Automatic flushing urinal integrated with hand washing sink

• US 9,103,103 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Mccann
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Mccann
• Inventors: McCann, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crane, Lauren
• Application Number:
  US13/874,639
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 466/5, 700/281, 700/282
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/01 for combinations of baths, showers, sinks, wash-basins, closets, urinals, or the like combinations of baths, douches, or the like, A47K4/00; cell-like units for special technical purposes E04B1/34869; panels adapted for locating conduits E04C2/52; ducts for installation lines E04F17/08

Abstract

The present invention features an automatic flushing urinal integrated with a hand washing sink. The hand washing sink is located right above the urinal with a sink drainage fluidly connected to the urinal. The urinal has a sensor located in the internal wall of the urinal to detect urine flow. When urine stops flowing, the sensor would trigger an automatic flushing to open a water valve for a predetermined period. The water valve is fluidly connected to a water spout disposed on the hand washing sink such that the water flowing from the water faucet is able to be used for hand washing first and then for urine flushing.

Claims

1. An automatic flushing urinal (100) comprising:

(a) a urinal wall (110) with a top end (112), a bottom end (114) and an indentation (115) between the top end and the bottom end, wherein a urinal drainage port (118) is disposed on the bottom end to fluidly connect to a drain system (192);

(b) at least one urine flow sensor (150) directly disposed on an inner surface (116) of the urinal wall (110), wherein the urine sensor functions to sense urine flow;

(c) a hand washing sink (120) disposed above the top end (112) of the urinal wall (110), wherein the hand washing sink (120) has a sink drainage port (122) fluidly connected to the urinal wall indentation (115), wherein a water spout (130) is disposed on the hand washing sink (120) for water flow outlet into the hand washing sink (120); and

(d) a controller (180), a timer (185), a power source (190) and a water valve (172);

wherein the water valve (172) is fluidly connected to a water supply (170), wherein the controller (180) is operatively connected to the water valve (172), the timer (185), the power source (190) and the urine flow sensor (150);

wherein the urine flow sensor (150) gets activated when it detects urine flow, wherein when urine stops flowing, the urine flow sensor (150) sends a first signal to the controller (180), whereupon receiving the first signal, the controller (180) sends a second signal to the water valve (172) to allow water flow from the water supply (170) through the water valve (172) and water spout (130);

whereupon receiving the first signal, the controller (180) sends a third signal to the timer (185) to start time counting, the timer (185) sends back to the controller (180) a fourth signal after a first pre-determined period;

whereupon receiving the fourth signal, the controller (180) sends a fifth signal to the water valve (172) to close the valve and stop water flow.

2. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 1, wherein the urine flow sensor (150) is a strip running the entire inside length or height of the interior surface (116) of the urinal wall (110) such that the urine flow sensor (150) does not miss detecting any urine flow.

3. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 1, wherein the first pre-determined period is a fixed value of 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes.

4. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined period is a variable value determined by the time of the urine flow that the urine flow sensor (150) detected.

5. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 1, wherein the hand washing sink (120) further comprises a hand soap dispenser (140) to dispense hand soap.

6. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 1, wherein the hand washing sink (120) further comprises a secondary sensor (160), wherein the secondary sensor (160) is operatively connected to the controller (180) and the timer (185), wherein the secondary sensor (160) gets activated when it detects hand motion and sends a sixth signal to the controller (180);

whereupon receiving the sixth signal, the controller (180) sends a seventh signal to the water valve (172) to allow water flow from the water supply (170) through the water valve (172) and water spout (130);

whereupon receiving the sixth signal, the controller (180) sends an eighth signal to the timer (185) to start time counting, the timer (185) sends back to the controller (180) a ninth signal after a second pre-determined period;

whereupon receiving the ninth signal, the controller (180) sends a tenth signal to the water valve (172) to close the valve and stop water flow.

7. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 6, wherein the secondary sensor (160) is a passive infrared sensor to detect hand motion.

8. The automatic flushing urinal (100) of claim 6, wherein the second pre-determined period is a fixed value of 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes.