IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,214,885
Granted Patent B2
US 10,214,885 · App. 15/268,893 · Granted Feb 26, 2019

Method for operating a sanitary fitting

Inventors: Achim Mielke (Porta Westfalica, DE); Felix Hamer (Iserlohn, DE)
Assignee: Grohe AG
E03C1/055E03C1/04H03K17/962Y10T137/9464
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,214,885
App. No.
15/268,893
Granted
Feb 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a sanitary fitting having a housing with a spout and a touch sensor, wherein in a touch mode of the sanitary fitting a tapping of a fluid can be activated by touching the touch sensor and wherein by touching the touch sensor for a period of at least 3 seconds, the touch mode is disabled. In addition, a sanitary fitting is specified, which controller is designed and provided for performing the method.

Claims (21)

1. A method for operating a sanitary fitting, the sanitary fitting comprising a housing with a spout and a touch sensor, the method comprising:

enabling a touch mode of the sanitary fitting, the touch mode allowing a flow of a fluid, wherein during the touch mode, the flow of the fluid is activated by touching the touch sensor; and

disabling the touch mode by touching the touch sensor for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the disabling of the touch mode prohibits activation of the flow of the fluid when the touch sensor is touched during a second predetermined period of time,

wherein the touch mode is automatically reactivated upon expiration of the second predetermined time period, and

wherein the reactivation of the touch mode is confirmed by a release of fluid from the spout.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined period of time, during which the touch mode is disabled, is a period of 1 to 3 minutes.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the disabling of the touch mode is confirmed by a release of fluid from the spout.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the release of the fluid at disabling of the touch mode occurs for a maximum of 2 seconds.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the release of the fluid at reactivation occurs for a maximum of 2 seconds.

6. The sanitary fitting comprising:

the housing;

the spout; and

the touch sensor for activation of a flow of the fluid, wherein the touch mode of the sanitary fitting is controllable by a controller configured to perform the method according to claim 1 .

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined period of time is 3 to 6 seconds.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein during the touch mode, the flow of the fluid is activated by touching the touch sensor for less than the first predetermined period of time.

9. A method for operating a sanitary fitting, the sanitary fitting comprising a housing with a spout and a touch sensor, the method comprising:

enabling a touch mode of the sanitary fitting, the touch mode allowing a flow of a fluid, wherein during the touch mode, the flow of the fluid is activated by touching the touch sensor; and

disabling the touch mode by touching the touch sensor for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the disabling of the touch mode prohibits activation of the flow of the fluid when the touch sensor is touched during a second predetermined period of time,

wherein the touch mode is automatically reactivated upon expiration of the second predetermined time period, and

wherein the touch mode is reactivatable before the expiration of the second predetermined period by touching the touch sensor for a third predetermined period of time.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the third predetermined period of time is 3 to 6 seconds.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: MIELKE, ACHIM; HAMER, FELIX
To: GROHE AG
Reel/Frame 040054/0438 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 011 811 · Sep 17, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170081832A1 · Mar 23, 2017
Cited By (6)
US 1,070,012 US 1,124,263 US 1,125,473 US 1,132,422 US 1,132,423 US 1,133,112