Air Gap Catch

Abstract

Apparatus and method for directing waste water discharged from the air gap port of an air gap device such as an air gap reverse osmosis (RO) faucet or a dishwasher air gap, whereby the discharged water is caught and collected in a cup or container surrounding the air gap and channeled by a conduit of sufficient distance so that the water may then discharge into the sink basin.

Claims

1. An overflow dispensation director adapted for use with an air gap, said director capable of directing brine overflowing an air gap, said director comprising: a. a center opening adapted for use around at least a lower portion of an air gap riser body, said lower portion being below an air gap, said center opening comprising an edge adapted to mate with at least an outer surface of said at least a lower portion of an air gap riser body; b. a top comprising an extending outlet and a contiguous channel surrounding said center opening, said contiguous channel adapted for receiving brine overflow falling from the air gap and directing the brine overflow to said extending outlet; c. a bottom comprising a generally planar surface and defining a bottom plane, said bottom adapted to mate with a countertop and support said director, said countertop comprising a contiguous plane, said contiguous plane being parallel with said bottom plane and said contiguous plane comprising at least one edge mating with a sink and at least a second edge comprising a drop to basin with a non-draining local minimum; d. an outer sidewall around at least a portion of said contiguous channel for containing brine within said channel and further directing the brine overflow to said extending channel; e. a break in said outer sidewall to allow outflow of brine from said contiguous channel; and f. said extending outlet emanating from said break, said extending outlet adapted to direct brine overflowing from said contiguous channel over at least a portion of said countertop, to discharge into a sink basin.

2. The overflow dispensation director of claim 1, wherein said extending outlet comprises a far end located opposite said center, said far end comprising a lip appended to said far end.

3. The brine overflow dispensation director of claim 2, wherein said wherein said lip is downwardly angled relative to the plane of said bottom.

4. The overflow dispensation director of claim 2, wherein said lip comprises at least one cross-wise perforation to allow trimming of a length of said lip.

5. The overflow dispensation director of claim 1, wherein said extending outlet comprises a spout.

6. The overflow dispensation director of claim 1, wherein said outer sidewall surrounds a majority of said at least a portion of said contiguous channel.

7. The overflow dispensation director of claim 1, wherein said outer sidewall comprises a generally planar top edge.

8. The overflow dispensation director of claim 7, wherein said edge is adapted to mate with the entire circumference of the outer surface of said at least a lower portion of the air gap riser body.

9. The overflow dispensation director of claim 8, wherein said edge comprises an interior flange emanating upwards, said interior flange adapted for mating with the outer surface of said at least a lower portion of the air gap riser body.

10. The overflow dispensation director of claim 1, wherein said flange is comprised of a flexible material to adapt to mate with at least an outer surface of said at least a lower portion of the air gap riser body.

11. The overflow dispensation director of claim 1, wherein said director is comprised of a flexible substance.

12. A water faucet for the dispensation of treated water, said faucet mounted on a flat countertop to dispense over a sink basin, said faucet comprising: a. a central conduit for directing treated water from a water filtration system to a dispensation outlet; b. an air gap comprising a hole for the pressure compensation for the handling of brine, said air gap provided on the outer surface of said water faucet; and c. a collar positioned below said air gap, said collar comprising: i. a channel adapted to receive brine overflow from said air gap; ii. an outlet coupled to said channel to direct brine out of said channel over a portion of the countertop and into the sink basin. iii. a flat bottom adapted for mating with the countertop; and iv. an outer sidewall adapted for containing the brine and directing the brine to said outlet.

