Front flow lavatory

Abstract

A lavatory is disclosed which dispenses water from its front side. The lavatory comprises a single body with a concavity for receiving water and a faucet port on the front side through which water may flow into the concavity. A solenoid valve, which is located underneath the sink body, receives water from a water supply and, when actuated, supplies water to the concavity of the sink body via the faucet port. Actuation of the solenoid valve is effected by one or more proximity switches which detect when a user is in proximity to the front side of the lavatory. The lavatory may also comprise a mixer valve which is located underneath the sink body and which is interposed between the water supply and the solenoid valve. The mixer valve functions to receive hot and cold water inputs from the water supply, to combine those hot and cold water inputs and to the combined hot and cold water to the solenoid valve.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 250,451 filed Oct. 9, 2009.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is directed to a lavatory which dispenses water from the front of the lavatory.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Traditional lavatories have been composed of a concavity, eg., a basin, which is installed in or which is part of a countertop. Faucet sets are utilized to provide water to the lavatory, and these faucet sets have routinely been installed on the rearward portion of the deck surface of the countertop or they protrude through wall near the rearward portion of the lavatory. Thus, in order for a person to utilize the lavatory, he / she is required to reach across the concavity of the lavatory to turn on the water. Traditional lavatories thus present difficulties for small children and the handicapped to use. Moreove...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a lavatory that dispenses water from its front side. The lavatory includes a sink body with a concavity for receiving water and a faucet port on its front side through which water may flow into the concavity. A solenoid valve is located underneath the sink body for supplying water from the water supply to the concavity of the sink body via the faucet port. The lavatory also includes at least one proximity switch for actuating the solenoid valve when a user is in proximity to the front side of the lavatory. The water supply provides both hot and cold water and the lavatory further includes a mixer valve which is interposed between the water supply and the solenoid valve, to combine the hot and cold water inputs and feed the combined hot and cold water to the solenoid valve for delivery to the faucet port. The lavatory also includes a drain port to allow drainage of the water in the concavity and an overflow port to permit drainage of water from the concavity when the height of the water in the concavity reaches the overflow port."

Problems solved by technology

Traditional lavatories thus present difficulties for small children and the handicapped to use.

Moreover, cleaning around the faucet sets of traditional lavatories has been somewhat of a nuisance.

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