Shower Heads Patents (Class 236/93B)
  • Patent number: 6082624
    Abstract: A safety device for a sanitary equipment contains a reversing element, which reverses the water flow between two water passages located in a fitting housing. A temperature-sensitive element acts on the reversing element in such a way that when the latter reaches a given temperature limit it switches into one of the two positions of the reversing valve, said position being called the safety position. The water outlet associated with this safety position can e.g. be a bath outlet, which represents for the user a lower safety risk through the hot water than a shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hansgrohe AG
    Inventors: Werner Heinzelmann, Werner Lorch
  • Patent number: 5915415
    Abstract: A flow control valve assembly is adapted for use with a water conveying device which is provided with a supply channel, a valve chamber, first and second outlet passages communicated fluidly with the valve chamber, and a mounting hole. The flow control valve assembly is mounted to the water conveying device at the mounting hole with the use of a tubular mount, and includes a piston shaft movable between a first valve position, where water from the supply channel flows through the second outlet passage, and a second valve position, where water from the supply channel flows through the first outlet passage. The flow control valve assembly further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water in the valve chamber, and an indicator unit associated operably with the temperature sensor so as to indicate the water temperature in the valve chamber thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Tien-Tsai Huang
  • Patent number: 5692675
    Abstract: The apparatus consisting of a rotating shield mounted in front of the shower head with a pattern of holes that, when aligned with a corresponding pattern of holes in the shower nozzle, allow the water to pass through to the bather. The shield is turned into or out of alignment by a bi-metal thermally sensitive spring which, sensing too hot or too cold water, rotates clockwise or counter clockwise. The water is then blocked by the shield and, its momentum now diminished, pours out of an opening in the bottom of the shower head where it can be hand tested and adjusted by the bather. When the proper temperature is achieved, the bi-metal spring turns the guard plate holes into alignment with the shower nozzle outlet holes and water is allowed to spray onto the bather. A water mixing/buffer chamber located between the thermal element and the outlet nozzle affords the unit time to respond to incoming water appropriately by taking a measure of time to fill up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Daniel Arlie
  • Patent number: 5647530
    Abstract: A sanitary valve contains a valve housing with a fixed control surface and a hot water intake. In the valve housing is provided a control element, which controls the water quantity leaving the valve. According to the invention the sanitary valve contains a scalding protection, which is arranged and constructed on the control element in such a way that on exceeding a predetermined temperature it reduces or prevents the passage of water through a hot water-carrying opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hans Grohe GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Lorch
  • Patent number: 5642859
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive safety valve assembly includes a housing for mounting at a faucet outlet and a safety valve element consisting of a rigid cap and an elastic bellows containing a body of temperature sensitive material. Below a predetermined temperature, the bellows has a first condition permitting flow of water towards the faucet outlet. Above the predetermined temperature, the bellows has a second condition restricting flow of water. The bellows also has a third condition, actuated by loss of at least a portion of the body of temperature sensitive material, in which a seal surface of the cap engages with an opposed seat surface of the housing to restrict flow of water towards the faucet outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Watts Investment Company
    Inventor: Rand H. Ackroyd
  • Patent number: 5586722
    Abstract: A simple, one-chamber housing, having a uniformly increasing chamber diameter, has a generally ball-shaped valving element therewithin, and opposite ends of the housing are ported to admit and discharge fluid into and from the chamber. The element is freely translatable within the chamber, being guided on a housing-traversing rod, between a valve seat at one end of the housing, and abutments adjacent the other end of the housing. A first spring biases the element away from the valve seat, and second, more powerful spring is restrainingly held at the other end of the housing, ready to overpower the first spring, and force the element onto the seat, to close off the discharge porting, when inordinately elevated-temperature fluid enters the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Jerome L. Murray
  • Patent number: 5584432
    Abstract: An anti-scald valve including a housing including a fluid flow inlet end and a fluid flow outlet end. A first valve component and a second valve component positioned in the housing between the inlet end and the outlet end. At least one of the first valve component and the second valve component allow fluid flow therethrough, wherein the first valve component includes a first surface for sealably mating with a second surface of the second valve component for cutting off fluid flow at a fluid temperature falling within a predetermined fluid temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Robert J. Lockhart
  • Patent number: 5560541
    Abstract: A hot water shut off valve for use for domestic household water shower use which shuts off excessively hot water. The valve generally includes an water inlet source opening to an inner chamber. The inner chamber has an outlet source at the base of said chamber, a sealing means communicating with said outlet sources for alternately turning on or off the flow of water from said inlet sources through said outlet sources. The sealing means is urged against the base of said mixing chamber by means of a paraffin power element communicating with a spring. In the preferred embodiment, a reset member is provided to reset the flow of warm water from the inlet source to the outlet source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: I.W. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Warshawsky, Frank Antoniello, Alexandru Maxim
