Moisture sensing strips
First Claim
1. A moisture sensing strip comprising:
- a first flexible, longitudinally-extended, electrically-conductive wire, said wire having a first edge and a laterally-opposite, second edge;
a second flexible, longitudinally-extended, electrically-conductive wire parallel to the first wire, said wire having a first edge and a laterally-opposite, second edge;
a nonconductive, water-permeable upper layer that overlies the wires and becomes conductive when wet;
a nonconductive, water-permeable lower layer that underlies the wires and becomes conductive when wet; and
means for attaching the layers to one another;
wherein at least one of the layers extends away from the first edges of the wires in a first lateral direction to form a wicking margin capable of wicking moisture toward the wires and at least one of the layers extends away from the second edges of the wires in a second, opposite lateral direction to form an attachment margin by which the strip may be attached to a baseboard or other suitable surface in the vicinity of which it is desired to detect the presence of moisture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water leakage monitoring and response system for residential and commercial use. A flexible, elongated moisture sensor strip for placement on a floor or adjacent a baseboard or plumbing fixture comprises flexible upper and lower wires separated by a water permeable, nonconductive layer, and nonconductive upper and lower layers that extend away from the wires to form margins for attaching the strip to a surface and for wicking moisture toward the wires. Alternatively, the wires are laterally spaced-apart within the strip and/or the strip assumes the form of a pad to cover a surface area. In use, a plurality of strips/pads are wired to input jacks of a battery-powered electronic interface unit that provides audible and visual signals when moisture shorts the wires in the strips/pads. The unit also provides audible warning of low-battery power and can signal a home security system when a leak is detected.
52 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A moisture sensing strip comprising:
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a first flexible, longitudinally-extended, electrically-conductive wire, said wire having a first edge and a laterally-opposite, second edge;
a second flexible, longitudinally-extended, electrically-conductive wire parallel to the first wire, said wire having a first edge and a laterally-opposite, second edge;
a nonconductive, water-permeable upper layer that overlies the wires and becomes conductive when wet;
a nonconductive, water-permeable lower layer that underlies the wires and becomes conductive when wet; and
means for attaching the layers to one another;
wherein at least one of the layers extends away from the first edges of the wires in a first lateral direction to form a wicking margin capable of wicking moisture toward the wires and at least one of the layers extends away from the second edges of the wires in a second, opposite lateral direction to form an attachment margin by which the strip may be attached to a baseboard or other suitable surface in the vicinity of which it is desired to detect the presence of moisture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification