US-12624534-B2 - Controller

US12624534B2US 12624534 B2US12624534 B2US 12624534B2US-12624534-B2

Abstract

A controller for use in a wet environment is provided. The controller includes a manually operable input device coupled to a base housing. The manually operable input device includes a first manual input member and a second manual input member, where the second manual input member is movable relative to the first manual input member. The manually operable input device includes a sealed environment disposed at least partially within the base housing and having one or more electronic components that control at least one function of a fluid delivery device. The one or more electronic components actuate responsive to user-initiated movement of the first manual input member and user-initiated movement of the second manual input member. The first manual input member and the second manual input member are disposed at least partially outside the sealed environment.

Inventors

Adam May
Neil James Baxter
Richard J. Mead

Assignees

KOHLER MIRA LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220315

Claims (12)

1 . A controller for use in a wet environment, comprising: a manually operable input device coupled to a base housing, the manually operable input device including: a first manual input member for activating one of an “on” or “off” function of a fluid delivery device; a second manual input member for adjusting at least one of a temperature and a flow rate of a fluid provided by the fluid delivery device, the second manual input member movable relative to the first manual input member; and a sealed environment disposed at least partially within the base housing, wherein the sealed environment includes one or more electronic components; wherein the one or more electronic components are configured to control at least one function of the fluid delivery device; wherein the one or more electronic components are configured to be actuated responsive to a user-initiated movement of the first manual input member and a user-initiated movement of the second manual input member; wherein the first manual input member and the second manual input member are disposed at least partially outside the sealed environment; wherein a portion of the first manual input member is disposed within a portion of the second manual input member; and wherein one of the first and second manual input members includes an input portion including a first annular wall received in a first end of the actuation portion for actuating the one or more electronic components and an actuation portion extending from the input portion into the sealed environment, the input portion further including a second annular wall disposed radially outward of the actuation portion and the first annular wall, the second annular wall forming a portion of the sealed environment such that the first annular wall is the only portion of the input portion extending into the sealed environment.
2 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first manual input member does not move when the second manual input member is moved.
3 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the manually operable input device further comprises a third manual input member.
4 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first manual input member and the second manual input member is movable in an arc about an axis.
5 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first manual input member and the second manual input member is at least one of a rotary dial, a bezel, a lever, and a handle.
6 . A controller according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first manual input member and the second manual input member is slidable.
7 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first manual input member and the second manual input member includes at least one of a touchscreen and a keypad.
8 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first manual input member and the second manual input member includes a push-button.
9 . The controller according to claim 8 , wherein the push-button includes an input portion.
10 . The controller according to claim 9 , wherein the input portion includes at least one of a linear button and a rocker.
11 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein: the first manual input member includes a push-button having an input portion; and the second manual input member includes at least one of a rotary dial and a bezel that is rotatable around a circumference of the input portion.
12 . The controller according to claim 11 , wherein: the push-button includes an actuation portion that extends from the input portion into the sealed environment; and the one or more electronic components include a contact portion configured to be actuated by the actuation portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit of and priority to United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2103708.0, filed Mar. 17, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates to a controller for use in a wet environment such as an ablutionary setting. The disclosure also relates to fluid delivery systems, in particular plumbing or ablutionary systems, comprising such a controller. SUMMARY A first aspect is directed to a controller for use in a wet environment. The controller includes a manually operable input device coupled to a base housing. The manually operable input device includes a first manual input member and a second manual input member, where the second manual input member is movable relative to the first manual input member. The manually operable input device includes a sealed environment disposed at least partially within the base housing and having one or more electronic components that control at least one function of a fluid delivery device. The one or more electronic components actuate responsive to user-initiated movement of the first manual input member and user-initiated movement of the second manual input member. The first manual input member and the second manual input member are disposed at least partially outside the sealed environment. A second aspect is directed to a controller for use in a wet environment. The controller includes a manually operable input device coupled to a base housing. The manually operable input device includes a first manual input member and a non-contact location sensing system having a first part disposed on the first manual input member and a second part disposed within the base housing. User-initiated movement of the first manual input member causes movement of the first part relative to the second part. The first part or the second part can detect movement of the other of the first part and the second part and output a signal in dependence on the user-initiated movement of the first part relative to the second part. The non-contact location sensing system is positioned such that, in use, the first part and the second part are not positioned in a common plane and are not radially offset from one another relative to an axis extending perpendicularly from the base housing and passing through the manually operable input device. Another aspect is directed to a fluid delivery system. The fluid delivery system includes a fluid delivery device and a controller according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein. The controller is operable to control one or more characteristics of the fluid delivered, in use, by the fluid delivery device. The one or more characteristics of the fluid may include at least one of a fluid flow or a temperature. The controller may be operably coupled to one or more valves upstream of the fluid delivery device. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features of any of the above-described aspects may be employed mutatis mutandis in any of the other above-described aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a controller, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional rear view of a rotary dial and a push-button of the controller of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic of a fluid delivery system, according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Controllers for use in ablutionary settings include, for example, digital shower controllers. A digital shower controller typically includes a manually operated mechanical input portion and electronic components configured to output a control signal in dependence on movement or the position of the mechanical input portion. The electronic components may be located within a sealed environment so as to protect the components from water in use. In use, the controller may be used to control one or more characteristics of the water sprayed from the shower in dependence on the control signal. For instance, the controller may be used to control actuation of an electronic valve (e.g. a solenoid valve) in dependence on the control signal. The electronic valve in turn may control mixing of a hot water supply and a cold water supply to control the temperature of water delivered by a fluid delivery device, such as a showerhead. Referring generally to the figures, a controller includes a manually operable input device coupled to a base housing and having a first manual input member and a second manual input member. The manually operable input device includes a sealed environment disposed at least partially within the base housing. The sealed environment includes one or more electronic components that control one or more functions of a fluid delivery device, such as an ablutionary fitting (e.g., shower head). The one or more electronic components are configured to be actuated responsive to a user-