Cabinet Door Operated Faucet Valve

Abstract

A manifold containing a set of hydraulically operated valves, interposed between a water supply line and an existing faucet and actuated by one or more pilot valves mounted on the sink cabinet door frame or in toe kick area of a cabinet, will provide instantaneous control of water flow from an existing sink faucet. The controlling pilot valves are easily mounted on the cabinet door frame or in the form of pressure sensitive valves mounted to the toe kick area of the cabinet. Slight knee pressure on the door or a gentle toe pressure on these controlling pilot valves opens the valves manifold and water flow through the faucet.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An automatic control system for a faucet of a sink comprising:
 a valve manifold adapted to be disposed beneath said sink, inside a cabinet frame having a pair hinged doors mounted thereon, said valve manifold having a plurality of supply inlet ports adapted to communicate with hot and cold water supply lines, a plurality of supply outlet ports adapted to communicate with hot and cold water faucet connecting lines for delivering hot and cold water to the faucet of said sink, and a pair of hydraulically actuated valves and a dual check valve connected in parallel for controlling the flow of water to said supply outlet ports, a first of said hydraulically actuated valves adapted to control hot water flow and a second of said hydraulically actuated valves adapted to control cold water flow where each of said hydraulically actuated valves adapted to communicate hydraulically with the inlet port of at least one normally closed pilot valve;   at least one hydraulically actuated valve is adapted to selectively complete the communication between said valve and the normally closed pilot valve inlet port, whereby, upon completion of said communication, said valve manifold simultaneously opens to allow the flow of water to the faucet;   at least one pilot valve including a latching valve that upon being activated the first time maintains completion of the communication between said valve and at least one hydraulically actuated valve; and   a second pilot valve in connection with said valve manifold being a momentarily non-latching valve and being separate from said latching valve for separate activation, wherein:
 each of said doors are in communication with a respective one of said pilot valves, whereby either of said pilot valves is activated by applying pressure to an associated one of said doors; 
 each of said pilot valve output ports adapted to communicate with the inlet port of a dual check valve adapted to allow water connection between pilot valve output ports and at least one valve manifold faucet output ports; and 
 said valve manifold includes a diversionary valve adapted to allow water in said valve manifold to bypass at least one hydraulically actuate-able valve and flow to at least one of the hot or cold water faucet connecting lines. 
   
     
     
         2 . The automatic control system of  claim 1 , wherein said manifold valve includes a manually operable diversionary valve. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic control system of  claim 1 , wherein said manifold valve includes a dual check valve in communication with at least one valve manifold output port and a pilot valve output port. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic control system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said valve manifold is adapted to be disposed beneath said sink inside a cabinet frame having a pair of hinged doors mounted thereon;   at least one pilot valve adapted to be mounted to the cabinet frame;   at least one of said doors including an internal surface facing the inside of the cabinet and adapted to contact at least one pilot valve when at least one door is substantially closed; and   at least one pilot valve adapted to be activated by the internal surface of at least one door when pressure is applied to an external surface of at least one door.   
     
     
         5 . The automatic control system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one pilot valve includes a latching pilot valve that upon being activated the first time maintains completion of the communication of said fluid and said valve block until the pilot valve is reactivated. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic control system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one pilot valve includes a momentarily non-latching valve.