Dispensing apparatus with in-line actuator

A dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a valve having an inlet receiving liquid from a liquid source and an outlet directing said liquid to a dispensing source, the valve including a valve seat disposed between the inlet and the outlet and defining a flow axis through the valve seat and a main operator movable from a closed position restricting flow through the valve seat to an open position permitting flow through the valve seat, the main operator including a valve element including a diaphragm and a plunger engageable with said diaphragm;
• actuator means including a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion and carrying a magnetic element disposed about the plunger for moving the plunger from the closed position to the open position by magnetic attraction, the frame moving said plunger in the same direction as said frame when an upward force is applied to one of said upper and lower frame portions;
• and
• the frame upper portion carrying the magnetic element and including a handle portion offset from the magnetic element and providing one means of manually raising the magnet and opening the valve, and the frame lower portion being connected to the upper portion and providing another means of raising the magnet and opening the valve by the upward application of a container to the lower portion.