AU2011101271A4 - A water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head. The water saving device comprises a housing comprising an inlet connection and an outlet connection, and a valve supported within the housing which is configurable relative to the housing between an open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the outlet connection, and a closed configuration for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the outlet connection. The water saving device further comprises a valve actuating means in the form of a handle for controlling the disposition of the valve relative to the housing. The handle is configurable between a first position corresponding to the valve being in the open configuration and a second position corresponding to the valve being in the closed configuration. S - wO LO

Description

AUSTRALIA 5 Patents Act 1990 0 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT A WATER SAVING DEVICE ADAPTED FOR INSTALLATION BETWEEN A SHOWER WATER OUTLET AND A SHOWER HEAD -5 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of 20 performing it known to us: 1 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to water saving devices and in particular to a water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head. The invention has been developed primarily for use in shower assemblies and will be 5 described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use. Background of the Invention Water saving devices are becoming increasingly popular on account of worldwide concerns regarding the environment and the overuse of natural resources such as water. This is 0 particularly relevant in the case of showers, in which the temperature of the water is controlled using both hot and cold taps. Oftentimes, when showering, a user will move away from the flow of water in order to apply, for example, a body or hair product. In this case, the water continues to flow, which is particularly wasteful of both the water and the energy required to heat the water. If the user first stems the flow of water before applying body or 5 hair products, the user will need to restart the flow of water to wash the body or hair product off. This is particularly troublesome and wasteful while the user controls the hot and cold taps in order to establish a desired water temperature. The present invention seeks to provide a water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head, which will overcome or substantially 20 ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative. 2 It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. Summary of the Invention 5 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head, the water saving device comprising: - a housing comprising an inlet connection for attachment to the shower water outlet and an outlet connection for attachment to the shower head; 0 - a valve being supported within the housing, the valve being configurable relative to the housing between an open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the outlet connection, and a closed configuration for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the outlet connection; and 15 - a valve actuating means for controlling the disposition of the valve relative to the housing, the valve actuating means being a handle configurable between a first position corresponding to the valve being in the open configuration and a second position corresponding to the valve being in the closed configuration. 20 Advantageously, the water saving device can be retrofitted to existing shower assemblies to enable the user to control the flow of water through the shower rose. 3 Advantageously, the water flow through the shower rose can be temporarily halted while the user applies soap or shampoo to themselves, thereby reducing the consumption of water. Advantageously, the water flow through the shower rose can be temporarily halted while the user applies soap or shampoo to themselves, thereby reducing the consumption of power 5 required to heat the water. Advantageously, the valve actuating means being a handle ensures that a user can quickly and easily control the flow of water through the shower rose. Preferably, the handle is pivotable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position. 0 Advantageously, the handle being pivotable provides a simple means to transition the valve between the first and second positions. Advantageously, the handle being pivotable between the first and second positions enables a user to easily determine whether the water saving device is open or closed. Preferably, the handle comprises a lever. 15 Advantageously, the valve actuating means being a lever ensures that a user can quickly and easily control the flow of water through the shower rose. Preferably, the lever is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the housing when the lever is in the first position, and being substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing when the lever is in the second position. 4 Advantageously, the lever being substantially aligned relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing in the first position corresponds to the orientation of such levers on conventional valve assemblies when in the on position. Advantageously, the lever being substantially upright relative to the longitudinal axis of the 5 housing in the second position corresponds to the orientation of such levers on conventional valve assemblies when in the off position. Preferably, the handle comprises a wheel. Advantageously, the valve actuating means being a wheel ensures that a user can quickly and easily control the flow of water through the shower rose. 0 Preferably, the wheel comprises marking thereon, the wheel marking being at a first predetermined position relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing when the wheel is in the first position and at a second predetermined position relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing when the wheel is in the second position. Advantageously, the wheel marking being rotated to the first predetermined position relative 15 to the longitudinal axis of the housing in the first position corresponds to the same direction of rotation of such wheels or taps on conventional valve assemblies when placing them in the on position. Advantageously, the wheel marking being rotated to the second predetermined position relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing in the second position corresponds to the 20 same direction of rotation of such wheels or taps on conventional valve assemblies when placing them in the off position. 5 Preferably, the housing further comprises a valve seat for receiving the valve therein. Preferably, the valve seat is located between the inlet and outlet connections. Preferably, the valve is rotatable relative to the valve seat between the open and closed configurations. 