Shower nozzle holder device having water temperature monitoring mechanism

Abstract

A holder device is attached to a water outlet tube without drilling holes in the wall and includes a housing having a casing communicative with an inlet of the housing and having two outlet ports, a valve stem engaged in the casing and having a valve member to control the water to flow out through the outlet ports of the housing, a motor disposed in the inlet of the housing and having a fan blade for being rotated by the water to generate an electricity, a control device coupled to the motor and having a light member for generating an indicating or warning signal when the water is over-heated, and a temperature sensor disposed in the housing for sensing the water temperature and for supplying the detected water temperature to the control device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holder device and/or a control device for supporting shower heads and shower nozzles, and more particularly to a shower head and shower nozzle holder and control device including a water temperature monitoring mechanism to sense or detect or monitor the water temperature of the water that flows out through either or both of the shower heads and the nozzles for preventing the users from being scalded or hurt by the over-heated water.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical holder devices for supporting shower nozzles or other appliances comprise a bracket attached or secured to upper portions of supporting surfaces or walls or the like with fasteners. For preventing the supporting surfaces or walls or the like from being drilled with one or more holes and with drilling machines or tools, the applicant had developed a holder device for directly attaching to the water outlet tube that is provided and extended from the supporting surfaces or walls and for supporting shower heads and/or shower nozzles and the like.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,510 to Tsai discloses one of the typical appliance holder device directly attached to the water outlet tube for supporting shower heads and/or shower nozzles and the like, and a controlling device for controlling the water to flow out through the water outlet port.

However, the typical appliance holder device has no water temperature monitoring mechanism or device to sense or detect or monitor the water temperature of the water that flows out through the shower head and/or the shower nozzle such that the users may have a good chance to be scalded or hurt by the over-heated water that flows out through the shower head and/or the shower nozzle inadvertently.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,431 to Caramanna discloses another typical water temperature monitoring apparatus including a housing having a bore adaptable to receive a flow of water, a power source operational for generating electricity and coupled to the housing, a temperature sensor coupled to the housing and in thermal contact with the water that flows out through the bore of the housing, and a visual display coupled to the housing and configured to display a temperature of the water.

However, the typical water temperature monitoring apparatus is disposed or attached to the shower heads or the shower nozzles and the visual display may not be easily seen by the user when the visual display and the shower head or the shower nozzle are highly supported on the wall, or when the visual display and the shower head or the shower nozzle are movably carried with the users while showering; and the typical water temperature monitoring apparatus may not be used to detachably support the shower heads and/or the shower nozzles and the like.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional shower head and shower nozzle holder devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a shower head and shower nozzle holder and control device directly attached to the water outlet tube that is provided and extended from the supporting surfaces or walls, for supporting shower heads and/or shower nozzles and the like, and including a water temperature monitoring mechanism to sense or detect or monitor the water temperature of the water that flows out through either or both of the shower heads and the nozzles for preventing the users from being scalded or hurt by the over-heated water.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a holder device for readily attaching to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like without drilling holes in the supporting surfaces or walls or the like.

The further objective of the present invention is to provide a holder device for controlling the water to flow out through either or both of the shower heads and the nozzles.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a holder device for attaching to a water outlet tube comprising a housing including an inlet for attaching to the water outlet tube and for receiving a water from the water outlet tube, the housing including a casing having a chamber formed in the casing and communicative with the inlet of the housing, and including a first outlet port and a second outlet port communicative with the chamber of the casing, the housing including two valve seats formed in the casing and communicating with the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing respectively, a valve stem rotatably attached in the chamber of the casing and including a passage formed therein for communicating the inlet of the housing with the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing, to allow the water to selectively flow out through the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing, the valve stem including a compartment formed therein, a spring-biased valve member received in the compartment of the valve stem to engage with either of the valve seats of the housing and to control the water to flow out through the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing, a motor disposed in the inlet of the housing and including a fan blade attached to a spindle of the motor and directed toward the water outlet tube for being rotated by the water from the water outlet tube in order to generate an electricity, a control device electrically coupled to the motor for receiving the electricity from the motor, and including a light member for generating an indicating signal, and a temperature sensor disposed in the inlet of the housing and electrically coupled to the control device for sensing the water temperature of the water that flows into the casing, and the control device actuate the light member to generate an indicating signal when the water is over-heated.

The housing includes an aperture formed therein, the motor is electrically coupled to the control device with an electric cable, and a tubular member is engaged into the aperture of the housing for receiving and engaging with the electric cable and for shielding and protecting the electric cable.

An outer container may further be provided and attached onto the housing and includes an aperture formed therein for engaging with the first outlet port of the housing, and includes an opening formed therein for engaging with the inlet of the housing. The container includes an orifice formed therein, and a hood engaged into the orifice of the container and having a lens aligned with the light member for shielding the light member.

A receptacle may further be provided and attached to the inlet of the housing and the water outlet tube, and a water guiding member disposed in the receptacle and including at least one orifice formed therein for guiding the water toward the fan blade of the motor and for rotating fan blade of the motor to generate the electricity.

The housing includes a partition secured thereto, and an attaching device rotatably attached to the partition and having an opening formed in the attaching device for detachably attaching a sprayer nozzle.

The partition includes a bore formed therein, and a follower rotatably engaged in the bore of the partition and secured to the attaching device and having at least one key extended therefrom for keying and securing to the attaching device, and the follower includes an enlarged head extended therefrom for engaging with the partition and for rotatably anchoring and positioning the follower to the partition and for preventing the follower from sliding relative to the partition.

The partition include a guide passage formed therein, and the attaching device includes a projection extended therefrom for slidably engaging with the guide passage of the partition and for limiting and guiding the attaching device to rotate relative to the partition and the housing.

The housing includes a cover plate rotatably attached thereto and having a hole formed in the cover plate, and a knob having a barrel engaged through the hole of the cover plate and secured to the valve stem.

The housing includes a stop extended therefrom, and the cover plate includes two protrusions extended therefrom for engaging with the stop of the housing in order to anchor and position the knob to the housing at selected angular positions.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder device in accordance with the present invention for readily attaching to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like and for supporting shower heads and/or shower nozzles and the like;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the holder device for the shower heads and/or nozzles;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holder device for the shower heads and/or nozzles;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the holder device, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the holder device as seen from one direction or the front portion of the holder device;

FIG. 6 is another partial exploded view of the holder device as seen from the other direction or the rear portion of the holder device;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of the holder device, taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is another partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the operation of the holder device;

FIG. 9 is a further partial cross sectional view of the holder device, taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 10, 11 are partial cross sectional views similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the operation of the holder device;

FIG. 12 is a still further partial cross sectional view of the holder device, taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 13, 14 are partial cross sectional views similar to FIG. 12, illustrating the operation of the holder device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-2, a shower head and shower nozzle holder assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a holder device 1 for attaching or securing to a water outlet tube 90 with one or more fasteners 91, washers 92 and/or gaskets 93 or the like (FIGS. 12-14), and the water outlet tube 90 is normally or typically attached onto or extended from a wall or a supporting surface 94, and coupled to the typical or conventional water reservoirs (not shown) for receiving water from the water reservoirs, and thus for supplying the water to the holder device 1. The holder device 1 may be provided for attaching or mounting and/or supplying a typical or conventional shower head 95 and/or a sprayer nozzle 96 thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 3-7, 9, and 12, the holder device 1 comprises a housing 10 including an inlet 11 for attaching or mounting or coupling to the water outlet tube 90 and for receiving the water from the water outlet tube 90 and/or from the water reservoirs, and the housing 10 includes a casing 12 disposed therein and having a chamber 13 formed or provided therein and communicating with the inlet 11 thereof (FIGS. 12-14) for receiving the water from the water reservoirs, and further includes two or more outlet ports 14, 15 communicating with the chamber 13 of the casing 12 for allowing the water to selectively flow out through either or both of the two outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 12-14).

For example, the typical or conventional shower head 95 may be provided and attached or secured to one of the two outlet ports 14, 15, such as the outlet port 14 of the housing 10 for allowing the water to selectively flow out through the typical or conventional shower head 95 via the outlet port 14 of the housing 10; and the typical or conventional sprayer nozzle 96 may be coupled or secured to the other outlet port 15 of the housing 10 with a hose 97 (FIGS. 1-2, 12-14), for example, for allowing the water to selectively flow out through the sprayer nozzle 96 from the other outlet port 15 of the housing 10, and the sprayer nozzle 96 may be selectively carried with the users for showering purposes.

The holder device 1 further includes an attaching device 20 attached or secured to one side portion 16 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 5, 6), and having an engaging opening 21 formed therein for hooking or attaching the sprayer nozzle 96 thereto, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is to be noted that the sprayer nozzle 96 may thus be easily and readily attached to the attaching device 20 which is attached or secured to one side portion 16 of the housing 10, and the housing 10 is directly attached or secured onto the water outlet tube 90, such that no holes are required to be drilled within the wall or the supporting surface 94, and thus no wall mounted brackets are required to be attached or secured to the supporting surfaces or walls 94 or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a partition 22 may be secured to the one side portion 16 of the housing 10 with one or more fasteners 23 and includes a bore 24 formed therein. A follower 30 is rotatably engaged or received within the bore 24 of the partition 22, and includes an enlarged head 31 extended therefrom for engaging with the partition 22 and for rotatably anchoring the follower 30 to the partition 22 and thus for preventing the follower 30 from sliding laterally or longitudinally relative to the partition 22. The follower 30 further includes one or more keys or ribs 32 extended from an outer end 33 thereof for keying or engaging or securing to the attaching device 20, and thus for securing the attaching device 20 to the follower 30, and thus to allow the attaching device 20 to be rotated in concert with the follower 30.

One or more fasteners 34 may further be provided and engaged with the attaching device 20 and secured to the outer end 33 of the follower 30 to further solidly secure the follower 30 to the attaching device 20. An end cap 35 may be attached onto the fastener 34 to enclose or to shield the fastener 34. The partition 22 includes an arched or curved or peripheral bulge 25 extended therefrom for forming or defining an arched or curved or peripheral guide passage 26 (FIGS. 5, 7-8) therein, and the attaching device 20 includes a key or projection 27 extended therefrom for slidably engaging with or in the guide passage 26 of the partition 22 and for limiting or guiding the attaching device 20 to rotate relative to the partition 22 and the housing 10 and capable of tiltedly supporting the typical or conventional sprayer nozzle 96.

The holder device 1 further includes a valve stem 40 rotatably attached or received within the chamber 13 of the casing 12, or directly attached or received within the housing 10, and one or more sealing rings 41 attached or engaged onto the valve stem 40 and engaged with the casing 12 or the housing 10 for making a water tight seal between the valve stem 40 and the casing 12 or the housing 10. The valve stem 40 includes a passage 42 formed therein for communicating the inlet 11 of the housing 10 with either or both of the outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 12-14) to allow the water to selectively flow out through either or both of the two outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10. The valve stem 40 includes a compartment 43 formed therein for receiving a valve member 44 and a spring member 45 which may bias the valve member 44 to engage with either of two valve seats 46, 47 that are formed in the casing 12 or the housing 10, and that are communicating with the outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10 respectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the spring member 45 may bias the valve member 44 to engage with the valve seat 46, and thus to block the outlet port 14 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the shower head 95 that is attached to the outlet port 14 of the housing 10, and arranged to allow the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 96 from the hose 97 and the other outlet port 15 of the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 14, the spring member 45 may also selectively bias the valve member 44 to engage with the other valve seat 47, and thus to block the other outlet port 15 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 96 that is attached to the other outlet port 15 of the housing 10, and arranged to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 95 from the outlet port 14 of the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 12, alternatively, the valve member 44 may also be arranged to be disengaged from the valve seats 46, 47 of the casing 12 or of the housing 10, and thus to open the outlet ports 14, of the housing 10, and thus to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 95 from the outlet port 14 of the housing 10 and to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 96 from the hose 97 and the outlet port 15 of the housing 10. The valve stem 40 includes one end portion 48 (FIGS. 4-6) for attaching or securing to a handgrip or knob 50 which may be used to rotate or to operate the valve stem 40 relative to the casing 12 or the housing 10. The valve stem 40 may thus be used and acted as a controlling means or device for controlling the water to flow out through either or both of the shower head 95 and the sprayer nozzle 96.

As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 10 may further include a cover plate 49 rotatably attached or secured to the other side portion 17 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 4-6) and having a bore or key hole 490 formed therein for receiving a barrel 51 that is extended from the knob 50 (FIG. 4) and for keying or anchoring to the barrel 51 of the knob 50 and for allowing the cover plate 49 to be rotated in concert with the knob 50. The knob 50 includes a cavity 52 formed in the barrel 51 for receiving the end portion 48 of the valve stem 40, which may further be solidly secured to the knob 50 with one or more fasteners 53, to solidly secure the valve stem 40 to the knob 50. It is preferable that the cavity 52 of the barrel 51 and the end portion 48 of the valve stem 40 each includes a key-shaped or non-circular cross section to prevent the valve stem 40 from being rotated relative to the knob 50.

