1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water mixing devices and more particularly pertains to a new water mixing device for mixing hot and cold water so that it dispenses from a shower or other spout in a more uniform manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of water mixing devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,456 describes a single lever mixing faucet. Another type of water mixing device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,246 having an electronic valve assembly for selectively mixing hot and cold water.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that better mixes water so that the temperature is uniform across the stream of water as it exits a spout.
The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that includes top wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly from the top wall. A bottom wall is removably attached to a bottom edge of the peripheral wall for selectively opening or closing the housing. An inlet is fluidly coupled to and extends through the peripheral wall. A nozzle portion of the inlet extends away from the peripheral wall. The nozzle portion is adapted for removably coupling with a water supply. The inlet is angled such that the inlet is directed away from a central area of the housing. A pour spout is fluidly coupled to the top wall. Water may enter the housing through the inlet such that the stirring assembly blends the water.
The invention is also found in a housing that includes a top wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly from the top wall. A bottom wall is removably attached to a bottom edge of the peripheral wall for selectively opening or closing the housing. An inlet is fluidly coupled to and extends through the peripheral wall. A nozzle portion of the inlet extends away from the peripheral wall. The nozzle portion is adapted for removably coupling with a water supply. The inlet is angled such that the inlet is directed away from a central area of the housing. A shower spout coupler is fluidly coupled to the top wall and extends upwardly therefrom. The shower spout coupler is threaded. Water may enter the housing through the inlet such that the stirring assembly blends the water.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
An inlet 20 is fluidly coupled to and extends through the peripheral wall 16. A nozzle portion 22 of the inlet 20 extends away from the peripheral wall 16. The nozzle portion 22 is adapted for removably coupling with a water supply. The nozzle portion 22 can be coupled to a conventional water supply pipe or a particular water supply having a threaded outlet 24. The water supply includes a cold water attachment 26 and a hot water attachment 28. In particular, it is preferred that the inlet 20 is attached to a water connection of a bathtub or shower. The inlet 20 is angled such that the inlet 20 is directed away from a central area of the housing 12. This causes water entering the housing 12 to move around the periphery of the housing 12 to better mix the water.
A pour spout 30 is fluidly coupled to the top wall 14. The pour spout 30 may be a conventionally shaped pour spout such as shown in
A stirring assembly 32 is mounted within the housing 12 for mixing water position within the housing 12. The stirring assembly 32 includes an upper support 34 that is mounted within the housing 12 and positioned adjacent to the top wall 14 and a lower support 36 that is mounted in the housing 12 and is positioned adjacent to the bottom wall 18. A post 38 extends between and is rotatably coupled to the upper 34 and lower 36 supports. A plurality of panels 40 is attached to the post 38 and extends away therefrom. The panels 40 may be solid or screen members. Each of the panels 40 is curved from the post 38 to an outer edge 42 of each of the panels 40. The plurality of panels 40 preferably includes a pair of panels 40 that are positioned generally opposite of each other. The bottom support 36 includes a mesh screen spaced from the bottom wall 18 and the top support 34 includes a water permeable plate. The mesh screen allows for heavy particles to fall to the bottom wall and the water permeable plate aids in filtering the water before it leaves through the pour spout 30.
In addition to the pour spout 30, or in place of the pour spout 30, is a shower spout coupler 44 that is fluidly coupled to the top wall 14 and extends upwardly therefrom. The shower spout coupler 44 is threaded. This allows for a conventional hose to be coupled to the shower spout coupler 44 so that the hose can deliver water from the housing 12 to a showerhead fluidly coupled to the hose.
A stopper assembly 46, or water diverter, is mounted in the pour spout 30 for selectively opening or closing the pour spout 30. The stopper assembly 46 is conventional of the type used in faucets to direct water from a bathtub spout to a shower spout. The stopper assembly 46 allows the user to determine if the water will flow outwardly of the pour spout 30 or the shower spout outlet 44.
In use, water is allowed to enter the housing 12 through the inlet 20. The flow of the water flows around the housing 12 which allows the cold and hot water to more fully mix. The mixing assembly 32 aids the mixing process. As the water flows out of either the pour spout 30 or the shower spout coupler 44, the water is of uniform temperature across either the pour spout 30 or the shower spout coupler 44.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
508584 | Stevens | Nov 1893 | A |
1156409 | Klein | Oct 1915 | A |
D72243 | Shore | Mar 1927 | S |
1636127 | Fickle | Jul 1927 | A |
3053277 | Bahrani | Sep 1962 | A |
3807453 | Dom et al. | Apr 1974 | A |
4609007 | Uhl | Sep 1986 | A |
4711392 | Kidouchi et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
6227246 | Hall et al. | May 2001 | B1 |