This relates generally to faucet systems, and more particularly to faucet systems for switching operations between two different fluid outlets of the same faucet.

BACKGROUND

Water filtration systems are becoming more common in households to filter drinking water. These water filtration systems often include their own faucet that is separate from an unfiltered tap water faucet. Having separate faucets takes up valuable counter space.

Although faucets that include multiple water outlets exist, these water outlets are typically located at different distinct fixed positions on the faucet. A user then needs to select which outlet should dispense water (or other fluid) by actuating a switch to select one opening or the other, or by independently operating multiple sets of dedicated controls that correspond to one of the outlets but not the other. For example, these certain faucets often include one or more handles for controlling the tap water outlet but not the filtered water outlet, and one or more separate handles for controlling a filtered water outlet but not a tap water outlet.

Other faucet configurations include a tap water outlet that is disposed on the faucet head, and a filtered water outlet that is disposed on an accessory that attaches to the faucet head. A user actuates a valve to selectively direct tap water to flow directly to the tap water outlet or, alternately, to flow through a filter in the faucet-mounted accessory and then out of the filtered water outlet.

SUMMARY

As discussed above, known solutions for dispensing two different kinds of fluid from a faucet often include providing two fixed fluid outlets on the faucet having respective dedicated controls. Furthermore, known solutions for dispensing tap water and filtered water at the same faucet include attaching a filtered-water accessory to the faucet head to selectively redirect water from the tap water outlet on the faucet through a filter of the accessory and out of an outlet on the accessory.

These known systems and methods have several drawbacks. For example, faucets having separate, dedicated controls configured to each control the flow of fluid to a single faucet outlet may be bulky, complex, and unsightly. Furthermore, a user may not intuitively know which controls correspond to which water outlet, and may need to engage in a trial and error process to determine which controls to use for the desired function. Furthermore, faucet-mounted water-filter accessories may be bulky, unsightly, and inefficient, in that they may be difficult to attach, may become detached from the faucet head, may be limited in filter size thereby limiting filter throughput, and may block easy access to the sink basin when mounted on the faucet head.

For these reasons and for others, there is a need for improved methods for controlling multiple fluid outlets on a single faucet head. Furthermore, there is a need for improved systems and methods for providing and controlling the dispensation of tap water and filtered water from a single faucet head. These improved systems and methods should provide for simple, intuitive, and non-obtrusive controls such that a user may easily and efficiently control multi-outlet faucets; and they should provide for efficient and effective provision of tap and filtered water from faucet heads with high filtered-water throughput and effective, intuitive, and non-obtrusive controls and other system components.

Faucet systems that may address the above needs are provided herein. Particularly, faucet heads for faucets dispensing both tap water and filtered water (or, in some embodiments, any other set of two distinct fluids) from separate outlets are provided. A user may control whether the faucet head dispenses tap water or filtered water by physically actuating the faucet head itself, such as by rotating the faucet head in order to toggle between the two different outputs. In some embodiments, flow rate to either outlet may be controlled by a single handle or knob, while rotation of the faucet head may select between the two outlets, such that only one outlet operates at a time. In some embodiments, the two outlets may be disposed on a rotatable faucet head body, and rotation of the faucet head body may cause rotation of the orientation of the outlets themselves. Thus, the faucet may be configured such that whichever outlet is oriented to face downward is the outlet that is selected for use; an outlet that is not facing downward, such as one that is disposed opposite the other and is facing upward, may in some embodiments not be selected for use and may be shut off in the current orientation. Because the outlet that is selected for use may be dependent on a physical orientation of the faucet head, a user observing the position of the faucet head may quickly and intuitively know which function is selected, and may therefore not have to guess and risk wasting time and dispensing the wrong kind of fluid. Furthermore, because flow of fluid from either outlet may be controlled by a single handle, a user may not have to guess as to what controls correspond to an outlet, and may thereby avoid wasting time and/or dispensing fluid from an incorrect outlet. In some embodiments, rotation or other repositioning or actuation of the faucet head may manually actuate one or more valves controlling flow to one or both of the outlets, while, in some other embodiments, said rotation or actuation may cause one or more electronically controlled valves to be actuated. For example, rotating the faucet head may, in some embodiments, activate one or more sensors that send control signals to one or more electronic valves to cause flow to be enabled and/or disabled to one or more fluid outlets. In some embodiments, electronic sensors may determine a position/orientation of the faucet head, and may accordingly send one or more control signals to one or more electronic valves controlling flow of water to the outlets.

