The present invention relates to water recycling and, more particularly, a recycling system embodying a tank used for collecting and recycling bathroom shower warm up water. The average bathroom shower wastes 2-4 gallons of water while waiting for the water to warm up. When a bathroom shower is turned on and the water is cold, the user must wait for the water to warm up before entering the shower. This cold (“warm-up”) water is wasted down the drain while waiting for the water to warm up.
As can be seen, there is a need for a recycling system embodying a tank used for collecting and recycling bathroom shower warm up water. The present invention collects shower warm-up water, saves it in a tank where it can be used in the toilet tank or other water needs throughout a household.
In one aspect of the present invention, method for recycling warm up bathroom shower water includes the following: fluidly coupling a diverter valve upstream of a shower head; a first conduit fluidly coupled between the diverter valve and a tank; wherein the tank is physically separate but fluidly connected to a retainer of fluid, wherein a lower portion of the tank provides a second conduit fluidly coupled to the retainer of fluid; wherein the retainer of fluid is a toilet tank; wherein a second valve is fluidly interconnecting the tank and the second conduit; wherein the second valve controls water flow through the second conduit.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a water recycling system embodying a tank used for collecting and recycling bathroom shower warm up water for the toilet and other household needs. The collection tank is fluidly connected to the shower head via an engaged diverter valve by way of a first conduit. The collection tank may have a second conduit and valve system for delivering the collected warm up water that may be used for the toilet or other household water needs.
Referring now to
The showerhead diverter valve 20 will be manually switched to allow the user to divert cold “warm-up” water if present through the first conduit 16 to the tank 10. Once the tank is full, the valve is switched allowing water to flow out of the shower heard as normal.
Referring to
Referring to
Water will enter the toilet tank 14 either through the toilet flush handle hole, vent hole, or designated hole in the back of the toilet tank 14. The tank 10 can be filled each time the shower is used or not at all.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The recycling system 100 disclosed above may be provided. The present invention may come as a kit with parts and instructions. A user could read the instructions and easily install the kit in their bathroom, so they too can begin conserving water.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.