Proximity sensor enabled substance communication coupling system

• US 8,517,337 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kuehl, Steven J., McCoy, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLON MORALES, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/643,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20110146329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 251/65, 251/149.1, 251/149.6, 251/149.7, 251/149, 251/142, 137/554, 141/349, 141/351, 141/198, 141/192, 141/347
• US Class Current: 251/149
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

Systems and components for providing or receiving a substance through a substance communication coupling system. A substance switch is provided for selectively communicating the substance between a first substance communicating device, such as a host or other substance source and a second substance communicating device, such as a substance consumer. The substance switch is activated to transfer a substance in response to detection of a contactless proximity target associated with one of the substance communicating devices by a proximity sensor associated with the other of the substance communicating devices.

Claims

1. A substance communication coupling system comprising:

a first substance communication coupling component capable of being associated with a substance consumer;

a contactless proximity target associated with at least one of the first substance communication coupling component and the substance consumer;

a second substance communication coupling component operably engageable with the first substance communication coupling component, the second substance communication coupling component capable of being associated with a substance source;

a contactless proximity sensor associated with at least one of the second substance communication coupling component and the substance source;

a substance pathway between the first and second substance communication coupling components when the first and second substance communication coupling components are interengaged, the substance pathway is capable of passing a substance between the first and second substance communication coupling components; and

a substance switch operably associated with the contactless proximity sensor to selectively permit the flow of the substance along the substance pathway when the contactless proximity sensor detects the contactless proximity target;

wherein the substance switch selectively opens the substance pathway in response to the detection of the contactless proximity target by the contactless proximity sensor; and

wherein the contactless proximity sensor is slidably disposed within the substance pathway.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second substance communication coupling components comprises a substance plug and the other of the first and second substance communication coupling components comprises a substance receptacle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substance switch selectively permits the flow of substance to the substance pathway in response to the detection of the contactless proximity target by the contactless proximity sensor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is movable between a first position, in which the substance is substantially blocked from passing through the substance pathway between the first and second substance communication coupling components, and a second position, in which the substance is allowed to pass through the substance pathway between the first and second substance communication coupling components.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is arranged in the first position when the contactless proximity sensor does not detect the contactless proximity target.

6. The system according to claim 4 and further comprising a biasing member connected to the contactless proximity sensor, the biasing member urging the contactless proximity sensor toward the first position.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the contactless proximity target and the contactless proximity sensor are magnetic and the substance switch comprises the contactless proximity sensor, the contactless proximity sensor responding to the detection of the contactless proximity target by moving away from the first position toward the second position.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contactless proximity target and the contactless proximity sensor are magnetic and the substance switch responds to movement of the contactless proximity sensor in response to the detection of the contactless proximity target by the contactless proximity sensor.

9. The system according to claim 1 and further comprising a host configured to communicate the substance to the substance consumer.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the host comprises at least one of a refrigerator, a freezer, a conventional oven, a microwave oven, a dishwashing machine, a stove, a range, an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, a clothes washing machine, a clothes dryer, a clothes refreshing machine, a non-aqueous washing apparatus, a water softener, a water heater, a furnace, pool water treatment equipment, an HVAC system, a thermostat, a blender, a mixer, a toaster, a coffee maker, an air purifier, an iron, a vacuum cleaner, a robot, a trash compactor, or a structural feature of a building.

11. The system according to claim 10 and further comprising a portable functional device comprising the substance consumer.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is selected from a magnetic sensor, a light sensor, an optical sensor, an eddy current sensor, an acoustic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a chemical sensor and a thermal sensor.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contactless proximity target is selected from a passive target and an active target.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is selected from a passive sensor and an active sensor.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a consumable substance.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substance pathway comprises a field directing the movement of the substance.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substance pathway comprises a tube.

18. A substance communication coupling system for connecting a portable device having a contactless proximity target to a host and a substance source capable of supplying a substance, the substance communication coupling system comprising:

a substance communication coupling component;

a contactless proximity sensor capable of detecting the contactless proximity target;

a substance pathway interconnecting the substance source and the substance communication coupling component; and

a substance switch selectively permitting the flow of the substance along the substance pathway in response to the detection of the contactless proximity target by the contactless proximity sensor;

wherein the substance switch selectively forms the substance pathway in response to the detection of the contactless proximity target by the contactless proximity sensor; and

wherein the contactless proximity sensor is slidably disposed within the substance pathway.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the substance pathway comprises a field directing the movement of the substance.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the substance pathway comprises a tube.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the substance communication coupling system further comprises the substance source.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is movable between a first position, in which the substance is substantially blocked from passing through the substance pathway, and a second position, in which the substance is allowed to pass through the substance pathway.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is arranged in the first position when the contactless proximity sensor does not detect the contactless proximity target.

