Pilfer proof aerating device

May 30, 1961

2,986,341

J. J. GOODRIE

PILFER PROOF AERATING DEVICE

Filed May 27, 1958

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2,986,341

Patented May 30, 1961

United States Patent Office that once the aerator head is installed on a faucet: and the tool disengaged therefrom, casual removal- or theft is prevented in that the aerator head cannot be unscrewed from the faucet or from an adapter fitting mounting 5 without re-engagement of the tool. To this end, the aerator head of the device generally comprises a tubular outer casing having a rotatably mounted support ring carried at its upper inlet end. The support ring is internally threaded for engagement with the threaded end 10 of a faucet or adapter fitting, the support ring also serving to support a mixing plug assembly and other components of the aerator head which provide the soft bubbly coherent stream of air and water characteristic of aerating devices. According to the present invention, the 15 outer casing and support ring have diametrically spaced openings therethrough for conjointly receiving the pinlike inturned ends of an associated tool to lock the support ring and casing together. When the tool is thus engaged with an aerator head, installation and removal ²⁰ from the threaded end of a faucet or adapter fitting is accomplished by screwing or unscrewing the aerator head from the faucet. After installation and upon disengagement of the tool from the openings, the outer casing is free to rotate relative to the support ring and faucet such ²5 that casual removal or theft of the aerator head cannot be effected merely by rotating the aerator head casing.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the pilfer proof aerating device of the present invention is indicated generally at 10, and is illustrated in connection with a conventional faucet 11 or similar plumbing fixture fragmentarily shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and not having a threaded end. The aerating device 10 comprises an aerator head 12 adapted to receive a tool 13 which cooperates with the aerator head 12 to permit direct installation and removal thereof from the end of a faucet having an appropriately threaded end, or from a mounting means in the form of an adapter fitting 14 when, as here, the faucet does not have a threaded end portion. After installation of the aerator head 12, disengagement of the tool 13 provides the pilfer proof features of the present invention as will be more fully described. The adapter fitting is conventional, and is necessary because the faucet 11 is not threaded, otherwise, the head 12 could be directly screwed onto the end of an appropriately threaded faucet in accomplishing the objects of the present invention.

The aerator head 12 of the present invention is generally similar to that illustrated and described in my prior U.S. Patent No. 2,761,662 issued September 4,. 1956 to which reference should be made for additional details as to the construction and operation thereof. The aerator head 12 thus comprises a generally tubular external casing 16 having an upper inlet end 17, a lower outlet end 18 and a central longitudinal bore 19 therethrough, defining an inner cylindrical wall 20 therearound. The casing 16 also includes three circumferentially spaced lateral slots or openings 21, which form air inlet ports for admitting air to the interior of the casing 10 as will hereinafter be more fully described. The upper end of the casing 16 is axially counterbored as at 22 to define an annular internal shoulder 23. An internally threaded support ring 24 of relatively short axial length and having an annular depending skirt portion 26 is seated on the shoulder 23 and freely rotatably mounted in the upper end of the casing 16. The skirt portion 26 is concentrically inwardly spaced from the inner wall 20 and defines an annular shoulder 27 therearound. The internal threads of the support ring 24 are designated at 28 and extend axially from the upper end of the support ring 24 to the skirt portion 26. The depth of the counterbore 22 is somewhat greater than the axial depth of support ring 24, such that when the latter is seated on the shoulder

2,986,341

PILFER PROOF AERATING DEVICE

Joseph J. Goodrie, Lansing, DI., assignor to Wrightway Engineering Co., Chicago, DI., a corporation of Illinois

Filed May 27, 1958, Ser. No. 738,117 4 Claims. (CI. 239—431)

This invention relates to improvements in aerating devices, and more particularly to a pilfer proof aerating device of the type adapted to be connected to water faucets and the like. Aerating devices for mixing water and air to produce a soft, non-splashing stream are now widely known and in use in private dwellings and in places accessible to the public such as hotels, motels, trains, washrooms and the like. The popularity of such devices has also resulted in their being subject to casual theft from such public buildings and like establishments requiring periodic replacement. While the cost of typical aerating unit is not high, continuous replacement due to pilfering is a nuisance and a practice to be discouraged. Moreover, inasmuch as a large percentage of the aerators in use are sold as accessories in standard sizes so as to be interchangeable with each other on standard faucets; casual theft thereof is encouraged due to ease of reuse. It has, therefore, become desirable to devise an aerator device that is so constructed and arranged as to discourage pilfering or casual theft thereof, yet which is easily installed and removed from a faucet or like plumbing ³⁵fixture for purposes of cleaning or replacement.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel pilfer proof aerating device construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel ⁴θ aerating device that is easily installed or removed from a faucet or like plumbing fixture by means of an associated tool, but which cannot be removed without the use of the tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel ⁴³pilfer proof aerator construction which, when installed on a faucet or the like, frustrates and discourages any casual attempt to remove the aerator head portion of the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged side elevational view of a pilfer proof aerating device constructed according to the principles of the present invention and comprising one specific embodiment thereof, the device being shown attached to a faucet outlet;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2—2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3—3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the internal component parts of the device in a transposed position. ³⁵

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates a novel pilfer proof aerator device having an aerator head that is adapted to be threadably engaged or disengaged from a faucet or like plumbing fixture having a complementally threaded portion, and which requires the use of an associated tool to effect the aforementioned operations. The present invention furthere contemplates

2,986,841

23, the upper end 17 of the casing projects beyond the upper end edge of the ring 24, thereby permitting the upper edge to be annularly crimped or bent inwardly to form a lip 25 enclosing the ring 24. The support ring 24 is thus , permanently retained in the upper end 17 of the casing 10 by the lip 25 in freely rotatable relationship.

Centrally disposed in the casing 16 and supported by the shoulder 27 is means for converting the water stream into a soft coalescent stream, in this instance a break-up or mixing plug assembly 29. The mixing plug assembly 29 includes a horizontally disposed disc portion 31 and a connected depending plug portion 32. The disc portion 31 is formed with a ring of apertures or openings 33 that are closely clustered around the center of the disc 31. The disc 31 has a diameter somewhat less than the internal diameter of the support ring 24 so as to be peripherally supported by the shoulder 27. The depending plug portion 32 is conventionally fastened to the disc portion 32 by staking or upsetting and has a general mushroom shape that includes a restricted neck portion 34, an enlarged button portion 35 and a depending cylindrical stem or tail portion 36 of lesser diameter than the button portion 35. The button portion 35 has its upper surface 37 smoothly curved outwardly and downwardly such that the diameter of the enlarged portion 35 exceeds that of the ring of apertures 33 immediately above. The overall diameter of the enlarged button portion 35 is somewhat less than the internal diameter of the skirt portion 26 to thereby define an annular passage 38 therebetween and to facilitate assembly of the aerator head 12.

The lower end of the central bore 19 is formed with an annular radially inwardly extending flange or shoulder 39 to provide a restricted discharge outlet 40 for the aerator head 12. A disc-shaped screen 41 of wire mesh or other foraminous material is supported on the shoulder 39 and is retained by a ring 42 that includes a depending concentric inwardly spaced skirt portion 43 having an internal diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the outlet 40. The diameter of the ring 42 is substantially equal to the diameter of the inner wall 20 to permit a snug press fit against the inner wall 20. The screen 41 is thus a permanent part of the casing 16 and in addition to its filtering action contributes to the aerating action of the mixing plug assembly 29.

The depending tail portion 36 of the mixing plug assembly 29 has an axial length sufficient to permit its downward projection into close proximity to the screen 41 so as to be generally surrounded by the ring 42 and thus form an elongated restricted discharge passage registering with the outlet 40 of the aerator head 12.

In order to connect the aerator head 12 to a faucet 11 or like plumbing fixture that does not have a threaded end portion such as would permit a direct threaded engagement of the internally threaded support ring 24 therewith, the adapter fitting 14 must be utilized. Inasmuch as the adapter fitting 14 is conventional and forms no part of the present invention, only a brief description thereof is included.

The adapter fitting 14 thus comprises a shallow cap-like member 44 which carries an expansible plug-type mounting assembly 46. The cap-like member 44 includes an externally threaded sleeve portion 47 and an annular radially flanged portion 48 which forms an abutment for engagement with the lower end of the faucet and is centrally axially bored and threaded as at 49 to threadably receive and mount the expansible plug assembly 46. The threaded sleeve portion 47 is appropriately threaded for engagement with the internally threaded support ring 24 of the aerator head 12. A gasket 51 is interposed between the upper surface of the disc portion 31 of the mixing plug assembly 29 and the lower edge of the sleeve portion 47 to provide a water-tight seal therebetween.

- The expansible plug mounting assembly 46 includes an inner elongated externally threaded bushing 52 having an annularradial flange 53 formed around its upper end and an enclosing resilient tubular bushing 54 having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the faucet outlet. A backing ring 55 may be interposed between the upper surface of the resilient bushing 54 and the flange 53.

The expansible plug mounting assembly 46 is operable in a well known manner to semi-permanently mount the adapter fitting 14 in the end of the faucet 11 by threading the bushing 52 into the flanged abutment 48 to axially compress the resilient bushing 53 and radially expand the cylindrical walls thereof into tight fitting pressuresealed engagement with the inner walls of the faucet. The threading on the bushing 52 and in the radially flanged portion 48 may be opposite to that of the sleeve portion 47 and support ring 24 in order to prevent loosening of the expansible plug mounting assembly 46 after continued usage.

It will be understood that the aerator head 12 could be directly connected to a faucet having an appropriately externally threaded end portion that will engage the threaded support ring 24 such as in some of the later fixtures, the adapter fitting 14 being illustrated and described only by way of example and required only in older plumbing fixtures.

In operation, water flowing from the faucet 11 and through the adapter fitting 14 is initially imposed under pressure against the upper surface of the disc portion 31 and against the apertures 33 of the mixing plug assembly 29. Water is thus forced through the apertures 33 in a plurality of independent or discrete high velocity jets to impinge upon the upper contoured surface 37 of the mixing plug 32, where the jets are broken-up into minute droplets. Air is drawn into the hollow interior of the aerator head 12 through the lateral slots 21 in the casing 16 and through the annular passage 38 to the space below the disc portion 31. The water jets passing downwardly through the apertures 33 are thus surrounded by air, which becomes entrained in the jets and minute droplets in the area above the contoured surface 37 of the plug 32. An intimate mixing of the air and water thus occurs to provide the well known soft bubbly coherent stream of air and water. The depending skirt portion 26 of the support ring 24 covers the lateral air slots 21 and prevents water from spraying out of the aerator head 12. The screen 41 at the lower end of the aerator head contributes to the overall mixing and coalescence of the air and water stream as previously described.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 in conjunction with Figs. 1 and 2, the structural details of the aerating device 10 which provides the pilfer proof characteristics of the present invention will now be described. To this end, the upper end of the aerator head casing 16 and the support ring 24 are provided with a plurality of diametrically arranged bores or openings 56 and 57, respectively, preferably two, the openings 56 and 57 being disposed in axially spaced relationship from the upper surface of the gasket 51. Due to the freely rotatable and axially fixed mounting of the support ring 24 in the upper end of the casing 16, relative rotational movement between the support ring 24 and the casing 16 permits selective registry of the openings 56 and 57 and the conjoint insertion of a suitable locking means therethrough in order to prevent such relative movement. It will be apparent that unless such locking means is employed, it is impossible to apply sufficient torque on the support ring 24 to cause its threaded engagement onto the threaded sleeve portion 47 of the adapter fitting 14 in order to compress the gasket 51 and provide a pressuretight seal between the aerator head 12 and the adapter fitting 14.

To this end, the tool 13, which is preferably in the form of a wire bail having laterally inturned end portions 58 is provided. The radial inward length of the end portions .58 are substantially equal to the combined

2,986,341 radial depth of the side walls of the casing 16 and support ring 24. The tool 13 is engaged in the openings 56 and 57 prior to installation or removal of the aerator head 12 by manually spreading or separating the inturned end portions 58 to permit their insertion through the openings 56 and 57. If the openings 56 and 57 are not in registry, it may be necessary to rotate the casing 16 to bring the openings 56 and 57 into registry. Due to resiliency of the tool 13, the end portions 58 will snap into engagement with the openings 56 and 57 and will so remain until removed thus unifying the casing 16 and the ring 24 for rotation as a unit during application to the faucet. Rotative torque will thereafter be effective to provide threaded engagement or disengagement of the support ring 24 from the threaded sleeve portion 47 for installation or removal of the aerator head as desired.

Once the aerator head 12 has been threaded onto the adapter fitting 14 and the tool 13 removed therefrom, the aerator head 12 will be free to rotate relative to the support ring 24 and adapter fitting 14, thereby preventing disengagement or casual theft thereof. The openings 56 and 57 need only be very small as little force is exerted on the pin-like ends 58 of the tool 13, thereby rendering the openings relatively inconspicuous and their purpose and function unapparent to a casual observer.

It will thus be apparent that I have herein disclosed and described a pilfer proof aerating device having novel structural features which render casual theft or unintional removal of the aerator head portion of the device difficult if not impossible without prior knowledge of the internal construction of the device or possession of a tool specifically adapted to facilitate installation or removal of the aerator head from its adapter fitting or the threaded end of a faucet. In addition, the novel construction of the present invention is extremely simple and does not require elaborate structural change to existing devices, thereby minimizing production and consumer costs.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it should be understood that various modifications and equivalent constructions may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.