Abstract:
In one embodiment a method and apparatus is provided that prevents water waste that commonly occurs while one is are waiting for hot water to arrive at a shower head or other hot water source. The embodiment saves the water that would go down the drain while waiting for the hot water to arrive from the water heating unit by capturing the cold/warm water and adding it back to the shower water.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/280,849, filed Nov. 9, 2009, and 61/455,237, filed Oct. 18, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
       [0002]    As set forth herein in one embodiment referred to as the Shower Revolution (or Smart Shower), a method and apparatus is provided that prevents water waste that commonly occurs while one is are waiting for hot water to arrive at the shower head from the hot water dispenser. The embodiment saves all of the water that would go down the drain while waiting for the hot water to arrive from the water heating unit. The Shower Revolution captures cold water and a small amount of hot water then adds it back to the shower head or other water dispensers. 
         [0003]    Some embodiments of the Shower Revolution provide a means of conserving water that is easy to install and operate. This solution offers a low start cost as well as a low operating cost relative to other solutions currently offered in the marketplace. The concept is based on capturing cold water between the hot water heater and the shower head and recycling the cold water and recombining it with hot water thereby eliminating the waste of running water until the water becomes hot. 
         [0004]    Water conservation has been a focus of government since the beginning of civilization. There currently exists a wide range of concepts and products. Generally the products rely on an installation by a professional such as a plumber or contractor. The costs of the current solutions reflect the complexity and difficulty of the implementation. Additionally, the other solutions are tied into an ongoing energy cost because they are focused more on instant hot water than on water and energy savings. 
         [0005]    Some embodiments of the Shower Revolution are focused on three basic goals; reduced water usage, ease of implementation and use, and nominal ongoing usage cost. Using Shower Revolution the average household of 4 can save on average 5,000 gallons of water per year minimum and up. The Shower Revolution can be installed by an untrained individual in less than one hour—a major benefit possible because the Shower Revolution can be installed without the need to change the existing plumbing configuration and there is no need for a professional plumber or a permit. There is no overall additional energy usage, because there is a significant energy saving to the water district based on the reduction of purification and sewer treatment demands. The Shower Revolution can provide significant, measurable benefits to individual users and the community as a whole. 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of some embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an electrical and plumbing implementation of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a shower head according various embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a dynamo/generator charging system that can be used with various embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows an electrical diagram according to various embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows liquid holders and dispensers that can be used with various embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6  A and B show the loading and unloading of the liquid holders of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows alternate features of some embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows alternate embodiments having both a mirror and a display screen. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9-12  show various valve configurations for returning water from the bladder to the shower head or line. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following description is intended to illustrate various embodiments of the invention. As such, the specific modifications discussed are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various equivalents, changes, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is understood that such equivalent embodiments are to be included herein. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment the system is installed by removing the existing shower head and stem and replacing it with a new stem that has a quick release attachment that connects to the system. The system is mounted around the quick release stem and a hinged adhesive frame that holds the system to the shower wall. One of many added features of the system is the availability to adjust the shower head height. Such as system can be considered a retrofit system. In other embodiments the system can be installed during construction of the shower or other hot water dispenser. It will be understood that various features set forth herein can be used or omitted with either the retrofit or new construction/remodel system. 
         [0018]    In another aspect, the system can also include the availability to have bath products mixed with the water on demand (at the push of a button). Other features and options include a shaving mirror, a television, a stereo music system, adjustable shelving, iPod docking station, upgraded material, lighting, and color and material matching with the existing shower. 
         [0019]    In various aspects, the Shower Revolution may be implemented in an electrical or manual manner. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment the Shower Revolution is implemented in an electrical manner. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the Shower Revolution can include an outer housing  5  including one or more of a bladder (or a coil)  10 , one or more one way valve(s)  20 , a timer  30 , a water source  40 , a battery  50 , a generator/dynamo  60 , a varying wattage and voltage, and an in-line water softener  400 , a first solenoid  70 , a second solenoid  80 , a first switch  90 , a second switch  100 , and a diverter valve for a hand held wand  140 , and a micro-biotic air filter for venting which may or may not be used  150 , and in addition a battery receiver for additional low voltage power supply of multiple wattages and voltages,  160 . 
         [0021]    The Shower Revolution is engaged by pushing the first switch  90 . A user will then turn on the hot water to the shower in the usual manner. Cold water from the hot water line is thereby diverted into the bladder  10  above the shower head at  110  and returned back to the shower head through  120 . 
