Abstract:
A water flow regulation system includes a pair of water valves having turnable stems for controlling water flow through the valves and a pair of pinions, one fixed to each of the valve stems. A toothed rack is provided which is sized and configured for engagement with the pinions. A housing supports the valves and rack with teeth of both pinions engaging the rack teeth in order that translational movement of the rack causes simultaneous rotation of the pinions with concomitant simultaneous opening and closing of the valves. A remote control and a sheathed cable interconnecting said remote control and the rack are provided for operation of the system.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/270,038, filed Jul. 3, 2009. This application is incorporated herewith in its entirety into the present application. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention is generally related to regulating water flow. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. 
         [0004]    Faucets and faucet sets are known. Some faucet sets have two separate faucet valves and a valve handle for each faucet valve, one for hot water and one for cold water, respectively. Each valve and handle controls the amount of flow of hot and cold water, respectively, and thereby controls the total flow, as well as the temperature of the water. Today, faucet sets with two faucet valves and two handles typically have only one faucet spout through which mixed hot and cold water is discharged; however, some older dual-valve faucet sets may have two faucet spouts, one for each valve and handle, respectively. Other faucet sets control both the hot water and cold water with a single faucet valve and handle that controls the amount of flow of both hot and cold water in one action, thereby controlling the total flow, as well as the temperature of the water, in one action. Faucet sets with a single faucet valve have one faucet spout, through which the mixed hot and cold water flows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    In the following drawings like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements. Although the following figures depict various examples of the invention, the invention is not limited to the examples depicted in the figures. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a sink and faucet set that has an embodiment of the invention installed within; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the activating pedal of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the activating pedal of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the control cable that connects the activating pedal to the pinion and ball valves and one of the brackets of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of one of the ball valves and the pinion of  FIG. 1  with the valve open; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of one of the ball valves and the pinion of  FIG. 1  with the valve closed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the housing and the ball valves of  FIG. 1  installed therein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic front view of another sink with a different faucet set configuration that has an embodiment of the invention installed within; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    A water flow regulator in accordance with the present invention generally includes a pair water valves having turnable stems for controlling water flow through the valves. 
         [0016]    A pair of pinions are provided with one fixed to each of the valve stems along with a toothed rack, which is sized and configured for engagement with the pinions. 
         [0017]    A housing supports the valves and the rack with the teeth of both pinions in engaging the rack teeth for enabling translational movement of the rack to cause simultaneous rotation of the pinions with the concomitant simultaneous opening and closing of the valves for controlling water flow therethrough. 
         [0018]    A remote control is provided and disposed in a spaced apart relationship with the housing along with a sheathed cable interconnecting the remote control and the rack. 
         [0019]    More particularly, the remote control may comprise a foot pedal which incorporates a spring for moving the rack, by way of the cable, to close the valve of a non-depression of the foot pedal. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, a spring may be disposed in the housing and interconnected with a distal end of the cable for moving the rack to close the valve upon release of the foot pedal. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a pair of water valves having turnable stems for controlling water flow through the valves are provided with the stems being coaxially joined for enabling simultaneous rotation thereof. A housing supports the water valves and a lever is attached to the joined stem for simultaneous rotation of the stems. 
         [0022]    A remote control is disposed in a spaced apart relationship with the housing and a sheathed cable interconnects the remote control and the lever. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the remote control is a foot pedal which may incorporate a spring for moving the lever via the cable to close the valve upon non-depression of the foot pedal. 
         [0024]    Alternatively, a spring may be disposed on the housing and interconnected with the lever for moving the lever to close the valve upon release of the foot pedal. 
         [0025]    In either embodiment of the present invention, the valves may be ball valves. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Although various embodiments of the invention may have been motivated by various deficiencies with the prior art, which may be discussed or alluded to in one or more places in the specification, the embodiments of the invention do not necessarily address any of these deficiencies. In other words, different embodiments of the invention may address different deficiencies that may be discussed in the specification. Some embodiments may only partially address some deficiencies or just one deficiency that may be discussed in the specification, and some embodiments may not address any of these deficiencies. 
         [0027]    Faucet sets are mentioned in many places in the remainder of this specification. Some examples of faucet sets include, but are not limited to, any water delivery plumbing device comprised of a single faucet valve and handle or a dual faucet value and two handles, plus one or more faucet spouts. For the purpose of this specification, any and all faucet sets may be referred to in the singular as a faucet. In the remainder of this specification, faucet sets may also be referred to simply as faucets. In addition, faucet spouts are mentioned in many places in the remainder of this specification. Examples of faucet spouts include, but are not limited to, a spout, spigot, bibb, bibcock, hydrant, nozzle, stopcock, tap, valve, or other outlet for water. In the remainder of this specification, faucet spouts may also be referred to simply as spouts. 
