ELECTRIC PUSH BUTTON WATER TEMPERATURE AND FLOW VOLUME CONTROL CONSOLE

Abstract

A water control device. The device generally includes a casing having a top panel, bottom panel, and sidewalls defining an enclosure. An electrical circuit disposed in the enclosure. One or more electrical push buttons are coupled to the top panel, each push button being electrically coupled to the electric circuit. Electrical wiring electronically couples the electric circuit to one or more valves controlling the flow of cold water and hot water to a water faucet. An electrical power cable couples the electrical circuit to an electrical power source, wherein each electrical push button is assigned to a different desired temperature and flow rate, and wherein each electrical push button may be engaged to change the desired temperature and flow volume rate of water flowing from the water faucet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to water control device, and more specifically, to an electric console for controlling and regulating water flow and temperature.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to an electrical wire management device. The device generally includes a handle, a shaft coupled to a first end of the handle, and a yoke-shaped body coupled to an opposite end of the shaft. The body includes a coupling portion that couples a first prong and a second prong to each other so as to form a substantially U-shape. The coupling portion and the first and second prongs define a cradle for receiving an electrical wire therethrough. The cradle is configured to assemble and bend electrical wiring in a wiring harness.

The disclosure herein is a summary of the invention and not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments. It should be appreciated that many other features, applications, embodiments, implementations and/or variations of the disclosed technology will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detailed description. While multiple implementations are disclosed, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This disclosure may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, the reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating one example of an electrical wire management device according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating a second example of an electrical wire management device according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the electrical wire management device of FIG. 1 installed on a kitchen countertop.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the electrical wire management device of FIG. 2 installed into a kitchen countertop.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical wire management device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating a third example of an electrical wire management device according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth example of an electrical wire management device, according to the teachings of the present disclosure, installed into a kitchen countertop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate examples of various implementations of an electrical push button water temperature and flow volume control console. As described herein, the device includes a handle, a shaft coupled to a first end of the handle, and a yoke-shaped body coupled to an opposite end of the shaft. The body includes a coupling portion that couples a first prong and a second prong to each other so as to form a substantially U-shape. The coupling portion and the first and second prongs define a cradle for receiving an electrical wire therethrough. The cradle is configured to assemble and bend electrical wiring in a wiring harness.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one example of an electrical console 100 according to the teachings of the present disclosure. As shown, the console 100 includes a casing 102 comprising a top panel 104, a bottom panel 106, and sidewalls 108. The top panel 104, bottom panel 106, and sidewalls 108 define an enclosure for (not shown) for housing an electrical circuit (not shown), such as a printed circuit board (pcb).

The console 100 may further include electrical wiring 110 coupled to the electrical circuit, and an electrical power cord 112 coupling the electrical circuit to an electrical power source, such as an electrical outlet.

In some embodiments, the console 100 may further include a plurality of risers 114. In this embodiment, the risers 114 may be attached to corners of the bottom panel 106 that permit the console 100 to rest on a flat surface.

In some embodiments, the casing 102 may be constructed of stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or any other suitable non-corrosive materials. In other embodiments, the casing 102 may me coated with a waterproofing material, such as rubber, polyurethane, PVC, acrylic, or other suitable materials. It is preferred that the casing 102 and all of its components be waterproofed to protect the electronic components housed therein.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the electrical console 100. As shown, the top panel 104 includes a plurality of push buttons 202 configured to control the water temperature and flow rate of water flowing from a water faucet. Each push button 202 denotes a different temperature and flow rate setting. In the example shown, the top panel 104 includes twenty-five push buttons 202 that control the temperature of water (ascending from the bottom to the top) from COLD, to LUKEWARM, to WARM, to VERY WARM, and HOT; and the flow volume (moving from left to right) from TRICKLE, to LOW, to STEADY, to STRONG, and FULL. The various water temperature and flow volume settings may be assigned to the plurality of push buttons 202, as follows:

	Valve Settings
Button	Cold Water Valve	Hot Water Valve
1	0	1
2	0	2
3	0	3
4	0	4
5	0	5
6	0.33	0.67
7	0.67	1.33
8	1	2
9	1.33	2.67
10	1.67	3.33
11	0.50	0.50
12	1	1
13	1.5	1.5
14	2	2
15	2.5	2.5
16	0.67	0.33
17	1.33	0.67
18	2	1
19	2.67	1.33
20	3.33	1.67
21	1	0
22	2	0
23	3	0
24	4	0
25	5	0

When a user wishes to change the temperature and rate of water flowing from a water faucet connected to the console 100, a user only needs to push or engage the push button 202 assigned to a desired water setting, and the temperature and water flow rate will automatically change to the desired setting. In preferred embodiments, the push buttons 202 may be touch sensor controlled. The present invention provides more accurate and repeatable control of the temperature and flow rate settings over traditional water faucet handles and levers.

The top panel 104 may also include an ON/OFF button 204. In some embodiments, the push buttons 202 and the ON/OFF button 204 may be illuminated and the top panel 104 may be back lit to enable a user to operate the console 100 in the dark. In this example, when a push button 202 or the ON/OFF button 204 is active, it will be illuminated brighter than the other (non-active) buttons.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one example of console 100 connected to the water valves (not shown) of a water faucet 302. In this example, the console 100 may be configured to rest atop a countertop 304 of a sink 306.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another example of console 100 connected to water valves (not shown) of a water faucet 402. In this example, a well 404 may be carved into a countertop 406 of a sink 408, such that the console 100 may be disposed in the well 404. In this example, the console 100 is installed into the countertop 406 such that the planar surface the top panel 104 is flush with the planar surface of the countertop 406.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of console 100 connected to a water faucet assembly 500. In this example, the water faucet assembly 500 may include a faucet spout 502 installed on the sink countertop 504. The spout 502 is coupled to a faucet base 504. Cold water may be fed from a cold water source to the faucet base 504 via a cold water supply line 510. The cold water supply line 510 may include a cold water valve 512 for regulating the flow volume of cold water supplied to the faucet base 504. The cold water valve 512 is electrically coupled to the electric circuit of the console 100 via electrical wiring 514. Electrical signals may be communicated from the console 100 to the cold water valve 512 via wiring 514 to control the setting of the cold water valve 512. The cold water valve 512 may include a motor assembly for automating the opening and shutting of the cold water valve 512.

Hot water may be fed from a hot water heater 530 to the faucet base 504 via a hot water supply line 520. The hot water supply line 520 may include a hot water valve 522 for regulating the flow volume of hot water supplied to the faucet base 504. The hot water valve 522 is electrically coupled to the electric circuit of the console 100 via electrical wiring 524. Electrical signals may be communicated from the console 100 to the hot water valve 522 via wiring 524 to control the setting of the hot water valve 522. The hot water valve 522 may include a motor assembly for automating the opening and shutting of the hot water valve 522.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another example of an electrical console 600 according to the teachings of the present disclosure. As shown, its top panel 602 includes a plurality of push buttons 604 configured to control the water temperature and flow rate of water flowing from a water faucet. Each push button 604 denotes a different temperature and flow rate setting. In the example shown, the top panel 602 includes ten push buttons 604, where the top row of push buttons 604 control the temperature of water (moving from left to right) from COLD, to LUKEWARM, to WARM, to VERY WARM, and HOT; and the bottom row of push buttons 604 control the flow volume (moving from left to right) from TRICKLE, to LOW, to STEADY, to STRONG, and FULL. The various water temperature and flow volume settings may be assigned to the plurality of push buttons 604, as follows:

Button Valve Setting
1      COLD
2      LUKEWARM
3      WARM
4      VERY WARM
5      HOT
6      TRICKLE
7      LOW
8      STEADY
9      STRONG
10     FULL

In this embodiment, when a user wishes to change the temperature and rate of water flowing from a water faucet connected to the console 600, a user must push a first push button 604 corresponding to a desired water temperature, and a second push button 604 corresponding to a desired flow volume, and the console 600 will cause the cold and hot water valves to automatically adjust to the desired settings.

Under this embodiment, the push buttons 604 automatically adjust (open and close) the cold and hot water inlet valves to allow fifteen different flow levels per valve to result in twenty-five different temperature and flow setting combinations, achieved by twenty-five different COLD/HOT flow ratios, including the following:

Valve Setting Valve Value
1             0
2             0.33
3             0.50
4             0.67
5             1.00
6             1.33
7             1.50
8             1.67
9             2.00
10            2.50
11            2.67
12            3.00
13            3.33
14            4.00
15            5.00

For purposes of clarity, each of the hot and cold water valves would be adjustable to the fifteen different flow amounts set forth above.

The top panel 602 may also include an ON/OFF button 606. In some embodiments, the push buttons 604 and the ON/OFF button 606 may be illuminated and the top panel 602 may be back lit to enable a user to operate the console 600 in the dark.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another example of console 100 connected to water valves (not shown) of a water faucet 702. In this example, the console 100 is coupled to a base 704 of the faucet 702 by a cradle 706.

In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for coupling to,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “in communication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or “is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is “in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to be in communication with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components.

Although the previous description illustrates particular examples of various implementations, the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing illustrative examples. A person skilled in the art is aware that the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents can be applied in various further implementations and modifications. In particular, a combination of the various features of the described implementations is possible, as far as these features are not in contradiction with each other. Accordingly, the foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description.

Claims

1. A water control device, the device comprising: a casing having a top panel, bottom panel, and sidewalls defining an enclosure;an electrical circuit disposed in the enclosure;a plurality of electrical push button coupled to the top panel, each push button being electrically coupled to the electric circuit;electrical wiring electronically coupling the electric circuit to one or more valves controlling the flow of cold water and hot water to a water faucet; andan electrical power cable coupling the electrical circuit to an electrical power source;wherein each electrical push button is assigned to a different desired temperature and flow rate; andwherein each electrical push button may be engaged to change the desired temperature and flow volume rate of water flowing from the water faucet.

2. A method of controlling the temperature and flow of water from a faucet, the method comprising: providing a water faucet, the faucet comprising a hot water line, a cold water line, and valves coupled to each water line for regulating the flow of water through the hot water line and cold water line;providing an electrical console, the console including a casing with a top panel comprising a plurality of electrical push buttons electrically coupled to an electrical circuit housed within the casing, and electrical wiring coupled to the electric circuit;coupling the electrical wiring to the valves;engaging the push button to automatically change the desired temperature and flow rate of water flowing from the water faucet.