Faucet handle with angled interface

• US 10,428,497 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Davidson, Kyle R., Thomas, Kurt J., Brown, Derek A., Shaw, Ryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel, Eric
• Application Number:
  US15/387,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20170101767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/60 Handles form, features or function of taps or faucet handles for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1306 for liquids G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet assembly including a handle that rotates about a rotational axis extending perpendicular to an angled interface for adjusting a water parameter.

Claims

1. A faucet including:

a spout assembly including;

a hub defining a vertical axis,

a liquid pathway extending within the hub,

a handle attachment base extending perpendicular to the hub and defining a horizontal axis, the handle attachment base including an end having a first mounting surface; and

a water parameter control handle coupled to the handle attachment base for rotation from a first position defining a first water parameter setting and a second position defining a second water parameter setting, water parameter control handle including an end having a second mounting surface;

wherein the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface define a handle movement plane angularly oriented intermediate the vertical axis of the hub of the spout assembly and the horizontal axis of the handle attachment base of the spout assembly.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the spout assembly is electrically conductive such that a user'"'"'s touch of the spout assembly is electrically communicated to circuitry coupled to the spout assembly.

3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein rotation of the handle causes altering of the setting of a potentiometer.

4. The faucet of claim 3, wherein the potentiometer is located within the spout assembly.

5. The faucet of claim 1, further including circuitry located within the spout.

6. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the circuitry is coupled to a LED that is externally perceivable by a user of the faucet.

7. The faucet of claim 6, wherein the LED is configured to output multiple colors and the outputted color is indicative of the temperature of water being delivered by the spout assembly.

8. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the water parameter control handle comprises a temperature control handle, the first water parameter setting comprises a first temperature setting, and the second water parameter setting comprises a second temperature setting.

9. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a longitudinal axis, the handle having a first position in which the horizontal axis of the handle attachment base is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and the handle having a second position in which the horizontal axis of the handle attachment portion is co-linear with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

10. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the first position of the handle provides a “

flow off”

setting for the faucet and the second position of the handle provides a “

full hot”

setting for the faucet.