Cross-reference to other applications

[0001] The current disclosure claims priority from US Provisional Application No. 63/340,048 filed May 10, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Field

[0002] The disclosure is generally directed at shower systems and, more specifically, at a catchment basin for use in a recirculating shower system.

Background

[0003] Approximately 10% of all water required for human activity can be traced back to residential consumption needs. Within residences, such as homes, as much as 40% of the water consumed originates in the bathroom with showers being a top contributor to water use. Solutions to address water consumption issues through limiting the water flow have become increasingly common. Although this remains a cheap and cost effective approach to water conservation, flow reduction through the showerhead has forced users to compromise on the shower experience.

[0004] In some territories, water consumption is controlled through building code restrictions, however, these tightening regulations have caused homeowners to reconsider alternatives that allow for the re-use or recirculation of shower water at the appliance (or shower) level. These are referred to as point-of-use devices and may include recirculating showers. Recirculating shower technology provides an alternative to current low-flow showers and favors the re-use of some or all of the shower water to improve the conservation of water as a precious resource.

[0005] In order for a recirculating shower to comply with legal guidelines, the shower must typically address two requirements. The first is compliance with building code limitations placed on the showerhead's flow rate while the second is avoidance of the recirculation water or recirculating shower water from “back-flowing” into the municipal grid water supply due to pressure imbalances between the recirculating shower and the municipal grid water supply.

[0006] Therefore, there is provided a catchment basin for use in recirculating showers that addresses some of the disadvantages of current systems. Summary

[0007] The present disclosure is directed at a catchment basin for use in recirculating showers. In one embodiment, the catchment basin is used for the collection of water from the recirculating shower. The catchment basin may also provide volume balancing and/or passive draining for the recirculating shower.

[0008] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a catchment basin for use in a recirculating shower including a recirculation pool area for collecting shower water; a drain area; and a divider wall separating the recirculation pool area and the drain area; wherein the recirculation pool area is at a higher elevation than the drain area such that the collected shower water travels from the recirculation pool area to the drain area.

[0009] In another aspect, the divider wall includes a slot for receiving a drain plug. In a further aspect, the system basin includes a drain plug for installation within the slot. In yet another aspect, the drain plug includes an orifice allowing for collected shower water to pass through the drain plug when the drain plug is installed in the slot. In another aspect, the divider wall includes a spillway. In a further aspect, the spillway includes a designed form factor for skimming soap suds from a surface of the collected shower water. In another aspect, the catchment basin includes piping for connecting the drain area to a sewer system. In yet another aspect, a surface of the recirculation pool area is elevated with respect to a surface of the drain area. In yet another aspect, the basin includes a set of corrugated ridges on an exterior of the catchment basin. In yet a further aspect, the basin includes a raised back portion for mounting of the catchment basin to a wall.

[0010] In another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a shower pan for a recirculating shower including a catchment basin including a recirculation pool area for collecting shower water; a drain area; and a divider wall separating the recirculation pool area and the drain area; wherein the recirculation pool area is at a higher elevation than the drain area such that the collected shower water travels from the recirculation pool area to the drain area.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a recirculating shower system;

[0013] Figure 2a is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a catchment basin in accordance with the disclosure; [0014] Figure 2b is another perspective view of a portion of the catchment basin of Figure 2a;

[0015] Figure 3 is a side view of an installed catchment basin;

[0016] Figure 4a is a top view of a catchment basin;

[0017] Figure 4b is a cross-sectional side view of the catchment basin of Figure 4a;

[0018] Figure 5a is a perspective view of a drain plug installed in a divider wall;

[0019] Figure 5b is a perspective view of a drain plug removed from a divider wall;

[0020] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a catchment basin;

[0021] Figure 7a is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a catchment basin;

[0022] Figure 7b is a top view of the catchment basin of Figure 7a;

[0023] Figure 7c is a bottom perspective view of the catchment basin of Figure 7a;

[0024] Figure 7d is a perspective view of the catchment basin of Figure 7a with a drain plug installed; and

[0025] Figure 7e is a perspective view of a drain plug.

Detailed Description

[0026] The disclosure is directed at a catchment basin for use in a recirculating shower. In one embodiment, the catchment basin is installed at the bottom of a recirculating shower or recirculating shower stall for capturing or collecting shower water from the shower. The catchment basin may provide for volume balancing of the collected water and/or a passive drainage or draining system for the recirculating shower.

