U.S. patent application number 09/939485 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-06 for sureqix pop up drain.
Invention is credited to Franke, Craig Robert.
Application Number | 20030041374 09/939485 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25473256 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030041374 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Franke, Craig Robert |
March 6, 2003 |
SureQix Pop Up Drain
Abstract
The SureQix Pop Up Drain assembly for lavatory sinks or gravity
drained containers is disclosed, and developed by research
conducted at http:/www.aquaista. com. When energized by an
electrical pulse width triggered by detection sensors, an electric
motor drives a mechanical arm connected to the pop up drain plug,
prompting said pop up drain plug to impel upward, unsealing the pop
up drain plug. The pop up drain plug is sealed closed by a second
sensory detection, creating a second pulse width energizing the
motor that drives the pop up drain plug downward, sealing the pop
up drain plug. When operated manually, without the aid of an
electronic motor. The pop up drain plug can be sealed or unsealed
by applying slight pressure with the index finger to the exposed
end of the pivot rod.
Inventors: |
Franke, Craig Robert; (San
Antonio, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Craig R. Franke
13627 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio
TX
78232
US
|
Family ID: |
25473256 |
Appl. No.: |
09/939485 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/689 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/2302 20130101;
E03C 1/23 20130101; E03C 2001/2311 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/689 |
International
Class: |
E03C 001/23 |
Claims
I claim:
1. The SureQix Pop Up Drain plug, quick connect assembly for use in
lavatory sinks configured for use with pop up drain plugs, the
assembly primary consisting of: a sensing device; a CPU circuit; a
control box; a actuator motor; a pivot chamber; a pivot rod; a pop
up drain plug.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pop up drain plug assembly
pipe is mounted inside, attaching to the drain hole opening of a
lavatory sink.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensing devise for
detecting the presence of passive hand movement is mounted on an
electronic faucet.
Description
U.S. REFERENCES CITED
[0001]
1 4,945,579 8/1992 Husting 4/689 5,363,519 11/1994 Husting 4/689
9/460,807 12/1999 Franke 4/689 (Pat. Pending A.G. Unit 3751)
FOREIGN REFERENCES CITED
[0002]
2 487215 A2 5/1992 DE Demandt et al. 4/689 4241023 6/1994 EP Morley
4/689
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO MICROFISCHE APPENDIX
[0004] Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The SureQix Pop Up Drain pertains to pop up drain plug
assemblies found attached to lavatory sinks, and other fluid
dispensing containers. More closely identified with standard pop up
drain plug assembles manufactured prospectively for manually
operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ART
[0006] Earlier attempts to automate a dump valve have adopted
methods of adapting electric solenoids as the driving mechanism,
See foreign Pat. 0-487-215-A2, Others have utilized solenoids to
actuate drain valves situated within a drain pipe. See U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,363,519, 4,945,579. Many of these methods raise concern by
creating a potential risk exposure to electrical connections that
may succumb to the dangers of moisture over time found within the
pipe cavity itself. The end result is seemingly electrical short
circuit, shock or fire hazard which may trace back to the
electrical supply source. Categorically, other primitive methods
have employed the uses of complex piping and pressurized
amalgamations to rise a valve of another type known as a
hermetically sealed valve. Please see foreign Pat. DE-4241023-A1.
This presents a number of installation issues by U.S. customs and
standards. More particularly, where the introduction of a liquid
medium is used in place of electricity. A more significant
contribution to this field of art was the introduction of an ac/dc
motor that operates in forward and reverse, by polarity
manipulation, thereby raising and lowering a pop up drain plug. See
U.S. Pat. Pending 091460/807. However, this assembly requires the
use of push rods, pivot collars, yokes and other sophisticated
linkage along with precise adjustments to operate. Categorically,
electric valve assemblies seemingly share and suffer from many of
the same deficiencies as others including, but not limited to; (1)
sophisticated or cumbersome assembly processes; (2) Costly
maintenance and repair via complex assemblies; (3) Lack of manual
safety features; (4) not typically designed or easily retrofitting
on conventional pop up drain plug assemblies; (5) inefficient,
outdated techniques and methodologies.
