Faucet aerator with center stream

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/322,777, filed Apr. 14, 2016, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to fluid delivery devices and, more particularly, to a faucet aerator.

In the interest of water conservation, fluid delivery devices (e.g., faucets) are often now required to deliver water at reduced flow rates. In faucets including outlet aerators, such reduced flow rates may provide the user with a low impact or “soft” aerated water stream. Enhanced water impact is often desired for certain tasks, such as cleaning a razor or a toothbrush.

The present invention provides a faucet that delivers water with enhanced force or impact at lower flow rates.

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a faucet aerator includes a housing having a faceplate with a plurality of spaced apart openings to discharge a first water stream. A nozzle is supported by the housing and is configured to discharge a second water stream positioned radially inwardly of the first water stream. Illustratively, the second water stream has a greater flow velocity than the first water stream. Further illustratively, the first water stream is an aerated stream of water, and the second water stream is a substantially laminar stream of water.

According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a faucet aerator includes a first portion for dispensing an aerated stream of water having a first flow velocity, and a second portion for dispensing a center stream of water surrounded by the aerated stream of water, the center stream of water having a second flow velocity greater than the first flow velocity.

According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of dispensing water includes the steps of providing a housing, a faceplate supported by the housing, and a nozzle supported by the housing, discharging a first water stream from the faceplate, and discharging a second water stream from the nozzle. The second water stream is surrounded by the first water stream.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

A detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an illustrative aerator of the present disclosure coupled to an outlet end of a faucet delivery spout;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative aerator of the present disclosure coupled to an outlet end of a faucet delivery spout;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inlet end of the aerator of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an outlet end of the aerator of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5 is a top exploded perspective view of the aerator of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 6 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the aerator of FIG. 2 ; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of illustrative streams dispensed from the aerator of FIG. 2 .

The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an illustrative aerator 10 of the present disclosure is shown coupled to the outlet 12 of a delivery spout 14 of a faucet 15 . As further detailed herein, the aerator 10 is configured to produce a first or peripheral water stream 16 surrounding a second or center water stream 18 . The second water stream 18 illustratively has a greater flow velocity than the first water stream 16 . As such, the first water stream 16 is a low velocity water stream providing a low impact or “soft” feel to the user, while the second water stream 18 is a high velocity water stream providing a greater impact or “hard” feel to the user. Illustratively, the first water stream 16 is an aerated stream of water, and the second water stream 18 is a substantially laminar stream of water.

With reference to FIGS. 2-6 , the aerator 10 illustratively includes an external housing 20 having a cylindrical outer side wall 22 extending between an inlet or upstream end 24 and an outlet or downstream end 26 . A base or faceplate 28 is supported by the outer side wall 22 at the outlet end 26 . A plurality of openings 30 are formed within the faceplate 28 . The openings 30 are illustratively circumferentially spaced apart from each other in a plurality of radially spaced apart rows. A plurality of circumferentially spaced air inlet ports 32 are illustratively formed within the outer side wall 22 of the housing 20 , and are in fluid communication with an internal chamber 34 defined by the housing 20 to aerate water flowing from the inlet end 24 to the outlet end 26 .

A cylindrical inner side wall 36 illustratively extends upstream (e.g., upwardly) from the faceplate 28 , concentrically inwardly from the outer side wall 22 , and defines a receiving passageway 38 . The receiving passageway 38 is illustratively aligned with a longitudinal axis 40 defined by the outer side wall 22 of the housing 20 . An outlet screen 42 , including a ring shaped body 44 , may be received within the internal chamber 34 adjacent to, and upstream from, the faceplate 28 . The outlet screen 42 includes a plurality of openings 46 aligned with the openings 30 of the faceplate 28 . A center opening 48 of the outlet screen 42 illustratively receives the inner side wall 36 of the housing 20 .

A nozzle 50 is illustratively concentrically received within the receiving passageway 38 and press-fit within the inner side wall 36 of the housing 20 . The nozzle 50 illustratively includes an inlet portion or collector, such as a funnel or chamfer 52 , for directing water to an outlet portion, such as a flow straightener 54 . As shown in FIG. 1 , an inner passageway 56 of the flow straightener 54 may include a plurality of inwardly stepped portions 56 a , 56 b , 56 c configured to reduce the inner diameter, thereby defining a restriction and increasing flow velocity, and to assist in straightening water flow and producing a substantially laminar water stream 18 at an outlet 58 .

