US3465368A - Water diverter system - Google Patents

Description

P 1969 c. A. EVERSMAN 3,465,368

WATER DIVERTER SYSTEM Filed Jan. 30, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

fi/ENTOR.

CARL A. UERSF1AN B jl I PPH'ORUEVQ Sept. 1969 c. A. EVERSMAN WATER DIVERTER SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1967 INVENTOR.

CARL AEmmAN BY M;

QM'QZ. ATTOQ newt? United States Patent O 3,465,368 WATER DIVERTER SYSTEM Carl A. Eversman, 2943 Manchester Drive, Toledo, Ohio 43606 Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,653 Int. Cl. A47k 3/04 US. Cl. 4-148 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Water diverter system adapted for a bathtub installation wherein the termperature of the water outlet is adjusted at a location remote from the outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to a bathtub diverter and spray assembly for a bathroom installation wherein the primary plumbing is adequately concealed and which comprises a bathtub having a drain at one end thereof and an aperture formed in the upper portion of the other end thereof; a. primary water outlet nozzle unit having hot and cold water supply inlets and at least two outlets, and including a diverter and mixing valve for mixing the hot and cold water and selectively diverting the water from the inlets to one of the outlets; a shower outlet mounted at the other end of the bathtub; and a diverted valve means disposed in the elongate slotted aperture of the bathtub and providing selective communication between one of said outlets of the primary water outlet nozzle unit and the shower outlet.

Description of prior art It has been known in typical bathroom installations to provide for the adjustment of the temperature of water emitted from a shower or spray outlet initially through the primary tub outlet and then divert the flow of water to a shower outlet positioned substantially above the tub outlet. In such systems, when the water outlet is disposed in the same end of the tub as the temperaure controls, the operator must adjust the water temperature during temperature fluctuations in the area of discomfort. The new system makes possible for the operator to retreat from the area of discomfort, adjust the temperature of the water, and then return to the water when the desired temperature is obtained. Also, in the typical arrangements, the clear water flow enters the tub at the same end thereof as the drain and therefore requires manual manipulation to flow the dirty water against the flow of the incoming water, to the drain, and splashing clean water in all areas of the tub to remove clinging sediment. The present invention overcomes this problem.

SUMMARY The present invention relates generally to water diverter systems and more particularly to a bathtub diverter and spray assembly for bathroom installations which comprises a bathtub having a drain at the lower end thereof and an elongate slotted aperture formed in the other end thereof; a primary water outlet nozzle unit connected to 3,465,368 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 a source of hot and cold water supply through suitable inlets and at least two outlets, and said unit including a diverter and mixing valve for mixing the hot and cold water and selectively diverting the water from the inlets to one of the outlets; the shower outlet mounted at the other end of the bathtub; and a diverter valve means disposed in the elongate slotted aperture of the bathtub and providing selective communication between one of the outlets of the primary water outlet nozzle unit and the shower outlet.

It is an object of the invention to produce a bathtub diverter and spray assembly wherein the water temperature and/or volume may be controlled at a point remote from the zone in which the water emerges from a shower or spray.

Another object of the invention is to produce a bathtub diverter and spray assembly for a bathroom installation wherein the water emerging from the shower or spray outlet will be continuously caused to drain toward the drain outlet.

It is a further object of the invention to produce a bathtub diverter and spray assembly for a bathroom installation wherein the bathtub may be readily formed to accommodate the structural elements of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and advantages of the invention, as well as a complete understanding thereof, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bathroom installation embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the bathroom installation employing a bathtub structure embodying certain features of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the secondary diverter assembly showing the diverter in a position to cause the flow of water to the secondary spray outlet; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 3 showing the diverter in a position to cause a flow of water through the shower outlet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bathroom installation having a bathtub 10 provided with a conventional drain outlet 12 at the low point of the tub. A primary water outlet nozzle 14 of a diverter and mixing valve assembly 16 is suitably connected to the hot and cold water supply lines, not shown. The diverter and mixing valve assembly '16 may satisfactorily be of the type illustrated and described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 600,071 filed Dec. 8, 1966. The diverter and mixing valve assembly 16 has a secondary outlet connected to a line 18 which is typically disposed in concealed relation under the flange portion of the tub 10. It will be understood that the diverter and mixing valve 16 is of the type which can selectively cause the water to flow through the outlet nozzle 14; or alternatively, through the secondary outlet through the line 18. The volume and diversion of the water can be controlled through the axial movement of an actuator handle 20 of the valve assembly 16, while the temperature of the water is controlled by rotational movement of the actuator handle 20.

The other end of the line 18 is connected to a diverter and spray assembly 22 which is adapted to be received within an elongate aperture 24 formed in the flange portion of the tub at the end opposite that which contains the drain 12. The shape of the aperture 24 is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2. The tub diverter and spray assembly 22 comprises a hollow cylindrical main body portion 30 having a lateral inlet extension 32 provided with a threaded coupling 34 connecting the line 18 to the extension 32. The upper end of the main body portion 30 is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 36 which cooperates with the under surface of the flange of the tub adjacent the elongate aperture 24. Extending upwardly from the flange 36 is an externally threaded section 38. Positioned above the threaded section 38 is an upwardly extending portion having an O-ring seal 40 disposed in an appropriate annular groove formed therein. A threaded draw-down sleeve 42 fits on a threaded portion 38 and cooperates with the flange 36 to tightly retain the marginal edges ofthe aperture 24 to fixedly secure the main body portion 30 to the tub 10.

