Restricted flow hands-free faucet

• US 6,968,860 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Arko, Robert P., Tsuei, Karen L., Haenlein, Hans-Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/912,254
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 137/613, 137/801, 137/599.01, 137/599.03, 137/599.08, 137/601.14, 137/601.18, 137/601.19, 251/129.04, 462/3
• US Class Current: 137/613
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87281 System having plural inlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87507 Electrical actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87547 Manually variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet comprising a spout, a passageway, an electrically operable valve; a first manual valve; a first manual handle; and a bypass. The passageway conducts water flow through the spout. The electrically operable valve is disposed within the passageway. The first manual valve disposed within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve. The first manual handle that controls the first manual valve. The bypass has a first end above the electrically operable valve, relative to the water flow, and a second end below the electrically operable valve, such that a portion of the water flow bypasses the electrically operable valve.

Claims

1. A faucet comprising:

a spout;

a passageway that conducts water flow through the spout;

a electrically operable valve disposed within the passageway;

a first manual valve disposed within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve;

a first manual handle that controls the first manual valve; and

a bypass, the bypass having a first end above the electrically operable valve, relative to the water flow, and a second end below the electrically operable valve, such that a portion of the water flow bypasses the electrically operable valve.

2. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a choke disposed within the bypass, such that the amount of the water flow bypassing the electrically operable valve is adjustable by actuation of the choke.

3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first manual handle is a knob.

4. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising:

a second manual valve disposed within the passageway, in series with the electrically operable valve, and in parallel with the first manual valve; and

a second manual handle that controls the second manual valve;

wherein the first manual valve and the second manual valve control water flow from a first water supply and a second water supply, respectively.

5. The faucet of claim 4, wherein the first water supply supplies water having a different temperature from the water supplied by the second water supply.

6. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor that is sensitive to presence of objects within a detection zone of the proximity sensor.

7. The faucet of claim 6, wherein the faucet has:

a manual mode, wherein the proximity sensor is inactive; and

a hands-free mode, wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to the proximity sensor.

8. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a capacitive touch control that toggles operates the electrically operable valve.

9. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor operably connected to the electrically operable valve via a logical control, the logical control generating a control signal when the sensor observes an activation event; and

wherein the electrically operable valve actuates in response to the control signal.

10. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

11. The faucet of claim 1, having

a first state, in which volume and temperature of water flow though the passageway is controlled by the first manual valve,

a second state, in which water flow though the passageway is halted, and

a third state, in which the volume of water flow though the passageway is restricted by the electrically operable valve.

12. The faucet of claim 1,

wherein the electrically operable valve at most partially seals the passageway, such that closing the electrically operable valve and opening the first manual valve provides a restricted flow state for the faucet.

13. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising:

a first control means for electrically operating the first valve; and

a second control means for controlling the second valve.

14. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the first control means comprises a touch control.

15. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the first control means further comprises a proximity sensor.