Container filling faucet
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorChanseol Chung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A faucet includes a base, a spout, a water level sensor, and a controller. The spout is coupled to the base and includes a first portion proximate to the base and a second portion adjustable relative to the first portion. The second portion includes a water outlet. The water level sensor is disposed on the second portion, and is configured to detect a distance between the water outlet and a level of water in a container disposed below the water outlet. The controller is configured to control the flow of water through the water outlet based on the detected distance between the water outlet and the level of water.
Claims19
A faucet, comprising:
- a base;
- a spout coupled to the base, wherein the spout includes a first portion proximate to the base and a second portion adjustable relative to the first portion, and wherein the second portion includes a water outlet having a first set of nozzles oriented at an angle with respect to a central axis defined by the water outlet such that water discharged from the first set of nozzles converges at the central axis at a focal distance from the water outlet, so as to provide a visual indication of a level to which the faucet will fill a container with water;
- a water level sensor disposed on the second portion, wherein the water level sensor is configured to detect a distance between the water outlet and the level of water in the container disposed below the water outlet;
- and
- a controller configured to control the flow of water through the water outlet based on the detected distance between the water outlet and the level of water being the same as the focal distance.
A faucet, comprising:
- a base;
- a spout coupled to the base and including a water outlet, wherein the water outlet includes a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles, wherein the first set of nozzles are oriented at an angle with respect to a central axis defined by the water outlet such that water discharged from the first set of nozzles converges at the central axis at a focal distance from the water outlet, so as to provide a visual indication of a level to which the faucet will fill a container with water, and wherein the second set of nozzles are oriented parallel to the central axis such that water discharged from the second set of nozzles is parallel to the central axis;
- a water level sensor disposed on the spout, wherein the water level sensor is configured to detect a distance between the water outlet and the level of water in the container disposed below the water outlet;
- and
- a controller configured to control the flow of water through the water outlet based on the detected distance between the water outlet and the level of water being the same as the focal distance.
A method of controlling a flow of water from a faucet, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a controller associated with the faucet, a first input to discharge water from a water outlet of the faucet until the water reaches a predetermined distance from the water outlet, wherein the water outlet includes a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles;
- and
- providing, by the controller in response to the first input, a control signal to a valve to discharge water from the first set of nozzles, wherein the first set of nozzles are oriented at an angle with respect to a central axis defined by the water outlet such that water discharged by the first set of nozzles reaches converges at the central axis at the predetermined distance, so as to provide a visual indication of a level to which the faucet will fill a container with water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.