Sensor operated water flow control

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, including a faucet head to which said supply of water is applied angulated to a sink associated therewith and wherein said control circuit means is located in said faucet head at the base thereof proximate to the sink for preventing vandalism and said control circuit means being potted.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, including a spigot to which said supply of water is applied angulated to a sink associated therewith and wherein said control circuit means is located in said spigot at the base thereof proximate to the sink for preventing vandalism and said control circuit means being potted.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1, wherein said filter retainers are carried by a spigot, and said isolation means includes potting enclosing said circuit board, said control circuit means and said connection means to prevent the contamination thereof by water and other contaminants.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1, wherein; said water supply means includes said sensor built thereinto; said sensor includes: a back plate portion having filter receiving means including a filter retainer for each said filters; and said connection means includes supply wires coupled with said control circuit means for supplying power thereto.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5, wherein; said water supply means includes said sensor built thereinto; said sensor includes: a back plate portion having filter receiving means including a filter retainer for each said filters; and said connection means includes supply wires coupled with said control circuit means for supplying power thereto.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5, wherein said water supply means is a spigot and is at an angle of ten degrees to a top of a basin on which said spigot is mounted.

Claim 9

The system of claim 6, wherein said water supply means is a spigot and is at an angle of ten degrees to a top of a basin on which said spigot is mounted.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1, wherein said water supply means is a spigot and said sensor is built thereinto, said spigot having means forming said filter retainers for receiving said filters.

Claim 11

In an automatic drinking fountain system having a water supply source and an on-off means to supply water from the water supply source to a spigot, comprising: sensor means operatively associated with the water supply source and said spigot to cause water to be supplied thereto by the water supply source and responsive to an individual within a predetermined area proximate to said spigot for rendering said on-off means on after a predetermined period of time to supply water from said water supply source to said spigot for a preset period of time, and to prevent the supply of water to said spigot for a predetermined time duration after said predetermined period to prevent another individual entering within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot for maintaining said on-off means off until said predetermined time duration expires, thereby controlling the quantity and duration of flow of water as well as the duration time of non-flow of water; said sensor means including: a sensor; a pair of spaced filters, control circuit means and connection means coupling said control circuit means with said pair of spaced filters; a first control circuit coupled with said filters for sensing and determining the continued presence of a user or external activation proximate to said filters and within the range of energization of said filters and the absence of a characteristic of external activation or presence of a user; a second control circuit for determining the time of commencement of the flow of water from said water supply source in response to an external activation of said first control circuit through said filters after the elapse of a predetermined period of time; and a third control circuit responsive to said second control circuit for controlling water flow whereby to permit water to flow solely for a predetermined period of time after commencement of water flow by said second control circuit, said third control circuit shutting water flow off after a predetermined period of time and overriding said second control circuit to prevent said second control circuit from commencing water flow.

Claim 12

In an automatic drinking fountain system having a water supply source and an on-off means to supply water from the water supply source to a spigot, comprising: sensor means operatively associated with the water supply source and said spigot to cause water to be supplied thereto by the water supply source and responsive to an individual within a predetermined area proximate to said spigot for rendering said on-off means on after a predetermined period of time to supply water from said water supply source to said spigot for a preset period of time, and to prevent the supply of water to said spigot for a predetermined time duration after said predetermined period to prevent another individual entering within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot for maintaining said on-off means off until said predetermined time duration expires, thereby controlling the quantity and duration of flow of water as well as the duration time of non-flow of water; said sensor means including: a sensor; a pair of spaced filters, control circuit means and connection means coupling said control circuit means with said pair of spaced filters; a first control circuit coupled with said filters for sensing and determining the continued presence of a user or external activation proximate to said filters and within the range of energization of said filters and the absence of a characteristic of external activation or presence of a user; a second control circuit for determining the time of commencement of the flow of water from said water supply source in response to an external activation of said first control circuit through said filters after the elapse of a predetermined period of time; and a third control circuit responsive to said second control circuit for controlling water flow whereby to permit water to flow solely for a predetermined period of time after commencement of water flow by said second control circuit, said third control circuit shutting water flow off after a predetermined period of time and overriding said second control circuit to prevent said second control circuit from commencing water flow.

Claim 13

In the system of claim 10, wherein said sensor means includes: filter retaining means associated with said water supply means and including a pair of filter retainers; a filter received within each said filter retainer; connection means coupling said filters with said control circuit means; and isolation means associated with said filters, said connection means and said control circuit means for isolation thereof from said water supply means.

Claim 14

In the system of claim 11, wherein said filters are infrared filters.

Claim 15

In the system of claim 11, wherein said isolation means includes potting enclosing said control circuit means.

Claim 16

In the system of claim 11, wherein said isolation means includes an outer casing for enclosing said control circuit means and said connection means.

Claim 17

In the system of claim 14, wherein said isolation means also includes potting means within said outer casing for encasing said control circuit means within said casing.

Claim 18

In the system of claim 14, wherein said outer casing includes means retaining said filter retaining mans.

Claim 19

In an automatic drinking fountain system having a water supply source and an on-off means to supply water from the water supply source having means connected with a spigot for supply water thereto, comprising a sensor coupled with said on-off means responsive to an individual within a predetermined area proximate to said spigot and said sensor for rendering said on-off means on after a predetermined period of time the individual is within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot to supply water from said water supply source to said spigot for a preset period of time, and to prevent the supply of water to said spigot for a predetermined time duration after said predetermined period to prevent another individual entering within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot and said sensor for maintaining said on-off means off until said predetermined time duration expires, thereby controlling the quantity and duration of flow of water as well as the duration time of non-flow of water.

Claim 20

In an automatic drinking fountain system having a water supply source and an on-off means to supply water from the water supply source having means connected with a spigot for supply water thereto, comprising a sensor coupled with said on-off means responsive to an individual within a predetermined area proximate to said spigot and said sensor for rendering said on-off means on after a predetermined period of time the individual is within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot to supply water from said water supply source to said spigot for a preset period of time, and to prevent the supply of water to said spigot for a predetermined time duration after said predetermined period to prevent another individual entering within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot and said sensor for maintaining said on-off means off until said predetermined time duration expires, thereby controlling the quantity and duration of flow of water as well as the duration time of non-flow of water.

Claim 21

In the drinking fountain of claim 17, wherein said sensor includes: an outer casing; at least two filter retainers on said outer casing; a filter received within each said filter retainer; and a circuit board and connection means associated with said filters and isolated from public access by said outer casing for connection to a transmitter and receiver; and means sealing said filters to said outer casing to form an integral unit therewith to prevent damage to said circuit board and said connection means associated with said filter.

Claim 22

In the drinking fountain of claim 18, wherein sad sealing mans is a potting compound for preventing contamination of said circuit board.

Claim 23

In the system of claim 10, wherein said sensor means includes means isolating said control circuit means from the water.