Port assembly for use with a cleaning device and method for assembling the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cleaning device comprising:
- a cleaning cavity configured to receive items to be cleaned;
at least two storage containers, wherein each storage container is configured to receive and store a different fluid for cleaning;
at least two port assemblies, each port assembly coupled to a respective storage container, said port assembly comprising;
a cap assembly comprising a cap having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture and configured to couple to a lip of the respective storage container,a sensor assembly extending through said sensor aperture and coupled to the cap assembly and configured to detect at least one property of the fluid in the respective storage container, said sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor and a circuit board, andan outlet assembly coupled in fluid communication with said cleaning cavity and the respective storage container, wherein the cap is configured to seal the opening of the respective storage container to which the cap is coupled; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly of each of the at least two port assemblies, said controller configured to at least (i) determine a fluid type of the fluid in each of the at least two storage containers based on data received from the sensor assembly to automatically prevent an undesirable fluid from being discharged into the cleaning cavity, and (ii) determine an amount of fluid to dispense based on concentration data received from the sensor assemblies and a selected wash setting;
wherein the cap defines a chamber in fluid isolation from the respective storage container, and wherein the circuit board housed within the chamber of the cap, the circuit board being communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A port assembly for use with a refillable storage container of a cleaning device includes a cap assembly having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture. The cap assembly is configured to couple to a lip of the storage container. A sensor assembly extends through the sensor aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly, and an outlet assembly extends through the outlet aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly. The outlet assembly is coupled in fluid communication with a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device and the storage container.
11 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A cleaning device comprising:
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a cleaning cavity configured to receive items to be cleaned; at least two storage containers, wherein each storage container is configured to receive and store a different fluid for cleaning; at least two port assemblies, each port assembly coupled to a respective storage container, said port assembly comprising; a cap assembly comprising a cap having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture and configured to couple to a lip of the respective storage container, a sensor assembly extending through said sensor aperture and coupled to the cap assembly and configured to detect at least one property of the fluid in the respective storage container, said sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor and a circuit board, and an outlet assembly coupled in fluid communication with said cleaning cavity and the respective storage container, wherein the cap is configured to seal the opening of the respective storage container to which the cap is coupled; and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly of each of the at least two port assemblies, said controller configured to at least (i) determine a fluid type of the fluid in each of the at least two storage containers based on data received from the sensor assembly to automatically prevent an undesirable fluid from being discharged into the cleaning cavity, and (ii) determine an amount of fluid to dispense based on concentration data received from the sensor assemblies and a selected wash setting; wherein the cap defines a chamber in fluid isolation from the respective storage container, and wherein the circuit board housed within the chamber of the cap, the circuit board being communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification