Patent Application
20190359381
This invention relates, generally, to systems and methods of purge water recovery. More particularly, it relates to an expandable container capable of retaining purge water from a water heater.
The plumbing that is located between a hot water heater and a shower head retains purge water when a shower is not in use. This purge water is water at rest and is typically a colder and more undesirable temperature than the water produced from the hot water heater during use. When the hot water supply valve is oriented in an open position, heated water is produced from the water heater and makes its way through the plumbing, through the shower arm supply pipe, through the shower head, and onto a bathing user. The purge water that is the cooler standing water being retained within the plumbing in between uses may be undesirable for a user to bath in due to the cold temperature. Currently, this cooler, unused purge water is expelled through a shower head, into a shower, and down the drain. Typically, two to five gallons of purge water is wasted during each shower as a user is waiting for the bathing water to heat up to a desired temperature. This purge water is clean and potable. It would be more desirable to use this purge water for subsequent applications including, but not limited to, watering crops, washing items, cooking, brushing teeth, filling a toilet tank, or filling a pool. Thus, there is a need for a novel method of recovering purge water for subsequent use to promote water conservation efforts.
However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.
The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a method of purge water recovery in which an expandable container is in communication with a shower arm supply pipe. A hose has an end connected to the shower arm supply pipe located opposite another end having an adapter with a shut-off valve connected to a threaded spout of the expandable container. The expandable container receives purge water from the plumbing in association with a water heater when a hot water supply valve is oriented in an open position by a user. The gusset of the expandable container expands when purge water enters the expandable container. The shut-off valve of the hose adapter is closed when a user determines that the water temperature has reached a desirable bathing temperature. The adapter of the hose is removed from the threaded spout of the expandable container by a user. The user places a removable spigot on the threaded spout of the expandable container. The user dispenses the purge water from the expandable container during a subsequent use which also includes improvements that overcome the limitations of prior art purge water recovery methods is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention.
The novel method of purge water recovery includes the steps of providing a water source from a water heater. In the next step, a faucet is provided having a hot water supply valve. Next, a shower arm supply pipe is provided. The hot water supply valve is connected to the water heater with plumbing. The water heater is connected to the shower arm supply pipe with the plumbing. The shower arm supply pipe has a threaded portion configured to receive a shower head. The water from the water heater is dispensed through the shower arm supply pipe when the hot water supply valve is oriented in an open position. In the next step of the novel method of purge water recovery, an expandable container is provided. The expandable container has a first gusset configured to expand when the expandable container is filled with a liquid such as purge water. The expandable container has an opening. A threaded spout borders the opening of the expandable container. In a preferred embodiment, the expandable container has an integrally formed first handle located perpendicular to an integrally formed second handle. The integrally formed first handle and the integrally formed second handle do not extend beyond the outer perimeter edge of said expandable container. When the handles are integrally formed, fewer parts are required to connect the handle to the expandable container during the manufacturing process. The first handle aids in dispensing the purge water from the expandable container and the second handle aids in the filling of the expandable container with purge water.
In the next step of the novel method of purge water recovery, a hose having a first end located opposite a second end is provided. It is within the scope of this invention for the hose to include, but not be limited to, a shower hose, a plastic hose, or a metal hose. The first end of the hose is connected to a diverter valve. The second end of the hose is connected to an adapter having a shut-off valve. The shut-off valve of the adapter can be oriented in an open configuration to allow passage of liquid flow or can be oriented in a closed configuration to restrict passage of liquid flow. This adapter may receive a second adapter that connects to the threaded spout of the expandable container.
In the next step of the novel method of purge water recovery, a user connects the diverter valve to the threaded portion of the shower arm supply pipe. It is within the scope of this invention for the diverter valve to include, but not be limited to, a 2-way diverter valve. For example, the water flow may be either diverted through the shower head or through the connected hose to the expandable container. During this instant process, purge water must flow through the hose into the expandable container. It is also within the scope of this invention for a user to include, but not be limited to, any individual that is preparing the shower for bathing, a caregiver, a parent, or a bather. The user then connects the adapter of the second end of the hose to the threaded spout of the opening of the expandable container. When the user orients the hot water supply valve in an open position, purge water begins to flow from the water source, through the plumbing, through the shower arm, through the hose, and into the expandable container.
The expandable container receives purge water from the plumbing through the hose. The purge water is retained within the expandable container. The weight and force of the purge water expands the first gusset of the expandable container. In the next step of the novel method of purge water recovery the user determines a desired temperature for use. This may be achieved through touching the expandable container to feel the temperature of the water or by visually monitoring the inside of the expandable container for steam. The presence of steam is indicative of a warmer temperature of water. It is within the scope of this invention for purge water to have a colder temperature than the desired temperature determined by a user. Once the desired temperature has been met, a user orients the shut-off valve of the adapter of the hose in an off position. The user then removes the adapter of the hose from the threaded spout of the opening of the expandable container. The user dispenses the purge water from the expandable container during a subsequent use.
In an alternate embodiment, the novel method of purge water recovery further includes the step of providing a removable spigot. The removable spigot is connected to the threaded spout bordering the opening of the expandable container. The purge water can be dispensed through the removable spigot. It is within the scope of this invention for a removable spigot to have a valve capable of releasing and restricting the flow of liquid from the expanded container. A removable rosette can connect to the threaded spout of the expandable container for controlling the purge water flow when dispensing purge water during irrigation.
In another embodiment, the novel method of purge water recovery further includes the step of providing an expandable container having dedicated finger recesses located on the first integrally formed handle and on the second integrally formed handle.
In another embodiment, the novel method of purge water recovery further includes the step of providing a removable lid. The removable lid is connected to the threaded spout bordering the opening of the expandable container when the purge water is retained within the expanded container. The lid prevents purge water from splashing out of the expanded container during transport of the expanded container to a desired location. It is within the scope of this invention for the expandable container to have a single opening configured to receive purge water, to be sealed with a lid, and to dispense purge water for a subsequent use all from the same opening. When the expandable container only has a single opening, the expandable container is less susceptible to water leakage during use, transport, and storage.
In yet another embodiment, the novel method of purge water recovery further includes the step of providing an expandable container having the first gusset located perpendicular to a second gusset. The second gusset provides additional support for the expanded container while both filling the expandable container with purge water and dispensing purge water from the expanded container.
In another embodiment, the novel method of purge water recovery further includes the step of providing a support structure. The support structure has a retaining member including, but not limited to a hook. The retaining member receives the first handle of the expandable container, thereby, suspending the expandable container when the expanded container is dispending purge water through a removable spigot.
In another embodiment, the novel method of purge water recovery further includes the step of providing a shower head connected to the diverter valve.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Referring to
Referring now to
Expandable container 1 receives purge water 32 from plumbing 26 through hose 11. Purge water 32 is retained within expandable container 1.
Referring now to
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Now that the invention has been described,
