US 12,287,232 B2
Overflow detection system for a grease trap
Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Seattle, WA (US); Ryan T. Bell, Mill Creek, WA (US); and Lucas S. Abrahamsen, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Starbucks Corporation, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Starbucks Corporation, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on May 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/661,798.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/469,243, filed on May 26, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0393158 A1, Nov. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. G01F 23/60 (2006.01); G01F 23/44 (2006.01); G01F 23/70 (2006.01)
CPC G01F 23/703 (2013.01) [G01F 23/443 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An overflow sensor comprising:
a switch including:
a float configured to float in a fluid in a receptacle, wherein the float has a first contact;
a surface that is separate from the float, wherein the surface has a second contact;
a resilient member coupled between the float and the surface, wherein a first portion of the resilient member is affixed to the float and a second portion of the resilient member is affixed to the surface, the resilient member being configured to normally hold the switch in an open position by spacing the float at a first distance from the surface, the switch being configured to generate a signal in response to the float being within a second distance of the surface that is closer than the first distance, wherein the resilient member is configured to allow the float to come within the second distance of the surface when the fluid in the receptacle exceeds a predefined fluid level, and wherein the resilient member is configured to prevent the float from coming within the second distance of the surface when the fluid in the receptacle does not exceed the predefined fluid level; and
a contact sensor configured to detect when the first contact of the float physically contacts the second contact of the surface and responsively generate the signal;
a processor coupled to the switch; and
a memory including instructions that are executable by the processor for causing the processor to:
receive the signal from the switch; and
in response to receiving the signal, transmit a notification to a user device that is remote from the overflow sensor;
wherein the overflow sensor is configured to generate the signal only when the first contact contacts the second contact.