# US 2018/0020878 A1 · Valve Control and Monitoring System for a Shower Head

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- Number: US 2018/0020878 A1
- Document ID: US20180020878A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/218,957
- Filed: 2016-07-25
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25
- Inventors: Uwila Colburn; Kareen Colburn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020878A1

## CPC

- A47K 3/281: {Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers (A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence)}
- F16K 31/46: for remote operation
- G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00)
- G01F 15/003: {using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means (G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence)}
- G01F 15/005: {Valves (valves in general F16K)}
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

A water control and monitoring system for a shower head comprising a water flow meter, and a water control valve and a valve adjustment rod couple to the control valve on one end and a grip retention handle on the other end. The water flow meter is coupled in-line with a pipe passing through a shower wall to a shower head. The water control valve is coupled with the pipe passing through the shower wall to the shower head. The valve control rod extends down from the control valve greater than a foot to the rubber grip retention handle and is adapted to control the position of the water control valve. The grip retention handle forms a cavity that allows a user to insert their hand and applies enough force to the hand that the user can adjust water pressure simply by twisting their wrist. The water control and monitoring system provides an effective way to monitor water consumption as well as allow for easy control of water pressure, which is useful for those small in stature and the elderly or otherwise disabled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control and monitoring system for a shower head, comprising:
a water flow meter coupled in-line with a pipe passing through a shower wall to a shower head, said pipe being adapted to deliver water to a shower head;
a water flow valve coupled in-line with the pipe passing through the shower wall to the shower head, the water flow valve including coupled thereto a water flow adjustment rod extending downward from the water flow valve to a handle that is adapted to control the position of the water flow valve; and
wherein the water flow meter records the amount of water dispensed for the duration of the flow of water through the pipe.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1 wherein the water flow adjustment rod coupled to the water flow valve extends downward from the shower arm to the handle is greater than one foot.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1 wherein the handle is made of rubber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control system of claim 1 wherein the handle is a grip retention handle that includes a base top portion and an side wall portion surrounding and continuing the base top portion to form a cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The control system of claim 4 wherein the grip retention handle is made of rubber.

### Claim 6

A control system for a shower head, comprising:
a water flow valve coupled with the pipe passing through the shower wall to the shower head, the water flow valve including coupled thereto a water flow adjustment rod extending downward from the water flow valve to a handle that is adapted to control the position of the water flow valve;
the water flow adjustment rod coupled to the water flow valve extends downward from the shower arm to the handle and is greater than one foot; and
the handle is made of rubber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The control system of claim 6 further comprising a water flow meter adapted to couple with a pipe passing through a shower wall to a shower head, said pipe being adapted to deliver water to a shower head;

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The water flow meter of claim 7 wherein the water flow meter records the amount of water dispensed for the duration of the flow of water through the pipe.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The control system of claim 6 wherein the handle is a grip retention handle that includes a base top portion and an side wall portion surrounding and continuing the base top portion to form a cavity.