Auto Sink Spray

Abstract

A basin and/or sink that has a dispenser located in an area below the opening of the basin and above the base, capable of being activated by a sensor that detects a user or other body within a defined wash region. The invention directs water in a novel direction avoiding drawback associated with current dispensers, such as backsplash.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a unique new bathroom sink that eliminates the problems of backsplash and countertop pooling by providing a circumferential, “no touch” spray of water when one's hands or face are placed over or into the rim of the sink.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Everyone has a need for personal grooming which is an essential part of the way they present themselves to the world. Other people, eventually, come to know others by words, work, and actions, but the first thing they notice is appearance. Are they attractive? Stylish? Sexy? Appealing? Are they well-dressed, clothes well-chosen and properly cared for? Are fingernails trimmed and clean? Are bodies and faces clean and fresh, teeth brushed, breath pleasing? And what about hair? These are all immediate indicators of how well people care for themselves, and that is an indicator not only of how much self-respect one has, but also of the impression made upon others. Basic looks may be due to heredity but what is done with this raw material is up to the individual.

People go to the styling salon or the barber shop for periodic, professional grooming services, but on a daily basis people perform their own grooming in the bathrooms of homes, much of it at the bathroom sink washing hands and faces. Men shave. Women remove makeup and wash faces again at bedtime. And whether shaving or washing faces, sink water is scooped up with hands and splashed not only onto faces, but also, albeit unintentionally, onto the sink counter. This errant water pools on the sink counter, and since there are likely a number of articles there, i.e., toothpaste tubes, makeup or shaving supplies, perhaps a wicker basket with toothbrushes and such, maybe a box of Kleenex, wiping up that errant water is both a necessity and a pain. What's clearly needed is a neater, less splashy means of washing or refreshing faces at the bathroom sink.

The prior art has put forth several designs for sink sprayers. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,530 to Robert A. Miller et al provides a jetted laundry/utility/kitchen sink with a plurality of water/air jets that introduce a pressurized flow of water/air into the interior of the sink. A motor/pump unit takes water from the interior of the sink, pressurizes the water, and returns the pressurized water to the interior of the sink via the nozzles. A flow diverting formation having a flow re-directing surface assists the nozzles in establishing a sustained circulation pattern within the sink.

US Patent Application No. 2007/0011806 to Ryan Knowlton provides a self-cleaning sink having a multitude of spray nozzles, plumbed into an internal water jacket, source water from the user activated tap water source. The water is directed through the internal water jacket and into the spray nozzles. The spray nozzles then spray the water at a downward angle into the sink therefore cleaning its interior.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,470 to Harry Epstein provides a modular, portable water-jet system for attachment to the faucet of a kitchen or bathroom sink. The system includes a diverter valve assembly that can be screwed to the faucet and which has one outlet having an aerator and another outlet to which is removably attached a control valve assembly to which is removably attached a jet-flow device, such as an oral cleaning nozzle. The diverter valve assembly includes a spool valve slidably mounted in the housing. One end of the spool valve forms a passage from the inlet of the housing leading to the outlet port to the control valves assembly. A modular solution mixing and metering container can be optionally positioned between the diverter valve assembly and the control valve assembly when a liquid medicant or cleaning agent, for example, is desired. A cross-channel at the top of the container opens to the container where water mixes with and pressures the resulting mixture up a vertical pipe back to the cross-channel where it is pressured to the jet-flow device.

None of these prior art references describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a unique new bathroom sink that eliminates the problems of backsplash and countertop pooling by providing a circumferential, “no touch” spray of water when one's hands or face are placed over or into the rim of the sink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating an auto sink spray, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with water jets.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view illustrating the auto sink spray, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a water spray pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, hereinafter referred to as an Auto Sink Spray offering users a unique new bathroom sink that eliminates the problems of backsplash and countertop pooling by providing a circumferential, “no touch” spray of water when one's hands or face are placed over or into the rim of the sink.

Like the “no touch” faucets found in airports and other public bathroom facilities, the Auto Sink Spray employs one or more infrared sensors in its rim to detect the entry of one's hands or face; and once this entry has been detected by the sensor(s), a battery-powered (DC) or household-wiring-powered (AC) mechanism opens two valves, one in the incoming cold-water supply line and one in the incoming hot-water supply line. These valves feed hot and cold water, in proportions that could be set by the user, simply by adjusting the stopcocks of the valves, into a pair of auxiliary supply lines which will merge to supply a third line which runs in a ring around the inner rim of the sink. This ring line will be perforated at regular intervals to provide a cross-spray pattern that remains just below the upper rim of the sink; and the rim would feature a slight overhang or lip to prevent any spray from escaping upward onto the adjacent sink counter.

In an embodiment, the perforations are in the bottom of the sink and presumably spray water upward in arcs. In another embodiment where the primary intent of the Auto Sink Spray is to eliminate backsplash and countertop pooling, a cross-spray is situated just beneath a lip at the top of the sink keeping the spray within the sink. The Auto Sink Spray is automatically activated anytime one's hands or face crossed the plane of the sink-rim, but is no impediment to using the faucet to fill the sink, or washing one's hands or face in the traditional manner; and the Auto Sink Spray ceases its spraying when one removed one's hands or face from the sink.

The Auto Sink Spray is a bathroom sink superior to conventional sinks in terms of both convenience and cleanliness. With the Auto Sink Spray, there is no need to fill the sink and scoop up water in order to wash one's face, prepare it for shaving, or rinse it off. One simply bends over a bit, and lets the Auto Sink Spray do the rest. Likewise, the “no touch” Auto Sink Spray eliminates the need to handle the faucet in order to wash one's hands keeping the faucet valves clean and free of germs, keeping the kids from leaving the faucet running, and keeping the whole household healthier. Best of all, the Auto Sink Spray eliminates the vexing problem of sink backsplash and the pooling of water on the sink countertop. Like other high-quality bathroom sinks, the Auto Sink Spray can be produced in a variety of styles, i.e., pedestal, vessel, drop-in, undermount, and in a variety of materials, from vitreous china to steel, and in a variety of colors.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claim.

Claims

1. A unique new bathroom sink that eliminates the problems of backsplash and countertop pooling by providing a circumferential, “no touch” spray of water when one's hands or face are placed over or into the rim of the sink, essentially as described herein.