[0027] Turning to Figure 1 , a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a recirculating shower is shown. Figure 1 also provides a schematic diagram of water entering and exiting the recirculating shower, system or shower system. A catchment basin in accordance with the disclosure is installed within the recirculating shower. In one embodiment, the catchment basin may be seen as a device for the short-term containment of water during operation of the recirculating shower or shower system.

[0028] The recirculating shower 100 includes a first water supply 102, which may be a seen as a grid water supply, and a second water supply 104, which may be seen as a recirculating water supply, connected to a showerhead 106 which, in the current embodiment is a dual-port showerhead, although other types of showerheads are contemplated. In the current embodiment, the second water supply 104 includes a reservoir 108 for collecting shower water that includes a catchment basin 109. In other embodiments, the reservoir may be the catchment basin. As discussed further below, the catchment basin 109 includes a recirculating pool area and a drain area.

[0029] The shower 100 further includes a pump 110 for pumping the water from the reservoir 108 (or the recirculating pool area) back to the showerhead 106. In some embodiments, the pump 110 is either located directly above or mounted to the reservoir 108. Although not shown, the pump 100 may be connected to other components for enabling the pump to pump the collected shower water.

[0030] The first water supply 102 and the second water supply 104 are connected to separate ports within the dual-port showerhead 106 with the first water supply 102 connected to a first port 112 of the showerhead 106 and the second water supply 104 connected to a second port 114 of the showerhead 106. The dual ports separate the two water paths and enable the two water paths to be controlled such that they may exit at different rates or pressures.

[0031] The first water supply 102 may include a hot water line 116 and a cold water line 118 that are connected to a mixing valve 120 that enables the water from the two water lines to be mixed in accordance with a desired temperature requested by an individual taking a shower. This mixing valve may be mechanically or electronically controlled. Temperature and flow control of water from the first water supply 102 will be understood by one skilled in the art. The water from the mixing valve 120 may pass through a solenoid valve 122 before entering the showerhead 106. The shower system may also include a flow restrictor (not shown). The water from the first water supply 102 may also receive treatment or processing as it flows from the first water supply 102 to the showerhead 106. Examples of treatment or processing include, but are not limited to, reheating, filtration, ultraviolet (LIV) disinfection, ozonation and/or dilution.

[0032] For the second water supply 104, the collected shower water is stored in the reservoir 108 (or recirculating pool area of the catchment basin) and then pumped up to the showerhead 106 via the pump 110. In some embodiments, a pump intake, located within the recirculation pool area, is connected to the pump which then pumps the collected shower water back to the showerhead. In other embodiments, the pump may be located within the recirculation pool area to directly pump the collected shower water back to the showerhead. In one embodiment, the reservoir 108 or catchment basin 109 is located underneath the shower to collect shower water from the shower. Any overflow of water that is collected in the recirculating pool area may be self-regulated to exit through a drain within the catchment basin to a sewer system 124 as with a common shower. The catchment basin 109 may provide control of the flow or amount of water to the sewer such that the path of water flow from the catchment basin to the showerhead and then back to the catchment basin may be seen as being semi-closed allowing for both containment and continuous drainage simultaneously. If a blockage or plug exists in the recirculation line, a user can switch over to the first water supply, or grid supplied fresh water supply, until the line is cleared. Characteristics of the water flow from the second water supply 104 may also be controlled.

[0033] The shower 100 further includes a water flow controller 126 that allows a user to determine which water supply to use, a temperature of the water being supplied and/or a flow rate of the water being supplied. Furthermore, in other embodiments, operation or use of the recirculating shower may be controlled either manually with preset inflow rates or electronically through firmware presets. In embodiments, where the recirculating shower is electronically controlled, individuals taking a shower may use voice commands to control devices using a human machine interface (HMI) controller.

[0034] In some embodiments, in order to maintain a preferred shower pressure and/or water temperature, a small amount of hot water may be added to the second water supply from the first water supply. The water may be added via a connection between the first water supply line and the second water supply line or the water may be added directly to the recirculation pool area. This constant addition of water to the recirculation loop (seen as the second water supply) may assist in the removal of contaminants (i.e. soaps/shampoo) through the process of gradual dilution, specifically exchanging of soap laden water with fresh grid supplied water.

[0035] In use, an individual taking a shower may decide which water supply they wish to use via the water flow controller 126. In one embodiment, the water flow controller 126 may be a combination of a switch to select between the first and second water supplies and a tap for controlling the temperature and pressure of the water. In another embodiment, the water flow controller may be a digital control that enables the user to select the water supply along with the water flow characteristics. The shower system then supplies water in accordance with the selections made by the individual, and passes the water through the pipes to the showerhead 106 where the water exits the showerhead so that the individual may take a shower or rinse. The individual may also change the water supply during the shower whereby the shower system reacts accordingly to change water supplies. In another scenario, the individual may choose to have water supplied by both the first and second water supplies concurrently.

[0036] Turning to Figure 2a, a perspective view of a catchment basin is shown. The catchment basin 200 may also be seen as a sub-floor reservoir that is positioned at a base of the shower stall alongside or adjacent plumbing associated with the permanent drain 124 or sewer connection. In one embodiment, the basin 200 (which may also be seen as the catchment basin 109) may be physically connected to a building plumbing supply, septic or equivalent drainage system. Figure 2b provides a cut-away view of the catchment basin of Figure 2a.

[0037] The catchment basin 200 includes a recirculating, or recirculation, water collection pool area, or recirculation pool area, 202 and a drain portion or drain portion area 204 that are separated by a divider wall 206. The divider wall 206 includes a slot or opening 208 for receiving a passive drain gate/plug that may provide further control with respect to water collection and/or drainage. Functionality of the passive drain gate/plug will be discussed in more detail below.

[0038] In one embodiment, the shower water that is collected from the recirculating shower in the recirculation pool area 202 is pumped back to the showerhead via the pump and the water that is collected in the drain area 204 is directed towards the sewer. The drain area 204 includes a drain entry, or cavity, 210 that is connected to piping 212 which, in turn, is connected to the building plumbing or sewer drainage, as discussed above. The drain entry 210 receives a portion of the water that is collected in the catchment basin 200 from the recirculating shower.

[0039] In the current embodiment, the basin 200 includes a raised bumper feature 214 upon which the recirculating shower or shower stall can rest while also serving as an upper containment elevation for shower water that is collected within the basin 200. In other embodiments, the basin 200 may house pipes that enable water to be fed and removed directly from the recirculation pool area to a remote storage and/or water control area that controls flow of clean water to and shower water from the recirculation pool area.

[0040] The basin 200 may further include a corrugated edge 216 that provides rigidity to the basin 200. The edge 216 may also provide a visual indicator to assist in leveling the catchment basin 200 during an installation process. In other words, the corrugation or corrugated edge 216 may assist an individual installing the catchment basin 200.

[0041] In one embodiment, a surface 218 of the recirculation pool area 202 is contoured or angled towards the drain area 204 such that any collected water is first collected within the recirculation pool area and then travels from the recirculation pool area 202 towards the drain area 204. If the plug is installed, the flow of water from the recirculation pool area 202 to the drain area 204 is reduced, slowed or restricted as the water may still travel over the divider wall 206. In the current embodiment, the drain entry 210 may be a predetermined-sized passive drainage orifice or hole that may be located at a lowest point of the catchment basin 200. In other embodiments, the surfaces of the recirculation pool area 202 and the drain area 204 may be aligned whereby the catchment basin 200 may be installed at an angle such that the water flows (due to gravity) from the recirculation pool area 202 to the drain area 204. Alternatively, the catchment basin may include other apparatus for directing or causing collected water to travel from the recirculation pool area 202 towards the drain area 204.

[0042] In the current embodiment, the divider wall 206 is positioned to be lower in elevation than the raised bumper feature 214 to permit an overflow of water from the recirculation pool area 202 to the drain entry 210 or drain area 204. The pipe, or piping 212, which may be referred to as a stack, connects the drain entry 210 to the building plumbing system or sewer. The pipe 212 may include a sewer drain collar 220 (located within the drain entry 210) that is fastened or bonded in place with the basin 200 to form a watertight connection.

[0043] A passive drain gate/plug 220, which may be part of the catchment basin 200, that fits or is sized to fit within the opening 208 in the basin 200 between the recirculation pool area 202 and the drain area 204 may be installed to restrict or reduce the flow of water through the passive drainage (lowest point of plug). The plug 220 may also create an overflow situation (where water travels or flows over a top of plug) to promote volume balancing of the collected water between the recirculating pool area 202 and the drain area 204.

[0044] Figure 3 provides an enlarged side view of the catchment basin installed within a recirculating shower. In the current embodiment, the catchment basin 200 is embedded or integrated below a shower floor or shower pan surface 300 thereby allowing or providing for collection and drainage of water from the recirculating shower. In some embodiments, the basin 200 may be secured to the shower stall subfloor 304 via fasteners. The basin may also be mounted to a vertical wall panel of the shower stall. By fastening the catchment basin to shower stall or floor components, shifting or movement of the catchment basin during or after its installation may be reduced or prevented. In other embodiments, the catchment basin 200 may be part of the shower floor or shower pan 300 whereby the catchment basin includes similar shape, height parameters and design features of the shower pan whereby the shower pan can encompass the entire floor surface area of the shower stall. This may be seen as an “integrated shower pan” embodiment.

[0045] As can be seen, the shower floor 300 may be slightly tilted to assist the water in flowing towards the catchment basin 200 which effectively allows the catchment basin 200 to become the lowest collection point of water in the recirculating shower. The tilted or slanted shower floor 300 may be positioned by adding some leveling material 302 underneath the floor 300 with respect to the installation of the catchment basin 200 within the shower stall. The leveling material may be foam, wood, cement or other similar materials. As discussed above, for embodiments where the catchment basin includes a corrugated edge 216, the corrugated edge 216 can be used as a visual indicator by the installer to determine how much leveling material is required in order to align the shower floor and the catchment basin.

[0046] The water that is collected in the recirculation pool area of the catchment basin 200 can be pumped back to the showerhead via a recirculation shower apparatus 306 (which may include a pump).

[0047] In order to better understand the benefit and/or functionality of the catchment basin, a description of the path of water through the catchment basin is provided.

[0048] While an individual is taking a shower, water from the showerhead (or within the shower stall) falls onto the shower or shower pan floor and flows or is directed into the recirculation pool area of the catchment basin. Based on the installation or positioning of the catchment basin, water is directed to initially collect in the recirculation pool area.

[0049] Due to the positioning of the recirculation pool area with respect to the drain area, collected shower water travels from the recirculation pool area towards the drain area. Any collected shower water that is not actively being pumped back into the recirculating shower is guided towards the drain area either by the contoured/sloped surface of the catchment basin, by the positioning of the installed catchment basin or by other apparatus or means.

[0050] In some embodiments, if the passive drainage plug is installed or located within the slot, the collected water may be stopped or slowed from entering the drain area. If the passive drainage plug is not installed, as the water travels from the recirculation pool area to the drain area, the collected water freely passes through the slot, which may also be seen as an air gap. The slot is designed to allow for independent pressures to exist between the recirculation pool area and the drain area with one pressure zone being located within the recirculation pool area and the second pressure area being located within the drain area. This is achieved by separating the elevations of the water by height and space via the partitioning of the two areas.

[0051] During operation or use of the recirculating shower, it is preferred that the plug is located within the slot so that more shower water can be collected in the recirculation pool area for use as the second water supply. At the end of the shower session, the plug can be removed so that there is a somewhat full and complete drainage of the collected water via the drain cavity 210 to the sewer in response to greywater classification limitations. These limitations pose significant regulatory requirements on water recycling technologies that store or hold water for extended periods of time (beyond a single shower session). This type of system is typically referred to as a storage based greywater system. The potential risk for stagnation of water allowed to remain in a recirculation pool after the shower session provides an opportunity for microbiological growth (bio-film) to thrive in the greywater. In the absence of multi-stage treatment of the collected water, long-term storage of the collected water should be avoided. Therefore, removal of the plug after the shower has been completed allows all the collected water to be drained.

[0052] Figure 4a provides a top view of a catchment basin and Figure 4b is a cross- sectional side view of the basin. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a novel approach to incorporate a fully air gapped separation between the recirculation pool area and the drain area. This physical separation by way of the air gap (or slot) allows for independent pressures to exist between the recirculation pool area and the drain area during operation of the recirculating shower. The existence of the two pressures reduces the likelihood of “back-flow” or reverse siphon that occurs when a pressure imbalance between the recirculating shower and the municipal grid (or first) water supply exists. In other words, the elevation differences create a hydraulic disconnect between the two zones.

[0053] As shown in Figure 4b, a surface 400 of the catchment basin 402 is sloped from the recirculation pool area 404 to the drain area 406 with a divider wall 408 therebetween. The divider wall 408 includes the slot or gap 410 that acts as the air gap.

[0054] Turning to Figure 5a, a perspective view of the passive drain plug installed in the catchment basin is shown while Figure 5b is a perspective view of the passive drain plug removed from the catchment basin.

[0055] When the passive drain plug 500 is installed in its corresponding slot 502 within the divider wall 504, it reduces or stops water from traveling between the recirculation pool area and the sewer/drain cavity area. In some embodiments, while the collected shower water is not able to pass through the slot 502, the collected shower water may still flow over the installed drain plug 500 if the level of water in the recirculation pool area is higher than the top of the divider wall 504 and drain plug 500. In Figure 5b, when the drain plug 500 is removed, there is a more constant flow of water from the recirculation pool area to the drain area or drain cavity and a higher rate of flow.

