WO2006073425A1

WO2006073425A1 - Hand held shower head with filter replacing pre-alarm assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2006073425A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/013135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chao Fou Hsu
Original assignee: Chen, Chung, Chin
Priority date: 2005-01-06
Filing date: 2005-04-18
Publication date: 2006-07-13
Also published as: CN1836787B; CN1836787A; GB0712976D0; JP2008523949A; GB2435797A; KR100912738B1; KR20070086943A; CN101189055A; CN100574841C; DE112005003282T5; GB2435797B

Abstract

A hand held shower head (10) with a filter element (62) and filter replacing alarm assembly comprises a propeller wheel (56) with a magnetic induce signal emitter and signal receptor confronted each other as well as a digital display connected to the signal receptor. Thus, the contrivance generates pre-alarm upon the total quantity by accumulative flux of flowing water, passing through the filter embedded therein, reaching effective critical point, it can initiate alarms to remind the user to replace the filter assembly timely in order to ensure the water filtrated in good quality.

Description

Title

Hand Held Shower Head with Filter Replacing Pre-alarm Assembly

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand held shower head and filter assembly having a filter replacing alarm assembly. More particularly the shower head and filter assembly contains an annexation which generates an alarm to alert the user to replace the filter. The alarm system is based on upon measuring the total quantity of accumulative flux of flowing water passing through the filter embedded therein reaching the effective critical point. The alarm is initiated to remind the user to replace the filter assembly timely in order to ensure the filtered water is of good quality.

Background of the Invention

Tap water used in daily living may be full of pesticides, chemical constituents and various impurities owing to rivers being polluted by industrial and household waste water, garbage and livestock excretion caused by modern industrialization as well as a lack of environmental protection. Although water, for various uses has been purified in the waterworks by chlorinating, such water with some remaining chloride residuals, becomes harmful to the health of human beings. Thus, consumers often obtain their potable water from further purification equipment. Many households even have their own purification equipment installed at home on the shower to get better quality of bathing water. The principle herewith is to adsorb chemical constituents such as pesticides and various other impurities in the water by means of imbedded in line adsorbents such as activated carbon, metallic sulfite, high purity copper zinc formulations (redox) such as KDF®.

Presently, there are some conventional hand held shower heads containing filter assemblies such as products described in prior art patents such as US Patent Nos.4107046, 6016977 and 6270023. Though these products can filter the shower water efficiently to a degree, the filtering ability of the absorbent is finite and it will become ineffective at the critical point of the filter assembly. That is, the service life of the filter is finite and by operating for a certain period of time, depending on the specified maximum quantity of water filtrated by accumulated flux, the filter becomes ineffective. For example, if maximum quantity of water which can be effectively filtered by accumulated flux is 1500 gallons, this is the critical point of filter assembly after which it no longer filters properly. Once the filter assembly reaches this critical point, it will decay and deteriorated and then lose its filtrating function due to accumulated impurities in or on the absorbent. It can resume its filtrating ability only by replacing the used filter with a new filter. However, for the filters in the current marketplace, the label or tag attaching thereon and provided by vendors only specifies its critical point (or service life) in terms of the quantity of water in gallon unit. Neither the measuring instrument nor the tool to measure the gallons passed through the filter is provided by vendors. Therefore, upon purchasing a new filter assembly, the consumer is always reminded by vendor to replace the filter in half year or some certain months. If consumer replaces the filter prematurely in order to avoid passing over its critical point, it becomes sort of a waste and increases the cost of using the system. On the contrary, if the consumer replaces the filter beyond its critical point, it may not perform its filtrating function properly due to accumulated impurities. Thus, the user of the purification equipment may get filtered water whose quality is much dirtier and worse than the tap water without malfunctioned filter. Such impurities may invade the capillaries of human being severely jeopardizing the users health. Moreover, the time for reaching the critical point of the hand held shower head with filter assembly is subject to difference in use, such as the number of users in each family using the shower. For example, if the average daily usage of water quantity for each person is two gallons, then the filter assembly, which is embedded in hand held shower head, can be operated validly for two hundred and fifty days for a family of three users. It can be only operated validly for 125 days in a family of 6 user. In other words, the aforementioned filter assembly of prior patented art neither offer a feature of pre-alarm, that is, altering the user, upon reaching its critical point nor having precise measurement control or record-keeping. According , the user may be missing time for replacement while continuing to use the malfunctioned filter. This continued use may cause skin discomfort such as allergy or itchiness. Even more, the chronically accretion of chlorine on the skin, which is unable to be filtered out by filter assembly, will be susceptible to induce cancer. Obviously, the customary filter assemblies of preceding prior art patents are neither practical nor ideal in effectiveness.

