Water wheel bathtub float alarm

Abstract

An alarm Abstract is provided for a bathtub and includes a method for attaching to a wall of the bathtub, one being a suction cup. A float assembly is supported by the alarm housing to engage the alarm system. To use the alarm apparatus of the invention in a bathtub, one of the three attachment methods is used to secure the housing to the wall of the bathtub. The float is adjusted to the desired height. Water is added to the bathtub, which turns a waterwheel, and when the water level lifts the float assembly a sufficient amount, the alarm system is activated and sounds a warning alarm. The alarm system includes a waterwheel that's is spinning, a thin flat plastic bar that is attached to the float. The float raises the thin plastic bar into the waterwheel thus making a loud clicking sound.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to alarm devices and, more particularly, to an alarm especially adapted for use in a bathtub to prevent an overflow of water from the bathtub. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] The potential problem of water overflowing from the bathtub is a well-known problem. Expensive water damage to floors and ceilings can quickly result when a bathtub overflows. Another problem is a loss of expensive hot water and the loss of an increasingly expensive natural resource “water”; the main cause of bathtub overflows is “human beings”; and their inabilities to do other tasks and still focus on the bathtub being filled. In this respect throughout the years a number of innovations have been developed relating to alarms to warn of potential bathtub overflow, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,258,444, 4,757,305, 4,771,272, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system provides a reliable, durable, and cost-effective solution that is easy to manufacture and install, using the water flow for energy, reducing battery dependency and maintaining simplicity while alerting users to potential overflows effectively.

Problems solved by technology

The potential problem of water overflowing from the bathtub is a well-known problem.

Expensive water damage to floors and ceilings can quickly result when a bathtub overflows.

Another problem is a loss of expensive hot water and the loss of an increasingly expensive natural resource “water”; the main cause of bathtub overflows is “human beings”; and their inabilities to do other tasks and still focus on the bathtub being filled.

The main problems that all of the forgoing body of prior art share, battery power is limited and needs to be replaced, the bathtub is a hostile environment for electrical components, all of them have delicate components that would fail if they were dropped or subjected to bathtub environment for any length of time.

Thus, while the forgoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use an alarm to signal high water in a bathtub, the prior art described above does not have the following combination of desirable features: (1) Still another feature would be desirable in a bathtub alarm apparatus utilizing the endless supply of energy of the water flow filling the tub to operate the alarm system.

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