Integrated bathroom electronic system

• US 8,028,355 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Stohler, Spencer L., Rodenbeck, Robert W., Zink, Paul T., Mendenhall, Andrew B., Reeder, Ryan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US12/151,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 460/1, 462/3, 466/8, 467/6
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0004 with a controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0051 Brushes fitted with ventilation means, e.g. with air buffers, air vents
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0871 Peak expiratory flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• 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: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• 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]

Abstract

An integrated bathroom electronic system including a plurality of sensors to detect conditions within a bathroom and to provide signals indicative thereof to a controller. A plurality of distinct and exclusive modules or subsystems are illustratively provided for integration into the system. Such modules may include a quick hot water module, a roman tub module, a custom shower module, a hands free faucet module, and a tub shower module. In certain illustrative shower modules, a user interface includes a plurality of user defined presets, each preset including a shower setting stored in memory.

Claims

1. A shower system comprising:

a plurality of water outlets configured to discharge water when active;

a controller including a memory and configured to control the discharge of water through the plurality of water outlets;

a user interface in communication with the controller and including a plurality of user defined presets wherein each preset includes a shower setting stored in the memory by a user and defining an arrangement of active water outlets and a set temperature of water discharged from the active water outlets;

a proximity sensor in communication with the controller; and

a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of water exiting the active water outlets and in communication with the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to stop the flow of water to the water outlets when the proximity sensor detects no user within a predetermined distance of the water outlets and the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of water exiting the active water outlets is at least as great as a predetermined value.

2. The shower system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrically operable valves operably coupled to the controller and in fluid communication with the plurality of water outlets to control the discharge of water from the water outlets.

3. The shower system of claim 2, further comprising a temperature control valve operably coupled to the controller and in fluid communication with a hot water supply and a cold water supply to control the temperature of water discharged from the active water outlets.

4. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a plurality of water outlets controls configured to independently control the discharge of water from the water outlets.

5. The shower system of claim 4, wherein the user interface further includes a temperature control configured to independently control the temperature of water discharged from the active water outlets.

6. The shower system of claim 5, wherein the preset configuration is stored in memory by a user manipulating the water outlets controls, to define the arrangement of active water outlets, and by a user manipulating the temperature control, to define a temperature of water discharged from the active water outlets.

7. The shower system of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator in communication with the controller and operably coupled to at least one of the water outlets, the at least one actuator configured to adjust the position of the at least one water outlet.

8. The shower system of claim 7, wherein each preset is associated with the at least one actuator, wherein activating each preset controls the actuator and the resulting position of the at least one water outlet.

9. The shower system of claim 7, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the at least one water outlet in translational movement.

10. The shower system of claim 7, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the at least one water outlet in rotational movement.

11. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of water outlets includes a plurality of body sprays and an overhead shower.

12. The shower system of claim 1, further comprising an audible alarm in communication with the controller and configured to be activated when the temperature sensor detects a temperature at least as great as the predetermined value.

13. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a temperature display in communication with the controller.

14. The shower system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of water outlets includes a plurality of body sprays, and actuating each preset controls the operational state of at least one of the electrically operable valves to provide a user defined arrangement of active body sprays.

15. The shower system of claim 14, wherein actuating one of the presets a first time activates a corresponding body spray, and actuating the one preset a second time deactivates the corresponding body spray.

16. A shower system comprising:

a water outlet configured to discharge water when active;

a controller configured to control the discharge of water through the water outlet;

a user interface in communication with the controller and including at least one user defined preset defining the active water outlet and a set temperature of water discharged from the active water outlet;

a proximity sensor in communication with the controller; and

a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of water exiting the active water outlet and in communication with the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to stop the flow of water to the water outlet when the proximity sensor detects no user within a predetermined distance of the water outlet and the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of water exiting the active water outlet is at least as great as a predetermined value.

17. The shower system of claim 16, further comprising a temperature control valve operably coupled to the controller and in fluid communication with a hot water supply and a cold water supply to control the temperature of water discharged from the active water outlet.

18. The shower system of claim 16, further comprising an audible alarm in communication with the controller and configured to be activated when the temperature sensor detects a temperature at least as great as the predetermined value.

19. The shower system of claim 16, wherein the user interface further includes a temperature display in communication with the controller.