         [0022]    First switch  90  and solenoid  70  can be coupled to a timer and/or thermostat that can be adjusted to shut off the solenoid  70  which in turn causes the Shower Revolution to stop diverting water from the hot water line to the bladder at any amount of water up to the capacity of the various sizes of bladders  10 . In one aspect the timer and or thermostat can include a notification signal, such as a beep, that notifies the user that the shower is ready. 
         [0023]    The user now turns on the water and adjusts the valves as usual to the desired temperature and thereafter can generally be run by switches  90  and  100  with minor temperature adjustments though primary valves as needed. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , now that the shower is running, the water in the bladder  10  can be added back to the shower by, for example, entering the water line before the shower head, or into the shower head directly, by a line  120  coming from the bladder  10 . In another aspect, as the water in the bladder  10  is added back to the shower head the timer/thermostat can allow a small amount of hot water to continue to flow into the bladder  10 , such that a mixture of the cold water in the bladder  10  and hot water results in warm water added back to the shower head. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in another aspect, a dynamo/generator charging system can be included. The generator/dynamo  60  can be located after the water source (where the shower revolution connects to the existing shower head plumbing, line  40 ). The water pressure in the water line spins a fin water wheel  130  attached to the dynamo/generator  60  which in turn charges the battery  50 . The battery  50  can be used to power any aspect of the Shower Revolution. For example, referring to  FIG. 4 , a power system is used to power  2  switches, a timer with the connections to the power bar  50   a,  2 solenoids, and could be used with other optional features including, but not limited to: radio  180 , CD player, DVD player  190 , and lights  170  for a mirror  420   a . The power system could be of varying voltage and wattage, between 12, 18, and 24 volts as shown in  FIG. 4 , an alternate power source could be provided though an external battery receiver  160 . Alternatively, other power sources could be provided including other backup batteries, solar or other low voltage power charging systems. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in another aspect shower products can be added to the shower water at or before the shower head through ports  200 ,  210 ,  220 , and  230 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the shower products can be held in Type III plastic liquid holders  240 ,  250 ,  260 , and  270  for addition to the hand or shower water. In another aspect, the shower products can be loaded and unloaded in a vertical manner for addition to hand or shower water dispensed by a user through dispensers  280 ,  290 ,  300 ,  310 . Referring to  FIG. 6A , a single Type I, II or III plastic container showing the Body  320  the container vent  330  also the line dispenser to the shower head  340  or the line dispenser into the bathers hand  350 . 
         [0027]    The multiple use container being made of 1 or a combination of materials such as Types I, II, &amp; III, plastics, foam, acrylic fiberglass, natural stone, tile, carbon fiber, and possibly any of the many other structural materials available. Several of the possible material can be printed w/laser jet matching any marble, granite, tile, or a picture of whatever the customer choose and can include other features for a user including one or more speakers  420   c , shelves  410  optionally made of matching material such as natural stone or tile, can also include both a mirror  420   a  and a digital display  420   b.    
         [0028]    In another aspect, a manual system and method of operation is described. The manual method and system is similar to the electric method and system. Manual valves can replace one or more of the switches  90 ,  100  and solenoids  70 , and  80 , set forth above. The system can be turned on by a spring valve in place of solenoid  70  located at the bottom of the housing. This adjustable spring valve can control the volume of cold and hot water being dispensed into the bladder  10 . 
         [0029]    When the spring valve shuts off, a bell will sound notifying the bather that the shower is ready. Alternatively, the user could manually shut the spring valve off. A second manual valve used in place of solenoid  80  can control the shower head after the Shower Revolution is ready. The bather turns on that second valve and adjusts the water temperature as usual. 
         [0030]    In another aspect, with the shower running, the water in the bladder  10  can be added back to the shower as set forth above. Referring to  FIGS. 9-12 , now that the shower is running, the water pressure can open a valve  500  or similar which triggers the one way valve  510  at the end of the bladder  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10  the open and closed positions of the valve  500  are shown. Referring to  FIG. 11  an alternative configuration for the valve  500  is shown. Referring to  FIGS. 12  A and B, a one way valve  520  is shown having an alternate configuration. Upon opening of the one way valve  510  or the one way valve  520 , cold or warm water in the bladder  10  slowly mixes with water in route to the shower head until the bladder  10  is empty. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment this coil system stores all of the cold water that is in the hot water line when the adjustable spring valve opens and closes to whatever length of time is set on the spring valve timer/thermostat then closes, separating the other end of the coil is a one-way valve where the coil is connected to the cold water line. When the cold water is turned on the one way valve is opened that pulls the stored water into the main cold water line 2 or more one way valves may be used, micro-biotic air filters. A very similar operation as [0024] also where the above description of items may also or may not be needed. The alternative embodiment can be in a retrofit and/or a new construction configuration. 
         [0032]    In another aspect, embodiments herein could be used to soften the water by, for example providing a conventional water softener system inside the multi-use container, or adding water softener or shower salts to the bladder or coil through  FIG. 2  page  13  and  FIG. 6  page  17 &#39;s method of infusion 
         [0033]    Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments and examples, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications and adaptations of the invention are possible without deviation from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the following claims. 
       Index 
       [0034]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  5 
                 Multi-Use Container 
               
