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US 4,230,155 AGranted
Timed on-off sequence shower valve
OwnerJoe G. Frye, Sr., Teresa J. Fryeinventors
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OwnerJoe G. Frye, Sr., Teresa J. Fryeinventors
Estimating the term…
A water valve structure for disposition between the supply pipe and shower head of a bathroom shower. The valve structure includes an actuator shiftable between "on" and "off" positions and spring biased toward the "off" position. An actuator latch under the control of a water flow driven motor is also provided and an operator is provided for initiating movement of the actuator from the "off" position to the "on" position and for also winding a spring drive mechanism controlling a second latch operable to latch the actuator in the "off" position. Actuation of the operator winds the spring drive mechanism and retracts the second latch to allow spring biased movement of the valve structure actuator to the "on" position thereof in which it is latched by the first latch. The flow of water through the water valve structure actuates the motor and the motor, after a predetermined time interval, deactuates the first latch allowing movement of the valve structure actuator, by spring pressure, toward the "off" position in which it is latched by the second latch. Thereafter, the spring drive mechanism is automatically actuated and after a predetermined time interval, the second latch is rendered inoperative after which the water valve structure may again be shifted to the "on" position thus beginning the second cycle of operation of the water valve for a predetermined time interval for rinsing operations.
A shower valve assembly including a housing defining a water flow passage therethrough including inlet and outlet ends for communication with a water supply pipe and a shower head, a valve member supported from said housing for shifting between open and closed positions opening and closing said passage intermediate its opposite ends, said assembly including first and second latch means operative to releasably latch said valve member in said open and closed positions, respectively, water flow driven motor means operatively associated with said flow passage downstream from said valve member for releasing said first latch responsive to a predetermined amount of water flow through said passage, means yieldingly biasing said valve member toward said closed position, an actuator for said valve assembly shiftable between on and off positions, said valve assembly including selectively operable timer means, said timer means being operatively associated with said second latch for releasing the latter after a predetermined time subsequent to initial actuation of said timer means.
A shower valve assembly including a housing defining a water flow passage therethrough including inlet and outlet ends for communication with a water supply pipe and a shower head, and said shower valve assembly including a manually operable actuator shiftable between on and off positions, and water flow control means operative, upon shifting of said actuator to said on position, to sequentially allow a predetermined volume of water flow through said water flow passage and thereafter automatically terminate water flow through said water flow passage, said water flow control means also including means operative to return said actuator toward said off position subsequent to termination of said water flow and prevent reshifting of said actuator to said on position for a predetermined time interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.