Abstract:
In order to provide a faucet comprising a base, a hose spray unit and an arm held on the base, wherein the arm comprises a hose spray unit receptacle on which the hose spray unit is releasably held in a rest position, wherein the passage of water through the hose spray unit is controllable particularly easily and rapidly by an operating person, it is proposed that the faucet comprises a sensor for detecting the presence and/or the movement of a hand of an operating person in a detection region of the sensor, wherein the sensor is arranged on the arm.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to the subject matter disclosed in German Patent Application No. 10 2016 113 832.0 of Jul. 27, 2016, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a faucet which comprises a base, a hose spray unit and an arm held on the base, wherein the arm comprises a hose spray unit receptacle on which the hose spray unit is releasably held in a rest position. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Fittings of this type are known, for example under the designation “semi-professional faucet”. 
         [0004]    With such fittings, the passage of water through the hose spray unit is controlled by an operating person by actuation of a selection lever on a mixing valve of the faucet or by actuation of a switch on a spray nozzle of the hose spray unit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a faucet of the aforementioned type in which the passage of water through the hose spray unit is controllable particularly easily and rapidly by an operating person. 
         [0006]    This object is achieved according to the invention with a faucet having the features of the preamble of claim  1  in that the faucet comprises a sensor for the detection of the presence and/or the movement of a hand of an operating person in a detection region of the sensor, wherein the sensor is arranged on the arm of the faucet. 
         [0007]    In that, with the faucet according to the invention, the sensor is arranged on the arm which is preferably directed from the base of the faucet forwardly toward the operating person, an operating person can effect an activation of the passage of water through the hose spray unit and/or a stopping of the passage of water through the hose spray unit by means of a very short hand movement from the region of the hose spray unit receptacle into the detection region of the sensor. 
         [0008]    Herein, the hand of the operating person alone or together with a handle portion of the hose spray unit with which the hand of the operating person engages, can be moved into the detection region of the sensor. 
         [0009]    If a sensor is arranged at the outlet of a faucet or on the base of a faucet, then the actuating route for the hand of an operating person to the relevant sensor is long, which causes the actuation of the faucet by the operating person to be slowed and awkward. Furthermore, a sensor positioned at the outlet or on the base of the faucet can result in increased false actuations. 
         [0010]    A positioning of a sensor at the outlet or on the base of a faucet disrupts the design of the faucet. 
         [0011]    The positioning of the sensor close to the hose spray unit receptacle permits activation of a signal generation of the sensor by a very short movement of the hand of the operating person without frequent false actuations occurring thereby. 
         [0012]    A false actuation by the operating person during handling of objects in a basin, in particular in a wash basin, is largely precluded. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the arm of the faucet has a sensor receptacle in which the sensor is at least partially accommodated. 
         [0014]    It is particularly favourable if the sensor is substantially completely accommodated in the sensor receptacle. By this means, the sensor is protected, in particular, against splashed water. 
         [0015]    The sensor receptacle preferably has a sensor aperture through which the sensor is accessible from an external space of the faucet. 
         [0016]    Such a sensor aperture can be closed by a, preferably transparent, cover. 
         [0017]    In principle, depending on the functionality, the detection region of the sensor can be arranged above the arm, laterally beside the arm or beneath the arm. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the detection region of the sensor is arranged beneath the arm, in particular, vertically under the arm. 
         [0019]    For this purpose, it is advantageous if the sensor aperture is arranged on an underside of the arm, preferably facing toward the base of the faucet. 
         [0020]    In the region in which the sensor is arranged, the arm preferably has a substantially rectangular or oval cross-section. 
         [0021]    In order to offer sufficient space for the accommodation of the sensor in the arm, it is preferably provided that, in the region in which the sensor is arranged, the arm has a thickness, that is, a horizontal extent in the assembled state of the faucet perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the arm, of at least approximately 10 mm, in particular of at least approximately 15 mm. 
         [0022]    In principle, the sensor can be configured as any desired proximity and/or movement sensor. 
         [0023]    For example, the sensor can be configured as an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an inductive sensor or a capacitive sensor. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sensor comprises an infrared sensor and is preferably configured as an infrared sensor. 
         [0025]    Further, the faucet preferably comprises a control device which controls a stop valve which permits or blocks the passage of water through the hose spray unit when the sensor detects the presence and/or the movement of a hand of an operating person in the detection region of the sensor. 
         [0026]    The stop valve can be configured, in particular, as an electromagnetic valve. 
         [0027]    In order, in addition to the control of the passage of water through the hose spray unit, to provide by means of the sensor a further control possibility for the operating person, it can be provided that the hose spray unit comprises a switch for permitting and/or blocking the passage of water through the hose spray unit and/or for switching over between different jet forms of the water jet emerging from the hose spray unit. 
