US-20260125886-A1 - AUTOMATIC BATHTUB OVERFLOW DRAIN SENSOR AND SHUTOFF SYSTEM

US20260125886A1US 20260125886 A1US20260125886 A1US 20260125886A1US-20260125886-A1

Abstract

An automatic bathtub overflow prevention system includes a sensor positioned above a bathtub overflow drain opening and below the top edge of the tub. When the sensor detects water presence at the overflow drain location, it sends a signal to a controller that automatically beeps/sends alarms and closes electronic shut-off valves on the hot and cold water supply lines to prevent flooding.

Inventors

Michael Schimicci

Assignees

Michael Schimicci

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250828

Claims (16)

1 . A bathtub automatic overflow prevention system comprising: a sensor positioned above a bathtub overflow drain opening and below a top edge of the bathtub; a controller in communication with the sensor; a first electronic shut-off valve positioned along a hot water supply line; and a second electronic shut-off valve positioned along a cold water supply line; wherein the sensor is configured to detect water presence at the overflow drain opening and send a signal to the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to automatically close the first and second electronic shut-off valves upon receiving the signal from the sensor.
2 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to instantly send a signal to the controller after detecting water presence at the overflow drain opening or above the opening, or when the sensor senses water at the overflow drain opening or above the opening for a predetermined period of time.
3 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an adjustable sensitivity mechanism for calibrating detection parameters.
4 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, capacitive sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and conductivity sensors.
5 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electronic shut-off valves are solenoid valves.
6 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to the first and second electronic shut-off valves via low voltage wiring.
7 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes programmable logic for preventing false triggering of the shut-off valves.
8 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is removably mounted above the overflow drain opening.
9 . The overflow prevention system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a manual override function for selectively disabling automatic shut-off operation.
10 . A method for automatically preventing bathtub overflow comprising: positioning a sensor above a bathtub overflow drain opening and below a top edge of the bathtub; monitoring for water presence at the overflow drain opening using the sensor; detecting water presence at the overflow drain opening; sending a signal from the sensor to a controller upon detecting water presence; automatically closing electronic shut-off valves on hot and cold water supply lines in response to the signal from the controller.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising calibrating sensor sensitivity for detecting water presence at the overflow drain opening.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising maintaining the signal to the controller for a predetermined minimum time period before closing the electronic shut-off valves.
13 . The flow switch system of claim 1 , wherein the flow switch sensor is designed to send a signal to the flow switch after sensing water flow within the overflow drainpipe for a pre-determined period of time.
14 . The flow switch system of claim 1 , wherein the flow switch is an adjustable sensitivity flow switch.
15 . The flow switch system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electronic valves are solenoid valves.
16 . The flow switch system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to the first and second electronic valves via low voltage wiring.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/934,316, filed Nov. 1, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A bathtub overflow drain is a safety feature designed to prevent water from overflowing the tub and causing damage. The overflow drain is typically located near the top of the bathtub's wall, just below the rim. It connects to a pipe that leads to the main drain of the tub. When the water level rises and reaches the overflow drain, it flows into this pipe. The overflow drain acts as a catchment area for excess water. If someone forgets to turn off the faucet or if the water level gets too high, the overflow is designed to divert the water ensuring it does not spill over the top edge of the tub. The drain usually has a cover that can be removed for cleaning, preventing clogs caused by debris or soap scum. Conventional overflow drains, however, do not always work as intended, and the resulting flooding can often cause significant damage. Furthermore, even when overflow drains function properly, they may not provide sufficient warning or automatic protection against continued water flow that could overwhelm the drainage system. The parent application disclosed an automatic flow switch system with a sensor positioned within a tee pipe connector below the overflow drain in the overflow drainpipe. The present invention relates to an improved automatic overflow prevention system that positions a sensor above the overflow drain opening, providing faster response times and easier installation while maintaining automatic water shut-off functionality. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an automatic bathtub overflow prevention system comprising a sensor positioned above a bathtub overflow drain opening and below the top edge of the bathtub. The sensor is configured to detect the presence or flow of water at the overflow drain location and communicate directly with a controller for automatically turning off the water supply valves to the bathtub in response to detecting overflow conditions. This positioning provides several advantages over prior systems, including faster response times and its unique location to avoid faulty readings and or false alarms by detecting overflow conditions whereas the water volume can sometimes overwhelm the draining system. The sensor is specifically located at the at the top of a uniquely shaped overflow drain which allows water rise to a certain point without causing the tub to overflow when unattended. The system of the present invention allows simplified installation without requiring modification of existing plumbing infrastructure, and easier maintenance and sensor access. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automatic bathtub overflow prevention system connected to a conventional bathtub in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the automatic bathtub overflow prevention system showing sensor positioning in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention relates to an automatic overflow prevention system that can turn off the water entering a bathtub when it detects overflow conditions at the bathtub overflow drain. Unlike the parent application which positioned a sensor within the overflow drainpipe system, the present embodiment positions the sensor above the overflow drain opening, providing improved response characteristics and installation benefits. System Overview FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the automatic overflow prevention system of the present invention installed on a conventional bathtub. Bathtub 11 is connected to hot water supply line 14A and cold water supply line 14B. The hot water flows through pipe 14A, passes through electronic shut-off valve 16, and enters tub 11 via tub fill 30 or showerhead 12. Similarly, the cold water flows through line 14B, passes through electronic shut-off valve 16, and enters tub 11 via tub fill 30 or showerhead 12. The automatic overflow prevention system 10 of the present invention comprises a controller 22 that is connected to electronic shutoff valves 16, as well as to sensor 24A. As shown in FIG. 2, sensor 24A is positioned above over