Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-06-12
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Miscellaneous
C004S638000, C004S597000, C004S605000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243891
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water handling system and valve and more particularly pertains to conserving water use and providing immediate hot water for a bathroom without wasting water down the drain for the purpose of drawing off cooled water in the hot water pipes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of water handling systems and valves is known in the prior art. More specifically, water handling systems and valves previously devised and utilized for the purpose of conserving water use and providing immediate hot water for a bathroom are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,584 to Hock discloses a hot water system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,218 to McCormick discloses a water reuse system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,465 to North discloses thermostatis devices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,668 to Abel discloses a fail-safe thermostatic valve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,370 to Geipel et al. discloses a flow-switching water-mixing faucet assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,499 to Neuman discloses a temperature sensitive shower diverter valve and method for diverting shower water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,476 to Pflum discloses a check valve for engine cooling system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,732 to Bright et al. discloses a modular pressure balanced valve assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,572 to Imhoff et al. discloses a water conservation device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,443, to Walsh discloses a watersaving recirculating system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,344 to Hall, Jr., discloses an apparatus for recovering and saving chilled water in hot water lines having adjustable thermostatic control. U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,276 to Thiel, et al discloses a two stage thermostatic valve device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,643, to Brice discloses a pressure regulated diverting apparatus and method for water conservation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,664 to Butler discloses a thermostat having soft mounting structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,467 to Spicher discloses a residential hot water circulation system and associated method. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,346 to Johnson, Jr. discloses a water recycling system.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a water handling system and valve that conserves water use and provides immediate hot water for a bathroom and kitchen if it is between the hot water tank and the bathroom.
In this respect, the water handling system and valve according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of conserving water use and providing immediate hot water for a bathroom.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved water handling system and valve which can be used for conserving water use and providing immediate hot water for a bathroom. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of water handling systems and valves now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved water handling system and valve. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved water handling system and valve and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the invention essentially comprises a new and improved water handling system that conserves water use and provides immediate hot water for a bathroom including a shower with a showerhead. The showerhead has an input end for receiving hot water and cold water from sources. The showerhead also has a primary output for the dispensing of the input water in a normal showering fashion. The showerhead also has supplemental outlets. The supplemental outlets include an upwardly directed flow line and a lower directed weep stream. The outlets are singular and the weep is external to the bypass valve. The weep is drilled in the elbow at the proper angle. The bypass valve is preferably an off-the-shelf valve. The showerhead has a deflector for directing water through the primary output from the input end when in a first orientation and for directing water through the supplemental outlets from the input end when in a second orientation. The orientation is at the discretion of the user. A valve is next provided. The valve has a first orifice for cold water and a second orifice for delivering water to a toilet. The first and second orifices have axes in a first common direction. The valve also has a third orifice for hot water in and a fourth orifice for the receipt of water from a holding tank. The third and fourth orifices have axes in a second common direction. The valve has a thermally responsive component to block off a cold water flow from the first orifice and from the fourth orifice until the third orifice becomes heated from the flow of hot water and shuts off the hot water line. A holding tank is provided. The holding tank is positioned above the showerhead, preferably in the attic. The holding tank is adapted to receive water from the showerhead. A check valve is provided in the line adjacent to the water tank. A water outlet line is provided. The water outlet line extends from the holding tank to the fourth orifice. A check valve is provided in the outlet line adjacent to the holding tank. An overflow line is provided from the holding tank to the shower stall which is a discharge region. The thermal valve could operate separately with or without the attic tank and the bypass valve.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved water handling system and valve which has all of the advantages of the prior art water handling systems and valves and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved water handling system and valve which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved water handling system and valve which is of durable and reliable constructions.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved water handling system and valve which is susceptible
Nickerson Jack A.
Nickerson, Jr. Jack A.
Huson Gregory L.
Le Huyen
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