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US 10,604,919 B2Granted
Plumbing fixture with heating element
AssigneeKohler Mira Limited
InventorKevin T. Peel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plumbing component includes a valve provided within a portion of the plumbing component and configured to control the flow of water through the plumbing component. The valve includes a body and at least one waterway within the body. An electric heater extends through at least a portion of the body of the valve and is configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway.
Claims20
A faucet comprising:
- a base for mounting the faucet;
- a spout extending from the base and configured to discharge water;
- a valve housing located within the spout and comprising a first end section, a second end section having an outlet, and a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including a first inlet configured to receive cold water and a second inlet configured to receive hot water;
- a first flow control valve located within a first waterway of the valve housing to control the flow of cold water from the first inlet to the outlet;
- a second flow control valve located within a second waterway of the valve housing to control the flow of hot water from the second inlet to the outlet;
- a first motor located within the spout and coupled to the first end section, wherein the first motor is configured to control movement of the first flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of cold water to the outlet;
- a second motor located within the spout and coupled to the first end section, wherein the second motor is configured to control movement of the second flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of hot water to the outlet;
- and
- an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the valve housing and configured to heat a surface defining at least part of one of the first or second waterways to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the respective waterway.
6 more elements
A faucet comprising:
- a structure comprising a mounting base and a spout extending from the mounting base that is configured to discharge water;
- a valve housing separate from the structure and located within the spout, the valve housing comprising a first end section, a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and a mixing chamber;
- a first flow control valve located within the valve housing to control the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber;
- a second flow control valve located within the valve housing to control the flow of hot water from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber;
- a first motor located within the structure, coupled to the first end section, and configured to control movement of the first flow control valve;
- a second motor located within the structure, coupled to the first end section, and configured to control movement of the second flow control valve;
- and
- an electric heater located within the spout and configured to heat a surface defining a waterway to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway.
5 more elements
A faucet comprising:
- an elongated spout having a cross sectional shape that is uniform along a length of the spout;
- a valve housing separate from the spout and located therein, the valve housing comprising a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and a mixing chamber;
- a cold water flow control valve configured to control the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber;
- a hot water flow control valve configured to control the flow of hot water from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber;
- and an electric heater located within the spout and configured to heat a surface defining a waterway to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway, wherein the electric heater is located within a portion of the spout that is downstream of the mixing chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.