  • Patent number: 5397053
    Abstract: A shape memory effect actuated diaphragmatic anti-scald valve, including a valve housing having a fluid flow path therethrough and including a pilot chamber. There is a first valve seat within the housing and a second valve seat within the housing and downstream from said first valve seat. A pilot valve is located within the chamber of the valve housing for preventing fluid flow through the chamber in which the pilot valve element is located when the SME valve is in its normal flow position and a first valve element is retained seated on the first valve seat by the pilot valve. There are means for controlling the open and closed positions of the pilot valve depending upon the temperature of the fluid flowing through the SME valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Memry Corp.
    Inventors: William A. Ewing, Richard L. Martin
  • Patent number: 5368227
    Abstract: A temperature limiting control valve for a shower head including a housing having an internal water chamber, a water diversion piston slidably mounted in the internal water chamber, a thermostat mounted in water diversion piston that is closed by a predetermined water temperature in the water chamber with a valve and valve seat being positioned to allow water to flow into the water diversion piston when the valve is in the unseated position and to substantially prevent water from flowing into the water diversion piston when the valve is in the unseated position and to substantially prevent water from flowing into the water diversion piston when the valve is in the seated position, a button mechanically connected to the water diversion piston chamber for resetting the water diversion piston, and an overflow passage external to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Merrill F. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 5211300
    Abstract: A safety valve for mounting on the opening of a feeding bottle. The safety valve has an outer cap with a raised flat top in the middle with perforations thereon, and a flanged inner cap with a raised flat top in the middle disposed inside an interior space defined by the side wall and the raised flat top of the outer cap. The inner cap is rotatable with respect to the outer cap from an open position to a closed position. The raised flat top of the inner cap has a plurality of through holes formed thereon which, when in the open position, are in alignment with the perforations formed on the raised flat top of the outer cap to form passages for the milk contained in the feeding bottle to flow therethrough. A plurality of temperature sensitive springs and a regular spring are connected between the outer and inner caps to rotate the inner cap to the closed position when the temperature of the milk is higher than a pre-specified range and to return the inner cap to the open position when the milk is cooled down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chen Hsing, Chang Li, Koo Horng-Show
  • Patent number: 5141153
    Abstract: A water temperature sensing/flow control mixing valve has a valve body with hot and cold water inlets and at least one outlet. A mixing valve member is positioned within the valve body and controls the proportion of hot and cold water that flows from the outlet. A water flow restrictor is positioned within the valve body and movable from a normal flow position in which outlet flow is unobstructed to a position in which the restrictor partially closes the outlet to limit flow therefrom. There is a shaped memory metal actuator positioned within the valve body to move the restrictor from the normal flow position to the flow limiting position when the water within the valve body exceeds a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald E. Jeffress
  • Patent number: 5123593
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a novel manually overrideable heat sensitive valve. In a particular embodiment, this invention is directed to a novel faucet aerator which contains the valve. The faucet aerator, when affixed to a water faucet, can stop the flow of water when harmful temperatures are reached. The invention incorporates an external bypass means enabling the user to access higher temperatures when needed or to restart the flow of water. The Anti-Scald Aerator comprises (a) a thermal actuated valving means for automatically restricting the flow of water; (b) air and water mixing means (Aerator Component) for producing a foam-like flow of water; (c) Manually operated reset or bypass means for overriding the thermal valve; and (d) connecting housing means for securing the aerator to a water supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Gregory E. Rundle
  • Patent number: 5024378
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for the prevention of scalding in showers and other such installations. The assembly includes a valve assembly within a mixed water supply line and a temperature sensitive element for controlling the operation of the valve assembly. The valve assembly is preferably designed to allow some leakage when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Konrad Bergmann, Josef Ems, Hans Nikolayczik
  • Patent number: 4981261
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for the prevention of scalding in showers and other such installations. The assembly includes a valve assembly within a mixed water supply line and a temperature sensitive element for controlling the operation of the valve assembly. The valve assembly is preferably designed to allow some leakage when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Konrad Bergmann, Josef Ems, Hans Nikolayczik
  • Patent number: 4917294
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for the prevention of scalding in showers and other such installations. The assembly includes a valve assembly within a mixed water supply line and a temperature sensitive element for controlling the operation of the valve assembly. The valve assembly is preferably designed to allow some leakage when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: American Standard, Inc.