Summary of the Present Invention

Accordingly, the present invention attaches or integrates a device on the filter within the handhold portion of the hand held shower head for measuring water quantity by accumulative flux and initiates an alarm as a contrivance.

The main object of the present invention is to eliminate all the drawbacks of the foregoing conventional filtering assemblies, which are handicapped by lack of an alarm signal which alters the user upon reaching the critical point of the filter assembly therein. By means of the annexed device therein, accurately measuring water quantity by accumulative flux and initiating an alarm signal, the user knows to replace filter in time to assure good quality of the filtered water.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a handheld shower head with filter replacing alarm assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.2 is an exploded sectional view of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.3 is a circuit block diagram of a signal conversion display of the present invention.

Fig.4 is a sectional view of a handheld shower head with filter replacing pre-alarm assembly according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG.1 to 3, a hand held shower head with filter replacing alarm assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shower head 10, a base seat 20, a cover seat 30, a propeller wheel 40 and a signal circuit device 50.

Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the shower head 10 has a hollow body and a water inlet 11 which has screw threads 111 formed thereon and provided to connected with a filter hand hold handle 60. In front of the shower head 10 has firmly mounted a cover member 12 by means of a screw 121 , and said cover member 12 has a plurality of spray holes 122 to allow the water to spray out of the shower head 10. To the rear of the shower head 10 is tightly affixed a LCD display circuit 56, used in displaying an instruction sent by the microprocessor 51 of the signal circuit device 50 (as shown in FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the base seat 20, the cover seat 30 and a propeller wheel 40 are totally affixed in the inner of the shower head 10, wherein the bottom surface of the base seat 20 forms an indented water chamber 21. The base seat 20 has a water inlet channel 22 and a outlet channel 23 which is formed at the two sides of the water chamber 21 and through with each other. A rotation axle 24 is downwardly protruded from a central area of a top surface of the water chamber 21 of the base seat 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, The cover seat 30 is tightly affixed on the bottom side of the base seat 20 with the bottom surface of the base seat 20 abutting to a top surface of the cover seat 30. The cover seat 30 has a water inlet 31 which has two ends corresponding to the inlet channel 22 and the water inlet 11 respectively and is formed on a side surface of the cover seat 30. The cover seat 30 has a water outlet 32 which corresponds to the outlet channel 23 and is formed on a top surface of the cover seat 30. A supporting axle 23 is upwardly protruded from a central area of a top side of the cover seat 30, and the opposite side has a downwardly protruding threaded hole 341 of a central dowel 34. Referring to FIG. 2, The propeller wheel 40 is a circular body which has a plurality of curved propeller blades extended radially from the circular body. Two central axial recesses 41 are coaxially at a center of top side and a bottom side of the propeller wheel 40 respectively. A magnetic element 42 is embedded on a top side of the propeller wheel 40. The propeller wheel 40 is situated and supported in the water chamber 21 of the base seat 20 in rotatable manner that, the rotation axle 24 and the supporting axle 33 are fitted into the two central axial recesses 41 located in the center of the water chamber 21 of the base seat 20 (as shown in FIG. 1 ).

Referring to FIG. 3, The signal circuit device 50 of the present invention comprises a microprocessor 51 , a DC power supply 52 electrically connected to the microprocessor 51 , a transducer 53 electrically connected to the microprocessor 51 , a reset switch 54 electrically connected to the microprocessor 51 , a reset switch 55 electrically connected to the microprocessor 51 , a LCD display circuit 56 electrically connected to the microprocessor 51 , a buzzer 57 electrically connected to the microprocessor 51 and a signal receiver 58 which is closed at the top surface of base seat 20 and corresponding to the magnetic element 31 (as shown in FIG. 1 ).

As shown in FIG. 1 , The base seat 20, the cover seat 30 and the propeller wheel 40 is assembled by mans of the screws 121 and affixed to the inner of the shower head 10, so that the water inlet 31 , the inlet channel 22, the water chamber 21 , the outlet 23 and the water outlet 32 define a water flowing passage.

Referring to FIG. 1 and 3, in accordance with an operating mode of the present invention, a water supply pipe is connected to the filter handhold handle 60. Water flow enters the water chamber 21 through the water inlet 31 and inlet channel 22, forcing the propeller wheel 40 to rotate, and flows out through the outlet channel 23, the water outlet 32 and the spray holes 122 of the cover member 12. When the propeller wheel 40 rotates, the magnetic element 42 induces the signal receiver 58 of the signal circuit device 50, so that the signal receiver 58 receives a sensor signal and transmit to the microprocessor 51 via the transducer 53. Such continuous signals are transmitted to the microprocessor 51 and will process sending corresponding signals to the LCD display circuit 56. An accurate quantity of flow can be calculated according to the equation:

Quantity of Flow(Q)=Cross Sectional Area(A) x Flow Velocity(V)

The total water making volume value, that is a total volume of flowing water made by the filtration element of the filter handhold 60, is formatted and input into the microprocessor 51 as a predetermined reference value which is a digital standard reference value showing the service life (critical point) of the respective filtration element. When the total flowing volume value reaches the service life of the filter handhold 60, the microprocessor 51 will send a signal to the buzzer 57 or other altering device for advancing a warning alarm to notify the user that it is the time to replace the filtering element in use with a new filtration element of the filter handhold handle 60. Therefore, the user can avoid the consequences of missing the replacement time and still continuously use the malfunctioned filter. Referring to FIG. 4, a hand held shower head with filter replacing pre-alarm assembly according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which the propeller wheel 40 has the same structure and the signal circuit device 50 is the same as in the above first preferred embodiment. The second embodiment resides in a modification made to the shower head 10.

In accordance with the second preferred embodiment, the shower head 100 of the second preferred embodiment has a hollow body which is secured at a elongate thread portion 101 , and provided to connected with a filter hand hold handle 60. A water chamber 102 is formed in the bottom surface of the elongate thread portion 101. The shower head 100 has a water inlet 103 and a water outlet 104 which are formed at the two side of the water chamber 102 respectively and connect with each other. In front of the shower head 100 has firmly mounted a cover member 105 which has a plurality of spray holes 106 to allow the water spray out of the shower head 100. To the rear of the shower head 10 is tightly affixed a LCD display circuit 56, which is used in displaying an instruction sent by the microprocessor 51 of the signal circuit device 50(as shown in FIG.3). The propeller wheel 40 is situated and supported in the water chamber 102 of the shower head 100 in rotatable manner that, and the signal receiver 58 is mounted and corresponding at the top of the magnetic element 42 of the propeller wheel 40.

Referring to Fig. 4, in accordance with an operating mode of the second embodiment of the present invention, a water supply pipe or line is connected to the input end portion 61 of the filter handhold handle 60, water flow enters the water chamber 102 through the water inlet 103, forcing the propeller wheel 40 to rotate, and flows out through the water outlet 104 and the spray hole 106 of the cover member 105. When the propeller wheel 40 rotates, the magnetic element 42 induces the signal receiver 58 of the signal circuit device 50, so that the signal receiver 58 receives a sensor signal and transmits it to the microprocessor 51 via the transducer 53. Such continuous signals are transmitted to the microprocessor 51 and will process sending corresponding signals to the LCD display circuit 56, An accurate quantity of flow can be calculated according to the equation:

