Overflow Switch

Abstract

A system for activating or deactivating a device comprising: a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening; an overflow switch housing secured within the overflow opening where the overflow switch housing includes an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within the overflow switch housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit the chamber within the overflow switch housing; an overflow drain conduit secured by its proximal end to the overflow switch housing and secured by its distal end to the sink drain wherein fluid may exit the overflow switch housing and enter the overflow drain conduit to flow through and into the sink drain; and an overflow switch secured to the overflow switch housing where the overflow switch is operatively associated with one or more devices which allow a user to activate and/or deactivate the device and the switch being either electronic or pneumatic.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for activating or deactivating a device comprising:
 a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening;   an overflow switch housing secured within said overflow opening;
 said overflow switch housing including an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within said overflow switch housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit said chamber within said overflow switch housing; 
   an overflow drain conduit secured by its proximal end to said overflow switch housing and secured by its distal end to said sink drain wherein fluid may exit said overflow switch housing and enter a lumen within said overflow drain conduit to flow through said lumen and into said sink drain; and   an overflow switch secured within said overflow switch housing;
 said overflow switch being operatively associated with one or more devices which allow a user to activate and/or deactivate said device and said switch being either electronic or pneumatic. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said overflow switch being a push button switch. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said device being selected from the group comprising: a garbage disposer, a soap dispenser, a light, a filtered water dispenser, a hot water dispenser, a cold water dispenser, a hair dryer, a curling iron, hot rollers, or the like. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said overflow switch housing being comprised of a material selected from the group including a plastic, a metal, a ceramic, a stone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said overflow drain conduit being comprised of a material selected from the group including a plastic, a metal, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said overflow switch being a pneumatic switch which comprises:
 an overflow switch cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a bladder operatively associated with said base, said bladder containing a compressed gas; 
 a spring operatively associated with said base and said bladder; and 
 a pneumatic fitting operatively associated with said bladder and with a pneumatic air conduit. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said compressed gas being selected from the group comprising: oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said overflow switch housing and said overflow drain conduit being comprised of a material which is not electrically conductive. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said overflow switch being an electric switch which comprises:
 an overflow switch cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end and a coiled spring surrounding said stem to facilitate the actuation of said push button; 
 a push button switch operatively associated with said base; 
 a pair of electrical leads emanating from and operatively associated with said push button switch; 
 a pair of wires connected to said pair of electrical leads to create an electrical circuit; and 
 said device being connected to said electrical circuit to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said device. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the push button switch being a water proof push button switch. 
     
     
         11 . A system for activating or deactivating a device comprising:
 a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening;   an overflow switch housing secured within said overflow opening;
 said overflow switch housing including an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within said overflow switch housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit said chamber within said overflow switch housing and wherein said overflow switch housing comprising a material which is not electrically conductive; 
   an overflow drain conduit secured by its proximal end to said overflow switch housing and secured by its distal end to said sink drain wherein fluid may exit said overflow switch housing and enter said overflow drain conduit to flow through and into said sink drain and wherein said overflow drain conduit comprising a material which is not electrically conductive; and   an overflow switch secured to said overflow switch housing, said overflow switch being a push button switch and said overflow switch being operatively associated with one or more devices which allow a user to activate and/or deactivate said device and said switch being either electronic or pneumatic.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said device being selected from the group comprising: a garbage disposer, a soap dispenser, a light, a filtered water dispenser, a hot water dispenser, a cold water dispenser, a hair dryer, a curling iron, hot rollers, or the like. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said overflow switch being a pneumatic switch which comprises:
 an overflow switch cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a bladder operatively associated with said base, said bladder containing a compressed gas; 
 a spring operatively associated with said base and said bladder; and 
 a pneumatic fitting operatively associated with said bladder and with a pneumatic air conduit. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said compressed gas being selected from the group comprising: oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said overflow switch being an electric switch which comprises:
 an overflow switch cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a water proof push button switch operatively associated with said base; 
 a pair of electrical leads connected to said water proof push button switch; 
 a pair of wires connected to said pair of electrical leads to create an electrical circuit; and 
 
       said device being connected to said electrical circuit to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said device. 
     
     
         16 . A method for activating or deactivating a device comprising the steps of:
 providing a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening;   securing an overflow switch housing within said overflow opening;
 said overflow switch housing including an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within said overflow switch housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit said chamber within said overflow switch housing and wherein said overflow switch housing comprising a material which is not electrically conductive; 
   securing an overflow drain conduit by its proximal end to said overflow switch housing and securing said overflow drain conduit by its distal end to said sink drain wherein fluid may exit said overflow switch housing and enter said overflow drain conduit to flow through and into said sink drain and wherein said overflow drain conduit comprising a material which is not electrically conductive;   securing an overflow switch to said overflow switch housing, said overflow switch being a push button switch and said overflow switch being operatively associated with one or more devices, said switch being either electronic or pneumatic; and   actuating said overflow switch thereby activating and/or deactivating said device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said device being selected from the group comprising: a garbage disposer, a soap dispenser, a light, a filtered water dispenser, a hot water dispenser, a cold water dispenser, a hair dryer, a curling iron, hot rollers, or the like. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said overflow switch being a pneumatic switch which comprises:
 an overflow switch cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a bladder operatively associated with said base, said bladder containing a compressed gas; 
 a spring operatively associated with said base and said bladder; and 
 a pneumatic fitting operatively associated with said bladder and with a pneumatic air conduit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said compressed gas being selected from the group comprising: oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said overflow switch being an electric switch which comprises:
 an overflow switch cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a water proof push button switch operatively associated with said base; 
 a pair of electrical leads connected to said water proof push button switch; 
 a pair of wires connected to said pair of electrical leads to create an electrical circuit; and
 said device being connected to said electrical circuit to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said device.