    Inventors: Konrad Bergmann, Josef Ems, Hans Nikolayczik
  • Patent number: 4854499
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive shower diverter valve and method for diverting shower water used between a source of shower water and a shower head to control the flow of water to the shower head. The diverter valve is positioned between the wall outlet pipe and the shower head. The valve has an inlet port connected to the outlet pipe, a first outlet port connected to the shower head, and a second outlet port for diverting the water to a wall or a corner of the shower. A temperature sensitive directing means directs the water entering the inlet port to the first outlet port when the temperature of the water is within a range between first and second temperatures for use by the bather and diverts the water to the second outlet port when the temperature of the water is outside of the range. The diverting valve automatically resets when water having a satisfactory temperature returns. An electrical embodiment uses a temperature sensor and a microprocessor to control a rotary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: Eli Neuman
  • Patent number: 4778104
    Abstract: Line valve apparatus for shower anti-scald and other uses comprising a housing (10) valving member (14) and a coil spring pilot valve (20) formed of a shape memory effect alloy and arranged for a first closed loop fluid blocking configuration to prevent, and second open spiral loop configuration(s) to enable, coil expanding valving member movement under the combined force of line back pressure and the coil expanding forces per se as a rising fluid temperature puts the alloy through a martensitic to austentitic transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Memory Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4775101
    Abstract: A safety valve for a fluid delivery system having a duct in which the safety valve is housed. The safety valve comprises a temperature sensitive means through which fluid passes, this temperature sensitive means being connected to a retaining means which retains a valve member in the cocked position. The associated valve seat is located downstream of the valve member and allows passage of fluid therethrough when the valve member is cocked. When a predetermined temperature is reached by the fluid the retaining means disengages the valve member which is biassed towards the valve seat and subsequently seals the passage through the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Inventor: Marshall G. Hall
  • Patent number: 4480784
    Abstract: A hot-water safety valve for preventing scalding of children and invalids when cold water supply to a mixing valve for a shower is interrupted, includes a thermostatic cup freely resting on a perforate transverse platform in a supply pipe upstream from a shower nozzle when the water temperature exceeds a predetermined amount the thermostatic cup expands to constrict flow but always leaves a drip to permit flow of cooler water to be sensed and reset or re-open the valve for flow restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventor: Milton D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 4402455
    Abstract: An automatic fluid control assembly comprising housing means having an inlet port and outlet port so as to permit the fluid to flow through the housing means between the ports with valve means operatively associated with input port to control the volume of fluid flow through the assembly depending on the position of the valve means relative to the inlet port, and a temperature responsive drive means mounted within the housing means in operative relation to the valve means and adapted to detect temperature changes of the fluid so as to actuate in response to temperature changes within a predetermined range, wherein the valve means is moved to automatically vary the volume of fluid flowing from the outlet port depending upon the temperature of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Leonard W. Suroff
    Inventor: Stanley Kolt
  • Patent number: 4295602
    Abstract: A temperature-responsive valve for controlling the flow of fluid comprises a housing having a chamber therein, an inlet port communicating with said outlet port communicating with said chamber and a temperature deflectable partition. When the temperature of the fluid transmitted to said partition reaches a first predetermined value, the deflectable partition snaps to restrict with its surface the flow of fluid into said outlet port and remains in that position until the temperature of said fluid transmitted to said partition reaches a second predetermined value. The deflectable partition then snaps to permit the full flow of fluid into said outlet port. The temperature-responsive valve is especially useful in showers for protecting users from discomfort or scalding in the event the temperature of the shower water rises above the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Mark Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Charles H. Priesmeyer
  • Patent number: 4281790