         [0028]    Such a switch can be arranged, in particular, on a handle portion of the hose spray unit. 
         [0029]    Preferably provided between the handle portion of the hose spray unit and the coupling of the hose spray unit to the base of the faucet, is a bendingly flexible hose portion of the hose spray unit. 
         [0030]    The switch is preferably arranged lower than the sensor when the hose spray unit is held in the rest position on the arm, in particular, on the hose spray unit receptacle of the arm. 
         [0031]    The hose spray unit can comprise a bendingly flexible hose portion. 
         [0032]    The bendingly flexible hose portion is preferably arranged, at least partially and/or, in particular, substantially completely, outside the arm of the faucet, when the hose spray unit is held on the hose spray unit receptacle in the rest position. 
         [0033]    Furthermore, the hose spray unit can be provided with a covering made of a metallic material, in particular, a stainless steel material. 
         [0034]    This covering can be configured, in particular, as a corrugated hose. 
         [0035]    In principle, the arm of the faucet can be arranged non-rotatably on the base of the faucet and protrude from the base, in particular in the assembled state of the faucet, forwardly toward an operating person, so that in particular an outlet opening of the hose spray unit is arranged, in the rest position of the hose spray unit, over a basin, in particular, a wash basin with which the faucet is associated. 
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the arm is pivotably held on the base. 
         [0037]    Particularly preferably, the arm is held pivotable about a vertical pivot axis on the base. 
         [0038]    In order to keep the actuating movement for the activation of the sensor by the operating person as small as possible, it is favourable if in the assembled state of the faucet, the horizontal spacing d B  of the sensor from the hose spray unit in its rest position is smaller than the horizontal spacing d S  of the sensor from the pivot axis about which the arm is pivotably held on the base. 
         [0039]    In the case of an arm arranged stationary on the base, it is favourable if, in the assembled state of the faucet, the horizontal spacing d B  of the sensor from the hose spray unit, when the hose spray unit is held in the rest position on the hose spray unit receptacle, is smaller than the horizontal spacing d S  of the sensor from a vertical longitudinal central axis of the base. 
         [0040]    For the design impression of the faucet it is particularly favourable if the sensor is not visible to an operating person when observing the faucet from a position above the arm. 
         [0041]    This can be achieved, in particular, in that the sensor is arranged completely in a sensor receptacle of the arm which has a sensor aperture arranged on an underside of the arm. 
         [0042]    The sensor can be arranged, in particular, on a cantilevered portion of the arm which connects the hose spray unit receptacle of the arm to a base portion on which the arm is held, preferably pivotably, on the base of the faucet. 
         [0043]    Such a cantilevered portion preferably extends substantially along a radial direction of the pivot axis about which the arm is pivotably held on the base and/or in a radial direction of a vertical longitudinal central axis of the base. 
         [0044]    Herein, a longitudinal axis of the cantilevered portion can be tilted relative to the radial direction by an acute angle of preferably not more than 10°. 
         [0045]    Preferably this tilting is such that the cantilevered portion rises with increasing spacing from the pivot axis or from the vertical longitudinal central axis of the base. 
         [0046]    Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject matter of the following description and of the illustration in the drawings of an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0047]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a faucet which comprises a base, a hose spray unit and an arm held pivotably on the base with a hose spray unit receptacle, on which the hose spray unit is releasably held in a rest position; 
           [0048]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the faucet of  FIG. 1  seen in the direction of the arrow  2  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0049]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the faucet of  FIGS. 1 and 2  from underneath with the view in the direction of the arrow  3  in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0050]    The same or functionally equivalent elements are identified in all the drawings with the same reference signs. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0051]    A faucet shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , identified overall as  100 , which is provided for use on a basin, in particular on a kitchen sink, comprises a base  102  which is fixable to a suitable support, for example, on a sink or a worktop, and an arm  104  carried by the base  102 . 
         [0052]    The arm  104  is preferably held pivotable about a pivot axis  106  on the base  102 . 
         [0053]    In the assembled state of the faucet  100 , the pivot axis  106  is substantially vertically oriented. 
         [0054]    The arm  104  comprises a base portion  108  which is preferably substantially configured as a hollow cylinder and its longitudinal central axis preferably substantially coincides with the pivot axis  106 , a cantilevered portion  110  extending substantially in the radial direction of the pivot axis  106  away from the base portion  108  and a hose spray unit receptacle  112  arranged at the end of the cantilevered portion  110  facing away from the base portion  108 . 
         [0055]    In the assembled state of the faucet  100 , the cantilevered portion  110  preferably extends starting from the base portion  108  as far as the hose spray unit receptacle  112  somewhat upwardly, so that a longitudinal axis  114  of the cantilevered portion  110  includes an oblique angle a with the pivot axis  106 , preferably an angle between approximately 90° and approximately 100°, for example, approximately 94°. 
