Plumbing control system and method for prison's and push button therefor

Abstract

A controlled plumbing fixture includes a plumbing fixture having an electromechanical valve for regulating the flow of water. A control assembly is operably associated with the valve for controlling operation thereof. A self-calibrating push button is operably associated with the control assembly for supplying a demand signal thereto and for thereby causing the control assembly to supply a control signal to the valve for causing operation thereof.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A controlled plumbing fixture, comprising: 
 (a) a plumbing fixture;    (b) electromechanical valve means operably associated with said fixture for regulating the flow of water thereto;    (c) control means operably associated with said valve means for controlling operation thereof; and    (d) a self-calibrating push button operably associated with said control means for supplying a demand signal thereto and for thereby causing said control means to supply a control signal to said valve means for causing operation thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The fixture of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said fixture is one of a toilet, sink and shower.    
     
     
         3 . The fixture-of  claim 1 , wherein the push button comprises: 
 (a) a movable plunger;    (b) biasing means operably associated with said plunger for urging said plunger toward a first position; and    (c) sensor means operably associated with said plunger for generating the demand signal when said plunger is moved to a second position remote from said first position.    
     
     
         4 . The fixture of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 (a) means are operably associated with said sensor means for permitting said sensor means to be moved from an intermediate position to said second position and for maintaining said sensor means in said second position.    
     
     
         5 . The fixture of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 (a) said permitting and maintaining means includes an elastomeric member.    
     
     
         6 . The fixture of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 (a) said member is frustoconical, and the frustum thereof is spaced from said second position.    
     
     
         7 . The fixture of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 (a) said biasing means includes a coil spring; and    (b) said spring surrounds at least a portion of said sensor means.    
     
     
         8 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 (a) said plunger includes a flange engaged with said spring.    
     
     
         9 . The fixture of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 (a) said sensor means is one of an inductive sensor and a magnetic reed switch.    
     
     
         10 . A controlled plumbing fixture, comprising: 
 (a) a plumbing fixture;    (b) an electromechanically operated valve operably associated with said fixture for regulating the flow of water thereto;    (c) a push button plunger operably associated with said fixture for being operated by a user of said fixture;    (d) biasing means operably associated with said plunger for urging said plunger in a first direction toward the user;    (e) movable sensor means spaced from said plunger for generating a demand signal upon a user moving said plunger into operative association with said sensor means; and    (f) control means operably associated with said sensor means and said valve for causing said valve to operate when said control means receive a demand signal.    
     
     
         11 . The fixture of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 (a) means are operably associated with said sensor means for allowing said sensor means to move in response to and when engaged-by said plunger and for thereafter maintaining said sensor means in the position to which it has been moved.    
     
     
         12 . The fixture of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 (a) said allowing and maintaining means includes an elastomeric member fixed relative to said biasing means and slidably engaged with said sensor means.    
     
     
         13 . The fixture of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 (a) said sensor means is cylindrical, and said member has an aperture through which said sensor means extends.    
     
     
         14 . The fixture-of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 (a) said sensor means is one of an inductive sensor and a reed switch.    
     
     
         15 . The fixture of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 (a) said biasing means includes a helical coil spring; and    (b) said sensor means extends through said spring.    
     
     
         16 . A self-calibrating push button, comprising: 
 (a) a housing having a central chamber and first and second spaced openings therein;    (b) a plunger positioned and movable within said chamber and having a portion extending through one of said openings;    (c) biasing means operably associated with said plunger for urging said plunger toward said one opening;    (d) sensor means operably associated with said housing and having a portion extending through the other one of said openings and into said chamber toward said plunger; and    (e) means operably associated with said sensor means for permitting said sensor means to move in response to movement of said plunger towards said other one opening and for maintaining said sensor means thereafter at the position to which it was moved.    
     
     
         17 . A push button of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 (a) holding means are operably associated with said housing and disposed within said other one of said openings for maintaining said biasing means within said chamber.    
     
     
         18 . The push button of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 (a) said permitting and maintaining means is secured to said holding means.    
     
     
         19 . The push button of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 (a) said permitting and maintaining means includes an elastomeric member.    
     
     
         20 . The push button of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 (a) said member is frustoconical, and has a base proximate said other one of said openings and a frustum extending therefrom.    
     
     
         21 . The push button of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 (a) said sensor means is cylindrical and is engaged by the frustum.    
     
     
         22 . The push button of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) said biasing means is a coil; and    (b) said sensor means extends coaxially through said coil.    
     
     
         23 . The push button of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 (a) means are operably associated with the base of said member for fixing said member relative to said holding means.    
     
     
         24 . The push button of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) said sensor means is one of an inductive sensor and a reed switch.    
     
     
         25 . The push button of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) a flexible cord has a first end in electrical connection with said sensor means and an opposite end having a releasable connector for connection with said control means.    
     
     
         26 . A method of calibrating a push button having a plunger, a spring operably associated with the plunger for urging the plunger in a first direction, and a sensor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) moving the plunger in a second direction opposite to the first direction and thereby engaging the sensor and moving the sensor in the second direction; and    (b) securing the sensor in the position to which it was moved by the plunger.