Masco Corporation of Indiana

Bristol Products, Inc.

Dennis W Crawford

Larry G Turner

Garry Robin Marty

Trevor M Wingfield

A two piece aspirator is constructed to be fitted within a fitting such that an annular clearance is provided between the bore that has two supply inlets and a depending cylindrical section of the aspirator body. A venturi cap member is snap fitted onto the aspirator body and has an outer periphery axially spaced from the end of the cylindrical section to provide an annular opening thereabout which is in communication with a passage through the aspirator body. The venturi or cap has a radial section which spans most of the interior of the cylindrical section and has a frusto-conical section which is complementary to a tapered end of the cylindrical section to provide for a radially extending section of the passageway leading to the annular opening. The passage of water through the annular clearance passing by the annular opening provides a venturi effect and therefore negative pressure resulting in air being sucked through the shower riser when water flows through the tub spout downstream of the fitting and through the passage and annular opening.

Aspirator for a tub/shower diverter assembly

A diverter valve assembly (10) has a one piece valve seat member (26) that is fitted within a cavity (12) of the faucet body (14). The one piece valve seat member has a flexible peripheral lip (62) with an annular recess (64) that allows fluid to pressurize and exert an outward force on the lip to move the lip and seal it against the valve cavity. Furthermore, the one piece valve seat member has prongs (44) which resiliently bias the spool assembly (28) to a first position to reduce chattering of the valve assembly and to provide an anti-siphon system. A cup valve (36) has a thin peripheral lip (76) at an end of a peripheral section (75) that is about a tubular inner section (78) that has a narrow annular groove (79) therebetween which limits collapse of the cup valve (36) during operation thereof as a pressure responsive piston to move the valve element (34) to a closed position.

Self sealing anti-knock diverter valve

A retaining nut for a faucet assembly which serves the dual purpose of mounting the valve body to the faucet housing while also retaining the valving member within the valve body. The nut is preferably made of plastic and includes a resilient annular flange which cooperates with the faucet housing to seal the periphery of the valve body. The resilient properties of the annular flange maintain engagement despite movement and separation during use of the faucet and initial manufacturing tolerances. The outer surface of the faucet nut includes a series of ribs to facilitate manual removal in addition to the hexagonal configuration for removal using an appropriate hand tool.

Faucet nut having an integral flared flange

'An aerator has a pressure responsive valve assembly therein for restricting the flow therethrough when the pressure of the water supply is increased. The aerator includes a housing mounting a stream straightener member and a partition member. The partition member seats an annular O-ring which in turn seats a movable valve element. The valve element and partition define an assembly with a variable sized passageway. The valve element is responsive to pressure from the pressure source to compress and move the O-ring to constringe the passageway. A mixing body is movably mounted between the stream straightener and the partition member for mixing water from the passageway with air. The valve element has a depending leg which is manually operable from the outlet of the housing. The leg can be pressed upwardly to lift the valve element which opens up the passageway thereby creating turbulence in the aerator. The turbulence vibrates the mixing body which can be audibly detected to indicate that the aerator is being flushed and cleaned.

Pressure responsive aerator

A drain assembly for a lavatory basin which includes a drain tube having a flanged upper end adapted for support by the basin. A drain plug is carried within the drain tube. A lift rod extends through the drain tube at a side opening therein and engages the plug. The lift rod is held in a sealed relationship against the tube by a retainer clamp which permits the lift rod to be shifted causing the drain plug to be correspondingly shifted between open and closed positions.

Drain assembly for a lavatory basin

A valve assembly for faucets which includes a retainer member carried by the body of the valve with a face circumferentially in frictional contact with the valve stem to prevent independent movement of the stem and handle resulting in an undesired increased or decreased fluid flow.

Faucet valve assembly with friction drag

A spout assembly which includes a spout member fitted pivotally within a base. A fluid inlet is formed in the base whereby fluid may pass through the base and out the spout. The spout is preferably supported at both its internal and external diameters by the base so as to provide a more rigid assembly as well as to lengthen the life of the fluid seal between the base and spout.

Growing community of inventors

Pontiac, MI, United States of America

Dennis W Crawford