US 12,305,375 B1
Anti-backflow plumbing fitting
James W. Chandler, Ashland, OH (US)
Assigned to VISTA WATER GROUP, LLC, Ashland, OH (US)
Filed by Vista Water Group, LLC, Ashland, OH (US)
Filed on Aug. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/231,285.
Application 18/231,285 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/051,695, filed on Nov. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,718,980.
Application 18/051,695 is a continuation of application No. 16/519,200, filed on Jul. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,492,789, issued on Nov. 8, 2022.
Application 16/519,200 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/351,543, filed on Nov. 15, 2016, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/256,917, filed on Nov. 18, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/400,177, filed on Aug. 23, 2022.
Int. Cl. E03C 1/122 (2006.01); E03C 1/182 (2006.01); E03C 1/284 (2006.01)
CPC E03C 1/1222 (2013.01) [E03C 1/182 (2013.01); E03C 1/284 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus comprising:
an anti-backflow plumbing fitting, including:
a cylindrical body,
wherein the cylindrical body includes a cylindrical side wall with an outside wall surface and an inside wall surface, wherein the inside wall surface bounds a fitting interior area,
wherein in an operative position the body extends along a vertically extending central axis,
wherein the body includes
an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end is axially opposed of the outlet end,
wherein the outlet end includes a cylindrical axially extending outlet end body opening,
wherein the outside wall surface at the inlet end includes a cylindrical inlet end outside wall portion,
wherein the cylindrical inlet end outside wall portion is configured to be received in fluid tight engagement with a fluid delivering cylindrical recess of a liquid delivery conduit,
wherein the outside wall surface at the outlet end includes a cylindrical outlet end outside wall portion,
wherein the cylindrical outlet end outside wall portion is configured to be received in fluid tight engagement with a fluid receiving further cylindrical recess of a liquid removal conduit,
a body inlet end wall, wherein the body inlet end wall axially bounds the interior area adjacent the inlet end,
a body inlet fitting, wherein the body inlet fitting
is in operatively fixed connection with the body inlet end wall,
is disposed radially inward of the cylindrical inlet end outside wall portion,
extends axially outward beyond the body inlet end wall,
is configured to fluidly engage a liquid delivery line,
includes a flow straightening inlet passage, wherein the inlet passage
extends fluidly intermediate of a fitting inlet opening and an interior area inlet opening,
is axially straight, and
is circular in axially transverse cross section,
wherein the fitting inlet opening
is fluidly accessible externally of the body,
is positioned axially outward beyond the cylindrical inlet end outside wall portion, and
is configured to receive liquid from either the liquid delivery line or the liquid delivery conduit to which the plumbing fitting is fluidly connected,
wherein the interior area inlet opening
is radially disposed away from the inside wall surface, and
is configured to deliver liquid directly from the inlet passage to the interior area,
wherein the outlet end body opening is configured to receive therein a body outlet fitting,
wherein the body outlet fitting includes
a body outlet end wall,
wherein the body outlet end wall includes an interior area outlet,
wherein with the body outlet fitting is installed in the outlet end body opening the body outlet end wall axially bounds the interior area adjacent the outlet end,
a fitting outlet opening, wherein the fitting outlet opening is accessible externally of the body,
positioned axially outward beyond the outlet end outside wall portion, and
configured to deliver liquid to a liquid removal line that is engaged with the body outlet fitting,
an outlet passage, wherein the outlet passage extends axially and fluidly intermediate of the interior area outlet and the fitting outlet opening,
wherein the fitting outlet opening is configured to deliver liquid to either the liquid removal line or to the liquid removal conduit to which the plumbing fitting is fluidly connected,
an air gap opening, wherein the air gap opening
extends radially through the side wall between the outside wall surface and the inside wall surface,
is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis,
in the operative position is bounded by a lower gap end surface, wherein the lower gap end surface is disposed axially away from the interior area outlet.