Connector for an electronic faucet

• US 10,113,739 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Schneider, II, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Baker, Lori
• Application Number:
  US15/400,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20180195711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 4619, 4623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0401 Fixing a tap to the sanitary appliance or to an associated mounting surface, e.g. a countertop
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

A connector for an electronic faucet including a light source. The connector includes a socket and is configured to distinguish between an electrically conductive plug and an electrically non-conductive plug for controlling activation of the light source.

Claims

1. An electronic faucet comprising:

a first faucet component supported on a first side of a mounting member, the first faucet component including a water outlet;

a light outlet operably coupled to the first faucet component and positioned on the first side of the mounting member;

a second faucet component supported on a second side of the mounting member, the second faucet component including a connector having a socket, and a first light source operably coupled to the connector for emitting light into the socket; and

a light pipe including an optical plug having an inlet opening in communication with the first light source, and an outlet opening in communication with the light outlet.

2. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the socket includes a plug detecting contact, and the first light source is deactivated when the plug detecting contact detects that the plug is electrically conductive.

3. The electronic faucet of claim 2, further comprising a second light source supported on the first side of the mounting member, and an electrical cable coupled to the second light source, wherein in a first mode of operation the first light source is activated, and in a second mode of operation the second light source is activated.

4. The electronic faucet of claim 3, wherein the socket includes a ground contact and a power contact, wherein the plug provides electrical communication between the plug detecting contact and the ground contact in the second mode of operation.

5. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the first faucet component comprises a delivery spout.

6. The electronic faucet of claim 5, further comprising a base ring supported below the delivery spout and above the mounting member, the base ring including a lens operably coupled to the light outlet.

7. The electronic faucet of claim 5, wherein the second faucet component includes a controller and an electrically operable valve coupled to the controller to control fluid flow through the water outlet.

8. The electronic faucet of claim 7, further comprising a sensor operably coupled to the controller and configured to provide a signal to the controller, the processor of the controller configured to at least one of open or close the electrically operably valve based on the signal provided by the sensor.

9. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the first light source is configured to provide an indication of at least one of an operating mode of the faucet, or a parameter of the water discharged from the water outlet.

10. An electronic faucet comprising:

a delivery spout;

a fluid supply conduit supported by the delivery spout and including a water outlet;

a connector including a socket;

a light source operably coupled to the socket and configured to supply light to the socket;

a light outlet operably coupled to the delivery spout;

a conduit in communication with the light source, wherein the conduit is one of an electrical cable including an electrically conductive plug, or a light pipe including an electrically non-conductive plug with an inlet opening; and

wherein the socket includes a plug detecting contact configured to detect which of the electrically conductive plug and the electrically non-conductive plug is received within the socket, and activation of the light source is controlled in response thereto.

11. The electronic faucet of claim 10, wherein the light source is coupled to the socket below the sink deck.

12. The electronic faucet of claim 11, further comprising a base ring supported below the delivery spout and above the mounting member, the base ring including a lens operably coupled to the light outlet.

13. The electronic faucet of claim 10, wherein the light source is coupled to the spout above the sink deck.

14. The electronic faucet of claim 13, further comprising a base ring supported below the delivery spout and above the mounting member, the base ring including a light emitting diode and a lens operably coupled to the light outlet.

15. The electronic faucet of claim 10, wherein the socket includes a first power contact in electrical communication with the controller and the light source.

16. The electronic faucet of claim 15, further comprising a second light source, wherein the socket includes a second power contact in electrical communication with the controller and the second light source, and a ground contact in electrical communication with the controller and the second light source.

17. The electronic faucet of claim 16, wherein the socket includes a ground contact in electrical communication with the controller and the light source.

18. A connector for an electronic faucet, the connector comprising:

a housing defining a socket and a light inlet;

a plug detecting contact received within the socket and configured to distinguish between an electrically conductive plug and an electrically non-conductive plug received within the socket;

a first power contact is received within the socket and configured to supply power to the electrically conductive plug; and

a light source in communication with the light inlet opening.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

20. The connector of claim 18, further comprising a second power contact received within the socket and configured to supply power to the electrically conductive plug.

21. The connector of claim 18, wherein the light source is configured to provide an indication of at least one of an operating mode of the faucet, or a parameter of the water discharged from the water outlet.

22. A method of operating an electronic faucet, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a light outlet;

providing a connector including a socket, and a first light source operably coupled to the socket;

deactivating the first light source by inserting an electrically conductive plug of a wire into the socket; and

activating the first light source by inserting an electrically non-conductive plug of a light pipe into the socket.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first light source is positioned below a mounting deck.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein light from the first light source transmits light through the light pipe to the light outlet.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of providing a second light source, and activating the second light source by inserting the electrically conductive plug into the socket.