    Abstract: This shower head serves to replace existing shower heads, and when the water becomes too hot for safety, it is so designed, that it will stop the hot water flow from striking the bather. It consists primarily of a fixed thermostat, which, when expanded, will cause a disc attached to a piston to be, by water pressure, urged against an opening, to cut off the water flow on the bather, and the hot water is then shut off at its source by the bather. The head further includes a lower passageway leading to a depressible relief valve, for releasing the hot water from the thermostat area, so as to enable the thermostat to reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Inventor: Merrill F. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 4262844
    Abstract: A temperature-responsive valve for controlling the flow of fluid substantially without being affected by the pressure of or the turbulence generated by said fluid, comprises a housing having a chamber therein, an inlet port communicating with said outlet port communicating with said chamber, a temperature deflectable partition having an aperture and a tube. The tube extends from said inlet port past said aperture when the deflectable partition is in the position permitting a full flow of fluid. When the temperature of the fluid transmitted to said partition reaches a first predetermined value, the deflectable partition snaps to restrict with its surface the flow of fluid into said outlet port and remains in that position until the temperature of said fluid transmitted to said partition reaches a second predetermined value. The deflectable partition then snaps to permit the full flow of fluid into said outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Mark Controls Corporation
    Inventor: George W. Sekiya
  • Patent number: 4210284
    Abstract: A control valve is placed between a water supply pipe and a delivery device such as a tub spout or a shower head. The control valve includes a cylinder open at the discharge end. The supply line is connected to the other end of the cylinder by a series of radial inlet ports. A slide closure in the cylinder moves to open and at least partially to close the inlet ports by a thermal sensor located upstream of the valve. The closure freely passes water on opposite sides so that the closure is balanced and unaffected by fluid pressure. Resetting of the control valve is quickly achieved as soon as safe conditions are sensed under reduced flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Price-Pfister Brass Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Matthew G. Tarnay, Sidney K. Krieff
  • Patent number: 4180208
    Abstract: A valve for limiting the temperature of water flowing to a shower head, including a poppet valve member moveable into sealing engagement with a seat in response to the operation of an expansible temperature sensing member. Resilient means for accommodating overtravel of the sensing member, baffle means for directing water to the sensing member, means for effecting self centering of the poppet member and sealing means for isolating a moveable actuating portion of the sensing member are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Frank E. Obermaier
  • Patent number: 4039125
    Abstract: A valving device for inclusion in a pair of lines delivering hot and cold water to a point of mixed flow use having respective flow valving sections including respective aligned valving members joined as a shuttle unit, secured to and extending through flexible diaphragm means isolating the sections, and longitudinally shiftable to decrease flow area in one section while increasing flow area in the other; each section having a flow constriction as a fixed resistance between the diaphragm means and a respective valved flow space, whereby upon change of the relation of supply pressure and consequent tendency to change flow ratio from a pre-existing relation, the shuttle shifts to null the difference of forces acting thereon in the two sections and thereby re-establish the flow ratio; a hot inlet temperature responsive override being includable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Inventor: Irlin H. Botnick
  • Patent number: 3938741
    Abstract: The shower head comprises a safety device connected between the water supply pipe and the shower nozzle and comprising a hollow housing having an entry end connectible to the water supply pipe, a valve seat provided in the housing in spaced relation to the entry end thereof, temperature responsive power mechanism located in the housing between the entry end thereof and the valve seat, and a valve member connected to the other end of the power mechanism for movement thereby upon an increase in temperature of the water flowing through the housing above a given operating temperature. The power mechanism is constructed and arranged to move the valve member toward the valve seat to close the same when the temperature of the water in the housing reaches the given operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Assignee: Apor Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence McFarland Allison