IP Library Granted Patent US 11,458,214
Granted Patent B2
US 11,458,214 · App. 16/064,422 · Granted Oct 4, 2022

Fluid delivery system including a disinfectant device

Inventors: Robert W. Rodenbeck (Indianapolis, IN); John Noble (Carmel, IN); Anthony G. Spangler (Indianapolis, IN); Joel D. Sawaski (Indianapolis, IN); Jayashanger Goundiah Ramasamy (Fishers, IN); Patrick B. Jonte (Zionsville, IN); Garry R. Marty (Fishers, IN)
Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
A61L2/0088A61L2/18A61L2/24A61L2/28C01B13/115C02F1/4672E03C1/055F16K37/00A61L2202/11A61L2202/14A61L2202/17C01B2201/60C02F1/78C02F2201/4614C02F2209/005C02F2209/02C02F2209/04C02F2209/40C02F2303/04C02F2307/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,458,214
App. No.
16/064,422
Granted
Oct 4, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid delivery system illustratively includes a spout, at least one valve in fluid communication with the spout, and a disinfectant device, illustratively an antibacterial device, fluidly coupled to the spout. The faucet is configured to selectively flow water through the disinfectant device in response to a user input to the faucet. In another illustrative embodiment, the fluid delivery system includes an outer housing, a plurality of fluid devices supported by the outer housing, and an ozone generator fluidly coupled to the fluid devices.

Claims (60)

1. A faucet comprising:

a spout including a waterway defining an outlet

at least one valve in fluid communication with the waterway of the spout

a controller in communication with the at least one valve;

a disinfectant device fluidly coupled to the waterway of the spout, the faucet being configured to selectively flow fluid through the disinfectant device in response to an input to the controller;

wherein the disinfectant device includes an electrolytic ozone generator; and

wherein the ozone generator comprises:

an outer cartridge;

an electrolytic cell assembly received within the outer cartridge, the electrolytic cell assembly comprising:

a first housing;

an anode coupled to the first housing;

a second housing

a cathode coupled to the second housing;

a separator positioned between the anode and the cathode; and

a holder that couples the first housing to the second housing independently of the outer cartridge.

2. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising

a gas mitigation system in electrical communication with the controller and including a fan to draw ozone outgas.

3. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic ozone generator includes a first electrolytic ozone generator in serial fluid communication with a second electrolytic ozone generator.

4. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the controller and configured to detect a user's hands in proximity to the spout, the controller configured to determine hand washing compliance.

5. The faucet of claim 4 , wherein the sensor includes an in-water sensor configured to detect a user's hands in a water stream delivered from the outlet of the spout.

6. The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the in-water sensor is configured to detect a user's hands moving in the water stream delivered from the outlet of the spout.

7. The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the in-water sensor includes a capacitive sensor.

8. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the controller and configured to detect the status of the antibacterial device.

9. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface including a time indicator configured to display a representation of the time water is discharged from the outlet of the spout.

10. The faucet of claim 9 , wherein the time indicator includes a circular dial including a plurality of sectors that are selectively illuminated based upon the time that water is discharged from the outlet of the spout.

11. The faucet of claim 1 , wherein the faucet is configured to selectively operate in a treatment mode and a non-treatment mode, where treated water passes through the disinfectant device in the treatment mode, and non-treated water by-passes the disinfectant device in the non-treatment mode.

12. The faucet of claim 11 , wherein a light emitting device illuminates the water stream when the faucet is operating in the treatment mode.

13. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface including a compliance indicator configured to display a representation of a user's compliance with hand hygiene protocols.

14. The faucet of claim 13 , wherein the compliance indicator provides a visual pass/fail indication of compliance with hand hygiene protocols.

15. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the amount of time that a user's hands are in a water stream discharged from the outlet of the spout.

16. The faucet of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to provide an indication of the amount of time that the water stream is discharged from the outlet, and the amount of time that a user's hands are in the water stream.

17. The faucet of claim 16 , wherein data regarding the amount of time that the a user's hands are in the water stream is stored in a remote database.

18. The faucet of claim 17 , wherein the remote database is a cloud.

19. The faucet of claim 1 , further comprising an identification device for determining the identity of a user.

20. The faucet of claim 19 , wherein the identification device is a badge reader.

21. A water treatment dispensing system comprising:

an outer housing defining a chamber;

a first fluid device supported by the outer housing and fluidly coupled to a tap water source for delivering tap water to the hands of a user received within the chamber; and

a second fluid device supported by the outer housing and fluidly coupled to an ozone generator for delivering ozonated water to the hands of a user received within the chamber, wherein the second fluid device comprises a fluidic chip configured to produce a fan of water within a plane by oscillating water about a center axis.

22. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 21 , further comprising a gas mitigation system configured to draw ozone outgas from within the chamber, the gas mitigation system including a fan and a carbon filter operably coupled to the fan.

23. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 21 , further comprising a user detector configured to activate water flow upon detecting the hands of a user within the chamber.

24. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 23 , wherein the user detector comprises an electrode supported by the outer housing, and a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the electrode.

25. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 21 , further comprising:

at least one valve in fluid communication with the first fluid device and the second fluid device;

a controller in communication with the at least one valve;

a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface including a compliance indicator configured to display a representation of a user's compliance with hand hygiene protocols.

26. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 21 , wherein the fluidic chip is configured to produce a plurality of fans of water within diverging planes, the water oscillating within each of the planes about a center axis.

27. A water treatment dispensing system comprising:

an outer housing defining a chamber;

a plurality of fluid devices supported by the outer housing;

an ozone generator fluidly coupled to the fluid devices for delivering ozonated water to the hands of a user received within the chamber;

an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the ozone generator for controlling fluid flow therethrough;

a controller in electrical communication with the electrically operable valve;

a user detector in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the controller controls the electrically operably valve in response to the user detector detecting the hands of a user within the chamber; and

a gas mitigation system in electrical communication with the controller and including a fan configured to draw ozone outgas from within the chamber.

28. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 27 , wherein the fluid devices comprise at least one fluidic chip configured to produce a fan of water within a plane by oscillating water about a center axis.

29. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 28 , wherein the fluid devices comprise at least one laminar flow device fluidly coupled to a tap water source for delivering tap water to the hands of a user received within the chamber.

30. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 27 , wherein the gas mitigation system includes a carbon filter operably coupled to the fan and configured to treat the ozone outgas.

31. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 27 , wherein the user detector comprises an electrode supported by the outer housing, and a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the electrode.

32. The water treatment dispensing system of claim 27 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface including a compliance indicator configured to display a representation of a user's compliance with hand hygiene protocols.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: RODENBECK, ROBERT W.; NOBLE, JOHN; SPANGLER, ANTHONY G.; SAWASKI, JOEL D.; RAMASAMY, JAYASHANGER GOUNDIAH; JONTE, PATRICK B.; MARTY, GARRY R.
To: DELTA FAUCET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 060886/0372 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62270395 · Dec 21, 2015
Related Publication 20190001006A1 · Jan 3, 2019