Integrated electronic shower system

• US 8,438,672 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Reeder, Ryan A., Stohler, Spencer L., Mendenhall, Andrew B., Zink, Paul T., Rodenbeck, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US13/251,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20120017367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 460/1, 462/3, 466/8, 467/6
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/04 Special arrangement or operation of ventilating devices ventilating rooms in general F24F

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 water control system for use with a shower, the system comprising:

a fluid delivery device;

a flow control valve operably coupled to the fluid delivery device;

a controller in communication with the flow control valve;

a proximity sensor in communication with the controller;

a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of water exiting the fluid delivery device and in communication with the controller; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the flow control valve to stop the flow of water to the fluid delivery device when the proximity sensor detects no user within a predetermined distance of the fluid delivery device and the temperature sensor detects a temperature at least as great as a predetermined value.

2. The water control system of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery device comprises a shower head.

3. The water control 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.

4. The water control system of claim 1, further comprising a control panel including a temperature display in communication with the controller.

5. The water control system of claim 4, wherein the temperature display includes a digital readout.

6. The water control system of claim 4, wherein the control panel includes a plurality of user defined presets, the fluid delivery device includes a plurality of water outlets, and each preset includes a shower setting stored in a memory by a user and defining an arrangement of active water outlets and a set temperature of water discharged from the active water outlets.

7. A shower system comprising:

a controller;

an electrically operable valve in communication with the controller;

a hot water line fluidly coupled to the valve;

a cold water line fluidly coupled to the valve;

an outlet fluidly coupled to the valve;

a proximity sensor in communication with the controller;

a temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure the temperature of water supplied to the outlet; and

a warm-up control in communication with the controller, wherein activation of the warm-up control causes the controller to activate the valve for delivering fluid to the outlet until the proximity sensor detects no user within a predetermined distance and a temperature at least as great as a predetermined temperature is measured by the temperature sensor.

8. The shower system of claim 7, wherein the controller deactivates the valve for stopping the delivery of fluid to the outlet when both the proximity sensor detects no user within the predetermined distance and the temperature sensor measures a temperature at least as great as the predetermined temperature.

9. The shower system of claim 7, further comprising an enunciator, wherein the controller activates the enunciator when the predetermined temperature is reached.

10. The shower system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of body sprays fluidly coupled to the outlet, wherein the body sprays are purged when the predetermined temperature is measured by the temperature sensor.

11. The shower system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of electrically operable body spray valves fluidly coupled to the body sprays, wherein the body spray valves are activated by the controller when the predetermined temperature is measured by the temperature sensor.

12. The shower system of claim 7, wherein the warm-up control comprises a push button.

13. The shower system of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of body sprays fluidly coupled to the outlet;

a plurality of electronically operable body spray valves fluidly coupled to the body sprays; and

a plurality of presets in communication with the controller, each of the presets being configured to control the operation of the body spray valves.

14. 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 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.

15. The shower system of claim 14, 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.

16. The shower system of claim 14, 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.

17. The shower system of claim 14, wherein the user interface further includes a temperature display in communication with the controller.

18. The shower system of claim 14, wherein the water outlet comprises a shower head.

19. The shower system of claim 14, further comprising an actuator in communication with the controller and operably coupled to the water outlet, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust the position of the water outlet, and the at least one preset controls the actuator and the resulting position of the water outlet.

20. The shower system of claim 19, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the water outlet in at least one of translational and rotational movement.

21. The shower system of claim 18, wherein the shower head includes one of a hand shower, an overhead shower and a body spray.