FAUCET WITH INTEGRAL AIR DRYER

Abstract

A faucet includes a faucet body that includes a faucet outlet for dispensing at least one of a water stream and an air stream. The faucet includes an air blower that has an air blower outlet and a junction valve. The junction valve includes a first inlet that is connected to a water source and a second inlet that is connected to the air blower outlet. The junction valve also includes a junction valve outlet that is connected to the faucet outlet. The faucet includes a controller connected to the junction valve. The controller is configured to control the junction valve so that at least one of the air stream or the water stream is provided from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet based on a user input.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/697,630, filed on Jul. 13, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Faucets can be found in many different rooms of a building, including bathrooms and kitchens. Paired with faucets are usually particular types of drying mechanisms such as a towel or paper products so that the user can dry their hands and/or items presented under the faucet, such as dishes or food. In the particular example of a kitchen faucet, often dishes and/or food is cleaned off under the faucet and then either loaded into a dishwasher, hand dried with a towel or paper towels, or left to air dry. In some examples, such as with fruits and vegetables, paper towels and/or a separate appliances are used (e.g., a salad spinner) to dry such items. Hand drying can be time consuming and the user risks either damaging the food or breaking the dish (i.e., soft fruit or fragile crystal). Air drying (i.e., leaving food or dishes in open, generally still air and allowing evaporation to occur) is time consuming and not practical for food preparation and may produce water spots on dishes. Finally, if a dishwasher is used for dishes, not all dishes are dishwasher safe, thereby forcing the user to choose to either hand dry or air dry the item. Thus, convenient and practical improvements in drying technology is needed.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to a faucet. In one possible configuration, and by non-limiting example, the faucet has a faucet outlet that selectively provides either a water stream or an air stream based on a user input.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a faucet is disclosed. The faucet includes a faucet body that includes a faucet outlet for dispensing at least one of a water stream and an air stream. The faucet includes an air blower that has an air blower outlet and a junction valve. The junction valve includes a first inlet that is connected to a water source and a second inlet that is connected to the air blower outlet. The junction value also includes a junction valve outlet that is connected to the faucet outlet. The faucet includes a controller connected to the junction valve. The controller is configured to control the junction valve so that at least one of the air stream or the water stream is provided from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet based on a user input.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a faucet is disclosed. The method includes receiving a user input at a user input device. The method includes providing a junction valve that has an output in fluid communication with a faucet outlet of a faucet. The junction valve includes a first inlet in communication with a water source and a second inlet in communication with an air source. The method includes operating the junction valve so that at least one of a water stream from the first inlet of the junction valve or an air stream from the second inlet to the junction valve is provided to the junction valve outlet based on the user input received at the user input device. The method includes delivering fluid from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet.

In a still further aspect, a retrofit kit for a faucet is disclosed. The retrofit kit includes an air blower having an air blower outlet, and a junction valve. The junction valve includes a first inlet adapted to be fluidically connected to a water source, a second inlet adapted to be fluidically connected to the air blower outlet, and a junction valve outlet fluidically connectable to a faucet outlet via a single conduit through a faucet body of the faucet. The retrofit kit further includes a controller configured to control the junction valve so that at least one of the air stream or the water stream is provided from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet via the single conduit based on a user input received by the controller.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a faucet, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an auxiliary faucet, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an auxiliary faucet, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims.

The present disclosure relates to a faucet with an integral air blower that can be conveniently activated by the user. In some examples, the faucet can be maneuverable so that the user can hold a dish, food item, or the like with one hand, and operate and maneuver the faucet outlet with the other so as to either selectively present a water stream or an air stream to the item. This allows the user to easily and quickly dry all sides of the item without having to set the item down to activate the air stream. In some examples, the user can provide a user input, such as pressing the button, and the faucet output can expel air only.

FIG. 1 shows a faucet 100 including a faucet body 102 having a faucet outlet 104. The faucet 100 is also shown to be connected to a water source 106 and an air blower 108. The faucet 100 further includes a junction valve 110 and a controller 112.

The faucet 100 is operable so that the user can selectively choose whether a water stream or an air stream is output from the faucet outlet 104. This allows the user to use blown air to dry a variety of items adjacent the faucet 100. In one example, the user can go from rinsing an item with water expelled from the faucet outlet 104 and then go immediately to air drying the item with an air stream provided by the faucet outlet 104 after a user input is provided.

Although this disclosure will be discussed with regard to a kitchen faucet for purposes of example, the system described herein could be implemented in any type of faucet, including bathroom faucets, whether the faucet has a single handle or two handles. Although the faucet 100 can be a pull-down kitchen faucet, this disclosure encompasses other types of faucets, including but not limited to, pull-out faucets.

