Faucet with motion-detector on/off control

• US 5,586,746 A
• Filed: 06/08/1995
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG & Co. KG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Frankholz, Christian, Humpert, Jergen, Heimann, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/488,479
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 4/623, 4/DIG. 3, 137/801
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

A plumbing fixture has a housing provided with a water inlet and formed with a water outlet and with a circuit pocket. This housing is secured to a support surface. An electrically operated valve in the body between the inlet and outlet has an electrical feed wire energizable for movement of the valve between a closed position blocking flow between the inlet and outlet and an open position permitting such flow. An insert fittable in the pocket is formed with a battery compartment holding a battery. A screw or the like fixed the insert in the pocket. An electrical circuit in the insert connected to the feed wire and to the battery opens the valve on detection of a solid object in front of the housing.

Claims

1. A plumbing fixture comprising:

a housing provided with a water inlet and formed with a water outlet and with a circuit pocket;

means for securing the housing to a support surface;

an electrically operated valve in the body between the inlet and outlet and having an electrical feed wire energizable for movement of the valve between a closed position blocking flow between the inlet and outlet and an open position permitting such flow;

an insert fittable in the pocket, provided with a window, and formed with a battery compartment;

means for fixing the insert in the pocket with the window facing forward out of the pocket;

a battery in the compartment; and

electrical circuit means in the insert connected to the feed wire and to the battery and including a proximity detector behind the window for opening the valve on detection of a solid object in front of the housing.

2. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the fixing means includes a screw engageable through the housing into the insert.

3. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the insert is provided with a removable cover closing the battery compartment.

4. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the insert has a rearwardly extending projection bearing rearwardly on the housing and the fixing means includes a screw extending through the housing and threaded into the projection.

5. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the wire is provided with a disconnectable plug-and-socket assembly for complete disconnection of the circuit from the valve.

6. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the insert is provided with an annular seal engaging the pocket.

7. A plumbing fixture comprising:

a housing including

a generally cylindrical core body centered on an axis, formed with a pocket, a water inlet, and a water outlet, and having a lower end and an upper end, the pocket opening radially of the body, and

a sleeve formed with a spout forming a continuation of the outlet;

means for securing the lower end of the housing to a support surface;

an electrically operated valve mounted on the upper body end and between the inlet and outlet and having an electrical feed wire energizable for movement of the valve between a closed position blocking flow between the inlet and outlet and an open position permitting such flow;

an insert fittable in the pocket and formed with a battery compartment;

means including a screw engageable through the housing into the insert for fixing the insert in the pocket, the screw having a head bearing on the sleeve, passing through the body, and threaded into the insert;

a battery in the compartment; and

electrical circuit means in the insert connected to the feed wire and to the battery for opening the valve on detection of a solid object in front of the housing.

8. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 7 wherein the inlet is formed by a pair of axially extending feed tubes extending through the surface from the lower end.