US 12,215,487 B1
Tub faucet having a control valve with reduced backpressure
Jeffrey S. Doss, Scottsdale, AZ (US); Jason Swanson, Tempe, AZ (US); Heather L. Pinson, Gilbert, AZ (US); and John Lockhart, Ridgway, CO (US)
Assigned to AM CONSERVATION GROUP, Charleston, SC (US)
Filed by AM Conservation Group, Charleston, SC (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/971,372.
Application 17/971,372 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/002,718, filed on Aug. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,492,787.
Application 17/002,718 is a continuation of application No. 16/422,937, filed on May 24, 2019, granted, now 10,753,071, issued on Aug. 25, 2020.
Application 16/422,937 is a continuation of application No. 16/121,532, filed on Sep. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,301,800, issued on May 28, 2019.
Application 16/121,532 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/074,896, filed on Mar. 18, 2016, granted, now 10,066,376, issued on Sep. 4, 2018.
Application 15/074,896 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/511,007, filed on Oct. 9, 2014, granted, now 9,737,899, issued on Aug. 22, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/134,926, filed on Mar. 18, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/888,865, filed on Oct. 9, 2013.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E03C 1/04 (2006.01); E03B 7/04 (2006.01); E03B 7/07 (2006.01); F16K 31/00 (2006.01); F16K 31/524 (2006.01); F16K 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC E03C 1/0408 (2013.01) [E03B 7/045 (2013.01); E03B 7/075 (2013.01); F16K 31/002 (2013.01); E03C 2001/0418 (2013.01); F16K 31/5245 (2013.01); F16K 47/023 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tub faucet, comprising:
a main body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a channel, wherein the channel extends between the inlet port and the outlet port and places the inlet port and the outlet port in fluid communication:
a valve within the channel, the valve having:
a thermal actuator with an actuator nose extending axially along the channel, wherein a position of the actuator nose within the channel is responsive to a temperature of water within the channel; and
a piston in contact with the actuator nose, wherein a seal is coupled to an end of the piston proximal to the outlet port, wherein the piston is in contact with the actuator nose and configured to move axially with the actuator nose between a first position and a second position, and wherein when the piston is in the first position, the piston is positioned to allow water to flow freely through the outlet port and when the piston is in the second position, the seal is in contact with a seal interface and the flow of water through the outlet port is restricted; and
a lever configured to adjust a location of the valve between a bypass mode, an auto-divert mode, and a cold mode, wherein when the valve is in the bypass mode, the valve is located to allow water to flow through the outlet port without regard to the position of the piston, when the valve is in the auto-divert mode, the valve is located to allow the position of the piston to determine whether water flows through the channel, and when the valve is in the cold mode, the valve is located to restrict the flow of water through the outlet port without regard to the position of the piston:
wherein, when the piston is in the first position, the valve has a shape and a size configured to create a back-pressure of 2 psi or less when water pressure is provided to the inlet port, wherein the back-pressure is smaller than a threshold back-pressure at which water backflows up to a showerhead.
 
3. A tub faucet system, comprising:
a main body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a channel, wherein the channel extends between the inlet port and the outlet port and places the inlet port and the outlet port in fluid communication; and
a valve within the channel, the valve having:
an actuator extending axially along the channel, wherein the actuator is responsive to a physical parameter related to the channel; and
a piston in contact with the actuator, wherein a seal is coupled to an end of the piston proximal to the outlet port, wherein the piston is configured to move axially with the actuator between a first position and a second position, and wherein when the piston is in the first position, the piston is positioned to allow water to flow freely through the outlet port and when the piston is in the second position, the seal is in contact with a seal interface and the flow of water through the outlet port is restricted;
wherein, when the piston is in the first position, the valve has a shape and a size configured to create a back-pressure of 2 psi or less when water pressure is provided to the inlet port, wherein the back-pressure is smaller than a threshold back-pressure at which water backflows up to a showerhead.
 
13. A tub faucet, comprising:
a main body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a channel, wherein the channel extends between the inlet port and the outlet port and places the inlet port and the outlet port in fluid communication; and
a valve movable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the valve is in the first position, the valve is positioned to allow water to flow freely through the outlet port and when the valve is in the second position, the valve is positioned to restrict the flow of water through the channel;
wherein, when the valve is in the first position, the valve has a shape and a size configured to create a back-pressure of 2 psi or less when water pressure is provided to the inlet port, wherein the back-pressure is smaller than a threshold back-pressure at which water backflows up to a showerhead.