The user can toggle whether water or air is output from the faucet outlet via a user input device 101, such as a button. The button 101 may be, for example, electrically connected to the controller 112, discussed below, which coordinates water or air output. In some examples, the faucet 100 can be equipped to operate upon receipt of voice commands, gestures, or the like so that switching between water and air output via the faucet outlet 104 can be easily toggled by the user. In some examples, the user can also select the temperature and volume of the air stream (e.g., hot/cold and high/low flow rate) at the faucet outlet 104, much like a water stream on a traditional faucet. In such examples, the user input device 101 may include, e.g., a dial or other mechanism for adjusting between hot and cold air streams. Air stream temperature control can be useful to the user depending on the object that is introduced to the air stream. For example, a hot air stream can be used to dry dishes, while a cold air stream can be used to dry food such as fruit or vegetables.

In some examples, the faucet body 102 can include a faucet handle 114 and a detachable faucet head 116 at which the faucet outlet 104 terminates. The handle 114 can be used to control at least the volume and temperature of a water stream and/or an air stream delivered via the faucet outlet 104. The faucet head 116 can be detached or undocked from the faucet body 102 to allow for maneuverability by the user so as to aim the faucet outlet 104. The faucet body 102 can have a variety of different shapes and sizes to provide a variety of different appearances. In some cases, the faucet 100 could be manually adjusted electronically (e.g., over an electrical wire), such as using a hands-free sensor, touch activation, buttons, voice and/or speech control, or other interface. In the example shown, the faucet head 116 has a further control button 117 for turning on and off a supply through the faucet outlet. Accordingly, through use of control button 117 and user input device 101, a user may select whether to output air or water streams, and may turn on/off the selected stream.

It is noted that, in the case of retrofit installations, a faucet head 116 may not include two different controls, such as the user input device 101 and control button 117. In such circumstances, the user input device that is present on the faucet head may be used to trigger output of a currently selected air or water stream that is selected via a separate switch (not shown) communicatively connected to the controller (e.g., either at or below a counter level).

In example embodiments, the faucet 100 can also be electronically controlled. The terms “voice control” and “voice recognition” are used interchangeably to mean broadly a feature of the faucet for identifying a user based on a user's spoken words. With respect to voice recognition, for example, the faucet 100 could have user-based presets for water temperature, water flow, water volume, air temperature, air flow, air volume, filtering, and/or other faucet controls based on an identification of the user using voice recognition.

The faucet outlet 104 is a pathway disposed at least partially within the faucet body 102. In some examples, the faucet outlet 104 can be a sealed hose within the faucet body 102. In other examples, the faucet outlet 104 is a pipe. In other examples, the faucet outlet 104 is defined by the faucet body 102.

The water source 106 can be any of a variety of water sources (e.g., municipal water, well water, water tank, etc.) so as to supply water to the faucet 100. As is typical, water supply inlet hoses 120 can include two or more hoses, and may supply cold and hot water to be selectively released from the faucet outlet 104. In some examples, the faucet 100 can include a mixing valve 122 that is configured to mix incoming water from the water source 106 to provide a water flow of a user-selected temperature to be released from the faucet outlet 104. The water source 106 is in communication with a first inlet 124 of the junction valve 110. In some examples, the water source 106 first passes through the mixing valve 122 prior to entering the first inlet 124 of the junction valve 110.

The air blower 108 can be positioned under the sink/counter to selectively provide air to the faucet 100 for output at the faucet outlet 104. In some examples, the air blower 108 is located remotely from the faucet 100 but is plumbed to be in fluid communication with at least a portion of the faucet 100. In some examples, the air blower 108 is an air compressor. In other examples, the air blower 108 includes a fan and a motor so as to selectively provide blown air, and optionally a heater element for selectively providing a warm air stream rather than a room temperature air stream. The air blower 108 includes an air blower outlet 125 in communication with a second inlet 126 of the junction valve 110. In the depicted example, the air blower 108 is also in communication, via a blower signal line 128, with the controller 112 to allow the controller 112 to control the operation of (e.g., on/off, temperature, and/or flow rate) of the air blower. In some examples, the air blower 108 is powered by the controller 112 via the blower signal line 128. In some examples, the air blower 108 includes a heating and/or cooling element (not shown) to selectively provide hot or cold air to the junction valve 110 based on a control signal from the controller 112.

