Sensor assembly having flexibly mounted sensor and adjustable mounting means
First Claim
1. A sensor assembly for use with a sink mounted above a floor, wherein the sink includes a drain hole and a drain tube connected to the drain hole, a faucet mounted over and disposed toward the sink, and an electrically operated on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet into the sink, the sensor assembly comprising:
- an optical sensor;
a ball-and-socket flexible connector interconnecting the optical sensor to the on/off mechanism and providing a conduit through which the optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet, wherein the ball-and-socket flexible connector permits the optical sensor to be positioned at various locations in horizontal and vertical planes located below the sink; and
an adjustable connecting means for connecting the ball-and-socket flexible connector to the drain tube of the sink.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor assembly for use with a sink having a faucet hydraulically connected to an electrically operated on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet into the sink. The sensor assembly includes a short focus optical sensor mounted adjacent the sink which directs an infrared ray toward a user'"'"'s legs for detecting the presence and absence of a user in the immediate vicinity of the sink. The senor assembly also includes an adjustable pipe clamp for connecting the sensor assembly to the drain tube of the sink, and a ball-and-socket flexible connector for interconnecting the optical sensor to the adjustable clamp. The optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism, via a conduit provided in the ball-and-socket flexible connector, so as to turn on the faucet when the presence of the user is detected and turn off the faucet when the absence of a user is detected.
50 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A sensor assembly for use with a sink mounted above a floor, wherein the sink includes a drain hole and a drain tube connected to the drain hole, a faucet mounted over and disposed toward the sink, and an electrically operated on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet into the sink, the sensor assembly comprising:
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an optical sensor; a ball-and-socket flexible connector interconnecting the optical sensor to the on/off mechanism and providing a conduit through which the optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet, wherein the ball-and-socket flexible connector permits the optical sensor to be positioned at various locations in horizontal and vertical planes located below the sink; and an adjustable connecting means for connecting the ball-and-socket flexible connector to the drain tube of the sink. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sensor assembly for use with an electrically operated on/off mechanism controlling a fluid flow, the sensor assembly comprising:
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an optical sensor; a ball-and-socket flexible connector interconnecting the optical sensor to the on/off mechanism and providing a conduit through which the optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism for controlling the on/off mechanism and fluid flow the ball-and-socket flexible connector permits the optical sensor to be positioned at various locations in horizontal and vertical planes located around the on/off mechanism; and an adjustable connecting means for connecting the ball-and-socket flexible connector to a drain tube adjacent the on/off mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An adjustable connecting means for connecting a drain tube of a sink to a sensor assembly for use with an electrically operated on/off mechanism controlling a fluid flow to the sink, wherein the sensor assembly comprises an optical sensor and a ball-and-socket connector interconnecting the optical sensor to the on/off mechanism and the adjustable connecting means, the ball-and-socket flexible connector providing a conduit through which the optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism for controlling the on/off mechanism and fluid flow and permitting the optical sensor to be positioned at various locations in horizontal and vertical planes located below the sink, the adjustable connecting means comprising:
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a mount bracket; and a clamp having a semicircular surface compressing the drain tube between itself and the mount bracket so to support the sensor assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification