Fluid control systems and methods

• US 20040216787A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Youngtack Shim
• Original Assignee: Youngtack Shim
• Inventors: Shim, Youngtack
• Application Number:
  US10/826,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/606
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/30 Diverter valves in faucets or taps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

The present invention relates to fluid control systems and methods therefor. More particularly, such fluid control systems and methods of this invention are deigned to allow opening and closing of mixed fluid only at a downstream of a junction in which at least two streams of fluids having different properties are arranged to mix together. Thus, the fluid control systems and methods of the present invention allow an user to start or stop dispensing of the mixed fluids at any time and in any number of occasions without having to require the user to readjust control valves to obtain a desired property of the mixed fluids. Such fluid control systems may be incorporated to conventional shower assemblies, shower-tub assemblies, and sink assemblies, thereby allowing the user to turn off dispense of fluids when he or she does not need the fluids running.

Claims

1. A fluid control system for regulating a flow of a mixed fluid which is a mixture of a plurality of raw fluids mixed in a junction demarcating an upstream from a downstream, said raw fluids having different properties and supplied by different fluid sources disposed at said upstream of said junction, and each of said raw fluids flowing through at least one upstream valve disposed at said upstream of said junction and arranged to control amounts of said raw fluids flowing therethrough to provide said mixed fluid having a desirable property, said fluid mixing system comprising:

a shower head disposed at said downstream of said junction and configured to dispense said mixed fluid therethrough; and

at least one downstream valve disposed at said downstream between said junction and said shower head and configured to stop and to resume (or to regulate an amount of) said flow of said mixed fluid therethrough.

2. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein said shower head is a fixed shower head.

4. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein said shower head is a hand-held shower head.

5. The fluid control system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said downstream valve is disposed at said hand-held shower head.

6. The fluid control system of claim 1, wherein said downstream valve is configured to include at least one handle, at least one connector, and at least one actuator, wherein said handle is configured to receive external manipulation, wherein said actuator is configured to stop and to resume said flow of said mixed flow and disposed at said downstream of said junction, and wherein said connector is configured to operatively couple said handle to said actuator.

7. The fluid control system of claim 6, wherein said handle is disposed at said shower head.

8. The fluid control system of claim 6, wherein said handle is disposed adjacent to said upstream valve.

9. The fluid control system of claim 6, wherein said handle is configured to be incorporated into said upstream valve.

3. The fluid control system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said downstream valve is disposed at said fixed shower head.

10. A fluid control system for regulating a flow of a mixed fluid which is a mixture of a plurality of raw fluids mixed in a junction demarcating an upstream from a downstream, said raw fluids having different properties and supplied by different fluid sources disposed at said upstream of said junction, and each of said raw fluids flowing through at least one upstream valve disposed at said upstream of said junction and arranged to control amounts of said raw fluids flowing therethrough to provide said mixed fluid having a desirable property, said fluid mixing system comprising:

a sink faucet disposed at said downstream of said junction and configured to dispense said mixed fluid therethrough; and

at least one downstream valve disposed at said downstream between said junction and said sink faucet and configured to stop and resume (or to regulate an amount of) said flow of said mixed fluid therethrough.

11. The fluid control system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of said downstream valve is disposed at said sink faucet.

12. The fluid control system of claim 12, wherein said downstream valve is configured to have at least one handle, at least one connector, and at least one actuator, wherein said handle is configured to receive external manipulation, wherein said actuator is configured to stop and to resume said flow of said mixed flow and disposed at said downstream of said junction, and wherein said connector is configured to operatively couple said handle to said actuator.

13. The fluid control system of claim 12, wherein said handle is disposed at said faucet.

14. The fluid control system of claim 12, wherein said handle is disposed adjacent said upstream valve.

15. The fluid control system of claim 12, wherein said handle is configured to be incorporated into said upstream valve.

16. A method of regulating a flow of a mixed fluid obtained by mixing a plurality of raw fluids in a junction demarcating an upstream from a downstream, said raw fluids having different properties and supplied by different fluid sources disposed at said upstream of said junction, and each of said raw fluids flowing through at least one upstream valve disposed in said upstream of said junction and arranged to control amounts of said raw fluids flowing therethrough to provide said mixed fluid having a desirable property, said method comprising the steps of:

opening said upstream valve to mix a first raw fluid and a second raw fluid at said junction;

dispensing said mixed fluid of said first and second raw fluids through a downstream spout;

manipulating said amounts of said first and second raw fluids by said upstream valve to obtain said mixed fluid having said desirable property;

disposing at least one downstream valve at said downstream of said junction;

stopping said flow of said mixed fluid by closing said downstream valve without manipulating said upstream valve; and

resuming said flow of said mixed fluid by opening said downstream valve without manipulating said upstream valve.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of:

connecting a fixed shower head to said downstream spout.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of:

connecting a hand-held shower head to said downstream spout.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of:

connecting a sink faucet to said downstream spout.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of:

connecting a tub spout to said downstream spout.