Diverter spout valve mechanism

Abstract

A diverter spout valve mechanism comprises a hollow pressure chamber having an inlet, an outlet on a vertical wall spaced from the inlet, and a vertically movable valve member formed of a moldable plastic or similar light weight material mounted in the outlet. The valve member is movable from an open position, wherein the valve member is substantially below the outlet and the outlet is open, to a closed position, wherein the valve member is raised so as to block the outlet. The valve member is formed so that when the valve member is in the open position, the flow of liquid through the spout exerts a downward force on the valve member and causes the valve member to remain in its open position. The valve member includes a vertically disposed face plate mounted inside the pressure chamber adjacent the outlet, with the face plate comprising a curved bottom that mates with the interior surface of the pressure chamber when the valve member is open; a back face that slides across the wall containing the outlet to seal the outlet when the valve member is closed; and a front face that tapers upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of the face plate to a downwardly curved frontal cavity adjacent the top of the valve member. A connecting web extends from the face plate through the outlet to a body mounted adjacent the outlet on the outside of the pressure chamber. A pair of vertically disposed vanes are attached to the body and extend away from the outlet in order to minimize turbulence on the outside of the pressure chamber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.