Water Drip Regulation Attachment for Spigots and Faucets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drip attachment for residential and commercial outdoor spigots/faucets for avoiding freezing of water pipes and spigots and minimizing wastage of water by limiting dripping of water to 5-40 drops per minute. The attachment is designed to mount onto a spigot and provides extrusion of water flowing from the spigot to release 5-40 drops of water per minute. More specifically, the attachment has a screw-on section having female threads for engaging to the spigot and has fixed baffles/valves in an extrusion section limiting number of drops of water. The screw-on section has a rubber gasket for prohibiting any leakage and the attachment has a tapered water drip portion and a bottom opening for releasing water drops in a desired rate.

what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drip device for metering a faucet to control a water flow therethrough, the drip device comprising:
 a screw-on portion having a female threaded section for screwing onto a male threaded faucet spigot end;   an extrusion portion having at least one baffle for passing the water flow therethrough; and   a drip exit portion having a tapered nozzle that narrows from a first end proximal to said extrusion portion to a second end distal to said extrusion portion.   
     
     
         2 . The drip device of  claim 1 , wherein said screw-on portion comprises a cavity for passing the water flow therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The drip device of  claim 2 , wherein said screw-on portion comprises a terminal end having a rubber gasket therearound for sealing against the male threaded faucet spigot end. 
     
     
         4 . The drip device of  claim 3 , wherein said drip device comprises a length from about 2 inches to about 5 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         5 . The drip device of  claim 4 , wherein said drip exit portion includes a length from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The drip device of  claim 5 , wherein said drip device meters a plurality of water drops from an actuated water faucet from about 5 drops to about 40 drops per minute. 
     
     
         7 . The drip device of  claim 6 , wherein said drip device is comprised of a PVC plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The drip device of  claim 6 , wherein said drip device comprised of a lightweight metal. 
     
     
         9 . A drip device for metering a faucet to control a water flow therethrough, the drip device comprising:
 a screw-on portion having a female threaded section for screwing onto a male threaded faucet spigot end;   an extrusion portion having at least one baffle for passing the water flow therethrough; and   a drip exit portion having a tapered nozzle that narrows in size from a first end proximal to said extrusion portion to a second end distal to said extrusion portion, and wherein a distance from said first end to said second end is between 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches, inclusive.   
     
     
         10 . The drip device of  claim 9 , wherein said screw-on portion comprises a cavity for passing the water flow therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The drip device of  claim 10 , wherein said screw-on portion comprises a terminal end having a rubber gasket therearound for sealing against the male threaded faucet spigot end. 
     
     
         12 . The drip device of  claim 11 , wherein said drip device comprises a length from about 2 inches to about 5 inches, inclusive. 
     
     
         13 . The drip device of  claim 12 , wherein said drip device meters a plurality of water drops from an actuated water faucet from about 5 drops to about 40 drops per minute. 
     
     
         14 . The drip device of  claim 13 , wherein the drip device is comprised of a PVC plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The drip device of  claim 13 , wherein the drip device is comprised of a lightweight metal. 
     
     
         16 . A method for prohibiting a freezing of a water pipe and a faucet in cold weather, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a faucet attachment configured to threadingly mount to a faucet spigot end, wherein said faucet attachment comprises an extrusion portion for providing an extrusion effect to a flow of water received from the faucet spigot end when activated;   attaching said faucet attachment to the faucet spigot end;   turning on the faucet by opening a faucet handle to release a flow of water;   controlling the flow of water through said faucet attachment by extruding at least a portion of the flow of water from a threaded screw-on portion, through said extrusion portion, and out through a drip exit portion;   wherein said controlling the flow of water includes a metered drip of water from said drip exit portion;   wherein said extrusion portion includes at least one baffle for passing the flow of water therethrough;   wherein said drip exit portion includes a tapered nozzle narrowing from a first end proximal to said extrusion portion to a second end distal to said extrusion portion; and   wherein a distance from said first end to said second end is from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches, inclusive.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said screw-on portion includes a cavity for passing the flow of water therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said screw-on portion includes a terminal end having a rubber gasket therearound for sealing against the threaded faucet spigot end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said faucet attachment includes a length from about 2 inches to about 5 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said faucet attachment meters a plurality of water drops from an actuated water faucet from about 5 drops to about 40 drops per minute.