Flexible spout operated faucet

Claim 2

A mixing valve comprising, in combination: means defining a mixing chamber having inlet ports and an outlet; a metering valve element disposed adjacent said inlet ports for controlling the relative mix of two fluids flowing into said mixing chamber; a tilt valve element disposed adjacent said outlet for controlling the volume of flow through said chamber and out of said outlet; valve stem means for concurrently operating both said metering valve element and said tilt valve element, said valve stem means including means connected between said metering valve element and said tilt valve element for biasing said tilt valve element toward a seating position; said tilt valve element being in sliding engagement with the means defining said mixing chamber at least at points about the periphery of said valve element.

Claim 3

The combination as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a flexible spout for conveying fluid from said outlet to a discharge opening along a path which encircles at least a portion of said valve stem means, whereby both the relative mix and total volume of fluid delivered to said discharge opening may be controlled by flexing said spout.

Claim 4

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve stem means, said tilt valve element, and said metering valve element are integrally formed as a single element of plastic material.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising support means adapted for swivel mounting on a support surface, said support means supporting all the other elements of the combination whereby said discharge opening may be moved in an arcuate path in response to a force transmitted to said support means through said flexible spout.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein a tilt valve seating ring extends into said mixing chamber around the periphery of said outlet, said valve stem means includes a valve stem extending through said outlet, and said tilt valve element is mounted on said valve stem at a point intermediate the ends thereof, whereby said valve may pivot about points of contact between said tilt valve element and said tilt valve seating ring.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said metering valve element is hingedly connected to one end of said valve stem in said mixing chamber, said mixing chamber having a generally triangularly shaped recess in the region surrounding said inlet ports, and said metering valve element is also generally triangularly shaped and positioned for movement in said recess to selectively obstruct said inlet ports.

Claim 8

The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said valve seating ring and said tilt valve element cooperate to pivot said valve stem about a point in the plane of contact between the valve seating ring and the tilt valve element when force is applied to the valve stem by the flexible spout, said tilt valve element controlling total flow volume of fluids into and through said mixing chamber and said spout when the valve stem pivots in any plane, and said metering valve element controlling the relative mix of fluids entering said mixing chamber through said inlet ports.

Claim 9

A spout operated mixing valve comprising: valve support means, a flexible hollow spout mounted on said support means and cooperating therewith to form a mixing chamber, said valve support means having first and second passages therein terminating at first and second ports in a surface of said mixing chamber; said spout having within it a valve seat including a seating ring extending toward said chamber, and around a central opening; a metering valve element and a tilt valve element disposed within said chamber, said metering valve element cooperating with said surface to selectively control the relative mix of fluids entering said chamber from said passages and, said tilt valve element controlling the flow of fluid from said chamber to said spout; and, an elongated valve stem for operating both said valve elements, one end of said valve stem extending through said opening into said hollow spout to operate said valve elements when said flexible spout is deflected sufficiently to engage and move said one end.

Claim 10

A spout operated mixing valve comprising: valve support means, a flexible hollow spout mounted on said support means and cooperating therewith to form a mixing chamber, said valve support means having first and second passages therein terminating at first and second ports in a surface of said mixing chamber; said spout having within it a valve seat including a seating ring extending toward said chamber, and around a central opening; a metering valve element and a tilt valve element disposed within said chamber, said metering valve element cooperating with said surface to selectively control the relative mix of fluids entering said chamber from said passages and, said tilt valve element controlling the flow of fluid from said chamber to said spout; and, an elongated valve stem for operating both said valve elements, one end of said valve stem extending through said opening into said hollow spout to operate said valve elements when said flexible spout is deflected sufficiently to engage and move said one end.

Claim 11

A spout operated mixing valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein said metering valve element, said tilt valve element, and said stem are integrally formed as one piece of material, said metering valve element being formed at the end of said stem in said chamber as a plate-like element extending transverse to the axis of said stem, said tilt valve element being formed about the axis of said stem in a plane transverse to said axis and intermediate the stem ends whereby force applied to said stem by said spout pivots said stem about a point lying in the plane of contact between said seating ring and said tilt valve element.

Claim 12

A spout operated mixing valve as claimed in claim 9 wherein said chamber surface in the region including said ports is recessed generally in the form of a triangle with a flat bottom surface, said metering valve element being generally of smaller triangular shape with a flat bottom and disposed in said recess; said material being flexible enough to permit hinged relative motion of said metering valve element relative to said stem as said stem is pivoted.

Claim 13

A mixing faucet of the type adapted to provide swivelling movement of a spout relative to a support surface, said faucet comprising: means defining a mixing chamber having inlet ports and an outlet; first valve means for controlling the relative mixture of two fluids entering said mixing chamber through said inlet ports; second valve means for controlling the rate of flow of mixed fluids from said chamber; a spout having a discharge opening for conveying fluid passing through said mixing chamber to said discharge opening, said spout operating said first and second valve means in response to movement of said spout relative thereto; and, a faucet support member adapted to be swivelly mounted on a support surface, said faucet support member supporting said means defining the mixing chamber, said spout, and said first and second valve means, whereby the position of said discharge opening may be varied by moving said spout without moving said spout relative to said first and second valve means, so that neither the rate of flow nor the relative mixture of fluids is varied as said spout is moved.

Claim 14

A mixing faucet of the type adapted to provide swivelling movement of a spout relative to a support surface, said faucet comprising: means defining a mixing chamber having inlet ports and an outlet; first valve means for controlling the relative mixture of two fluids entering said mixing chamber through said inlet ports; second valve means for controlling the rate of flow of mixed fluids from said chamber; a spout having a discharge opening for conveying fluid passing through said mixing chamber to said discharge opening, said spout operating said first and second valve means in response to movement of said spout relative thereto; and, a faucet support member adapted to be swivelly mounted on a support surface, said faucet support member supporting said means defining the mixing chamber, said spout, and said first and second valve means, whereby the position of said discharge opening may be varied by moving said spout without moving said spout relative to said first and second valve means, so that neither the rate of flow nor the relative mixture of fluids is varied as said spout is moved.

Claim 15

A mixing faucet as claimed in claim 11 wherein said spout is a flexible spout.