Automated water shut-off valve

1. A water leak detection and control device for interrupting undesirable water discharge, said device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of monolithically formed walls sized and shaped for fitting adjacent a water-activated appliance, selected ones of said walls being provided with inlet and outlet ports respectively wherein said inlet port introduces water into said housing and said outlet port directs water away from said housing, said housing comprising

a coupling in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports,

means for detecting a fluctuation in water pressure as water is passed through said housing,

means for selectively prohibiting water from exiting said outlet port, said prohibiting means cooperating with said detecting means such that a supply of water can be automatically interrupted and reinstated when a predetermined event occurs respectively,

means for providing an audible notification to a user when the water supply is toggled between interrupted and reinstated modes, and

means for manually controlling said prohibiting means, said manually controlling means being electrically coupled to said prohibiting means for allowing the user to manually control a volume of water passing through said housing, wherein the predetermined event can be manually reset as desired by the user.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said detecting means comprises:

a sensor positioned on a top surface of said coupling and partially extending downwardly therethrough in such a manner that said sensor intersects a flow path of the water medially between said inlet and outlet ports;

a processor electrically mated to said sensor; and

a memory electrically mated to said processor, said memory bearing software instructions for enabling said device to perform predetermined operations including the steps of:

determining a time interval in which a volume of water has been transferred between said inlet port and outlet port, and

generating and transmitting a control signal to said processor for instructing said processor to toggle said prohibiting means to a closed position when the time interval extends beyond a predetermined threshold.

3. The device of claim 2 , said prohibiting means comprising: an electrically operable valve housed within said coupling and located downstream of said sensor.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein said audible notification means comprises:

a control circuit electrically mated to said processor; and

a speaker electrically mated to said control circuit wherein said speaker transmits an audible message when said electric valve is toggled between open and closed positions.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein said manually controlling means comprises:

a timer and a timer control electrically coupled thereto;

a display screen connected to one said walls of said housing; and

a reset button electrically coupled to said processor such that the user can manually reset said timer by viewing said display screen in such a manner that a volume of water is allowed to flow through said coupling during emergency situations.

6. A water leak detection and control device for interrupting undesirable water discharge, said device comprising:

a housing having a plurality of monolithically formed walls sized and shaped for fitting adjacent a water-activated appliance, selected ones of said walls being provided with inlet and outlet ports respectively wherein said inlet port introduces water into said housing and said outlet port directs water away from said housing, said housing comprising

a coupling in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports,

means for detecting a fluctuation in water pressure as water is passed through said housing,

means for selectively prohibiting water from exiting said outlet port, said prohibiting means cooperating with said detecting means such that a supply of water can be automatically interrupted and reinstated when a predetermined event occurs respectively,

means for providing an audible notification to a user when the water supply is toggled between interrupted and reinstated modes,

means for manually controlling said prohibiting means, said manually controlling means being electrically coupled to said prohibiting means for allowing the user to manually control a volume of water passing through said housing, wherein the predetermined event can be manually reset as desired by the user,

an internal power source supplying power to said detecting means and said prohibiting means and said manually controlling means, and

a diode operably attached to said housing and being illuminable when said internal power supply source reaches a minimum threshold level.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein said detecting means comprises:

a sensor positioned on a top surface of said coupling and partially extending downwardly therethrough in such a manner that said sensor intersects a flow path of the water medially between said inlet and outlet ports;

a processor electrically mated to said sensor; and

a memory electrically mated to said processor, said memory bearing software instructions for enabling said device to perform predetermined operations including the steps of:

determining a time interval in which a volume of water has been transferred between said inlet port and outlet port, and

generating and transmitting a control signal to said processor for instructing said processor to toggle said prohibiting means to a closed position when the time interval extends beyond a predetermined threshold.

8. The device of claim 7 , said prohibiting means comprising: an electrically operable valve housed within said coupling and located downstream of said sensor.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein said audible notification means comprises:

a control circuit electrically mated to said processor; and

a speaker electrically mated to said control circuit wherein said speaker transmits an audible message when said electric valve is toggled between open and closed positions.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein said manually controlling means comprises:

a timer and a timer control electrically coupled thereto;

a display screen connected to one said walls of said housing; and

a reset button electrically coupled to said processor such that the user can manually reset said timer by viewing said display screen in such a manner that a volume of water is allowed to flow through said coupling during emergency situations.

11. A water leak detection and control device for interrupting undesirable water discharge, said device comprising:

a housing having cubic shape and a plurality of monolithically formed walls sized and shaped for fitting adjacent a water-activated appliance, selected ones of said walls being provided with inlet and outlet ports respectively wherein said inlet port introduces water into said housing and said outlet port directs water away from said housing, said housing comprising

a coupling in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports,

means for detecting a fluctuation in water pressure as water is passed through said housing,

means for selectively prohibiting water from exiting said outlet port, said prohibiting means cooperating with said detecting means such that a supply of water can be automatically interrupted and reinstated when a predetermined event occurs respectively,

means for providing an audible notification to a user when the water supply is toggled between interrupted and reinstated modes,

means for manually controlling said prohibiting means, said manually controlling means being electrically coupled to said prohibiting means for allowing the user to manually control a volume of water passing through said housing, wherein the predetermined event can be manually reset as desired by the user,

an internal power source supplying power to said detecting means and said prohibiting means and said manually controlling means, and

a diode operably attached to said housing and being illuminable when said internal power supply source reaches a minimum threshold level.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein said detecting means comprises:

a sensor positioned on a top surface of said coupling and partially extending downwardly therethrough in such a manner that said sensor intersects a flow path of the water medially between said inlet and outlet ports;

a processor electrically mated to said sensor; and

a memory electrically mated to said processor, said memory bearing software instructions for enabling said device to perform predetermined operations including the steps of:

determining a time interval in which a volume of water has been transferred between said inlet port and outlet port, and

generating and transmitting a control signal to said processor for instructing said processor to toggle said prohibiting means to a closed position when the time interval extends beyond a predetermined threshold.

13. The device of claim 12 , said prohibiting means comprising: an electrically operable valve housed within said coupling and located downstream of said sensor.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein said audible notification means comprises:

a control circuit electrically mated to said processor; and

a speaker electrically mated to said control circuit wherein said speaker transmits an audible message when said electric valve is toggled between open and closed positions.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein said manually controlling means comprises:

a timer and a timer control electrically coupled thereto;

a display screen connected to one said walls of said housing; and

a reset button electrically coupled to said processor such that the user can manually reset said timer by viewing said display screen in such a manner that a volume of water is allowed to flow through said coupling during emergency situations.