Spout assembly for an electronic faucet

• US 7,997,301 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• 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: Sailors, Timothy Jay Jr., Moore, Jeffrey Lee, Marty, Garry Robin, Jonte, Patrick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US11/325,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 137/613, 137/801, 251/129.04, 462/3, 467/8, 467/5, 239/443, 239/449, 239/588
• US Class Current: 137/613
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0415 having an extendable water outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

An electronic faucet includes a spout assembly having a sensor configured to control the flow of water therethrough in response to the position of a spray head. Methods and apparatus for providing strain relief for electrical cables used in systems configured to provide fluid and, in particular, to methods and apparatus used to provide strain relief for electrical cables in electronic faucets.

Claims

1. An electronic faucet comprising:

a delivery spout having an outlet;

a pull-out spray head removably coupled to the outlet of the delivery spout for movement between a coupled position and an uncoupled position;

a sensor configured to detect a position of the spray head relative to the outlet of the delivery spout; and

a controller operably coupled to the sensor and configured to control water flow through the spray head in response to the detected position of the sensor.

2. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor supported proximate the outlet of the delivery spout, and a magnet configured to be detected by the Hall effect sensor, the magnet supported for movement relative to the Hall effect sensor in response to movement of the spray head relative to the delivery spout.

3. The electronic faucet of claim 2, further comprising a sliding bracket supporting the magnet.

4. The electronic faucet of claim 1, further comprising a manual valve in fluid communication with the spray head, and an actuator driven valve in series with the manual valve.

5. The electronic faucet of claim 4, wherein the controller is in communication with the manual valve and the actuator driven valve in order to provide at least two different modes of operation.

6. The electronic faucet of claim 5, wherein the at least two different modes of operation includes a manual mode where the manual valve controls the flow of water through the spray head, a hands-free mode where the actuator driven valve controls the flow of water through the spay head, and a touch mode where the actuator driven valve controls the flow of water through the spray head.

7. The electronic faucet of claim 6, further comprising a proximity sensor in communication with the controller for use in connection with the hands-free mode of operation, and a capacitive sensor in communication with the controller for use in connection with the touch mode of operation.

8. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller activates water flow through the spray head when the sensor detects that the spray head is uncoupled from the delivery spout.

9. The electronic faucet of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical cable operably coupled to the sensor and running through an interior of the spout from a lower portion to an upper portion; and

a cable holder positioned proximate the lower portion of the spout and configured to hold a portion of the electrical cable and to generally compress the electrical cable within the interior of the spout to reduce unintended movement of the electrical cable within the interior of the spout.

10. An electronic faucet comprising:

a delivery spout having an outlet;

a pull-out spray head including a waterway supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs; and

a retainer secured to the delivery spout for removably coupling the spray head to the outlet of the delivery spout, the retainer including a plurality of inwardly biased, circumferentially spaced retaining members, the retaining members configured to be angularly positioned intermediate the ribs of the spray head and including land areas configured to rotationally engage the plurality of ribs of the spray head for preventing relative rotation between the waterway and the retainer and controlling water flow through the waterway.

11. The electronic faucet of claim 10, wherein the spray head includes an outer housing, wherein rotation of the outer housing relative to the waterway controls the flow of water through the spray head.

12. The electronic faucet of claim 11, wherein rotation of the outer housing relative to the waterway changes the flow of water between an aerated stream and a spray.

13. The electronic faucet of claim 10, wherein the spray head includes a diverter configured to control water flow through the spray head in response to rotational movement of a portion of the spray head relative to the delivery spout while the retaining members are in rotational engagement with the ribs.

14. The electronic faucet of claim 10, further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the position of the spray head relative to the outlet of the delivery spout; and

a controller operably coupled to the sensor and configured to control water flow through the spray head in response to the detected position of the sensor.

15. The electronic faucet of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor supported proximate the outlet of the delivery spout, and a magnet configured to be detected by the Hall effect sensor.

16. The electronic faucet of claim 14, wherein the controller activates water flow through the spray head when the sensor detects that the spray head is uncoupled from the delivery spout.

17. The electronic faucet of claim 14, further comprising:

an electrical cable operably coupled to the sensor and running through an interior of the spout from a lower portion to an upper portion; and

a cable holder positioned proximate the lower portion of the spout and configured to hold a portion of the electrical cable and to generally compress the electrical cable within the interior of the spout to reduce unintended movement of the electrical cable within the interior of the spout.