On-off snap action water and energy saving valve attachment for sink spout

Claim 1

An attachment for use between a sink spout and the non-splash aerator for said spout, said attachment comprising: a casing having a generally longitudinal axis; means, including a passageway along said longitudinal axis, for operatively connecting said sink spout to said non-splash aerator; a partial partition across said passageway dividing said passageway into a first chamber and a second chamber; the side of said partition closer to said spout defining a valve seat; valve means in said first chamber adapted to seat against said valve seat; spring means for normally biasing said valve means against said valve seat, whereby, when said valve means is seated, the said passageway is interrupted and water cannot flow from said spout to said aerator; snap action means for lifting said valve means from said valve seat, whereby, when said valve means is lifted, water can flow through said passageway from said spout to said aerator; said snap action means comprises a horizontally positioned shaft through said casing positioned below said valve seat; said shaft having a cam surface located substantially centrally and having an operating surface in abutment with a bottom portion of the valve means whereby said valve means may be upset from said valve seat when in one mode and said shaft having a cam surface that permits the valve means to reside in said valve seat in another operative mode.