         [0028]    A sink or other container is provided with a user-controlled flow control device (“flow control device” or “FDC”) in addition to a faucet that controls the temperature and flow rate of the water issuing from the faucet spout. The flow control device may be mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, or a combination of mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic. The flow control device affects only the flow after the temperature of the water, which is a ratio of hot water to cold water, and the flow rate have been initially selected or subsequently readjusted by the user of the faucet. The activator of the flow control device could be an additional knob on the faucet, a foot, knee, waist, or thigh pedal, push bar, or button, and/or a photo or voice sensor, or some other activator device, mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, or otherwise. For example, the activator may be a button that is pressed with the toe or sole of the foot; or a pressure bar at the front of the sink which can be activated with the knee, hip, or stomach; or by a photoelectric or motion-sensing device; or by a voice-activated device. (For the purpose of this specification, the word “actuator” is used interchangeably to represent any or all of the aforementioned activator devices. Moreover, anywhere in the specification where the word “pedal” appears, any of the other actuators may be specified to obtain another embodiment.) In an embodiment, the default position of the flow control device is “off,” i.e., when the user has not activated the flow control device, or has ceased to activate the flow control device, no water flows through the faucet. 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, the user first opens the valves in the flow control device by activating the actuator. With the flow control device now “on,” the user then sets the desired temperature and maximum flow rate by adjusting the amount of hot and cold water at the faucet. After the user has initially set, or has readjusted, the water temperature and flow, the flow control device allows the user to shut off the flow of water partially or completely without again touching the faucet by ceasing to activate, or by only partially activating, the actuator. When the user wishes to restore water flow, or to increase water flow by any amount up to the full amount set at the faucet, he or she engages the FDC actuator, which then “recalls” the temperature and maximum flow rate (or a portion thereof) to which the faucet had been previously set. 
         [0030]    For example, if the user wishes to rinse a stack of dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, he or she would only need to initially turn on the water at the faucet to the desired temperature and flow while activating the flow control device to “on.” The user rinses the first dish, then ceases to activate the flow control device, which turns the flow control device “off,” which in-turn blocks the water flow to the faucet, as he or she places the dish in the dishwasher. To rinse the second dish, the user again activates the flow control device, and again water flows from the faucet at the user&#39;s desired pre-set flow and temperature. Again, while the user is placing the second dish in the dishwasher, he or she ceases to activate the flow control device and the water flow is again interrupted. The ability to turn the faucet on repeatedly at the same pre-set temperature and flow is in contrast to other pedal-type water faucets that merely substitute pedals for hand faucets. In other words, the flow control device facilitates repetitive use of the faucet at the desired flow and temperature consistently, conveniently, and easily. Also, current pedal-faucets have no ability, or only a limited ability, to make fine adjustments to the temperature or flow, thereby rendering current pedal faucets largely unsuitable for household or commercial kitchen and bathroom sinks. 
         [0031]    Installation of the flow control device is easy and obvious, generally requiring only a wrench and screwdriver for flexible water pipes and little or no plumbing skills. For example, in a typical residential environment, the installer opens the under-sink cabinet to access the current water pipes, shuts the hot and cold water off at their respective shut-off valves, unscrews and removes the existing water pipes, screws the FDC housing onto the back wall of the under-sink cabinet, and connects new flexible water pipes from the shut-off valves to the faucet control device and from the faucet control device to the faucet. The installer then attached the cable to the rack in the flow control device and secures the cable to the walls of the cabinet so that the cable then emerges at the front of the cabinet or elsewhere at the place where the actuator will be positioned. The installer attaches the actuator to the cabinet (typically in the toe-space below the cabinet) or as elsewhere desired and then attaches the cable to the actuator. If required, the installer adjusts the travel of the cable and rack by moving the cotter pin, which attaches the cable to the rack, to one of several different positions on the rack, and/or replaces the pinions on the flow control device with different size pinions. After testing the system, the installation process is complete. After installation, the flow control device is easily accessible to the user, if, for example, the user wishes to install a new sink and/or faucet. In a commercial environment where flexible pipes are being used, the under-sink area is frequently not enclosed in a cabinet, making installation of the flow control device that much easier. Some level of expert plumbing knowledge would be necessary only in situations in which rigid water pipes are in use. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the flow control device is installed on paired hot and cold water pipes that supply water to a faucet. In an embodiment, as soon as the FDC actuator is released, the water flow stops. Consequently, water is conserved, because as soon as the user ceases to activate the flow control device, water usage ceases. Alternatively, water can also be conserved when the user only partially activates the flow control device, which results in less than the pre-set maximum flow rate passing through the flow control device to the faucet. 
