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US 6,208,262 B1Granted
Floor condition sensor
AssigneeMSX, Inc.
InventorThaddeus M. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floor sensor assembly includes a receptacle having at least one first electrical contact and a first substantially flat surface partially defining a floor surface. A sensor device is detachably secured to the receptacle and includes at least one second electrical contact electrically connected to the at least one first electrical contact of the receptacle. At least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor is electrically connected to the at least one second electrical contact. The sensor device also includes a second substantially flat surface partially defining the floor surface. At least one electrical conductor is electrically connected to the at least one first electrical contact of the receptacle.
Claims19
A floor sensor assembly comprising:
- at least one electrical conductor;
- and
- a receptacle including:
- at least one first electrical contact electrically connected to said at least one electrical conductor;
- and
- a first substantially flat surface configured for partially defining a floor surface;
- a sensor device detachably secured to said receptacle said sensor device including:
- at least one second electrical contact electrically connected to said at least one first electrical contact of said receptacle;
- at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor electrically connected to said at least one second electrical contact;
- a second substantially flat surface configured for partially defining the floor surface;
- and
- an underside having a channel configured for receiving said at least one electrical conductor;
- said channel including at least one threaded screw hole and at least one screw having a shaft and a head, said shaft of each said screw being received in a respective said screw hole, said head of said at least one screw clamping said at least one electrical conductor against said channel.
10 more elements
A floor sensor assembly, comprising:
- a receptacle including:
- at least one first electrical contact;
- and
- a first substantially flat surface configured for partially defining a floor surface;
- a sensor device detachably and removably secured to said receptacle, said sensor device including:
- at least one second electrical contact electrically connected to said at least one first electrical contact of said receptacle;
- a second substantially flat surface configured for partially defining the floor surface;
- and
- at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor electrically connected to said at least one second electrical contact, said at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor including a moisture sensor having a layer of epoxy disposed between two electrically conductive elements, said layer of epoxy at least partially defining said second substantially flat surface of said sensor device;
- and
- at least one electrical conductor electrically connected to said at least one first electrical contact of said receptacle.
8 more elements
A method of sensing at least one of temperature of a floor and moisture on the floor, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a receptacle having a first substantially flat surface with a cavity, at least one first electrical contact being exposed in said cavity;
- electrically connecting at least one electrical conductor to said at least one first electrical contact;
- mounting said receptacle and said at least one electrical conductor in the floor such that said first substantially flat surface is substantially coplanar with a surface of the floor;
- placing a sensor device in said cavity of said receptacle such that at least one second electrical contact of said sensor device is electrically connected to said at least one electrical contact of said receptacle, a second substantially flat surface of said sensor device being substantially coplanar with said first substantially flat surface of said receptacle;
- detachably securing said sensor device to said receptacle;
- removing said sensor device from said receptacle after said sensor device becomes at least one of damaged and defective;
- and
- installing a replacement sensor device in said cavity of said receptacle;
- wherein said receptacle remains mounted in the floor throughout said removing and installing steps.
6 more elements
A floor sensor assembly comprising:
- at least one electrical conductor;
- a receptacle including:
- at least one first electrical contact electrically connected to said at least one electrical conductor;
- an underside having a channel and a clamping device, said channel being configured for receiving said at least one electrical conductor, said clamping device being configured for clamping said at least one electrical conductor against said channel;
- and
- a first substantially flat surface configured for partially defining a floor surface;
- and a sensor device detachably and removably secured to said receptacle, said sensor device including:
- at least one second electrical contact electrically connected to said at least one first electrical contact of said receptacle;
- at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor electrically connected to said at least one second electrical contact;
- and
- a second substantially flat surface configured for partially defining the floor surface.
8 more elements
A floor sensor assembly, comprising:
- a receptacle including:
- at least one first electrical contact;
- and
- a first substantially flat surface configured for partially defining a floor surface;
- a sensor device detachably and removably secured to said receptacle, said sensor device including:
- at least one second electrical contact electrically connected to said at least one first electrical contact of said receptacle;
- a second substantially flat surface configured for partially defining the floor surface;
- and
- at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor electrically connected to said at least one second electrical contact, said at least one of a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor including a layer of epoxy at least partially defining said second substantially flat surface;
- and
- at least one electrical conductor electrically connected to said at least one first electrical contact of said receptacle.
8 more elements
A method of sensing at least one of temperature of a floor and moisture on the floor, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a receptacle having a first substantially flat surface with a cavity, at least one first electrical contact being exposed in said cavity;
- electrically connecting at least one electrical conductor to said at least one first electrical contact;
- mounting said receptacle and said at least one electrical conductor in the floor such that said first substantially flat surface is substantially coplanar with a surface of the floor;
- placing a sensor device in said cavity of said receptacle such that at least one second electrical contact of said sensor device is electrically connected to said at least one electrical contact of said receptacle, a second substantially flat surface of said sensor device being substantially coplanar with said first substantially flat surface of said receptacle;
- detachably and removably securing said sensor device to said receptacle;
- and
- removing said sensor device from said receptacle after said sensor device becomes at least one of damaged and defective, wherein said receptacle remains mounted in the floor throughout said removing step.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.