AU2004203216A1 - Shower Assembly - Google Patents

Description

SHOWER ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a shower assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a water saving shower assembly.

Generally, water saving shower assemblies comprises a constricting device mounted within the bore extending into the showerhead. These constricting devices are typically removable so that in areas where there is low-water pressure they may be removed to allow sufficient flow to the showerhead. One of the disadvantages with the use of such constricting devices is that they may be removed, even in areas of good water pressure, thereby obviating the water saving advantages.

We have found that an articulated water saving shower assembly that includes no readily removable parts whereby the water saving features of the shower assembly cannot be readily circumvented or provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. According to the present invention there is provided an articulated shower assembly comprising a showerhead pivotally mounted on ball joint wherein the ball joint comprises a ball member adapted for connection to a water supply, with the ball member comprising a conduit through which water can pass to the showerhead, wherein the ball member further comprises a bore extending from the periphery of the ball member into said conduit.

The introduction of air, mixed with the water increases the volume of flow and the apparent flow to the user. Without wishing to be bound by theory it is believed that air bubbles in the water burst on contact with the user and the bursting of the air bubbles assists in dispersing the water over the skin of the user. It is believed that less water bounces off the user without providing a cleansing benefit and the water usage is therefore more efficient.

An articulated shower assembly allows the showerhead to be oriented for the user, generally dependent upon the height and preference of the user. The articulated shower assembly includes a ball joint allowing free rotation of the showerhead within defined limits.

The shower assembly of the present invention comprises a showerhead.

The configurations of the showerhead is not narrowly critical and a variety of configurations, from a simple rose to more complex adjustable showerheads, may be used.

The showerhead is pivotally mounted on ball joint. The ball joint comprises a ball member that may be received within a socket. The ball member is adapted for connection to a water supply. Typically the ball member is connected to a water supply by screwing the shaft of the ball member into a plumbing fitting attached to the end of the water supply. The shaft may be provided with a thread terminating with a flange limiting the extent to which the shaft may be received within the plumbing fitting. This allows for the shower assembly to be oriented by manipulation of the ball joint without interference from a plumbing fitting or the wall to which it is attached.

The showerhead may include a socket. Preferably the socket may be formed with a sealable inner surface against which the ball of the ball member may be disposed. The sealable inner surface may be formed of a rigid material, machined to high tolerance. A seal may also be provided on a collar that holds the ball in the socket. Alternatively, the sealable inner surface of the socket may be formed from a deformable material thereby potentially obviating the need to provide a seal on a collar for holding the ball the socket. A suitable collar may be provided without requiring the presence of a seal.

The ball member comprises a conduit through which water can pass to the showerhead. In a preferred configuration the conduit may be a longitudinal bore extending through the ball member and through a shaft for attaching the ball member to a plumbing fitting. Advantageously, the conduit terminates in an orifice centrally positioned on the remote end of the ball of the ball member. In a preferred configuration the conduit is in the form of an axial bore through the ball member. By centrally positioning the orifice of the conduit on the ball of the ball member it is possible to obtain a greater range of movement of the showerhead without interfering with water flow through the conduit into the showerhead.

It is preferred that the conduit include a primary chamber that extends through the shaft and opens into a larger diameter secondary chamber within the ball member. The ratio of the diameters of the primary and secondary chambers may be selected to optimise mixing of air into the water. The transition from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber is preferably stepped. Typically the diameter of the primary chamber is approximately 3 mm and the diameter of the secondary chamber is approximately 5 mm. Other ratios may be used, or similar ratios of different diameters may be used.

The secondary chamber may be of uniform cross-section or may open towards the end of the ball to provide a larger orifice through which water can pass into the showerhead. Advantageously, the secondary chamber may be rifled.

The bore extending from the periphery of the ball member into the conduit to allow the introduction of air is preferably a lateral bore extending into a collar and immediately below the ball of the ball member. Typically the diameter of the bore is in a range of from 0.5 to 10 mm and preferably 2.0 to 3.2 mm, although the diameter of the bore will be dependent upon the dimensions of the conduit extending longitudinally through the ball member. It is preferred with that the diameter of the lateral bore is no bigger than the diameter of the primary chamber.

We have found that the larger the diameter of the secondary chamber the longer the desired length of the secondary chamber. As length of the secondary chamber increases the vacuum increases and accordingly the smaller the desirable diameter of the bore for the introduction of air.

As water flows through the conduit, air is sucked into the conduit by the vacuum created by the water flow. The air is mixed with the water thereby increasing the volume of fluid passing through the conduit. In this way, the volume of water required to operate the showerhead it is reduced. By using air introduced through a bore to provide the water saving feature a number of advantages are provided. The bore may be integrally formed with the shower assembly and not readily frustrated by a user wanting to circumvent the water saving feature of the shower assembly.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of a showerhead of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a ball joint according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a digital photograph of a shower assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a digital photograph of the shower assembly of Figure 3 oriented on the ball joint.

