IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,094,100
Granted Patent B2
US 10,094,100 · App. 15/240,966 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Water backup prevention system

Inventor: Stephen A Merlo (St. Louis, MO)
E03F7/04E03F5/107E03F2201/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,094,100
App. No.
15/240,966
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water backup prevention system is disclosed which has a valve and sensor assembly for being in a first position indicative of a normal condition and second position indicative of a water backup event, the valve and sensor assembly having a device for sensing when the valve and sensor assembly is in the second position and for generating a signal indicative of the water backup event, and a receiver device for receiving the signal indicative of the water backup event.

Claims (18)

1. A water backup prevention system comprising:

a valve and sensor assembly having a top grille, a bottom ring, a flexible seal between the top grille and the bottom ring, a guide pin connected to a float plug, a clamp screw connected to the top grille and the bottom ring with tightening of the clamp screw for expanding the flexible seal, a magnet, the float plug having a magnetic field detector, a control circuit, and a transmitter with the float plug capable of being in a first position indicative of a normal condition and a second position indicative of a water backup event, the magnetic field detector for sensing when the float plug is in the second position and for generating a signal indicative of the water backup event; and

a receiver device for receiving the signal indicative of the water backup event.

2. The water backup prevention system of claim 1 wherein the float plug further comprises a flotation space capable of receiving water or sewage therein to push the float plug in an upward direction.

3. The water backup prevention system of claim 1 wherein the bottom ring comprises a bottom end and the float plug further comprises a sealing surface that is capable of mating with the bottom end.

4. The water backup prevention system of claim 1 wherein the top grille comprises a drain hole and the bottom end has a drain slot and water is capable of flowing through the drain hole and the drain slot.

5. The water backup prevention system of claim 1 wherein the receiver device comprises a receiver and a display.

6. The water backup prevention system of claim 5 wherein the receiver device further comprises an external connection that is capable of sending a signal over a network for indicating the water backup event.

7. The water backup prevention system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is capable of generating a signal indicative of the status of the valve and sensor assembly, providing the signal indicative of the status of the valve and sensor assembly to the transmitter, and the transmitter for sending the signal indicative of the status of the valve and sensor assembly to the receiver device.

8. A water backup prevention system comprising:

a valve and sensor assembly having a top grille having a drain hole, a bottom ring having a drain slot, a flexible seal between the top grille and the bottom ring with the top grille, the flexible seal, and the bottom ring forming an upper valve body, a float plug, a guide pin connected to the float plug and the top grille with the float plug being able to move relative to the upper valve body, a clamp screw connected to the top grille and the bottom ring with tightening of the clamp screw for expanding the flexible seal, a magnet positioned on the bottom ring, the float plug having a magnetic field detector, a control circuit, and a transmitter with the float plug capable of being in a first position indicative of a normal condition and a second position indicative of a water backup event, the magnetic field detector for sensing when the float plug is in the second position and for generating a signal indicative of the water backup event; and

a receiver device for receiving the signal indicative of the water backup event.

9. The water backup prevention system of claim 8 wherein the float plug further comprises a flotation space capable of receiving water or sewage therein to push the float plug in an upward direction.

10. The water backup prevention system of claim 8 wherein the bottom ring comprises a bottom end and the float plug further comprises a sealing surface that is capable of mating with the bottom end.

11. The water backup prevention system of claim 8 wherein the drain hole in the top grille and the drain slot in the bottom end are capable of allowing water to flow through the drain hole and the drain slot.

12. The water backup prevention system of claim 8 wherein the receiver device comprises a receiver and a display.

13. The water backup prevention system of claim 8 wherein the receiver device further comprises an external connection that is capable of sending a signal over a network for indicating the water backup event.

14. The water backup prevention system of claim 8 wherein the control circuit is capable of generating a signal indicative of the status of the valve and sensor assembly, providing the signal indicative of the status of the valve and sensor assembly to the transmitter, and the transmitter for sending the signal indicative of the status of the valve and sensor assembly to the receiver device.

Continuity (1)
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