US3675251A

US3675251A - Portable bathing shower

Info

Publication number: US3675251A
Application number: US110429A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold Ruscher Jr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-01-28
Filing date: 1971-01-28
Publication date: 1972-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-11
Also published as: CA956054A

Abstract

A container having an outlet opening in its upper end is suspended in an inverted position, and communicates with a shower head composed of a container having a perforated bottom, so that liquid within the container is discharged intermittently to the shower head under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the container, and the liquid is discharged constantly from the shower head as a shower of the liquid. The device is well suited for use by campers.

Description

United States Patent Ruscher, Jr.

[54] PORTABLE BATHING SHOWER [72] inventor: Hamid Rtncher, Jr., RD. l, Box 224,

Katonah, N.Y. W536 [221 Filed: Jill-28,1971

[2|] Appl.No.: 110,429

[52] U.S.Cl. 4/151 [51] .......A47k $122,501) l H00 [58] Fielda!Search......................4/l5|,145,152, 153, I54,

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1.398.208 ll/l92l Trial ..4/lSl [45] July 11, 1972 l,844,038 2/ l 932 Hooker .l ..4/ l 51 2,364,991 l2/l944 Marshall.. 19/77 3,077,609 2/1963 Siline ..4/l 51 Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross At!orne -Burgess, Dinldage 84 Sprung ABSTRACT A container having an outlet opening in its upper end is suspended in an inverted position, and communicates with a shower head composed of a container having a perforated bottom, so that liquid within the container is discharged intermittently to the shower head under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the container. and the liquid is discharged constantly from the shower head as a shower of the liquid. The device is well suited for use by campers.

PMENTEDJUL 1 1 m2 FIG] INVENTOR HAROLD RUSCHERJR & SPRUNG ATTORNEYS.

PORTABLE BATHING suowan INTRODUCTION This invention is concerned with portable bathing showers suitable for use by campers.

My shower is based on and utilizes a Torricellian vacuum. Numerous devices for dispensing liquid employ that principle. including one common type of office drinking fountain, and and animal watering devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,364,991 and 2,7ll,7l5. Such prior art devices supply intermittent demands for water. In my application of the Torricellian principle, however. a constant demand is met.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The shower of the invention comprises a reservoir container for holding a supply of liquid, having an outlet opening at its upper end and being rigid so that a Torricellian vacuum can be developed therein. Means are provided for suspending the reservoir container in an inverted position for flow of liquid through the outlet. A shower head is provided for receiving liquid from the reservoir outlet. The shower head can be, and preferably is, open at the top to the atmosphere and has a perforated bottom for dispersement of liquid received thereby, as a shower. The shower head could be a closed container except for the perforations in the bottom, in which case, in use, the container would communicate with the atmosphere for passage of air for displacement, via the said perforations. Conduit means communicate the outlet opening of the reservoir container with the shower head container for delivery of liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container. Liquid discharges intermittently from the reservoir container to the shower head container under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the container, and discharges constantly from the shower head container.

The suspending means for suspending the reservoir container in an inverted position can be a connector secured to the reservoir for attachment to a hanger for hanging the shower from a support, e.g., a branch. See FIG. 1.

If desired, the invention can be practiced without a reservoir container outfitted with a connector. Thus, a sling can be provided for holding the container in an inverted position, together with the shower head, and suspending means for suspending the sling and thereby the reservoir container from a support.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a shower according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of the shower shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 66 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of an embodiment wherein a sling is used; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

In the drawings, like reference characters refer to the same or corresponding parts.

Referring to FIGS. l-6, the device includes a reservoir container 10 for holding a supply of liquid having an outlet open 11, and otherwise being a closed container. The container 10 is rigid, so that a Torricellian vacuum can be developed therein. It can be constructed of metal. Alternatively, it can be constructed of plastic, provided the design is such that the container does not collapse in response to vacuum developed therein, to prevent the development of a vacuum.

Means are provided for suspending the reservoir container in an inverted position. More particularly, a recess 14 (FIG. 2) is provided adjacent the bottom of the container, and a bar 13 is fixedly mounted in the recess. The bar 13 serves as the suspending means, and constitutes a connector for disposing of the container in the inverted position. One end of an S-hook I5 is in engagement with the bar 13, and a rope 16 engages the other end of the S-hooit. By means of the rope 16, the container is hung from the branch 17. If desired, the hanger, i.e., the rope 16, can be connected directly to the bar 13. The other end of the rope is secured to, for example, the trunk of the tree providing the branch 18 to provide the container at a fixed elevation.