         [0033]    The flow control device may be installed at any point along the water pipes that supply the faucet, so long as the flow control device is installed on both water pipes, hot and cold, that supply the faucet. Alternatively, the flow control device may be installed on a single pipe that contains both hot and cold water after the hot and cold water has been mixed. In an embodiment in which the flow control device is installed on both pipes, if the pipes are close enough together, a single flow control device may be used to control the flow of the water through both pipes. In contrast, if the pipes are separated by some distance, rendering use of a single flow control device impractical, two separate flow control devices can be installed, one on each water pipe, and both flow control devices may be connected to the same actuator or be otherwise coordinated to open and close together. Flexible or rigid water pipes may be used to connect the flow control device to the water shut-off valves, and to connect the flow control device to the faucet; however, as noted above, using rigid pipe typically requires a higher level of expertise and more time to install. The FCD actuator may be any device that activates the flow control device, thereby opening the valves and permitting water to flow. Examples include, but are not limited to: A foot pedal installed in the toe-space under a sink on which the user steps; a lever activated by moving the foot to the side, applying lateral pressure to the lever; or any of the other actuators described above. In an embodiment, the actuator may be responsive to different pressures, enabling the user to control flow by applying different amounts of pressure or otherwise activating the actuator only partially. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a sink  10  that has a flow control device embodiment 14 of the invention installed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , as a user (not shown) depresses a foot pedal  18 , the foot pedal  18  pulls on a sheathered cable  22 , which in turn pulls on the rack  26 . As the rack  26  moves, a pinions  30  coupled therewith rotate, thereby opening or closing both the hot and cold water valves by way of stems  38 , see also  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The length and positioning of the rack  26 , and the identical size of the pinions  30 , assures that both valves  34  will be opened and closed functionally simultaneously and functionally to the same degree. 
         [0035]    The diameters of the pinions  30  may be close enough to one another so that one rack  26  may be used to functionally fully open and functionally fully close both ball valves  34  functionally simultaneously and functionally to the same degree. The diameters of the pinions  30  may be the same within typical industrial tolerances. The valves  34  are functionally fully closed when no water leaks from a faucet spout  42  ( FIG. 1 ) and are functionally fully opened when the water flows unrestricted through the valves  34 . In an embodiment 14, moving the rack  26  six teeth  46  to the left turns the pinion  30  so as to turn the ball valve stems  38  a quarter-turn to the right, fully opening the valves  34 ; moving the rack six teeth  46  to the left (the default position, effectuated a springs  50 ) turns the ball valve stems  38  a quarter-turn to the left, fully closing the valves  34 . In this embodiment 14, the rack  26  is, or the pinions  30  are, mechanically biased to hold the valves  34  in a closed position unless and until the actuator foot pedal  18  is activated. The cable  22  functions in a manner similar to the brake cable on a bicycle (not shown). In this embodiment 14, the flow control device  14  translates the rectilinear motion of the cable  22  and rack into the rotary motion of the pinions  30  and ball valve stems  38 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2A  shows a schematic view of the pedal  18  of  FIG. 1 . The pedal  18  of  FIG. 2A  includes a V-shaped piece of metal  54  that pivots on an axis  56  at the apex of the V (which is at the bend in the metal  54 ). A foot pedal spring  60  pulls the metal  54  towards the sink  10 , elevating the portion  62  on which the user steps and which is the pedal  18  default (resting) position. 
         [0037]    As the pedal  18  is depressed, the pedal  18  rotates away from the sink  10  and the cable  22  is pulled away from a FCD  14  housing  66 , pulling the rack  26  to the left in the configurations of the drawings in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 , which, in turn, rotates the pinions  30  in the direction to open the valves  34 . When the pedal  18  is released, the spring  60  in the pedal  18  pulls the pedal  18  back to its default (resting) position, which pushes the cable  22  back towards the FCD  14  housing  66 , which pushes the rack  26  to the right in the configurations of drawings in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 , to the rack  26  original position which, in turn, rotates the pinions  30  in the direction to close the valves  34 . 