13. The water faucet of claim 12, wherein said collar is positioned adjacent to the flat countertop.

14. The water faucet of claim 12, wherein said channel is circumferential around said central conduit.

15. The water faucet of claim 12, wherein said collar outlet comprises a lip.

16. The water faucet of claim 15, wherein said lip being downwardly angled relative to the plane of said bottom.

17. The water faucet of claim 15, wherein said lip comprises a perforation to allow trimming of a length of said lip.

18. The water faucet of claim 12, wherein said collar outlet comprises a spout.

19. A method for directing brine overflowing from an air gap comprising the steps of: a. providing a collar with a center opening, a contiguous channel, and an outlet; b. placing the center opening over the air gap top; c. guiding the collar down over the air gap riser below an air gap opening; d. mounting the collar on a top surface of a countertop, wherein the outlet is positioned over a sink basin.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of mating an edge of the collar center opening around the air gap riser outer surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1A demonstrates a left side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 1B demonstrates a frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 1C demonstrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 1D demonstrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2A demonstrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2B demonstrates a frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2C demonstrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3A demonstrates a left side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3B demonstrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 3C demonstrates a right side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 31) demonstrates an angled frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3E demonstrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3F demonstrates a frontal view in additional detail of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3G demonstrates a top perspective view in additional detail of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4A demonstrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4B demonstrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5A demonstrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5B demonstrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] This invention is intended to catch, direct and safely dispose of the waste water discharged from the air gap window opening of an air gap RO) faucet or dishwasher air gap device. Air gap RO faucets and dishwasher air gap devices routinely discharge waste water out of the air gap window in response to insufficient residential sewer or septic drainage. When the air gap device is installed on a surface mount sink the air gap waste water would normally trickle back down into the sink basin and into the sink drain not causing a problem. However when the air gap device is installed directly on top of a kitchen countertop such as with the case with an under mount sink, the air gap waste water discharged from the air gap window is not directed into the sink basin, instead it is allowed to freely spread out across the countertop, fall to the floor where it can damage the flooring and create a slip and fall hazard.

[0027] This invention may be made of a less flexible material such as metal or plastic, and formed, molded or stamped. Alternatively it may be molded from flexible material such as rubber. The difference in material choice being the intended application. The harder material, which affords some structural support, would typically be used in conjunction with a new air gap device installation where the air gap device would rest on top of the invention. One would then use a gasket to create a water tight seal between the base of the air gap device and the surface of the invention. The invention made from the softer more flexible material can easily be retrofitted to an existing air gap device, where the flexible material would be expected to slip fit over the top of the existing air gap device installation and seal around its base. In operation, when waste water is discharged from the air gap window, it flows down the side of the air gap device, is caught in the invention's basin area, and directed out, over the lip and disposed of successfully and safely down into the sink basin. The size of the invention's wall and basin area can be configured to support the anticipated flow rate from the specific air gap device. For example the invention designed for a dishwasher air gap application will be larger in all dimensions than the invention designed for the air gap RO faucet application. Novelty and non-obviousness: Air gap devices have been in common use for decades and the waste water discharge design flaw has been in evidence for a similar time period. Lipshultz U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,559 invented an air gap RO faucet that did not have this design flaw while still meeting the needs satisfied by the air gap feature, however it did not provide a remedy for the existing, and still commonly employed air gap RO faucet, nor did it even apply to dishwasher air gap devices, as does this invention. Also its air gap spout is much more obtrusive, whereas this invention lies flush with the countertop, and can be rotated so that its protrusion into the sink basin is minimal, and with the embodiment made from flexible material it can be trimmed to fit flush with both the countertop and the sink basin. It is a novel, non-obvious invention.

[0028] The present invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows the invention embodiment which fits air gap RO faucets, and is intended to be made of a less flexible material such as plastic or metal. FIG. 2 shows the invention embodiment which fits air gap RO faucets and dishwasher air gaps, and is intended to be made of a flexible material such as rubber so as to be easily retrofitted to an existing, previously installed air gap device. FIG. 3 shows a version of FIG. 1 with additional bevels and compound curves to facilitate fluid transfer. FIGS. 4 and 5 show he device with a slit opening when may be smaller or larger than shown and the device may be made from solid or flexible material to better make use of the slit opening to fit around a variety of different shaped air gap devices.