Quantity of Flow(Q)=Cross Sectional Area(A) x Flow Velocity(V)

The total water making volume value, that is, a total volume of flowing water made by the filtration element of the filter handhold 60, is formatted and input into the microprocessor 51 as a predetermined reference value which is a digital standard reference value showing the service life (critical point) of the respective filtration element. When the total flowing volume value reaches the service life of the filter in the hand hold 60, the microprocessor 51 will send a signal to the buzzer 57 for advancing a warning alarm to notify that it is the time for the user to replace the filtering element in use with a new filtration element of the filter handhold 60. Therefore, the user can avoid the consequences of missing replacement timing and still continuously using the malfunctioned filter.

In conclusion by summing up description mentioned above, the present invention has following beneficial effects: To make the filter in hand held shower head get maximum filtered water quantity by effective utilization;

To generate audible and visible alarm to inform the user when the filter in hand held shower head reaches (or being nearly reaching) its critical point; To allow the let user to timely replace the malfunctioned filter in hand held shower head to meet the goal of making the best use of any resources or asset, to let it serve to its proper purpose with the maximum practical efficiency and economical gain. So, it is inhered extreme value of industrial application of its own.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A hand held shower head and filter with a filter replacing alarm assembly, comprising: a shower head having a hollow body and a water inlet having screw threads formed thereon and provided to connected with a filter hand hold; in front, said shower head has firmly mounted a cover member by means of a screw, and said cover member has a plurality of spray holes to allow water to spray out of said shower head; in the rear of said shower head is tightly affixed a LCD display circuit used in displaying an instruction sent by a microprocessor of a signal circuit device; a base seat affixed in the inner of said shower head, wherein the bottom surface of said base seat forms an indented water chamber, said base seat has a water inlet channel and a outlet channel which is formed at two sides of said water chamber and connected with each other; a rotation axle is downwardly protruded from a central area of a top surface of said water chamber of said base seat; a cover seat is tightly affixed on the bottom side of said base seat with the bottom surface of said base seat abutting to a top surface of said cover seat, said cover seat has a water inlet which has two ends corresponding to said inlet channel and said water inlet respectively and is formed on a side surface of said cover seat, said cover seat has a water outlet which is corresponding to said outlet channel and is formed on a top surface of said cover seat. A supporting axle is upwardly protruded from a central area of a top side of said cover seat, and the opposite side is downwardly protruded a threaded hole of central dowel; a propeller wheel is situated and supported in said water chamber of said base seat, wherein said propeller wheel is a circular body having a plurality of curved propeller blades are extended radically therefrom, and a magnetic element is embedded on a top side of said circular body, wherein two central axial recesses are coaxially at a center of top side and a bottom side of said propeller wheel respectively; and a signal circuit device comprising a microprocessor, a DC power supply electrically connected to said microprocessor, a transducer electrically connected to said microprocessor, a reset switch electrically connected to said microprocessor, a rest switch electrically connected to said microprocessor, a LCD display circuit electrically connected to said microprocessor, a buzzer electrically connected to said microprocessor and a signal receiver which is closed at the top surface of said base seat and corresponding to the magnetic element of said propeller wheel.

2. A hand held shower head with filter replacing pre-alarm assembly, comprising: a shower head having a hollow body which is secured at a elongate thread portion, and provided to connected with a filter hand hold; a water chamber formed in the bottom surface of said elongate thread portion, said shower head has a water inlet and a water outlet are formed at the two side of said water chamber respectively and through with each other. In front of said shower head has firmly mounted a cover member which having a plurality of spray holes to allow the water spray out of said shower head; to the rear of said shower head is tightly affixed a LCD display circuit, is used in displaying an instruction sent by the microprocessor of said signal circuit device; and a propeller wheel is situated and supported in said water chamber of said base seat, wherein said propeller wheel is a circular body having a plurality of curved propeller blades are extended radically therefrom, and a magnetic element is embedded on a top side of said circular body, wherein two central axial recesses are coaxially at a center of top side and a bottom side of said propeller wheel respectively.