The use of the rope 16 as the hanger for the shower facilitates the rigging. The free end of the rope can be thrown over a branch and can then be used to lift the shower to the desired elevation, whereupon the free end can be secured to the tree trunk. In this practice, the level of the shower can be set by raising or lowering the rope, and is not dependent on the height of the branch.

A shower head container 18, open at the top to the atmosphere and having perforations 19 in its bottom, is disposed beneath the container 10 by way of suspending means in the form of hooks 20, which engage holes in the shower head container 18, and strings 21, which pass through the hand opening 12 of the container. Ifdesired, the strings 21 can be connected with the threaded cap 23 of spout 24, shortly to be described, instead of connecting with the hand opening 12. In such an alternative embodiment, the number of pieces to be assembled would be reduced, as the strings 21 could be permanently connected to the cap 23. Conduit means communicate the outlet opening 11 of the container 10 with the shower head container 18. Thus, a spout 24 composed of a tube 22 and threaded cap 23 is threaded onto the outlet opening 11 for conveying of liquid from the container 10 to the shower head 18.

A valve is provided for controlling flow from container 10 to the shower head 18. More particularly, a shutoff valve 25 is mounted on the tube 22. The provision of such a valve makes it possible to prevent discharge of liquid from the container during the setting up of the shower. The valve shown is composed of a frame 26, clamp 27, stem 28, and handle 29. The stem 28 is connected to the clamp 27 so that the stem can turn relative to the clamp, and the ends of the clamp are disposed in grooves 30 (FIG. 5) in the frame 26, so that as the handle 29 is turned, the clamp 27 can be moved to open or close the tube 26, as desired.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the container 10 is not outfitted with suspending means as in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. Rather, the suspending means comprises a sling composed of side straps 32, end strap 33, and connecting strap 34. These straps can be formed of textile material. A hanger 31 in the form of a metal strip having a U-shaped end is provided for hanging of the assembly from the branch 17. The shower head container 18 is suspended from the sling by textile straps 35 which connect with one of the side straps 32. Instead of the metal strip 31, a rope can be used as the hanger.

OPERATION Referring to FIG. 7, a body of liquid 38 is present in the container 10. Liquid flows through conduit 22 into the shower head container 18, providing a body of liquid 39 therein. As taught by Torricelli, the liquid in shower head container 18 rises to a level above the outlet opening 41 of conduit 22, whereupon passage of air into the container 10 is interrupted and a vacuum develops in the space above the body of liquid 38 in container 10. Atmospheric pressure acting on the liquid in shower head container 18 prevents further discharge of liquid from container 10 to container 18. As the shower of liquid 40 discharges from shower head container 18, the level of the liquid in shower head container 18 falls, and when it reaches the level of the opening 41 of conduit 22, air passes into container 10, breading the vacuum, allowing more water to flow into the shower head 18. The level in the shower head 18 again rises to above the discharge opening 41 of conduit 22, and then the flow to shower head 18 is again interrupted. This cycle continues, with the flow of liquid into the shower head 18 being intermittent while there is a constant discharge of shower 40 from the shower head 18 The container can have a capacity of about l.53.5 gallons, preferably about 2-3 gallons, or better, about 2.5 gallons. The shower head container 18 can be a cup of about 6-10 inches in diameter and having a height of about 3-5 inches. I have found that a container having a capacity of about 2.5 gallons, outfitted with a shower head container of about 6 inches diameter and 4 inches in height and having about 18 holes of about one-sixteenth to three sixteenths inches diameter, is well suited for the purposes of the invention. Thereby a shower of about about 3% to 5 minutes duration can be obtained.

In place of recess 14 and bar 13 shown in FIGS. l3, an ear having an aperture therein can be mounted on the side of the container 10, so that the ear projects outwardly from the side wall of the container.

What is claimed is:

l. A shower suitable for use by campers comprising:

a. a reservoir container for holding a supply of liquid having an outlet opening at its upper end, and being rigid so that a Torricellian vacuum can be developed therein,

b. suspending means for suspending the reservoir container in an inverted position for flow of liquid through the outlet,

c. a shower head container having a top communicating with the atmosphere and a perforated bottom for dispersement of liquid contained therein as a shower thereof,

d. conduit means communicating the outlet opening of the reservoir container with the shower head container for delivery of liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container for intermittent discharge of the liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the container, and constant discharge of liquid from the shower head container, with the reservoir container inverted and holding a supply of liquid.

2. A shower according to claim 1, said conduit means being outfitted with a shutoff valve.

3. A shower according to claim 1, and suspending means for the shower head container for suspending the shower head container beneath the reservoir container.

4. A shower according to claim 1, and hanger means attached to the suspending means for hanging the shower from a support.

5. A shower according to 1,

said suspending means being a connector secured to the reservoir container for cooperation with a hanger for hanging the shower from a support,

and including suspending means for the shower head container for suspending the shower head container beneath the reservoir container.

6. A shower according to claim 5, and hanger means attached to the suspending means for hanging the shower from a support.

7. A shower according to claim 6, said conduit means being outfitted with a shutoff valve.

8. A shower according to claim I, said suspending means for the reservoir container comprising a sling for holding the container in the inverted position, and including suspending means for the shower head container for suspending the shower head container beneath the reservoir container.

9. A shower according to claim 8, and hanger means attached to the suspending means for hanging the shower from a support.

10. A shower according to claim 9, said conduit means being outfitted with a shutoff valve.

11. A shower according to claim 10, the suspending means for the shower head container suspending the shower head container from the sling.

12. A shower sub-assembly for use with a reservoir container for holding a supply of liquid having an outlet opening at its upper end, and being rigid so that a Torricellian vacuum can be developed therein, to form a shower suitable for use by campers, comprising:

a. a sling for the reservoir container for holding the reservoir container in an inverted position for development of said Torricellian vacuum and the flow of liquid through the reservoir container outlet opening,

b. a shower head container having a top communicating with the atmosphere and a perforated bottom for dispersement of liquid contained therein as a shower thereof,

. a shower head container suspending means for suspending the shower head container for receiving liquid from the reservoir when the reservoir is in the inverted position holding a supply of liquid, via a conduit means communicating the outlet opening of the reservoir container with the shower head container for inten-nittent discharge of the liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the reservoir container, and constant discharge of liquid from the shower head container.

13. A sub-assembly according to claim 12, said shower head container suspending means suspending the shower head container from the sling.

14. A sub-assembly according to claim 12, including said conduit means for communicating the reservoir outlet opening with the shower head container.

15. A sub-assembly according to claim 14, said conduit means being outfitted with a shutoff valve.

16. A sub-assembly according to claim 12, and hanger means attached to the sling for hanging the shower from a support.

17. A sub-assembly according to claim 12, said shower head container suspending means, suspending the shower head container from the sling, and including said conduit means for communicating the reservoir outlet opening with the shower head container, and hanger means attached to the sling for hanging the shower from a support.

18. A sub-assembly according to claim 17, said conduit means being outfitted with a shutoff valve.

* I. I l 1'

Claims

1. A shower suitable for use by campers comprising: a. a reservoir container for holding a supply of liquid having an outlet opening at its upper end, and being rigid so that a Torricellian vacuum can be developed therein, b. suspending means for suspending the reservoir container in an inverted position for flow of liquid through the outlet, c. a shower head container having a top communicating with the atmosphere and a perforated bottom for dispersement of liquid contained therein as a shower thereof, d. conduit means communicating the outlet opening of the reservoir container with the shower head container for delivery of liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container for intermittent discharge of the liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the container, and constant discharge of liquid from the shower head container, with the reservoir container inverted and holding a supply of liquid.

5. A shower according to 1, said suspending means being a connector secured to the reservoir container for cooperation with a hanger for hanging the shower from a support, and including suspending means for the shower head container for suspending the shower head container beneath the reservoir container.

8. A shower according to claim 1, said suspending means for the reservoir container comprisiNg a sling for holding the container in the inverted position, and including suspending means for the shower head container for suspending the shower head container beneath the reservoir container.

12. A shower sub-assembly for use with a reservoir container for holding a supply of liquid having an outlet opening at its upper end, and being rigid so that a Torricellian vacuum can be developed therein, to form a shower suitable for use by campers, comprising: a. a sling for the reservoir container for holding the reservoir container in an inverted position for development of said Torricellian vacuum and the flow of liquid through the reservoir container outlet opening, b. a shower head container having a top communicating with the atmosphere and a perforated bottom for dispersement of liquid contained therein as a shower thereof, c. a shower head container suspending means for suspending the shower head container for receiving liquid from the reservoir when the reservoir is in the inverted position holding a supply of liquid, via a conduit means communicating the outlet opening of the reservoir container with the shower head container for intermittent discharge of the liquid from the reservoir container to the shower head container under control of Torricellian vacuum developed in the reservoir container, and constant discharge of liquid from the shower head container.