Timed water control shower valve, system and method
First Claim
1. A timed water control valve which comprises:
- a) a housing;
b) a valve body within the housing and having a water flow passage with a longitudinal axis with a water inlet adapted to be placed in water flow communication with a source of water and a water outlet adapted to be placed in water flow communication with a device to dispense water, which water flow is to be time controlled;
c) the valve body including first, second and third spool passageways arranged generally perpendicular to the axis of the water flow passageway; and
first, second, and third spools each having a one and other end, the spools tensionally positioned in their respective spool passageways and adapted to move slidably between a water flow position to permit the flow of water in the water flow passageway and a non-water flow position to prevent the flow of water in the water flow passageway;
d) a timer having a rotatable shaft extending outwardly therefrom;
e) a knob means about the shaft and adapted on rotatable movement to activate the timer to a preselected water flow time period for the flow of water in the water flow passageway, the knob means adapted to move axially about the shaft between an outward water activated position and an inward water non-activated position;
f) cam means about the shaft and between the timer and knob means, a first cam means to permit the rotation of the timer and the first cam means to position the timer to the preselected water flow time period in the non-activated position, and a second cam means having a cam surface against the one end of the first and second spools to permit the slidable movement of the first and second spools to permit the flow of water for the selected water flow time period when the knob means is moved to the water activated position;
g) timing means on the first cam means to retain for a preselected time period the second spool in an open water flow position for the preselected time period;
h) means to interrupt the water flow and the preselected time period of the timer by the user to interrupt optionally the preselected water flow time period and the water flow, and a timer non-stop position; and
i) the first and second cam means so arranged so that the user cannot place the knob means in a position with the first cam means to select an additional selected water flow time period until the first cam is returned by the timer to its initial position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A timed water control valve system for use with a shower, which comprises a valve body within a housing having a water flow passage with a water inlet for a source of water and a water outlet for a device to dispense water, which water flow is to be time controlled. The valve body includes first, second and third spool passageways, with the three spools therein tensionally positioned in their respective spool passageways and adapted to move slidably between a water flow position and a non-water flow position. A timer having a rotatable shaft is connected to a knob which on rotatable movement activates the timer to a preselected water flow time period for the flow of water. The knob is also moved between an inward, water non-activated position and an outward, water activated position; first and second cams about the shaft and between the timer and knob permit the rotation of the knob. A third spool can be selectedly moved slidably between a position to interrupt the preselected water flow time period of the timer and a timer non-stop position; and the first and second cams are arranged so that the user cannot select an additional selected water flow time period until the first cam is placed by the timer in a selected cam alignment with the second cam. A color coded timing indicator extends outwardly from the housing and is connected to the first cam to indicate the water flow condition within the water control valve apparatus.
117 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A timed water control valve which comprises:
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a) a housing; b) a valve body within the housing and having a water flow passage with a longitudinal axis with a water inlet adapted to be placed in water flow communication with a source of water and a water outlet adapted to be placed in water flow communication with a device to dispense water, which water flow is to be time controlled; c) the valve body including first, second and third spool passageways arranged generally perpendicular to the axis of the water flow passageway; and
first, second, and third spools each having a one and other end, the spools tensionally positioned in their respective spool passageways and adapted to move slidably between a water flow position to permit the flow of water in the water flow passageway and a non-water flow position to prevent the flow of water in the water flow passageway;d) a timer having a rotatable shaft extending outwardly therefrom; e) a knob means about the shaft and adapted on rotatable movement to activate the timer to a preselected water flow time period for the flow of water in the water flow passageway, the knob means adapted to move axially about the shaft between an outward water activated position and an inward water non-activated position; f) cam means about the shaft and between the timer and knob means, a first cam means to permit the rotation of the timer and the first cam means to position the timer to the preselected water flow time period in the non-activated position, and a second cam means having a cam surface against the one end of the first and second spools to permit the slidable movement of the first and second spools to permit the flow of water for the selected water flow time period when the knob means is moved to the water activated position; g) timing means on the first cam means to retain for a preselected time period the second spool in an open water flow position for the preselected time period; h) means to interrupt the water flow and the preselected time period of the timer by the user to interrupt optionally the preselected water flow time period and the water flow, and a timer non-stop position; and i) the first and second cam means so arranged so that the user cannot place the knob means in a position with the first cam means to select an additional selected water flow time period until the first cam is returned by the timer to its initial position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for the timed control of water flow, which method comprises:
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a) providing a water flow passage with a longitudinal axis in a valve body having a water inlet, and placing the inlet in water flow communication with a source of water, and placing a water outlet in water flow communication with a device to dispense water, which water flow being time controlled; b) providing first, second and third spool passageways in the valve body and arranged generally perpendicular to the axis of the water flow passageway; and
first, second, and third spools each having a one and other end, the spools tensionally positioned in their respective spool passageways and moving slidably the spools between a water flow position permitting the flow of water in the water flow passageway and a non-water flow position preventing the flow of water in the water flow passageway;c) providing a timer having a rotatable shaft extending outwardly therefrom; d) moving the shaft with a rotatable knob and cam means for activating the timer to a preselected water flow time period for the flow of water in the water flow passageway by positioning an arcuate, raised ridge on the outer surface of the inner cam means to retain the second spool in an open, water flow position, and moving the knob axially about the shaft between an inward, timed, non-water activated position and an outward, timed water nonactivated position; e) rotating of the knob to set the preselected water flow time period in the timed nonactivated position, and moving the knob axially outwardly into a water-activated water flow position; f) moving slidably the third spool at the selection of the user into a position to stop operation of the timer and the preselected water flow time period and permitting the user to interrupt the water flow to the selected water flow time period as desired; and g) arranging the position of the cam means so that the user cannot place the timer knob in a position for selecting an additional selected water flow time period until the two cam means are placed in a selected alignment with the timer thereby providing for the timed, controlled flow of water with optional interruption of the time period by a user during the preselected water flow time period, but with the inability of the user to recommence the preselected water flow time period after termination for a predetermined time.
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22. A water control valve which comprises:
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a) a housing; b) a valve body within the housing and having a water flow passage with a longitudinal axis with a water inlet adapted to be placed in water flow communication with a source of water and a water outlet adapted to be placed in water flow communication with a device to dispense water, which water flow is to be time controlled; c) the valve body including first, second and third spool passageways arranged generally perpendicular to the axis of the water flow passageway; and
first, second, and third spools each having a one and other end, the spools tensionally positioned in their respective spool passageways and adapted to move slidably between a water flow position to permit the flow of water in the water flow passageway and a non-water flow position to prevent the flow of water in the water flow passageway;d) a mechanical, coiled spring timer; e) knob means to wind the timer to a preselected water flow time period, and to move between a water flow activation and a non-water flow activation position; f) cam means to provide for the slidable movement of the first and second spools into a water flow position during the preselected water flow time period and a non-water flow position after the preselected time period; g) pivotable means optionally by a user to move slidably the third spool between a water flow position and an interrupted water flow position, wherein the preselected water flow time period of the timer is interrupted to permit the continued flow of water; and h) visual indicating means visible to the user to provide information relative to the time period of water flow and non-flow. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification