Remote air gap assemblies

Abstract

A fluid backflow prevention system for use with common household plumbing fixtures. A remote air gap assembly may be installed in a new or existing plumbing system to prevent fluid backflow and subsequent contamination. The remote air gap assembly includes an air gap housing, with an inlet, an outlet, a weep hole, a check valve, and an outlet cap. In an exemplary use, such a remote air gap assembly may operate in conjunction with a filtration faucet and may be installed under a counter, for example.

1 . An air gap assembly for use with a plumbing fixture, the assembly comprising:
 an air gap housing including a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to define a housing cavity;   an inlet extending from the air gap housing and in fluid communication with housing cavity;   an outlet extending from the air gap housing and in fluid communication with housing cavity;   a weep hole extending from the outlet and in fluid communication with the outlet; and   a check valve positioned in the outlet, wherein the check valve is shiftable between a first position such that an exit of the outlet and the housing cavity are in fluid communication, and a second position such that the outlet and the housing cavity are not in fluid communication,   wherein when the check valve is in the second position, fluid entering the outlet is routed through the weep hole.   
     
     
         2 . The air gap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet, the outlet, or both extend orthogonally from the floor of the air gap housing. 
     
     
         3 . The air gap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the weep hole extends orthogonally from the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The air gap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a sink mounted to a counter, and wherein the air gap assembly is configured to be mounted below or to an underside of the counter. 
     
     
         5 . The air gap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein both the inlet and outlet extend downwardly from the air gap housing when the air gap assembly is mounted to the underside of the counter. 
     
     
         6 . The air gap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the air gap housing. 
     
     
         7 . The air gap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet cap coupled to an end of the outlet opposite the air gap housing. 
     
     
         8 . The air gap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the air gap assembly is formed of a 3D printed material. 
     
     
         9 . An air gap assembly for use with a fixture, the assembly comprising:
 an air gap housing;   an inlet extending from the air gap housing in fluid communication with an interior of the housing;   an outlet extending from the air gap housing, the outlet including an outlet cap coupled to an end of the outlet, wherein the outlet cap is configured to be coupled to a fluid outlet line;   a weep hole extending from the outlet and in fluid communication with the outlet; and   a check valve positioned in the outlet.   
     
     
         10 . The air gap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein both the inlet and the outlet extend orthogonally from a bottom wall of the air gap housing. 
     
     
         11 . The air gap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the weep hole extends orthogonally from the outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The air gap assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a second outlet cap interchangeable with the first outlet cap, wherein the second outlet cap is configured to be coupled to a second plumbing fixture different than the first plumbing fixture. 
     
     
         13 . The air gap assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a cover coupled to the air gap housing. 
     
     
         14 . The air gap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the air gap assembly is configured to be mounted to an underside of a counter. 
     
     
         15 . The air gap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the inlet is configured to be coupled to a fluid supply line. 
     
     
         16 . The air gap assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid supply line is a wastewater line, and wherein the fluid outlet line is a drain line. 
     
     
         17 . A plumbing system comprising:
 a sink system mounted to a counter;   a plumbing fixture operably coupled to the sink; and   an air gap assembly coupled to the counter below the sink, the air gap assembly including an air gap housing, an inlet extending from the air gap housing and in fluid communication with an interior of the housing, an outlet extending from the air gap housing, a weep hole extending from the outlet and in fluid communication with the outlet, and a check valve positioned in the outlet, the check valve being configured to shift between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         18 . The plumbing system of  claim 17 , wherein, when the check valve is in the first position, the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet via the air gap housing such that the system is configured to allow fluid to flow through the inlet and exit through the outlet, and wherein when the check valve is in the second position, the outlet is not in fluid communication with the air gap housing such that the system is configured to block fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet and allow fluid to exit through the weep hole. 
     
     
         19 . The plumbing system of  claim 17 , wherein the sink system comprises a sink basin and a filtration faucet, and wherein the plumbing fixture comprises a filtration assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The plumbing system of  claim 19 , wherein the system is configured such that wastewater from the filtration assembly is routed through the air gap assembly.