US 9,228,330 B1Granted

Sink with colored lights for indicating water temperature

AssigneeInternational Patent Development Group, LLC

InventorsBrian A. Brown, Gregory A. M. Brown

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An aesthetically designed sink (100) comprises a plurality of orifices (110, 115, 120, 125) that deliver different water flow profiles for washing, rinsing, and drinking. Hot and cold water supplies (1110, 1115) supply water to the sink. A series of touch and sliding-touch controls (130-180) regulate the temperature and flow of water from the orifices. A logic circuit (1105) controls all operations, i.e., orifice selection, flow rate, and temperature. In one aspect water flowing from an orifice forms a sheet-shaped stream that arcs over the bowl for ease of washing and drinking. The stream can be illuminated by bi-color light-emitting diodes (121) in colors indicative of the selected temperature of the water flowing through that orifice. Alternatively an orifice is replaced by a removable fixture (900) in a cavity (905) in the sink, which is connected to the water supply (910).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lavatory sink, comprising:

a bowl for holding or containing water,
said bowl having a drain at its bottom, a rim at its top, and a wall extending between said drain and said rim,
an orifice for supplying a stream of water out of said orifice and into said bowl for enabling a user to access said stream of water over or within said bowl,
a conduit for supplying water to said orifice,
at least one electrically operable valve in said conduit for controlling the supply of water to said orifice,
at least one control unit arranged to issue actuating commands to said valve to cause said valve to open or close to control the flow of water flows through said valve and said orifice,
a plurality of color-changeable light sources on said bowl and a selector for selecting the temperature of water flowing to said orifice and supplying said temperature to said control unit, wherein said control unit causes the color of said color-changing light sources to indicate the temperature of said water flowing to said orifice in response to said temperature supplied to said control unit,
whereby a user may easily and directly access said stream for hand or face washing or drinking over or within said bowl and also know the temperature of said stream of water flowing out of said orifice by observing said light sources.

5 more elements

A lavatory sink, comprising:

a bowl for holding or containing water,
said bowl having a drain at its bottom, a rim at its top, and a wall extending between said drain and said rim,
an orifice for supplying a stream of water out of said orifice and into said bowl for enabling a user to access said stream of water over or within said bowl,
a pair of conduits for supplying hot and cold water, respectively, to said orifice,
each of said conduits having a valve for controlling the supply of water said conduit supplies to said orifice,
a plurality of color-changeable light sources on said bowl, the color of light emitted from said sources being visible to a user of said sink,
a temperature-determining device for determining the temperature of water flowing to said orifice and causing the color of said plurality of color-changing light sources to indicate the temperature of water supplied to said orifice,
whereby a user may easily and directly access said stream for hand or face washing or drinking over or within said bowl and also know the temperature of said stream of water flowing out of said orifice by observing said light sources.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/284,143Filed 21 May 2014 · division
Priority: 4 Mar 2009
Granted: 5 Jan 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G01K 1/02
Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer: means for indicating or recording specially adapted for…
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 1/14
Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto ; Sinks: wash-basins connected to the waste-pipe
E03C 1/16
Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto ; Sinks: wash-fountains connected to the waste-pipe