Adjustable sensor device for a plumbing fixture

• US 10,519,642 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masco Canada Limited (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Canada Limited (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Main, Brian David, Fisher, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jellett, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US15/927,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20180313073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/06 with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A sensing device for a plumbing fixture includes an electronics housing including a rear wall. The rear wall includes a tool passage therethrough and a fastener head pocket in communication with the tool passage. The device further includes a fastener including head carried in the fastener head pocket of the rear wall of the electronics housing and a body extending away from the head and establishing a fastener axis. The device further includes a sensor assembly including a sensor housing having a first portion coupled to the electronics housing and a second portion carried on the body of the fastener and configured for movement relative to the electronics housing along the body of the fastener.

Claims

1. An adjustable plumbing fixture sensing device for detecting presence of an object, comprising:

an electronics housing including a front wall and a rear wall, the rear wall including a tool passage therethrough extending from an interior side of the rear wall to an exterior side of the rear wall, and a fastener head pocket in communication with the tool passage on the interior side of the rear wall;

a first fastener including a head carried in the fastener head pocket of the rear wall of the electronics housing and a body extending away from the head and establishing a fastener axis, wherein the head includes a tool recess accessible through the tool passage from the exterior side of the rear wall; and

,

a sensor assembly extending through the front wall of the electronics housing, and including a sensor housing having a first portion coupled to the rear wall of the electronics housing and a second portion carried on the body of the first fastener and configured for movement relative to the electronics housing along the body of the first fastener.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a second fastener that couples the first portion of the sensor housing to the electronics housing, the second fastener including a head positioned against the first portion of the sensor housing and a body extending through first portion of the sensor housing and into the rear wall of the electronics housing.

3. The sensing device of claim 2 wherein the body of the first fastener extends from the head of the first fastener in a first direction and the body of the second fastener extends from the head of the second fastener in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The sensing device of claim 1 wherein the body of the first fastener is threaded and the second portion of the sensor housing has an internally threaded passage through which the body of the first fastener extends and wherein the first fastener is rotatable about the fastener axis so as to translate the second portion of the sensor housing along the body of the first fastener towards and away from the rear wall of the electronics housing.

5. The sensing device of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the sensor housing includes a lower end flange and the second portion of the sensor housing includes an upper end flange.

6. The sensing device of claim 5 wherein the sensor assembly includes an emitter proximate the upper end flange and a receiver proximate the lower end flange.

7. The sensing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor housing is made from a flexible material.

8. The sensing device of claim 7 wherein the sensor housing is made from an elastically deformable material.

9. The sensing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor housing defines a living hinge between the first portion of the sensor housing and a body of the sensor housing.

10. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a potting material disposed within the electronics housing and biasing the sensor housing towards the rear wall of the electronics housing.

11. An adjustable plumbing fixture sensing device for detecting presence of an object, comprising:

an electronics housing including a front wall, and a rear wall and a sidewall extending away from the rear wall and establishing an interior, the rear wall including a tool passage therethrough extending from an interior side of the rear wall to an exterior side of the rear wall, and a fastener head pocket in communication with the tool passage on the interior side of the rear wall;

a first fastener including a head carried in the fastener head pocket of the rear wall of the electronics housing and a threaded body extending away from the head and establishing a fastener axis, wherein the head includes a tool recess accessible through the tool passage from the exterior side of the rear wall; and

,

a sensor assembly extending through the front wall of the electronics housing, and carried in the interior of the electronics housing and including a sensor housing having a first portion fixed relative to the rear wall of the electronics housing and a second portion carried on the threaded body of the first fastener and configured for movement relative to the electronics housing along the threaded body of the first fastener.

12. The sensing device of claim 11, further comprising a second fastener that couples the first portion of the sensor housing to the electronics housing, the second fastener including a head positioned against the first portion of the sensor housing and a body extending through first portion of the sensor housing and into the rear wall of the electronics housing.

13. The sensing device of claim 11 wherein the second portion of the sensor housing has an internally threaded passage through which the body of the first fastener extends and wherein the first fastener is rotatable about the fastener axis so as to translate the second portion of the sensor housing along the body of the first fastener towards and away from the rear wall of the electronics housing.

14. The sensing device of claim 11 wherein the first portion of the sensor housing includes a lower end flange and the second portion of the sensor housing includes an upper end flange and the sensor assembly includes an emitter proximate the upper end flange and a receiver proximate the lower end flange.

15. The sensing device of claim 11 wherein the sensor housing is made from a flexible material.

16. The sensing device of claim 15 wherein the sensor housing is made from an elastically deformable material.

17. The sensing device of claim 11, further comprising a potting material disposed in the interior of the electronics housing and biasing the sensor housing towards the rear wall of the electronics housing.

18. A flushometer assembly, comprising:

a valve body;

a valve element disposed within the valve body;

a solenoid configured to control a position of the valve element;

an adjustable plumbing fixture sensing device for detecting presence of an object, and including

an electronics housing including a front wall, a rear wall and a sidewall extending away from the rear wall and establishing an interior, the rear wall including a tool passage therethrough extending from an interior side of the rear wall to an exterior side of the rear wall, and a fastener head pocket in communication with the tool passage on the interior side of the rear wall;

a fastener including a head carried in the fastener head pocket of the rear wall of the electronics housing and a threaded body extending away from the head and establishing a fastener axis wherein the head includes a tool recess accessible through the tool passage from the exterior side of the rear wall; and

,

a sensor assembly carried in the interior of the electronics housing and extending through the front wall of the electronics housing, and including a sensor housing having a first portion fixed relative to the rear wall of the electronics housing and a second portion carried on the threaded body of the fastener and configured for movement relative to the electronics housing along the threaded body of the fastener; and

,

a controller configured to control the solenoid responsive to an output signal of the sensor assembly.

19. The sensing device of claim 18, further comprising a second fastener that couples the first portion of the sensor housing to the electronics housing, the second fastener including a head positioned against the first portion of the sensor housing and a body extending through first portion of the sensor housing and into the rear wall of the electronics housing, wherein the body of the first fastener extends from the head of the first fastener in a first direction and the body of the second fastener extends from the head of the second fastener in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the body of the first fastener is threaded and the second portion of the sensor housing has an internally threaded passage through which the body of the first fastener extends and wherein the first fastener is rotatable about the fastener axis so as to translate the second portion of the sensor housing along the body of the first fastener towards and away from the rear wall of the electronics housing, wherein the first portion of the sensor housing includes a lower end flange and the second portion of the sensor housing includes an upper end flange, wherein the sensor assembly includes an emitter proximate the upper end flange and a receiver proximate the lower end flange, wherein the sensor housing is made from a flexible, elastically deformable, material.

20. The sensing device of claim 18, further comprising a potting material disposed within the electronics housing and biasing the sensor housing towards the rear wall of the electronics housing.