         [0056]    The base  102  and/or the arm  104  of the faucet  100  is preferably made of a metallic material, in particular, a stainless steel material. 
         [0057]    The faucet  100  further comprises a hose spray unit  116  which in turn comprises a hose portion  118  which is pivotably connected to the base  102 , a holder portion  120  arranged on the end of the hose portion  118  facing away from the base  102 , a handle portion  122  arranged on the side of the holder portion  120  facing away from the hose portion  118  and an outlet portion  124  arranged on the side of the handle portion  122  facing away from the holder portion  120 . 
         [0058]    The hose spray unit  116  contains a mixed water conduit  116  (not shown) which is connected on one side to an outlet of a stop valve  126  arranged in the base  102  and on the other side at an end face  128  of the outlet portion  124  of the hose spray unit  116  opens into the exterior of the hose spray unit  116 . 
         [0059]    The hose portion  118  of the hose spray unit  116  is configured bendingly flexible and can comprise, in particular, a covering  130  which is preferably made from a corrugated hose. 
         [0060]    The covering  130  can be formed, in particular, from a metallic material, for example, a stainless steel material. 
         [0061]    The holder portion  120  of the hose spray unit  116  is preferably configured at least partially complementary to the hose spray unit receptacle  112  of the arm  104  and is preferably so configured that it is releasably fixable on the hose spray unit receptacle  112  in a rest position of the hose spray unit  116  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
         [0062]    The releasable fixing of the holder portion  120  of the hose spray unit  116  on the hose spray unit receptacle  112  of the arm  104  can take place, for example, by means of positive engagement and/or force-locking. 
         [0063]    In particular, it can be provided that the holder portion  120  is fixable on the hose spray unit receptacle  112  by means of magnetic force. 
         [0064]    For this purpose, it can be provided, in particular, that the holder portion  120  comprises a permanent magnet element and the hose spray unit receptacle  112  contains a magnetisable, in particular, ferromagnetic material. 
         [0065]    Conversely, it can also be provided that the holder portion  120  comprises a magnetisable, in particular ferromagnetic material and the hose spray unit receptacle  112  comprises a permanent magnet element. 
         [0066]    The handle portion  122  of the hose spray unit  116  is provided so that an operating person grasps the handle portion  122  in order to release the hose spray unit  116  from its rest position in which the holder portion  120  is releasably fixed to the hose spray unit receptacle  112  and to move it into an operating position in which water is to flow out of the outlet portion  124  of the hose spray unit  116 . 
         [0067]    The handle portion  122  can be provided with a switch  132  that is actuatable by the operating person, by means of which the passage of water through the handle portion  122  of the hose spray unit  116  can be released or blocked and/or by means of which it is possible to switch between different jet forms of the water jet emerging from the hose spray unit  116 . 
         [0068]    For example, it can be provided that the outlet cross-section and/or the outlet angle of the water jet at the outlet opening of the outlet portion  124  are changeable by means of the switch  132 . 
         [0069]    The stop valve  126  is arranged upstream of a mixed water outlet  134  of a mixing valve  136  which is preferably arranged in the base  102  of the faucet  100 . 
         [0070]    Connected to a hot water inlet  138  of the mixing valve  136  is a hot water feed conduit  140  which extends out of the base  102  into the exterior  142  of the faucet  100  and there to a hot water source (not shown). 
         [0071]    Connected to a cold water inlet  144  of the mixing valve  136  is a cold water feed conduit  146  which extends out of the base  102  into the external space  142  of the faucet  100  and there to a cold water source (not shown). 
         [0072]    The volume flow and the temperature of the mixed water flowing through the mixed water outlet  134  of the mixing valve  136  are settable by means of the mixing valve  136 . 
         [0073]    For example, the mixing valve  136  can comprise an actuating lever  148  which is movable in two degrees of freedom, for example, by rotation about a pivot axis  150  (in the assembled state of the faucet  100 , oriented inclined to the horizontal or substantially horizontally) and by tilting relative to the pivot axis  150 . 
         [0074]    Herein, one of the degrees of freedom of the actuating lever  148 , for example the rotation, determines the ratio in which the hot water from the hot water inlet  138  of the mixing valve  136  and the cold water from the cold water inlet  144  of the mixing valve  136  are mixed with one another, and thus the temperature of the mixed water leaving the mixed water outlet  134  of the mixing valve  136 , whilst the respective other degree of freedom of the actuating lever  148 , for example the tilting, determines the volume flow through the mixed water outlet  134  of the mixing valve  136 . 
