Water leak detector for a pipe having a retention reservoir

• US 9,245,438 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Burtner, Daniel C., Marty, Garry Robin, Patton, Paul V., Sawaski, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/287,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20150348392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 70/40, 70/405.R, 137/312, 200/61.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A water leak detector including a housing defining a retention reservoir, and a coupler connected to the housing and configured to secure the housing to a water pipe. A switch is supported by the housing and is configured to detect water at a predetermined level within the reservoir. An indicator may be an electrical communication with the switch to provide an indication to a user when water has reached the predetermined level within the reservoir.

Claims

1. A leak detector comprising:

a housing including an annular inner wall, an annular outer wall concentrically positioned radially outwardly from the inner wall, and an annular retention reservoir defined between the inner wall and the outer wall;

a coupler connected to the housing and configured to secure the inner wall of the housing to a water pipe;

a switch supported by the housing and configured to detect water at a predetermined level within the retention reservoir; and

an indicator in electrical communication with the switch to provide an indication to a user when water has reached the predetermined level within the retention reservoir.

2. The leak detector of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a pair of electrical contacts positioned such that water at the predetermined level in the retention reservoir electrically bridges the electrical contacts.

3. The leak detector of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of an audible alarm and a visible light.

4. The leak detector of claim 1, wherein the inner wall includes a chamfered upper edge configured to direct water radially outwardly into the retention reservoir.

5. The leak detector of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board supporting the switch, wherein the housing includes a slot receiving the circuit board.

6. The leak detector of claim 5, further comprising arms supported by the housing and including tabs, the tabs being configured to engage within slots in the circuit board for retaining the circuit board to the housing.

7. The leak detector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an arcuate first portion and an arcuate second portion, the coupler comprising a living hinge and a catch mechanism, the living hinge pivotably coupling first ends of the first portion and the second portion, and the catch mechanism releasably coupling the second ends of the first portion and the second portion.

8. The leak detector of claim 1, further comprising an absorbent material received within the retention reservoir.

9. A leak detector comprising:

a housing including a first portion and a second portion defining an annular inner wall, an outer wall positioned outwardly from the inner wall, and a retention reservoir defined between the inner wall and the outer wall;

a coupler connected to the housing and configured to secure the inner wall of the housing to a water pipe, the coupler comprising a living hinge and a catch mechanism, the living hinge pivotably coupling first ends of the first portion and the second portion, and the catch mechanism releasably coupling second ends of the first portion and the second portion; and

a switch supported by the housing and configured to detect water at a predetermined level within the retention reservoir.

10. The leak detector of claim 9, further comprising an indicator in electrical communication with the switch to provide an indication to a user when water has reached the predetermined level.

11. The leak detector of claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of an audible alarm and a visible light.

12. The leak detector of claim 9, wherein the switch comprises a pair of electrical contacts positioned such that water at the predetermined level within the retention reservoir electrically bridges the electrical contacts.

13. The leak detector of claim 9, wherein the inner wall includes a chamfered upper edge configured to direct water radially outwardly into the reservoir.

14. The leak detector of claim 9, further comprising a circuit board supporting the switch, wherein the housing includes a slot receiving the circuit board.

15. The leak detector of claim 14, further comprising arms supported by the housing and including tabs, the tabs being configured to engage within slots in the circuit board for retaining the circuit board to the housing.

16. The leak detector of claim 9, further comprising an absorbent material received within the retention reservoir.

17. A leak detector comprising:

a housing including an inner wall, an outer wall positioned outwardly from the inner wall, and a retention reservoir defined between the inner wall and the outer wall;

an absorbent material received within the reservoir;

a coupler connected to the housing and configured to secure the inner wall of the housing to a water pipe;

a switch supported by the housing and configured to detect water at a predetermined level within the retention reservoir; and

an indicator in electrical communication with the switch to provide an indication to a user of when water has reached the predetermined level within the retention reservoir.

18. The leak detector of claim 17, wherein the switch comprises a pair of electrical contacts positioned such that water at a predetermined level electrically bridges the contacts in the reservoir.

19. The leak detector of claim 17, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of an audible alarm and a visible light.

20. The leak detector of claim 17, wherein the inner wall includes a chamfered upper edge configured to direct water radially outwardly into the retention reservoir.

21. The leak detector of claim 17, further comprising a circuit board supporting the switch, wherein the housing includes a slot receiving the circuit board.

22. The leak detector of claim 17, wherein the housing includes an arcuate first portion and an arcuate second portion, the coupler comprising a living hinge and a catch mechanism, the living hinge pivotably coupling first ends of the first portion and the second portion, and the catch mechanism releasably coupling the second ends of the first portion and the second portion.