FRONT FLOW LAVATORY

Abstract

A lavatory is disclosed which dispenses water from its front side. The lavatory comprises a single body with a concavity for receiving water and a faucet port on the front side through which water may flow into the concavity. A solenoid valve, which is located underneath the sink body, receives water from a water supply and, when actuated, supplies water to the concavity of the sink body via the faucet port. Actuation of the solenoid valve is effected by one or more proximity switches which detect when a user is in proximity to the front side of the lavatory. The lavatory may also comprise a mixer valve which is located underneath the sink body and which is interposed between the water supply and the solenoid valve. The mixer valve functions to receive hot and cold water inputs from the water supply, to combine those hot and cold water inputs and to the combined hot and cold water to the solenoid valve.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/250,451 filed Oct. 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a lavatory which dispenses water from the front of the lavatory.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Traditional lavatories have been composed of a concavity, eg., a basin, which is installed in or which is part of a countertop. Faucet sets are utilized to provide water to the lavatory, and these faucet sets have routinely been installed on the rearward portion of the deck surface of the countertop or they protrude through wall near the rearward portion of the lavatory. Thus, in order for a person to utilize the lavatory, he/she is required to reach across the concavity of the lavatory to turn on the water. Traditional lavatories thus present difficulties for small children and the handicapped to use. Moreover, cleaning around the faucet sets of traditional lavatories has been somewhat of a nuisance.

Accordingly, a lavatory which eliminates the rearward faucet sets of traditional lavatories and which dispenses water from the front side of the lavatory would be desirable. This new and useful result has been achieved with the lavatory of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a lavatory is provided which dispenses water from its front side. In one embodiment, a lavatory in accordance with the present invention comprises a sink body having a concavity for receiving water and a faucet port on its front side through which water may flow into the concavity. A solenoid valve is located underneath the sink body for receiving water from a water supply and for supplying water from said water supply to the concavity of the sink body via the faucet port, when the solenoid valve is actuated. A lavatory in accordance with the present invention further comprises at least one proximity switch for actuating the solenoid valve when a user is in proximity to the front side of the lavatory.

In another embodiment of a lavatory in accordance with the present invention, the water supply provides both hot and cold water and the lavatory further comprises a mixer valve which is located underneath the sink body, which is interposed between the water supply and the solenoid valve, and which functions to receive the hot and cold water inputs from the water supply, to combine the hot and cold water inputs and to feed the combined hot and cold water to the solenoid valve for delivery to the faucet port.

A lavatory in accordance with the present invention further comprises a drain port to allow drainage of the water in the concavity. In one embodiment, the drain port is formed in the bottom of the concavity.

A lavatory in accordance with the present invention further comprises an overflow port to permit drainage of water from the concavity when the height of the water in the concavity reaches the overflow port. In one embodiment of the present invention, the overflow port is located in the front portion of the concavity. In yet another by embodiment of the present invention, the overflow port extends around the periphery of the concavity near the top of the concavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of one embodiment of a lavatory in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram in block diagram form which illustrates elements of a lavatory in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view in cross-section of another embodiment of a lavatory in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. In the following description, some embodiments of the invention are described and numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the present invention may be practiced without those details and that numerous variations and modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. The following description is thus intended to illustrate and not to limit the present invention.

With reference first to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a lavatory 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Lavatory 10 comprises a sink body 11, which may be fabricated from any suitable material which is normally used for such apparatus including metal, porcelain, vitreous clay, plastic and the like. Sink body 11 comprises a front side 16 and a rear side 17, and, when using lavatory 10, user 18 stands or sits proximate the front side 16. Sink body 11 also comprises a concavity 12 which is formed in the midsection of the top of the body to receive water. The shape of concavity 12 may, for example, have the wheel well shape as illustrated in FIG. 1 or may have any other suitable shape such as, for example, a circular, elliptical or rectangular cross-sectional shape. Sink body 11 further comprises a drain port 14 which is formed in the bottom of the concavity 12 to allow water in the concavity to be conveyed via suitable plumbing (not shown) to the sewer line or other discharge apparatus of the house or other structure in which lavatory 10 is installed.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a faucet port 13 is formed in the front side of concavity 12 of sink body 11 to permit water to enter concavity 12. An overflow port 15 is also formed in the front side of concavity 12 of sink body 11 below faucet port 13. Overflow port 15 functions to permit water to drain from concavity 12 when the height of the water in concavity 12 reaches the overflow port 15. Water entering the overflow port 15 flows via piping or conduit (not shown) which is on the underside of bowl 12 to the plumbing associated with drain port 14 described above.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a lavatory in accordance with the present invention further comprises a mixer valve 21 which receives cold water and hot water via standard plumbing from water supply 20. Mixer valve 21 functions to combine the hot and cold water inputs and to feed the combined hot and cold water to solenoid valve 24.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, mixer valve 21 comprises handles 22 and 23 which are used to adjust the temperature of the water which leaves mixer valve 21. One handle controls the amount of hot water entering the mixer valve 21 while the other handle controls the amount of cold water entering the mixer valve 21. Handles 22 and 23 may, for example, be located on the front of sink body 11 to permit each user 18 to adjust the temperature of the water exiting faucet port 13 to his/her liking.

When the user 18 comes within a preselected distance of proximity switch or switches 25, solenoid valve 24 is activated by the proximity switch(es) 25, and water passes through solenoid valve 24 to faucet head 26. Faucet head 26 is positioned on the underside of sink body 11 proximate the faucet port 13. Thus, when solenoid valve 24 is activated, water flows through faucet port 13 and into concavity 12 at the front of lavatory 10.

With reference now up to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a lavatory in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Lavatory 30 comprises a front side 31 and a rear side 32, and a concavity 33 which comprises a rectangular cross-section. Lavatory 30 also comprises an overflow valve 34 which extends around the periphery of concavity 33. In the event that water in the concavity 33 from faucet head 37 reaches the height of overflow valve 34, that water is directed to drain 36 via conduit 35.

In certain situations, the water supply 20 (FIG. 2) may not provide both hot and cold water. In these situations, the mixer valve 21 may be eliminated, and water may be directly fed from water supply 20 to solenoid valve 24.

Claims

1. A lavatory which dispenses water from its front side, comprising:

a. sink body comprising a concavity for receiving water and a faucet port on its front side through which water may flow into the concavity;

a solenoid valve which is located underneath the sink body for receiving water from a water supply and for supplying water from said water supply to the concavity of the sink body via the faucet port, when the solenoid valve is actuated; and

at least one proximity switch for actuating the solenoid valve when a user is in proximity to the front side of the lavatory.

2. The lavatory of claim 1, wherein the concavity comprises a drain port which is formed in the bottom of the concavity to allow drainage of the water in the concavity.

3. The lavatory of claim 1, wherein the concavity further comprises an overflow port to permit drainage of water from the concavity when the height of the water in the concavity reaches the overflow port.

4. The lavatory of claim 3, wherein the overflow port is formed in the front portion of the concavity.

5. The lavatory of claim 3, or in the overflow port extends around the periphery of the concavity.

6. The lavatory of claim 1, wherein the water supply provides both hot and cold water and wherein the lavatory further comprises a mixer valve which is located underneath the sink body, which is interposed between the water supply and the solenoid valve, and which functions to receive the hot and cold water inputs from the water supply, to combine the hot and cold water inputs and to feed the combined hot and cold water to the solenoid valve.

7. The lavatory of claim 6, wherein the concavity comprises a drain port which is formed in the bottom of the concavity to allow drainage of the water in the concavity.

8. The lavatory of claim 6, wherein the concavity further comprises an overflow port to permit drainage of water from the concavity when the height of the water in the concavity reaches the overflow port.

9. The lavatory of claim 8, wherein the overflow port is formed in the front portion of the concavity.

10. The lavatory of claim 8, wherein the overflow port extends around the periphery of the concavity.