In some embodiments, filtered water may be filtered upstream of the faucet-assembly and/or faucet body, such as by disposing a water filter beneath a sink or behind a wall. In this way, a larger water filter may be used than if a water filter were included in the faucet head or faucet-body itself, and higher filtered-water throughput may be achieved.

Thus, systems, methods, and techniques described herein may be advantageous because they may provide for simple, intuitive, and non-obtrusive controls for multi-outlet faucets such that a user may easily and efficiently control said multi-outlet faucets by toggling between use of one of the outlets and use of the other outlet; and they may provide for efficient and effective provision of tap and filtered water from multi-outlet faucet heads with high filtered water throughput and effective, intuitive, and non-obtrusive system components.

In some embodiments, a faucet is provided, the faucet comprising a faucet body, a faucet head comprising a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet; and one or more valves configured to control flow to one or more of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet; wherein the faucet head is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the faucet body; and when the faucet head is in the first position, the one or more valves permit flow to the first fluid outlet and do not permit flow to the second fluid outlet; and when the faucet head is in the second position, the one or more valves permit flow to the second fluid outlet and do not permit flow to the first fluid outlet.

In some embodiments, the one or more valves comprise a first valve controlling flow of fluid to the first fluid outlet and a second valve controlling flow of fluid to the second fluid outlet. In some embodiments, the one or more valves comprises a valve controlling flow of fluid to both the first and second outlet.

In some embodiments, the first fluid outlet is configured to dispense a first fluid from a first fluid source and the second fluid outlet is configured to dispense a second fluid from a second fluid source. In some embodiments, the first fluid is unfiltered water and the second fluid is filtered water.

In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more valves are disposed inside the faucet head. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more valves are disposed at a location fluidly connected to the faucet head and outside the faucet head.

In some embodiments, the first position is a first angular orientation with respect to the faucet body; the second position is a second angular orientation with respect to the faucet body; and the faucet head being configured to be movable between the first position and the second position comprises the faucet head being configured to be rotatable with respect to the faucet body between the first angular orientation and the second angular orientation.

In some embodiments, the faucet head is physically coupled to one or more of the one or more valves such that moving the faucet head to the first position causes the one or more valves to be manually opened to permit flow to the first fluid outlet and to prevent flow to the second fluid outlet.

In some embodiments, the faucet head is physically coupled to one or more of the one or more valves such that moving the faucet head to the second position causes the one or more valves to be manually opened to permit flow to the second fluid outlet and to prevent flow to the first fluid outlet.

In some embodiments, the faucet head is electronically communicatively coupled to one or more of the one or more valves such that moving the faucet head to the first position causes a control signal to be sent to the one or more valves to cause the one or more valves to be electronically opened to permit flow to the first fluid outlet and to prevent flow to the second fluid outlet.

In some embodiments, the faucet head is electronically communicatively coupled to one or more of the one or more valves such that moving the faucet head to the second position causes a control signal to be sent to the one or more valves to cause the one or more valves to be electronically opened to permit flow to the second fluid outlet and to prevent flow to the first fluid outlet.

In some embodiments, the first fluid outlet is facing downward toward a sink when the faucet head is in the first position. In some embodiments, the second fluid outlet is facing downward toward a sink when the faucet head is in the second position.

In some embodiments, the faucet further comprises a handle configured to control flow of fluid to one or more of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet.

In some embodiments, the faucet further comprises a measured-fill control mechanism configured to cause flow of fluid to one or more of the first outlet and the second outlet to start and stop in accordance with a predetermined time interval in order to dispense a target volume of fluid.

In some embodiments, the first fluid outlet is disposed on a first side of the faucet head and the second fluid outlet is disposed on a second side of the faucet head opposite the first side.

In some embodiments, when the faucet head is in the first position, the first fluid outlet is facing in a first direction; and when the faucet head is in the second position, the first fluid outlet is facing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

In some embodiments, when the faucet head is in the first position, the first fluid outlet is located in a first location and oriented in a first orientation with respect to the faucet body; and when the faucet head is in the second position, the second fluid outlet is located in the first location and oriented in the first orientation with respect to the faucet body.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The invention includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the disclosed embodiments as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined in a specific embodiment description herein. This disclosure is intended to be read such that any separable features or elements of the disclosed invention, in any of its various aspects and embodiments, should be viewed as intended to be combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following.