5 Advantageously, the valve being rotatable means that it can be quickly and easily transitioned between the open and closed configurations. Preferably, the valve seat comprises first and second seat portions located spaced apart between the inlet and outlet connections. Preferably, the first and second seat portions each comprise an aperture for allowing fluid 0 communication therethrough. Preferably, the valve comprises a valve aperture, the valve aperture and the first and second seat portion apertures being aligned when the valve is in the open configuration. Preferably, the handle is located externally of the housing, Advantageously, the handle being located externally of the housing ensures that it is readily 15 accessible by a user. Preferably, the handle is connected to the valve via a pin passing through the housing. Advantageously, the handle being connected directly to the valve via the pin provides a simple and effective means for transitioning the valve between the open and closed configurations. 20 Preferably, the valve is a quarter-turn valve. 6 Preferably, the inlet connection is a threaded connection. Advantageously, the water saving device can be connected to the outlet connection of an existing shower assembly simply by threadingly engaging the existing threading on the shower water outlet. 5 Preferably, the outlet connection is a threaded connection. Advantageously, the water saving device can be connected to the shower head of an existing shower assembly simply by threadingly engaging the existing threading on the shower arm of the shower head. Preferably, the water saving device further comprises a shower head having a 0 complementary threaded inlet portion for threadingly engaging the threaded outlet connection in use. Advantageously, the water saving device can be combined with a shower head and connected to a new or existing shower water outlet. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower head 15 assembly comprising a shower head having a threaded inlet portion and the water saving device as claimed in any one of the preceding paragraphs, wherein the threaded outlet connection of the water saving device is threadingly engaged to the threaded inlet portion of the shower head. Advantageously, the water saving device can be combined with a shower head for simple 20 connection to a new or existing shower water outlet. 7 According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower head comprising: - a shower rose and a shower arm having an inlet connection; - a valve being supported within the shower arm, the valve being configurable relative 5 to the shower arm between an open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the shower rose, and a closed configuration for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the shower rose; and - a valve actuating means for controlling the disposition of the valve relative to the 0 shower arm, the valve actuating means being a handle configurable between a first position corresponding to the valve being in the open configuration and a second position corresponding to the valve being in the closed configuration. Advantageously, the water saving device can be pre-installed within the shower head for simple connection to a new or existing shower water outlet. 5 Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 20 Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 8 Fig. 2 is a part cross sectional view of the water saving device of Fig. 1 rotated by 90 degrees in a direction toward the page; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head in accordance with another preferred 5 embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the water saving device of Fig. 1 installed into an existing shower assembly (shown in dashed outline); Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the water saving device of Fig. 3 installed into an existing shower assembly (shown in dashed outline); 0 Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the water saving device of Fig. 3 installed into another existing shower assembly (shown in dashed outline); and Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the water saving device of Fig. 3 installed into another existing shower head assembly (shown in dashed outline). Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments 5 It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features. Fig. 1 shows a water saving device 10 for installation into an existing shower assembly to control a flow of water therethrough. The water saving device 10 comprises a hollow housing 20 having an elongated generally cylindrical wall 30, a first end 40 and a second end 50. 20 The first end 40 comprises an inlet connection 45 and the second end 50 comprises an outlet connection 55. The inlet connection 45 comprises a conventional hexagonal head 9 portion 47 lined with an internal threaded portion (not shown). The outlet connection 55 of the water saving device 10 comprises an external threaded portion 57. As shown in Fig. 2, the water saving device 10 further comprises a valve 60 being supported within the internal bore of the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20. The valve 60 is a typical 5 ball valve which comprises a substantially spherical ball 65 being of a suitable diameter corresponding to the internal bore of the cylindrical wall 30. The ball 65 comprises a valve aperture 65a that extends through the centre of the ball 65. The valve aperture 65a has a diameter that is large enough to allow flow of water therethrough in use. In this embodiment, the ball valve 60 is a quarter-turn valve. 0 The housing 20 comprises a valve seat in the form of two substantially circular seat portions 70, 75 that are fixed within the internal bore of the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20 between the inlet connection 45 and the outlet connection 55. The first seat portion 70 and the second seat portion 75 are spaced apart from each other within the cylindrical wall 30 with the first seat portion 70 being located on the inlet connection side of the ball 65 and the 5 second seat portion 75 being located on the outlet connection side. The first seat portion 70 and the second seat portion 75 each comprise an aperture 70a, 75a through their respective centres. The apertures 70a and 75a are generally larger in diameter than the valve aperture 65a through the ball 65. When mounted in the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20, the first seat portion 70 and the second seat portion 75 are oriented substantially perpendicular to 20 the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall 30 with their respective apertures 75a and 75a being aligned with the inlet connection 45 and the outlet connection 55. The valve 60 is configurable between an open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection 45 and the outlet connection 55, and a closed configuration as 10 shown in Figure 2 for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection 45 and the outlet connection 55. The water saving device 10 comprises a hand operated valve actuating means in the form of a lever 80 for controlling the disposition of the valve 60 relative to the housing 20. The lever 5 80 is located externally of the housing 20. The lever 80 is a generally elongate arm comprising a first end 82 and a second end 84 with an aperture 82a located at the first end 82. The lever 80 is directly connected to the ball 65 of the valve 60 by virtue of a pin 100 passing through the aperture 