IP Library Granted Patent US 9,988,797
Granted Patent B2
US 9,988,797 · App. 14/715,064 · Granted Jun 5, 2018

Integrated electronic shower system

Inventors: Ryan A. Reeder (Carmel, IN); Spencer L. Stohler (Anderson, IN); Andrew B. Mendenhall (Mooresville, IN); Paul T. Zink (Indianapolis, IN); Robert W. Rodenbeck (Indianapolis, IN)
Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
E03C1/057E03C1/055
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,988,797
App. No.
14/715,064
Granted
Jun 5, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated bathroom electronic system including a plurality of sensors to detect conditions within a bathroom and to provide signals indicative thereof to a controller. A plurality of distinct and exclusive modules or subsystems are illustratively provided for integration into the system. Such modules may include a quick hot water module, a roman tub module, a custom shower module, a hands free faucet module, and a tub shower module. In certain illustrative shower modules, a user interface includes a plurality of user defined presets, each preset including a shower setting stored in memory.

Claims (24)

1. A shower system comprising:

a plurality of body sprays;

a plurality of electrically operable valves associated with the body sprays;

a plurality of input buttons associated with the body sprays;

a controller in communication with the electrically operable valves and the input buttons, wherein actuating each input button changes the operational state of an associated valve; and

a plurality of presets stored in a memory in communication with the controller, each preset associated with a plurality of body sprays, the preset further defined and stored in the memory by a user, wherein actuating each preset controls the operational state of a plurality of associated valves to provide a user defined arrangement of active body sprays including a first user defined arrangement of active body sprays when a first preset control is actuated, wherein the first preset control is customizable for a first user, and a second user defined arrangement of active body sprays when a second preset control is actuated, wherein the second preset control is customizable for a second user, the first user defined arrangement of active body sprays being different from the second user defined arrangement of active body sprays.

2. The shower system of claim 1 , wherein actuating one of the buttons a first time activates a corresponding body spray, and actuating the one button a second time deactivates the corresponding body spray.

3. The shower system of 1 , wherein each preset button is further associated with the temperature of water discharged from the associated body sprays, such that actuating each preset controls the water temperature.

4. The shower system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuator in communication with the controller and associated with at least one of the body sprays, the at least one actuator configured to adjust the position of at least one body spray.

5. The shower system of claim 4 , wherein each preset is associated with the at least one actuator, wherein activating each preset controls the actuator and the resulting position of the at least one body spray.

6. The shower system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is configured to drive the at least one body spray in translational movement.

7. The shower system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is configured to drive the at least one body spray in rotational movement.

8. The shower system of claim 1 , wherein each input button comprises a push button associated with one of the body sprays.

9. A shower system comprising:

a plurality of body sprays;

a plurality of electrically operable valves associated with the body sprays;

a user interface including a plurality of inputs associated with the body sprays;

a controller in communication with the electrically operable valves and the inputs, wherein actuating each input changes the operational state of an associated electrically operable valve; and

a plurality of presets stored in a memory in communication with the controller, each preset associated with at least one of the body sprays, the preset further defined and stored in the memory by a user, wherein actuating each preset controls the operational state of at least one of the electrically operable valves to provide a user defined arrangement of active body sprays including a first user defined arrangement of active body sprays when a first preset control is actuated wherein the first preset control accommodates preferences of a first user, and a second user defined arrangement of active body sprays when a second preset control is actuated wherein the second preset control accommodates preferences of a second user, the first user defined arrangement of active body sprays being different from the second user defined arrangement of active body sprays.

10. The shower system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of actuators operably coupled with the plurality of body sprays, each of the actuators configured to move at least one of the body sprays.

11. The shower system of claim 10 , wherein each of the presets is associated with at least one of the actuators, and activating each preset controls the at least one actuator and the resulting position of the at least one body spray.

12. The shower system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the actuators is configured to drive at least one of the body sprays in translational movement.

13. The shower system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the actuators is configured to drive at least one of the body sprays in rotational movement.

14. The shower system of claim 9 , wherein each of the inputs comprises a push button associated with one of the body sprays.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2018
From: REEDER, RYAN A.; STOHLER, SPENCER L.; MENDENHALL, ANDREW B.; ZINK, PAUL T.; RODENBECK, ROBERT W.
To: MASCO CORPORATION OF INDIANA
Reel/Frame 046118/0820 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2018
From: MASCO CORPORATION OF INDIANA
To: DELTA FAUCET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 046377/0539 →
Continuity (7)
Division 13887780 · May 6, 2013
Continuation 13251839 · Oct 3, 2011
Division 12151769 · May 9, 2008
Continuation In Part PCTUS2006044023 · Nov 13, 2006
Provisional Application 60735569 · Nov 11, 2005
Provisional Application 60838271 · Aug 16, 2006
Related Publication 20150247307A1 · Sep 3, 2015