Dual actuated spray control valve

Claim 1

A DUAL ACTUATED FLUID CONTROL VALVE FOR SPRAYERS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A VALVE BODY ADAPTED TO FORM PART OF A FLUID FLOW UNIT GRASPABLE BY THE HAND OF AN OPERATOR HAVING A PASSAGE THEREIN FOR THE FLUID; MEANS AT ONE END OF THE BODY FOR COUPLING THE VALVE TO A SPRAY NOZZLE; MEANS AT THE OTHER COUPLING THE VALVE TO A SPRAY WITH A SOURCE OF THE LIQUID TO BE SPRAYED; A VALVE MEANS SHIFTABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED AND OPEN POSITION FOR CLOSING SAID PASSAGE TO STOP THE FLUID FLOW AND FOR OPENING SAID PASSAGE TO STOP THE FLUID FLOW AND FOR OPENING SAID PASSAGE TO PERMIT THE FLUID FLOW, RESPECTIVELY; A VALVE STEM EXTENDING FROM SAID VALVE MEANS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VALVE BODY FOR PERMITTING THE ACTUATION OF VALVE MEANS BETWEEN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITION; A LEVER FOR FACILITATING THE ACTUATION OF THE VALVE STEM AND CONSEQUENTLY SAID VALVE MEANS; COUPLING MEANS COUPLING THE LEVER TO THE VALVE STEM AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SURFACE OF THE VALVE BODY TO PERMIT THE LEVER TO BE SHIFTED IN ONE DIRECTION BY THE THUMB OF THE HAND OF THE OPERATOR TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM AND TO BE SHIFTED IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM BY THE HEEL OF THE THUMB OR PALM OF THE HAND OF THE OPERATOR; PIVOTAL MEANS PROVIDED FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE LEVER ON THE OUTER END OF THE VALVE STEM; SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER ALSO PIVOTAL ON THE OUTER END OF THE VALVE STEM BY SAID PIVOTAL MEANS; SAID MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PROJECTING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LEVER UPON PIVOTING OF THE LEVER IN SUBSTANTIALLY FORWARD DIRECTION TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM AND SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A SECOND PROJECTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LEVER UPON PIVOTING THE LATTER IN A REVERSE DIRECTION ABOUT THE PIVOTAL MEANS TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM; AND SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE VALVE BODY TO SERVE AS A FULCURM TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM IN A REARWARD DIRECTION UPON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER IN A REARWARD DIRECTION ABOUT THE PIVOTAL MEANS BY THE THUMB OF THE OPERATOR; AND SIAD MEMBER HAVING A SECOND SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BODY TO SERVE AS A FULCRUM TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM IN A REARWARD DIRECTION UPON PIVOTING OF THE LEVER IN A REVERSE DIRECTION ABOUT THE PIVOTAL MEANS.