Figure 5 is a digital photograph of the ball member of the ball joint used in the shower assembly shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a digital photograph of the ball member shown in Figure Figure 7 shows the base member of the shower assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 8 shows a collar used in the shower assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9 shows the ball seat in the shower assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 10 shows the top view of the ball seat.

Figure 11 shows the outer housing of the shower assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 12 shows the inner conduit of the shower assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 13 shows the rose housing of the shower assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 14 shows the assembled shower assembly with a profile of the rose mounted on the showerhead.

Figure 1 shows a shower assembly I having a base 2 into which a ball member 3 is mounted. A collar 4 retains the ball member 3 in the ball seat 5. Ball seat 5 retains an outer housing 6 through which a conduit 7 is disposed. The conduit 7 is fluidly connected to a showerhead support 8 which showerhead support 8, which showerhead support 8 is retained on the outer housing 6. A shower rose 9 is mounted on the showerhead support 8.

Figure 2 shows the ball member 3. The ball member 3 has a base with a screw thread 11. Through the base 10 is a primary chamber 12. A flange 13 ensures that the ball member is maintained in the desired location on the base member 2. At the neck 14 of the ball member 3 there is a peripheral orifice 15. Within the ball 16 of the ball member 3 there is a secondary chamber 17 into which the peripheral orifice 15 opens. As water passes through the primary chamber 12 into the secondary chamber 17 air is drawn into the secondary chamber through the peripheral orifice Figure 3 and Figure 4 show shower assembly 1. The base member 2 has a cut-away section 18 that allows a tool to rotate the base member and screw the base member through an internal thread (not shown) onto a water supply.

Figures 5 and 6 show the ball member 3. Ball member 3 has a base portion 10 and a screw thread 11 on the base portion 10. Flange 13 can be used to position the ball member 3 in the base 2. A peripheral aperture is positioned in the neck 14 of the ball member. The ball member has a primary chamber 12 and a secondary chamber 17.

The ball member 3 is screwed into a base member 2 into a threaded orifice 19 as shown in Figure 7. A collar 4 as shown in Figure 8 holds the ball member 3 in the ball seat 5. The collar 4 shown in Figure 8 includes a threaded portion 20 that screws into the base of the ball seat 5 shown in Figure 9. A rubber member 21 forms the seat within the ball seat 5. The ball seat 5 includes a top section having a stepped portion for receiving the outer housing and the conduit.

Figure 11 shows the outer housing 6 and Figure 12 shows the conduit 7 with threaded ends 22 and 23 for screwing into the ball seat 5 and showerhead support 8 respectively. Figure 13 shows the showerhead support that has a chamber 25 and a extension 24 into which a screw retains the shower rose 9 in place. The screw 26 passes through the centre of the shower rose 9 and retains it on the showerhead support 8 as shown in Figure 14.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope of thereof. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described above may be subject to improvements and modifications that will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.

Claims (14)

1. An articulated shower assembly comprising a showerhead pivotally mounted on ball joint wherein the ball joint comprises a ball member adapted for connection to a water supply, with the ball member comprising a conduit through which water can pass to the showerhead, wherein the ball member further comprises a bore extending from the periphery of the ball member into said conduit.

2. An articulated shower assembly according to claim 1 wherein the showerhead includes a socket.

3. An articulated shower assembly according to claim 2 wherein the socket has a sealable inner surface against which the ball member may be disposed.

4. An articulated shower assembly according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the showerhead includes a removable collar that retains the ball member in the socket.

An articulated shower assembly according to claim 4 wherein the collar includes a seal.

6. An articulated shower assembly according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the conduit is a longitudinal bore extending through the ball member and through a shaft for attaching the ball member to a plumbing fitting.

7. An articulated shower assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the conduit is in the form of an axial bore through the ball member.

8. An articulated shower assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the conduit include a primary chamber that extends through the shaft and opens into a larger diameter secondary chamber within the ball member.

9. An articulated shower assembly according to claim 8 wherein the primary chamber has a diameter of approximately 3 mm and the secondary chamber has a diameter of approximately 5 mm.

An articulated shower assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the bore extending from the periphery of the ball member into the conduit to allow the introduction of air is a lateral bore extending through a collar adjacent the ball of the ball member.

11. An articulated shower assembly according to claim 10 wherein the diameter of the bore is in a range of from 2.0 to 3.2 mm.

12. An articulated shower assembly according to any one of claims I to 11 wherein the ball member is connected to a water supply by screwing a shaft extending from the ball member into a plumbing fitting attached to the end of the water supply.

13. An articulated shower assembly according to claim 11 wherein the shaft has a thread terminating with a flange limiting the extent to which the shaft may be received within the plumbing fitting.

14. An articulated shower assembly substantially as herein above described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 1 6 th day of July 2004 Richard West and Warren A Ewing By Their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.