SAFETY BATH SPOUT COVER AND SAFETY BATH SPOUT

• US 20070022529A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Inventors: Daley, Robert, Thorne, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/678
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/005 Tap covers for protection against injury
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/046 Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line or at the water outletpreventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/00 Application of thermometers in household appliances

Abstract

A safety bathtub spout cover includes a soft exterior spout receiving hollow body. A temperature sensor mechanism is positioned within the water flow within the hollow body. The temperature sensor mechanism is coupled to a temperature display and an audible temperature alarm on the hollow body to signal unsafe temperature conditions sensed by the temperature sensor mechanism. A child-proof manual override may be provided for disengaging the audible alarm. The body may further include a closing mechanism for attaching the spout cover to the faucet in a temporary, non-marring, non-residue attachment manner. The audible alarm may be a progressive audible temperature alarm with varied levels of activation corresponding to the severity of the scald condition sensed. The display is mounted in a manner visible from any viewing height above the faucet. The spout cover features may be incorporated directly into a safety spout.

Claims

1. A safety bathtub spout cover comprising:

A) a hollow body having a soft exterior and adapted to receive the faucet for a tub therein;

B) a temperature sensor positioned within the water flow from the faucet; and

C) the temperature sensor coupled to at least one of

i) an electronic temperature display on the hollow body for displaying the temperature of the water sensed by temperature sensor and

ii) a temperature alarm on the hollow body comprising at least one of an audible alarm and a visual alarm, wherein the temperature alarm is configured to signal unsafe water temperature conditions sensed by the temperature sensor.

2. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the temperature display and wherein the display is a digital display and the sensor and display have a thermal time constant of less than 5 seconds between a measured temperature and the display of the temperature.

3. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 further including a closing mechanism for attaching the spout cover to the faucet in a temporary, non-marring, non-residue attachment manner.

4. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the temperature alarm on the hollow body having the audible alarm, wherein the audible alarm is a progressive audible temperature alarm with varied levels of activation corresponding to the severity of the water temperature condition sensed.

5. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the temperature display, and wherein the display is mounted in a direction facing the tub and at an angle of at least five degrees relative to vertical, whereby the display is visible from any viewing height above the faucet.

6. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the body includes at least one anti-microbial agent.

7. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the temperature alarm on the hollow body having the audible alarm, and further including a manual override for disengaging the audible alarm, and wherein the actuation of the manual override is child-proof.

8. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor mechanism is coupled to the temperature display, and wherein the display includes a visual, non-numeric display of the sensed temperature.

9. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor and the associated components are actuated upon the flow of water through the spout cover.

10. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 further comprising a water activation alarm indicating unauthorized use of the spout cover and a water activation alarm deactivation mechanism allowing for authorized use of the spout cover.

11. A safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 1 further including a recessed access in the body to allow for access to and operation of a push-pull type shower diverter in the faucet.

12. A safety bathtub spout cover comprising:

A) a hollow body having a soft exterior and adapted to receive the faucet for a tub therein, the hollow body having a water outlet for the spout cover;

B) a temperature sensor mechanism positioned within the water flow from the faucet; and

C) an electronic temperature display coupled to the temperature sensor mechanism for displaying the temperature of the water sensed by temperature sensor.

13. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 wherein the display is mounted in a direction facing the tub and at an angle of at least five degrees relative to vertical, whereby the display is visible from any viewing height above the faucet further comprising a temperature alarm on the hollow body coupled to the temperature sensor and comprising at least an audible alarm, wherein the temperature alarm is configured to signal unsafe temperature conditions sensed by the temperature sensor and wherein the audible alarm is a progressive audible temperature alarm with varied levels of activation corresponding to the severity of the scald condition sensed.

14. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 further comprising a water activation alarm indicating unauthorized use of the spout cover and a water activation alarm deactivation mechanism allowing for authorized use of the spout cover.

15. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 further including a recessed access in the body to allow for access to and operation of a push-pull type shower diverter in the faucet.

16. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 wherein the temperature display includes a visual, non-numeric display of the sensed temperature.

17. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 further comprising a temperature alarm on the hollow body coupled to the temperature sensor and comprising at least an audible alarm, wherein the temperature alarm is configured to signal unsafe temperature conditions sensed by the temperature sensor, and further including a manual override for disengaging the audible alarm, and wherein the actuation of the manual override is child-proof.

18. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 further including a closing mechanism for attaching the spout cover to the faucet in a temporary, non-marring, non-residue attachment manner.

19. The safety bathtub spout cover according to claim 12 wherein the temperature sensor mechanism and the associated components are actuated upon the flow of water through the spout cover.

20. A safety bathtub spout comprising:

A) a hollow body having a soft exterior having a water outlet for the spout;

B) a temperature sensor mechanism positioned within the water flow within the hollow body;

C) an electronic temperature display coupled to the temperature sensor mechanism for displaying the temperature of the water sensed by temperature sensor, wherein the display is mounted in a direction facing the tub and at an angle of at least five degrees relative to vertical, whereby the display is visible from any viewing height above the faucet; and

D) an audible temperature alarm on the hollow body coupled to the temperature sensor mechanism, wherein the audible temperature alarm is configured to signal unsafe temperature conditions sensed by the temperature sensor mechanism; and

E) a manual override for disengaging the audible alarm, and wherein the actuation of the manual override is child-proof.