FAUCET SYSTEM

Abstract

A faucet system comprises a first user interface connected to a first valve, a first inlet conduit and/or a second inlet conduit, and a first outlet conduit, and a second user interface connected to a second valve, a third inlet conduit, and a second outlet conduit. The second valve is operated by a selection unit that outputs an electrical signal. A third user interface is connected to an electrically operated pump that conveys liquid via a fourth inlet conduit upstream of the pump to a third outlet conduit downstream of the pump. The third user interface comprises an input unit that outputs an electrical signal based on which the pump is operated with respect to the conveying rate and/or the operation time of the pump. Each selection possibility of the input unit is associated to a different electrical signal. A liquid additive is supplied via the fourth inlet conduit.

Claims

1. A faucet system for delivering beverages to a user, comprising: a first user interface connected to a first valve, wherein the first valve is fluidically connected to one or more of a first inlet conduit or a second inlet conduit, wherein the first valve is fluidically connected to a first outlet conduit, and wherein the first valve is configured to selectively open or close, at least partially, one or more of the first inlet conduit or the second inlet conduit such that one of (A) fluid supplied by the first inlet conduit, (B) fluid supplied by the second inlet conduit, (C) a mixture of the fluid supplied by the first inlet conduit and the fluid supplied by the second inlet conduit, or (D) no fluid may be fed into the first outlet conduit, wherein mains water is supplied via the first inlet conduit and the second inlet conduit; a second user interface electrically connected to at least one second valve, wherein the at least one second valve is fluidically connected to at least a third inlet conduit and a second outlet conduit, wherein the at least one second valve is configured to selectively open or close, at least partially, each of the second inlet conduit and the third inlet conduit connected to the at least one second valve such that one of: (a) fluid supplied by the third inlet conduit, (b) fluid supplied by a further inlet conduit connected to the second outlet conduit, (c) a mixture of the fluid supplied by the third inlet conduit and the fluid supplied by the further inlet conduit, or (d) no fluid may be fed into the second outlet conduit, and wherein the at least one second valve is operable using a selection unit comprising multiple selection possibilities, the selection unit configured to output an electrical signal based on which of the at least one second valve is operated, wherein each selection possibility of the selection unit is associated to a respective electrical signal, and wherein one or more of chilled water, hot water, or carbonized water is supplied via the third inlet conduit; and a third user interface electrically connected to at least one electrically operated pump, the at least one electrically operated pump configured to convey liquid via at least a fourth inlet conduit upstream of the pump to a third outlet conduit downstream of the at least one electrically operated pump, wherein the third user interface comprises an input unit having multiple selection possibilities, the input unit configured to output an electrical signal based on which of the at least one electrically operated pump is operated with respect to one or more of a conveying rate or an operation time of the pump, wherein each selection possibility of the input unit is associated to a respective electrical signal, and wherein at least one liquid additive is supplied via the fourth inlet conduit.

2. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the input unit is further configured to also output the electrical signal based on which of the at least one second valve fluidically connected to the second outlet conduit is operated.

3. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the second user interface comprises a selection knob, the selection knob rotatable around a rotation axis displaceable along the rotation axis.

4. The faucet system of claim 3, further comprising a faucet, wherein the selection knob is arranged on a base of the faucet.

5. The faucet system, of claim 1, wherein the third user interface comprises a display that is configured to display at least a current selection.

6. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the third user interface comprises one or more of a touch screen or selection buttons configured to switch between and select one of the multiple selection possibilities based on a corresponding user input.

7. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein a mechanical handle is further configured to adjust a flow rate of the fluid or mixture of fluids fed into the first outlet conduit.

8. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein each of the chilled water, the hot water, and the carbonized water is stored in a respective separate tank; wherein each respective separate tank is provided with a respective separate second valve to which the second user interface is electrically connected: and wherein each of the respective second valves fluidically leads to the second outlet conduit.

9. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid additive comprises a flavor additive, a health additive, or a concentrated additive.

10. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein: each liquid additive is stored in a respective separate additive tank, wherein each respective separate additive tank is provided with a respective separate pump to which the third user interface is electrically connected; and wherein each pump fluidically leads to the third outlet conduit.

11. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the first outlet conduit, the second outlet conduit, and the third outlet conduit lead to a spout of a faucet in a manner fluidically separated from each other.

