Multifunctional faucet

• US 7,228,874 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miscea GmbH
• Original Assignee: Fok Cornelis Bolderheij
• Inventors: Bolderheij, Fok Cornelis, Weld, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider; Craig M.
• Application Number:
  US10/998,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20050133100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 137/801, 251/129.04, 222/145.5, 222/145.6, 222/145.7, 222/145.8, 462/3
• US Class Current: 137/801
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A multifunctional faucet has a dispensing faucet (2) for one or more fluids (18, 19), a sensor (3), a supply (10) for the fluids (18, 19) and a control (5). The multifunctional faucet (1) has at least one graphics-capable optical display (4), which is preferably arranged on the front side of the faucet head (36) and is connected to the control (5). The display (4) has a field display (29) or a display with a matrix of a plurality of luminous display elements.

Claims

1. A multifunctional faucet, comprising:

a dispensing faucet for dispensing a plurality of fluids including a first fluid and a second fluid, said faucet including a faucet head with one or more fluid dispensing openings;

a sensor means including a first sensor for sensing an input in a first region of operation and generating a first sensor signal, a second sensor for sensing an input in a second region of operation and generating a second sensor signal and a third sensor for sensing an input in a third region of operation and generating a third sensor signal;

a supply means for supplying said plurality of fluids to said dispensing faucet;

a control connected to said dispensing faucet and receiving said first sensor signal for changing a first fluid dispensing state of said dispensing faucet as to said first fluid in response thereto, receiving said second sensor signal for changing a second fluid dispensing state of said dispensing faucet as to said second fluid in response thereto and receiving said third sensor signal for changing a dispensing state of said dispensing faucet as to one of said plurality of fluids in response thereto;

a display displaying first indicia presenting instruction information regarding operation aspects of said first sensor, displaying second indicia presenting instruction information regarding operation aspects of said second sensor and displaying third indicia presenting instruction information regarding operation aspects of said third sensor; and

a sensor support at said faucet head with said sensor means arranged thereon for positioning said first sensor, said second sensor and said third sensor in close proximity respectively to said first indica said second indica and said third indicia and adjacent to one or more dispensing openings.

2. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support is a printed circuit board with a seal in said faucet head cooperating to seal said printed circuit board, said control including a microprocessor arranged on said printed circuit board, said display being arranged on the front side of said faucet head and being connected with said printed circuit board.

3. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display is a graphics-capable optical display unit, said display unit having organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that are one of a single color, multi-colored or colored.

4. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display is a graphics-capable optical display having a field display or a display with a matrix of a plurality of luminous display elements, including liquid crystal cells or LEDs.

5. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display and said sensor means are surrounded by a cover transparent to infrared light.

6. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support is a printed circuit board, said display, said sensor means and said printed circuit board with a cover are integrated in a control head in one assembly unit.

7. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an acoustic display.

8. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said multifunctional faucet has a mixing means which can be controlled or regulated for fluids having different temperatures including hot and cold water, and said third sensor of said sensor means is for changing the temperature in a contactless manner as well as an optical display for the set points and/or actual values of the fluid temperature.

9. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an acoustic display for signaling the selection of one of said fluids and for different operating states.

10. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control has a microprocessor, a time function element and one or more said program memories.

11. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control has a data telecommunication interface for connection to a higher-level control.

12. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said reader is integrated in said optical display.

13. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said supply means has a controllable instantaneous water heater and a temperature sensor.

14. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said supply means has one or more fluid containers with a filling level meter.

15. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said supply means has a internal power supply unit.

16. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said supply means has a housing surrounding the operating components.

17. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein a single line or single line set carries a power signal with superimposed control signals by modulation of the power signal.

18. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display is a graphics-capable optical display designed as an image projection means with a projector arranged at said dispensing faucet.

19. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 18, wherein a projection surface is arranged at said dispensing faucet.

20. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a reader connected to said control for operating instructions.

21. A multifunctional faucet in accordance with claim 20, wherein said reader is designed as a transponder means or as a bar code reader.

22. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 1, wherein a faucet insert is detachably arranged at the upper end in said tubular discharge faucet, said faucet insert having a plurality of ducts located on the inside, which said ducts are connected with tube couplings for tube-like fluid lines on the inlet side and with discharge openings for different fluids in the jacket area on the outlet side, wherein said corresponding passage openings are present in the jacket of said discharge faucet.

23. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 22, wherein an aerator, water breaker or a nozzle insert, which protrudes to the outside through said corresponding passage opening in the mounted position, is detachably arranged in at least one said discharge opening.

24. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 22, wherein said faucet insert has an insert block made of a corrosion-resistant material with said ducts, said tube couplings and said discharge openings for the more corrosive fluids.

25. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 23, wherein said control head is connected with said faucet insert.

26. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 23, wherein a longitudinally extending groove or a duct for receiving a electric line and optionally an electric coupling is arranged at said faucet insert.

27. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 23, wherein a power supply unit with a battery, for said sensor means, said display unit and the other electric components of said control head is arranged at said faucet insert or in a control head.

28. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 27, further comprising a remote data transmission interface for a wireless signal radio connection with said control unit, said transmission interface being arranged at the faucet insert or in said control head.

29. A multifunction faucet in accordance with claim 27, wherein said display is an optical display with changeable display features in addition to or as part of said first indicia, said second indicia and said third indicia.

30. A multifunctional faucet, comprising:

a dispensing faucet for dispensing a plurality of fluids including a first fluid and a second fluid, whose state may vary, said faucet including a faucet head with one or more fluid dispensing openings;

a sensor including a first sensor for sensing an input in a first region of operation and generating a first sensor signal, a second sensor for sensing an input in a second region of operation and generating a second sensor signal and a third sensor for sensing an input in a third region of operation and generating a third sensor signal;

a supply means for supplying said plurality of fluids to said dispensing faucet;

a control connected to said dispensing faucet and receiving said first sensor signal for changing a first fluid dispensing state of said dispensing faucet based on said first sensor signal, receiving said second sensor signal for changing a second fluid dispensing state of said dispensing faucet based on said second sensor signal and receiving said third sensor signal for changing a dispensing state of said dispensing faucet based on said third sensor signal;

a display unit connected to said faucet at a location adjacent to said sensors, said display unit including a display of first indicia presenting instruction information regarding operation aspects of said first sensor, a display of second indicia presenting instruction information regarding operation aspects of said second sensor and displaying third indicia presenting instruction information regarding operation aspects of said third sensor; and

a faucet insert detachably arranged at the upper end in said faucet, said faucet insert having a plurality of said ducts located on the inside, said ducts being connected with tube couplings for fluid lines on an inlet side and with discharge openings for different fluids in a jacket area on an outlet side, wherein said corresponding passage openings are present in the jacket of said discharge faucet.