Abstract: The invention involves the use in a drinking fountain of a large control bar which is pressed by the user to operate a water flow control mechanism. The control bar is located at the front of the fountain. The control bar covers the entirety of the front of the fountain, providing the user clear access to the control bar without obstruction by any other part of the fountain when the fountain is approached at its front. The control bar operates a valve which controls water flow. The embodiment of the control bar and associated mechanisms for controlling the valve may be entirely mechanical, entirely electrical, or a combination of the two. The control bar may additionally be provided with a surface which is sensuously differentiable from the rest of the fountain.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 26, 1994
Date of Patent:
October 17, 1995
Assignee:
The Research Foundation of State University of New York
Inventors:
Abir Mullick, Michael Osadciw, Michael F. LaMonica, Matthew C. Guthrie
Abstract: A mixer tap unit has a body connected to a nozzle having two separate water passages extending the length of the nozzle. A hot water connection, a cold water connection and a filtered water connection are provided for the body. In use, the hot and cold water can mix in a mixing chamber in the tap body and flow along the passage. Filtered water flows separately along the passage. Valves are provided to respectively control the flow of the hot, cold and filtered water. In a preferred form, a chamber allows carbonization of the filtered water prior to delivery to the tap body and the supply of CO.sub.2 gas to the chamber is controllable by a valve. The valve is operated in a first direction to inject CO.sub.2 gas into water in the chamber, and in a second direction to allow the carbonated water to flow to the nozzle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 1, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 23, 1995
Assignee:
Avilion Limited
Inventors:
Robert B. Perrin, Gregory N. Rowe, Peter R. Charters, Patrick S. Racz
Abstract: An assembly with valves (16) and (20) that permits fluid flow through the invention when the foot pedal (13) is depressed. A mechanism engaged by depressing toe kick (11) will latch pedal (13) in a position where fluid flow continues after the foot is removed. Depressing pedal (13) while the latch is engaged, causes the latch to automatically disengage. When pedal (13) is released at this time, fluid flow will stop. The assembly is designed to be installed in the cabinet (3) under a kitchen or lavatory sink (4) with all elements concealed except part of pedal (13) and part of the latch mechanism, The assembly is compact by design and is easily installed by cutting a hole for the pedal (13) in the lowest shelf of cabinet (3), securing it with screws, and routing flexible hoses from the sources of hot and cold water to the invention, and from the invention to the hot and cold water connections of a standard faucet set (5.
Abstract: The disadvantages of existing cover surrounds for wall-mounted bathroom fittings are avoided by the invention by virtue of the fact that the cover surround comprises an inner supporting plate (10) fastened to the wall (7) and an outer cover plate (11). The inner supporting plate (10) is preferably designed to be held in place by fixation means (13), while the outer cover plate (11) can be clipped over the inner supporting plate (10), thus concealing the fixation means (13) used to fasten the supporting plate (10).
Abstract: A backflow preventer used in combination with a valve that normally supplies water under pressure to a feed conduit and with an outlet device having a supply hose to which water is normally supplied under pressure has a housing forming a generally closed chamber and formed with an inlet port connected with the feed conduit and opening into the chamber, an outlet port connected to the hose and opening into the chamber directly underneath the inlet port, and a vent port having an outside exposed to ambient air and forming substantially the only direct passage between the chamber and an ambient atmosphere around the housing. A check valve in the vent port only permits flow through the port into the chamber so that air can be drawn into the chamber through the vent port when pressure in the chamber is below ambient pressure. A nozzle fitted to the inlet port directed downward along a vertical axis into the outlet port forms therewith a jet pump for transferring water from the inlet port to the outlet port.
Abstract: A vertically adjustable fixture assembly for mounting a valve and handle assembly to the exposed side of a wall or deck of a tub such as a Roman tub. The assembly comprises a hollow externally threaded receiver body adapted to receive a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe located on the hidden side of the wall or deck, and having valving means including valve stem means disposed in the portion thereof extending above the exposed side of the wall or deck. An internally threaded adapter is threadably received over the receiver body. The adapter is mounted within an opening in the wall or deck within one end of a flange, the other end of the flange being secured to the wall or deck. The adapter is free to rotate within the flange but is secured against axial or vertical movement relative to the deck or wall by the flange. Rotation of the adapter provides adjustment of the axial position of the receiver body relative to the wall or deck during mounting.
Abstract: An apparatus capable of being installed onto an existing single spout of a plumbing system wherein the spout receives tap water from valves that adjust flow rates from separate lines of hot and cold water utilizes a control valve that attaches to the single spout. The control valve is operated by a foot pedal which communicates with the control valve by a cable whose path is constrained by guides and rollers.