US3924468A — Shower safety comfort temperature guide

Claim 1

Independent Claim 284 words

A shower safety comfort temperature guide device intended for indicating the temperature of water within a tubular pipeline supplying a showerhead assembly, the device comprising: a hollow housing; a clamp pivotally affixed to said housing for detachably affixing said housing to said tubular pipe; a bimetallic temperature responsive element mounted in said hollow housing, said element having one end thereof secured inside said housing, said one end having a substantial area adjacent said clamp for affording a heat conducting relationship between said tubular pipe and said one end when said housing is clamped to said pipe, the opposite end of said element projecting interiorly of said housing and being a free end movable in said housing in response to temperature changes of said element; a dial face affixed to said housing and having temperature comfort zone indicating means thereon, said housing defining an opening for affording visual access to said dial face; a pointer member and a shaft for rotatably mounting said pointer member adjacent said dial for sweeping rotative movement thereover to designate temperature indicating portions of said dial, said dial being visible through said opening; a motion transmitting member operatively connected to said pointer for rotation therewith, means operatively connected to said free end of said bimetallic element and responsive to movement of said bimetallic element for coacting with said motion transmitting member such that movement of said bimetallic element is transmitted through said motion transmitting member and said coacting means to effect movement of said pointer member for providing visual indication of the temperature of said element which, in turn, is an indication of the temperature of the water flowing through said pipe when said housing is mounted to said pipe.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 284 words

A shower safety comfort temperature guide device intended for indicating the temperature of water within a tubular pipeline supplying a showerhead assembly, the device comprising: a hollow housing; a clamp pivotally affixed to said housing for detachably affixing said housing to said tubular pipe; a bimetallic temperature responsive element mounted in said hollow housing, said element having one end thereof secured inside said housing, said one end having a substantial area adjacent said clamp for affording a heat conducting relationship between said tubular pipe and said one end when said housing is clamped to said pipe, the opposite end of said element projecting interiorly of said housing and being a free end movable in said housing in response to temperature changes of said element; a dial face affixed to said housing and having temperature comfort zone indicating means thereon, said housing defining an opening for affording visual access to said dial face; a pointer member and a shaft for rotatably mounting said pointer member adjacent said dial for sweeping rotative movement thereover to designate temperature indicating portions of said dial, said dial being visible through said opening; a motion transmitting member operatively connected to said pointer for rotation therewith, means operatively connected to said free end of said bimetallic element and responsive to movement of said bimetallic element for coacting with said motion transmitting member such that movement of said bimetallic element is transmitted through said motion transmitting member and said coacting means to effect movement of said pointer member for providing visual indication of the temperature of said element which, in turn, is an indication of the temperature of the water flowing through said pipe when said housing is mounted to said pipe.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 192 words

The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has a vertical back wall, depending horizontally extending side walls, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a front end, a compartment defined interiorly thereof and opening out of said front end, said top portion having a recess extending transversely therethrough with the recess being of a semi-circular cross-section adapted to receive a portion of said tubular pipe resting therein, a slot defined along the bottom of said recess in communication with said compartment, said temperature element being disposed in said slot; and wherein said clamp comprises a leg member extending between the front and back ends of said housing, said leg member pivotally affixed at one end to said housing, the opposite end of said leg member adapted to be removably fastened to the opposite end of said housing, a recess extending transversely through a bottom surface of said leg member having a semi-circular cross-section complementary to the recess in said housing and adapted to form therewith a transversely extending slot of a circular cross-section to receive said tubular pipe therein when said leg member is affixed to said housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 89 words

The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bimetallic strip is of a flat configuration having a top end bent into an arcuate form, said top end affixed in said compartment adjacent said slot in said housing recess for saddle type engagement with said tubular pipe when rested in said recess, said element strip projecting into said compartment with said free end thereof movable in a direction toward and away from said front and back ends of said compartment in response to temperature changes of said element.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 212 words

The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shaft constitutes a first shaft extending axially through said housing and having one end journaled for rotation in a back surface of said housing and having its opposite end projecting through said dial face anD supported for rotation therein, said motion transmitting member including a first gear affixed to said first shaft concentric therewith, a second circular gear disposed substantially parallel to said first gear and in meshing engagement therewith, and a second shaft extending parallel to said first shaft axially through said second gear for rotatably supporting said second gear thereon, said coacting means including a cylindrical collar member disposed concentric with said second gear and extending outwardly therefrom along said second shaft, a diagonal slot extending along the circumference of said cylindrical collar member and defining a cam follower slot, and an actuation cam pin affixed to said free end of said bimetallic element and projecting into said cam follower slot whereby movement of said element free end forwardly of said compartment will effect rotation of said gear assembly in a first direction, and movement of said element free end in a direction toward said back end of said compartment will effect movement of said gears in an opposite direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pointer member is affixed to said projecting front end of said first shaft for rotation therewith.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 179 words

The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said dial is comprised of at least three dial segments, each dial segment being of a flat configuration having an aperture extending centrally therethrough, a first dial segment being of a circular disc configuration and colored red and mounted in said front end of said housing closing said compartment, a second dial segment being colored green and of a flat disc like configuration having a cut-out portion and adapted to be mounted in juxtaposition with said first dial segment with said cut-out portion permitting exterior viewing of a portion of said first dial segment therethrough, and a third dial segment of a flat circular configuration having at least one-half of its cross-sectional area removed in the form of a cut-out portion to expose a portion of said second dial segment when said third dial segment is mounted in juxtaposition thereover, said third dial segment being colored blue; and a dial lock screw associated with said dial segments for retaining said dial segments in an adjusted position relative to each other.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 98 words

The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dial face includes at least first and second planar dial segments disposed in overlying relation and having contrasting colors, said first dial segments having a diametrically extending slot therein, said second segment having a sector shaped excision bounded by a generally radially extending edge, said second segment being disposed in said slot so that a portion of said second segment is obscured by said first segment and another portion of said second segment is visible through said opening so that said edge defines a boundary between said segments.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 75 words

The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pointer has a circumferential extent of at least about 18* to afford visibility thereof under impaired conditions and wherein said segment edge is of sinusoidal shape having a peak and a valley that are circumferentially spaced from one another by an amount exceeding the circumferential extent of said pointer so as to afford a continuous indication of the position of said pointer relative said segments.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-12-08	1979-06-09	1979-12-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-12-08	1983-06-09	1983-12-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-12-08	1987-06-09	1987-12-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Shower safety comfort temperature guide

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