Electronic plumbing system including wand with wired communication through wand hose

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic plumbing system including a wand with at least one transmission line extending through a wand hose. The transmission lines extend directly through a flow path of the wand hose to provide power and/or electronic signals to the electronic components of the wand. The electronic components may operably control the operation of the plumbing system via the transmission lines.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plumbing system comprising:
 a body operable to be mounted on a mounting surface;   a wand with a discharge outlet operable to deliver water, the wand being operable to pull away from the body;   an electronic valve operable to control a flow of water to the wand;   a wand hose with a flow path operable to carry water from the electronic valve to the wand, the flow path extending through the body;   an activation sensor/display assembly disposed on the wand;   a control module in electronic communication with the activation sensor/display assembly and the electronic valve; and   a transmission line coupled with the activation sensor/display assembly, the transmission line extending through the flow path of the wand hose;   wherein the activation sensor/display assembly is operable to generate an output based upon a user input;   wherein the control module is operable to receive the output of the activation sensor/display assembly and generate an output command to control the electronic valve; and   wherein the electronic valve adjusts the flow of water delivered to the wand based upon the output generated by the control module.   
     
     
         2 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission line extends directly in the flow path of the wand hose. 
     
     
         3 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the wand hose includes an outer hose and an inner hose, and wherein the transmission line extends through the inner hose. 
     
     
         4 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is in electronic communication with the activation sensor/display assembly via the transmission line. 
     
     
         5 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control box operable to direct the transmission line and the water from the electronic valve into the flow path of the wand. 
     
     
         6 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation sensor/display assembly includes a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is in electronic communication with the activation sensor/display assembly via a wireless network. 
     
     
         8 . The plumbing system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is operable to generate an output command which causes the activation sensor/display assembly display to generate a user-detectable output. 
     
     
         9 . A plumbing system comprising:
 a body operable to be mounted on a mounting surface;   a wand including a discharge outlet operable to deliver water and an activation sensor/display assembly operable to generate an output signal based upon a user input;   a control module being operable to receive the signal from the activation sensor/display assembly and generate an output command to control an operation of the plumbing system based upon the received signal from the activation sensor/display assembly;   a wand hose fluidly coupled with the discharge outlet of the wand, the wand hose including a flow path operable to deliver water to the discharge outlet;   a transmission line extending through the flow path of the wand hose and coupled with the activation sensor/display assembly;   an inlet fitting operable to enable the transmission line to enter the flow path of the wand hose; and   an outlet fitting operable to enable the transmission line to exit the flow path of the wand hose;   wherein the wand is operable to be mounted in a downstream end of the body and to be pulled away from the body.   
     
     
         10 . The wand transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmission line extends directly through the flow path of the wand hose. 
     
     
         11 . The wand transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmission line extends indirectly through the flow path of the wand hose. 
     
     
         12 . The wand transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmission line transmits power to the activation sensor/display assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The wand transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the wand is operable to swivel about a downstream end of the wand hose. 
     
     
         14 . The wand transmission system of  claim 9 , further comprising a control box operable to direct the transmission line and water into the flow path of the wand. 
     
     
         15 . A plumbing system comprising:
 a body operable to be mounted on a mounting surface;   a wand including a discharge outlet operable to deliver water and an activation sensor/display assembly operable to generate a user-detectable output;   a control module being operable to generate an output command to the activation sensor/display assembly based upon an operation of the plumbing system;   a wand hose fluidly coupled with the discharge outlet of the wand, the wand hose including a flow path operable to deliver water to the discharge outlet;   a transmission line extending through the flow path of the wand hose and coupled with the activation sensor/display assembly;   an inlet fitting operable to enable the transmission line to enter the flow path of the wand hose; and   an outlet fitting operable to enable the transmission line to exit the flow path of the wand hose;   wherein the wand is operable to be mounted in a downstream end of the body and to be pulled away from the body; and   wherein the activation sensor/display assembly is operable to generate a user-detectable output based upon the output command of the control module.   
     
     
         16 . The wand transmission system of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation sensor/display assembly includes an activation display. 
     
     
         17 . The wand transmission system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmission line extends through a first flow path of the wand hose and water flows through a second flow path of the wand hose. 
     
     
         18 . The wand transmission system of  claim 15 , wherein the activation sensor/display assembly is operable to generate an output signal based upon a user input and the control module is operable to generate an output command to control an operation of the electronic valve based upon the received signal from the activation sensor/display assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The wand transmission system of  claim 15 , wherein the wand is operable to swivel about the downstream end of the wand hose. 
     
     
         20 . The wand transmission system of  claim 15 , further including a control box operable to direct the transmission line and water into the flow path of the wand.