The opposite end of the main body portion 30 is internally threaded to receive and tightly retain a threaded coupling 44 which is connected to one end of an outlet line 46 which in turn communicates with a shower nozzle 48 mounted in the wall of the bathroom installation opposite to that containing the diverter and mixing valve 16, as shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be appreciated that the main body portion 30 and the associated lines 18 and 46 constitute a permanent plumbing installation and are typically set in place at the time of installation of the tub 12 and properly positioned relative to the aperture 24. The cooperation between the internally threaded draw-down sleeve 42 and the flange 36 will enable the main body portion 30 to be fastened to a bath tub made of a wide variety of gauges or thicknesses of material.

A top or cover unit having a main body cap 50 containing an internal chamber 52 is disposed on the main body portion 30 so that the O-ring 40 thereof produces a fluid-tight seal with the wall of the chamber 52. The outermost end of the chamber 52 is of an enlarged diameter to adequately receive the draw-down sleeve 42. To fixedly secure or fasten the main body cap 50 to the main body portion 30 there is provided a set screw 54 which is received within the threaded aperture in the wall of the cap 50. The innermost end of the set screw 54 is adapted to bear against the draw-down sleeve 42 to adequately retain the main body cap 50 in a fixed position. The drawdown sleeve 42 may be provided with an annular groove thereabout to positively receive the innermost end of the set screw 54. However, in most instances, the frictional engagement between the innermost end of the set screw 54 and the sleeve 42 is quite sufltcient to adequately retain the main body cap 50 in the desired fixed position.

A valve piston 56 is connected to the lower end of a stepped shaft 58 which extends through a hole 60 in the main body cap 50 having an O-ring shaft seal 62. The valve piston 56 may be formed of rubber or other resilient material to adequately seat with the lower end of the cylindrical interior portion of the main body portion 30 in one position. The outer end of the shaft 58 which extends through the main body cap 50 is connected to an actuator knob or handle 64 which is fixedly secured thereto by a hold-down screw 66.

The innermost end of the chamber 52 is provided with an outlet conduit 68 which extends through the body cap 50 to a threaded coupling 70 connected to one end of a flexible hose 72. The other end of the flexible hose 72 is connected to a spray head 74 having an actuating lever 76. When installing the diverter assembly, the loop of the hose 72 is inserted into the aperture 24 and when not in use remains suspended between the outside wall of the tub 10 and the adjacent wall of the bathroom installation.

In operation, if it is the desire of the operator to shower, the actuator handle 20 of the mixing and diverter assembly 16 is moved to its innermost position which will cause any water flowing through the assembly to be emitted from the nozzle 14. Then the handle 20 is rotated to affect the mixing of the hot and cold water to achieve the desired water temperature. When the desired temperature is reached, the operator pulls the actuator handle 20 outwardly without revolving or rotating the handle 20 thereby diverting the Water with the same temperature and volume into the line 18 and thence to the diverter spray assembly 22. In the event the actuator knob 64 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the water will be caused to flow through the inlet 32 through the hollow interior of the main body portion 30 to the chamber 52. From the chamber 52, the water passes to the spray head 72 through the conduit 68 and the flexible hose 72. When the actuating lever 76 of the spray head 74 is depressed, the water is emitted from the spray head. Among the obvious uses for the spray head 74 is to cleanse the interior of the tub 10 after the tub has been used for bathing or shower purposes. Since the spray head 74 is located at the remote end of the tub 10 from the drain 12, the water flow is continuously toward the drain 12 effectively creating a steady flow of water to the drain 12 to aid in removing the dirty soapy water.

To cause the water flowing in the line 18 to be emitted from the shower nozzle 48, the actuator knob 64 is moved upwardly unseating the valve piston 56 to a position shown in FIGURE 4. In the position of the assembly shown in FIGURE 4, the water flowing through the line 18 is diverted to flow to the shower nozzle 48 through the line 46. In the event the temperature of the water being emitted from the shower nozzle 48 becomes uncomfortably hot or cold, the operator may retreat from the zone of discomfort and adjust the temperature of the water by rotating the actuator handle 20 to atfect the desired water temperature greatly adding to the satisfaction and safety of the bathroom installation.

It will be appreciated from the above description that servicing of the moving parts of the diverter and spray assembly 22 may be readily accomplished by merely backing off the set screw 54 and removing the main body cap 50 without tampering with the primary plumbing.

According to the patent statutes, I have explained the principles and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment.

What I claim is:

1. A water diverter system for a bathroom installation comprising:

a bathtub having a flange along at least a portion of the upper marginal edge thereof and a drain at one end thereof and an aperture formed in the flange of the other end thereof;

a primary water outlet nozzle unit having hot and cold water supply inlets and at least two outlets, said unit including means for mixing the hot and cold water and selectively diverting the water from said inlets to one of said outlets;

a shower outlet mounted at the other end of the bahtub;

water conduit means concealed under the flange of said bathtub and providing communication between one of the outlets of said primary outlet nozzle unit and said shower outlet; and

a diverter valve means in said water conduit means and disposed in the aperture of said bathtub and providing selective communication between one of said out- 5 6 lets of said primary water outlet nozzle unit and References Cited sald UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. A Water dlverter system as defined 1n clalm 1 wherein said means for mixing the hot and cold water and 22771562 3/1942 4-448 selectively diverting the Water includes a diverter and 5 2,498,502 2/1950 OBnen 4-187 mixing valve assemb1y 3,182,336 5/1965 Greuter 4-148 3. A Water diverter system as definedin claim 1 wherein said diverter valve means includes a spray nozzle FOREIGN PATENTS connected thereto by a flexible hose which is normally ,3 ,509 3/1962 France. disposed in concealed relation under the flange of said b h b, PATRICK D. LAWSON, Pnmary =Exam1ncr

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