Wireless power transfer device for a fluid delivery apparatus

• US 8,333,361 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: McTargett, Charles W
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIETJEN, MARINA ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US12/080,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20080245422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.06, 251/129.04, 318/16, 455 411- 413, 455/274
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

A fluid delivery apparatus includes a fluid outlet located on a first side of a barrier and at least one electrically powered component located on a second side of the barrier. The apparatus also includes a wireless power transfer device to supply power to the electrically powered component.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery apparatus configured to supply fluid to a sink basin mounted in a countertop, the countertop being located above an enclosure without an electrical power outlet located in the enclosure, the fluid delivery apparatus comprising:

a faucet providing a fluid outlet located above the countertop adjacent the sink basin;

at least one electrically powered component located below the countertop within the enclosure, the electrical component being coupled to the faucet and performing a function of the fluid delivery apparatus; and

a wireless power transfer device comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the wireless power transfer device being located above the countertop and coupled to a power supply outside of the enclosure and the second portion of the wireless power transfer device being located below the countertop inside of the enclosure to receive power from the first portion, the second portion being electrically coupled and supplying power to the electrically powered component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface device located outside of the enclosure, the user interface device being configured to receive an input from a user to control the fluid delivery apparatus, and wherein the first portion of the wireless power transfer device transmits data signals from the user interface device to the second portion, the data signals being used by the electrically powered component to control the fluid delivery apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user interface device is a portable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrically powered device coupled to the first portion of the wireless power transfer device outside of the enclosure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered device also includes the first portion of the wireless power transfer device therein.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered device comprises at least one of a night light, a clock, a radio, an MP3 player, a water temperature indicator, a temperature controller, a flow controller, and a user interface device for setting temperature, flow, or preset fill conditions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the wireless power transfer device is a primary coil and the second portion of the wireless power transfer device is a secondary coil located in proximity to the primary coil.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one electrically powered component comprises at least one of a temperature mixing valve, a flow control valve, a power supply, a back-up power supply, a filter module, a heating module, a cooling module, a recirculation pump, and an electronic diverter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically powered component comprises an electronic valve in fluid communication with a fluid source and the fluid outlet, the electronic valve further comprising a controller configured to control an operation of the valve.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an object detection sensor located outside of the enclosure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a night light, the object detection sensor turning on the night light in response to detecting an object.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a hot water recirculation pump located inside of the enclosure and powered by the second portion of the wireless power transfer device, the object detection sensor turning on the recirculation pump in response to detecting an object.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the object detection sensor comprises a motion detector.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a diverter valve in fluid communication with an internal waterway of the fluid outlet and including a first position corresponding to a stream flow pattern and a second position corresponding to a spray flow pattern.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a controller actuates the diverter valve to position the diverter valve in a predetermined position corresponding to one of the first position and the second position.

16. A method for delivering fluid to a sink basin mounted in a countertop, the countertop being located above an enclosure without an electrical power outlet located in the enclosure, the method comprising:

locating a faucet including a fluid outlet above the countertop adjacent the sink basin;

providing at least one electrically powered component located below the countertop within the enclosure, the electrical component being coupled to the faucet and performing a function of the fluid delivery apparatus; and

providing a wireless power transfer device having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the wireless power transfer device being located above the countertop and coupled to a power supply outside of the enclosure and the second portion of the wireless power transfer device being located below the countertop inside the enclosure to receive power from the first portion wirelessly, the second portion of the wireless power transfer device being electrically coupled to and supplying power to the electrically powered component.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising wirelessly transmitting control signals from a user interface device to the electrically powered component to control the fluid delivery apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting control signals from the user interface device to the electrically powered component is performed by the wireless power transfer device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing an electrically powered device located outside of the enclosure, the electrically powered device comprising at least one of a night light, a clock, a radio, an MP3 player, a water temperature indicator, a temperature controller, a flow controller, and a user interface device for setting temperature, flow, or preset fill conditions.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one electrically powered component located below the countertop within the enclosure comprises at least one of a temperature mixing valve, a flow control valve, a power supply, a back-up power supply, a filter module, a heating module, a cooling module, a recirculation pump, and an electronic diverter.

21. A method for delivering fluid in a room divided into first and second separate areas by a physical barrier located within a room, the first area of the room being located on a first side of the barrier having access to an electrical power supply and the second area of the room being located on a second, opposite side of the barrier having no access to the electrical power supply, the method comprising:

locating a fluid outlet on the first side of the barrier to supply fluid to the first area of the room;

locating a plurality of fluid delivery components including a valve, at least one fluid supply line coupled to the valve, and at least one electrically powered component on the second side of the barrier in the second area of the room, the at least one electrical component performing a function of the fluid delivery apparatus; and

providing a wireless power transfer device having a first portion and a second portion,

the first portion of the wireless power transfer device being located in the first area of the room on the first side of the barrier spaced apart from the plurality of fluid delivery components located in the second area of the room on the second, opposite side of the barrier, the first portion of the wireless power transfer device being coupled to the electrical power supply located in the first area of the room on the first side of the barrier, and

the second portion of the wireless power transfer device being located in the second area of the room on the second, opposite side of the barrier to receive power from the first portion of the wireless power transfer device wirelessly through the barrier, the second portion of the wireless power transfer device being electrically coupled to and supplying power to the at least one electrically powered component.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the barrier is a wall in the room, and the fluid outlet includes a shower head.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the barrier is a countertop, the first area being located above the countertop and the second area being located below the countertop.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one electrically powered component includes an electronic valve in fluid communication with a fluid source and the fluid outlet and a controller configured to control an operation of the electronic valve.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one electrically powered component includes at least one of a temperature mixing valve, a flow control valve, a power supply, a back-up power supply, a filter module, a heating module, a cooling module, a recirculation pump, and an electronic diverter.