Faucet and integrated tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265200-A1
Application number	US-201615063975-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A faucet that includes a body, a tray, a valve, and a spout. The body includes a plurality of interconnected walls forming an internal cavity, with the plurality of walls comprising a front wall. The tray is provided on top of the body and extends beyond the front wall. The valve is provided in the cavity and is configured to control the flow of water through the faucet. The spout extends through the front wall and is provided underneath the tray. The spout is also fluidly connected to the valve to receive water therefrom.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A faucet for a sink, comprising:
a body including a plurality of interconnected walls forming an internal cavity, wherein the plurality of walls comprise a front wall; a tray provided above the body that extends forward of the front wall; a valve provided in the cavity and configured to control a flow of water; and a spout extending forward from the front wall and below the tray, wherein the spout is fluidly connected to the valve.

2 . The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the front wall and provided below the tray, wherein the handle is configured to control operation of the valve.

3 . The faucet of claim 2 , wherein the faucet includes only a single handle that is offset in a lateral direction from the spout, such that the handle is just outside a flow region of water from the spout.

4 . The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to control operation of the valve upon detection of an object positioned underneath the spout and rearward of an exit of the spout, wherein the sensor is located either underneath a forward end of the spout or along the front wall.

5 . The faucet of claim 4 , further comprising a second sensor located on or within the body, wherein the sensor is configured to control opening/closing of a drain assembly for a drain of the sink.

6 . The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the second sensor is located on or within a rear wall of the body, such that a detection zone of the second sensor is rearward of the rear wall, and wherein the rear wall and the front wall are on opposite sides of the body.

7 . The faucet of claim 4 , further comprising a control lever configured to control operation of the valve, wherein the control lever is provided between the tray and the body and is rotatable between a first position, in which the valve is closed, and a second position, in which the valve is full-open.

8 . The faucet of claim 7 , wherein an angle of travel between the first position and the second position of the control lever is equal to or less than 90°.

9 . The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to control operation of a drain stopper of the sink, wherein the sensor is located on or within a rear wall of the body, such that a detection zone of the second sensor is rearward of the rear wall, and wherein the rear wall and the front wall are on opposite sides of the body.

10 . The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the tray extends laterally beyond two opposite sides of the spout and beyond a forward edge of the spout, such that the entire spout is covered by the tray.

11 . A faucet for a sink that is mountable to a countertop, the faucet comprising:
a body configured to mount to the countertop or the sink; a tray provided above and coupled to the body, the tray having a planar support surface that is larger than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the body; a spout extending from a front side of the body below the tray for directing water from the faucet; a valve in the body and configured to control a flow of water to the spout; and a lever for controlling operation of the valve upon movement of the lever.

12 . The faucet of claim 11 , wherein the lever extends between the body and the tray and is rotatable about the body and the tray between a first position, in which the valve is in a closed position, a second position, in which the valve is in an open position and the water leaving the spout has a first temperature, and a third position, in which the valve is in the open position and the water leaving the spout has a second temperature that is different than the first temperature.

13 . The faucet of claim 12 , wherein the lever extends outwardly from a lateral side of the body and the lever rotates in a plane that is parallel to the planar support surface of the tray, wherein the second position is located between the first position and the third position, and wherein an angle of travel between the first position and the third position of the lever is equal to or less than 90°.

14 . The faucet of claim 11 , wherein the lever is slidable between a first position in which the water leaving the spout has a maximum cold temperature, a second position in which the water leaving the spout has a maximum hot temperature, and a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position, wherein each intermediate position corresponds to a temperature that is between the maximum cold and the maximum hot temperatures.

15 . The faucet of claim 14 , further comprising a sensor that is located on or in the tray and configured to turn on and off the flow of water from the spout upon detection of an object in a zone of detection of the sensor, and wherein the lever is located on a lateral side of the body or the tray that is substantially orthogonal to the front side of the body.

16 . A faucet for a sink assembly that includes a sink, a support member supporting the sink, and a drain mechanism movable between an open position and a closed position, the faucet comprising:
a structure comprising:
a base configured to mount to the sink or the support member;
a tray extending from an upper end of the base such that a forward edge of the tray extends beyond a forward edge of the base;
an outlet configured to direct water from the structure;
a valve for controlling a flow of water to the spout; a first sensor located at a first location on or in the structure for turning on and off the valve upon detection of an object in a zone of detection; and a second sensor located at a second location on or in the structure for moving the drain mechanism between the open position and the closed position.

17 . The faucet of claim 16 , wherein the second location of the second sensor is on or in a rear side of the structure that is opposite to a front side of the structure having the outlet.

18 . The faucet of claim 17 , wherein the first location of the first sensor is on or in an underside of the tray of the structure.

19 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the structure is a unitary structure such that the tray is integrally formed with the base and the outlet is integrated into the tray, and wherein the outlet is located in a forward side of the tray that faces in an opposite direction from the rear side of the structure.

20 . The faucet of claim 17 , wherein the structure further comprises a spout extending from the base and below the tray, wherein the first location is on or in an underside of the spout, such that the zone of detection is located directly below the spout.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Slothower Anna-Pia K

Classifications

• E03C1/057

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title

• E03C1/0404 Primary

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title

• E03C1/042 Primary

  Arrangements on taps for wash-basins or baths for connecting to the wall · CPC title

• F16K27/00 Primary

  Construction of housing (methods for welding housings B23K); Use of materials therefor · CPC title

• E03C1/23

  with mechanical closure mechanisms · CPC title