The junction valve 110 delivers either an air stream or a water stream from the air blower 108 and water source 106, respectively, to the faucet outlet 104. In some examples, the junction valve 110 is mounted below the sink/countertop and out of sight of the user. The junction valve 110 includes a junction valve outlet 130, the first inlet 124, and the second inlet 126. The junction valve outlet 130 is in fluid communication with the faucet outlet 104. The first inlet 124 is in communication with the water source 106 (e.g., via mixing valve 122) while the second inlet 126 is in communication with the air blower 108. In some examples, the junction valve 110 can have an internal configuration that allows the junction valve 110 to alter which fluid, received at the first and second inlets 124, 126 (i.e., water or air), is delivered to the junction valve outlet 130. In some examples, operation of the junction valve 110 is controlled via the controller 112.

Although in the embodiment shown the junction valve 110 is fluidically connected to the outlet 104 for selective delivery of water or air via the junction valve outlet 130, in alternative embodiments, separate outlets may be provided extending from the junction valve 110 that lead to the outlet 104. As such, water and/or air may be concurrently provided using the handle 114. However, such arrangements may require replacement of the entire faucet since two conduits are required within the faucet body 102, and are not amenable to accommodating retrofit installations into existing faucets which typically include a single conduit to the faucet outlet 104.

The controller 112 is configured to control the junction valve 110 so as selectively deliver either water or air to the faucet outlet 104 based on a user input received at the user input device 101. In some examples, the controller 112 is operable to execute a plurality of software instructions that, when executed by the controller 112, cause the faucet 100 to implement the methods and otherwise operate and have functionality as described herein. The controller 112 may comprise a device commonly referred to as a microprocessor, central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), or other similar device and may be embodied as a standalone unit or as a device shared with components of the faucet 100. The controller 112 may include memory for storing the software instructions, or the faucet 100 may further comprise a separate memory device for storing the software instructions that is electrically connected to the controller 112 for the bi-directional communication of the instructions, data, and signals therebetween.

In the depicted example, the controller 112 is in communication with the user input device 101 (and optionally with the control button 117 if present) via a user input signal line 132, in communication with the air blower 108, and in communication with the junction valve 110. In some examples, the controller 112 can also be in communication with the mixing valve 122. In some examples, the controller 112 is also connected to a power source 134. In some examples, the power source can be AC power. In other examples, the power source 134 can be DC power, such as a battery.

The user input signal line 132 is configured to carry a signal representative of a user input received at the user input device 101. In some examples, the user input can be at least one of a touch, a press, a gesture, a voice command, or the like. Upon receipt of the user input, the controller 112 operates the junction valve 110 to select which of the two fluids, either water or air, is delivered to the junction valve outlet 130 based on the user input received. In some examples, only a single fluid is delivered to the junction valve outlet 130 to be dispensed from the faucet outlet 104. In other examples, a mix of fluids (i.e., aerated water) is delivered to the faucet outlet 104.

In the example where the controller 112 receives a user input at the user input device 101 and/or control button 117 which is representative that a water stream is desired at the faucet outlet 104, the controller 112 communicates with the junction valve 110 (and also the mixing valve 122, in some examples) to operate the junction valve 110 to allow water to flow from the first inlet 124 to the junction valve outlet 130 and into the faucet outlet 104.

In the example where the controller 112 receives a user input at the user input device 101 or control button 117 which indicates that an air stream is desired at the faucet outlet 104, the controller 112 communicates with the air blower 108 to provide an air stream to the second inlet 126 of the junction valve 110. In some examples, such a signal may trigger the air blower 108 to power on. In other examples, such as in the example where the air blower 108 is a compressor, a signal from the controller 112 may trigger a valve (not shown) to release compressed air from a holding tank (not shown).

In the embodiment shown, a single faucet outlet 104 and associated conduit through the faucet body 102 are used for output of water and air streams. Utilizing a singular faucet outlet 104 for both the water stream and the air stream allows the faucet 100 to have a more compact design, simplifies the plumbed internals of the faucet, and allows for retrofitting existing faucets. In alternative embodiments (and in particular in association with full faucet replacement installations), two separate conduits may be provided within the faucet body 102 to the faucet outlet 104, for separate, selective output of water or air, or concurrent use of both water and air streams.

FIG. 2 depicts another example of the present disclosure. A faucet 200 is shown. In the example shown, the faucet 200 is an auxiliary faucet, such as a side spraying faucet. The faucet 200 can be positioned adjacent a traditional faucet at a sink. The faucet 200 can be a pull-out side spraying faucet to allow maneuverability. In some examples, the faucet 200 can have a faucet body 202 that is substantially smaller than a traditional faucet adjacent thereto.