24. The system according to claim 22 and further comprising a biasing member connected to the contactless proximity sensor, the biasing member urging the contactless proximity sensor toward the first position.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the contactless proximity target and the contactless proximity sensor are magnetic and the substance switch comprises the contactless proximity sensor, the contactless proximity sensor responding to the detection of the contactless proximity target by moving away from the first position toward the second position.

26. The system according to claim 18, wherein the substance switch responds to movement of the contactless proximity sensor in response to the detection of the contactless proximity target by the contactless proximity sensor.

27. The system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the contactless proximity target and the contactless proximity sensor is a magnet.

28. The system according to claim 18, wherein the contactless proximity sensor responds to detection of the contactless proximity target by sending a signal to the substance switch.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the signal comprises at least one of an electrical signal, a change in voltage, a change in current, a change in frequency, a change in resistance, a change in reactance, a mechanical signal, a change in pressure, or a displacement vibration.

30. The system according to claim 18 and further comprising a host configured to communicate the substance, wherein the host comprises at least one of a refrigerator, a freezer, a conventional oven, a microwave oven, a dishwashing machine, a stove, a range, an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, a clothes washing machine, a clothes dryer, a clothes refreshing machine, a non-aqueous washing apparatus, a water softener, a water heater, a furnace, pool water treatment equipment, an HVAC system, a thermostat, a blender, a mixer, a toaster, a coffee maker, an air purifier, an iron, a vacuum cleaner, a robot, a trash compactor, or a structural feature of a building.

31. The system according to claim 18, wherein the contactless proximity sensor is configured to detect at least one of magnetism, an electromagnetic wave, an acoustic wave, a visual target or a chemical component.

32. The system according to claim 18, wherein the contactless proximity target comprises a magnet, the contactless proximity sensor comprises a magnet, and the substance switch is powered at least partially by the magnetic interaction between the contactless proximity sensor and the contactless proximity target.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the substance switch is powered by the mechanical movement of the contactless proximity sensor in response to the magnetic interaction between the contactless proximity sensor and the contactless proximity target.

34. An accessory having a first substance consumer for use in association with a host having a second substance consumer, a first substance communication coupling component, a substance conduit selectively providing a substance to the first substance communication coupling component, and a contactless proximity sensor slidably disposed within the substance conduit, the accessory comprising:

a second substance communication coupling component;

a substance pathway for interconnecting the first substance consumer and the second substance communication coupling component; and

a contactless proximity target capable of activating the contactless proximity sensor to activate a substance switch, wherein the substance conduit selectively provides a substance to the first substance communication coupling component in response to the sliding of the contactless proximity sensor by the contactless proximity target.

35. The accessory according to claim 34 and further comprising a housing wherein the first substance consumer, the substance pathway and the contactless proximity target are each at least partially disposed within the housing.

36. The accessory according to claim 34 and further comprising an adapter, the first substance consumer further comprising a functional device capable of being removably coupled to the adapter.

37. The accessory according to claim 34, wherein the contactless proximity target provides at least one of magnetism, an electromagnetic wave, an acoustic wave, a visual target, or a chemical component.

38. The accessory according to claim 34, wherein the contactless proximity target is selected from a passive target and an active target.

39. The accessory according to claim 34, wherein the contactless proximity target is a magnet.

40. An adapter for removably coupling a portable device having a first device substance communication coupling component to a host having a substance provider, a first host substance communication coupling component, a first substance pathway selectively providing a substance to the first substance communication coupling component, a contactless proximity sensor slidably disposed within the first substance pathway, and a substance switch, the adapter comprising:

a second host substance communication coupling component engageable with the first host substance communication coupling component;

a second device substance communication coupling component engageable with the first device substance communication coupling component;

a second substance pathway interconnecting the second host substance communication coupling component and the second device substance communication coupling component for the transfer of a substance there along; and

a contactless proximity target capable of activating the contactless proximity sensor to activate the substance switch, wherein the substance switch is selectively activated in response to the sliding of the contactless proximity sensor by the contactless proximity target to permit the first substance pathway to provide the substance to the first substance communication coupling component.

41. The adapter according to claim 40, wherein the contactless proximity target provides at least one of magnetism, an electromagnetic wave, an acoustic wave, a visual target, or a chemical component.

42. The adapter according to claim 40, wherein the contactless proximity target is selected from a passive target and an active target.