Mechanical touch faucet
First Claim
1. A touch faucet device for coupling to a pressurized fluid supply comprising:
- a faucet with touch plate and an outlet; and
a mechanical membrane valve having a first position and a second position, said mechanical membrane valve blocking fluid flow from the pressurized fluid supply in the first position and allowing fluid flow from the pressurized fluid supply through the outlet in the second position, said mechanical membrane valve being urged into the first position by a spring; and
an activator mechanism comprising a ball cage attached to said touch plate, said ball cage controlling the position of a ball between an open position and a closed position, where in the closed position the ball blocks a channel positioned downstream of said mechanical membrane valve and the flow of said fluid through said device, and where in the open position the ball moves away from the channel and said fluid flows through said channel, said actuator mechanism actuated by depression of said touch plate by a user to selectively open and close the channel positioned downstream of said mechanical membrane valve;
wherein movement of said mechanical membrane valve from the first position to the second position is controlled by actuation of said activator mechanism to open the channel thereby allowing the mechanical membrane valve to compress the spring.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inventive touch faucet device for coupling to a pressurized fluid supply is provided that includes a faucet with a depressible touch surface segment and an outlet, where a mechanical touch mechanism is actuated by the touch surface, and induces a fluid flow from the pressurized fluid supply through the outlet in response to a user depression of the touch surface segment. The touch faucet device may further include a mixing valve for control of fluid temperature and flow rate. The mechanical touch mechanism in embodiments of the inventive touch faucet device includes an activation knob in an activator mechanism that is actuated by pressure applied by the touch surface, and a hydraulic valve in mechanical communication with the activator mechanism, the activator mechanism controlling the hydraulic valve.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A touch faucet device for coupling to a pressurized fluid supply comprising:
-
a faucet with touch plate and an outlet; and a mechanical membrane valve having a first position and a second position, said mechanical membrane valve blocking fluid flow from the pressurized fluid supply in the first position and allowing fluid flow from the pressurized fluid supply through the outlet in the second position, said mechanical membrane valve being urged into the first position by a spring; and an activator mechanism comprising a ball cage attached to said touch plate, said ball cage controlling the position of a ball between an open position and a closed position, where in the closed position the ball blocks a channel positioned downstream of said mechanical membrane valve and the flow of said fluid through said device, and where in the open position the ball moves away from the channel and said fluid flows through said channel, said actuator mechanism actuated by depression of said touch plate by a user to selectively open and close the channel positioned downstream of said mechanical membrane valve; wherein movement of said mechanical membrane valve from the first position to the second position is controlled by actuation of said activator mechanism to open the channel thereby allowing the mechanical membrane valve to compress the spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
-
-
11. The device of 10 wherein said activation knob further comprises a flexing actuating arm in mechanical communication with said gear teeth that advances said cam in ninety degree increments for every depression by the user of said touch plate.
Specification