82a in the lever 80 and further extending through an aperture 30a in the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20. The second end 84 of the lever 80 0 corresponds to the part of the lever 80 that provides the leverage to enable a user to operate the lever 80 in use. As shown in Fig. 1, the lever 80 is rotatable relative to the housing 20 by virtue of the pin 100 rotating within aperture 30a between a first position ("OPEN", shown in dashed outline), where the lever 80 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall 30 5 of the housing 20, and a second position ("CLOSED"), where the lever 80 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20. By virtue of the direct connection between the lever 80 and the ball 65 of the valve 60, the ball 60 is rotatable relative to the first and second seat portions 70 and 75 of the valve seat between the open and closed configurations when a manual force is applied to the lever 80 generally 20 at the second end 84 of the lever 80 to transition the lever 80 between the first position and the second position, respectively. In use, when the lever 80 is rotated to the second position, such that the valve 60 is in the closed configuration, the valve aperture 65a is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal 11 axis of the housing 20 such that the valve aperture 65a and the first and second seat portion apertures 70a and 75a, respectively, are no longer aligned, thereby preventing water from flowing through the water saving device 10. Conversely, when the lever 80 is rotated to the first position, such that the valve 60 is in the open configuration, the valve aperture 65a is 5 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 20. The valve aperture 65a and the first and second seat portion apertures 70a and 75a, respectively, are substantially aligned when the valve 60 is in the open configuration, thereby allowing water to flow through the water saving device 10. When the lever 80 is rotated to the second position such that the flow of water is stemmed, 0 the user is able to apply soap or shampoo to themselves while conserving not only water, but also energy. This is particular relevant in situations where the water saving device 10 has been installed in an shower assembly that requires manual adjustment of separate hot and cold water taps to achieve a blend of hot and cold water of a desired temperature for showering, by simply turning the lever 80 to the second position, stems the flow of shower 5 water and preserves the settings of the hot and cold water taps, such that when the lever 80 is rotated back to the first position to resume the flow of shower water, the temperature of the shower water is still at the desired temperature, thereby eliminating the need to readjust the hot and cold water taps and wasting valuable water and energy resources. The position of the lever 80 relative to the housing 20 provides a useful indication as to the 20 position of the valve 60 in the housing 20. This is useful in situations where the water supply to the shower assembly is off at the hot and cold taps, and the user is unclear whether turning the hot and cold taps on will result in water flowing instantly from the shower assembly or whether it will be stemmed by the water saving device 10. 12 Fig. 3 shows a water saving device 200 according to another preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the water saving device 200 is constructed in the same way as the water saving device 10 described above, but where the hand operated valve actuating means is a wheel 210 for controlling the disposition of the valve 60 relative to the housing 20 as 5 opposed to a lever. In this arrangement, the wheel 210 is also located externally of the housing 20 and is oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 20. The wheel 210 comprises a generally circular rim 220 and spokes 230, 235 disposed generally perpendicular to each other and extending across the rim 220. The two spokes 230 and 235 intercross each other at the centre of the wheel 210 at which is located an 0 aperture 240. The wheel 210 is directly connected to the ball 65 of the valve 60 by virtue of the pin 100 passing through the aperture 240 of the wheel 210 and then further extending through the aperture 30a in the wall 30 of the housing 20 to the ball 65. The wheel 210 is rotatable relative to the housing 20 by virtue of the pin 100 rotating within aperture 30a. The wheel 210 is rotatable between the first position ("OPEN"), such that the valve 60 is in the 5 open configuration, and the second position ("CLOSED"), such that the valve 60 is in the closed configuration. In this embodiment, the wheel 210 comprises a wheel marking (not shown) on the rim 220 or one of the spokes 230, 240 which may be a visual mark (not shown), a notch or indent (not shown), or a protrusion (not shown), so that a user can ascertain the position of the marking, 20 notch or protrusion relative to the housing 20 to aid the user in determining if the wheel 210 is in the first or second position. The wheel marking is transitioned between a first predetermined position, corresponding to the wheel 210 being in the first position, and a second predetermined position, corresponding to the wheel 210 being in the second position. In this embodiment, as the wheel 210 is rotated to the first position, the wheel 13 marking is transitioned to the first predetermined position, at which the wheel marking is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20, and as the wheel 210 is rotated to the second position, the wheel marking is transitioned to the second predetermined position, at which the wheel marking is substantially 5 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall 30 of the housing 20. In the preferred embodiments described above, the water saving devices 10, 200 are manufactured from a suitable metal such as brass. It will be appreciated that the use of washers (not shown) and/or seals such as o-rings (not shown) may be used when connecting the inlet connection 45 and the outlet connection 55 to corresponding parts of the 0 shower assembly. Fig. 4 shows the water saving device 10 described above retrofitted to an existing shower assembly 300. The shower assembly 300 comprises a shower head 310 mounted to a shower water outlet 320, corresponding to the outlet connected to the water supply of the shower installation. The shower head 310 comprises a shower rose 316 and a hollow 5 shower arm 315 extending from the shower rose 316 and terminating at a first end 317 located distal to the shower rose 316. The shower water outlet 320 comprises a base 325 mounted to the wall (not shown) of the shower assembly 300 and an outlet arm 330 extending outwardly from the base 325. The first end 317 comprises an inlet connection (not shown) and the outlet arm 330 comprises at an end distal to the base 320 an outlet 20 connection (not shown). Typically, the inlet connection and the outlet connection are threaded with complementary threads to enable the shower head 310 to be mounted to the outlet arm 330 via threaded engagement between the inlet connection and the outlet connection. By simply unscrewing 14 the shower head 310 from the outlet arm 330, the water saving device 10 can be retrofitted to the shower assembly 300 by relying on threaded engagement between the inlet connection at the first end 317 of the shower head 310 threadingly engaging the externally threaded portion 57 of the outlet connection 55 of the water saving device 10, and the outlet 5 connection of the outlet arm 330 threadingly engaging the internally threaded portion (not shown) of the inlet connection 45 of the water saving device 10. It will be appreciated that once connected to the shower assembly 300, the water saving device 10 will be sufficiently robust to withstand the water pressure at the shower water outlet 320 when the lever 80 is in the second position. 