# US 5,345,625 A · Bath/shower water recycling system

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- Number: US 5,345,625 A
- Document ID: US5345625A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/086,193
- Filed: 1993-07-01
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1992-05-01
- Inventors: Jeffrey P. Diemand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345625A

## CPC

- E03C 1/00: Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks {(work tops A47B77/022)}
- E03B 1/04: for domestic or like local supply
- E03B 1/042: {Details thereof, e.g. valves or pumps}
- Y02A 20/30: Relating to industrial water supply, e.g. used for cooling
- E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS
- E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A waste water recovery system for recycling shower/bath water for use in a tank-type toilet is provided. The system includes a storage tank with a suction pump to draw water into the storage tank. The system also includes a valve which is used to timely shut off the pump when the tank is full. Recovered water from the storage tank is delivered to the toilet tank when needed. A collector which surrounds the floor drain is removably attachable either by adhesive or suction means to the floor of a bath or shower and has an inlet and an outlet. Waste water is drawn by a suction pump from the outlet of a collector to the storage tank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A waste water recovery system for recycling water used for bathing in a shower/bath device having a floor with a drain opening therein, said water to be subsequently used with a tank type toilet, said system comprising in combination:
a storage tank including suction pump means for drawing shower/bath water into the storage tank;
valve operated means for timely operation of the pump means when water in the storage tank is below a first level and shutting off of the pump means when the water is above the first level;
supply means for directing water from the storage tank to said toilet tank;
means for collecting said shower/bath water, said means being adapted to be attached to a top surface of the floor, said means including a central opening such that said means surrounds and is spaced apart from the floor drain opening, said means having a inlet for shower/bath water and an outlet for outletting said shower/bath water to a means for directing said shower/bath water via the suction pump means for pumping shower/bath water to the storage tank;
whereby said central opening will allow access of said, shower/bath water, which flows over said means for collecting, to flow into said drain opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A waste water recovery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collector means is adhesively fixable to the floor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A waste water recovery system according to claim 1 including:
a reserve supply means for replenishing water in said storage tank in absence of a sufficient water supply.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A waste water recovery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collector means is circularly surrounding and spaced apart from the floor drain.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The improved collection device of claim 1, wherein said means for collecting is circular and includes a central opening which is larger than the floor drain.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A waste water recovery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said storage tank has reserve supply means to maintain the level in the storage tank above a predefined minimum level.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The waste water recovery system of claim 6 wherein the reserve supply means is a valve operated means attached to a fresh water line whereby fresh water is added to the storage tank when the water level in the tank is below a second level.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A waste water recovery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the suction pump means is operable by a switch.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A waste water recovery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switch is activated by the presence of water in the collection means.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The improved collection device of claim 1, wherein said means for collecting includes a planar bottom surface, a vertically extending surface, and wherein the external surface is a tapered surface extending between the bottom surface and the vertically extending surface.