Shower head having an electric tankless water heater

Abstract

A combined showerhead and tankless water heater. A control panel permits a user to adjust the temperature level of the water that is heated. In one embodiment, the water flowing through the tankless water heater portion can be heated up about an additional eighteen (18) degrees.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combined showerhead and tankless water heater, comprising:
 a housing having a front end and a back end;   an enclosure contained within the housing;   a heating element disposed within an internal area of the enclosure;   a water inlet path leading into and in fluid communication with the internal area of the enclosure;   a water outlet path leading out of and in fluid communication with the internal area of the enclosure;   a first connector secured to said housing and in fluid communication with said water outlet path, said first connector adapted for connection to a showerhead sprayer portion;   a second connector in fluid communication with said water inlet path, said second connector adapted for connection to a water source pipe; and   a power source to energize said heating element when it is desired to warm water flowing through the enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 1  further comprising a diverter pipe secured at a top portion of said enclosure and in fluid communication with said enclosure at a first end and in fluid communication with said water outlet path at a second end. 
     
     
         3 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 1  further comprising a flow sensor in communication with said water inlet path, said flow sensor determining when water is entering into the internal area of said enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 3  further comprising an onboard circuit board contained within said housing and in communication with said flow sensor, said circuit board including a microprocessor who receives information from said flow sensor and determines how much power to supply to said heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 4  further comprising a control panel in communication with said onboard circuit board, wherein said control panel allowing a user to increase or decrease the amount of power that is supplied to said heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 4  wherein said control panel is located on a bottom portion of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 1  wherein said power source is an electric cord which extends out of said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 3  wherein said flow sensor is a turbine flow sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 1  wherein said first connector is a male adaptor. 
     
     
         10 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 1  wherein said second connector is a nut secured to an external end of said water inlet path extending out of said housing and adapted for receipt and securement to an end of the water source pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 2  wherein said first end of said diverter pipe is disposed at the top of said enclosure near or adjacent to an inlet end or portion of said enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 1  wherein a first end of said water outlet path is secured at the top of said enclosure near or adjacent to an outlet end or portion of said enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . A combined showerhead and tankless water heater, comprising:
 a housing having a front end and a back end;   an enclosure contained within the housing;   a heating element disposed within an internal area of the enclosure;   a water inlet path leading into and in fluid communication with the internal area of the enclosure;   a water outlet path leading out of and in fluid communication with the internal area of the enclosure, a first end of said water outlet path is secured at the top of said enclosure near or adjacent to an outlet end or portion of said enclosure;   a first connector secured to said housing and in fluid communication with said water outlet path, said first connector adapted for connection to a showerhead sprayer portion;   a second connector in fluid communication with said water inlet path, said second connector adapted for connection to a water source pipe;   a power source to energize said heating element when it is desired to warm water flowing through the enclosure; and   a diverter pipe secured at a top portion of said enclosure and in fluid communication with said enclosure at a first end and in fluid communication with said water outlet path at a second end, said first end of said diverter pipe is disposed at the top of said enclosure near or adjacent to an inlet end or portion of said enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 13  further comprising a turbine flow sensor in communication with said water inlet path, said flow sensor determining when water is entering into the internal area of said enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 14  further comprising an onboard circuit board contained within said housing and in communication with said flow sensor, said circuit board including a microprocessor who receives information from said flow sensor and determines how much power to supply to said heating element. 
     
     
         16 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 15  further comprising a control panel in communication with said onboard circuit board, wherein said control panel allowing a user to increase or decrease the amount of power that is supplied to said heating element, wherein said control panel is located on a bottom portion of said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 13  wherein said power source is an electric cord which extends out of said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 13  wherein said first connector is a male adaptor; wherein said second connector is a nut secured to an external end of said water inlet path extending out of said housing and adapted for receipt and securement to an end of the water source pipe. 
     
     
         19 . A combined showerhead and tankless water heater, comprising:
 a housing having a front end and a back end;   an enclosure contained within the housing;   a heating element disposed within an internal area of the enclosure;   a water inlet path leading into and in fluid communication with the internal area of the enclosure;   a water outlet path leading out of and in fluid communication with the internal area of the enclosure, a first end of said water outlet path is secured at the top of said enclosure near or adjacent to an outlet end or portion of said enclosure;   a threaded male adaptor secured to said housing and in fluid communication with said water outlet path,   a showerhead sprayer portion secured to said threaded male adaptor and in communication with said water outlet path;   a nut secured to an external end of said water inlet path extending out of said housing and adapted for receipt and securement to an end of a water source pipe;   a power source to energize said heating element when it is desired to warm water flowing through the enclosure;   a diverter pipe secured at a top portion of said enclosure and in fluid communication with said enclosure at a first end and in fluid communication with said water outlet path at a second end, said first end of said diverter pipe is disposed at the top of said enclosure near or adjacent to an inlet end or portion of said enclosure;   a turbine flow sensor in communication with said water inlet path, said flow sensor determining when water is entering into the internal area of said enclosure;   an onboard circuit board contained within said housing and in communication with said flow sensor, said circuit board including a microprocessor who receives information from said flow sensor and determines how much power to supply to said heating element; and   a control panel in communication with said onboard circuit board, wherein said control panel allowing a user to increase or decrease the amount of power that is supplied to said heating element, wherein said control panel is located on a bottom portion of said housing.   
     
     
         20 . The combined showerhead and tankless water heater of  claim 19  wherein said power source is an electric cord which extends out of said housing.