US 11,299,876 B2Granted

Electronic plumbing fixture fitting including measurement system

AssigneeFB Global Plumbing Group LLC

InventorsGeorge John Polly, Christopher R. Novick, Brian Patrick Frackelton

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Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting including a measurement system. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting includes a user input module. The user input module includes a mechanism to receive from the user numerical value(s) of parameter(s) for water to be delivered through a discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting (e.g., volume or volume and temperature) and a mechanism to deliver to the user the numerical value(s) of the parameter(s) via the water delivered through the discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water;
an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume of water flowing through the discharge outlet;
a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume of water;
a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water;
and
a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, and the flow sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water and the detected volume of water;
wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume of water from the user and to send a desired volume signal to the processor indicating the desired volume of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water at an initial low flow rate for a set period of time;
wherein the flow sensor is operable to detect the volume of water and to send a detected volume signal to the processor indicating the detected volume of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected volume signal from the flow sensor indicating the detected volume of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the volume of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the volume of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a full flow rate for a variable period of time;
and
wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate for a set period of time and close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water.

13 more elements

An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water;
an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume and a temperature of water flowing through the discharge outlet;
a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume and a desired temperature of water;
a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water;
a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of water;
and
a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, the flow sensor, and the temperature sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water, the detected volume of water, the desired temperature of water, and the detected temperature of water;
wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume and the desired temperature of water from the user and to send a desired volume and desired temperature signal to the processor indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume and desired temperature signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume and the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume and the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water;
wherein the temperature sensor is operable to detect the temperature of water and to send a detected temperature signal to the processor indicating the detected temperature of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to close and the flow of water is stopped once the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water;
wherein, once the flow of water is stopped, the user input module is operable to communicate with the user regarding a desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water;
wherein, once the user inputs the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the user input module is operable to send a desired time signal to the processor indicating the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired time signal from the user input module indicating the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water and to send a delivery signal to the electronic valve to deliver the water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the delivery signal from the processor to deliver the water;
wherein, at the desired time, the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water;
and
wherein the electronic valve is operable to close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water.

19 more elements

An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water;
an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume and a temperature of water flowing through the discharge outlet;
a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume and a desired temperature of water;
a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water;
a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of water;
and
a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, the flow sensor, and the temperature sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water, the detected volume of water, the desired temperature of water, and the detected temperature of water;
wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume and the desired temperature of water from the user and to send a desired volume and desired temperature signal to the processor indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume and desired temperature signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume and the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume and the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water at an initial low flow rate for a set period of time;
wherein the flow sensor is operable to detect the volume of water and to send a detected volume signal to the processor indicating the detected volume of water;
wherein the temperature sensor is operable to detect the temperature of water and to send a detected temperature signal to the processor indicating the detected temperature of water;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected volume signal from the flow sensor indicating the detected volume of water and the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the volume and the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the volume and the temperature of water;
wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a full flow rate for a variable period of time;
and
wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate for a set period of time and close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/857,903Filed 24 Apr 2020 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Apr 2019
Published: US 2020/0340222 A129 Oct 2020
Granted: 12 Apr 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

E03C 1/0409
Water installations especially for showers: shower handles
E03C 1/055
Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps: electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons,…
E03C 1/0404
Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths: constructional or functional features of the spout
E03C 1/0408
Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths: water installations especially for showers

Family

Application62/838,009Us provisional application · filed 24 Apr 2019
Application62/957,714Us provisional application · filed 6 Jan 2020
US 2020/0340222 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Oct 2020
US 11,299,876 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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