 of smaller dimension than the flow passageway 83. A downstream portion of stem 96 has acylindrical enlargement 102 that is grooved. to receive and retainsnapring 104. Ahelical spring 136 of frustoconical shape is positioned between the snapring I04 and the spring seat 86, with thelargest loop 108 engaging seat 86 and theretainer flange 34, and thesmallest loop 116 being centered on en- Iargement 1102 andengaging snapring 104. Downstream of thesnapring 104 the stem has acylindrical engagement stud 112 that terminates in aconical tip 114.

The hollow spray body 1116 is formed of plastic and has an upstream end internally threaded at 116. The downstream end of thespray body 116 is shaped to define acircular spray head 11.Spray head 11 has a central tubular threadedboss 120. There is also provided an annularcylindrical sealing surface 122. The sprayformingcylindrical surface 124 is provided downstream of sealingsurface 122. A plurality of spacingribs 126 extending generally radially of boss I20 extend inwardly of the wall of the spray. Asprayforrning faceplate 128 is mounted by means of bolt H30 having ahead 132 that sealingly engages the underside of transverse wall I34 ofplate 128.Plate 128 has acylindrical wall 136 and a sealingsurface 138. The upstream side ofplate 128 has a circular rib 140 and the plurality of spray bores 142 are provided through theplate 128. There are many moreperipheral grooves 144 inwall 136 which cooperate withwall 124 in order to provide a circularly arranged series of outer spray openings. A moldedseal member 146 of rubber or similar material and provided with a groove 148 for mounting on rib 140 is provided. Theseal member 146 carries outwardly biased sealinglips 150 and 152 which respectively are adapted to engage sealingsurfaces 122 and 138 in order to cut off drip of water after the flow of pressurized water has ceased. When the pressure of water is higher than the bias of the sealing lips, then the water is forced through the spray apertures to provide a series of concentric spray streams issuing from the spray head.

Provided on the handle at an attitude facing in the direction of thespray face 11, there is provided a handle recess generally indicated at 154 which is elongated axially of thespray body 116. Thehandle recess 154 is bounded by spacedlongitudinal flanges 156 and by an upstreamtransverse flange 158 and a downstreamtransverse flange 160. Within therecess 154 there is atubular stud 162 that is closer to theupstream flange 158. A headedplunger 164 is provided for movement through thetubular stud 162. Theplunger 164 has ashank 166 that is grooved to receive an O-ring 168 that sealingly cooperates with the inner wall oftubular stud 162. The extended tip ofplunger 164 is threaded at 170 to cooperate with theguide block 172 shaped at its innermost end to provide asaddle recess 174 for receiving thereinto the extended end of 112 of the assembly stem 96. Aspring 174 is slip-fit overtubular stud 162 and is of a length to engage thehead 178 of theplunger 164. Asqueeze control 180 is formed of sheet metal and shaped to provide spacedlongitudinal flanges 182 that lie closely adjacent and inwardly oflongitudinal flanges 156 of thehandle recess 154. Apivot pin 184 extends through thelongitudinal flanges 156 and thelongitudinal flanges 182 to provide for pivoting of thesqueeze control 180 about the axis ofpivot pin 184. Anabutment flange 186 at the upstream end of the squeeze control is provided for limiting pivoting of the squeeze control to the position seen in FIG. 3.

From what has been described, the operation of the device should be readily understandable. By squeezing thecontrol 180 inwardly, theplunger 164 is depressed tipping the valve stem 96 and its attachedvalve member 88, and the flow of water then passes through the spray handle for discharge from the nozzles defined at the downstream end of the spray. Because of the shape and arrangement of thecontrol 180, only squeeze pressure of the hand is required, as contrasted to finger or thumb pressure required by other controls. It has been found that such an arrangement is less fatiguing for a person using the spray. The flow of water and pressure therefrom depresses the sealinglips 150 and 152 and a full spray is achieved. Upon release of the squeeze control, the spring 176 and the pressure on the upstream side of thevalve member 88 operates to cut off flow because thevalve member 88 closes with the pressure of the incoming liquid and the tipping valve is restored from the flow position of FIG. 4 to the nonflow position as seen in FIG. 3. With flow cut off, the resilience oflips 150 and 152 restores them to their normal sealing position so that there is no drip from the spray head. Thus the spray provides for precision control thereof.

Referring now to thediverter valve 16 whose details are illustrated in FIGS. -7, saiddiverter valve 16 has anelongated body 200 with a female threadedrecess 202 at its upstream end for connection toconduit 20. The opposite end ofbody 200 carries atubular stud 204 threaded for connection tostud 22. A transverse cylindrical bore 206 extends through thebody 200. Acontroller 208 is positioned in the transverse bore 206. The valve body defines anentry passageway 210 and there is a first outlet passageway 212 which leads tostud 204 and asecond outlet passageway 214 which leads to atransverse study 216 which is adapted for connection to the upstream end ofsupply hose 14.

