Sensor plate for electronic flushometer

• US 7,320,146 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Oliver, Steven R., Nortier, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli; John
• Application Number:
  US11/127,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.3, 251/129.15, 251/129.03, 251/231, 200/343, 200/339, 430/2, 430/4, 430/5, 431/3, 462/3
• US Class Current: 4/304
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors

Abstract

An manual activation mechanism for an electronic flushometer system. A manual activation or override plate has a sensor switch directly coupled thereto and is hingedly connected to a sensor bracket. When a user presses the manual activation or override plate, the sensor switch acts against a bumper, which is compressed to create an electrical contact with a printed circuit board. The electrical contact results in the transmission of an electrical signal to a solenoid system, actuating a flushometer valve.

Claims

1. A manual actuation assembly for use in electronic flushometer system, comprising:

a manual actuation plate;

a sensor mounting bracket coupled to the manual actuation plate and including a manual sensor switch coupled directly thereto;

a sensor mounting plate hingedly connected to the sensor mounting bracket at one end thereof, the sensor mounting plate supporting a bumper positioned therein,

wherein actuation of the manual actuation plate causes a pivoting movement of the manual sensor switch relative to the sensor mounting plate, the manual sensor switch acting against the bumper to create an electrical signal that is transmitted to actuate a flushometer valve.

2. The manual actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor mounting plate is hingedly connected to the sensor mounting bracket at a top portion thereof.

3. The manual actuation assembly of claim 2, wherein the sensor mounting plate includes a plurality of hooks at a top portion thereof, and wherein the plurality of hooks engage a plurality of openings in the sensor mounting brackets to create a hinge therebetween.

4. The manual actuation assembly of claim 1, further comprising an infrared sensor switch positioned within the sensor bracket and in electrical communication with the flushometer valve.

5. The manual actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the manual actuation plate is directly coupled to a bottom portion of the sensor mounting plate via a retaining fastener, restricting the movement of the manual actuation plate.

6. The manual actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor mounting plate is secured to a wall via a plurality of fasteners.

7. The manual actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein the flushometer valve comprises a solenoid valve assembly in selective electrical communication with the manual sensor switch.

8. An electronic flushometer valve system, comprising:

a manual actuation plate;

a sensor mounting bracket coupled to the manual actuation plate and including a manual sensor switch coupled directly thereto;

an automated sensor switch positioned within the sensor mounting bracket and in electrical communication with a solenoid valve, the automated sensor switch transmitting an electrical signal to actuate the solenoid valve in response to selected user movement to actuate the electronic flushometer valve system; and

a sensor mounting plate hingedly connected to the sensor mounting bracket at one end thereof, the mounting plate supporting a bumper positioned therein,

wherein actuation of the manual actuation plate causes a pivoting movement of the manual sensor switch relative to the sensor mounting plate, the manual sensor acting against the bumper to electrically actuate the solenoid valve.

9. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 8, wherein the automated sensor switch comprises an infrared sensor.

10. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 8, wherein the sensor mounting plate is hingedly connected to the sensor mounting bracket at a top portion thereof.

11. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 8, wherein the sensor mounting plate includes a plurality of hooks at a top portion thereof, and wherein the plurality of hooks engage a plurality of openings in the sensor mounting brackets to create a hinge therebetween.

12. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 8, wherein a bottom portion of the manual actuation plate is directly coupled to a bottom portion of the sensor mounting plate via a retaining fastener, restricting the movement of the manual actuation plate.

13. An electronic flushometer valve system, comprising:

a solenoid valve;

an infrared sensor switch in electrical communication with the solenoid valve, the infrared sensor configured to automatically actuate the solenoid valve;

a manual actuation plate;

a sensor mounting bracket coupled to the manual actuation plate and including a manual sensor switch coupled directly thereto; and

a sensor mounting plate hingedly connected to the sensor mounting bracket at one end thereof, the sensor mounting plate supporting a bumper positioned therein,

wherein actuation of the manual actuation plate causes the manual sensor switch to pivot relative to the sensor mounting plate, the manual sensor switch acting against the bumper to electrically actuate the solenoid valve.

14. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 13, wherein the sensor mounting plate is hingedly connected to the sensor mounting bracket at a top portion thereof.

15. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 14, wherein the sensor mounting plate includes a plurality of hooks at a top portion thereof, and wherein the plurality of hooks engage a plurality of openings in the sensor mounting brackets to create a hinge therebetween.

16. The electronic flushometer valve system of claim 14, wherein a bottom portion of the manual actuation plate is directly coupled to a bottom portion of the sensor mounting plate via a retaining fastener, restricting the movement of the manual actuation plate.