US20110233296A1

US20110233296A1 - Faucet fountain attachment

Info

Publication number: US20110233296A1
Application number: US12/661,944
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Stude
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-26
Filing date: 2010-03-26
Publication date: 2011-09-29

Abstract

A device for attachment to a conventional water faucet in a bathroom. The device having a first tubular portion for attachment to the faucet, a lower tubular portion for allowing water to flow downward and an L shaped tubular portion that extends from the side of the lower tubular portion laterally outwardly and then upwardly to form an upper fountain outlet.

The device is adapted to be releasably attached to a bathroom sink water faucet and in use, an individual brushing his or her teeth will put a hand or finger over the lower outlet so that water ejects from the fountain outlet to permit the individual to lean down and reach the water with his or her mouth for rinsing the mouth of toothpaste fluid.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fountain attachment device adapted to be attached to a water faucet in a bathroom whereby the downward flow of water from the faucet through the device can be blocked with a hand or finger and an upward extending tubular portion of the attachment can eject water from an upper open end thereof such as like from a fountain. The outwardly flowing water can be easily reached by the mouth of a person brushing his or her teeth for rinsing the mouth.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, individuals brushing their teeth would take water from a glass or cup for rinsing their mouth. The cup or glass becomes coated at the rim with brushing fluid and would need to be washed often.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a fountain attachment device which is adapted to be mounted to a conventional water faucet in a bathroom. The device has a first tubular portion including an upper portion for attachment to the faucet, a lower tubular portion for allowing water to flow downward out of a lower outlet opening of the lower tubular portion and further tubular portion that extends from the side of the lower tubular portion laterally outwardly and then upwardly to define at an upper open end thereof, an upper fountain outlet. A user of the device places a finger or hand over the lower outlet opening to block downward flow of water and water flows out of the upper fountain outlet so that the user, while brushing his or her teeth easily can lean down to obtain water from the water flowing out of the fountain outlet to rinse his or her mouth.
The device is adapted to be releasably attached to a water faucet associated with a bathroom sink and has a lower outlet opening. In use, an individual brushing his or her teeth will put a hand or finger over the lower outlet opening so that water ejects from the upper fountain outlet to permit the individual to lean down and reach the water from the fountain with his or her mouth for rinsing the mouth of toothpaste fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water faucet in a bathroom with the fountain attachment device of the present invention attached to the faucet and shows water exiting a fountain outlet of the device and shows the hands of an individual brushing their teeth.

FIG. 2 is a vertical plan view of the fountain attachment device.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fountain device taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fountain attachment device taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fountain attachment device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated therein a conventional bathroom faucet 10, with a fountain attachment device 12, constructed according to the teachings of the present invention attached to the faucet 12. FIG. 1 also shows the faucet 10 positioned over a sink 14, and a person's right hand 16 holding a toothbrush 18, having toothpaste 20, thereon. FIG. 1 also shows a thumb 22, of a person's left hand 24, positioned over a lower outlet opening 26 of the fountain attachment device 12. Also shown, is a fountain of water 28, exiting upwardly from an upper fountain outlet opening 30, of the fountain attachment device 12.
FIG. 2, is an elevational view of the device 12, which includes a first, generally vertically extending tubular portion 32, having an upper end portion 34, with a tubular threaded boss 36, at the upper end thereof for attachment to a an opening 38 of the faucet 12. The first tubular portion 32 also has a lower tubular portion 40 with a lower tubular outlet opening 26.
A second short tubular portion 42 extends laterally outwardly from the first generally vertical tubular portion 32 and has a threaded tubular boss 36, at the outer end thereof. Then a third L shaped tubular portion 44, is threadably mounted on the threaded tubular boss 36. The upper end of the L shaped tubular member 44 has an upper outlet opening 30, defining the fountain outlet opening 30. The lower tubular portion 40, has on the inside thereof threads 46, to which a conventional faucet water filter assembly 48, can be attached.
In mounting the device 12 to a faucet 10, the first tubular potion 32 is first separately mounted to the faucet 10 by threading the threaded boss into the outlet opening 38 of the faucet 10. Then the third L shaped tubular portion 44, is threadably mounted on the threaded tubular boss 36 at the outer end of the second tubular portion with the outlet opening 30 of the upper end of the L shaped tubular member 44, defining the fountain outlet opening. Then a water straining device removed from the faucet 10 can be attached to the bottom of the lower tubular portion 40 as shown.
From the foregoing description, it will be understood that obvious modifications can be made to the fountain attachment device 12 of the present invention without departing from the teachings of the invention. For example, the device 12 can be a unitary one piece metal or plastic (PVC) molded device. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A fountain attachment device for attachment to a conventional water faucet in a bathroom, said device having a first portion for attachment to the faucet, a second portion coupled to said first portion for allowing water to flow downward out of a lower outlet opening and a third portion that extends laterally and upwardly from the first portion and has an opening defining a fountain outlet.

2. The fountain attachment device of claim 1 wherein a conventional filter assembly is attached to said device.

3. The fountain attachment device of claim 1 wherein said second portion is an L-shaped tubular portion.

4. The fountain attachment device of claim 1 being a unitary one piece molded device.

5. The fountain attachment device of claim 4 being a unitary one piece device molded from a metal.

6. The fountain attachment device of claim 1 being a unitary one piece plastic molded device.

7. The fountain attachment device of claim 1 wherein said first and second portions comprise an elongate tubular portion, and said third portion comprises an L-shaped tubular portion coupled to said elongate tubular portion and has an upper opening defining said fountain outlet.

8. The fountain attachment device of claim 7 wherein said elongate tubular portion is threadably coupled to the faucet.

9. The fountain attachment device of claim 7 wherein said L-shaped tubular portion is threadably coupled to said elongate tubular portion.

10. The fountain attachment device of claim 7 wherein said lower outlet opening is located at a lower end of said elongate tubular portion.

11. The fountain attachment device of claim 7 wherein said lower outlet opening is constructed and arranged for being threadably coupled to a conventional filter assembly.