Device for maintaining a constant level of liquid in a shower stall or bathtub

Abstract

The device is of simple and basic design with unique details, such as the bottom flange and filtering slits at the top. The device is technically simple with a new and innovative application.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

SERIAL NUMBER/application Ser. No. 29/676,512

• • GROUP ART UNIT NUMBER 2915

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None, N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention from the inventor's personal experience with cold feet, especially when taking a shower and in the winter. Research into the problem of cold feet led me to learn that this is a common problem among approximately 30 percent of the human population. Causes include poor circulation, anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism and other lesser known diseases. The problem also gets worse as the person ages. A conservative estimate of Americans who suffer from cold feet (and hands) based on known medical causes is approximately 30 percent (approximately 98 million individuals). Applying the same percentage to the world population yields approximately 2.3 billion individuals.

My education and work experience in science, physics, and engineering gave me an understanding of energy use, heat dynamics, and water consumption. Many people will let a shower run for several minutes to get the shower stall or bathtub comfortably warm. As both shower stalls and bathtubs are designed to let the hot water flow directly down the drain, it takes longer for a comfortable temperature to be established. Use of this invention makes it possible to be comfortably warm in the shower almost as soon as the water from the showerhead gets hot. This saves both water and the fuel it takes to heat the water.

I experimented with the concept of retaining the hot water by simply blocking the drain with a plastic plate. This proved to work but required me to be aware of the water level to prevent it from overflowing out onto the bathroom floor. The next stage was to make simple prototypes from paper and plastic cups and finally to design an actual prototype and build several different models with 3D printing.

Basic product and market research demonstrated that there was no similar product available leading to this patent application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a cylindrical or cone-shaped piece that sits temporarily on the shower or bathtub drain to cause a shallow build-up of water which helps warm the shower or tub and aids in keeping feet warm. It is easily applied before the shower and removed afterwards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Sheet 1/3

FIG. 1 is an Elevation view of the device. This is a preferred conical shaped design with eight slots near the top that can serve to filter hair or other material from the liquid being drained through the device. The device is a solid object with a hollow interior. Inasmuch as the device is basically round or cone-shaped, it appears the same from left, right, front, and back. This view also indicates the approximate thickness, 1/16″ of the bottom plate of the device.

FIG. 2, the Top View, shows the radial dimensions as well as how the slits at the top converge to create an opening in the very top of the cone.

Sheet 2/3

FIG. 3 is a Functional View with arrows indicating how liquids pass through the device and into the tub or shower drain. The arrows are for informational and demonstration purposes only and are NOT part of the design.

FIG. 4 is a Bottom View of the device showing the hollow interior.

Sheet 3/3

FIG. 5 is a Perspective View of the device from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a cylindrical or cone-shaped piece with a hollow interior and an opening at the top. As show in the drawings, the preferred design also has slits at the top to help filter debris from the liquid. The bottom of the device is a circular shaped flange with an opening in the middle . . . like a large fender washer . . . which is large enough to completely cover the drain plate strainer. Useable and practical prototype devices have been made on 3D plastic printers and have performed as planned and designed. Plastic appears to be a preferable material as it is inexpensive, durable, and easily cleaned. Other forms of plastic manufacturing, such as injection molding would be efficient.

The cone-shaped part of the device sits on a round flange of suitable size to cover the bathtub, sink or shower drain strainer. The device covers the sink, shower, or tub drain with a temporary seal while allowing liquid to enter the device at the top and proceed down the drain. The height of the cylindrical or cone shape portion of the device determines the liquid level.

In the bathtub or shower, the device can reduce the amount of hot water used during a shower by retaining water heat that would otherwise go literally straight down the drain. In addition to saving water, this also saves energy costs.

The device is about the size of a small paper cup and can be stored on a soap shelf or placed on the side of a tub. To install, the user simply sets the device on the shower drain by hand, preferably before turning on the water. After the shower, the use can move the device off the drain by using his or her foot and return the device to wherever it is stored.

Stall type showers generally have a shallow basin at the bottom 2½″ to 3″ deep. Inasmuch as tub and shower drains are also standard in the United States, the device can be used in homes, hotels, institutions, and other locations. The base flange of the shower unit is 2¾, matching the diameter of the drain strainer plate, with a 1½ inch inner opening and the open cone which sits on the base flange is 2⅛″ high.

In the kitchen, the device can mitigate/eliminate a common household problem of water overflowing from kitchen sinks and into cabinets, onto floors, and into lower living spaces or crawl spaces in multi-story and other buildings. In the United States, most local building codes do not require kitchen sink overflows and many kitchens have double sinks in which the overflow from one sink can flow into the adjacent sink, which, if also plugged, will eventually overflow onto the floor or cabinets. Bathroom sinks are typically outfitted with an overflow port.

The overflow problem/opportunity also exists in institutions such as health care facilities, restaurants, bars, laboratories, and other work facilities.

Claims

1. I claim that I have created the design that helps mitigate and alleviate problems of cold feet, especially in the shower, that may be due to poor circulation, anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism and other lesser known diseases.

I claim that the invention addresses a problem common for approximately 30 percent of the human population: Some live in homes and apartments and some live in residential institutional facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals.

I claim that the invention reduces the amount of water used for a shower or other tub/basin functions and reduces the amount of energy used to heat water.