Shower Caddy With Integrated Heating Circuit and 4-Way Diverter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shower caddies do not integrate with the showerhead or utilize shower water to enhance the user's experience, lacking the ability to heat or enhance bathing fluids.
Innovation Solution
A shower caddy with a heated fluid dispenser and a 4-way diverter that heats bathing fluids and an additive infuser, which integrates with the shower system to direct heated potable water through a circuit, warming the fluids and allowing for the infusion of additives into the water stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional shower caddy is used to store bathing supplies, then storage functionality is provided, but the ability to heat or enhance bathing fluids is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (storage, heating, fluid diversion, and additive infusion) into a single integrated shower caddy system. The heating circuit is embedded within the caddy structure, and the diverter is incorporated as part of the same device, allowing the caddy to simultaneously store supplies, heat water, divert fluid flow, and infuse additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The shower caddy is designed to perform multiple functions: it stores bathing supplies, heats bathing fluids through an integrated heating circuit, diverts water flow between different outlets via a 4-way diverter, and infuses additives into the water stream. This multi-functional design transforms a simple storage device into a comprehensive shower enhancement system.
2Temperature
If heated potable water is circulated through a heating circuit to warm bathing fluid, then the bathing fluid temperature is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating circuit is designed to continuously circulate heated potable water through the bathing fluid during the shower process. Rather than heating the fluid in discrete intervals, the system maintains continuous thermal transfer as water flows through the circuit, ensuring the bathing fluid remains at the desired temperature throughout use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing heated potable water from the shower system to heat the bathing fluid, rather than requiring a separate heating source. The circulating hot water from the shower supply serves dual purposes: providing the shower experience and simultaneously heating the bathing fluids stored in the caddy.
3Ease of operation
If a 4-way diverter is integrated into the shower caddy, then water flow direction control is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter system is segmented into four distinct output pathways, each可控 independently to direct water flow to different destinations (showerhead, bathtub, sink, or outdoor spigot). This segmentation allows precise control of water distribution while organizing the complexity into manageable, separate channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The 4-way diverter acts as an intermediary component that receives heated potable water from the heating circuit and distributes it to multiple outlets. This mediator device simplifies the overall system by providing a centralized control point for water flow direction, rather than requiring separate control mechanisms for each outlet.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an additive infuser is added to the shower caddy, then bathing experience enhancement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Additives are pre-stored in a reservoir within the caddy, ready for infusion into the water stream. The system prepares the additives in advance by maintaining them in the reservoir, and upon activation, they are automatically introduced into the circulating water without requiring manual preparation or measurement during the shower.
Solution Approach 2:
The additive infuser system automatically manages the infusion process by utilizing the water flow from the diverter to carry additives from the reservoir into the water stream. The circulating water itself serves as the mechanism for transferring additives, eliminating the need for separate pumping or injection systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a heated and enhanced bathing experience by warming bathing fluids and adding olfactory and tactile enhancements, improving user satisfaction and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a heating circuit extending through the basin to conduct thermal energy from heated potable water flowing through the heating circuit to the bathing fluid within the basin
Data Source
AI summary
A shower caddy includes a 4-way diverter for attachment to a shower arm and to divert water received from the shower arm to a circuit of pipes within the shower caddy. The shower caddy further includes a heating circuit within a basin. The basin holds bathing fluids, and the heating circuit transfers heat from water traveling via the circuit of pipes to the bathing fluids within the basin. The shower caddy further includes an additive infuser attached to the circuit of pipes that infuses an additive into the water flowing through the circuit of pipes when the additive infuser is activated by a user. The circuit of pipes is further connected to a showerhead that outputs the water received from the shower arm following it being used for the heating circuit and/or having an additive infused therein.