# US 10,501,356 B2 · Hospital ozone faucet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,356 B2 - Document ID: US10501356B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/790,550 - Filed: 2017-10-23 - Published: 2018-05-24 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-21 - Assignees: Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd - Applicants: Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd - Inventors: Cory Macey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501356B2 ## CPC - C02F 9/20: Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems - A61L 2/035: Electrolysis - A61L 2/183: Ozone dissolved in a liquid - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/4618: {for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water} - C02F 1/4672: {by electrooxydation} - C02F 1/78: with ozone {(C02F1/4672 takes precedence)} - C25B 1/13: Ozone - E03C 1/046: Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10) - E03C 1/057: {touchless, i.e. using sensors} - E03C 1/126: Installations for disinfecting or deodorising waste-water plumbing installations - C02F 2001/46185: {only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing} - C02F 2209/40: Liquid flow rate - C02F 2209/44: Time - C02F 2307/06: Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS ## Abstract A hospital faucet assembly is provided that includes an outlet adapted to direct a flow water stream into a sink. An ozone chamber is provided having a water inlet and a water outlet. A flow control valve is connected to the water inlet, and the water outlet is connected to the faucet armature. A sensor is provided which is adapted to control the flow control valve. An ozone generator is located within the chamber, and when a user activates the sensor, the valve opens allowing more water to enter the chamber and then travel out through the water outlet of the ozone chamber to the faucet armature which dispenses the water flow into the sink. A controller is provided and is connected to the control valve and the sensor. The controller is configured to run an automatic cycle on an occasional basis to flush the sink with ozone-rich water in order flush and/or disinfect water located in a trap of the sink drain, or provide other disinfecting functions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A faucet assembly, comprising: an armature that is adapted to be connected to a sink or a counter top, the armature includes an outlet adapted to discharge a water flow into the sink; an ozone chamber defined by a housing having a top and a bottom, and a water inlet and a water outlet connected to the ozone chamber; a flow control valve connected to the water inlet; a fluid conveying connection between the water outlet and the armature; a sensor that is adapted to detect a user's presence; an ozone generator located within the ozone chamber; and a controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and operate the flow control valve and the ozone generator, the controller being configured to run a disinfection cycle at least on an occasional basis in which the ozone generator is activated, and after a pre-determined time period, the controller opens the flow control valve to flush a sink drain line with ozone-rich water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the ozone-rich water is adapted to disinfect water located in a trap of the sink drain line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the ozone generator when the sensor is activated by a user to wash a user's hands and to open the flow control valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The faucet assembly of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a disinfecting hand wash mode in which, when the sensor no longer detects a user's hands due to moving away from the sensor after an initial delivery of water, the controller is adapted to turn off the flow control valve for a predetermined time period and continues to allow the ozone generator to operate such that an ozone concentration in the water within the chamber is adapted to increase to at least 0.2 ppm, and then is adapted to turn on the control valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the chamber is cylindrical and is mountable with an axis of the chamber being vertical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The faucet assembly of claim 5, wherein the chamber has a capacity of about 0.5 liters to 0.75 liters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The faucet assembly of claim 5, wherein the ozone generator extends along the axis of the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an IR sensor and is located on the armature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect a current draw of the ozone generator and adjust the pre-determined time period that the ozone generator is activated to control a concentration of ozone in the water in the chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to reverse a polarity of a cathode and an anode of the ozone generator on an occasional basis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate in a hand wash mode, in which the sensor detects a user and opens the flow control valve and, when a user moves their hands away from the sensor after an initial delivery of water, the controller is adapted to turn off the flow control valve for a predetermined time period and continues to allow the ozone generator to operate such that a first ozone concentration is reached in the water within the chamber, and then is adapted to turn on the control valve, and in the disinfection cycle, the ozone generator is activated until the water in the ozone chamber has reached a second ozone concentration, wherein the second ozone concentration is higher than the first ozone concentration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The faucet assembly of claim 5, wherein the ozone generator extends up from the bottom of the housing into the chamber. ### Claim 13 A method of disinfecting a sink trap, comprising: providing an armature that is adapted to be connected to a sink or a counter top, with the armature including an outlet, an ozone chamber defined by a housing having a top and a bottom, and a water inlet and a water outlet connected to the ozone chamber, a flow control valve connected to the water inlet, a fluid conveying connection between the water outlet and the armature, a sensor that is adapted to detect a user's presence, an ozone generator located within the ozone chamber, and a controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and operate the flow control valve and the ozone generator; running a disinfection cycle by the controller activating the ozone generator, and after a pre-determined time period, the controller opening the flow control valve to flush a sink drain line with ozone-rich water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the controller opens the flow control valve for a predetermined flow time. ### Claim 15 A method of providing a disinfecting hand wash, comprising: detecting when a user is present at a sink by a sensor; a controller receiving a signal when a user is present and opening a flow control valve for water and starting an ozone generator located in a chamber that receives the water from the flow control valve, and discharges the water into the sink; the controller turning off the flow control valve for a predetermined time to increase an ozone concentration in the water in the chamber; and the controller opening the flow control valve to discharge the water with the increased ozone concentration from the chamber into the sink. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring a current draw of the ozone generator and adjusting the predetermined time based on the current draw. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: turning off the ozone generator and closing the flow control valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: turning on a disinfectant cycle based on a timer; starting the ozone generator and operating the ozone generator for a predetermined time for the disinfecting cycle and increasing an ozone concentration of the water in the chamber; opening the flow control valve for a predetermined flow time and discharging the water with the increased ozone concentration from the chamber into the sink; and turning off the flow control and the ozone generator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: resetting the timer.