System and method to position and retain a sensor in a faucet spout
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E03C-001/05
F16K-037/00
E03C-001/04
출원번호
US-0710383
(2015-05-12)
등록번호
US-9695580
(2017-07-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Esche, John C.
Hansen, David E.
출원인 / 주소
KOHLER CO.
대리인 / 주소
Foley & Lardner LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
45
초록▼
A touchless faucet including a tubular spout having a curved portion including an inlet end through which a fluid flow enters the spout and an outlet end through which the fluid flow exits the spout. The outlet end is located forward and downward of an apex of the curved portion and the inlet end is
A touchless faucet including a tubular spout having a curved portion including an inlet end through which a fluid flow enters the spout and an outlet end through which the fluid flow exits the spout. The outlet end is located forward and downward of an apex of the curved portion and the inlet end is located rearward and downward of the apex. The faucet also includes an electronic valve for controlling the fluid flow and a sensor disposed completely within the spout along an underside of the curved portion adjacent the apex. The sensor includes a transmitter for emitting a signal and a receiver for detecting an interruption of the signal within a detection zone that does not intersect with the fluid flow from the outlet end of the spout. The sensor communicates with the electronic valve to control the fluid flow when the interruption of the signal is detected.
대표청구항▼
1. A faucet for a sink having touchless operation, the faucet comprising: a generally tubular spout having an inverted J-shape including a semi-circular curved portion, the spout having an inlet end through which a fluid flow enters the spout and an outlet end through which the fluid flow exits the
1. A faucet for a sink having touchless operation, the faucet comprising: a generally tubular spout having an inverted J-shape including a semi-circular curved portion, the spout having an inlet end through which a fluid flow enters the spout and an outlet end through which the fluid flow exits the spout, the outlet end being located forward and downward of a single apex of the curved portion and the inlet end being located rearward and downward of the apex;an electronic valve configured to control the fluid flow through the faucet; anda sensor disposed completely within the spout along an underside of the curved portion adjacent the apex, the sensor including: a transmitter configured to emit a signal; anda receiver configured to detect an interruption of the signal within a detection zone that does not intersect with the fluid flow from the outlet end of the spout;wherein the detection zone is substantially defined by the underside of the curved portion and above the inlet end of the spout, such that the detection zone also does not intersect a work region of the sink; andwherein the sensor communicates with the electronic valve to control the fluid flow when the interruption of the signal is detected. 2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the curved portion of the spout includes an opening in the underside adjacent the apex, such that at least one of the transmitter and the receiver is located adjacent the opening in order for at least one of the emitted signal and the received signal to pass through the opening. 3. The faucet of claim 2, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are located adjacent the opening in the curved portion, such that emitted signal and the received signal pass through the opening. 4. The faucet of claim 3, wherein the emitted signal from the transmitter is a light beam, and the receiver is configured to detect a reflection of the light beam back to the sensor by an object in the detection zone. 5. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the curved portion of the spout includes an opening in the underside proximate the apex, and the faucet further comprises a sensor holder that is configured to retain at least a portion of the sensor in the curved portion, the sensor holder comprising: a frame configured to receive at least a portion of the sensor; anda projection extending from a bottom of the frame to form a raised widow through which the signal may pass, the projection extending into the opening of the curved portion to align the sensor holder to the spout. 6. The faucet of claim 5, further comprising a fastener that passes through an opening in the bottom of the frame to couple the at least a portion of the sensor to the frame. 7. The faucet of claim 5, wherein the sensor holder further comprises: a leg extending transversely in the curved portion from the frame to limit a vertical movement of at least the portion of the sensor retained by the sensor holder. 8. The faucet of claim 7, further comprising: a spray head detachably coupled to the outlet end of the spout; anda hose disposed in the spout and fluidly connecting the spray head to a fluid inlet of the faucet, wherein the hose limits the vertical movement of the leg of the sensor holder. 9. The faucet of claim 8, further comprising: a wire electrically connecting the sensor to the electronic valve;a wire cover disposed between the wire and the hose to prevent abrasion to the wire, such as when the hose is moved relative to the wire by the movable spray head;wherein a portion of the wire cover is disposed between the hose and at least the portion of the sensor retained by the sensor holder to prevent abrasion of the sensor. 10. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the wire cover includes at least one of a forward end and a rearward end that is curved relative to an adjacent portion of the wire cover, wherein each curved end guides the hose over the wire cover. 11. The faucet of claim 5, wherein a pair of spaced apart legs extend from the frame, such that a space provided between the two legs allows for routing of a wire through the space to electrically connect at least the portion of the sensor retained by the sensor holder with the electronic valve. 12. The faucet of claim 5, further comprising: a spray head detachably coupled to the outlet end of the spout; anda spray insert located in the spout between the spray head and the sensor holder, the spray insert including a tab that extends adjacent to a tab of the frame of the sensor holder;wherein one tab includes a protrusion and the other tab includes a slot that receives the protrusion to couple the frame and the spray insert together. 13. The faucet of claim 12, wherein the frame of the sensor holder includes internal walls having a contour corresponding to a perimeter of an area at which the sensor connects to a wire. 14. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the transmitter of the sensor is configured to emit a light beam through an opening in the spout proximate the apex of the curved portion and the detection zone is located below the curved portion and above the outlet end of the spout. 15. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the wire cover comprises at least one projection extending from and disposed along a base of the wire cover, each projection having a recessed portion that receives and retains a section of the wire. 16. The faucet of claim 15, wherein the at least one projection comprises a first projection and a second projection spaced apart from the first projection, the first projection receives and retains a first section of the wire, and the second projection receives and retains a second section of the wire. 17. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the sensor holder and the wire cover together form a cavity that receives and secures the sensor in place relative to the sensor holder and the wire cover. 18. The faucet of claim 9, wherein the sensor holder comprises a plurality of projections that are offset in an alternating arrangement to secure and hold the wire in place relative to the sensor holder. 19. The faucet of claim 5, wherein a bottom surface of the frame extends between two ends of the sensor holder and has a curved shape that complements a shape of the curved portion of the spout.
Kolar Anton J. ; Paese Andrew J. ; Richter-O'Connell David J. ; Tervo Steven M. ; Thomas Carter J. ; Burnett William R. ; Shafer David C. ; Heinzmann Fred Judson, Advanced touchless plumbing systems.
Paese Andrew J. ; Tervo Steven M. ; Thomas Carter J. ; Burnett William R. ; Shafer David C. ; Heinzmann Fred Judson, Bathroom fixture using radar detector having leaky transmission line to control fluid flow.
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