Touch-free faucets and sensors

• US 9,920,508 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chung-Chia Chen
• Original Assignee: Chung-Chia Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chung-Chia
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Application Number:
  US14/734,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20160032572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 13731501, 13731512, 137603, 137801, 4302, 4305, 4623, 700282, 700283, 700285
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0403 Connecting the supply lines to the tap body
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0412 Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle valve actuating members as such F16K31/60
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0856 having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug

Abstract

A sensor for use in a touch-free faucet that can be installed from outside in through a wall of a faucet via a receiving hole. The sensor can further include an emitter and a detector mounted on an electronic circuit board. The electronic circuit board can also pass through the receiving hole of the faucet. The emitter and the detector can be elevated from the surface of the electronic circuit board. In an embodiment, legs or stilts can be used to elevate the emitter and the detector. Elevating the detector and the emitter can increase available surface area on the electronic circuit board for mounting other electronic circuit elements.

Claims

1. A hybrid faucet system comprising:

a faucet housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and at least one aperture through the housing from the exterior surface to the interior surface;

a sensor configured to fit at least partially within the faucet housing and configured to be at least partially inserted through the at least one aperture, the sensor having a sensor cover with one or more grooves and a flange extending from the sensor cover;

a clip sized and shaped to engage with the grooves of the sensor cover and configured to inhibit removal of the sensor from the faucet housing when the clip is engaged with the one or more grooves of the sensor cover; and

an installation tool configured to engage with the clip, the installation tool further configured to fit at least partially within the faucet housing to insert the clip into the faucet housing;

wherein the installation tool includes a first arm and a second arm, and wherein the first arm and second arm are spaced from each other and configured to fit at least partially around the sensor cover when the installation tool is inserted into the faucet housing; and

wherein the clip comprises a center portion and at least one edge portion connected to the center portion, wherein the first arm of the installation tool is configured to engage a portion of the clip between the center portion and the at least one edge portion, and wherein engagement between the first arm and the portion of the clip between the center portion and the at least one edge portion facilitates installation of the clip into the faucet housing.

2. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein the center portion of the clip is configured to engage with the at least one groove.

3. The faucet system of claim 2, wherein the clip is configured to space the one or more grooves of the sensor cover from the interior surface of the faucet housing.

4. The faucet system of claim 3, wherein spacing the one or more grooves of the sensor cover from the interior surface of the faucet housing pulls the flange into contact with the exterior surface of the faucet housing and wedges the clip between the interior surface of the faucet housing and the at least one groove.

5. The faucet system of claim 2, wherein the center portion is spaced from the at least one edge portion in a direction perpendicular to the interior surface of the faucet housing when the clip and sensor are installed in the faucet housing.

6. The faucet system of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional size of the sensor cover is smaller than a cross-section of the at least one aperture of the faucet housing, and wherein a cross-sectional size of the flange is larger than the cross-section of the at least one aperture.