Plumbing fixture with user interface

• US 10,501,915 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2018
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Original Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Inventors: Peel, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jellett, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US15/995,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20180274215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/24 incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/24 Applying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/006 Arrangements or methods for cleaning or refurbishing water conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/074 Arrangement of water treatment devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/078 Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/02 Plumbing installations for fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/044 having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/44 Details of seats or valve members of double-seat valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/22 with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/24 with an electromagnetically-operated valve, e.g. for washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/00 Arrangements of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluids multiple-way valves F16K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0263 multiple way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/002 : Electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/00 : Pipe-line systems conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/13 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/16 : Controlling mixing ratio of fluids having different temperatures, e.g. by sensing the temperature of a mixture of fluids having different viscosities
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1858 : by varying the mixing ratio of fluids having different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 : specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 : Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 : Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0424 : Liquid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6606 : With electric heating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 : Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 : Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 : Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 : Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87668 : Single actuator operates plural flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 : Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 : With common valve operator

Abstract

A water delivery device that includes a body having a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and an outlet; a mixing valve in the body, and a touchscreen user interface on a surface of the body. The mixing valve includes a housing having a mixing chamber that is fluidly connected to the outlet, a first flow control valve moveably disposed in the housing to control a cold water flow from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber, and a second flow control valve moveably disposed in the housing to control a hot water flow from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber. The touchscreen user interface allows a user to control a temperature and/or a flow rate of water from the outlet by controlling the first and second flow control valves.

Claims

1. A water delivery device comprising:

a body having a cold water inlet configured to connect to a cold water supply, a hot water inlet configured to connect to a hot water supply, and an outlet;

a mixing valve located within the body and comprising;

a housing having a mixing chamber that is fluidly connected to the outlet;

a first flow control valve moveably disposed in the housing to control a cold water flow from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber; and

a second flow control valve moveably disposed in the housing to control a hot water flow from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber;

a touchscreen user interface located on a surface of the body, wherein the touchscreen user interface allows a user to control a temperature and a flow rate of water from the outlet by controlling the first and second flow control valves; and

an electronic controller located in the body, coupled directly to the housing of the mixing valve, and configured to control the temperature and the flow rate of water from the mixing valve through an input into the touchscreen user interface.

2. The water delivery device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator located within the body and configured to control movement of the first and second flow control valves in response to the input into the touchscreen user interface.

3. The water delivery device of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second flow control valves includes a valve member assembly configured such that, when in use, cold water flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the first flow control valve and hot water flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the valve member assembly of the second flow control valve.

4. The water delivery device of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises:

a first motor for controlling movement of the first flow control valve; and

a second motor for controlling movement of the second flow control valve;

wherein the electronic controller controls the first and second motors in response to the input into the touchscreen user interface.

5. The water delivery device of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second motors and the electronic controller is coupled to the housing of the mixing valve.

6. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the water delivery device includes a hand shower that is configured to detachably dock to a docking member of a shower, the hand shower comprising:

a stem configured as a handle of the hand shower; and

a spray head coupled to the stem and including the outlet for discharging water;

wherein the touchscreen user interface is located on the handle.

7. The water delivery device of claim 6, wherein the hand shower further comprises a spray head mount coupled to an end of the stem, and wherein a portion of the spray head is received in an opening of the spray head mount and is pivotally coupled to the spray head mount through two opposing pivots, such that the spray head pivots relative to the spray head mount and the stem.

8. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the water delivery device includes a fixed shower head comprising a base, which is configured to fixedly couple to and project from a wall of a shower enclosure, and the body coupled to the base and including the outlet for discharging water.

9. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the water delivery device is a bar mixer further comprising a flexible hose extending from the outlet of the body, wherein the touchscreen user interface comprises:

a control panel located on a first side of the body and configured to control the temperature and the flow rate of water from the outlet to the flexible hose through an input into the control panel; and

a display located on a second side of the body and configured to display the temperature and the flow rate.

10. The water delivery device of claim 9, wherein the first and second sides are on opposite sides of the body relative to the flexible hose, the mixing chamber includes an elongate structure formed by a conduit with the first flow control valve at one end of the conduit and the second flow control valve at the other, opposite end of the conduit, and the outlet is formed in the conduit in between the first and second flow control valves.

11. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the water delivery device is a faucet and the body comprises a spout, and the mixing valve is located within the spout.

12. The water delivery device of claim 11, wherein the body further comprises an escutcheon, and the surface of the body on which the touchscreen user interface is located is on the escutcheon.

13. A water delivery device comprising:

a body having a cold water inlet configured to fluidly connect to a cold water supply, a hot water inlet configured to fluidly connect to a hot water supply, and an outlet;

a mixing valve comprising;

a housing separate from and disposed within the body, the housing having a first inlet configured to receive cold water from the cold water supply, a second inlet configured to receive hot water from the hot water supply, and a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the outlet;

a first flow control valve moveable relative to the body and the housing to control a flow of the cold water from the first inlet to the mixing chamber; and

a second flow control valve moveable relative to the body and the housing to control a flow of the hot water from the second inlet to the mixing chamber;

wherein at least one of the first flow control valve or the second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber;

an actuator located in the body for moving the first and second flow control valves; and

a touchscreen user interface located on a surface of the body, wherein the touchscreen user interface comprises;

an on/off button that turns on/off a flow of water to the outlet

a temperature control that controls a temperature of water to the outlet by controlling the actuator; and

a flow rate control that controls a flow rate of water to the outlet by controlling the actuator.

14. The water delivery device of claim 13, wherein both the first flow control valve and second flow control valve each includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber, and each flow control valve includes a valve member assembly comprising:

a first valve member that engages with a first valve seat associated with a first of the two valve outlets in a closed position of the flow control valve; and

a second valve member that engages with a second, separate, valve seat associated with a second of the two valve outlets in the closed position of the flow control valve.

15. The water delivery device of claim 13, further comprising an electronic controller located within the body and configured to communicate with the touchscreen user interface, wherein the actuator comprises:

a first linear actuator configured to move the first flow control valve; and

a second linear actuator configured to move the second flow control valve;

wherein the electronic controller controls the first and second linear actuators in response to an input into the touchscreen user interface.

16. The water delivery device of claim 15, wherein the water delivery device is a bar mixer further comprising a flexible hose extending from the outlet of the body, wherein the touchscreen user interface comprises:

a control panel located on a first side of the body and configured to control the temperature and the flow rate of water from the outlet to the flexible hose through the input into the control panel; and

a display located on a second side of the body and configured to display the temperature and the flow rate.

21. The water delivery device of claim 13, further comprising:

a cold water supply conduit that supplies cold water to the first inlet from the cold water supply; and

a hot water supply conduit that supplies hot water to the second inlet from the hot water supply.

17. A water delivery device, comprising:

a body having a cold water inlet configured to fluidly connect to a cold water supply, a hot water inlet configured to fluidly connect to a hot water supply, and an outlet;

a mixing valve comprising;

a housing separate from and disposed within the body, the housing having a first inlet configured to receive cold water from the cold water supply, a second inlet configured to receive hot water from the hot water supply, and a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the outlet;

a first flow control valve comprising a first valve member assembly that controls a flow of cold water to the mixing chamber, such that cold water flowing through the first flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the first valve member assembly; and

a second flow control valve comprising a second valve member assembly that controls a flow of hot water to the mixing chamber, such that hot water flowing through the second flow control valve exerts substantially no net force on the second valve member assembly;

an actuator located within the body and configured to control operation of the mixing valve; and

a user interface located on an outer surface of the body, the user interface comprising a touch sensitive panel configured to allow a user to turn on/off a flow of water exiting the outlet and control a temperature and a flow rate of water exiting the outlet by controlling the mixing valve through the actuator.

18. The water delivery device of claim 17, wherein the user interface further comprises a display configured to display the temperature and the flow rate of the water exiting the outlet.

19. The water delivery device of claim 18, wherein the touch sensitive panel comprises:

a first pair of controls that controls an increase and a decrease, respectively, of the temperature of the water exiting the outlet;

a second pair of controls that controls an increase and a decrease, respectively, of the flow rate of the water exiting the outlet; and

an on/off button that is configured to switch the flow of water on/off.

20. The water delivery device of claim 19, further comprising:

a controller located within the body and in communication with the user interface for controlling the mixing valve through the actuator;

a cold water supply conduit that supplies cold water to the first inlet from the cold water supply; and

a hot water supply conduit that supplies hot water to the second inlet from the hot water supply.