Liquid discharge device

Claim 2

A liquid discharge device for directing liquid from an automatic washing machine drain line into an upwardly open receptacle, the combination comprising: housing means defining a liquid passageway having an inlet connectable with the drain line of said automatic washing machine and having an outlet for liquid discharge; means connected to said housing means for supporting said housing means generally above said receptacle; and liquid deflecting means including an open inverted chute defined at least in part by said housing means and juxtaposed to the outlet of said passageway, said chute comprising a deflecting surface at least partially open to the atmosphere and disposed effectively at a gradually increasing acute angle to the direction of flow from said outlet for gradually redirecting and spreading the effluent from said passageway outlet into a generally unrestricted energy dissipating flow directed into said receptacle.

Claim 3

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid deflecting surface is generally open toward the atmosphere for substantially the full length thereof for spreading the effluent into a generally fan-like flow directed into said receptacle without otherwise restricting the flow.

Claim 4

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 2 wherein the angle between said liquid deflecting surface and the direction of flow at said passageway outlet gradually increases with increased distance from said outlet to an angle of approximately 90*.

Claim 5

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 2 wherein said liquid deflecting surface comprises an arcuate portion for changing the general direction of flow and a liquid spreading portion for effecting said fan-like flow.

Claim 6

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 2 wherein said liquid deflecting means extends from said outlet and has a transverse width greater than the diameter of said passageway and terminates in a generally flat portion disposed at a substantially right angle to said passageway for effectively redirecting the effluent from said passageway outlet into said receptacle in said fan-like flow.

Claim 7

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 5 wherein sidewall means is associated with said liquid deflecting surface and forms a downwardly open channel-shaped chute for partially confining the liquid flow from the passageway outlet to substantially the end of said liquid deflecting surface.

Claim 8

A liquid discharge device for directing liquid from an automatic washing machine drain line into an upwardly open receptacle, the combination comprising: housing means defining a liquid passageway having an inlet connectable with the drain line of said automatic washing machine and having an outlet for liquid discharge; means connected to said housing means for supporting said housing means generally above said receptacle; and liquid deflecting means defined at least in part by said housing means extending from the outlet of said passageway and including an open inverted chute comprising a liquid deflecting surface enlarged transverseLy to the direction of flow and at least partially open to the atmosphere, said liquid deflecting surface being disposed effectively at a gradually increasing acute angle to the direction of flow from said passageway outlet thereby at least partially facing the effluent from said passageway outlet for gradually redirecting and spreading said effluent into a fan-like flow directed into said receptacle.

Claim 9

A liquid discharge device for directing liquid from an automatic washing machine drain line into an upwardly open receptacle, the combination comprising: housing means defining a liquid passageway having an inlet connectable with the drain line of said automatic washing machine and having an outlet for liquid discharge; means connected to said housing means for supporting said housing means generally above said receptacle; and liquid deflecting means defined at least in part by said housing means extending from the outlet of said passageway and including an open inverted chute comprising a liquid deflecting surface enlarged transverseLy to the direction of flow and at least partially open to the atmosphere, said liquid deflecting surface being disposed effectively at a gradually increasing acute angle to the direction of flow from said passageway outlet thereby at least partially facing the effluent from said passageway outlet for gradually redirecting and spreading said effluent into a fan-like flow directed into said receptacle.

Claim 10

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 7 wherein said transversely enlarged surface is generally flat in the transverse direction.

Claim 11

A liquid discharge device as defined in claim 8 wherein said passageway is substantially straight and said liquid deflecting surface includes a portion disposed at approximately 90* from the axis of said passageway and is joined to the outlet of said passageway by a smooth arcuate portion.

Claim 12

A coupler assembly to connect an automatic washer to a water faucet disposed above a sink, the combination, comprising: housing means defining first and second liquid passageways; means connected to said housing means for connecting said housing means to said faucet, said first passageway including a liquid ingress communicating with said faucet and an egress connectable with said automatic washer for conducting fill water to said washer, said second passageway including an inlet connected with a drain line of said automatic washer and an outlet for discharging used washing liquid pumped from said washer; and liquid control means juxtaposed to the outlet of said second passageway including an open inverted chute defined at least in part by said housing, said chute comprising a liquid deflecting surface generally flat in a direction transverse to the flow and disposed effectively at a gradually increasing acute angle to the direction of flow from said outlet and at least partially open to the atmosphere for gradually redirecting and spreading the effluent from the outlet of said passageway into a fan-like flow directed into said sink in a generally unrestricted energy-dissipating manner.

Claim 13

A coupler assembly to connect an automatic washer to a water faucet disposed above a sink, the combination, comprising: housing means defining first and second liquid passageways; means connected to said housing means for connecting said housing means to said faucet, said first passageway including a liquid ingress communicating with said faucet and an egress connectable with said automatic washer for conducting fill water to said washer, said second passageway including an inlet connected with a drain line of said automatic washer and an outlet for discharging used washing liquid pumped from said washer; and liquid control means juxtaposed to the outlet of said second passageway including an open inverted chute defined at least in part by said housing, said chute comprising a liquid deflecting surface generally flat in a direction transverse to the flow and disposed effectively at a gradually increasing acute angle to the direction of flow from said outlet and at least partially open to the atmosphere for gradually redirecting and spreading the effluent from the outlet of said passageway into a fan-like flow directed into said sink in a generally unrestricted energy-dissipating manner.

Claim 14

A coupler assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said liquid control means includes a terminal portion disposed at a substantially right angle to the inlet of said second passageway.

Claim 15

A coupler assembly as defined in claim 11 and further including arcuate means between the inlet of said second passageway and the portion of said liquid deflecting surface disposed at a right angle for gradually changing the direction of fluid flow and cooperable with said right angle surface for effecting a generally non-splashing discharge of liquid into said sink.

Claim 16

A coupler assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for gradually changing the direction of liquid flow is formed as a smooth curve generally flat in the transverse direction and extending through an arcuate portion of approximately 90*.