Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-10-23
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
C004S559000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305036
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates a process for varying a water flow amount which is supplied to a bathing vessel or a fitting from the discharge of a valve means. The invention relates moreover to a valve means with a valve box and with an adjustable valve gate which is located in the valve box, the valve box having one supply and at least one discharge, there being a valve means for varying the water flow amount supplied from the discharge to a bathing vessel, especially a bathtub or a whirlpool, or to a fitting.
2. Description of Related Art
Known bathtubs and whirlpools are in part equipped with water jet nozzles. While bathing, the bath water is circulated via a pump and is supplied to the bathing area of the bathtub or of the whirlpool via corresponding nozzles. In this way, the user of the bathtub or the whirlpool can be exposed to water jets and massaged underwater. If the user does not want to be exposed to water jets, the pump can be shut down. There is no valve means for influencing the water jet in the bathtub known from practice or the known whirlpool.
In addition, valve means of the initially mentioned type for fittings and bathing vessels are known which are used to vary or change the water flow amount by manual actuation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is provide a process and a valve means of the initially mentioned type in which an expanded scope of operation arises for the user.
This object is achieved in a process of the initially mentioned type by, in accordance with the invention, the water flow amount being varied depending on a music tune selected by the user or according to a pattern pre-set by the valve means. In a valve means of the initially mentioned type, to achieve the aforementioned object, it is provided, according to the invention, that there is an actuating means which is connected to the valve gate for resetting the valve gate and that a control means is assigned to the actuating means and triggers the actuating means depending on a tune chosen by the user or according to a preset actuating pulse pattern for setting the valve gate so that, according to the setting of the valve gate, a regular or irregular change of the water flow amount through the discharge arises.
A series of effects which are perceived as pleasant by the user can be achieved by the process according to the invention and by the valve means in accordance with the invention with the assigned actuating means, both when bathing and also when showering. Regular or irregular adjustment of the valve gate can be used to interrupt, for example, the underwater jets in a bathtub or a whirlpool at regular or irregular intervals so that a pleasant massage arises for the user. In conjunction with a fitting, special effects can be achieved, specifically the regular or irregular interruption of the water jet. In this connection, it is perceived as especially pleasant by the user that the water flow amount is influenced depending on a tune selected by the user. In this way, an underwater massage or shower can take place in the rhythm of the music; this is perceived as extremely pleasant by the user when bathing or showering. However, fundamentally, it is also possible to use any other setting pattern of the water flow amount.
It is preferred that the variation of the water flow amount is derived from at least one frequency, the rhythm, the acoustic pressure and/or the loudness of the tune. Structurally, this is done by the control means of the actuating means entering a regular or irregular series of actuating pulses for setting the valve gate which, as noted above, is derived front the frequency, the rhythm, the acoustic pressure and/or the loudness of the tune. It is pointed out solely for clarification that, in a stipulated time interval, for example, one minute, a host of actuating pulses are produced. In any case, the frequency of the actuating pulses prescribed by the control means should be smaller than the frequency of the tune in a certain ratio. Otherwise, however it can also be provided that the amplitude of the individual actuating pulses is in a preset, fixed ratio relative to the acoustic pressure or the loudness of the tune.
It is especially preferred if the frequency of the actuating pulses entered by the control means is derived from the rhythm of the tune, and preferably corresponds to the rhythm of the tune. But basically, it is also possible for the control means of the actuating means to enter a series of actuating pulses with a constant frequency for adjusting the water flow amount. However, in any case, it is advantageous for the pressure of the water flow amount to be dependent on the level of acoustic pressure of the tune.
It is possible for the respective tune to be picked up by the control means via at least one microphone and for the individual actuating pulses with the respective duration and amplitude to then be derived from this tune. However, it is preferred that an audio recording medium player, especially a CD player, is associated with the control means so that the relevant data of the recording medium can be used directly for triggering the actuating means. In this connection, it is especially advantageous for the relevant data, such as the frequencies, loudness, acoustic pressure and/or the rhythm of the tune, of an audio recording medium inserted into the player, to be read and stored before playing. This makes it possible for the actuating means to be triggered in time before the playing of the pertinent stored information; the time displacement of the length of the water line should be from the valve means to the water outlet so that the user perceives the acoustic signal and the corresponding pertinent inflow synchronously.
Furthermore, it is otherwise preferred that a loudness controller be assigned to the control means. Here, it is provided that the control means is coupled to a pump and that the level of the water pressure is dependent on the adjusted loudness. Therefore, as necessary, the user can also increase the pressure of the supplied water depending on the adjusted loudness. In any case, it should also be provided that the aforementioned function can be turned off, that therefore the control of the loudness can also be independent of the level of the water pressure.
Basically, it is possible to embody the valve means in accordance with the invention such that, in the valve box, there are only a single supply and a single discharge, and that the valve gate provided in the valve box changes the flow opening through the valve means depending on the control pulses entered by the control means. But, it is problematic that, when the water flow amount changes continuously, the pump must react accordingly.
Therefore, in one especially preferred embodiment, it is provided that the valve box has at least two discharges, that the valve gate is made such that, when the valve gate is set in one direction, the flow opening to one discharge is reduced in size, and at the same time, the flow opening to the other discharge is enlarged to the same degree, and that, when the valve gate is set in the other direction, the flow opening to the other discharge is reduced in size, and at the same time, the flow opening to the one discharge is enlarged to the same degree. In this embodiment of the valve means, the same flow amount of water is always delivered via the assigned pump. The valve means in accordance with the invention is then a so-called reversing valve. The two discharges thus pass into water lines which, in conjunction with a bathing vessel, for example, discharge into the bathing vessel on opposite sides. However, it is also possible to route one of the discharges directly back into the pump circuit without the discharge being directly connected to the bathing vessel.
The valve means in accordance with the invention can also be easily used in conjunction with a shower. The shower head in this case is then supplied by two water lines which are connected to the two discharges. Preferably
Fetsuga Robert M.
Ideal-Standard GmbH & Co. OHG
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Safran David S.
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