Water faucet incorporating disinfecting features
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. Sieth, Chen Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water dispensing unit adapted for communication with a water supply includes a spout configured to receive water from the water supply and dispense the water to a receptacle for consumption. The water supply includes water received from a municipal water supply and contained within a space directly upstream of a base of the spout. A flow of water from the water supply and into the spout via the base is a downstream water flow. A disinfecting mechanism operable to disinfect water in at least one of the spout or a space immediately upstream of the spout.
Claims17
A water dispensing unit, the water dispensing unit comprising:
- a water supply;
- a spout configured to receive water from the water supply and dispense the water to a receptacle for consumption,
- wherein the water supply includes water received from a municipal water supply and contained within a space directly upstream of a base of the spout,
- wherein a flow of water from the water supply and into the spout via the base is a downstream water flow;
- a first disinfecting mechanism operable to disinfect water in the water supply;
- and
- a second disinfecting mechanism operable to disinfect water in the spout,
- wherein the second disinfecting mechanism includes an antimicrobial tube through which water flows, and
- wherein the antimicrobial tube includes a reflective material covering the tube, and a light window configured to receive an ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.