Patent ID: 7537195
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: E03C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A hands-free faucet for a sink constructed and arranged for permitting a flow of water to be initiated and to be stopped without physical contact with the faucet, the sink including a bottom portion, the hands free faucet comprising: a spout having an outlet end; a valve fluidly coupled to the spout and being movable between an open position wherein the flow of water through the outlet end of the spout is initiated and a closed position wherein the flow of water through the outlet end of the spout is stopped; a position sensitive detection device defining a trigger zone and an extended zone, the trigger zone being defined at least in part by a distance range, wherein the position sensitive detection device is configured to generate a signal when the position sensitive detection device detects an object within at least one of the trigger zone and the extended zone; and a logical control operably coupled to the valve and to the position sensitive detection device, the logical control configured to move the valve from the closed position to the open position in response to the signal from the position sensitive detection device indicating that an object is within the trigger zone, and the logical control configured to maintain one of the closed position and the open position of the valve in response to the signal from the position sensitive detection device indicating that an object is within the extended zone.