US 2008/0060707 A1 · REMOTE SHOWER ACTUATION AND TEMPERATURE SENSING UNIT

Abstract

A remote shower actuator and temperature sensing unit installs in a shower having a shower head in a water line that is downstream of hot and cold water mixing for the shower. The shower actuator includes a battery powered wireless actuated blocking valve, a digital temperature sensor mechanism, a temperature indicating mechanism and generally two independent one wireless controllers. The valve may move between a closed position, an open position and a trickle flow position. The trickle flow position is a significantly reduced flow in response to a potentially hazardous temperature reading. The temperature indicating mechanism may be a visible display on the controllers that constantly displays the measured temperatures, or may be a visible or audible indicator on the controllers that identifies that the flowing water temperature has reached an acceptable steady state temperature, or a combination of the two.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A shower actuator for a shower having a shower head in a water line that is downstream of hot and cold water mixing for the shower, the shower actuator comprising:

A) a battery powered wireless actuated blocking valve configured to be placed in the water line down stream of the mixing of hot and cold water for the shower, the blocking valve moveable between at least
i) a closed position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is prevented from exiting the shower head, and
ii) an open position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is substantially unimpeded by the blocking valve from flowing to the shower head;
B) a digital temperature sensor mechanism positioned within the water line down stream of the mixing of hot and cold water for the shower and configured to measure the temperature of water flowing in the water line;
C) a temperature indicating mechanism communicating with the digital temperature sensor mechanism and indicating to the user at least one measured temperature of the water when the blocking valve is not in the closed position;
and
D) at least one wireless controller communicating with the blocking valve and configured to send signals to the blocking valve to move the valve at least between the open and the closed positions.

4 more elements

A shower actuator for a shower having a shower head in a water line that is downstream of hot and cold water mixing for the shower, the shower actuator comprising:

A) a battery powered wireless actuated blocking valve configured to be placed in the water line down stream of the mixing of hot and cold water for the shower, the blocking valve moveable between at least
i) a closed position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is prevented from exiting the shower head, and
ii) an open position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is substantially unimpeded by the blocking valve from flowing to the shower head;
B) a wireless controller communicating with the blocking valve and configured to send signals to the blocking valve to move the valve at least between the open and the closed positions;
and
C) at least one other independent controller for moving the blocking valve at least between the open and the closed positions.

3 more elements

A shower actuator for a shower having a shower head in a water line that is downstream of hot and cold water mixing for the shower, the shower actuator comprising:

A) a digital temperature sensor mechanism positioned within the water line down stream of the mixing of hot and cold water for the shower and configured to measure the temperature of water flowing in the water line;
B) a battery powered blocking valve configured to be placed in a shower down stream of the mixing of hot and cold water for the shower, the blocking valve moveable between at least
i) a closed position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is prevented from exiting the shower head,
ii) an open position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is substantially unimpeded by the blocking valve from flowing to the shower head, and
iii) a trickle flow position in which the mixed hot and cold water stream is substantially but not completely impeded by the blocking valve from flowing to the shower head wherein water continues to flow in an amount sufficient for the digital temperature sensor mechanism to obtain an accurate temperature reading of the flowing water, and wherein the digital temperature sensor mechanism will send a signal to the blocking valve to move the valve to the trickle flow position in response to a measured temperature of the water above a preset maximum temperature value;
and
C) at least one controller for moving the blocking valve at least between the open and the closed positions.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Remote shower actuation and temperature sensing unit

Life of this patent

Remote shower actuation and temperature sensing unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20