GB2615251A - A tap assembly and a method of operating a tap assembly - Google Patents

A tap assembly and a method of operating a tap assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2615251A
GB2615251A GB2306317.5A GB202306317A GB2615251A GB 2615251 A GB2615251 A GB 2615251A GB 202306317 A GB202306317 A GB 202306317A GB 2615251 A GB2615251 A GB 2615251A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tap
assembly
sensor assembly
sensor
fluid supply
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB2306317.5A
Other versions
GB202306317D0 (en
Inventor
Ralph Moult Kevin
Christopher Noble Gary
David Scott Hayden
Werner Damm Bernt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zip Heaters Australia Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Zip Heaters Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2020903538A external-priority patent/AU2020903538A0/en
Application filed by Zip Heaters Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical Zip Heaters Australia Pty Ltd
Publication of GB202306317D0 publication Critical patent/GB202306317D0/en
Publication of GB2615251A publication Critical patent/GB2615251A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
    • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
    • E03C1/044—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
    • E03C1/05—Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps
    • E03C1/055—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
    • E03C1/057—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like touchless, i.e. using sensors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
    • B67D1/0057—Carbonators
    • B67D1/0058—In-line carbonators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
    • B67D1/0057—Carbonators
    • B67D1/0061—Carbonators with cooling means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0888—Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
    • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
    • E03C1/0411—Taps specially designed for dispensing boiling water
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0878—Safety, warning or controlling devices
    • B67D1/0887—Sanitary protection means for dispensing nozzles or taps, e.g. outlet closures
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
    • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
    • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
    • E03C2001/0418—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths having temperature indicating means
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
    • E03C2201/00—Details, devices or methods not otherwise provided for
    • E03C2201/40—Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
    • E03C2201/45—Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations for carbonated water

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Water By Ion Exchange (AREA)

Abstract

A tap assembly (10) comprising: a tap body (15) having an upper portion (25) and lower portion (20), with the lower (20) portion being adapted to be mounted to a surface and including a fluid inlet (30) to receive fluid from a fluid supply; and a spout portion (35) extending from the tap body (15) and including a fluid outlet (40) in fluid communication with the fluid inlet (30) and adapted to dispensing fluid from the fluid supply; wherein the upper portion (25) includes a top face (50) and a sidewall (45) extending from the top face (50), the top face (50) and the sidewall (45) each including at least one sensor assembly (55) adapted to detect the presence of an object within an activation distance to the at least one sensor assembly (55), and to send a signal to a controller (70) in the tap body (15) to activate a dispensation of fluid from the fluid supply.

Claims (21)

CLAIMS:
1. A tap assembly comprising: a tap body having an upper portion and lower portion, with the lower portion being adapted to be mounted to a surface and including a fluid inlet to receive fluid from a fluid supply; and a spout portion extending from the tap body and including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and adapted to dispensing fluid from the fluid supply; wherein the upper portion includes a top face and a sidewall extending from the top face, the top face and the sidewall each including at least one sensor assembly adapted to detect the presence of an object within an activation distance to the at least one sensor assembly, and to send a signal to a controller in the tap body to activate a dispensation of fluid from the fluid supply.
2. The tap assembly of claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes a first sensor assembly located adjacent a left hand side position of the upper portion, and a second sensor assembly located adjacent a right hand side position of the upper portion.
3. The tap assembly of claim 2, wherein the first sensor assembly is accompanied by a first icon indicating hot or boiling water, and the second sensor assembly is accompanied by a second icon indicating cold or chilled water.
4. The tap assembly of claim 2 or 3, wherein the sidewall includes a third sensor assembly located adjacent a rear position of the upper portion.
5. The tap assembly of claim 4, wherein the third sensor assembly is accompanied by a third icon indicating a lock.
6. The tap assembly of claim 4 or 5, wherein the first sensor and third sensor assemblies are adapted to detect the presence of a userâ s hand within an activation distance to the first and third sensor assemblies, and to simultaneously send a signal to the controller to activate a dispensation of boiling water from the fluid supply.
7. The tap assembly of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the activation distance to the first and third sensor assemblies is between about 1.5 cm to 5 cm (15 mm to 50 mm).
8. The tap assembly of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the second sensor assembly is adapted to detect the presence of a userâ s hand within a predetermined distance to the second sensor assembly, and to send a signal to the controller to activate a dispensation of chilled or ambient water from the fluid supply.
9. The tap assembly of any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the activation distance to the second sensor assembly is between about 1.5 cm to 5 cm (15 mm to 50 mm).
10. The tap assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the top face further includes a fourth sensor assembly located adjacent a front position of the upper portion.
11. The tap assembly of claim 10, wherein the fourth sensor assembly is adapted to detect the presence of a userâ s hand within an activation distance to the fourth sensor assembly, and to send a signal to the controller to activate a dispensation of sparkling water from the fluid supply.
12. The tap assembly of claim 10 or 11, wherein the activation distance to the fourth sensor assembly is between about 1.5 cm to 5 cm (15 mm to 50 mm).
13. The tap assembly of any one of claims 10 to 12 when dependent from any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth sensor assemblies include infrared (IR) sensors and associated mating lenses.
14. A tap head for a tap assembly, the tap head being adapted to be mounted to the tap assembly including a tap body, the tap head including: a top face; and a sidewall extending from the top face, wherein the top face and the sidewall each include at least one sensor assembly adapted to detect the presence of an object within an activation distance to the at least one sensor assembly, and to send a signal to a controller in the tap body to activate a dispensation of fluid from a fluid supply of the tap assembly.
15. A method of operating a tap head of a tap assembly, the tap assembly including a tap body, and wherein the tap head includes: a top face; and a sidewall extending from the top face, wherein the sidewall includes a first sensor assembly and a second sensor assembly, each sensor assembly being adapted to detect the presence of an object within an activation distance to the respective sensor assembly, and to simultaneously send a signal to a controller in the tap body to activate a dispensation of fluid from a fluid supply of the tap assembly, the method including the step of: positioning an object within the activation distance of the first and second sensor assembly; and simultaneously activating the first and second sensor assemblies to send a signal to the controller to enable a dispensation of boiling water from the fluid supply.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first sensor assembly located is adjacent a left hand side position of the upper portion, and the second sensor assembly is located adjacent a rear position of the upper portion.
17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the sidewall further includes a third sensor assembly located adjacent a right hand side position of the upper portion, and the method further includes the step of positioning an object within an activation distance of the third sensor assembly to activate the third sensor assembly and to send a signal to the controller to activate a dispensation of chilled water from the fluid supply.
18. The method of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the top face includes a fourth sensor assembly located adjacent a front position of the upper portion, and the method further includes the step of positioning an object within an activation distance of the fourth sensor assembly to activate the fourth sensor assembly and to send a signal to the controller to activate a dispensation of sparkling water from the fluid supply.
19. The method of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the sensor assemblies are deactivated when the object is outside of the activation distance of the respective sensor assemblies, and to send a signal to the controller to a disable a dispensation of water from the fluid supply.
20. The method of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the activation distance includes an activation range, and wherein, when the controller receives a signal from the sensor assemblies indicating that the object is above or below the activation range, the controller disables dispensation of water from the fluid supply.
21. The method of any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein, when the controller has enabled dispensation of water from the fluid supply, the controller continues dispensation of water from the fluid supply for a pre-determined amount of time, and when the pre-determined amount of time has elapsed, the controller disables dispensation of water from the fluid supply.
GB2306317.5A 2020-09-30 2021-09-30 A tap assembly and a method of operating a tap assembly Pending GB2615251A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2020903538A AU2020903538A0 (en) 2020-09-30 A tap assembly and a method of operating a tap assembly
PCT/AU2021/051144 WO2022067389A1 (en) 2020-09-30 2021-09-30 A tap assembly and a method of operating a tap assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202306317D0 GB202306317D0 (en) 2023-06-14
GB2615251A true GB2615251A (en) 2023-08-02

