Foot Pedal Faucet Valve With Push and Lock Flow Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water faucet valves are hand-operated, limiting the ability to free up hands for other tasks and lacking adjustable options for different foot-operated water flow modes and flexible installation in various spaces.
Innovation Solution
A foot pedal mechanism that can be selectively positioned to control water faucet valves, offering adjustable top and bottom housings for flexible installation and allowing continuous water flow without continuous pedal depression, with positions for 'off', continuous flow, and flow only when depressed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional hand-operated faucet valve is used, then the valve can be operated, but the user's hands are occupied and cannot be used for other tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hand-operated mechanical valve with a foot-operated pedal mechanism. The pedal is connected to the valve through a linkage system that converts foot pressure into valve actuation, allowing hands-free operation while maintaining control over water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a foot pedal as an intermediary device between the user and the valve. The pedal acts as a mediator that transfers the user's foot pressure to the valve mechanism, enabling indirect control and freeing the hands for other tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a simple foot-operated valve is used, then hands-free operation is achieved, but multiple water flow modes (off, continuous, on-demand) cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic pedal mechanism that can be positioned in multiple states: released position (valve off), depressed position (valve on-demand), and locked position (valve continuous). The linkage system dynamically adjusts the valve position based on the pedal's state, enabling multiple water flow modes through a single mechanical component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pedal's range of motion into distinct positions, each corresponding to a different water flow mode. The linkage mechanism is divided into segments that can be positioned at different angles, allowing the valve to be controlled in three distinct states without requiring multiple separate controls.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed foot pedal mechanism is used, then the mechanism is simple, but it cannot accommodate different installation spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable components in the pedal mechanism, including adjustable mounting brackets and flexible linkage lengths. These dynamic elements allow the installer to configure the pedal's position, angle, and connection points to suit different installation spaces, transforming a potentially fixed mechanism into an adaptable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for parameter adjustments in the installation configuration, such as changing the mounting height, angle, and horizontal position of the pedal. The linkage arm length and connection points can be modified to accommodate various spatial constraints, enabling the same basic mechanism to be installed in diverse locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A foot pedal for actuating a water faucet valve can be selectively placed from a rest position to either a pushed position or a locked position by way of depressing the foot pedal at different locations on the foot pedal. In the rest position, the water faucet valve is closed. In the pushed position, the water faucet valve is open as long as the user continues depressing the foot pedal. In the locked position, the water faucet valve is open without the user continuously depressing the foot pedal.