Water use monitoring apparatus

• US 8,347,427 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rein Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael Klicpera
• Inventors: Klicpera, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/216,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 464/3, 461/5, 459/7, 460/1, 463/4, 466/4, 137/551, 137/899, 137/561, 137/624.22, 137/624.44
• US Class Current: 4/643
• 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: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/04 Domestic or like local pipe systems domestic plumbing E03C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0408 Water installations especially for showers E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/024 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/075 using electrically-operated integrating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• 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: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A water use and/or a water energy use monitoring apparatus that is affixed to the hot and cold main water supply piping for continuously (or on demand) monitoring and displaying the water use within a residential or commercial building. A first wire or wireless communication is incorporated to electronically communicate with a remote display for viewing by the owner of a commercial building or occupier/resident of a home. A second optional wire or wireless communication can be incorporated that can be monitored by civil, commercial, governmental or municipal operators or agencies, using a remote display and/or recorder or by a secure wire or wireless communication network (e.g. cell phone communication technology). A third wireless communication can be incorporated to electronically communicate water parameter data utilizing typical cell tower technology and/or mesh network technology.

Claims

1. A water parameter use and monitoring apparatus comprising:

A base station designed to be connected to a main water supply, said base station including a housing;

said base station having a plurality of joint means for connecting to a cold or ambient main water supply means;

said plurality of joint means including an input cold or ambient joint means designed to be engaged to the output of a cold or ambient water near or at the water supply source;

said apparatus designed to be installed prior to any distribution lines within a residence or commercial building;

said apparatus having one or more display means, said display means programmed to visually display one or more water parameters;

electrical circuitry including a microprocessor contained within said base station, said base station having a power source;

one or more flow sensors in close proximity to said water supply means, said flow sensors means in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry;

one or more wired or wireless communication means in communication with said electrical circuitry, said communication means having the capability to transfer water parameter data, said communication means utilizing technology to securely provide water parameter data in a confidential format to to one or more remote monitor apparatuses.

2. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless and/or wired remote monitor apparatuses, said one or more wireless and/or wired remote monitor apparatuses having the capability to retrieve water use and/or water parameter data from said monitoring apparatus, said monitoring apparatus having programmed instructions to exhibit on one or more display means such water parameter use data.

3. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first remote designed to be situated in a location within a residential or commercial building for convenient viewing or observation.

4. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second remote designed for municipal or governmental use.

5. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless or wired communication means utilizes encrypted format technology to securely provide water parameter information and/or data in a confidential format.

6. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said confidential format utilizes authentication technology to ensure that transferred, uploaded, or downloaded information and/or data is communicated to an intended device or person.

7. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said confidential format utilizes integrity technology to ensures that a message, information or data does not alter in any way during transit.

8. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said confidential format utilizes non-repudiation technology that prevents a sender from denying that a message, data or information was sent by said wireless or wired communication means.

9. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor has programming instructions to displaying two or more different background light or parameter colors on said one or more displays to provide visual cue associated with the volume range of water use that has been monitored.

10. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a microprocessor that has programming instructions to displaying two or more different background light or parameter colors on said one or more display to provide a visual cue associated with the volume range of water use that has been monitored.

11. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors, said one or more sensors selected from a group consisting of a sensor means for monitoring one or more halogen elements or compounds, a sensor means for monitoring total dissolved solids, a sensor means for monitoring a metallic or iron element or compound, a sensor means for monitoring water hardness, a sensor means for monitoring biological or coliform contaminates, a sensor means for monitoring pH, or any combinations thereof.

12. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more highly sensitive water flow sensor including a wireless transceiver that designed to detect water leaking.

13. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water shut off mechanism, whereby said water shut off mechanism is controlled by programming instructions from said microprocessor for turning on and off said shut off means in response to local or remotely received instructions.

14. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claims 1, wherein one of said one or more wired or wireless electrical communication means comprises an offsite central monitoring computer or cell, mobile or other telephone lines via satellite, microwave technology, the internet, cell tower, telephone lines, or any combinations thereof.

15. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a IP or DHCP protocol and wherein said IP or DHCP protocol and allows said apparatus to access and communicate over the Internet.

16. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication has a frequency in the range of 6 MHz to 250 GHz.

17. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a CAN or CAN-bus protocol.

18. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein said wireless communication is in a radio frequency format, ZigBee or Bluetooth format.

19. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a cellular format technology.

20. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein said wireless communication is WiFi format.