0 Referring specifically to Fig. 5, the water saving device 200 is retrofitted to an existing shower assembly 400 in the same manner as described for shower assembly 300 in Fig. 4. Referring specifically to Fig. 6, the water saving device 200 is retrofitted to an existing shower assembly 500 in the same manner as described for shower assembly 300 in Fig. 4. However, in shower assembly 500, the shower arm 515 comprises three arm portions 515a, 5 515b and 515c; the first arm portion 515a extending outwardly from the shower rose 516 and being hingedly joined to the second arm portion 515b at joint 535, and the second arm portion 515b being hingedly joined to the third arm portion 515c at joint 537. The third arm portion 515c terminates at the first end 517 of the shower arm 515 which comprises the inlet connection (not shown) for threadingly engaging the outlet connection at the end of the 20 outlet arm 530. The water saving device 200 is simply installed within the shower assembly 500 by uncoupling the inlet connection at the first end 517 from the outlet connection at the outlet arm 530 and then using these existing inlet and outlet connections to threadingly 15 engage the externally threaded portion 57 of the outlet connection 55 and the internally threaded portion of the inlet connection 45, respectively, of the water saving device 200. Referring specifically to Fig. 7, the water saving device 200 is retrofitted to an existing shower assembly 600 in the same manner as described for shower assembly 300 in Fig. 4. 5 However, in shower assembly 600, the shower arm is replaced by a flexible shower head 610. The flexible shower head 610 comprises a shower rose 630 and a hollow shower hose 640 extending outwardly from the shower rose 630. In this arrangement, the shower hose 640 terminates at a first end 645 located distal to the shower rose 630, which comprises the inlet connection (not shown) for threadingly engaging the outlet connection at the end of the 0 outlet arm 630. The water saving device 200 is simply installed within the shower assembly 600 by uncoupling the inlet connection at the first end 645 from the outlet connection at the outlet arm 630 and then using these existing inlet and outlet connections to threadingly engage the externally threaded portion 57 of the outlet connection 55 and the internally threaded portion of the inlet connection 45, respectively, of the water saving device 200. 5 It will be appreciated that in the case of shower assemblies 500 (see Fig. 6) and 600 (see Fig. 7), the water saving device 200 is ideally installed close to the corresponding shower water outlet 520, 620 to avoid a build-up or pressure at the joints 535 and 537 (see Fig. 6) or at the shower hose 640 (see Fig. 7). In other embodiments, it will be appreciated that the inlet connection 45 is not limited to 20 having an internally threaded portion and the outlet connection 55 is not limited to having an externally threaded portion 57 as described above, and that the water saving devices 10 and 200 may be configured with inlet 45 and outlet 55 connections in which the threading is the reverse. 16 In other embodiments, the water saving devices 10 and 200 may be provided by manufacturers complete with the shower head (not shown) as a set. In this arrangement, the water saving device (not shown) having the threaded outlet connection can be threadingly engaged to the threaded inlet portion of the shower head and the combined water saving 5 shower head assembly can be mounted directly to an existing shower water outlet of the shower installation. In other embodiments, a shower head (not shown) is provided which is similar to any of the shower heads 310, 410, 510, 610 described above, namely that it comprises a shower rose and a shower arm extending from the shower rose. Similarly, the shower arm has an inlet 0 connection located distal to the shower rose for connecting the shower head to the shower water outlet of an existing shower installation. However, in this embodiment, the shower arm comprises a valve, which is similar to the valve 60 employed in the water saving devices 10 and 200 described above, which is supported within the shower arm. The valve in this embodiment is configurable relative to the shower arm between the open configuration for 5 allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection of the shower arm and the shower rose, and the closed configuration for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the shower rose. The shower arm further comprises a handle similar to the lever 80 or wheel 210 as described above for the corresponding water saving devices 10 and 200, which is located externally of the shower arm and pivotably connected to the valve 20 within the shower arm by virtue of a pin extending through the wall of the hollow shower arm. Like the lever 80 and the wheel 210 described above, the handle in this embodiment controls the disposition of the valve relative to the shower arm between the first position, corresponding to the valve being in the open configuration, and the second position, corresponding to the valve being in the closed configuration. 17 In this arrangement, the water saving device is essentially supplied pre-installed within the shower head for simple connection to a new or existing shower water outlet. Interpretation Embodiments: 5 Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. 0 Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single 5 embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing 20 disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. 18 Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed 5 embodiments can be used in any combination. Specific Details In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been 0 shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description. Terminology In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific 5 term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Comprising and Including 20 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, 19 i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but 5 not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising. Scope of Invention Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim 0 all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention. 5 Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. Industrial Applicability It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the 20 plumbing industry 20

