Faucet illumination device

• US 10,697,628 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rosko, Michael Scot, Sawaski, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US15/958,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20180306429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1618 where said valve is a double-seat lift valve
• 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 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/02 Plumbing installations for fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0415 having an extendable water outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/002 using liquids, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/046 driven by hydropower, e.g. by water powered turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0066 specially adapted to cooperate with point like light sources; specially adapted to cooperate with light sources the shape of which is unspecified F21V7/16 - F21V7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/30 Lighting for domestic or personal use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10287 Metal wires as connectors or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10522 : Adjacent components

Abstract

An illumination device for a faucet includes an opaque base supported above a translucent diffuser. A plurality of light emitters is supported by a substrate intermediate the base and the diffuser, wherein light from the light emitters is transmitted through the diffuser and outwardly to provide a display of substantially uniform light.

Claims

1. An illumination device for a faucet, the illumination device comprising:

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an inner wall, an outer wall laterally spaced from the inner wall, an upper wall extending between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a recess defined between the inner wall, the outer wall and the upper wall a delivery spout operably coupled to said base of said faucet;

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base;

a substrate positioned within the recess intermediate the base and the diffuser;

a plurality of light emitters supported by the substrate;

at least one deflector supported by the upper wall of the base to reflect light from the plurality of light emitters; and

wherein the diffuser is configured to diffuse light from the light emitters laterally outwardly.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board including a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupled to the plurality of light emitters.

3. The illumination device of claim 2, further comprising an electrical wire coupled to the conductive traces and a power supply.

4. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light emitters comprises a light emitting diode.

5. The illumination device of claim 4, wherein the light emitting diodes are spaced apart to define a closed loop of continuous light diffused by the diffuser.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the base further includes an upper surface defined by the upper wall for supporting said delivery spout, and a locator wall extending upwardly from the upper surface for locating said delivery spout.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the presence of a user and generate an activation signal, the plurality of light emitters being activated in response to the activation signal.

11. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light emitters are configured to direct light longitudinally downwardly toward the diffuser.

32. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the at least one deflector includes a plurality of deflectors, each of the deflectors including opposing angled surfaces.

7. An illumination device for a faucet, the illumination device comprising:

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an inner wall, an outer wall laterally spaced from the inner wall, an upper wall extending between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a recess defined between the inner wall, the outer wall and the upper wall;

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base;

a substrate positioned within the recess intermediate the base and the diffuser;

a plurality of light emitters supported by the substrate;

wherein the diffuser is configured to diffuse light from the light emitters laterally outwardly;

wherein the base further includes an upper surface defined by the upper wall for supporting a delivery spout, and a locator wall extending upwardly from the upper surface for locating the delivery spout; and

an escutcheon, the inner wall of the base being supported by the escutcheon.

9. An illumination device for a faucet, the illumination device comprising:

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an inner wall, an outer wall laterally spaced from the inner wall, an upper wall extending between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a recess defined between the inner wall, the outer wall and the upper wall;

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base;

a substrate positioned within the recess intermediate the base and the diffuser;

a plurality of light emitters supported by the substrate;

wherein the diffuser is configured to diffuse light from the light emitters laterally outwardly;

a first sensor configured to detect ambient light and generate a first signal in response to detected light intensity above a predetermined value;

a second sensor configured to be enabled in response to the first signal and, when enabled, to detect the presence of a user and generate a second signal; and

wherein the plurality of light emitters are activated in response to the second signal.

10. The illumination device of claim 9, wherein the first sensor comprises a photo resistor, and the second sensor comprises an acoustic sensor.

12. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body;

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an upper wall supporting the faucet body, and an outer shield extending downwardly from the upper wall;

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base;

a substrate supported by a lower surface of the upper wall of the base;

a plurality of light emitters supported by the substrate; and

a plurality of deflectors supported by the upper wall of the base, each of the deflectors including opposing angled surfaces to reflect light from the plurality of light emitters.

14. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board including a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupled to the plurality of light emitters.

15. The faucet of claim 14, further comprising an electrical wire coupled to the conductive traces and a power supply.

16. The faucet of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of light emitters comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The faucet of claim 16, wherein the light emitting diodes are spaced apart to define a closed loop of continuous light diffused by the diffuser.

18. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the faucet body comprises a delivery spout, and the base further includes a locator wall extending upwardly from the upper surface and received within the spout for locating the spout.

19. The faucet of claim 12, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the presence of a user and generate an activation signal, the plurality of light emitters being activated in response to such activation signal.

13. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body;

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an upper wall supporting the faucet body, and an outer shield extending downwardly from the upper wall;

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base;

a substrate supported by a lower surface of the upper wall of the base;

a plurality of light emitters supported by the substrate; and

an escutcheon supporting the base.

20. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body;

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an upper wall supporting the faucet body, and an outer shield extending downwardly from the upper wall;

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base;

a substrate supported by a lower surface of the upper wall of the base;

a plurality of light emitters supported by the substrate;

a first sensor configured to detect ambient light and generate a first signal in response to detected light intensity above a predetermined value;

a second sensor configured to be enabled in response to the first signal and, when enabled, to detect the presence of a user and generate a second signal; and

wherein the plurality of light emitters are activated in response to the second signal.

21. The faucet of claim 20, wherein the first sensor comprises a photo resistor, and the second sensor comprises an acoustic sensor.

22. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body;

a substrate supported by the faucet body;

at least one light emitter supported by the substrate;

a first sensor configured to detect ambient light and generate a first signal in response to detected light intensity above a predetermined value;

a second sensor configured to be enabled in response to the first signal and, when enabled, to detect the presence of a user and generate a second signal; and

wherein the at least one light emitter is activated in response to the second signal.

23. The faucet of claim 22, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are supported by the substrate.

24. The faucet of claim 22, wherein the first sensor comprises a photo resistor, and the second sensor comprises an acoustic sensor.

25. The faucet of claim 22, further comprising:

a base formed of an opaque material, the base including an upper wall supporting the faucet body, and an outer shield extending downwardly from the upper wall; and

a diffuser formed of a translucent material, the diffuser positioned laterally outwardly from the inner wall of the base and positioned longitudinally below the outer wall of the base.

26. The faucet of claim 22, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board including a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupled to the at least one light emitter.

27. The faucet of claim 22, wherein the at least one light emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

28. The faucet of claim 22, wherein the faucet body comprises a delivery spout, and the base further includes a locator wall extending upwardly from the upper surface and received within the spout for locating the spout.

29. The faucet of claim 22, further comprising an outlet housing including a first portion defining a water outlet, and a second portion receiving an upper portion of the substrate.

30. The faucet of claim 29, wherein the faucet body includes a delivery spout having a cantilevered portion with a lower surface and receiving the outlet housing.

31. The faucet of claim 30, further comprising a diffuser extending below the lower surface of the cantilevered portion of the delivery spout, the diffuser configured to direct light from the at least one light emitter in both vertical and horizontal directions.