Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet

• US 7,150,293 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Jonte, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/755,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 137/613, 137/801, 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 251/129.04, 462/3
• US Class Current: 137/613
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• 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 hands-free faucet comprises a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle including a first touch control, a second touch control, and a mode indicator. The logical control has a manual mode (wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and water flow is toggled on and off by positioning the handle) and a hands-free mode (wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to the proximity sensor). The first touch control puts the faucet in the hands-free mode when touched by a user. The second touch control toggles the logical control between the hands-free mode and the manual mode when touched by a user. The mode indicator indicates which mode the faucet is presently in. The water flow has a temperature and a flow rate that are determined by the position of the handle.

Claims

1. A hands-free faucet comprising:

a handle comprising at least one touch control;

a proximity sensor having an active state and an inactive state;

a logical control, having;

a manual mode, wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and wherein positioning the handle toggles water flow on and off;

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

a mode-controller that toggles the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode;

wherein said at least one touch control controls activation of water flow through the faucet in response to contact with the handle that is insufficient to change a position of the handle.

2. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein said at least one touch control activates water flow when the handle is touched.

3. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein said at least one touch control deactivates water flow when the handle is released.

4. The hands-free faucet of claim 3, wherein said at least one touch control deactivates water flow when the handle is released following a time delay.

5. The hands-free faucet of claim 2, wherein the water flow has a temperature and a flow rate that are determined by the position of the handle.

6. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein the handle includes the mode-controller, and touching the handle activates the hands-free mode.

7. The hands-free faucet of claim 6, further comprising a second mode-controller that toggles the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode.

8. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein the faucet is configured as a kitchen-type faucet.

9. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein contacting said at least one touch control toggles water flow through the faucet.

10. The hands-free faucet of claim 1 wherein said handle further comprising a second touch control.

11. The hands-free faucet of claim 10 wherein said second touch control is constructed and arranged to toggle the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode when touched by a user.

12. The hands-free faucet of claim 11 which further includes a mode indicator that indicates which of the manual mode and the hands-free mode the faucet is presently in.

13. The hands-free faucet of claim 1 which further includes a mode indicator that indicates which of the manual mode and the hands-free mode the faucet is presently in.

14. The hands-free faucet of claim 1 which further includes a flow detector for detecting whether or not water is flowing through the faucet.

15. A faucet comprising:

a manual valve;

a pull-down spout;

a proximity sensor having a detection zone, the proximity sensor generating a proximity signal when the proximity sensor senses the presence of an object within the detection zone; and

an electrically operable valve in series with the manual valve, the electrically operable valve toggling based on the proximity signal.

16. The faucet of claim 15, further comprising:

a touch control that generates a touch signal; and

wherein the electrically operable valve toggles based on the touch signal.

17. The faucet of claim 15, further comprising:

a touch control, comprising;

a touch sensor; and

a logical control that generates a touch signal when the touch sensor is touched and released within a period of time less than a predetermined threshold, but which does not generate the touch signal when the touch sensor is touched for a period longer than the predetermined threshold; and

wherein the electrically operable valve toggles based on the touch signal.

18. The faucet of claim 17, further comprising:

a proximity sensor having a detection zone, the proximity sensor generating a proximity signal when the proximity sensor senses the presence of an object within the detection zone; and

wherein the electrically operable valve toggles based on the proximity signal.