12. Faucet The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the first outlet conduit, the second outlet conduit, and the third outlet conduit are at least partially extendible or displaceable relative to a body of a faucet.

13. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the third user interface is located remotely to a faucet body and is provided with a separate housing.

14. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first user interface or the second user interface is located remotely to a faucet body and is provided with a separate housing.

15. The faucet system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface is configured to communicate wirelessly with the at least one electrically operated pump.

16. The faucet system of claim 4, wherein the selection knob is arranged next to and on substantially a same height level as the third user interface.

17. The faucet system of claim 9, wherein the health additive comprises vitamins.

18. The faucet system of claim 11, wherein each of the first outlet conduit, the second outlet conduit, and the third outlet conduit lead to the spout of the faucet in a manner fluidically separated from each other.

19. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein each of the chilled water, the hot water, and the carbonized water is stored in a respective separate tank; wherein at least two of the respective separate tanks are provided with a shared second valve to which the second user interface is electrically connected; and wherein the shared second valve fluidically leads to the second outlet conduit.

20. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein each liquid additive is stored in a respective separate additive tank, wherein at least two of the separate additive tanks are provided with a shared pump to which the third user interface is electrically connected; and wherein the shared pump fluidically leads to the third outlet conduit.

Description

[0029] The present invention is further described in greater detail with respect to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematical front view of a faucet system according to the present invention; and

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a selection chart regarding possible interactions of a user with the faucet system.

[0032] In FIG. 1, a faucet system according to the present invention is generally denoted with the reference numeral 10. The faucet system 10 comprises a faucet base 12 and a faucet 14 which ends in an outlet spout 16 disposed at the end of the faucet 14 opposite to the faucet base 12. At the spout outlet 16, a beverage and/or pure additives can be delivered to a user of the faucet system 10.

[0033] At the faucet base 12, a mechanical handle 18 is arranged here, as a first user interface, that is adapted to manipulate a first valve 20 (see FIG. 2). The first valve 20 is fluidically connected to a first inlet conduit 22 and a second inlet conduit 24, wherein the first valve 20 is configured to selectively open or close the first and second inlet conduits 22, 24 such that either fluid supplied by the first inlet conduit 22 or fluid supplied by the second inlet conduit 24 or a mixture of these fluids is introduced into a first outlet conduit 26 that is also fluidically connected to the first valve 20, wherein the according fluid is then delivered via the spout outlet 16.

[0034] Both of the first inlet conduit 22 and the second inlet conduit 24 are connected in the shown embodiment to a water main 28. Additionally in the shown embodiment, a boiler tank 30 is installed in the second inlet conduit 24 such that water coming from the water main 28 can be heated and stored in the boiler tank 30. Thus, water at a temperature coming from the water main 28 can be delivered via the first inlet conduit 22 to the first valve 20 and water at a predetermined temperature according to the settings of the boiler tank 30 can be delivered via the second inlet conduit 24 to the first valve 20, wherein these fluids then mix in the first valve 20. Of course, it is also conceivable that the fluids from the first 22 and the second 24 inlet conduits can be mixed at a point upstream from the faucet base 12 such that only one inlet conduit is connected to the faucet base 12 conveying either the fluid from the first inlet conduit 22 or the fluid from the second inlet conduit 24 or a mixture of both. The first valve 20 may then only regulate a flow rate of the fluid supplied via the one inlet conduit.

[0035] At a side of the faucet base 12 that is diametrically opposite to the mechanical handle 18, a selection knob 32, as a second user interface, is arranged at the faucet base 12. The selection knob 32 is capable of being rotated around and displaced along an axis X, wherein it might be advantageous that the selection knob 32 comprises spring means that urge the selection knob 32 outwards with respect to the faucet base 12 into a resting position such that, after the selection knob 32 is pressed along the axis X towards the faucet base 12, the selection knob 32 automatically returns to this resting position.

[0036] In the example shown in FIG. 1, a user may rotate the selection knob 32 to select a specific beverage such as water at a specific temperature and/or whether the water shall be sparkling or not. After the user has selected the desired beverage, the selection knob 32 can be pressed along the axis X to confirm the selection. Based on this selection, an electrical signal is then output to a control unit 34 which, in turn, controls valves, in this embodiment solenoids, 36a, 36b, and 36c, as second valves, to selectively open or close the valves 36a-36c at least partially. Each of the valves 36a-36c is connected to a respective tank 38a, 38b, 38c configured to store a specific beverage, such as sparkling water, hot water and chilled water, i.e. water at a temperature below the temperature of water supplied via the water main 28. Here, the beverages stored in the tanks 38a-38c are also filtered by passing through a filter 40 that is installed in a conduit 42 connecting the tanks 38a-38c with the water main 28.

