GB2356687A

GB2356687A - Water saving device

Info

Publication number: GB2356687A
Application number: GB9922324A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Smith; Simon Cartwright
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-22
Filing date: 1999-09-22
Publication date: 2001-05-30
Also published as: GB9922324D0

Description

2356687 WATER SAVU;G DEVICE The present invention relates to a water

saving device in particular a device for temporarily restricting water flow from the main supply through an extension hose without the need for tampering with the mains supply.

In recent years much research has gone into methods of water conservation. Efforts have been directed towards preventing leakage in mains supply systems, reducing the quantities of water used to flush lavatories, development of water efficient washing machines and the use of shower and sprinkler systems to spread water more efficiently than can be done with a full flowing tap or pipe.

It is often desirable to use an extension hose to carry water from the mains supply to a remote location. For example to carry the mains to a shower head or the like. One problem with the use of these extension hoses is that the user is directing the flow remotely from the tap which supplies the mains water. Thus, in order to stop the flow for any reason the user must return to the mains tap to which the hose is connected and cut off his supply at that point. This can be particularly disadvantageous where it is desirable to restrict the flow of water without necessarily changing the pressure or temperature of the water supply.

One particular instance where this becomes a problem is in the use of hand-held shower attachments for the shampooing of hair. Typically, a person will wet the hair using the shower attachment and then turn off the water supply or put the shower attachment into a basin to enable both hands to be used in shampooing the hair. Once the hair is lathered, the water supply is then switched on again and the hair rinsed. Inconvenience arises in adjusting the hot and cold taps to achieve an acceptable water temperature ftom the shower head. Whilst the shower head may be put aside in a 2 basin, this wastes water somewhat unnecessarily and may also result in soaking of floors, walls or other surroundings undesirably.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a water saving device for use with shower hoses comprising a water inlet and a water outlet, means for connecting the device at a position in the water mains flow between the main supply tap and the distal end of the hose, single touch means for activating flow of water through the device and single touch means for restricting flow of water through the device, the one touch means being operable independently of the mains water tap.

Optionally the device may be connectable between the mains tap and the shower hose. Alternatively the device may be connectable to the distal end of the hose. For example when used with the shower attachment, the device may be connectable between the shower hose and the shower head. It is equally possible for the device to be attachable at some point along the length of the hose.

The device may be fixed by mechanical means such as via a screw thread arrangement or a gripping device or by friction fit. Preferably any connecting means will comprise a water-tight seal. Conveniently the one touch device is provided in the form of a button located on the surface of the device which when depressed initiates the opening or closing of a barrier between the water inlet and water outlet of the device so as to restrict water flow through the device. In one particularly simple arrangement the button may form an extension of a barrier, a depression of the button effectively pushing the barrier into the closed or open position as desired.

Desirably the single touch means and barrier will comprise a single part.

As an optional feature the device may ftirther comprise a reservoir for collecting and storing water when the device is in the flow restriction configuration. Also, optionally the device may comprise some form of indicator to indicate that the device has been left in the flow restriction configuration while the main supply is still flowing.

3 For the purposes of exemplification an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures in which:

Figure I illustrates a top view of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the device in Figure I and Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section end view of the device of Figure 1.

From the Figures it can be seen that one embodiment of the device comprises a water-tight housing 1 having a water inlet 2 and a water outlet 3. Inside the water tight housing is a cavity 4 which connects the water inlet 2 to the water outlet 3. Positioned between the water inlet and the water outlet and passing through the housing 1, at an angle to the direction of the water flow is a plunger device 5. The plunger device 5 is arranged to protrude at two points from the housing 1 and is provided with an orifice 6 which, when the device is in the open position communicates with the cavity 4 to allow water flow between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3. Water flow can be temporarily restricted by pushing the plunger 5 in an upwards or downwards direction so as to shift the orifice 6 out of the cavity 4 and so block the cavity 4 by a solid part of the plunger 5.

The water inlet 2 and outlet 3 are connectable, in this case to a standard shower hose arrangement by means of screw threads 7a, 7b which mate with mating threads on the hose connector, shower head or tap fitting (not shown). The device is made more water-tight by the provision of waterproof seals 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. When it is desired to allow the water to flow again, the user must simply shift the plunger in a reverse direction realigning the orifice 6 with the cavity 4 and water will again flow through the device.

The device may be provided in any suitable material which is waterproof and corrosion resistant if in a watery environment. Whilst the embodiment shown is particularly simplistic and has the advantages of being relatively cheap and simple to 4 manufacture, it will be understood that other more complex and technically involved embodiments may be envisaged without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A water saving device for use with shower hoses and the like comprises a water inlet and a water outlet, means for connecting the device at a position in the mains water flow between the mains supply tap and the distal end of the hose, one touch means for activating flow of water through the device and one touch means for restricting flow of water through the device, the one touch means being operable independently of the mains supply tap.

2. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is connectable between the mains tap and the shower hose.

3. A water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is connectable between the distal end of the hose and a shower head.

5. A water saving device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for connecting the device comprise screw threads mateable with screw threads provided in the shower hose attachment.

6. A water saving device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising water tight seals at some or all junctions.

7. A water saving device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein any one of the one touch means comprises a button provided on the surface of the device pressing of which initiates the opening or closing of a barrier between the water inlet and the water outlet.

8. A water outlet as claimed in claim 7 wherein the button forms an extension of the barrier.

9. A water saving device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein both the one 6 touch means are connected to an openable barrier positioned between the water inlet and the water outlet.

10. A water saving device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a reservoir for collecting and storing water when the device is in the flow restriction configuration.

11. A water saving device as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising means for indicating that the device is in the flow restriction configuration but the mains are still flowing.

12. A water saving device substantially as described herein.