ADJUSTABLE SENSOR FOR SENSING A LEVEL OF LIQUID

• US 20100231392A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Sherron
• Original Assignee: Mark Sherron
• Inventors: Sherron, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes

Abstract

A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container. The liquid level sensing device has a base and a rotatable member which extends from and is rotatable relative to the base. A cord extends from the rotatable member and has a sensor provided at a free end thereof. The sensor may be accurately positioned at various heights relative to a bottom of the container to allow a user to fill the container with the liquid to the desired level. An alarm and a signal transmitter are provided in electrical communication with the sensor, such that as a liquid is introduced to the container, the alarm and the signal transmitter will be activated when the level of the liquid reaches the sensor.

Claims

1. A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container, the liquid level sensing device comprising:

a base;

a rotatable member extending from and rotatable relative to the base;

a cord extending from the rotatable member, the cord having a sensor provided at a free end thereof;

an alarm provided in electrical communication with the sensor, such that as a liquid is introduced to the container, the alarm will be activated when the level of the liquid reaches the sensor;

engagement portion positioned on the rotatable member;

an engagement projection extending from the base, the engagement projection being positioned to engage the engagement portion to allow the cord and the sensor to be accurately positioned relative to the base;

whereby the sensor may be accurately positioned at various heights relative to a bottom of the container to allow a user to fill the container with the liquid to the desired level.

2. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the engagement portion is a ring mounted on the tower, the ring is spaced from the base and has recesses and peaks provided around the circumference thereof.

3. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 2, wherein the engagement projection is a post which extends from the base is a direction parallel to the rotatable member, the post has an engagement section which cooperates with the recesses and peaks of the ring of the rotatable member tower, whereby as the rotatable member is turned, the engagement section of the post will cooperate with peaks and recesses of the ring to provide an audible and tactile signal that the rotatable member is turning.

4. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 3, wherein a fast take-up device is positioned on the rotatable member between the ring and the base and a fast take-up projection is provided on the base.

5. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the rotatable member is resiliently biased away from the base to initially position the peaks and recesses of the ring of the rotatable member in engagement with the engagement projection, whereby when the rotatable member is pushed downward toward the base, the ring of the rotatable member is positioned below the engagement section of the post, so that as the rotatable member is rotated, the engagement section will not contact any part of the ring thereby allowing the rotatable member to be rotated freely to quickly wrap the cord around the rotatable member and raise the sensor.

6. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 1, wherein a signal transmitter is provided in the liquid level sensing device and is in electrical communication with the sensor, such that as a liquid is introduced to the container, the signal transmitter will be activated when the level of the liquid reaches the sensor and will communicate the same to a respective signal receiver positioned remote from the signal transmitter.

7. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 1, wherein a soap dispenser is positioned in the rotatable member, the soap dispenser has a dispensing device and a reservoir in which liquid soap is stored, whereby upon activation of the dispensing device, the liquid soap flows from the reservoir, through a liquid soap dispensing tube, and into the container.

8. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor monitors the temperature whereby the alarm will be activated when a programmed temperature is reached.

9. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor has two exposed conductors which are equally spaced from the rotatable member, whereby when the liquid reaches the ends of the conductors, the alarm is activated to indicate that the level of the liquid has reached the conductors.

11. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the engagement portion is a ring mounted on the tower, the ring is spaced from the base and has recesses and peaks provided around the circumference thereof.

13. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 11, wherein a fast take-up device is positioned on the rotatable member between the ring and the base and a fast take-up projection is provided on the base.

15. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 9, wherein a soap dispenser is positioned in the rotatable member, the soap dispenser has a dispensing device and a reservoir in which liquid soap is stored, whereby upon activation of the dispensing device, the liquid soap flows from the reservoir, through a liquid soap dispensing tube, and into the container.

10. A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container, the liquid level sensing device comprising:

a base;

a rotatable member extending from and rotatable relative to the base;

a cord extending from the rotatable member, the cord having a sensor provided at a free end thereof;

a signal transmitter is provided in the liquid level sensing device and is in electrical communication with the sensor, such that as a liquid is introduced to the container, the signal transmitter will be activated when the level of the liquid reaches the sensor and will communicate the same to a respective signal receiver positioned remote from the signal transmitter;

engagement portion positioned on the rotatable member;

an engagement projection extending from the base, the engagement projection being positioned to engage the engagement portion to allow the cord and the sensor to b accurately positioned relative to the base;

whereby the sensor may be accurately positioned at various heights relative to a bottom of the container to allow a user to fill the container with the liquid to the desired level.

12. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the engagement projection is a post which extends from the base is a direction parallel to the rotatable member, the post has an engagement section which cooperates with the recesses and peaks of the ring of the rotatable member tower, whereby as the rotatable member is turned, the engagement section of the post will cooperate with peaks and recesses of the ring to provide an audible and tactile signal that the rotatable member is turning.

14. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 12, wherein the rotatable member is resiliently biased away from the base to initially position the peaks and recesses of the ring of the rotatable member in engagement with the engagement projection, whereby when the rotatable member is pushed downward toward the base, the ring of the rotatable member is positioned below the engagement section of the post, so that as the rotatable member is rotated, the engagement section will not contact any part of the ring thereby allowing the rotatable member to be rotated freely to quickly wrap the cord around the rotatable member and raise the sensor.

16. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the sensor monitors the temperature whereby the signal transmitter will be activated when a programmed temperature is reached.

17. A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container, the liquid level sensing device comprising:

a base;

a rotatable member extending from and rotatable both axially and radially relative to the base;

a cord extending from the rotatable member, the cord having a sensor provided at a free end thereof;

engagement portion positioned on the rotatable member;

an engagement projection extending from the base, the engagement projection being positioned to engage the engagement portion to allow the cord and the sensor to be accurately positioned relative to the base;

whereby the sensor may be accurately positioned at various heights relative to a bottom of the container to allow a user to fill the container with the liquid to the desired level.

18. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 17, wherein a soap dispenser is positioned in the rotatable member, the soap dispenser has a dispensing device and a reservoir in which liquid soap is stored, whereby upon activation of the dispensing device, the liquid soap flows from the reservoir, through a liquid soap dispensing tube, and into the container.

19. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 17, wherein a liquid oil dispenser is positioned in the rotatable member, the liquid oil dispenser has a dispensing device and a reservoir in which liquid oil is stored, whereby upon activation of the dispensing device, the liquid oil flows from the reservoir, through a liquid oil dispensing tube, and into the container.

20. The liquid level sensing device as recited in claim 17, wherein a candle is positioned in the rotatable member.