Family

ID=80949141

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2306317.5A Pending GB2615251A (en) 2020-09-30 2021-09-30 A tap assembly and a method of operating a tap assembly

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2021352659A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2615251A (en)
WO (1) WO2022067389A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102021207857A1 (en) * 2021-07-22 2023-01-26 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Plumbing faucet for dispensing hot water and method for starting hot water dispensing from a plumbing faucet
WO2024059422A1 (en) * 2022-09-13 2024-03-21 As America, Inc. Active oxygen water dispensers

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6019130A (en) * 1996-06-25 2000-02-01 Rosemarie Brand-Gerhart Water run-out fitting
JP2006144322A (en) * 2004-11-18 2006-06-08 Inax Corp Water/hot water mixing faucet
US20090056011A1 (en) * 2007-09-05 2009-03-05 Wolf James L Electronic Faucet with Voice, Temperature, Flow and Volume Control
DE102013001379A1 (en) * 2013-01-28 2014-07-31 City GmbH Contactless working electromotive mixing tap for cold and warm water for medical application, has control block connected with mixing block, and temperature display for displaying temperature of water and arranged at upper part
US20160032572A1 (en) * 2014-06-09 2016-02-04 Chung-Chia Chen Touch-free faucets and sensors
WO2016040989A1 (en) * 2014-09-18 2016-03-24 Caroma Industries Limited Water management system and method
US10550555B2 (en) * 2017-01-31 2020-02-04 Chung-Chia Chen Touch free control of faucet
WO2020159364A1 (en) * 2019-01-29 2020-08-06 Inventum Beheer B.V. Hot water tap and hot tap water supply system

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016040986A1 (en) * 2014-09-16 2016-03-24 Li Jun Xia A fluid dispensing system, a system for processing waste material and a fluid monitoring system

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6019130A (en) * 1996-06-25 2000-02-01 Rosemarie Brand-Gerhart Water run-out fitting
JP2006144322A (en) * 2004-11-18 2006-06-08 Inax Corp Water/hot water mixing faucet
US20090056011A1 (en) * 2007-09-05 2009-03-05 Wolf James L Electronic Faucet with Voice, Temperature, Flow and Volume Control
DE102013001379A1 (en) * 2013-01-28 2014-07-31 City GmbH Contactless working electromotive mixing tap for cold and warm water for medical application, has control block connected with mixing block, and temperature display for displaying temperature of water and arranged at upper part
US20160032572A1 (en) * 2014-06-09 2016-02-04 Chung-Chia Chen Touch-free faucets and sensors
WO2016040989A1 (en) * 2014-09-18 2016-03-24 Caroma Industries Limited Water management system and method
US10550555B2 (en) * 2017-01-31 2020-02-04 Chung-Chia Chen Touch free control of faucet
WO2020159364A1 (en) * 2019-01-29 2020-08-06 Inventum Beheer B.V. Hot water tap and hot tap water supply system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB202306317D0 (en) 2023-06-14
AU2021352659A1 (en) 2023-06-08
WO2022067389A1 (en) 2022-04-07

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