[0037] The beverage coming from at least one of the tanks 38a-38c is then supplied via a conduit 44 to the faucet base 12 and via a conduit 46 that is fluidically connected to the conduit 44 to the spout outlet 16 of the faucet system 10.

[0038] The faucet system 10, furthermore, comprises a third user interface 48 which is, in this embodiment, constituted by a touch screen having a disk shape (a circular outer edge), wherein the touch screen 48 is here arranged in the center of the faucet base 12. Additionally or as an alternative, the third user interface 48 or an additional third interface may be provided remotely from the faucet base 12 being connected to at least the control unit 34 of the faucet system 10 electrically by a respective wiring or wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth.

[0039] On the one hand, the third user interface 48 may be adapted to display at least a current selection and, advantageously, also further possible selection options that can be selected using the second user interface 32. On the other hand, the third user interface 48 may be adapted to receive a user input such as a selection of at least one additive, e.g. flavors, that a user may want to add to, for example, sparkling water.

[0040] Based on the selection performed by a user on the third user interface 48, an electric signal is forwarded to the control unit 34, wherein the control unit 34 then selectively activates at least one of pumps 50a, 50b and 50c, each connected to an associated additive tank 52a, 52b and 52c. Hence, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a user may choose between three different flavors or a mixture thereof. By activating at least one of the pumps 50a-50c, the respective additive(s) is/are supplied to the faucet base 12 via a conduit 54 and from the faucet base 12 via a conduit 56 to the spout outlet 16.

[0041] As can be seen in the partially sectional view of the spout outlet 16 and of the faucet 14 in FIG. 1, the fluids supplied via the conduits 26 and 46 are mixing within a spout end of the faucet 14, in the case that fluid is delivered via both conduits 26 and 46 at the same time, wherein the fluid(s) delivered via at least one of the conduits 26 and 46 is/are mixing with an additive delivered via the conduit 56 outside of the spout outlet 16 of the faucet 14 because the conduit 56 is extending all the way up to the spout outlet 16. Of course, for example for aesthetic reasons, the mixing of water with additive(s) may be done within the faucet 14, preferably as close to the spout outlet as possible.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a selection scheme of a possible user interaction with the faucet system 10 and an example of possible combinations of fluids to provide a specific beverage.

[0043] Here, a user may demand hot or cold mains water, or a mixture thereof, by using the first user interface 18 such that water at a desired temperature is mixed in the first valve 20 (or at a merging point upstream thereof) and then output via the conduit 26 over the spout outlet 16. By using the second user interface 32, a user may select, in the shown example, between filtered cold water, filtered hot water, and sparkling water by rotating and pressing the selection knob 32, wherein the confirmed selection is forwarded to the control unit 34 that is configured to control the valves 36-36c. Based on the opening of the valves 36a-36c, at least one of filtered cold water, filtered hot water, and sparkling water is delivered via conduit 46 to the spout outlet 16. Based on user input received via the third user interface 48, different additives, in this case syrup, minerals, or vitamins, may be selected. Similar to the use of the second user interface 32, a selection performed on the third user interface 48 is forwarded to the control unit 34 that is configured to activate at least one of the pumps 50a-50c such that at least one of the available additives is supplied via the conduit 56 to the spout outlet 16. The third user interface 48 may also present at least a current mixing option of water with at least one additive. Then, by sending a signal from the third user interface 48 to the control unit 34, at least one of the valves 36a-36c and at least one of the pumps 50a-50c may be activated simultaneously.

[0044] It shall be mentioned at this point that at least one additive may be supplied via the conduit 56 and the spout outlet 16, respectively, without fluid being supplied via the other conduits 26, 46 at the same time. This way, a user may add additive(s) to an already prepared beverage.

[0045] Furthermore, a user may adjust a flow rate of at least one of the fluids supplied to the spout outlet 16 using the third user interface 48 and/or may adjust a flow rate of hot/cold mains water by using the first user interface 18.