US 11,767,662 B1Granted

Anti-backflow plumbing fitting

AssigneeVista Water Group, LLC

InventorJames W. Chandler

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An anti-backflow plumbing fitting (10) includes an annular body (12) which bounds an interior area (20). The body includes a body outlet (28) and a plurality of cup portions (40) each of which includes an inlet opening (46). An annular body side wall (22) includes at least one radially extending side wall air gap (36). Each cup portion further includes a pair of angularly disposed cup air gaps (54). An inlet end wall (30) includes a plurality of body flow inlets (52) which are each associated with a respective cup portion. Each body flow inlet underlies a respective cup portion and is elongated in aligned relation with each cup air gap, to enable liquid to flow from the respective inlet opening of a cup portion into the interior area. The inlet end wall is sloped and includes a plurality of drain holes (66, 68) therein. A plurality of vanes (60) extend in the interior area intermediate of immediately adjacent body flow inlets.

Claims24

Dependent claims

Apparatus comprising:

an anti-backflow plumbing fitting, including
an annular body,
wherein the body bounds an interior area,
wherein in the operative position the body extends along a vertically extending central axis,
wherein the body includes
an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end is axially opposed of the outlet end,
a radially extending outlet end wall, wherein the outlet end wall includes an outlet end wall inner surface,
wherein the outlet end wall inner surface bounds the interior area at the outlet end,
a body outlet,
wherein the body outlet extends through the outlet end wall and is configured to enable liquid to pass out of the interior area through the body outlet to a drain,
a radially extending inlet end wall,
wherein the inlet end wall includes
an inlet end wall inner surface, wherein the inlet end wall inner surface bounds the interior area at the inlet end,
an inner end wall outer surface, wherein the inlet end wall outer surface is opposed of the inlet end wall inner surface and is outside the interior area,
at least one body flow inlet, wherein the at least one body flow inlet extends through the inlet end wall to the interior area,
an annular body side wall, wherein the annular body side wall includes an annular body side wall inner surface,
wherein the annular body side wall inner surface
bounds the interior area,
extends axially intermediate of the outlet end wall inner surface and the inlet end wall inner surface,
is in operative fluid tight connection with the outlet end wall inner surface, and
is positioned radially outward from the body outlet,
at least one cup portion,
wherein each cup portion is in operatively supported connection with the inlet end wall, and extends outside the interior area, away from the inlet end wall outer surface along a direction parallel to the axis,
wherein each cup portion includes
a cup end wall, wherein the cup end wall is disposed along the direction away from the inlet end wall outer surface and has an inlet opening therethrough, wherein the inlet opening is configured to receive liquid from a liquid discharge device into the cup portion,
a cup annular side wall, wherein the cup annular side wall
extends intermediate of the cup end wall and the inlet end wall outer surface,
bounds a cup passage, wherein the cup passage extends along the direction and fluidly between the inlet opening and a respective body flow inlet, and
includes at least one cup side wall air gap, wherein the cup passage is open to atmosphere through the at least one cup side wall air gap.

26 more elements

Apparatus comprising:

an anti-backflow plumbing fitting, including
a body, wherein the body bounds an interior area within the body,
wherein the body includes an annular body side wall, wherein the annular body side wall bounds the interior area,
wherein the body includes an inlet end, wherein at the inlet end the interior area is bounded by an inlet end wall, wherein the inlet end wall includes a plurality of spaced apart body flow inlets, wherein each body flow inlet extends through the inlet end wall to the interior area,
wherein the body includes an outlet end opposed of the inlet end, wherein at the outlet end the interior area is bounded by an outlet end wall, wherein the outlet end wall includes a body outlet that extends through the outlet end wall, wherein the body outlet is configured to be connected to a liquid drain,
wherein in the operative position of the fitting the inlet end wall extends vertically above the body outlet,
wherein the body further includes a plurality of cup portions,
wherein each cup portion outwardly overlies a respective body flow inlet,
wherein each cup portion terminates outwardly away from the respective body flow inlet at a respective cup end wall, wherein each cup end wall includes a respective inlet opening configured to receive liquid from a liquid discharge device,
wherein each cup portion includes a respective annular cup side wall,
wherein each annular cup side wall
extends intermediate of the respective cup end wall and the inlet end wall, and
bounds a respective cup passage, wherein the cup passage extends fluidly between the respective inlet opening and respective body flow inlet,
includes at least one respective cup side wall air gap, wherein the respective cup passage is open to atmosphere through the at least one cup side wall air gap.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/937,907Filed 4 Oct 2022 · continuation
Priority: 19 May 2020
Granted: 26 Sep 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

E03C 1/102
Devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes, e.g. means for aerating self-closing flushing valves: using an air gap device
E03C
Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water