Anchor structure for sensors of faucets

• US 7,743,438 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jan-Sun Chen
• Original Assignee: Jan-Sun Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Jan-Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Khoa D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHRISTIANSEN, JANIE MEREDITH
• Application Number:
  US11/646,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 4302-305, 462/3, 431/3, 137/801, 251/129.04, 24/16.R
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

An anchor structure for sensors of faucets is located in a sensing faucet. The sensor has a detection side and at least one notch on another side opposite to the detection side at an elevation same as an annular groove formed on an inner wall of a faucet body. An elastic clipping ring is provided to latch in the annular groove and the notch of the sensor to form a bucking effect to anchor the sensor at a selected location in the faucet. The elastic clipping ring is hollow and annular to provide a passage for watering piping and electric wiring. The structure is simpler and can be installed and removed rapidly.

Claims

1. An anchor structure for sensors of faucets adopted for use on a sensing faucet which has a hollow body with a port formed thereon, the faucet housing a water supply valve and a sensor which has a detection side on one side to be wedged in the port, comprising:

an annular groove on a circumference on an annular inner wall of the body where the port is located, the sensor having at least one notch on an anchor side opposite to the detection side at an elevation same as the annular groove; and

an elastic clipping ring that is latched in the annular groove and latched in the notch of the sensor in order to anchor the sensor on a selected location in the faucet.

2. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the annular groove is an indented annular groove formed on the inner wall of the body.

3. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the annular groove has a cross section selectively formed in a shape of a saw, a curve, a rectangle or a desired geometric shape.

4. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the notch of the sensor is selectively formed in a shape of a saw, a curve, a rectangle or a desired geometric shape.

5. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic clipping ring is a non-closed annular elastic element and has an opening.

6. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic clipping ring has a closed portion which has two straight end portions opposing each other to form an opening therebetween.

7. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic clipping ring has a closed portion wedged in the annular groove and an opening latched in the notch of the sensor.

8. The anchor structure of claim 7, wherein the closed portion of the elastic clipping ring is latched tightly with the annular groove.

9. The anchor structure of claim 7, wherein the closed portion of the elastic clipping ring is partially latched in the annular groove.

10. The anchor structure of claim 9, wherein the closed portion of the elastic clipping ring has at least two points in contact simultaneously with the annular groove.

11. The anchor structure of claim 6, wherein each of the two straight end portions of the elastic clipping ring is fitted into the notch on the anchor side of the sensor.

12. The anchor structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic clipping ring is biased outwardly into the annular groove on the inner wall of the hollow body and into the notch of the sensor.

13. An anchor structure for sensors of faucets adopted for use on a sensing faucet which has a hollow body with a port formed thereon, the faucet housing a water supply valve and a sensor which has a detection side on one side to be wedged in the port, comprising:

an annular groove on a circumference on an annular inner wall of the body where the port is located, the sensor having at least one notch on an anchor side opposite to the detection side at an elevation same as the annular groove; and

an elastic clipping ring having an outer side thereof that is latched in the annular groove on the inner wall of the body and latched in the notch of the sensor in order to anchor the sensor on a selected location in the faucet.

14. The anchor structure of claim 13, wherein the elastic clipping ring is biased outwardly into the annular groove on the inner wall of the hollow body and into the notch of the sensor.