Self-aligning safety sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-aligning sensor assembly comprising:
- a. a first bracket including a female portion;
b. a second bracket including a male portion that is complementary to the first bracket female portion;
c. a flexible assembly attached to the first bracket and attached to the second bracket; and
d. a sensor attached to a bracket selected from the first bracket or the second bracket.
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Abstract
A self-aligning sensor assembly that is useful for mounting safety sensors that require precise alignment such as electric eyes and electric garage door opener sensors that include an aligned emitter and detector wherein the self-aligning mechanism allows the sensors to be realigned manually or automatically. This invention is also a method for deactivating a sensor mechanism such as a garage door opener sensor using the self-aligning mechanism of this invention.
15 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A self-aligning sensor assembly comprising:
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a. a first bracket including a female portion;
b. a second bracket including a male portion that is complementary to the first bracket female portion;
c. a flexible assembly attached to the first bracket and attached to the second bracket; and
d. a sensor attached to a bracket selected from the first bracket or the second bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13)
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11. A self-aligning sensor assembly useful in conjunction with an electric garage door opener sensor comprising:
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a. a first bracket including a female portion in the shape of a truncated pyramid;
b. a second bracket including a male portion that is complementary to the first bracket female portion;
c. a flexible assembly attached to the first bracket and attached to the second bracket wherein the flexible assembly includes a flexible link; and
d. an electric garage door opener sensor attached to a bracket selected from the first bracket or the second bracket. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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16. A self-aligning sensor assembly comprising:
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a. a spring including a first end that is attached to a base and a second end;
b. a sensor bracket that is attached to the spring second end; and
c. a sensor attached to a sensor bracket.
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19. A method for deactivating a garage door opener using a self-aligning sensor assembly including a stationary first bracket including a portion selected from a male portion and a female portion, a second bracket including a portion selected from a male portion or a female portion wherein the first bracket and the second bracket do not both include male portions or female portions and wherein the female portion is complementary to the male portion, a flexible assembly attached to the first bracket and attached to the second bracket for uniting the first bracket with the second bracket under tension, and a first sensor attached to the second bracket and aligned with a second electric garage door opener sensor comprising the steps of:
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a. grasping the second bracket and pulling the second bracket laterally away from the stationary first bracket until the male and female portions disengage; and
b. rotating the second bracket in a first direction until the sending sensor and the receiving to go out of alignment.
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Specification