[0056] As can be seen in Figure 5b, in some embodiments, the drain plug 500 may include a purposely-sized orifice 506 to permit the flow of collected water from recirculation pool area to the sewer drain cavity even when the plug is installed in the divider wall 504. The size of the orifice 506 has a direct relationship with respect to the corresponding rate of drainage. As such, the size of the orifice may be selected to control different attributes of the shower water flow or drainage. These attributes may include, but are not limited to, a replacement rate of fresh grid supplied water into the recirculation water supply, a time required to achieve full drainage of the recirculation pool area at the end of a shower session, a volume of water that is controlled with respect to soap or bubble accumulation and/or water and/or energy efficiency of the recirculating shower. The embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b provide an alternative embodiment to the use of a mechanical actuator to control recirculation pool area volume and drainage. The current disclosure provides an advantage over other systems since there is no reliance on an electronically (i.e. a float) or mechanically (i.e. a solenoid) controlled actuator valve and the corresponding risk of flooding of the shower cavity can be reduced should the electronically or mechanically controlled actuator fail.

[0057] Turning to Figure 6, a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment is shown. In the current embodiment, the divider wall does not include a slot and is a solid divider wall whereby the catchment basin 600 includes a designed spillway 602 or designed top surface between a recirculation pool area 610 and a drain cavity area 612. The designed top surface may be seen as a form factor that is designed to, in one embodiment, skim soap suds from a surface of the collected shower water. The spillway 602 balances the volume of allowable water (seen as water level 603) in the recirculation pool area 610 at any given time whereby any excess or supplemented water 604 may be added to the recirculation pool area to maintain a temperature of the second water supply, remove contaminants (i.e. soap/shampoos) from the second water supply and/or maintain second water supply volume requirements or thresholds. In one embodiment, the volume of water that can be collected in the recirculation pool area may be selected to less than approximately five liters. This allows for the mixing of fresh water (supplied by the first water supply as 604) to improve the quality of the water that is being supplied to the showerhead as the second water supply. Furthermore, the low-volume design attributes for a quicker recovery of soiled recirculation water to be recovered back to clear through mixing or addition in the shortest amount of time as possible. In general, a low volume of water replenished frequently is preferred.

[0058] The embodiment of Figure 6 may also reduce the risk of flooding when compared with current mechanical valve approaches to shower water drainage as the requirement to balance water being supplied back to the showerhead versus the water being drained away to the sewer system is controlled.

[0059] Another advantage of the embodiment of Figure 6 is that the spillway 602 may be designed to actively skim off soap suds and bubbles from the surface of shower water collected in the recirculation pool area before it travels into the sewer drain cavity. In other words, the top of the divider wall and/or the top of the drain plug may include features that or be shaped to facilitate or promote the skimming of soap suds and bubbles from the surface of the collected shower water as it passes from the recirculation pool area to the drain area. As such, the spillway 602 may provide for the expedited removal of soap suds and bubbles leading to improved water quality for the user during a recirculating shower session.

[0060] Turning to Figure 7a, a perspective view of another embodiment of a catchment basin is shown. Figure 7b provides a top view of the basin and Figure 7c provides a bottom perspective view of the basin. Figure 7d provides a perspective view of the catchment basin with the drain plug installed. Figure 7e is a perspective view of a drain plug.

[0061] The catchment basin 700 includes a recirculation pool area 702 and a drain area 704 with a divider wall 706 therebetween. The divider wall 706 includes a slot 708 that receives a drain plug 710 (as shown in Figure 7d) that provides the same functionality as the divider plug discussed above. The slot 708 of Figure 7a is shorter and wider than the slot of Figure 1. The basin 700 further includes an elevated back wall 712 that includes holes 714 whereby the basin 700 can be fastened or attached to a wall.

[0062] As shown in Figure 7e, the plug 710 includes an orifice 716 whereby when the plug is installed within the slot 708, collected shower water can still travel from the recirculation pool area 702 to the drain area 704 without having to pass over the plug 710.

[0063] In other embodiments, the catchment basin of the disclosure may be installed in recreational vehicles and/or marine and off grid applications.

[0064] Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described herein with reference to various embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the elements of the embodiments may be combined in other ways to create further embodiments and also other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims.

[0065] In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details may not all be required. In other instances, well-known structures may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the understanding.