Sensor device for use with a flush valve

• US 6,219,857 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hydrotek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hydrotek Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Shui-Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US09/464,413
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 462/3, 430/2, 430/4, 430/5, 431/3, 466/8, 250/522.1, 250/347, 250/338.1, 250/353, 250/221, 250/224
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver

Abstract

A sensor device includes a mounting frame having open front and rear ends, and right and left inner side walls opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction and extending between the front and rear ends so as to define a passage. The mounting frame is adapted to be mounted such that the body of a user of the sanitary apparatus will be sighted by the passage. A sensor body is inserted into the passage, and has a front side proximate to the front end to emit and receive a light signal, and right and left lateral walls that face respectively and spacedly the right and left inner side walls. A pair. of pivotally mounting members are respectively disposed between the right lateral and inner side walls, and between the left lateral and inner side walls such that the pivotally mounting members effect pivotal mountings which are pivotable between angular positions about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. A retaining member is disposed between the sensor body and the mounting frame to frictionally retain the sensor body in a selected one of the angular positions.

Claims

1. A sensor device for use with a flush valve which controls outflow of the water to a sanitary apparatus, said sensor device comprising:

a mounting frame having open front and rear ends opposite to each other in a transverse direction, and including right and left inner side walls spaced apart from each other in a first longitudinal direction and extending in the transverse direction between said front and rear ends so as to define a passage, said mounting frame being adapted to be mounted such that the body of a user of the sanitary apparatus will be sighted by said passage;

a sensor body having a front side to emit and receive a light signal, and including right and left lateral walls disposed opposite to each other in a second longitudinal direction, said sensor body being disposed to be insertable into said passage such that said front side is proximate to said open front end and faces towards the transverse direction, and such that said right and left lateral walls face respectively and spacedly said right and left inner side walls with the first and second longitudinal directions aligned with each other;

a pair of pivotally mounting members respectively disposed between said right lateral and inner side walls, and between said left lateral and inner side walls, and such that when said sensor body is inserted into said passage, said pivotally mounting members effect pivotal mountings therebetween, which are pivotable between angular positions about an axis parallel to the first longitudinal direction, and which are detachable in the transverse direction; and

a retaining member disposed between said sensor body and said mounting frame to frictionally retain said sensor body in a selected one of said angular positions.

2. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotally mounting members include two engaging notches formed respectively in said right and left inner side walls, and disposed opposite to each other in the first longitudinal direction, and two pins extending respectively and outwardly of said right and left lateral walls and disposed opposite to each other in the second longitudinal direction to be inserted rotatably into said engaging notches about the axis when said sensor body is inserted into said passage.

3. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor body includes a sensor casing received in said passage and provided with said right and left lateral walls, and a sensor unit secured in said sensor casing.

4. The sensor device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensor body is provided with right and left rear walls extending respectively and rearwardly of said right and left lateral walls, said mounting frame being provided with right and left frame walls extending respectively and rearwardly of said right and left inner walls, said retaining member including a plurality of grooves formed in one of said right and left frame walls and arranged to correspond to said angular positions, and a protrusion disposed on one of said right and left rear walls to engage a selected one of said grooves so as to retain said sensor body in the selected one of said angular positions.

5. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transparent plate mounted on said open front end of said mounting frame for passage of light emitted from said sensor body.

6. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting frame further includes a circumferential wall disposed between said open front and rear ends and provided with said right and left inner side walls, front and rear flanges extending radially and outwardly of said circumferential wall and disposed respectively proximate to said open front and rear ends to form respectively front and rear shoulders, and an elastomeric friction ring surrounding said circumferential wall between said front and rear shoulders, said sensor device being adapted to be mounted on a wall of the sanitary apparatus which has inner and outer side walls opposite to each other in the transverse direction such that said front shoulder abut against the outer wall and said friction ring abut against the inner wall for preventing from removal of said sensor device from the sanitary apparatus in the transverse direction.