               
                   
                  10 
                 Bladder/Coil 
               
               
                   
                  20 
                 One way valve 
               
               
                   
                  30 
                 Timer 
               
               
                   
                  40 
                 Water Source 
               
               
                   
                  50 
                 Battery 
               
               
                   
                  60 
                 Generator 
               
               
                   
                  70 
                 First Solenoid 
               
               
                   
                  80 
                 Second Solenoid 
               
               
                   
                  90 
                 First Switch 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 Second Switch 
               
               
                   
                 110 
                 Bladder Water Inlet 
               
               
                   
                 120 
                 Return Line 
               
               
                   
                  50a 
                 Power Bar 
               
               
                   
                 130 
                 Water Fin 
               
               
                   
                 140 
                 Diverter Valve 
               
               
                   
                 150 
                 Vent 
               
               
                   
                 160 
                 Additional Power Receiver 
               
               
                   
                 170 
                 Lights for Mirror 
               
               
                   
                 180 
                 Radio 
               
               
                   
                 190 
                 DVD Player 
               
               
                   
                 200 
                 Soap Ports 
               
               
                   
                 210 
                 Soap Ports 
               
               
                   
                 220 
                 Soap Ports 
               
               
                   
                 230 
                 Soap Ports 
               
               
                   
                 240 
                 Plastic Liquid Holders 
               
               
                   
                 250 
                 Plastic Liquid Holders 
               
               
                   
                 260 
                 Plastic Liquid Holders 
               
               
                   
                 270 
                 Plastic Liquid Holders 
               
               
                   
                 280 
                 Dispensers 
               
               
                   
                 290 
                 Dispensers 
               
               
                   
                 300 
                 Dispensers 
               
               
                   
                 310 
                 Dispensers 
               
               
                   
                 320 
                 Product Containers 
               
               
                   
                 330 
                 Product Containers 
               
               
                   
                 340 
                 Product Containers 
               
               
                   
                 350 
                 Product Containers 
               
               
                   
                 400 
                 Water Softener 
               
               
                   
                 410 
                 Granite Shelf 
               
               
                   
                 420a 
                 Mirror 
               
               
                   
                 420b 
                 Digital Display 
               
               
                   
                 420c 
                 Speakers 
               
               
                   
                 500 
                 Valve 
               
               
                   
                 510 
                 One way Valve 
               
               
                   
                 520 
                 One way valve