The faucet 200 is substantially similar to the faucet 100, in that the faucet 200 includes the faucet body 202, and a faucet outlet 204. The faucet 200 is also shown to be connected to a water source 206 and an air blower 208. The faucet 200 further includes a junction valve 210 and a controller 212. The faucet 200 is mountable at a counter and operable so that, upon receipt of a user input received at a user input device 201 (or some combination of user input device 201 and control button 203, analogous to the discussion above regarding user input device 101 and control button 117) and sensed by the controller 212, the controller 212 controls the operation of the junction valve 210 to provide either a water stream from the water source 206 or an air stream from the air blower 208 to the faucet outlet 204. The controller 212 and air blower 208 may be powered from a power source 234.

In some embodiments, the faucet 200 is not connected to the water source 206 and is instead only connected to the air blower 208 to provide only an air stream upon receipt of a user input. In such an example, an on/off valve can be used in place of the junction valve 210.

As seen in FIG. 3, in an example alternative embodiment of a faucet configuration 300, as compared to the faucet 200 seen in FIG. 2, the water source 206 may be directly connected to the junction valve 210 at a first inlet 224, rather than being first connected to the faucet 200. Since, in this context, a pull-out hand sprayer may not have a mixing valve, there may not need to be a separate control or reason to route the water source through the faucet 200 prior to the junction valve 210. In this context, optionally, the water source 206 may correspond to an output connection from a mixing valve of an accompanying main faucet, such that controls over volume and temperature would be managed prior to water arriving at the first inlet 224 of the mixing valve.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A faucet comprising:

a faucet body including a faucet outlet for dispensing at least one of a water stream and an air stream;

an air blower having an air blower outlet;

a junction valve including: a first inlet connected to a water source; a second inlet connected to the air blower outlet; a junction valve outlet connected to the faucet outlet; and

a controller connected to the junction valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the junction valve so that at least one of the air stream or the water stream is provided from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet based on a user input.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the air blower is a compressor.

3. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the user input is received at a user input device on the faucet body.

4. The faucet of claim 3, wherein the user input device is a button.

5. The faucet of claim 4, further comprising a second input device, the second input device comprising a control button.

6. The faucet of claim 1, further comprising a mixing valve positioned in communication with the water source, wherein the water source passes through the mixing valve prior to entering the junction valve via the first inlet.

7. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the faucet outlet can only dispense a single fluid, either the water stream or the air stream, at a time.

8. The faucet of claim 1, comprising a single conduit extending between the junction valve outlet and the faucet outlet.

9. The faucet of claim 1, comprising a plurality of conduits extending between the junction valve outlet and the faucet outlet allowing concurrent output of an air stream and a water stream.

10. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the air blower includes a heater element.

11. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the faucet body comprises one of a primary faucet or a pull-out side-spraying faucet.

12. A method of operating a faucet, the method comprising:

receiving a user input at a user input device;

operating a junction valve having an output in fluid communication with a faucet outlet of a faucet, a first inlet in communication with a water source and a second inlet in communication with an air source, so that at least one of a water stream from the first inlet of the junction valve or an air stream from the second inlet of the junction valve is provided to the junction valve outlet based on the user input received at the user input device; and

delivering fluid from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein operating the junction valve comprises actuating the junction valve via a controller communicatively connected to the user input device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein delivering fluid from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet comprises delivering one of a water stream or an air stream at the faucet outlet.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a second user input at the user input device, the second user input toggling the junction valve to select a different fluid from the fluid delivered from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet for subsequent delivery from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet.

16. A retrofit kit for a faucet, the retrofit kit comprising:

an air blower having an air blower outlet;

a junction valve including: a first inlet adapted to be fluidically connected to a water source; a second inlet adapted to be fluidically connected to the air blower outlet; and a junction valve outlet fluidically connectable to a faucet outlet via a single conduit through a faucet body of the faucet; and

a controller configured to control the junction valve so that at least one of the air stream or the water stream is provided from the junction valve outlet to the faucet outlet via the single conduit based on a user input received by the controller.

17. The retrofit kit of claim 16, wherein the air blower comprises a compressor.

18. The retrofit kit of claim 16, further comprising a signal line electrically connectable between a user input device of the faucet and the controller, the controller being configured to receive a signal representative of the user input via the signal line.

19. The retrofit kit of claim 16, wherein the first inlet is adapted to be connected to an output of a mixing valve of the faucet.

20. The retrofit kit of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the junction valve such that the junction valve outlet can only dispense a single fluid, either the water stream or the air stream, at a time.