Water filter containing faucet and display therefor

• US 5,858,215 A
• Filed: 12/06/1996
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moen, Inc. (Canada) (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Moen, Inc. (Canada) (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lofgren, John, Johnson, Kevin M., Wagner, Henry N., Mercer, Lee A., Hunter, Gregory, Burchard, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US08/761,351
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/87-89, 210/91, 210/94, 210/138, 210/282, 210/143, 210/420, 210/424, 210/433.1, 210/434, 210/449, 210/460, 73/861.78, 73/861.79, 137/551, 137/552, 137/553, 137/554, 137/555, 137/559, 137/560, 137/801
• US Class Current: 210/87
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/04 Plug, tap, or cock filters filtering elements mounted in or on a faucet
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0415 having an extendable water outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The combination of a water filter and a display for indication of the water filter condition includes an electrical circuit connected to the display and responsive to use of the water filter. The circuit includes a microcontroller, a timer connected to the microcontroller and providing timing signals thereto, and a switch connected to the microcontroller and responsive to the flow of water from the filter to cause the microcontroller to process the timing signals. The microcontroller is programmed to utilize the timing signals to provide an electrical signal to the display indicative of filter condition.

Claims

1. A faucet having multiple water discharges including a housing, an input water connection for said housing, unfiltered water discharge means on said housing, filtered water discharge means on said housing, a water filter within said housing, valve control means in said housing connected to each of said water discharges,

an unfiltered water flow path from said input water connection to said valve control means, manual means accessible from the exterior of said housing for operating said valve control means to direct water from said unfiltered water flow path to said unfiltered water discharge means,

a filtered water flow path from said input water connection, through said filter, to said valve control means, filtered water manual control means accessible from the exterior of said housing for operating said valve control means to direct filtered water to said filtered water discharge means and not to said unfiltered water discharge means and

an electrical circuit positioned within said housing, filtered water display means on said housing connected to said circuit, said circuit including means responsive to operation of said filtered water manual control means to cause said circuit to operate said display during discharge of filtered water.

2. The faucet of claim 1 in which said circuit includes a microcontroller, timing means connected to said microcontroller and providing timing signals thereto, and a switch connected to said microcontroller and responsive to the flow of water from said filtered water discharge means to cause said microcontroller to process said timing signals, said microcontroller being programmed to utilize said timing signals to provide an electrical signal to said display means indicative of filter condition.

3. The faucet of claim 2 wherein the electrical signal provided to said display means provides an indication of the remaining life of the filter.

4. The faucet of claim 2 wherein said microcontroller operates to provide a signal to said display means when said switch indicates there is a flow of water from said filter water discharge means.

5. The faucet of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit includes a battery connected to said microcontroller for providing the power for operation thereof.

6. The faucet of claim 5 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to provide a visual display of a low battery condition.

7. The faucet of claim 2 wherein said circuit includes an audio indicator connected to said microcontroller and activated thereby.

8. The faucet of claim 7 wherein said circuit includes a battery, said microcontroller being programmed to provide an audio indication of a low battery condition.

9. The faucet of claim 1 wherein said display means includes indicia indicative of the remaining life of said filter.

10. The faucet of claim 9 wherein said display means includes indicia indicative that the filter is discharging filtered water.

11. The faucet of claim 10 wherein said display means includes continuously activated indicia indicative that remaining filter life is less than a predetermined minimum.

12. The faucet of claim 11 wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display under the control of said microcontroller.

13. The faucet of claim 1 wherein said circuit includes filter identification switch means, said filter having identification means thereon in electrical contact with said filter identification switch means, said microcontroller being programmed, in response to timing signals from said timing means, and in response to said filter identification switch means to provide a display indicative of the condition of said filter.