AU2008100536A4 - A water-saving device - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 Complete Specification Invention Title: A WATER-SAVING DEVICE The following statement describes the invention fully, including the best method known to the applicant of performing the invention: co00 TITLE OF THE INVENTION

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0 A Water-Saving Device FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a water-saving device. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a water-saving device for use with a water Nreceptacle such as a tub or basin.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 10 In many areas of the world the need to save water has become a primary concern. This is particularly so in the First World where many households consume excessive quantities of water.

Bathtubs, washtubs, basins and the like are often a source of significant water wastage. The reason for this is that such items often have a capacity which is greater than that necessary for the task for which they are required. For example, with a bathtub, it is necessary to have a certain depth of water to bathe conveniently. However, it is often not necessary to use the whole length of the bathtub. An example would be where the bathtub is used to bathe an infant or young child.

The same applies to washtubs or basins, where depth is required to cover an article to be washed, but a whole floor area of the washtub or basin is not required.

At present, there are dividers available that can be used to divide a bathtub to reduce the amount of water used. However, they usually have to be fabricated to fit a particular tub or basin. Also, they can require some manipulation and adjustment, which can be inconvenient, thus reducing the likelihood of them being used on a daily basis.

00 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 According to the invention, there is provided a water-saving device that includes San outer wall of a flexible, substantially fluid-impervious material, the outer wall capable of containing a volume of fluid; and _a weight-imparting means arranged on the outer wall, the weight-imparting means configured to displace said volume so that, when the water-saving device 10 is placed in a receptacle, the outer wall conforms to an inner surface of the n receptacle.

00 Thus, the water-saving device of this invention is positionable in the receptacle Swith little manipulation and adjustment. In position, the device can either occupy a volume or divide the receptacle, to reduce the amount of water required in the receptacle to achieve a desired depth.

Most water-containing receptacles have a smooth water-impervious inner surface. Examples are domestic tubs or basins. Thus, the outer wall may be of a material selected to bear against an inner surface of a receptacle in the form of a domestic tub or basin in a sealing manner. In particular, the material may be a polymer or plastics material. In one example, the material may be an elastomeric material. In another example, the material may be a mould resistant material, such as that used for spas, swimming pools and the like.

The weight-imparting means may include at least one inner wall fast with the outer wall to define at least one compartment. The, or each, compartment may contain a substance of higher density than the fluid contained by the outer wall.

The volume of fluid contained by the outer wall may be air. The, or each, compartment may contain fluid in the form of water, sand, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the weight-imparting means includes two inner walls fast with the outer wall to define two compartments. The two compartments 00 5 defined in such a manner may be in opposite positions on the outer wall with

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Orespect to each other.

The outer wall may incorporate means for pumping or inserting air into, and evacuating or removing air from, a volume defined by the outer wall and for filling the compartments with weight-imparting material, such as sand or water and IN evacuating said weight-imparting material from the compartments.

_The outer wall may be generally spherical in shape. The outer wall may define at 00 least one truncated portion interposed between the compartments. In particular, the outer wall may define a truncated portion orthogonally oriented with respect to the compartments.

The device may include attachment means for releasably attaching the outer wall to the receptacle. The attachment means may include suction cups for attaching the outer wall to the inner surface of the receptacle.

The invention is now described, with reference to the drawings. The following description should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding paragraphs or the appended claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment, in accordance with the invention, of a water-saving device, in a functional position.

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the water-saving device in a condition that illustrates a shape of the water-saving device.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the water-saving device in a functional condition.

00 O 5 Figure 4 shows a front view of the water-saving device in the illustrative g condition.

Figure 5 shows a side sectional view of the water-saving device in the illustrative condition.

O SFigure 6 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the water-saving Sdevice.

00oO SFigure 7 shows the water-saving device of Figure 6 in a functional position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an embodiment, in accordance with the invention, of a water-saving device.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the water-saving device 10 is intended to be placed in a receptacle. In this example, the receptacle is a tub, such as a bath- or washtub. More particularly, the receptacle is a bathtub 12. However, it is to be appreciated that the receptacle can be any number of different articles for containing water.

The device 10 includes an outer wall 14 of a flexible, substantially fluidimpervious material. The material of the outer wall 14 is selected to bear against an inner surface 16 of the bathtub 12 in a sealing manner. In particular, the material may be a plastics material. More particularly, the material may be an elastomeric material. In this particular example, the material can be selected to have suitable hygienic properties for domestic use. One example of a suitable material would be polyurethane. The material is also typically an anti-mould type material such as that used in swimming pool or spa linings, or the like.

OO 5 The device 10 includes a weight-imparting means in the form of a pair of

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Sopposed inner walls 18. The inner walls 18 are positioned to define a pair of opposed compartments 20. Thus, the outer wall 14 and the inner walls 18 together define a volume 22 interposed between the compartments The compartments 20 can be filled with water or some other weight-imparting Imaterial such as sand. A pair of ports 24, one for each compartment 20, is arranged on the outer wall to facilitate the filling of the compartments 20 with the _weight-imparting material and the evacuation of the compartments 00

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The volume 22 can be partially inflated. A valve assembly 26 is arranged on the outer wall 14 for that purpose and also for deflating the volume 22.

Thus, with the compartments 20 evacuated and the volume 22 deflated, the device 10 can be collapsed for storage or transport.

In use, the device 10 is placed in the bathtub 12. As shown in Figure 1, the device 10 is positioned to occupy an end portion of the bathtub 12. However, it will be appreciated that the device 10 can also be positioned to divide the bathtub 12.

The device 10 can be positioned so that one of the compartments 20 bears against a floor 28 of the bathtub 12, while the opposite compartment 20 bears down towards the floor 28. As a result, the outer wall 14 tends to assume the profile shown in Figure 3 and conforms to a profile of the inner surface 16 of the bathtub 12. This is facilitated by a number of factors. Firstly, the volume 22 is only partially inflated, allowing the outer wall to assume the conforming profile.

Secondly, the weighted compartments 22 result in the outer wall 14 applying a suitable amount of pressure on the inner surface 16. Thirdly, the selection of the material of the outer wall 14 provides a sealed interface between the inner surface 16 and the outer wall 14.

o00 5 The outer wall 14 is dimensioned so that when the device 10 is positioned in the

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0 bathtub 12, it can occupy a portion of the bathtub 12. Thus, when water 34 is

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supplied into the bathtub 12, it reaches a depth suitable for bathing without having to occupy that volume occupied by the device 10. It will be appreciated _that the device 10 can be provided in a variety of different sizes to suit differently sized receptacles or to occupy different volumes in the receptacles.

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The outer wall 14 is generally spherical when fully inflated, as can be seen in the _drawings. The outer wall 14 defines a truncated portion 30 interposed between 00 the compartments 20. The truncated portion 30 has a generally flat surface 32.

The truncated portion 30 can serve two purposes. Firstly, it serves to brace the outer wall 14 in its functional condition. Secondly, it can serve as a back rest for a person using the bathtub 12. This can be particularly useful when using it as a backrest for a child or an infirm or disabled adult.

It will be appreciated that the device 10 can be configured to provide an entertaining distraction for a child. For example, the outer and inner walls can be transparent. Then, using water for the weight-imparting means, colourful items can be placed in the water, such as artificial fish and aquatic life.

In one embodiment, the truncated portion 30 can define an uneven surface, such as a dimpled or ridged surface. Such a surface would enhance the safety of the device Still further, in another embodiment, substantially the entire outer wall 14 defines an uneven surface, still resilient enough to seal against the inner surface 16 of the bathtub 12. In that configuration, the uneven surface is such that slipping of the device 10 relative to the inner surface 16 or the user is inhibited.

It will be appreciated that the invention can cover other embodiments apart from those described above. For example, the weight-imparting means could include a 00 S 5 single inner wall to form just one compartment. In another example, the weightimparting means could be some component of a suitable weight for fastening to C an external surface of the outer wall.

IDA further embodiment of a water-saving device, in accordance with the invention t' 10 is indicated with reference numeral 40 in Figure 6 and 7. With reference to SFigures 1 to 5, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise 0specified.

(0 SIn this embodiment, the outer wall 14 is comprised of panels 42 suitably attached, e.g. via fluid-impervious adhesion, stitching, or the like. This typically simplifies manufacturing of the device 10. The compartment 20 is also formed from suitable panels, as shown, to enclose the volume 22.

Figure 7 shows the device 40 placed into the bathtub 12 with water in compartment 20 acting as the weight-imparting means. With the compartment filled with water, the compartment presses down into the volume 22 to expand the outer wall 14 to engage with the inner surface 16 of the bathtub 12, as shown, in a sealed manner.

Furthermore, the panels 42 are configured so that, when the device 40 is placed in the bath, the panels 42 can be oriented with one of the panels 42 facing into the bath, while an opposed panel 42 in which the valve assembly 26 is mounted faces towards the back of the bath. Thus, one of the panels 42 can form a rest support for a user, while the valve assembly 26 is positioned against a back of the bath.

The device 40 also includes attachment means in the form of suction cups 38 for releasably attaching the outer wall 14 to the inner surface 16 of bathtub 12. The device 10 also includes handles 36 to assist in manoeuvring the device 10 into and out of the tub 12. As above, this embodiment also includes a filling port 24 00 U for the compartment 20 along with a valve assembly 26 for filling the outer wall ;14 with air.

A particular advantage of the device 10, 40 is that it can easily be positioned in a receptacle with very little adjustment or manipulation. As a result it is likely to be M' 10 used more often than a device that requires some adjustment or manipulation.

SFurthermore, the device 10, 40 can enhance the comfort experienced by a user or provide entertainment for a child.

(0 N Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A water-saving device that includes: an outer wall of a flexible, substantially fluid-impervious material, the outer wall capable of containing a volume of fluid; and Sa weight-imparting means arranged on the outer wall, the weight-imparting Smeans configured to displace said volume so that, when the water-saving device is placed in a receptacle, the outer wall conforms to an inner surface of the 00oO receptacle.

2. The water-saving device of claim 1, wherein the outer wall is of a polymer material selected to bear against an inner surface of the receptacle in a sealing manner.

3. The water-saving device of either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the weight- imparting means includes at least one inner wall fast with the outer wall to define at least one compartment on the outer wall, the outer wall including means for filling the compartment with weight-imparting material and evacuating said weight-imparting material from the compartment.

4. The water-saving device of any one of claims 1 to 3, which includes attachment means for attaching the outer wall to the receptacle in a releasable manner. A water-saving device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.