[0029] FIG. 1, 1 shows an opening in which an air gap RO faucet may be fitted. The opening may be round to accommodate a wider variety of air gap devices. Shown here with opening tailored to fit the common industry standard air gap RO faucet.

[0030] FIG. 1, 2 shows a cup or basin area in which fluid may be collected and directed. This area may be level for simplicity of manufacture, or sloped to make a path to facilitate fluid transfer. Shown level.

[0031] FIG. 1, 3 shows the side wall of the invention which contains the fluid. Wall may be of equal height or sloped for aesthetic or practical purposes.

[0032] FIG. 1, 4 shows the termination point of the invention where the fluid would discharge. This termination point may be a lip or spout. Shown here with a downward angled lip.

[0033] FIG. 2, 1 shows an opening in which and air gap RO faucet or dishwasher air gap may be fitted. Round opening shown can accommodate a wider variety of air gap devices. Other embodiments can have an opening tailored to fit other specific brands of air gap devices.

[0034] FIG. 2, 2 shows a cup or basin area in which fluid may be collected and directed. This area shown is sloped to direct the fluid.

[0035] FIG. 2, 3 shows the side wall of the invention which contains the fluid. Wall may be of equal height or sloped for aesthetic or practical purposes. Wall shown here is sloped to direct fluid and also for aesthetic purposes.

[0036] FIG. 2, 4 shows the termination point of the invention where the fluid would discharge. This termination point may be a lip or spout. Shown as a lip, which also may be perforated so as to facilitate trimming of the lip for a better fit.

[0037] FIG. 3, 1 shows an opening in which and air gap RO faucet or dishwasher air gap may be fitted. Round opening shown can accommodate a wider variety of air gap devices. Other embodiments can have the opening tailored to fit other specific brands of air gap devices.

[0038] FIG. 3, 2 shows a cup or basin area in which fluid may be collected and directed. This area shown is sloped to direct the fluid.

[0039] FIG. 3, 3 shows the side wall of the invention which contains the fluid. Wall may be of equal height or sloped for aesthetic or practical purposes. Wall shown here is sloped to direct fluid and also for aesthetic purposes.

[0040] FIG. 3, 4 shows the termination point of the invention where the fluid would discharge. This termination point may be a lip or spout. Shown here with a downward angled lip.

[0041] FIG. 4, 1 shows a slit opening in which and air gap RO faucet or dishwasher air gap may be fitted. Slit opening shown can accommodate a wider variety of air gap devices when the device is made from flexible material. Other embodiments can have the opening tailored to fit other specific brands of air gap devices.

[0042] FIG. 4, 2 shows a cup or basin area in which fluid may be collected and directed. This area shown is sloped to direct the fluid.

[0043] FIG. 4, 3 shows the side wall of the invention which contains the fluid. Wall may be of equal height or sloped for aesthetic or practical purposes. Wall shown here is sloped to direct fluid and also for aesthetic purposes.

[0044] FIG. 4, 4 shows the termination point of the invention where the fluid would discharge. This termination point may be a lip or spout. Shown here with a downward angled lip.

[0045] FIG. 5, 1 shows a slit opening in which and air gap RO faucet or dishwasher air gap may be fitted. Slit opening shown can accommodate a wider variety of air gap devices when the device is made from flexible material. Other embodiments can have the opening tailored to fit other specific brands of air gap devices with alternate shaped opening such as square or a polygon. FIG. 5, 2 shows a cup or basin area in which fluid may be collected and directed. This area may be level for simplicity of manufacture, or sloped to make a path to facilitate fluid transfer. Shown level.

[0046] FIG. 5, 3 shows the side wall of the invention which contains the fluid. Wall may be of equal height or sloped for aesthetic or practical purposes. Shown level.

[0047] FIG. 5, 4 shows the termination point of the invention where the fluid would discharge. This termination point may be a lip or spout. Shown here with a downward angled lip.