Patent Publication Number: US-2012038482-A1

Title: Temperature displaying device for faucet

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s).099215304 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Aug. 10, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to temperature displaying devices, and more particularly, to a temperature displaying device connected to a water outlet end of a faucet or disposed in a pipe of the body of the faucet for displaying water temperature and generating a sound alert. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional faucet is a device for starting a water flow, shutting down a water flow, and controlling a water flow, and is indispensable to the daily life of human beings. However, a conventional faucet lacks a water temperature displaying function, and thus hot water running out of a conventional faucet is likely to scald a careless consumer. To solve the above problem, the manufacturing sector developed water temperature displaying faucets which are disposed at an appropriate position of a faucet and adapted to display water temperature, so as to display the temperature of the hot water running out of the faucet. In this regard, conventional water temperature displaying faucets are mostly connected to an external power supply and thus exposed to hazards, such as electrical leaks, and confronted with the need to be refitted or replaced. As a result, the burn prevention goal of the conventional water temperature displaying faucets has not yet come true. In addition, although the conventional water temperature displaying faucets are capable of displaying water temperature, they do not give any alert when the water temperature goes beyond a safe temperature threshold. If a consumer is negligent in keeping an eye on changes of water temperature, dangers may still happen. Furthermore, the conventional water temperature displaying faucets are powered by batteries; hence, the odds are that dangers may still happen to those consumers who are negligent in changing batteries which have run out of power. 
     Accordingly, it is imperative to invent a faucet-specific temperature displaying device for displaying water temperature and giving a sound alert as needed when connected to a faucet, so as to prevent scalds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive researches and experiments according to the inventor&#39;s years of experience in the related industry, and finally developed a faucet-specific temperature displaying device as disclosed in the present invention to achieve the purposes of installing and operating the temperature displaying device easily, displaying water temperature, giving an alert in response to a high water temperature, as well as generating power and operating automatically. 
     It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a temperature displaying device for faucets. The temperature displaying device comprises a pipe, a control unit, a temperature sensing unit, a display unit, a sound alert unit, and a power supply module, and can operate by means of a combination thereof, such that the temperature displaying device is installed at the water outlet end of a faucet or is directly installed in a tube of faucet to thereby provide ease of installation and ease of use, display water temperature, and give an alert in response to a high water temperature. 
     It is a secondary objective of the present invention to provide a temperature displaying device for faucets. The temperature displaying device further comprises a water flow power generator disposed in the pipe and/or a solar panel disposed outside the pipe for supplying power to the temperature displaying device and thereby meeting the requirement for automatic power generation and operation. 
     In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a temperature displaying device for faucets, comprising: a pipe having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water channel, the water inlet being disposed at an end of the pipe, the water outlet being disposed at another end of the pipe, and the water channel communicating with the water inlet and the water outlet; a control unit coupled to the pipe; a temperature sensing unit coupled to the pipe for sensing a temperature of water running through the pipe and electrically connected to the control unit for allowing a sensing signal to be fed back to the control unit; a display unit comprising a liquid crystal display coupled to the pipe and electrically connected to the control unit for displaying water temperature; a sound alert unit comprising a buzzer electrically connected to the control unit for giving a sound alert; and a power supply module electrically connected to the control unit for supplying power to the temperature displaying device. 
     The power supply module of the present invention comprises a water flow power generator disposed in the water channel of the pipe. The water flow power generator comprises a hydraulic wheel, a rotor coupled to the hydraulic wheel, and a stator corresponding in position to the rotor, such that water running through the pipe drives the hydraulic wheel to rotate and thereby causes the hydraulic wheel to synchronously drive the rotor to rotate, thereby allowing the rotor and the stator to generate power required for the temperature displaying device. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module comprises a battery holder for accommodating a battery; the battery holder enables the battery to be connected to the control unit for supplying power to the temperature displaying device of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module comprises a solar panel; the solar panel generates the power required for the temperature displaying device. In addition to powering the displaying of water temperature, the water flow power generator or the solar panel is effective in charging the battery holder. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the pipe is integrally formed with a seat protruding from the pipe laterally. The seat accommodates the control unit, the display unit, and the sound alert unit. 
