Plumbing and lighting fixture

• US 7,008,073 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel L. Marks
• Original Assignee: Glen Stuhlmacher II
• Inventors: Stuhlmacher, II, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/745,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/253, 362/800, 239/18
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A plumbing fixture mounted to a sink or other basin has a base region that also serves as a source of visible light, providing a pleasing aesthetic effect. Separate bases for faucet handles and a faucet spout can be illuminated individually or as a group. A faucet spout, trim and/or handle can be made of translucent or transparent material (e.g., acrylic, plastic, glass, crystal, etc.) that captures and redirects light from the base, and may have opaque areas that provide other interesting patterns. The faucet light or lights can also serve as a nightlight for a bathroom or kitchen, saving the space that a separate nightlight would require. In another embodiment a light is provided in a faucet spout, which can illuminate a sink for a pleasing effect, and can also serve as a nightlight. The spout can be translucent, carrying light as well as water from its base.

Claims

1. A plumbing fixture for supplying water to a basin, the fixture comprising:

a spout containing a water conduit; and

a handle connected to a valve to control water flow through the water conduit;

wherein at least one of the handle and the spout has a base region that holds the fixture adjacent to the basin, the base region containing a lamp that emits visible light, the lamp including;

a substrate holding a light source; and

a translucent ring that encircles the substrate and light source.

2. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the translucent ring is clamped in the base region.

3. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the spout is made of a translucent body that the light passes through.

4. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the lamp includes a light-emitting diode that is not encapsulated in a light-transmissive encapsulant.

5. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the substrate supports a plurality of light sources and the substrate encircles the water conduit.

6. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the substrate supports a plurality of light sources and the substrate encircles an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit.

7. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the basin is a sink.

8. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the basin is a bathtub.

9. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the spout is made of translucent material that has an outer surface that transmits the light.

10. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the spout has a second translucent ring that encircles an aerator that is disposed distal to the base region.

11. A plumbing fixture for supplying water to a basin, the fixture comprising:

a handle connected to a valve to control water flow from a first water conduit to a second water conduit; and

a spout containing at least a portion of the second water conduit, the spout having a base region affixing the spout adjacent to the basin, an aerator in fluid communication wit the second water conduit distal to the base, and a translucent ring that encircles the aerator or the spout and emits light to illuminate the basin.

12. The fixture of claim 11, wherein the ring fits into a seat in the spout that also holds a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

13. The fixture of claim 11, wherein the base region contains the translucent ring and a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

14. The fixture of claim 13, wherein the light-emitting diodes are encircled by the ring.

15. The fixture of claim 13, wherein the spout has a translucent body that encircles the second water conduit and is illuminated with a light source contained in the base region.

16. The fixture of claim 15, wherein the translucent body has a surface with a plurality of ridges.

17. The fixture of claim 11, wherein the handle has a base portion that holds the handle adjacent to the basin, and a second translucent ring is clamped within the base portion.

18. A plumbing fixture for supplying water to a basin having a countertop that the fixture is attached to, the fixture comprising:

a spout containing a water conduit; and

a handle connected to a valve to control water flow through the water conduit, the handle having a base region that holds the fixture to the countertop, the base region containing a light source that emits visible light, wherein the light source includes a diode that emits the light and a translucent ring that the light passes through.

19. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the translucent ring encircles the diode.

20. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the translucent ring is clamped to the countertop.

21. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the diode is attached to a substrate that encircles an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit.

22. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the basin is a sink.

23. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the basin is a bathtub.

24. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the spout has a base portion that contains a lamp that emits light through a second translucent ring.

25. A faucet for a basin, the faucet comprising:

a translucent spout containing a water conduit; and

a handle connected to a valve to control water flow through the water conduit;

wherein the spout has a base region that is fastened to the basin, the base region containing a lamp, the lamp emitting visible light.

26. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the lamp includes a translucent ring that the light passes through.

27. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the spout has an outer surface that is patterned.

28. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the lamp includes a light-emitting diode.

29. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the base region contains a substrate supporting a plurality of light sources and the substrate encircles the water conduit.

30. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the handle has a base portion containing a substrate supporting a plurality of light sources and the substrate encircles an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit.

31. The faucet of claim 25, wherein a countertop is affixed between the base region and the basin.

32. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the spout is encased in metal.

33. The faucet of claim 25, wherein the spout has a translucent ring that encircles an aerator.