Claims (20)

1. A water saving device adapted for installation between a shower water outlet and a shower head, the water saving device comprising: 5 - a housing comprising an inlet connection for attachment to the shower water outlet and an outlet connection for attachment to the shower head; - a valve being supported within the housing, the valve being configurable relative to the housing between an open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the outlet connection, and a 0 closed configuration for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the outlet connection; and - a valve actuating means for controlling the disposition of the valve relative to the housing, the valve actuating means being a handle configurable between a first position corresponding to the valve being in the open configuration and 15 a second position corresponding to the valve being in the closed configuration.

2. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position.

3. A water saving device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a lever. 20

4. A water saving device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lever is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the housing when the lever is in the first position, and being 21 substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing when the lever is in the second position.

5. A water saving device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a wheel.

6. A water saving device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wheel comprises marking 5 thereon, the wheel marking being at a first predetermined position relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing when the wheel is in the first position, and at a second predetermined position relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing when the wheel is in the second position.

7. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a 0 valve seat for receiving the valve therein.

8. A water saving device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve seat is located between the inlet and outlet connections.

9. A water saving device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve is rotatable relative to the valve seat between the open and closed configurations. 15

10. A water saving device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve seat comprises first and second seat portions located spaced apart between the inlet and outlet connections.

11. A water saving device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second seat portions each comprise an aperture for allowing fluid communication therethrough. 22

12. A water saving device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the valve comprises a valve aperture, the valve aperture and the first and second seat portion apertures being aligned when the valve is in the open configuration.

13. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is located externally 5 of the housing.

14. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is connected to the valve via a pin passing through the housing.

15. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve is a quarter-turn valve. 0

16. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet connection is a threaded connection.

17. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet connection is a threaded connection.

18. A water saving device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a shower head 15 having a complementary threaded inlet portion for threadingly engaging the threaded outlet connection in use.

19. A shower head assembly comprising a shower head having a threaded inlet portion and the water saving device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the threaded outlet connection of the water saving device is threadingly engaged to the threaded inlet 20 portion of the shower head.

20. A shower head comprising: 23 - a shower rose and a shower arm having an inlet connection; - a valve being supported within the shower arm, the valve being configurable relative to the shower arm between an open configuration for allowing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the shower rose, and a 5 closed configuration for preventing fluid communication between the inlet connection and the shower rose; and - a valve actuating means for controlling the disposition of the valve relative to the arm, the valve actuating means being a handle configurable between a first position corresponding to the valve being in the open configuration and a 0 second position corresponding to the valve being in the closed configuration. 24