Shower water usage indicator apparatus

Abstract

Shower water usage indicator apparatus comprises a shower head, a shower base for receiving shower water discharged from the shower head, a waste shower water outlet element for receiving runoff waste shower water from the shower base and for discharging to a drain, a controller for controlling water flow to the shower head and/or water flow from the waste shower water outlet element, a water flow rate detector for outputting a flow rate signal to the controller based on a detected water flow rate, and a water usage display element which is spaced from the water flow rate detector. A water usage indication is displayable on the water usage display element based on an output of the water flow rate detector. A data storage element stores usage data when showering, a representation of usage history based on the stored usage data being displayable on the water usage display element.

1 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus comprising a shower head, a shower base which receives shower water discharged from the shower head, a waste shower water outlet element which receives runoff waste shower water from the shower base and which discharges to a drain, a controller which controls water flow to the shower head and/or water flow from the waste shower water outlet element, a water flow rate detector which outputs a flow rate signal to the controller based on a detected water flow rate, and a water usage display element which is spaced from the water flow rate detector, a water usage indication being displayable on the water usage display element based on an output of the water flow rate detector and a data storage element which stores usage data when showering, a representation of usage history based on the stored usage data being displayable on the water usage display element. 
     
     
         2 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an interrogation device by which the data storage element is interrogatable. 
     
     
         3 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the water usage display element is part of the interrogation device. 
     
     
         4 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data storage element is part of at least one of the controller and the water usage display element. 
     
     
         5 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a shower water heater which is controllable based at least in part on the flow rate signal outputted by the water flow rate detector. 
     
     
         6 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the shower water heater is connectable to the or a further data storage element which stores energy consumption data when showering, a representation of usage history based on the stored energy consumption data being displayable on the water usage display element. 
     
     
         7 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a waste shower water pump device which moves waste shower water from the waste shower water outlet element to a drain, the pump device being controllable by the or a controller based at least in part on the flow rate signal from the water flow rate detector. 
     
     
         8 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the pump device includes the or a yet further data storage element which stores usage data when showering, a representation of usage history based on the stored usage data being displayable on the water usage display element. 
     
     
         9 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the water usage display element includes a wireless receiver which wirelessly receives a water usage signal based on the output of the water flow rate detector. 
     
     
         10 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data storage element stores recommended water usage data. 
     
     
         11 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the water usage indication displayable by the water usage display element includes the recommended water usage data. 
     
     
         12 . Shower water usage indicator apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein water flow to the shower head is controllable by the controller, and the controller can halt and/or limit water flow to the shower head based on the flow rate signal from the water flow rate detector and the recommended water usage data. 
     
     
         13 . A method of conserving water during showering, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a shower installation having an integrated water flow rate detector which outputs a flow rate signal to a controller which controls water flow to a shower head and/or water flow from a waste shower water outlet element on a shower base with a water usage display element which is spaced from the water flow rate detector, and a data storage element; b) storing in the data storage element an amount of water consumed when the shower is used and displayed on the water usage display element; and c) displaying on the water usage display element the said amount of water consumed in comparison with historical usage each time the shower is used. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising a step d), subsequent to step b), of interrogating the data storage element to retrieve usage data. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a step e) of automatically controlling the water flow to the shower head ( 22 ) based on the usage data. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein, in step b), an amount of energy consumed by a water heater of the shower installation when the shower is used is stored by the or a further data storage element.