Pull-out wand

• US 9,228,329 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rodenbeck, Robert W., Spangler, Anthony G., Veros, Michael J., Koottungal, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOECKMANN, JASON J
• Application Number:
  US13/400,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20120145249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67, 239/71, 239/73, 239/68, 239/74, 239/407, 239/569, 239/568, 462/3, 137/801, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method for delivering water from a hot source of water and a cold source of water, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a base portion adapted to be coupled to a hot source of water and a cold source of water;

mixing water from the hot source of water and the cold source of water to provide a combined water;

communicating the combined water to at least one water outlet through at least one water conduit;

supporting a pull-out wand portion with the base portion, the pull-out wand portion being capable of being moved to a spaced apart position relative to the base portion, the least one water conduit being in fluid communication with the least one water outlet which is provided on the pull-out wand portion, the least one water conduit extending between the base portion and the pull-out wand portion when the pull-out wand portion is in the spaced apart position;

supporting a proximity sensor with the pull-out wand portion;

supporting a fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor with the pull-out wand portion, the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor including a plurality of regions extending between opposing ends, the fluid temperature 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;

electronically controlling a communication of the combined water to the at least one water outlet of the pull-out wand portion based on an indication received by the proximity sensor; and

electronically controlling a temperature of the combined water based on a user input received by the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion, wherein touching different ones of the plurality of regions of the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor varies the temperature of the combined water.

2. The water delivery method of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor includes an infrared emitter which emits infrared radiation into a detection zone and a detector configured to receive infrared radiation reflected from the detection zone.

3. The water delivery method of claim 2, wherein the detection zone includes an area below an end face of the pull-out wand portion.

4. The water delivery method of claim 1, wherein the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor monitors a region of a housing of the pull-out wand portion.

5. The water delivery method of claim 1, wherein the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor is a slide sensor.

6. The water delivery method of claim 5, further comprising the step of monitoring the slide sensor for the user input.

7. The water delivery method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a mixing valve for mixing water from the hot source of water and the cold source of water.

8. The water delivery method of claim 1, further comprising

supporting a third sensor with the pull-out wand portion, the third sensor being spaced apart from the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor;

electronically controlling a flow rate of the combined water based on a separate user input received by the third sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion.

9. The water delivery method of claim 8, wherein the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor controls only temperature and the third sensor controls only flow rate.

10. A water delivery method for delivering water from at least one source of water, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a base portion adapted to be coupled to at least one source of water including a hot source of water and a cold source of water;

mixing water from the hot source of water and the cold source of water to provide a combined water;

communicating the combined water to at least one water outlet through at least one water conduit;

supporting a pull-out wand portion with the base portion, the pull-out wand portion being capable of being moved to a spaced apart position relative to the base portion, the least one water conduit being in fluid communication with the least one water outlet which is provided on the pull-out wand portion, the least one water conduit extending between the base portion and the pull-out wand portion when the pull-out wand portion is in the spaced apart position;

supporting a proximity sensor with the pull-out wand portion;

supporting a fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor with the pull-out wand portion, the fluid temperature 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;

electronically controlling a temperature of the combined water based on a user input received by the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion;

wherein the fluid temperature input electronic touch sensor is a slide sensor;

monitoring the slide sensor for the user input; and

wherein the slide sensor has a non-linear sensor surface.

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

12. A water delivery method for delivering water from a hot source of water and a cold source of water, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a base portion adapted to be coupled to a hot source of water and a cold source of water;

mixing water from the hot source of water and the cold source of water to provide a combined water;

communicating the combined water to at least one water outlet through at least one water conduit;

supporting a pull-out wand portion with the base portion, the pull-out wand portion being capable of being moved to a spaced apart position relative to the base portion, the least one water conduit being in fluid communication with the least one water outlet which is provided on the pull-out wand portion, the least one water conduit extending between the base portion and the pull-out wand portion when the pull-out wand portion is in the spaced apart position;

supporting a first electronic touch sensor with the pull-out wand portion, the first electronic touch sensor including a first plurality of regions extending between opposing ends, the first electronic touch sensor adapted to detect an object contacting the pull-out wand portion along the first plurality of regions of an exterior of the pull-out wand portion;

electronically controlling a temperature of the combined water based on a first user input received at the first plurality of regions by the first electronic touch sensor of the pull-out wand portion, wherein touching different ones of the first plurality of regions of the first electronic touch sensor of the pull-out wand portion varies the temperature of the combined water;

supporting a second electronic touch sensor with the pull-out wand portion, the second electronic touch sensor including a second plurality of regions extending between opposing ends, the second electronic touch sensor adapted to detect an object contacting the pull-out wand portion along the second plurality of regions of the exterior of the pull-out wand portion; and

electronically controlling a flow rate of the combined water based on a second user input received at the second plurality of regions by the second electronic touch sensor of the pull-out wand portion, the second region being spaced apart from the first region, wherein touching different ones of the second plurality of regions of the second electronic touch sensor of the pull-out wand portion varies the flow rate of the combined water.

13. The water delivery method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of providing a proximity sensor, and electronically controlling a communication of the combined water to the at least one water outlet of the pull-out wand portion based on an indication received by the proximity sensor.

14. A water delivery method for delivering water from a hot source of water and a cold source of water, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a base portion adapted to be coupled to a hot source of water and a cold source of water;

mixing water from the hot source of water and the cold source of water to provide a combined water;

communicating the combined water to at least one water outlet through at least one water conduit;

supporting a pull-out wand portion with the base portion, the pull-out wand portion being capable of being moved to a spaced apart position relative to the base portion, the least one water conduit being in fluid communication with the least one water outlet which is provided on the pull-out wand portion, the least one water conduit extending between the base portion and the pull-out wand portion when the pull-out wand portion is in the spaced apart position;

supporting a proximity sensor with the pull-out wand portion;

supporting a fluid flow rate input electronic touch sensor with the pull-out wand portion, the fluid flow rate input electronic touch sensor including a plurality of regions extending between opposing ends, the fluid flow rate input electronic touch sensor adapted to detect a movement of object contacting the pull-out wand portion along an exterior of the pull-out wand portion;

electronically controlling a communication of the combined water to the at least one water outlet of the pull-out wand portion based on an indication received by the proximity sensor; and

electronically controlling a flow rate of the combined water based on a user input received by the fluid flow rate input electronic touch sensor supported by the pull-out wand portion when the combined water is being communicated to the at least one water outlet of the pull-out portion, wherein touching different ones of the plurality of regions of the fluid flow rate input electronic touch sensor varies the flow rate of the combined water.

15. The water delivery method of claim 14, further comprising the step of the electronically controlling the flow rate of the combined water based on a detection of a user in a water stream from the at least one water outlet.

16. The water delivery method of claim 15, wherein the flow rate increases in response to the detection of the user in the water stream of the at least one water outlet.

17. The water delivery method of claim 14, wherein the fluid flow rate input electronic touch sensor is a capacitive touch sensor provided along opposite edges of a rigid base member.

18. The water delivery method of claim 15, wherein the step of electrically controlling the flow rate of the combined water comprises capacitively sensing when a user is in contact with the water stream from the at least one water outlet.