Interchangable faucet design assembly

Abstract

An interchangeable touchless faucet system for use with interchangeable spouts and related methods of replacing interchangeable faucets. The interchangeable faucet design generally includes coupling variations of a spout, which may be readily attached and detached to a sensor puck. Fluid is delivered through the sensor puck and through one of the interchangeable spouts from a mixer valve coupled to hot and cold waterlines, where the fluid is dispensed into a basin, sink, tub, etc. when a sensor integrated with the sensor puck is activated by a user, such as by waving one's hand near the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A touchless faucet assembly comprising:
 a base including one or more sensors, the base being configured to be mounted to a surface; and   a spout removably coupled to the base, wherein the spout is configured to deliver a fluid therefrom, and to be interchanged with another spout.   
     
     
         2 . The interchangeable faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a puck having the one or more sensors are embedded within. 
     
     
         3 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect a user input and generate a signal therefrom, the assembly further comprising:
 a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, the controller being configured to control a state of the faucet based on the signal generated by the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         4 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a valve assembly to shift the faucet assembly between an “on” state in which fluid is delivered from the spout, and an “off” state in which no fluid is delivered from the spout. 
     
     
         5 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         6 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors detect movement of a user by infrared proximity, ambient light, ultrasonic proximity, capacitive proximity, laser, visual, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the base, wherein the protrusion is configured to removably couple to an interior portion of a first end of the spout, and wherein the protrusion includes structure defining a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to an interior conduit of the spout. 
     
     
         8 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to be mounted to a vertical wall, and wherein a first section of the spout coupled to the base extends substantially perpendicular to the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to be mounted to a horizontal countertop, wherein a first section of the spout coupled to the base extends substantially perpendicular to the countertop, a second section of the spout extends substantially parallel to the countertop, and a third section coupled to the second section includes a free end of the second section defining a fluid outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The touchless faucet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spout configured to be removably coupled to the base, the second spout having at least one of a different height, reach, CMF, or shape than the spout. 
     
     
         11 . A sensor puck assembly for mounting a faucet spout thereto, the sensor puck assembly comprising:
 a base configured to be mounted to a surface, the base being configured to receive and removably couple the faucet spout thereto;   one or more sensors coupled to the base configured to detect a user input; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, the controller being configured to control a state of the faucet upon a signal generated by the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         12 . The sensor puck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a top surface of the base includes structure defining an aperture, the aperture being configured to receive and removably couple a first end of the faucet spout within, wherein a second outlet end of the faucet spout are fluidly coupled when the first end is coupled to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor puck assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the top surface of the base is tapered. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor puck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the base includes a protrusion extending outwardly from a top surface of the base, wherein the protrusion is configured to removably couple to an interior portion of a first end of the faucet spout, and wherein the protrusion includes structure defining a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to an interior conduit of the spout. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor puck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a valve assembly to shift the faucet assembly between an “on” state in which fluid is delivered from the spout, and an “off” state in which no fluid is delivered from the spout. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor puck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is positioned remotely from the base. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor puck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors detect movement of a user by infrared proximity, ambient light, ultrasonic proximity, capacitive proximity, laser, visual, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . An interchangeable touchless faucet system, the system comprising:
 a base including one or more sensors, the base being configured to be mounted to a surface; and   a plurality of spouts, each spout being removably coupleable to the base, wherein each spout is configured to deliver a fluid therefrom, wherein at least one spout of the plurality of spouts is at least one of a different height, reach, CMF, or shape than other spouts of the plurality of spouts.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a top surface of the base includes structure defining an aperture, the aperture being configured to receive and removably couple a first end of the faucet spout within, wherein a second outlet end of the faucet spout are fluidly coupled when the first end is coupled to the base. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the base includes a protrusion extending outwardly from a top surface of the base, wherein the protrusion is configured to removably couple to an interior portion of a first end of the faucet spout, and wherein the protrusion includes structure defining a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to an interior conduit of the spout.