Assembly

Abstract

An assembly for use in a wet environment, the assembly comprising: a component; a dial which is movable relative to the component in a linear direction along an axis and is rotatable relative to the component about the axis; a spring-back member configured to move the dial parallel to the axis to return the dial to a predefined position along the axis; a bearing positioned between the dial and the component; and a sensor configured to detect the position of the dial along the axis and/or the rotation of the dial.

1 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An assembly for use in a wet environment, the assembly comprising:
 a component;   a dial which is movable relative to the component in a linear direction along an axis and is rotatable relative to the component about the axis;   a spring-back member configured to move the dial parallel to the axis to return the dial to a predefined position along the axis;   a bearing positioned between the dial and the component; and   a sensor configured to detect at least one of a position of the dial along the axis and a rotation of the dial about the axis.   
     
     
         41 . The assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a magnet, wherein the magnet is attached to the dial. 
     
     
         42 . The assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the dial comprises a shaft about which the dial rotates, and the bearing is positioned between the shaft and the component. 
     
     
         43 . The assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the dial comprises one of: (i) a cover and a housing, wherein the shaft is connected to the housing by a screw and the cover attaches to the housing to conceal the screw; and (ii) a housing, wherein the shaft and the housing are integral. 
     
     
         44 . The assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the dial and the spring back member are configured to rotate together. 
     
     
         45 . The assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the spring back member is a button membrane formed of elastic material. 
     
     
         46 . The assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a support configured to support the spring back member, wherein the spring back member is positioned between the support and the dial. 
     
     
         47 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the support and the spring back member are configured to rotate together. 
     
     
         48 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the support comprises a protrusion configured to prevent relative rotation between the support and the dial. 
     
     
         49 . The assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the bearing is retained by a snap fit ring positioned between the bearing and the component. 
     
     
         50 . The assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a retaining ring positioned between the dial and the bearing, the retaining ring being configured to resist removal of the dial from the assembly. 
     
     
         51 . The assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a retaining ring, wherein the bearing comprises a first bearing part and a second bearing part and the retaining ring is positioned between the dial and one of the first bearing part and the second bearing part, the retaining ring being configured to resist removal of the dial from the assembly and retain the one of the first bearing part and the second bearing part between the dial and the component. 
     
     
         52 . The assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a controller fascia, wherein the controller fascia is at least partly configured to transmit light. 
     
     
         53 . The assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine an input based on at least one of the position of the dial along the axis and the rotation of the dial about the axis and the controller is configured to control a characteristic of water flow in a water related system based on the input. 
     
     
         54 . The assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the characteristic of water flow is at least one of a temperature, a flow rate, and an outlet selection of water emitted from the water related system. 
     
     
         55 . The assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the controller is a remote control. 
     
     
         56 . The assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the water related system is a shower. 
     
     
         57 . The assembly of  claim 53 , further comprising a valve unit configured to alter the characteristic of water flow in the water related system in response to the input determined based on at least one of the position of the dial along the axis and the rotation of the dial about the axis. 
     
     
         58 . An assembly for use in a wet environment, the assembly comprising:
 a component;   a dial which is movable relative to the component in a linear direction along an axis and is rotatable relative to the component about the axis;   a spring-back member configured to move the dial parallel to the axis to return the dial to a predefined position along the axis;   a bearing positioned between the dial and the component; and   a sensor configured to detect the position of the dial along the axis and the rotation of the dial about the axis.   
     
     
         59 . An assembly for use in a wet environment, the assembly comprising:
 a component;   a dial which is movable relative to the component in a linear direction along an axis and is rotatable relative to the component about the axis;   a spring-back member configured to move the dial parallel to the axis to return the dial to a predefined position along the axis;   a bearing positioned between the dial and the component; and   a sensor configured to detect at least one of a position of the dial along the axis and a rotation of the dial about the axis;   wherein the dial is on one side of the component, and the sensor is positioned in one of on an opposing side of the component, within the component, and part of a controller fascia.