Adapter for touch-free operation of gooseneck faucet

• US 7,104,519 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UltraClenz LLC (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UltraClenz LLC (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Francis J., Chen, Xefu, O'Maley, James, Snodgrass, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US10/796,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20050199841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 462/3, 467/8
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

An adapter for retrofitting a conventional gooseneck faucet to allow for touch-free activation. The sensor unit of the adapter is attached by simply passing it over the spout of the gooseneck faucet and towards the base of the faucet where it is locked in place by a clamp. Once in place, the sensor unit uses infrared light to sense the proximity of hands under the faucet. When hands are sensed, the control unit mounted under the sink will activate the faucet for as long as hands remain under the faucet.

Claims

1. A touch-free adapter apparatus for retrofitting a sink with a conventional touch-activated faucet, comprising:

a sensor unit; and

a controller unit, wherein said sensor unit is attached to said sink to detect the proximity of a user'"'"'s hands and when said hands are detected said sensor unit sends a signal to said controller unit to activate the flow of water though the faucet,

wherein said sensor unit comprises;

a first infrared (IR) LED that is oriented to point up relative to the horizontal;

a second IR LED that is oriented to point down relative to the horizontal; and

a photo detector element, wherein

a wide vertical range of detection results spanning from below said sensor unit up to an upper limit located below a spout of said faucet, thereby preventing activation by a hand placed too close to said spout while allowing for wide range of detection and preventing specular reflection from an edge of said sink, and

wherein said sensor unit comprises;

a transmitter window located in front of said first and second IR LEDs that is transparent to IR light but is opaque to ambient light;

a receiver window located in front of said photo detector element that is transparent to IR light but opaque to ambient light;

an internal barrier for preventing the transmission of light directly from said first and second IR LEDs to said photo detector element; and

a sensor unit housing molded with one or more slightly protruding barriers or ridges that serve to separate said transmitter window from said receiver window for preventing splashed water droplets from forming a light conducting bridge from said first or second IR LEDs to said photo detector element.

2. The touch-free faucet adapter apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sink with a conventional touch-activated faucet contains a faucet that is a gooseneck style faucet,

and said sensor unit is mechanically attached to the faucet by passing the sensor unit over a spout end of the faucet and towards a base of the faucet where it is locked in a place by a clamping part.

3. The touch-free adapter apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor unit comprise:

a first infrared (IR) LED that is oriented to point up relative to the horizontal;

a second IR LED that is oriented to point down relative to the horizontal; and

a photo detector element, wherein

a wide vertical range of detection results spanning from below said sensor unit up to an upper limit located below a spout of said faucet, thereby preventing activation by a hand placed too close to said spout while allowing for wide range of detection and preventing specular reflection from an edge of said sink.

4. A touch-free faucet adapter apparatus for retrofitting a sink with a conventional touch-activated faucet, comprising:

a sensor unit; and

a controller unit, wherein said sensor unit is attached to said sink to detect the proximity of a user'"'"'s hands and when said hands are detected said sensor unit sends a signal to said controller unit to activate the flow of water though the faucet,

wherein said controller unit comprises;

a first latching solenoid valve for activating and deactivating a hot water source;

a second latching solenoid valve for activating and deactivating a cold water source;

a first manual valve for adjusting a flux of hot water; and

a second manual valve for adjusting a flux of cold water, wherein said first and second manual valves are used to initially set a desired mix or hot and cold water and said first and second latching solenoid valves are used to activate and deactivate the flow of said water;

wherein a controller circuit automatically pulses said faucet to an off state upon power failure and said controller unit further includes a short term power storage capacitor to provide power for the shutoff; and

wherein said controller circuit additionally provides a 1.5 second delay and sensor hysteresis to prevent the water from pulsing on and off in response to the movement of hands in and out of range of detection of said sensor unit.

5. The touch-free faucet adapter apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sink with a conventional touch-activated faucet contains a faucet that is a gooseneck style faucet,

and said sensor unit is mechanically attached to the faucet by passing the sensor unit over a spout end of the faucet and towards a base of the faucet where it is locked in a place by a clamping part.

6. The touch-free adapter apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sensor unit comprises:

a first infrared (IR) LED that is oriented to point up relative to the horizontal;

a second IR LED that is oriented to point down relative to the horizontal; and

a photo detector element, wherein

a wide vertical range of detection results spanning from below said sensor unit up to an upper limit located below a spout of said faucet, thereby preventing activation by a hand placed too close to said spout while allowing for wide range of detection and preventing specular reflection from an edge of said sink.