In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2 , the inner passageway 56 of the flow straightener 54 may be substantially cylindrical (i.e., smooth with no stepped portions 56 a , 56 b , 56 c ). The longer the inner passageway 56 of the flow straightener 54 , the less turbulent (i.e., more laminar) the water stream 18 discharged at the outlet 58 . The inner passageway 56 illustratively has a relatively small diameter to define a restriction and increase flow velocity, and a relatively lengthy straight section to help align the water and reduce turbulence.

Illustratively, the flow velocity of the second water stream 18 is at least 1.5 times greater than the flow velocity of the first water stream 16 . In one illustrative embodiment, the flow velocity of the second water stream 18 is approximately twice the flow velocity of the first water stream 16 .

The nozzle 50 may be of different designs configured to provide a high velocity stream 18 with low turbulence. For example, screens and/or parallel ribs may act as flow straighteners to reduce turbulence and facilitate substantially laminar flow.

The outlet 58 of the nozzle 50 illustratively includes a sharp corner or outlet edge 60 to prevent turbulence and assist in generating a substantially laminar flow for water stream 18 . While a single central nozzle 50 is illustrated, it should be appreciated that different quantities and locations of nozzles 50 may be incorporated within the aerator 10 .

A flow director disc or screen 62 is received within the internal chamber 34 in spaced relation to, and upstream from, the outlet screen 42 . A plurality of circumferentially spaced outer openings 64 are in fluid communication with the openings 46 and 30 of the outlet screen 42 and the faceplate 28 , respectively. At least one inner opening 66 is in fluid communication with the inlet funnel 52 of the nozzle 50 .

A flow restrictor or regulator 68 is illustratively supported within the housing 20 and positioned upstream from, and adjacent to, the flow director disc 62 . The flow restrictor 68 may be of conventional design and illustratively restricts the flow rate of water supplied to the flow director disc 62 . Illustratively, the flow restrictor 68 limits water flow to no more than 1.2 gallons per minute (gpm). Alternatively, the flow restrictor 68 may limit water flow to other flow rates, for example, 1.0 gallons per minute (gpm).

An inlet screen or filter 70 is illustratively supported by the housing 20 and positioned upstream from, and adjacent to, the flow restrictor 68 . The inlet screen 70 may be of conventional design as including a plurality of spaced apart openings 71 . The openings 71 are configured to filter out dirt and debris entrained within water entering the aerator 10 . A conventional seal or gasket 72 may cooperate with the housing 20 to prevent water leakage between the aerator 10 and the faucet 15 .

In operation, water enters from the outlet 12 of the delivery spout 14 of the faucet 15 into the inlet screen 70 at the inlet end 24 of the aerator 10 . Illustratively, the water flow rate is limited by the flow restrictor 68 . Water is then directed by the flow director disc 62 to either the open internal chamber 34 or to the nozzle 50 . Water in the open internal chamber 34 is aerated by air from the inlet ports 32 . This aerated water is then discharged from the aerator 10 through openings 46 , 30 as the aerated water stream 16 . Water directed to the nozzle 50 is restricted by reduced diameter inner passageway 56 , resulting in increased flow velocity. Additionally, water within the nozzle 50 is illustratively straightened (i.e., has turbulence reduced) as it passes through the inner passageway 56 , and exits through the outlet 58 as the center water stream 18 surrounded by the aerated water stream 16 .

With reference to FIG. 7 , the aerated water stream 16 surrounding the center water stream 18 may appear to be conventional to the user. The aerated water stream 16 is configured to prevent the center stream 18 (which has a greater flow velocity) from splashing. Illustratively, tasks such as cleaning a razor, cleaning a toothbrush, etc. will be more efficient with the combined streams 16 , 18 dispensed from the aerator 10 at a first distance d 1 from the outlet end 26 compared to conventional aerators. More particularly, up to distance d 1 , the center stream 18 with greater flow velocity provides for better cleaning. In an illustrative embodiment, d 1 is approximately 1 inch-2 inches.

After distance d 1 , the center stream 18 blends or disperses into the aerated water stream 16 , where at distance d 2 from the outlet end 26 , the streams 16 , 18 have fully blended into a combined water stream 74 . At distance d 2 , the combined water stream 74 has a softer feel for hand washing, and with less splashing by the time it hits a sink basin 76 .

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.