Remote Control Water Valving System for Shower or Sink

Abstract

A remote controlled valve for cessation of water flow from an outflow component such as a showerhead or faucet during periods where water flow is not required by the user to provide for water conservation. The device features a remote control, having a large contact area for contact with the user's arm or leg or hip, to allow for activation without the use of their hands and fingers to generate a piezoelectrically generated or sonic signal. The large size also renders the remote control unit easily located by sense of touch and without the user's eyesight to encourage use by users who might otherwise be concerned about reinitiating water flow during shampooing or while using the device on a sink with their hands wet or occupied.

1 . A water flow control apparatus comprising:
 an electric valve, said electric valve engageable between a pressurized water supply and an outflow component from a group of outflow components including a showerhead and faucet;   means to electrically power said electric valve;   said electric valve activateable between two positions, a first of said positions being an open position allowing a flow of said water to said outflow component, and a second of said positions being a closed position preventing said flow of water to said outflow component;   a control, said control having an exterior contact surface adapted for a contact with a portion of the body of a user;   said control having means to wirelessly communicate a said signal to said electric valve, upon a said contact by said user with said contact surface;   said control surface having a size sufficiently large to provide means for tactile locating of said control, without said user viewing said control; and   whereby a said contact by said user with said contact surface, will cause said electric valve if in said open position to move to said closed position, and if in said closed position to move to said open position providing said user with closed eyes a means to locate and subsequently contact said contact surface with a body part such as a leg, hip or arm, to cease said water supply when not needed to save water.   
   
   
       2 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means to wirelessly communicate a said signal to said electric valve comprises:
 a piezoelectric element operatively engaged to said contact surface; and   said contact with said surface by said user activating said piezoelectric element to generate said signal communicated to said electric valve.   
   
   
       3 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 said signal being an RF signal.   
   
   
       4 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 said signal being a sonic signal.   
   
   
       5 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period.   
   
   
       6 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period.   
   
   
       7 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period comprises:
 a timer communicating with said electronic valve, said timer moving said electronic valve to said closed position after a predetermined amount of time.   
   
   
       8 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period comprises:
 a timer communicating with said electronic valve, said timer moving said electronic valve to said closed position after a predetermined amount of time.   
   
   
       9 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period comprises:
 means to electronically sample sound and move said electronic valve to said closed position in the absence of sounds other than that generated by water flowing.   
   
   
       10 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period comprises:
 means to electronically sample sound and move said electronic valve to said closed position in the absence of sounds other than that generated by water flowing.   
   
   
       11 . A water flow control apparatus comprising:
 an electric valve, said electric valve engageable between a pressurized water supply and an outflow component from a group of outflow components including a showerhead and faucet;   means to electrically power said electric valve;   said electric valve activateable between two positions, a first of said positions being an open position allowing a flow of said water to said outflow component, and a second of said positions being a closed position preventing said flow of water to said outflow component;   a control, said control having an exterior contact surface adapted for a contact with a portion of the body of a user;   said control having means to wirelessly communicate an RF signal to said electric valve, upon a said contact by said user with said contact surface;   said control surface having a size sufficiently large to provide means for tactile locating of said control, without said user viewing said control; and   whereby a said contact by said user with said contact surface, will cause said electric valve if in said open position to move to said closed position, and if in said closed position to move to said open position providing said user with closed eyes a means to locate and subsequently contact said contact surface with a body part such as a leg, hip or arm, to cease said water supply when not needed to save water.   
   
   
       12 . A water flow control apparatus comprising:
 an electric valve, said electric valve engageable between a pressurized water supply and an outflow component from a group of outflow components including a showerhead and faucet;   means to electrically power said electric valve;   said electric valve activateable between two positions, a first of said positions being an open position allowing a flow of said water to said outflow component, and a second of said positions being a closed position preventing said flow of water to said outflow component;   a control, said control having means to sense sound and generate an electronic signal;   a microprocessor having software configured to monitor said electronic signal and ascertain sounds;   said control communicating a said signal to said electric valve to move to said open position, upon ascertaining a first of said sounds;   said control communicating a said signal to said electric valve to move to said closed position, upon a ascertaining a second of said sounds;   whereby a said first of said sounds generated by said user will cause said electric valve to move to said open position, and a second of said sounds generated by said user will cause said electronic valve to move to said closed position, thereby providing said user with closed eyes a means to control said water flow.   
   
   
       13 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period comprises:
 means to sense sound and generate an electronic signal;   a microprocessor having software configured to monitor said electronic signal and ascertain sounds;   said software configured to ascertain sounds generated by said flow of said water; and   said software configured to cause said electronic valve to move to said closed position after said defined time period in the absence of sounds other than said sounds generated by said flow of said water.   
   
   
       14 . The water flow control apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said means to move said electric valve to said closed position after a defined time period comprises:
 means to sense sound and generate an electronic signal;   a microprocessor having software configured to monitor said electronic signal and ascertain sounds;   said software configured to ascertain sounds generated by said flow of said water; and   said software configured to cause said electronic valve to move to said closed position after said defined time period in the absence of sounds other than said sounds generated by said flow of said water.