         [0038]    Alternatively, or in conjunction with the spring  60  in the pedal  18 , a spring  70  attached to a distal end  72  of the rack  26  in the configurations of the drawings in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5  and to the FDC housing  66  pulls the rack  26  to the right in the configurations of the drawings in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 , to return to the rack  26  original position, which, in turn, rotates the pinions  30  in an opposite direction, to recluse the valves. The springs  50 ,  70  bias the pedal  18  to return to and remain in the pedal  18  elevated position, which also maintains the valves  34  in their closed position, the default position of the flow control device. The spring  70  attached to the rack  26  supplements or replaces the spring  50  at the pedal  18  to bias the pedal  18  to return to and remain in the pedal  18  elevated position, which also maintains the valves  34  in their closed position, the default position of the flow control device  14 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2B  shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a pedal  74 . The pedal  74  is supported by a spring  76  and is hinged  80  to a second component  82  that has its other end in a track  84  below the pedal  74 . The other end of the second component  82  is also connected by a hinge to a third component  86  that is also in the track  84  and which extends upwards out of the track  84 . The cable  22  is attached to the third component  86 . As the pedal  74  is depressed (e.g., by a person&#39;s foot), the hinged second component  82  slides forward in the track  84 , thereby moving away from the sink (not shown in  FIG. 2B ). 
         [0040]      FIG. 2C  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a portion of the cable  22  and one of the brackets  90  of  FIG. 1 . The brackets  90  screw  92  into the walls  94  of the cabinet  10  to hold the cable  22  in place. The cable  22  easily bends, which permits it to be fastened to any wall  94  of an under-sink cabinet  10 , which, in turn, permits the user to install the flow control device  14  in a manner that does not reduce or compromise the storage capacity of the under-sink cabinet  10 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3A  shows a schematic view of one of the ball valves  34  and the pinion  30  of  FIG. 1  with the valve open. The ball  98  is seated in a ball housing  100 . The ball  98  is rotated within the ball housing  100  by the stem  38  connected to a removable pinion  30 . The ball  98  and the ball housing  100  are fabricated with channels of functionally identical diameter. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3B  shows a schematic view of one of the ball valves  34  with the valve closed. When the ball  98  is rotated so that the channel in the ball  98  is not aligned with a channel  102  in the ball housing, as shown in  FIG. 3B , all water is functionally blocked from flowing through the ball valve  34  and the flow control device  14 , and no water flows from the faucet  42 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the housing  66  containing the ball valves  34  of  FIG. 1 . Four screws  116  may be used to screw the housing  66  to a wall (not shown). The ball valves  34  are held in place in the housing  66  by nuts  108  that tighten down on the outside of the housing  66  to threaded nipples  110  that are part of the ball housings  100 . Two top springs  112  are located above the two pinions  30 , and push a track  114  within which the rack  26  slides, against the pinions  30 . The two top springs  112  hold the rack  26  in positive contact with the pinions  30  to ensure that the flow control device functions properly, and, in addition, so that more than one size pinion  30  may be used. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a schematic front view of another installed of the embodiment 14.  FIG. 5A  differs from  FIG. 1  in that  FIG. 1  has a single-valve/single-handle faucet set for controlling the hot and cold water, whereas the sink of  FIG. 5A  has a dual-valve/dual-handle faucet set for controlling the hot and cold water. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 5B and 5C  is a schematic front view of other installation of the embodiment 14.  FIG. 5B  differs from  FIG. 1  in two ways: First,  FIG. 1  has a single-valve/single-handle faucet set  42  for controlling the hot and cold water, whereas the sink of  FIG. 5B  has a dual-valve/dual-handle faucet set  116  for controlling the hot and cold water. Second, in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the flow control device is rotated 90° counterclockwise, the foot pedal  18  is placed directly under the flow control device  14 , and the cable  22  is shortened. (Foreshortening does not permit the drawing to show the bend in the cable at the back wall of the under-sink cabinet.)  FIG. 5C  shows elbows  120  to facilitate installation. 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment 126 in accordance with the present invention schematically showing a pair of water valves  128  having turnable stems  130  coaxially joined to enabling simultaneous rotation thereof by a lever  132 . A housing  134  is provided for supporting both the water valves  126  and the stems. 
         [0047]    A remote control apparatus such as foot pedal  18  (not shown with  FIG. 6 ) is provided along with a sheathed cable for movement of the lever  132 , rotation of the stems  130  and simultaneous control of water through the valves  126 . Springs  138  function in identical manner to the springs  50 ,  70  hereinabove described in biasing the lever  132  into a position closing the valves  128  when the actuating foot pedal  15  is not depressed. 
         [0048]    Although there has been hereinabove described a specific regulating water flow in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.