Anti-scald valve with shape memory alloy actuator

An anti-scald valve, comprising:

• a housing including a fluid flow inlet end and a fluid flow outlet end, said housing having a longitudinal axis which extends from said inlet end to said outlet end;
• and
• a male valve component and a female valve component positioned in said housing between said inlet end and said outlet end, one of said female valve component and said male valve component allowing fluid flow therethrough, said male valve component including an extended portion for sealably mating with a second surface of said female valve component for cutting off fluid flow at a fluid temperature falling within a predetermined fluid temperature range, wherein said male component and said female component form a space efficient valve portion;
• wherein one of said male valve component and said female valve component includes an actuating member including means for causing said actuating member to be substantially flexible at a component temperature below said predetermined fluid temperature range for allowing fluid flow thereover and means for stiffening when said component temperature falls within said predetermined fluid temperature range for moving said extended portion and said second surface into a mating position which substantially cuts off said fluid flow for forming a valve-closed position;
• wherein said actuating member is substantially comprised of a planar member which is disposed longitudinally in a plane substantially perpendicular said longitudinal axis while said valve is in said valve closed position.