Multiple outlet shower control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11016639-B2
Application number	US-201916510009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Jan 13, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A reconfigurable bathing apparatus includes a first showerhead, the first showerhead being connected to a first fluid outlet; a second showerhead, the second showerhead being connected to a second fluid outlet; and a processor, the processor being arranged to control fluid flow through the first fluid outlet in response to a first control action and to control fluid flow through the second fluid outlet in response to a second control action. The processor is arranged to be able to receive and implement a request to reconfigure its response to the control actions such that the first control action controls the second fluid outlet and the second control action controls the first fluid outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable bathing apparatus comprising:
a first showerhead, the first showerhead being connected to a first fluid outlet;
a second showerhead, the second showerhead being connected to a second fluid outlet; and
a processor, the processor being arranged to control fluid flow through the first fluid outlet in response to a first control action and to control fluid flow through the second fluid outlet in response to a second control action;
wherein the processor is arranged to be able to receive and implement a request to reconfigure the processor response to the first and second control actions such that the first control action controls the second fluid outlet and the second control action controls the first fluid outlet.

2. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a valve, wherein the valve comprises the first and second fluid outlets and the processor is arranged to actuate the valve so as to control fluid flow through at least one of the first and second fluid outlets.

3. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the valve is a dual outlet shower valve.

4. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the valve is within a valve box and wherein the request is arranged to be implemented without opening the valve box.

5. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the valve box is located in or behind a wall, floor or ceiling of a room in which the bathing apparatus is located.

6. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processor is within the valve box.

7. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor is integral with, on, or near the valve.

8. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first showerhead is a hand-held showerhead and the second showerhead is a mounted showerhead.

9. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second control actions are either:
(i) use of a first control means and a second control means respectively; or
(ii) differing uses of a single control means.

10. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second control means or the single control means communicate electronically with the processor, and the processor electronically actuates the valve.

11. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second control actions are user interactions with a graphical user interface.

12. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the request is sent from a remote device which is not a part of the bathing apparatus.

13. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing containing the processor and the first and second fluid outlets, and wherein the request is received as an electronic signal from outside the housing.

14. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising (a) a label indicative of the first showerhead that is linked to the first control action and/or (b) a label indicative of the second showerhead that is linked to the second control action.

15. The reconfigurable bathing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the label indicative of the first showerhead and/or the second showerhead is part of a control means arranged to control fluid flow through the first or second fluid outlet, and wherein implementation of the request changes which fluid outlet is controlled by the control means.

16. A computer-implemented method of reconfiguring shower outlet controls for a shower having:
a first showerhead, the first showerhead being connected to a first fluid outlet;
a second showerhead, the second showerhead being connected to a second fluid outlet;
the first fluid outlet being arranged to be controlled by a first control action; and
the second fluid outlet being arranged to be controlled by a second control action, the method comprising:
receiving a request to reconfigure a processor responses to the first and second control actions such that the first control action controls the second fluid outlet and the second control action controls the first fluid outlet; and
implementing the request by the processor.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the step of implementing the request is performed without the requirement of physical access to the first and/or second fluid outlets.

Assignees

• Kohler Mira Ltd

Inventors

• Seymour Christopher Laurence
• Fagg Alexander Colin
• Burns Richard Harcourt
• Fearnley Karl Antony
• Duke Christopher John

Classifications

• A47K3/28 Primary

  Showers {or bathing douches} (combined with baths A47K3/20) · CPC title

• E03C1/055 Primary

  Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• G06F3/0484 Primary

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• B05B1/185

  characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor · CPC title