Remote apparatus for displaying, monitoring and controlling shower, bath or faucet water parameters

• US 10,489,038 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Edward Klicpera
• Original Assignee: Michael Edward Klicpera
• Inventors: Klicpera, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Crane, Lauren A
• Application Number:
  US15/163,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/07 Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/026 of moving liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/00 Application of thermometers in household appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

The present invention is a remote display that communicated with a water parameter sensors engage to or in close proximity to a water supply piping or incorporated within a shower, or bath or faucet head, in an aesthetically pleasing format. The remote water parameter sensors includes power source, microprocessor and/or microcontroller, temperature sensor and/or water flow sensors, timing circuits. The remote display apparatus can communicated with the water parameter sensors by wired or means. The remote display apparatus can be a substantially round housing encircled with an interface ring having a centrally located display, or can be a square, rectangle, circle or other configuration touch-screen display mounted on a housing that has soft button for menu derived operations. Both embodiments have a back portion designed to adhere to various surfaces.

Claims

1. A water parameter display, monitor and control system comprising:

a user interface module having a housing with an electronic display disposed thereon, said housing containing at least one of a CPU, microprocessor, and microcontroller, electronic circuitry and a power supply disposed within said user interface module, said electrical circuitry including wireless technology;

said wireless technology includes at least one of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, cellular and network technology;

said user interface module having at least one of a rotational input motion mechanism, one or more hard buttons, and one or more soft buttons exhibited on said electronic display, whereby said one or more soft buttons are activated using touch screen technology on the electronic display, said at least one of a rotational input motion mechanism, one or more hard buttons, or one or more soft buttons communicated with at least one of the CPU, microprocessor and microcontroller, and electronic circuitry system being further configured to present one or more options on one or more menu pages;

said user interface module having program instructions to exhibit at least one of a water flow rate, temperature and timing parameters;

a water parameter collector unit having at least one of a water flow rate sensor and a temperature sensor in close proximity or coupled to a water supply line;

said water parameter collector unit including one or more control valves;

said user interface module located remotely from said water parameter collection unit, said user interface module communicates by wired data cable or wireless technology to said water parameter collection unit;

said water parameter collector unit transfers at least one of a water rate flow, temperature or timing parameter on said electronic display of said user interface module;

said user interface module can communicate one or more command signals to said user interface module or to said water parameter collection unit; and

said at least one of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and cellular technology can communicate between said user interface module or said water parameter collector unit, and a cell phone or smart phone, computer or other electronic apparatus.

2. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said command turns on or off the water supply.

3. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said command controls the temperature of water.

4. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless technology can communicate between the user interface module or water parameter collecting unit to a cell phone, smart phone, computer or other electronic apparatus by using a network system connected with remote computers providing cloud-based services.

5. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said water parameter displayed in a graphical or numerical format that can be exhibited on the electronic display.

6. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic display is substantially square, rectangular, or circular in shape.

7. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface housing has a portion that is adaptable to affix or adhere to various surfaces, said surfaces is selected from a group consisting of a glass surface, a wall surface, a mirror surface, wood beam, a metal surface, a plastic surface, a ceramic surface, a tile surface, a panel surface, a wall paper surface, or any combinations thereof.

8. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 7, where said portion is affixed by one or more screws, nails or other attachment technology, adhesive, ore glue or other adhesive technology, or hook and loop technology.

9. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein a PIR or motion sensor can be used to wake up the user interface electrical circuitry when a user is in the shower area.

10. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus can include a LCD, LED, OMLED, gas plasma, fluorescence, incandescent, halogen, or halide lighting technology to show the battery status, communicating one or more status codes, presenting menus and sub-menus and for troubleshooting purposes.

11. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, has one or more menus for setting up the enablement or disablement of the ambient light, sensor detection strength, changing units formats, changing languages, setting up communication with said cell phone, smart phone, computer, or other electronic apparatus, light sensitivity and viewing angle of the user interface electronic display.

12. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more menu pages are directed toward a program mode.

13. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said or more menu pages are directed toward a setting mode.

14. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one menu is directed towards a calibration wireless pairing mode that connects said water parameter display, monitor and control user interface with said water parameter collection system.

15. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, has one or more menus for electronic screen brightness, auto-brightness, PIR setting, click sounds on and off, Celsius or Fahrenheit units, and language selection.

16. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user interface can be in wireless communication with said cell phone or smart phone, computer or other electronic apparatus.

17. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein water parameter collection unit can be in wireless communication with said cell phone or smart phone, computer or other electronic apparatus.

18. A water parameter display, monitor and control system as recited in claim 1, wherein a notification can be sent to said electronic display or said cell phone that the shower is at the set temperature.