The knob 50 or the cover plate 49 may further include one or more (such as two) protrusions 491, 492 extended therefrom (FIGS. 5, 9-11), and the housing 10 may further include a stud or stop 18 extended therefrom (FIGS. 6, 9-11), such as extended in the other side portion 17 of the housing 10 for selectively engaging with the protrusions 491, 492 in order to anchor or to position the knob 50 to the casing 12 or to the housing 10 at selected angular positions. For example, when the protrusion 491 is engaged with the stop 18 (FIG. 9), the valve member 44 may be positioned and maintained in disengaging from the valve seats 46, 47 of the casing 12 or of the housing 10 (FIG. 12), to open the outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10, and to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 95 and the sprayer nozzle 96 via the outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10.

When both protrusions 491, 492 are disengaged from the stop 18 (FIG. 10), the valve member 44 may be positioned and maintained in engagement with the valve seat 46 (FIG. 13) to block the outlet port 14 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the shower head 95, and to allow the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 96. When the other protrusion 492 is engaged with the stop 18 (FIG. 11), the valve member 44 may be positioned and maintained in engagement with the other valve seat 47 (FIG. 14), to block the other outlet port 15 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 96, and to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 95.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 12-14, the valve stem 40 may be easily rotated relative to the casing 12 or the housing 10 with the knob 50, in order to control the water to flow out through either or both of the shower head 95 and the sprayer nozzle 96 via either or both of the outlet ports 14, 15 of the housing 10. In addition, both the shower head 95 and the sprayer nozzle 96 may be attached to the housing 10 that may be directly attached or secured to the water outlet tube 90, without drilling holes in the wall or the supporting surface 94. The attaching device 20 may optionally or selectively provided and attached or secured to the housing 10, for optionally or selectively hooking or attaching the sprayer nozzle 96 to the housing 10. The above-described housing 10, casing 12, valve stem 40, and valve member 44 are typical and will not be described in further details.

The holder device 1 further includes a motor receptacle 60 disposed or attached or mounted or secured to the inlet 11 of the housing 10 with one or more fasteners 61 (FIGS. 5, 6), and the receptacle 60 may be attached or mounted or secured to the water outlet tube 90 with one or more fasteners 91, washers 92 and/or gaskets 93 or the like (FIGS. 4, 12-14) for receiving water from the water reservoirs. A motor 62 is disposed or attached or mounted in the inlet 11 of the housing 10 and includes a fan blade 63 attached or mounted or secured to the spindle 64 of the motor 62 and disposed or located closer to the water outlet tube 90, or directed toward the water outlet tube 90 for being driven or rotated by the water from the water outlet tube 90.

A water guiding member 65 is disposed or attached or mounted in the inlet 11 of the housing 10 and/or in the receptacle 60 and includes one or more (such as three) orifices 66 formed therein for suitably guiding the water toward the fan blade 63 of the motor 62 and for suitably driving or rotating fan blade 63 of the motor 62 to generate the electricity, the motor 62 is electrically coupled to the circuit board or processor or control device 70 with an electric wire or cable 67 for receiving the electric power or energy from the motor 62 and to energize the control device 70 and the other electric parts or elements or facilities. The control device 70 includes one or more light bulbs or members, such as light emitting diodes 71 for generating indicating lights or signals.

A temperature detector or sensor 72 is also electrically coupled to the control device 70 and preferably disposed or engaged in the inlet 11 of the housing 10 and/or disposed or located behind the motor 62, and preferably disposed or located in front of the casing 12, best shown in FIGS. 12-14, for suitably detecting or sensing the water temperature of the water that flows into the casing 12 and for supplying the detected water temperature to the control device 70 which may then control or actuate the light members 71 to generate the indicating lights or signals of such as different colors and for warning the user that the detected water temperature is over-heated or not. The housing 10 may further include a gasket or tubular member 73 engaged into an aperture 19 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 5-6, 12-14) for receiving or engaging with or protecting the electric wire or cable 67.

An outer container 80 may further be provided and engaged with or attached onto the housing 10, and preferably includes two container members 81, 82 attached or mounted or secured together with one or more fasteners 83, one of the container members 81 includes an aperture 84 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the outlet port 14 of the housing 10, and the other container member 82 includes an opening 85 formed therein for receiving or engaging with the inlet 11 of the housing 10, and the container member 81 may further includes an orifice 86 formed therein for receiving or engaging with a hood 87 which includes one or more lens 88 aligned with the light members 71 respectively for shielding or protecting the light members 71.

