US 8,387,651 B2Granted

Self-draining frost-free faucet

OwnerDavid Michael Threlkeldinventor

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Abstract

A valve assembly for a faucet includes a spout, a valve stem, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve is rotatably coupled to the valve stem upstream from the spout and is selectively positionable to control a flow of fluid from a fluid source to the spout. The second valve is rotatably coupled to the valve stem for selectively draining fluid from the valve assembly. Further, the second valve is coupled to the first valve such that when the first and second valves are positioned in a first operational position, fluid flows from the source through the spout, and such that when the first and second valves are positioned in a second operational position, fluid is substantially prevented from flowing from the source through the spout and residual fluid within the faucet is gravity drained from the faucet.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A valve assembly for a faucet, said valve assembly comprising:

a housing having an inner surface;
a spout;
a valve stem positioned within said housing;
a first valve positioned within said housing and rotatably coupled to said valve stem upstream from said spout such that said first valve does not translate along a longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said first valve selectively positionable to control a flow of fluid from a fluid source to said spout, said first valve comprising a first valve seat and a first valve disc having at least one opening defined therein, said first valve having a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said first valve and the inner surface of said housing, said first valve disc is selectively movable to enable fluid to flow through said at least one opening;
and
a second valve positioned within said housing and rotatably coupled to said valve stem such that said second valve does not translate along the longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said second valve configured to selectively drain fluid from said valve assembly, said second valve coupled to said first valve such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a first operational position, fluid flows from said fluid source through said spout, and such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a second operational position, fluid is substantially prevented from flowing from the fluid source through said spout and residual fluid within said faucet is gravity drained from the faucet, said second valve downstream from said spout when positioned in said first and second operational positions, and said second valve having a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing in the first operational position and the second operational position such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said second valve and the inner surface of said housing.

3 more elements

A faucet comprising:

a handle;
a valve assembly comprising a spout, a valve stem, a first valve and a second valve, said first valve is rotatably coupled to said valve stem upstream from said spout such that said first valve does not translate along a longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said first valve is selectively positionable to control a flow of fluid from a fluid source through said spout, said second valve is rotatably coupled to said valve stem such that said second valve does not translate along the longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said second valve configured to selectively drain fluid from said valve assembly, said second valve coupled to said first valve such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a first operational position, fluid flows to said spout from the fluid source, and such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a second operational position, fluid is substantially prevented from flowing from the fluid source to said spout and residual fluid within the faucet is gravity drained from the faucet, said second valve downstream from said spout when positioned in said first and second operational positions, said handle rotatably coupled to said valve assembly, said second valve comprising a valve disc having at least one opening defined therein, said valve disc is selectively movable to enable fluid to flow through said at least one opening;
and
a housing having an inner surface, said valve assembly positioned within said housing, wherein said first valve has a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said first valve and the inner surface of said housing, and said second valve has a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing in the first operational position and the second operational position such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said second valve and the inner surface of said housing.

1 more element

A valve assembly for a faucet comprising:

a valve stem;
a first valve rotatably coupled to said valve stem upstream from a spout such that said first valve does not translate along a longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said first valve selectively positionable to control a flow of fluid from a fluid source to said spout, said first valve comprising a first valve disc having at least one opening defined therein, said first valve disc is selectively movable to enable fluid to flow through said at least one opening;
a second valve rotatably coupled to said valve stem such that said second valve does not translate along the longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said second valve configured to selectively drain fluid from said valve assembly, said second valve coupled to said first valve such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a first operational position, fluid flows to said spout from the fluid source, and such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a second operational position, fluid is substantially prevented from flowing from the fluid source to said spout and residual fluid within the faucet is gravity drained from the faucet, said second valve downstream from said spout when positioned in said first and second operational positions;
and
a housing comprising a primary drain and a secondary drain, said primary drain configured to drain primary fluid and residual fluid from said housing when said first and second valves are positioned in said first operational position, said secondary drain configured to drain only residual fluid from said housing when said first and second valves are positioned in said second operational position, said housing having an inner surface, wherein said first valve has a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said first valve and the inner surface of said housing, and said second valve has a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing in the first operational position and the second operational position such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said second valve and the inner surface of said housing.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A valve assembly for a faucet, said valve assembly comprising:

a housing having an inner surface;
a spout;
a valve stem positioned within said housing;
a first valve positioned within said housing and rotatably coupled to said valve stem upstream from said spout such that said first valve does not translate along a longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said first valve selectively positionable to control a flow of fluid from a fluid source to said spout, said first valve comprising a first valve seat and a first valve disc having at least one opening defined therein, said first valve having a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said first valve and the inner surface of said housing, said first valve disc is selectively movable to enable fluid to flow through said at least one opening;
and
a second valve positioned within said housing and rotatably coupled to said valve stem such that said second valve does not translate along the longitudinal axis of said valve stem, said second valve configured to selectively drain fluid from said valve assembly, said second valve coupled to said first valve such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a first operational position, fluid flows from said fluid source through said spout, and such that when said first and second valves are positioned in a second operational position, fluid is substantially prevented from flowing from the fluid source through said spout and residual fluid within said faucet is gravity drained from the faucet, said second valve downstream from said spout when positioned in said first and second operational positions, and said second valve having a radially outermost surface coupled in sealing contact against the inner surface of said housing in the first operational position and the second operational position such that fluid does not leak between the radially outermost surface of said second valve and the inner surface of said housing.

3 more elements