Controller 208 is of the shuttle type, whose terminal positions establish the selected operations, and has two spaced largediameter shaft portions 218a and 218k which are bounded at their respective outer ends by flanges 220a and 220b. The inner ends of shaft portions 218 each have agroove 222 for an O-ring seal 224. Between shaft portions 218 extends a reducedshaft 226 with an enlargedgrooved portion 218a centrally thereof carrying an O-ring seal 224. The annular spaces surrounding each section of reducedshaft 226 and positioned between spaced shaft portions providetransfer flow chambers 228.

When the controller is in the FIG. 6 position, flow fromconduit 20 enters chamber 228a and is directed solely tooutlet passageway 214 which supplies water to thespray 10. When the controller is in the FIG. 7 position, flow passes to chamber 228b and through bothpassageway 214 and 212 to supply both the spray l0 and theshower head 24. Abutment offlanges 220a or 22% against the sides ofbody 200 operates to properly locateshaft portion 218c to direct the liquid flow as desired.

Thesupport bracket 12 of FIGS. 8-11 includes anupright plate 240 formed with a rearwardly extending, wall-engagingperipheral flange 242 and mountingapertures 244 for receiving countersunk wall-mounting screws. Extending forwardly ofplate 240 are spacedfingers 246 having upwardly extendingretainer tips 248. The shape ofplate 240 and the adjacent ends offingers 246 cooperate to define an arcuate saddle, or recess, 250 between the fingers for accommodating the rounded handle portion ofspray 10 when thespray head 11 is seated onfingers 246 betweenplate 240 andretainer tips 248 as seen in FIG. 1.

In the shower attachment shown in FIG. 12, there is asupport bracket 260 for wall mounting with an outwardly extendingflange 262. An adjustable spray-holder 264 is shown including aflange 266 arranged in facing relation toflange 262 and arranged for pivoting about the axis of shoulderedstem 268 of a finger-actuated, friction-type retainer whose head is indicated at 270. The remainder of spray-holder 264 includes asleeve 272 with anopen lateral segment 274, and an inner periphery that defines an enlargedupper recess 276 and a lower smaller recess 278. The open lateral segment is large enough to passsupply hose 14 therethrough. Theupper recess 276 will receive thespray handle 116 and the control when the latter is in the valve-open flow position of FIG. 4, and the lower recess 278 will receive therein the portion ofhandle 116 upstream oftransverse flange 158. Thus, when thespray 10 is in position onholder 264, thecontrol 180 is maintained depressed and a showerlike spray emanates fromhead 11, withadjustable holder 264 directing the attitude of the spray.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without department from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axisof the tubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-discharge means, and the spray-discharge means including at least one circular series of spray apertures, each series of spray apertures having an adjacent circular wall upstream of the spray apertures, and a circular sealing member with a resilient annular deflectable flange normally biased against said circular wall to normally shutoff flow from the associate series of apertures when the liquid in the tubular handle is not under pressure.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the circular series of apertures are arranged in two concentric circles, and a single circular sealing member is provided with two annular deflectable flanges for effecting said shutoff of flow.

3. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-discharge means, said means for introducing water under pressure into the handle including an axially elongated annular body having adjacent its downstream end the valve seat inwardly thereof and attachment means outwardly thereof for screw connection to the tubular handle, and having adjacent its upstream end an inside screw connection adapted for receiving a pressure coupling nut, and an internal sealing seat between said ends adapted to receive a sealing member biased thereagainst by such a pressure coupling nut.

4. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seat. with the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-discharge means, and a mounting bracket means shaped to provide a socket which receives and holds the tubular handle and control lever therefor at an attitude wherein the valve is open, and adjustment means on said mounting bracket for selectively varying the attitude of the spray from the spray discharging means.

Claims (4)

1. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-discharge means, and the spray-discharge means including at least one circular series of spray apertures, each series of spray apertures having an adjacent circular wall upstream of the spray apertures, and a circular sealing member with a resilient annular deflectable flange normally biased against said circular wall to normally shutoff flow from the associate series of apertures when the liquid in the tubular handle is not under pressure.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the circular series of apertures are arranged in two concentric circles, and a single circular sealing member is provided with two annular deflectable flanges for effecting said shutoff of flow.

3. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-discharge means, said means for introducing water under pressure into the handle including an axially elongated annular body having adjacent its downstream end the valve seat inwardly thereof and attachment means outwardly thereof for screw connection to the tubular handle, and having adjacent its upstream end an inside screw connection adapted for receiving a pressure coupling nUt, and an internal sealing seat between said ends adapted to receive a sealing member biased thereagainst by such a pressure coupling nut.

4. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-discharge means, and a mounting bracket means shaped to provide a socket which receives and holds the tubular handle and control lever therefor at an attitude wherein the valve is open, and adjustment means on said mounting bracket for selectively varying the attitude of the spray from the spray-discharging means.

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