[0007] Wherefore, a need exits for an improved, electronic pop up
drain plug assembly, as a means of overcoming many of the
deficiencies and shortcomings reflected in this field of art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The SureQix Pop Up Drain allows for an automated method of
raising and lowering an otherwise manual pop up drain plug assembly
found on lavatory sinks, by use of sensors that respond to the
detection of passive hand movement. Wherein if the presence's of
hand movement is detected an electrical pulse width is transmitted
to a motor which provides the mechanical thrust necessary to
effectively rise and lower the pop up drain plug. A pivot rod
connected to a pop up drain plug at one end and placed through a
hole opening on the extended arm of the motor at the opposite end
operate to a low to high position on longitudinal axis to a
circular center pivot point. The circular center pivot point on the
pivot rod is mounted between a rubber O-ring, male threaded dished
shaped drain pipe pivot hole opening and female threaded dished
shape pivot hole chamber. These components come together to form
the backbone of the invention.
[0009] This in effect allows the pivot rod to move freely from one
latitudinal axis point to the another while preventing a back flow
of liquid into the pivot chamber from the drain pipe by virtue of
the rubber O-ring.
[0010] For visualization purposes the invention is representative
in the unassembled primary sum of its parts to best illustrate the
ease and simplicity of assembly.
[0011] Insomuch as the manual operation of the invention, the pivot
rod extents through and beyond the pivot chamber allowing the user
to grasp the protruding end of the pivot rod. This allows the user
to manually apply a slight upward pressure with the index finger to
the protruding pivot rod to seal the pop up drain plug, or a slight
downward pressure to unseal the pop up drain plug.
[0012] Hence, the object of the invention should establish an
improved automated pop up drain plug design that:
[0013] a) is durable, and simple to operate;
[0014] b) is child safe and user friendly;
[0015] c) designed to open and close both manually and
electronically;
[0016] d) is inexpensive to manufacture, install and adjust;
[0017] e) can easily be adapted or retrofitted onto conventional
assemblies;
[0018] f) will operate on both a battery supply and/or AC adapter;
and
[0019] g) is environmentally friendly and light weight.
[0020] The aforementioned objects and advantages of the SureQix Pop
Up Drain will become more evident from the description which
follows.
[0021] Wherein, reference is made to the attached drawing which
forms a part hereof, and incorporated herein. This drawing depicts,
by illustration the preferred embodiments of the invention. The
embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention.
Reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for
interpreting the scope of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0022] FIG. 1
[0023] 1. Illustrates sensor embodied on electronic faucet;
[0024] 2. Illustrates the pop up drain plug mechanism;
[0025] 3. Illustrates the pop up drain pipe;
[0026] 4. Illustrates pivot rod insertion point;
[0027] 5. Illustrates pivot rod center of balance;
[0028] 6. Illustrates pivot rod insertion point;
[0029] 7. Illustrates pivot rod chamber;
[0030] 8. Illustrates expanding arm of actuator;
[0031] 9. Illustrates the ac/dc motor actuator;
[0032] 10. Illustrates the control box.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] When a motion sensor located at 1 detects the presence of
passive hand movement within its direct or peripheral window of
vision, a signal is transmitted to a digitally control box 10
Circuit design ".COPYRGT. 1999 Aquaista" (17 U.S.C. 401) causing
the electronic arm 8 of the actuator 9 connected to the pivot rod
insertion point 6 of which pivot rod insertion point 4 of the
opposite end connects to pop up drain plug 2, and secured by the
pivot chamber 7 automated by an ac-dc electric motor of the same
electronic arm 8 to either contract or expand. This contraction or
expansions of the electronic arm connected to the pop up drain plug
2 creates a lavation effect at a center pivot point 5. A downward
movement or expansion of the electronic arm 8 causes to create an
equal and opposite reaction upon the position of the pivot rods
center of balance 5. A downward movement or expansion of the
electronic arm 8 forces to cause the pivot rod center of balance to
shift to a higher position. As downward force is applied to the
pivot rod insertion point 6 of 4 and 5 a rising effect gives way at
the pivot rod position point 4 of 5 and 6 causing the pivot rod
position point 4 to rise, and the pop up drain plug 2 to rise, or
opening of the pop up drain plug 2. An equal and opposite reaction
by the electronic arm 8 has the effect of rising, or opening the
pop up drain plug 2.
* * * * *
References