Faucet assembly

• US 8,348,229 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Component Hardware Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Component Hardware Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Burns, Martin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): JELLETT, MATTHEW WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/592,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20110120581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 462/3
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The faucet assembly employs a sensor on the side of the spigot to control the flow of water from the spigot. An initial waving of a user'"'"'s hand across the sensor causes the spigot to be opened and a subsequent waving of the user'"'"'s hand across the sensor causes the spigot to be closed.

Claims

1. A faucet assembly comprising

a spigot for dispensing a flow of water through a predetermined path;

a supply pipe for delivering water to said spigot;

a solenoid valve in said pipe for movement between a closed position in said pipe to block the delivery of water through said pipe to said spigot and an open position to allow the delivery of water through said pipe to said spigot;

a control box for selectively emitting a first signal to said valve to move said valve to said open position and for selectively emitting a second signal to said valve to move said valve to said closed position;

a movable sensor of RF type mounted at a remote location from said spigot and spaced from said predetermined path for sensing movement of an object thereby and for emitting a control signal to said control box in response to a sensed movement thereby; and

an electrical circuit in said control box for receiving said control signal from said sensor and actuating said control box to emit said first signal to said valve in response to reception of said control signal from said sensor and to emit said second signal to said valve in response to a subsequent reception of said control signal from said sensor within a predetermined time period.

2. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control box is mounted on said supply pipe.

3. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an electrical power line extending from said control box and electrically connected to said electric circuit for delivery of electric power thereto.

4. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a battery within said control box and electrically connected to said electric circuit for delivery of electric power thereto.

5. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electric circuit includes an adjustable timing switch for adjusting said predetermined time period.

6. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said timing switch actuates said control box to emit said second signal to said valve in response to expiration of said predetermined time period without a second control signal being received from said sensor.

7. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor emits said control signal to said control box in response to a sensed movement thereby within a range of from 13 to 17 centimeters.

8. A faucet assembly comprising

a spigot for dispensing a flow of water in a predetermined path;

a supply pipe for delivering water to said spigot;

a solenoid valve in said pipe for movement between a closed position in said pipe to block a flow of water through said pipe to said spigot and an open position to allow passage of a flow of water to said spigot;

a control box mounted on said pipe for selectively emitting a first signal to said valve to move said valve to said open position and for selectively emitting a second signal to said valve to move said valve to said closed position;

a movable sensor of RF type mounted at a remote location from said spigot and in spaced relation to said predetermined path for sensing movement of an object thereby within a predetermined range and for emitting a control signal to said control box in response to a sensed movement thereby; and

an electrical circuit in said control box for receiving said control signal from said sensor and actuating said control box to emit said first signal to said valve in response to reception of said control signal from said sensor and to emit said second signal to said valve in response to a subsequent reception of said control signal from said sensor within a predetermined time period, said electric circuit including an adjustable timing switch for adjusting said predetermined time period.

9. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said timing switch actuates said control box to emit said second signal to said valve in response to expiration of said predetermined time period without a subsequent reception of said control signal being received from said sensor.

10. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sensor emits said control signal to said control box in response to a sensed movement thereby within a range of from 13 to 17 centimeters.

11. A faucet assembly comprising

a supply pipe for delivering water;

a spigot having a housing and a pipe mounted on said housing and connected to said supply pipe for dispensing the water from said supply pipe through a downwardly directed predetermined path;

a solenoid valve in said pipe for movement between a closed position in said pipe to block the delivery of water through said pipe to said spigot and an open position to allow the delivery of water through said pipe to said spigot;

a control box mounted on said supply pipe for selectively emitting a first signal to said valve to move said valve to said open position and for selectively emitting a second signal to said valve to move said valve to said closed position;

a movable sensor of RF type mounted at a remote location from said spigot and spaced from said predetermined path for sensing movement of an object thereby and out of said predetermined downwardly directed path and for emitting a control signal to said control box in response to a sensed movement of an object thereby; and

an electrical circuit in said control box for receiving said control signal from said sensor and actuating said control box to emit said first signal to said valve in response to reception of said control signal from said sensor and to emit said second signal to said valve in response to a subsequent reception of said control signal from said sensor.

12. A faucet assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said sensor emits said control signal to said control box in response to a sensed movement thereby within a range of from 13 to 17 centimeters.