GB2482740A - An illuminated washbasin assembly and integrated faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to automatic wash basin assemblies 10 for use by able and disabled users. The wash basin assembly comprises an integrated faucet 40, electronically controlled water delivery with bowl illumination (45 figure 2), and a plurality of control means 60. The control system includes an illumination circuit to provide bowl illumination via the integrated faucet. The control system may measure ambient light and activate lighting automatically or manually on demand as the user configures. The basin may have a plurality of embedded control pads 50 for water control and height adjustment of the bowl, as well as a user configurable memory function to set a specific position. The control system may have an emergency call circuit that wirelessly connects to installed domestic alarm system as used by the elderly. The activation of the alarm is via a control pad button on the basin. The control system may be controlled by a processor and the operating parameters may be updated via USB or digital storage media. Later embodiments relate to a washbasin assembly comprising a plurality of deck mounted faucets and to an assembly, variable in height by an electro-mechanical actuator.

Description

I

Automatic Wash Basin Assembly This invention relates to a series of automatic wash basin assemblies for use by both able and disabled users.

In this specification the term disabled is to be understood as defining a user having lower body impairment and is a wheel chair user, those with spinal conditions making bending difficult, those with limited arm or hand abilities. In this context those users with degenerative abilities and the aged are also considered.

Able users are those who have no physical disabilities and have a variance in height, such as children and adults.

To address these conditions, the basin system is designed to avoid obstructions to knees of wheel chair users and to avoid hanging services that may become entangled with wheel chair or user during use.

Basin styles offers an integrated faucet where the faucet is not a conventional "tap" mounted on a top deck, but inbuilt into the bowl rear face.

This faucet provides a hot and cold independent spout in a compact central fixture.

Other basin styles offer a conventional "monoblock mixer" faucet where both blended hot and independent cold supplies are delivered from a combined deck mounted faucet.

Other basin styles offer independent hot and cold faucets mounted on each side of the basin deck.

The basin style provides a conventional waste system which is free running capped by a restriction cap. The design shall allow conventional waste components to be fitted.

The basin designs provide no overflow for hygiene reasons and bacterial traps are rninimised.

There is included in the invention the means to electronically control water delivery from a range of faucets specifically developed for this invention by the use of a plurality of electrically operated valves.

The water delivery considers health and safety and includes a thermostatically mixing control valve to ensure safe water temperature.

The basin shall be a custom design for this invention and shall consist of a plurality of styles.

The basin shall include a plurality of recesses for control panels easily accessible to users to provide water control and height adjustment and other functions.

These controls shall consist of embossed buttons utilising (but not restricted to) resistive, capacitive or touch sensitive technology or conventional electro-mechanical switching.

Water control is performed by the central control unit activated by a control panel attached to the assembly. Pressing a hot/cold control will open the blended hot/cold valve to deliver water to the faucet.

Pressing the cold water control shall open the cold water valve to deliver cold water to the faucet.

The water control provides the means to vary the duration of water delivery. Pressing each control for a longer period shall increment the duration of the water flow where after the water shall be automatically turned off. The duration of the delivery settings shall be software determined.

The invention shall include user illumination.

Both integrated and deck mounted faucets shall include illumination components to light the bowl cosmetically. The light is reflected from the bowl surface to be redirected by the ceiling to provide cosmetic effect and to provide the means to identify and navigate unlit areas at night.

The illumination may optionally emit from the waste fitting.

Additional illumination is included by means of a foot light at the base of the unit. All illumination features are user controlled options.

The invention shall include provision for emergency call. Utilising an alarm circuit within the control unit, a control key option on the water control pad shall produce an alarm signal. The control unit shall connect wirelessly to the monitoring equipment in the home so extending emergency cover into the bathroom.

For use within hospital and care home installations, the invention shall include automatic sanitising of hot blended water.

In this instance, the basin provides the means to inject an approved sanitising additive into the water delivery for microbial control using an electronically controlled volumetric dispensing valve.

The control means shall include an optional control to inhibit the delivery of sanitising additive on user demand.

The control unit shall include user access to optional functions such as illumination configuration and power reset.

The control unit shall include status indicators and the means to connect a programming device via USB port and also automatic program updates via a digital storage card facility.

According to the present invention there is provided a means to adjust the installed height of the wash basin by use of an electric powered actuator.

While this feature is not part of this patent application, the height adjustment shall be monitored electronically to provide positional information to a central control unit and shall provide the means to memorise a specific position such that the user can program the position to their requirements.

The control system shall be configured such that this position can be reached automatically on demand or after an idle period.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of basin options according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of control means according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of illuminated faucets and touch control faucet.

Fig. I shows the elements of the system.

An automatic basin system suitable for domestic situations.

The assembly includes a basin assembly 10 with integrated water faucet 40, mounting system 13. A cover 17 finishes the appearance.

The mounting system 20 attaches to mounting components 13.

The mounting system 20 includes thermostatic mixer valve 23 and flow control valves 24 and 25.

Water connections from the domestic supply are via pipe 26 (hot) and via pipe 27 (cold) to the thermostatic mixer 23. The delivery is controlled by valves 24 and 25 and are connected to faucets 40, (44, 46, and 47 options) via flexible pipes 28 and 29.

Faucets 40, 44, 46 and 47 include bowl illumination components.

Proprietary waste components 30, 31 and 32 are used.

The sanitising unit 66 features an externally accessible refillable tank containing sanitising additive, introduced into the output of valve 24 via control valve and flow regulator valve 65. The connection provides micrometer flow adjustment of the sanitizer to match the concentration of the agent to ensure correct mixing and dispersion in the hot water flow.

Fig 2 shows the design options for the basin assembly Basin 10 features an integrated water faucet 40 which includes flow control nozzles 41 and 42 and basin illumination 43.

Control pad 50 is specially shaped and provides control of the basin height movement (if fitted) and memory function.

Control pad 52 is specially shaped and provides control of the basin water delivery.

Waste options allow a free running waste with filter 30 or proprietary waste fittings as required.

Basin 11 is a design option for those preferring a conventional deck at the rear to mount a variety of proprietary tap products.

This illustration shows dual control pads 50, 52 (as Basin 10) for ease of access sited on the bowl upper surface.

In this option, a simple mixer faucet (44) is shown which incorporates bowl illumination components 45 Basin 12 is a design option for those preferring a different form and conventional deck at the rear to mount a variety of proprietary tap products.

This illustration shows a single control pad 51 controlling basin height and memory functions. Control pad 53 would be available for other configurations.

In this illustration is shown individual faucets 46 and 47. These faucets include a touch sensitive top cap 48 to control water delivery and illumination components 45 for basin illumination.

Fig 3 shows the control elements of the system.

An automatic basin 10 suitable for domestic situations.

The assembly 10 includes a control panel for height adjustment 50 and 51 and a control panel for water control 52 and 53.

The assembly 10, 11, 12 includes a control unit 60 and external mains power adaptor (not shown) 61 and Valves 24 and 25.

The optional water control pad 52a shows the additional sanitising additive inhibit control.

The optional water control pad 52b shows the additional alarm call control.

Fig 4 shows the faucet options of the system.

The assembly 10 includes an integrated faucet 40 with removable delivery nozzles 41 and 42 and internal bowl illumination 43.

The assembly 11, 12 includes deck mounted mixer 46 or individual touch activated faucets 46 (47). The faucet includes control means 49 comprising of a sensor and illumination components (45) contained beneath a cap 48. Spray nozzle 41 optimises water flow.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance any of the features described can be combined as required.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features herein before referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS1 A wash basin assembly, the assembly including an integrated faucet, electronically controlled water delivery with bowl illumination and a plurality of control means.
2. 2 An assembly according to claim 1, in which the assembly includes a faucet integrated into the basin construction.
3. 3 An assembly according to claim 1, in which the user operated control means are mounted to the upper surface of the basin for ease of access.
4. 4 An assembly according to claim 1, in which the assembly including a control means for water delivery using a plurality of electrically activated valves and thermostatically controlled temperature valve may deliver water to a plurality of faucets.
5. An assembly according to claim 4, in which the control means for water delivery shall deliver the water to a plurality of faucets for a predetermined duration.
6. 6 An assembly according to claim 5, in which the user may configure the duration of water delivery by holding the water delivery control for varying durations to control the water delivery for a plurality of set durations.
7. 7 A variant automatic washbasin assembly in which a plurality of deck mounted faucets are provided or options thereof to allow proprietary taps and mixers to be fitted at the users choice.
8. 8 An assembly according to claim 2 and 7, in which an electronic control means is integrated into a faucet with an illumination means shall illuminate the area beneath.
9. 9 An assembly according to claim 8, in which the mixer faucet shall include an illumination means, shall illuminate the area beneath.
10. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the basin assembly shall include foot well illumination.
11. 11 An assembly according to any of the preceding claims in which the illumination function may be user controlled or automatically controlled within the control means.
12. 12 An assembly according to claim 11, in which the automatic control means shall register ambient lighting conditions and activate illumination where appropriate.
13. 13 An assembly according to any of the preceding claims in which the basin control unit shall include the means to externally upgrade the operating software by means of a digital storage media or by computer means.
14. 14 An assembly according to any of the preceding claims in which a sanitising additive may be introduced into the thermostatically controlled hot water delivery by electronically controlled means.
15. An assembly according to claim 14, in which the sanitising additive may be electronically inhibited by user command to the control means.
16. 16 An assembly according to claim 15, in which the inhibiting command to the control means is automatically reset after use or a period of time.
17. 17 An assembly according to claim 1 in which the underside design of the basin and construction are without projections and the depth is limited to provide ease of use by wheel chair users.
18. 18 An assembly according to claim 1 in which the assembly may be installed below a window.
19. 19 An assembly, variable in height by an electro-mechanical actuator, may be user configured to remember a particular height setting to which the system automatically adjusts on demand or after an idle period.
20. An assembly according to claim 19, variable in height by an electro-mechanical actuator containing positional encoding and end limit detection utilised within the control system.
21. 21 An assembly according to claim 19 variable in height by an electro-mechanical actuator shall include pinch detection by means of both software measurement and electro-mechanical switch.
22. 22 An assembly according to claim 3, in which the user operated control means includes an optional emergency call button to activate a wireless signal to an installed domestic alarm system.