Pull-out wand

• US 8,118,240 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodenbeck, Robert W., Spangler, Anthony G., Veros, Michael J., Koottungal, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCGRAW, TREVOR EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US11/700,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67, 239/71, 239/73, 239/68, 239/74, 239/407, 239/569, 239/588, 462/3, 137/801, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 239/67
• 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: E03C 2001/0417 having space-saving features, e.g. retractable, demountable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A pull-out wand is disclosed for use with a water delivery device. The pull-out wand may include one or more sensors, such as a touch sensor and/or a proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A water delivery device in fluid communication with at least one source of water positioned below a mounting deck, the water delivery device comprising:

a base portion in fluid communication with the at least one source of water;

a pull-out wand portion in fluid communication with the base portion and having at least one water output, the pull-out wand portion being moveably between a first position proximate to the base portion and a second position spaced apart from the base portion;

a sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion;

a fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion, the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor adapted to detect a movement of an object contacting the pull-out wand portion along an exterior of the pull-out wand portion;

an automatic mixing valve interposed between the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion and the at least one source of water, the automatic mixing valve receiving water from at least a hot source of water and a cold source of water, the automatic mixing valve being operable to regulate both temperature and flow of water to the at least one water output and being operable to permit communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion in a first configuration and to prevent communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a second configuration; and

an electronic controller operably coupled to the sensor, operably coupled to the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor, and operably coupled to the automatic mixing valve, the electronic controller causing the automatic mixing valve to be in the first configuration in response to a first indication from the sensor, wherein the automatic mixing valve regulates both the temperature and the flow of water to the at least one water output based on input from the electronic controller, the input being based on the fluid characteristic electronic touch sensor which provides a fluid characteristic input for one of the temperature and the flow of water.

2. The water delivery device of claim 1, the sensor is one of a proximity sensor and a touch sensor.

3. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor and the first indication is a detection of an object in a detection zone.

4. The water delivery device of claim 3, wherein the proximity sensor includes an infrared emitter which emits infrared radiation into the detection zone and a detector configured to receive infrared radiation reflected from the detection zone.

5. The water delivery device of claim 4, wherein the detection zone includes an area below an end face of the pull-out wand portion.

6. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a touch sensor.

7. The water delivery device of claim 6, wherein the first indication is a detection of a touch.

8. The water delivery device of claim 6, wherein the touch sensor monitors a region of a housing.

9. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor is a slide sensor.

10. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor includes a rigid base member including a non-linear surface;

and at least two spaced apart conductors positioned along the non-linear surface, the at least two spaced apart conductors form a capacitive sensor.

11. The water delivery device of claim 10, wherein the rigid base member is a printed circuit board and the non-linear surface is an edge of the printed circuit board.

12. The water delivery device of claim 10, wherein the non-linear surface is curved.

13. The water delivery device of claim 10, wherein the pull-out wand portion includes a housing, the housing including a cover and the non-linear surface of the touch sensor having a profile which matches a profile of the cover.

14. The water delivery device of claim 1, wherein the automatic mixing valve is positioned below the mounting deck.

15. A water delivery device for use by a user, the water delivery device being in fluid communication with at least one source of water positioned below a mounting deck, the water delivery device comprising:

a base portion in fluid communication with the at least one source of water;

a pull-out wand portion in fluid communication with the base portion and having at least one water output, the pull-out wand portion being moveably between a first position proximate to the base portion and a second position spaced apart from the base portion;

a valve interposed between the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion and the at least one source of water, the valve being operable to permit communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion in a first configuration and to prevent communication of water provided by the at least one source of water to the at least one water output in a second configuration;

an in water sensor which detects if the user is contacting the water exiting the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion;

a fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion, the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor adapted to detect a movement of an object contacting the pull-out wand portion along an exterior of the pull-out wand portion;

one of a proximity sensor and a touch sensor, the controller causing the valve to be in the first configuration in response to a first indication from the one of the proximity sensor and the touch sensor; and

an electronic controller operably coupled to the in water sensor and operably coupled to the valve, the electronic controller causing the valve to remain in the first configuration in response to the in water sensor detecting the user being in contact with the water exiting the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion, wherein the electronic controller causing the valve to provide water at a first flow rate in response to the first indication from the one of the proximity sensor and the touch sensor and to provide water at a second flow rate in response to the in water sensor detecting the user being in contact with the water exiting the at least one water output of the pull-out wand portion, the electronic controller further controlling a fluid characteristic of the water exiting the at least one water output based on an input of the fluid characteristic input electronic touch sensor.

16. The water delivery device of claim 15, wherein the second flow rate is higher than the first flow rate.

17. The water delivery device of claim 15, wherein the in water sensor is a capacitive sensor.