Foot-actuated valves

A foot-actuated valve assembly, comprising:

• a first actuator valve connected to a fluid source, and including a spring for normally biasing the valve into the shut-off position;
• a first on-off valve connected to the first fluid-powered actuator valve and a fluid source, and including a spring for normally biasing the on-off valve into the shut-off position and means responsive to pressure of fluid received from said first actuator valve for opening said first on-off valve;
• a second actuator valve connected to a fluid source and including a spring for normally biasing the valve into the shut-off position;
• a second on-off valve connected to the second fluid-powered actuator valve and a fluid source, and including a spring for normally biasing the valve into the shut-off position and means responsive to pressure of fluid received from said second actuator valve for opening said second on-off valve;
• a first manually operable actuator plate configured upon operation for moving solely the first fluid-powered actuator valve out of the shut-off position to induce a flow of fluid through the actuator valve to the first on-off valve, the fluid moving the first on-off valve out of the shut-off position;
• and
• second manually operable actuator plate configured upon operation for moving simultaneously the first and second fluid-powered actuator valves out of the shut-off position to induce a flow of fluid through both actuator valves and to the first and second on-off valves, thereby to move the first and second on-off valves to open position.

A valve assembly, comprising:

• a normally closed first on-off valve connected to a source of a first fluid, the first on-off valve configured for opening to permit flow of said first fluid in response to a fluid signal transmitted thereto;
• a normally closed second on-off valve connected to a source of a second fluid, the second on-off valve configured for opening to permit flow of said second fluid in response to a fluid signal transmitted thereto;
• a first actuator valve operatively connected to said first on-off valve for providing a fluid signal thereto for effecting opening of said first valve to permit flow of said first fluid through the first on-off valve;
• a second actuator valve operatively connected to said first on-off valve and said second on-off valve for providing a fluid signal thereto for effecting opening of said second valve and said first valve to permit flow of the first fluid through the first on-off valve, and the second fluid through the second on-off valve;
• and
• first manually operable means for actuating solely the first actuator valve, and second manually operable means for simultaneously actuating the first and second actuator valves.

A foot-controlled valve assembly adapted for mounting in the base of a cabinet for controlling the flow of water to a basin, comprising:

• a normally closed first on-off valve connected to a cold water source;
• a normally closed second of-off valve connected to a hot water source;
• a first actuator valve for opening the first on-off valve;
• a second actuator valve for opening the first on-off valve;
• and
• a kick plate means adapted to be mounted to the base of the cabinet, the kick plate means comprising a first actuator plate operable for manually actuating solely the first actuator valve, and a second actuator plate operable for manually actuating the first and second actuator valves simultaneously.