Improved faucet-coupling assembly for a washing machine

Claim 1

A coupling assembly to connect a washing machine to a water faucet outlet end comprising: a. a body portion defining a liquid passageway therein, b. said passageway having an inlet end, an outlet end for transmitting liquid toward the washing machine, and a liquid takeoff outlet at a point between said inlet and said outlet end, c. manually releasable means for connecting said inlet end in liquid-receiving relationship to the faucet outlet end whereby the assembly projects downwardly therefrom, d. normally closed valve means for opening and closing said takeoff outlet, e. a handle portion protruding from said body portion to facilitate manipulation and connection of the assembly to the faucet, f. manually operable means being disposed generally between said body portion and said handle portion and adapted to be movable between a first and a second position relative to said handle portion, g. means urging said manually operable means normally away from said faucet outlet end to said first position, h. said manually operable means being adapted to open said valve means when moved toward said faucet outlet end to said second position, i. a discharge port on the exterior of said assembly in liquid flow communication with said liquid takeoff outlet for dispensing the flow of liquid generally downward from the assembly, and j. said manually operable means being a slidable member and having at least one side portion thereof disposed away from said discharge port to thereby facilitate manual operation of said slidable member.