Hand-held shower system with inline adjustable temperature/pressure balanced mixing valve

• US 20020043281A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JZC, LLC
• Original Assignee: CEG Holdings LLC (CEG Holdings)
• Inventors: Gloodt, Cary
• Granted Patent: US 6,644,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/100
• 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: G05D 23/1306 for liquids G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0363 For producing proportionate flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2521 Flow comparison or differential response
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A bathtub plumbing system including a hand-held shower controlled by a compact pressure balanced, volume and temperature controlled mixing valve. The pressure-balancing valve is installed in a bathtub plumbing set having a hand-held shower accessory. The pressure balancing valve receives hot and cold water from hand-held shower water feed pipes coupled to the main hot and cold water inlet pipes, respectively, located upstream of the respective hot and cold water control valves used to supply water to the main faucet. The hand-held shower hot and cold feed pipes are each hydraulically connected to a first respective hot and cold water inlet of a compact pressure-balancing valve. The hand-held shower is hydraulically connected to the outlet of the pressure-balancing valve by a flexible hose. Hot and cold water entering the pressure-balancing valve is mixed therein independently of the hot and cold water supplied to the faucet. A single control valve may therefore be manipulated to supply pressure and temperature balanced water to the hand-held shower.

Claims

1. A plumbing system, comprising:

a primary hot water supply pipe;

a primary cold water supply pipe;

a hot water control valve fluidically connected to the primary hot water supply pipe;

a cold water control valve fluidically connected to the primary cold water supply pipe;

a faucet fludically connected to the hot water control valve and fluidically connected to the cold water control valve;

a secondary hot water pipe fluidically connected to the primary hot water pipe;

a secondary cold water pipe fluidically connected to the primary cold water pipe;

a hand held shower;

a pressure balanced valve fluidically connected to the secondary hot water pipe and fluidically connected to the secondary cold water pipe; and

a flexible hose fluidically connecting the hand held shower to the pressure balanced valve.

2. The plumbing system of claim 1 wherein the pressure balanced valve further comprises an inner chamber adapted to intermix hot and cold water, wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to supply water to the hand held shower, and wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to balance the pressure of the water supplied to the hand held shower.

3. The plumbing system of claim 1 wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to supply water to the hand held shower and wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to balance the temperature of the water supplied to the hand held shower.

4. The plumbing system of claim 1 wherein the pressure balanced valve further comprises an inner chamber adapted to intermix hot and cold water, wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to supply water to the hand held shower, wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to balance the temperature of the water supplied to the hand held shower, and wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to balance the pressure of the water supplied to the hand held shower.

5. A hand held shower system controlled by a single valve, comprising:

a hot water supply;

a cold water supply;

a pressure balanced valve in hydraulic communication with the respective hot and cold water sources;

a hand held shower head; and

a flexible hose hydraulically connecting the hand held shower head to the pressure balanced valve.

6. The hand held shower system of claim 5 wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to supply water pressure to the hand held shower head and wherein the water pressure is directly balanced by the pressure balance valve.

7. The hand held shower system of claim 5 wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to supply water to the hand held shower head, wherein the water has a water pressure and a water temperature, and wherein the water pressure and water temperature are controlled by the pressure balanced valve.

8. A method for controlling the water temperature and pressure output from a hand held shower head, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a pressure balanced valve having an output and a plurality of inputs;

b) providing a hand held shower head;

c) providing a hot water source and a cold water source;

d) hydraulically connecting the pressure balanced valve output to the hand held shower head;

e) hydraulic connecting the hot water source to and the cold water source to a respective pressure balanced valve input; and

f) controlledly opening the pressure balanced valve to achieve a desired pressure and temperature of water from the hand held shower head.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the pressure balanced valve further comprises an inner chamber adapted to intermix hot and cold water.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to internally balance the water pressure.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the pressure balanced valve is adapted to supply water to the hand held shower head, wherein the water has a water pressure and a water temperature, and wherein the water pressure and water temperature are controlled by the pressure balanced valve.