Spout assembly for an electronic faucet

• US 8,424,569 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• 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: Marty, Garry Robin, Moore, Jeffrey Lee, Sailors, Timothy Jay Jr., Jonte, Patrick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/195,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20110284111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 137/801, 137/613, 251/129.04, 462/3, 467/8, 467/5, 239/443, 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.

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 transmit a signal representative of the relative position of the spray head; and

a controller operably coupled to the sensor, the controller being configured to receive the signal from the sensor and control operation of the faucet in response thereto.

2. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control water flow through the spray head in response to the signal from the sensor.

3. The electronic faucet of claim 1, wherein the controller selects an operating mode of the faucet in response to the signal from the sensor.

4. 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.

5. The electronic faucet of claim 4, further comprising a sliding bracket supporting the magnet.

6. 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.

7. The electronic faucet of claim 6, 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.

8. The electronic faucet of claim 7, 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.

9. The electronic faucet of claim 8, 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.

10. 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.

11. The electronic faucet of claim 1, further compromising:

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

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

12. The electronic faucet of claim 1, further comprising a retainer secured to the delivery spout for removably coupling of the spray head to the outlet of the delivery spout, the retainer including a plurality of inwardly biased, circumferentially spaced retaining members configured to be angularly positioned intermediate a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs of the pull-out spray head for preventing relative rotation between a waterway of the pull-out spray head and the retainer and controlling water flow through the waterway.

13. A faucet comprising:

a pull-down spout;

an electrically operable valve;

a flexible hose fluidly coupling the pull-down spout and the electrically operable valve;

a sensor configured to detect a pulling out of the pull-down spout;

wherein pulling out the pull-down spout from the faucet activates water flow through the electrically operable valve.

14. The faucet of claim 13, wherein water flows through the electrically operable valve for only as long as the pull-down spout is extended.

15. The faucet of claim 13, further comprising a touch control that toggles water flow off and on while the pull-down spout is extended.

16. The faucet of claim 13, further comprising:

a detector configured to detect whether or not water is flowing through the faucet;

a manually operable valve;

the electrically operable valve in series with the manually operable valve; and

a logical control having a manual mode and a hands-free mode, the logical control causing the electrically operable valve to open and close;

wherein the faucet enters the manual mode when the faucet detector detects that water is not flowing through the faucet and the electrically operable valve is open.

17. The faucet of claim 13, further comprising:

a proximity sensor producing a sensor output signal;

a handle, the handle comprising a first touch control; and

a logical control comprising;

a manual mode, wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and water flow is toggled on and off by positioning the handle; and

a hands-free mode, wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to the sensor output signal;

a second touch control that toggles the faucet between the hands-free mode and the manual mode when touched by the user; and

a mode indicator that indicates which mode the faucet is presently in;

wherein the first touch control puts the faucet in the hands-free mode when touched by a user, and wherein the water flow has a temperature and a flow rate that is are determined by the position of the handle.

18. The faucet of claim 13, further comprising:

a handle comprising a touch control;

a proximity sensor;

a logical control having;

a manual mode, wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and water flow is toggled on and off by positioning the handle; and

a hands-free mode, wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to the proximity sensor;

a mode-controller that toggles the logical control between the hands-free mode and the manual mode; and

wherein the touch control controls activation of water flow through the faucet in response to contact of a user with the handle that is insufficient to change a position of the handle.

19. The faucet of claim 18, further comprising a second touch control that toggles water flow off and on.

20. The faucet of claim 19, wherein the second touch control is positioned within the pull-down spout.

21. The faucet of claim 13, wherein pulling down the pull-down spout is detected with a Hall-Effect sensor.

22. An electronic faucet comprising:

a spout;

a pull-out spray head removably coupled to the spout;

an actuator driven valve operably coupled to the spray head;

a controller operably coupled to the actuator driven valve; and

wherein uncoupling the spray head from the spout activates water flow through the actuator driven valve.

23. The faucet of claim 22, further comprising a sensor operably coupled to the controller, the sensor being configured to detect a position of the spray head relative to the spout and transmit a signal representative of the relative position of the spray head to the controller.

24. The faucet of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to control water flow through the spray head in response to the signal from the sensor.

25. The electronic faucet of claim 24, further comprising:

an electrical cable operably coupled to the sensor and running through an interior of the spout; and

a cable holder configured to hold a portion of the electrical cable within the interior of the spout.

26. The electronic faucet of claim 24, further comprising a retainer secured to the spout for removably coupling the spray head to the spout, the retainer including a plurality of inwardly biased, circumferentially spaced retaining members configured to be a angularly positioned intermediate a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs of the spray head for preventing relative rotation between a waterway of the spray head and the retainer and controlling water flow through the waterway between an aerated stream and a spray.