Automatic proximity faucet with override control system and method

• US 7,083,156 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Carmel, Aharon, McDermott, Jerry, Jost, George J., Bellinger, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US10/757,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 251 3001- 3005, 251/129.04, 251/89, 251/285, 251/129.11
• US Class Current: 251/30.02
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

A hands-free device includes a sensor, a motor, a pilot valve, a gear train, an arm, and, an override control. The pilot motor opens the pilot valve when an activation signal is received from the sensor. The arm is coupled to the gear train, and the override control is coupled to the arm. The override control is capable of moving the arm between a locked and unlocked configuration.

Claims

1. A hands-free, comprising:

a sensor;

a motor;

a pilot valve;

a gear train operatively connecting said motor to said pilot valve, wherein said motor opens said pilot valve when an activation signal is received from the sensor

an arm operatively coupled to the gear train, said arm being configured to lock and unlock said pilot valve to allow fluid to flow continuously beyond a predetermined period of time; and

an override control operatively coupled to said arm, wherein said override control is capable moving said arm between said locked and unlocked configurations.

2. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

3. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein said motor operates on a direct current.

4. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, wherein the gear train comprises a spur gear having a stem coupled to an outer surface that limits the travel of the pilot.

5. The hands-free faucet of claim 4, wherein the limits of travel of the pilot are established in part by side surfaces of a strike plate.

6. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, further comprising a mixing valve coupled to the pilot valve.

7. The hands-free faucet of claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm coupled to the pilot valve and in contact with a volume of fluid on a portion of an inlet and an outlet surface.

8. A proximity faucet, comprising:

a sensor;

a pilot valve assembly that dispenses fluids when an activation signal is received from the sensor, the pilot valve assembly comprising a Direct Current motor;

an arm coupled to the pilot valve assembly, said arm being configured to prevent or allow movement of a diaphragm positioned below the pilot valve assembly; and

an override control operatively coupled to said arm, wherein said override control is capable of moving said arm to prevent or allow movement of said diaphragm;

wherein said Direct Current motor is coupled to a shaft, coupled to a cam, coupled to a cam follower, coupled to a gear train and

wherein the cam follower has a P-shaped cross-section and wherein the cam is disposed within an orifice passing through the cam follower.

9. The proximity faucet of claim 8, further comprising a mixing valve that dispenses fluids to a preset or an adjustable temperature.