In operation, the temperature detector or sensor 72 may be used to detect or sense the water temperature of the water that flows into the casing 12 and may supply the detected water temperature signals to the control device 70 which may then control or actuate the light members 71 to generate the indicating lights or signals, for example, when the detected water temperature is too low or below a predetermined low level, a blue or other light may be generated to indicate that the water temperature is too low, and a green light may be generated to indicate that the water temperature is normal and suitable for showering purposes, and a red light may be generated to indicate that the water temperature is greater then a predetermined high level in order to warn the user that the detected water temperature is over-heated.

It is to be noted that no batteries are required to be provided and engaged into the water flowing passage of the casing 12 and the housing 10, and the water propelled fan blade 63 of the motor 62 may be driven or rotated by the water from the water outlet tube 90 in order to generate the electricity and to supply the electric power or energy to energize the control device 70, the temperature detector or sensor 72 and/or the other electric parts or elements or facilities, without batteries.

Accordingly, the shower head and shower nozzle holder device in accordance with the present invention may be directly attached to the water outlet tube that is typically provided and extended from the supporting surfaces or walls, including a water temperature monitoring mechanism to sense or detect or monitor the water temperature of the water that flows out through either or both of the shower heads and the nozzles for preventing the users from being scalded or hurt by the over-heated water.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A holder device for attaching to a water outlet tube, comprising: a housing including an inlet for attaching to the water outlet tube and for receiving a water from the water outlet tube, said housing including a casing having a chamber formed in said casing and communicative with said inlet of said housing, and including a first outlet port and a second outlet port communicative with said chamber of said casing, said housing including two valve seats formed in said casing and communicating with said first outlet port and said second outlet port of said housing respectively,a valve stem rotatably attached in said chamber of said casing and including a passage formed therein for communicating, said inlet of said housing with said first outlet port and said second outlet port of said housing, to allow the water to selectively flow out through said first outlet port and said second outlet port of said housing, said valve stem including a compartment formed therein,a spring-biased valve member received in said compartment of said valve stem to engage with either of said valve seats of said housing and to control the water to flow out through said first outlet port and said second outlet port of said housing,a motor disposed in said inlet of said housing and including a fan blade attached to a spindle of said motor and directed toward the water outlet tube for being rotated by the water from the water outlet tube in order to generate an electricity,a control device electrically coupled to said motor for receiving the electricity from said motor, and including a light member for generating an indicating signal, anda temperature sensor disposed in said inlet of said housing and electrically coupled to said control device for sensing the water temperature of the water that flows into said casing, andsaid control device actuating said light member to generate an indicating signal when the water is over-heated.

2. The holder device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes an aperture formed therein, said motor is electrically coupled to said control device with an electric cable, and a tubular member is engaged into said aperture of said housing for receiving and engaging with said electric cable.

3. The holder device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an outer container attached onto said housing and including an aperture formed therein for engaging with said first outlet port of said housing, and including an opening formed therein for engaging with said inlet of said housing.

4. The holder device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said container includes an orifice formed therein, and a hood engaged into said orifice of said container and having a lens aligned with said light member for shielding said light member.

5. The holder device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a receptacle attached to said inlet of said housing and the water outlet tube, and a water guiding member disposed in said receptacle and including at least one orifice formed therein for guiding the water toward said fan blade of said motor and for rotating fan blade of said motor to generate the electricity.

6. The holder device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a partition secured thereto, an attaching device rotatably attached to said partition and having an opening formed in said attaching device for attaching a sprayer nozzle.

7. The holder device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said partition includes a bore formed therein, a follower rotatably engaged in said bore of said partition and secured to said attaching device and having at least one key extended therefrom for keying and securing to said attaching device, and said follower includes an enlarged head extended therefrom for engaging with said partition and for rotatably anchoring said follower to said partition and for preventing said follower from sliding relative to said partition.

8. The holder device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said partition include a guide passage formed therein, and said attaching device includes a projection extended therefrom for slidably engaging with said guide passage of said partition and for limiting and guiding said attaching device to rotate relative to said partition and said housing.

9. The holder device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a cover plate rotatably attached thereto and having a hole formed in said cover plate, and a knob having a barrel engaged through said hole of said cover plate and secured to said valve stem.

10. The holder device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing includes a stop extended therefrom, and said cover plate includes two protrusions extended therefrom for engaging with said stop of said housing in order to anchor and position said knob to said housing at selected angular positions.