THERMOCHROMIC SHOWER ADAPTER HOSE AND CONTAINER

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a device for saving water before it reaches a suitable bathing temperature. The device may include an adapter configured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing between an escutcheon plate and a shower head, and a thermochromic hose extending from the adapter to a water storage container, the thermochromic hose configured to alert a user when a temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing. The adapter may include a handle configured to direct water away from the shower head and into the hose when the temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing, such as when the temperature of the water is below about 100.degree. F.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The embodiments herein relate generally to plumbing, and more particularly, to a thermochromic shower adapter hose and container.

[0002] People waste water when they start a shower and wait for the hot water to come through the plumbing. Reclaiming this lost water is crucial, particularly in view of droughts currently sweeping the nation and the world.

[0003] Therefore, what is needed is a device configured to capture water flowing through shower plumbing before it reaches a suitable temperature for the user while simultaneously alerting the user to the temperature of the water.

SUMMARY

[0004] Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a device for saving water before it reaches a suitable bathing temperature. The device may include an adapter configured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing between an escutcheon plate and a shower head, and a thermochromic hose extending from the adapter to a water storage container, the thermochromic hose configured to alert a user when a temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing. The adapter may include a handle configured to direct water away from the shower head and into the hose when the temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing, such as when the temperature of the water is below about 100.degree. F.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0005] The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a section view of one embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention can be adapted for any of several applications.

[0011] The device of the present disclosure may be used to saving water flowing through shower plumbing before the water reaches a suitable temperature for use and may comprise the following elements. This list of possible constituent elements is intended to be exemplary only, and it is not intended that this list be used to limit the device of the present application to just these elements. Persons having ordinary skill in the art relevant to the present disclosure may understand there to be equivalent elements that may be substituted within the present disclosure without changing the essential function or operation of the device.

[0012] 1. Adapter

[0013] 2. Hose

[0014] 3. Container/Reservoir

[0015] The various elements of the thermochromic shower adapter hose and container for saving water not of suitable temperature for bathing of the present disclosure may be related in the following exemplary fashion. It is not intended to limit the scope or nature of the relationships between the various elements and the following examples are presented as illustrative examples only.

[0016] By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1-4, some embodiments of the shower adapter and water storage container of the present disclosure comprise an adapter 10 configured to be placed in line with shower plumbing before the shower head 26, such as between the escutcheon plate 30 and the shower head 26, wherein the adapter 10 has a hose 20 extending therefrom, the hose 20 attached to a water storage container/reservoir, wherein the adapter 10 is configured to route water 36 away from the shower head 26 when, for example, it is not of a suitable temperature for bathing, the water 36 being stored in the container rather than going down the drain and being wasted.

[0017] The adapter 10 may be configured to attach to the existing shower plumbing using any known connection mechanism. In some embodiments, the adapter 10 may comprise an adapter escutcheon threaded shaft 18 configured to engage with an escutcheon plate threaded receiver 32, such that the adapter 10 screws into the escutcheon plate 30. Opposite the adapter escutcheon threaded shaft 18 on the adapter 10 may be an adapter threaded receiver 18 configured to engage with a shower head threaded shaft 28, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, shower head 26 may be configured to screw into the adapter 10. The adapter 10 may also comprise an adapter hose threaded shaft 14 extending therefrom, the adapter hose threaded shaft 14 being configured to engage with a collar 24, which may be configured to engage with a slip nut 22 on the hose 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the hose 20 may attach to the adapter 12 using a collar 24 that secures the hose 20 to the adapter 10. In embodiments, the adapter 10 may further comprise a handle 12, which when depressed may be configured to change the flow of the water 36 into either the hose 20 or to the shower head 26, as desired. Thus, the handle 12 may be operatively connected to a valve configured to direct the flow of water 36.

[0018] The hose 20 may extend from the adapter, such as substantially downward from the adapter 10 toward the shower floor, such that the hose 20 is substantially parallel to a shower wall 34, wherein the hose 20 attaches the adapter 10 to a water storage container/reservoir configured to store a volume of water 36.

[0019] In embodiments, the device of the present disclosure may alert a user to when water 36 flowing through the plumbing reaches a suitable bathing temperature. For example, in some embodiments, the hose 20 extending from the adapter 10 to the water storage container/reservoir may comprise a thermochromic material configured to change color to indicate when warm or hot water is flowing therethrough. Thus, the hose 20 may display a first color when cold or cool water is flowing therethrough and a second color when warm or hot water is flowing therethrough. For example, assuming a typical shower temperature of from about 100.degree. F. to about 108.degree. F., the hose 20 may be configured to change color when the temperature of the water 36 flowing therethrough reaches about 100.degree. F. Alternatively, and depending on the preferences of the user, the hose 10 may be configured to change color at a lower or higher temperature. In fact, the hose 20 may gradually change color from a first "cold" color to a second "hot" color, such that the color change occurs gradually over time.

[0020] The hose 20 may be made thermochromic in a variety of ways. For example, a conventional hose 20 may be painted with a thermochromic pain. Alternatively, a thermochromic material may be mixed in with the material used to make the hose 20 before manufacture of the hose 20, such that the hose material itself becomes thermochromic without the need for applying a thermochromic outer layer to the hose 20.

[0021] In embodiments, the device of the present disclose may alert a user to the temperature of the water flowing therethrough using any other known means. For example, a thermometer or temperature gauge may be attached to the device, such that the user is provided with a digital or analog reading of the actual temperature of the water flowing therethrough.

[0022] To use the device of the present disclosure, a user may attach the adapter inline with the shower plumbing between the escutcheon plate 30 and the shower head 26. The user may then place the adapter handle 12 into a position such that the water 36 is directed to flow into the hose 20 and down into a storage container rather than to the shower head 26. The user may then start the water in the shower. Once the water reaches a suitable temperature, the device of the present disclosure may provide the user with such information, such as by the hose 20 changing color. Once the suitable bathing temperature has been reached, the user may position the adapter handle 12 such that the water flows through the adapter 10 and into the showerhead 26, bypassing the hose 20.

[0023] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A device for saving water before it reaches a suitable bathing temperature, the device comprising: an adapter configured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing before a shower head; a hose extending from the adapter to a water storage container; and a mechanism for alerting a user to a temperature of water flowing through the adapter, wherein: the adapter is configured to direct water away from the shower head and into the hose when the temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to be positioned between an escutcheon plate and the shower head.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter escutcheon threaded shaft configured to engage with an escutcheon plate threaded receiver, such that the adapter is configured to screw into the escutcheon plate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter threaded receiver configured to engage with a shower head threaded shaft, such that the shower head is configured to screw into the adapter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter hose threaded shaft configured to engage with a collar that is configured to engage with a slip nut on the hose.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter handle configured to provide a user with a mechanism for manually directing the flow of water to a member selected from the group consisting of the shower hose and the hose.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for alerting the user to the temperature of the water is the hose, which is thermochromic.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the thermochromic hose changes from a first color to a second color at about 100.degree. F.

9. A device for saving water before it reaches a suitable bathing temperature, the device comprising: an adapter configured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing between an escutcheon plate and a shower head; and a thermochromic hose extending from the adapter to a water storage container, the thermochromic hose configured to alert a user when a temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing, wherein: the adapter comprises a handle configured to direct water away from the shower head and into the hose when the temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the thermochromic hose changes from a first color to a second color at about 100.degree. F.

Images