         [0075]    The stop valve  126  which is preferably arranged upstream from the mixing valve  136  serves to block or permit the passage of water through the hose spray unit  116 . 
         [0076]    The stop valve  126  can be formed, in particular, as an electromagnetic valve. 
         [0077]    The stop valve  126  is controlled by a control device  152  which is preferably connected by means of a signal line  154  to a sensor  156  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0078]    The control device  152  and the sensor  156  are connected via electrical supply lines (not shown) to a voltage source (not shown), for example the domestic power network or to a battery or an accumulator. 
         [0079]    The sensor  156  is arranged on the arm  104  of the faucet  100 , specifically preferably on the cantilevered portion  110  of the arm  104 . 
         [0080]    In particular, it can be provided that the arm  104  has a sensor receptacle  158  in which the sensor  156  is at least partially received, preferably substantially completely. 
         [0081]    The sensor receptacle  158  has a sensor aperture  160  through which the sensor  156  is accessible from the external space  142  of the faucet  100  and through which the external space  142  of the faucet  100  is accessible from the sensor  156 . 
         [0082]    The sensor aperture  160  can be closed by a, preferably transparent, covering. 
         [0083]    The sensor aperture  160  is preferably arranged on an underside  162  (in particular, facing toward the base  102 ) of the arm  104 , in particular, the cantilevered portion  110  of the arm  104 . 
         [0084]    The arm  104 , in particular the cantilevered portion  110  of the arm  104  preferably has in the region thereof in which the sensor  156  is arranged, a substantially rectangular or oval cross-section, considered perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis  114  of the cantilevered portion  110 . 
         [0085]    The sensor  156  is configured so that it detects a presence and/or a movement of a hand of an operating person in a detection region  164  of the sensor  156  and in the event of the detection, generates a signal which the sensor  156  transmits to the control device  152  of the stop valve  126 . 
         [0086]    The signal can be transmitted by means of the signal line  154 . Alternatively thereto, a device for the wireless transmission of the signal from the sensor  156  to the control device  152  can be provided. 
         [0087]    In reaction to the transmitted signal, the control device  152  switches the stop valve  126  over, that is, from the blocking position in which the passage of water through the hose spray unit  116  is blocked by the stop valve  126 , into the release position in which the stop valve  126  permits the passage of water through the hose spray unit  116 , or from the release position back into the blocking position. 
         [0088]    The detection region  164  is preferably arranged beneath the arm  104  in front of the sensor aperture  160 . 
         [0089]    The operating person operating the faucet  100  can thus start the passage of water through the hose spray unit  116  in that he moves a hand in the detection region  164  of the sensor  156  and can stop the passage of water through the hose spray unit  116  at a later time in that he again moves a hand in the detection region  164  of the sensor  156 . 
         [0090]    The detection of the presence and/or the movement of the hand of the operating person in the detection region  164  herein preferably takes place contactlessly, that is, without the hand of the operating person coming into contact with the sensor  156 . 
         [0091]    In the assembled state of the faucet  100 , the horizontal spacing d B  of the sensor  156  from the hose spray unit  116 , in particular, from the handle portion  122  and/or from the holder portion  120  of the hose spray unit  116  held on the hose spray unit receptacle  112  is preferably smaller than the horizontal spacing d s  of the sensor  156  from the pivot axis  106  about which the arm  104  is pivotable relative to the base  102 . 
         [0092]    Thus the sensor  156  is arranged closer to the hose spray unit  116  (in the rest position of the hose spray unit  116 ) than to the pivot axis  106 . 
         [0093]    The hand of an operating person therefore only has to cover a small path from the hose spray unit receptacle  112  to the detection region  164  of the sensor  156  or from the detection region  164  of the sensor  156  to the hose spray unit receptacle  112 , which simplifies and accelerates the actuation of the stop valve  126  by means of the sensor  156  by the operating person. 
         [0094]    Herein, the sensor  156  and the sensor aperture  160  are not visible to an operating person observing the faucet  100  from a position above the arm  104 . 
         [0095]    In principle, the sensor  156  can be configured as any desired proximity and/or movement sensor. 
         [0096]    For example, the sensor  156  can be configured as an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an inductive sensor or a capacitive sensor. 
         [0097]    It is preferably provided that the sensor  156  is configured as an infrared sensor. 
         [0098]    In particular, it can be provided that the sensor  156  emits a beam, for example, an infrared beam or an ultrasonic beam which is reflected by the hand of an operating person and is then detected by the sensor  156 . 
         [0099]    In order to prevent unnecessary water use, it can be provided that the control device  152  is configured so that it switches the stop valve  126  over after a pre-determined opening time from the release position into the blocking position, even when the control device  152  receives no corresponding signal from the sensor  156 .