Replaceable shower device

Abstract

A replaceable first device for shower or bathtub plumbing is disclosed. A first device is provided which may be comprised of a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube which are connected together at a junction. The first device can be inserted into a housing so that the first tube becomes aligned with a first water source tube, such as a hot water source tube, the second tube becomes aligned with a first water outlet tube, such as a shower tube, the third tube becomes aligned with a second water source tube, such as a cold water source tube, and the fourth tube becomes aligned with a second water outlet tube, such as a bathtub spout tube. The first device may include first, second, third, and fourth couplers, for joining the first tube and the first water source tube, the second tube and the first water outlet tube, the third tube and the second water source tube, and the fourth tube and the second water outlet tube, respectively.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a first device comprised of a first tube and a second tube which are connected together at a junction; and    wherein the first device can be inserted into a housing so that the first tube becomes aligned with a first water source tube and the second tube becomes aligned with a first water outlet tube.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the first device is further comprised of a third tube which is connected together with the first and second tubes at the junction; and  
 wherein the first water source tube is a hot water source tube;  
 and wherein the first device can be inserted into the housing so that the first tube becomes aligned with the first water source tube, the second tube becomes aligned with the first water outlet tube, and the third tube becomes aligned with a cold-water source tube.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the first water outlet tube is a shower tube.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the first water outlet tube is a bathtub spout tube.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the first device includes first and second couplers, which are adapted so that the first coupler can be used to join the first tube and the first water source tube and the second coupler can be used to join the second tube and the first water outlet tube.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein 
 the first device includes first, second, and third couplers which are adapted so that the first coupler can be used to join the first tube and the first water source tube and the second coupler can be used to join the second tube and the first water outlet tube, and the third coupler can be used to join the third tube and the cold water source tube.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein 
 the first device is further comprised of a fourth tube which is connected together with the first, second, and third tubes at the junction; and  
 and wherein the first device can be inserted into the housing so that the first tube becomes aligned with the first water source tube, the second tube becomes aligned with the first water outlet tube, the third tube becomes aligned with a cold water source tube, and the fourth tube becomes aligned with a second water outlet tube.  
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further wherein 
 the first water outlet tube is a shower tube;  
 and the second water outlet tube is a bathtub spout tube.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the first device includes a first valve stem channel;  
 wherein the first valve stem channel is connected to the first tube, so that a first valve stem placed inside the first valve stem channel can affect the flow of water through the first tube.  
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein 
 the first device includes a first valve stem channel, and a second valve stem channel;  
 wherein the first valve stem channel is connected to the first tube, so that a first valve stem placed inside the first valve stem channel can affect the flow of water through the first tube; and  
 wherein the second valve stem channel is connected to the third tube, so that a second valve stem placed inside the second valve stem channel can affect the flow of water through the third tube.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the step of 
 inserting a first device into a housing so that a first tube of the first device becomes aligned a first water source tube and a second tube of the first device becomes aligned with a first water outlet tube; and    wherein the first tube and the second tube are connected at a junction.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein 
 the first device is further comprised of a third tube which is connected together with the first and second tubes at the junction; and  
 wherein the first water source tube is a hot water source tube;  
 and further comprising inserting the first device into the housing so that the first tube becomes aligned with the first water source tube, the second tube becomes aligned with the first water outlet tube, and the third tube becomes aligned with a cold-water source tube.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein 
 the first water outlet tube is a shower tube.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein 
 the first water outlet tube is a bathtub spout tube.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein 
 joining the first tube and the first water source tube with a first coupler; and  
 joining the second tube and the first water outlet tube with a second coupler.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 joining the first tube and the first water source tube with a first coupler;  
 joining the second tube and the first water outlet tube with a second coupler; and  
 joining the third tube and the cold water source tube with a third coupler.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the first device is further comprised of a fourth tube which is connected together with the first, second, and third tubes at the junction; and  
 further comprising inserting the first device into the housing so that the first tube becomes aligned with the first water source tube, the second tube becomes aligned with the first water outlet tube, the third tube becomes aligned with a cold water source tube, and the fourth tube becomes aligned with a second water outlet tube.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein 
 the first water outlet tube is a shower tube;  
 and the second water outlet tube is a bathtub spout tube.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein 
 the first device includes a first valve stem channel;  
 wherein the first valve stem channel is connected to the first tube, so that a first valve stem placed inside the first valve stem channel can affect the flow of water through the first tube.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the first device includes a first valve stem channel, and a second valve stem channel;  
 wherein the first valve stem channel is connected to the first tube, so that a first valve stem placed inside the first valve stem channel can affect the flow of water through the first tube; and  
 wherein the second valve stem channel is connected to the third tube, so that a second valve stem placed inside the second valve stem channel can affect the flow of water through the third tube.