     Accordingly, as disclosed in the present invention, the temperature displaying device for faucets works in a way described hereunder. The water inlet of the pipe is connected to the water outlet end of a faucet, such that water can run through the water channel of the pipe and flow out of the water outlet of the pipe; meanwhile, the temperature sensing unit senses the temperature of the water running through the pipe and feeds back a sensing signal to the control unit. Then, the control unit drives the liquid crystal display of the display unit to display water temperature. According to the present invention, once water temperature goes beyond a safe temperature threshold, the control unit will drive the buzzer of the sound alert unit to give a sound alert until the user lowers the water temperature to the safe temperature threshold. Accordingly, the temperature displaying device for faucets of the present invention features ease of installation and ease of use, displays water temperature, and gives an alert in response to a high water temperature. Furthermore, the water flow power generator and/or the solar panel enables the temperature displaying device to generate power and operate automatically. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention are hereunder illustrated with specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a temperature displaying device for faucets according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a temperature displaying device for faucets according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a temperature displaying device for faucets according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a schematic view of a temperature displaying device for faucets according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the temperature displaying device comprises a pipe  1 . The pipe  1  has a hollow core. The pipe  1  is either straight or curved. The pipe  1  is integrally formed as a unitary unit; alternatively, the pipe  1  consists of a plurality of sub-pipes connected together to form the pipe  1 . The pipe  1  has one end formed with a water inlet  11  and the other end formed with a water outlet  12 . Furthermore, the pipe  1  has a water channel  13  in communication with the water inlet  11  and the water outlet  12 , such that the water inlet  11  can be connected to the water outlet end of a conventional faucet (not shown). The temperature displaying device further comprises a control unit  2 . The control unit  2  is coupled to the pipe  1  and comprises a circuit board and a required circuit in order for the control unit  2  to function as the control center of temperature displaying device. The temperature displaying device further comprises a temperature sensing unit  3 . The temperature sensing unit  3  is coupled to the inside of the pipe  1 ; preferably, the temperature sensing unit  3  extends to the water channel  13  of the pipe  1  for sensing the temperature of the water running through the pipe  1 . The temperature sensing unit  3  is electrically connected to the control unit  2  by a wire or by any other appropriate means, such that a sensing signal can be fed back by the temperature sensing unit  3  to the control unit  2 . The temperature displaying device further comprises a display unit  4 . The display unit  4  comprises a liquid crystal display  41 . The liquid crystal display  41  is coupled to the pipe  1  from outside. The liquid crystal display  41  is electrically connected to the control unit  2  by a wire or by any other appropriate means. Hence, under the control of the control unit  2 , the temperature of the water running through the pipe  1  is displayed. The temperature displaying device further comprises a sound alert unit  5 . The sound alert unit  5  comprises a buzzer  51  coupled to the pipe  1  or the circuit board of the control unit  2 . The buzzer  51  is electrically connected to the control unit  2 . Under the control of the control unit  2 , the buzzer  51  gives a sound alert. The temperature displaying device further comprises a power supply module  6 . The power supply module  6  is coupled to the pipe  1  and electrically connected to the control unit  2  for supplying power to the temperature displaying device in operation. Hence, the temperature displaying device can be quickly connected to the water outlet end of a conventional faucet (not shown) for displaying water temperature and giving an alert in response to a high temperature of the water running through the faucet. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module  6  comprises a water flow power generator  61  disposed in the water channel  13  of the pipe  1 . The water flow power generator  61  comprises a hydraulic wheel  611 , a rotor  612  coupled to the axis of the hydraulic wheel  611 , and a stator  613  corresponding in position to the rotor  612 . The hydraulic wheel  611  comprises axial blades or radial blades shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and is rotatably disposed in the water channel  13  of the pipe  1 . The rotor  612  is a rotation module typically equipped with a coil. The stator  613  is a permanent magnet disposed between or around the coil of the rotor  612 . The rotor  612  and the stator  613  are either disposed inside the water channel  13  of the pipe  1  or outside the water channel  13  of the pipe  1 . Hence, the water running through the pipe  1  drives the hydraulic wheel  611  to rotate, and thus the hydraulic wheel  611  synchronously drives the rotor  612  to rotate, thereby causing the rotor  612  and the stator  613  to generate power to be supplied to the temperature displaying device of the present invention. The power generation principle of the rotor  612  and the stator  613  falls within the scope of well-known technology and thus is not described herein for the sake of brevity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module  6  further comprises a battery holder  62  for accommodating a battery. The battery holder  62  enables a battery to be connected to the control unit  2  for supplying power to the temperature displaying device of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module  6  further comprises a solar panel  63  for generating power to be supplied to the temperature displaying device of the present invention. The water flow power generator  61 , the battery holder  62 , and/or the solar panel  63  are/is selectively applied, in whatever desirable combination, to the implementation of the present invention to supply power to the temperature displaying device of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment of the present invention, the pipe  1  is integrally formed with a seat  14  protruding from the pipe  1  laterally. A receiving recess  141  is disposed deep in the seat  14 . The control unit  2 , the display unit  4  (the liquid crystal display  41 ), and the sound alert unit  5  (the buzzer  51 ) are disposed inside the receiving recess  141 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment of the present invention, the water inlet  11  of the pipe  1  can be quickly connected to or fitted inside the water outlet end of a conventional faucet (not shown). Once the faucet is turned on, water will pass through the water channel  13  of the pipe  1  and then flow out of the water outlet  12  of the pipe  1 . Hence, the temperature displaying device of the present invention can be installed on an existing faucet without dealing with the hassles of changing the existing faucet, thereby featuring ease of installation and ease of use. In addition, it is also feasible that the design of the temperature displaying device of the present invention is incorporated into a new product during a faucet R&amp;D stage to meet the requirement for integrated esthetical appearance. Once water runs through the water channel  13  of the pipe  1 , the temperature sensing unit  3  will sense the temperature of the water running through the pipe  1  (the water channel  13 ) and then allow a sensing signal to be fed back to the control unit  2 ; afterward, under the control of the control unit  2 , the liquid crystal display  41  of the display unit  4  displays the water temperature. The temperature displaying device of the present invention has a further advantage: if water temperature goes beyond a safe temperature threshold, the control unit  2  will drive the buzzer  51  of the sound alert unit  5  to give a sound alert for reminding a user of the water temperature. The control unit  2  will not stop driving the buzzer  51  of the sound alert unit  5  to give a sound alert unless and until the user lowers the water temperature to a safe temperature level. Hence, as disclosed in the present invention, the temperature displaying device for faucets is effective in displaying water temperature and giving an alert in response to a high water temperature. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the water flow power generator  61  and/or the solar panel  63  of the power supply module  6  generates the power required to charge the temperature displaying device and the battery holder to meet the requirement for automatic power generation and operation, thereby enabling the temperature displaying device to maintain its displaying function. 
     Hence, the present invention meets the three requirements of patentability, namely novelty, non-obviousness, and industrial applicability. Regarding novelty and non-obviousness, the present invention discloses a pipe, a control unit, a temperature sensing unit, a display unit, a sound alert unit, a power supply module, and a combination thereof whereby a temperature displaying device for faucets can be easily installed at the water outlet end of a faucet or can be easily installed inside a tube of the faucet to display water temperature and give a high temperature-specific alert. Regarding industrial applicability, products derived from the present invention meet existing market demands fully. 
     The present invention is disclosed above by preferred embodiments. However, persons skilled in the art should understand that the preferred embodiments are illustrative of the present invention only, but should not be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Hence, all equivalent modifications and replacements made to the aforesaid embodiments should fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the legal protection for the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.