FAUCET BASE RING

• US 20140261767A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: DeVries, Adam M., Thomas, Kurt Judson, Davidson, Kyle Robert, Veros, Michael J., Rodenbeck, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,333,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/356
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/12 of articles having inserts or reinforcements
• 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 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6966 Static constructional installations

Abstract

An insulator base for an electronic faucet includes a housing supporting a light assembly and a connecting wire electrically coupled to the light assembly. A polymer housing secures the light assembly and the connecting wire within the housing. A non-conductive exterior film allows the isolation base to match the finish on an electronically controlled faucet for electrical isolation and faucet status display.

Claims

1. An insulator base for an electronic faucet having a decorative finish mounted to a mounting deck, the insulator base comprising:

a housing including an outer sidewall and an upper surface extending about an opening defining a longitudinal axis, and

a non-conductive film covering at least a portion of the housing, wherein the film has a decorative finish matching the decorative finish of the electronic faucet;

wherein the insulator base is configured to electrically insulate the electronic faucet from the mounting deck.

2. The insulator base of claim 1, wherein the film covers the outer sidewall and at least a portion of the upper surface of the housing.

3. The insulator base of claim 1, wherein the film is formed from a laminate material.

4. The insulator base of claim 1, further comprising a light assembly affixed to the housing, the light assembly including a light emitter electrically coupled to a connecting wire.

5. The insulator base of claim 4, further comprising a lens affixed to the housing, the lens permitting the transmission of light from the light emitter through the lens.

6. The insulator base of claim 4, wherein the film includes at least one indicator configured to be illuminated by light from the light emitter.

7. The insulator base of claim 6, wherein the at least one indicator is not visible or difficult to detect when not illuminated by light from the light emitter.

8. The insulator base of claim 4, wherein the housing permits the transmission of light from the light emitter through the housing.

9. The insulator base of claim 8, wherein the housing diffuses light transmitted from the light emitter through the housing.

10. The insulator base of claim 8, wherein the housing is formed from a translucent or transparent material.

11. The insulator base of claim 8, wherein the housing is formed from low density polyethylene.

12. The insulator base of claim 8, wherein the light assembly further includes a support board coupled to the light emitter, the housing being affixed to the light assembly by insert molding the housing around the support board.

13. The insulator base of claim 8, wherein the housing encapsulates the light assembly to prevent contact from water.

14. The insulator base of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an upper end configured to be positioned below a delivery spout, a lower end configured to be positioned above a mounting deck, and the opening configured to receive a water conduit extending into the delivery spout.

15. The insulator base of claim 1, wherein the decorative finish is metallic in appearance.

16. An electronic faucet comprising:

a delivery spout including an exterior surface having a metallic finish;

a water conduit extending within the delivery spout and including a water outlet; and

an insulator base positioned intermediate the delivery spout and a mounting deck, the base electrically insulating the delivery spout from the mounting deck, the base including a housing defining an opening receiving the water conduit and having an outer sidewall and an upper surface, and a film covering at least a portion of the housing, the film having an appearance matching the metallic finish of the exterior surface of the delivery spout.

17. The electronic faucet of claim 16, wherein the film covers the outer sidewall and at least a portion of the upper surface of the housing.

18. The electronic faucet of claim 16, wherein the film comprises a laminate of polymeric materials.

19. The electronic faucet of claim 16, further comprising:

light assembly supported by the housing and having a light emitter encapsulated by the housing; and

a controller operably coupled to the light assembly, the controller configured to control operation of the light emitter.

20. The electronic faucet of claim 19, further comprising a connecting wire electrically coupling the controller and the light assembly, the connecting wire passing through the opening and below the mounting deck.

21. The electronic faucet of claim 19, wherein the film includes at least one status indicator configured to be visible when light from the light emitter is transmitted through the housing.

22. The electronic faucet of claim 21, wherein the at least one status indicator is not visible or difficult to detect when light from the light emitter is not transmitted through the housing

23. The electronic faucet of claim 19, wherein the housing is formed from a translucent or transparent low density polytheylene.

24. The electronic faucet of claim 19, wherein the light assembly further includes a support board coupled to the light emitter, the housing being affixed to the light assembly by insert molding the housing around the support board.

25. A method of manufacturing an insulator base for an electronic faucet, the method comprising the steps of:

vacuum forming a non-conductive laminate material into a first geometry;

insert molding a housing, the housing having an outer sidewall surrounded by the film.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising positioning a light assembly including a light emitter in the first geometry prior to insert molding the housing.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the housing encapsulates the light assembly and permits the transmission of light from the light emitter through the housing.

28. The method of manufacturing an insulator base of claim 26, further comprising forming a status indicator on the film, wherein the status indicator is configured to be visible when light from the light emitter is transmitted through the housing.