Shower flange thermometer

Claim 2

In a shower flange of the type which is installed at the junction of a shower pipe and a shower wall and which shower flange has a casing with a rear perimeter defining a plane and an aperture through which the shower pipe may pass, the improvement comprising: means for sensing temperature totally encased within the shower flange in that no portion of the sensing means extends out of the casing beyond the plane of the rear perimeter of the casing when the shower flange is so installed.

Claim 3

The shower flange of claim 1 further including: means within the casing for displaying temperature.

Claim 4

The shower flange of claim 2 wherein: the sensing means includes pipe contacting means.

Claim 5

The shower flange of claim 3 further including: means for biasing the pipe contacting means against the shower pipe.

Claim 6

The shower flange of claim 4 wherein: the sensing means includes a bi-metallic coil having first and second ends, and the sensing means includes a bi-metallic coil having first and second ends, and the second coil end is the pipe contacting means.

Claim 7

The shower flange of claim 5 wherein: the biasing means is a set-screw.

Claim 8

The shower flange of claim 6 wherein: the displaying means includes a transparent window in the flange, the window bearing temperature gauge indicia; and a pointer on the first coil end.

Claim 9

The shower flange of claim 4 wherein: the sensing means includes a battery-powered electronic thermometer, and the displaying means includes a liquid crystal display.

Claim 10

The shower flange of claim 8 wherein: the biasing means is a set-screw.

Claim 11

A shower flange thermometer including: a shower flange of the type which is installed at the junction of a shower pipe and a shower wall, the shower flange having a circular casing having a generally planar front face, the center of the front face forming a circular aperture through which the shower pipe may pass; a rear perimeter of the casing defining a plane; a thermometer totally encased within the casing in that no portion of the thermometer extends out of the casing beyond the plane of the rear perimeter of the casing, the thermometer having temperature sensing means adjacent to the aperture; and a transparent window in the face for displaying temperatures.

Claim 12

A shower flange thermometer including: a shower flange of the type which is installed at the junction of a shower pipe and a shower wall, the shower flange having a circular casing having a generally planar front face, the center of the front face forming a circular aperture through which the shower pipe may pass; a rear perimeter of the casing defining a plane; a thermometer totally encased within the casing in that no portion of the thermometer extends out of the casing beyond the plane of the rear perimeter of the casing, the thermometer having temperature sensing means adjacent to the aperture; and a transparent window in the face for displaying temperatures.

Claim 13

The shower flange thermometer of claim 10 further including: means for biasing the sensing means toward the aperture.

Claim 14

The shower flange thermometer of claim 11 wherein: the thermometer includes a bi-metallic coil, the coil having first and second ends, the first coil end terminating in a rotatable pointer visible through the window, and wherein the temperature sensing means includes the second coil end.

Claim 15

The shower flange thermometer of claim 12 wherein: the biasing means is a set-screw.

Claim 16

The shower flange thermometer of claim 11 wherein: the thermometer is electronic and includes a liquid crystal display visible through the window and wherein the temperature sensing means is a sensing-foot on the electronic thermometer, the foot forming a concave pipe-receiving recess.

Claim 17

Shower flange thermometer apparatus including: a circular shower flange of the type which is installed at the junction of a shower pipe and a shower wall and which shower flange has a casing having a central hole for the shower pipe; a rear perimeter of the casing defining a plane; and a thermometer totally encased within the casing in that no portion of the thermometer extends out of the casing beyond the plane of the rear perimeter of the casing.

Claim 18

Shower flange thermometer apparatus including: a circular shower flange of the type which is installed at the junction of a shower pipe and a shower wall and which shower flange has a casing having a central hole for the shower pipe; a rear perimeter of the casing defining a plane; and a thermometer totally encased within the casing in that no portion of the thermometer extends out of the casing beyond the plane of the rear perimeter of the casing.