Liquid dispensing faucet with pull-to-open valve element

A faucet for dispensing liquid, said faucet comprising:

• a body including an inner end adapted to be connected to an associated liquid container and including an outer end comprising a liquid spout for dispensing liquid, said body including a flow passage that extends from an inlet located in said inner end of said body to an outlet located in said spout;
• said body further comprising a valve chamber therein and defined by part of said flow passage, said valve chamber located between said inlet and said outlet such that said valve chamber separates said flow passage into an inlet portion located between said inlet and said valve chamber and an outlet portion located between said valve chamber and said outlet;
• said body further comprising a valve seat located in said valve chamber and a valve chamber access opening that communicates with the valve chamber;
• a bonnet connected to the body and covering the access opening, said bonnet comprising a bonnet aperture therein;
• a valve assembly that controls flow of liquid through the valve chamber, said valve assembly comprising:
• (i) a valve element selectively movable between a seated position in which the valve element is engaged with the valve seat to block liquid flow past the valve seat, and an unseated position in which the valve element is disengaged from the valve seat to allow liquid flow past the valve seat;
• (ii) a valve stem that extends through the bonnet aperture and that comprises an inner end operably connected to the valve element and an outer end located external to the body;
• a handle operably connected to the outer end of the valve stem, said handle movable linearly in a first direction from a retracted position to an extended position;
• a spring operably engaged with the valve element and biasing the valve element toward its retracted position;
• a reaction structure located adjacent the handle and adapted to be engaged by a user during movement of the handle from its retracted position toward its extended position;
• wherein said valve element is selectively moved from its seated position to its unseated position by manual linear movement of the handle in a first direction from its retracted position toward its extended position, said movement of said handle in said first direction inducing movement of the valve stem and valve element in the first direction.