AU2006202504A1

AU2006202504A1 - Outdoor shower

Info

Publication number: AU2006202504A1
Application number: AU2006202504A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stephen Lawrence Merrett
Original assignee: MAGIC POOL PRODUCTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: MAGIC POOL PRODUCTS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-10
Filing date: 2006-06-13
Publication date: 2007-01-04

Description

Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: Magic Pool Products Pty Limited (ACN 091 809 148) ACTUAL INVENTOR: Stephen Lawrence Merrett ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: Peter Maxwell and Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 INVENTION TITLE: OUTDOOR SHOWER DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO(S): 2005 903 070 10 June 2005 AU The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:m:\docs\20061033\101191.doc The present invention relates to an outdoor shower apparatus and, in particular, to a solar heated shower apparatus for exterior use, such as around swimming pools, gardens and parks.

Conventional outdoor pool showers, in which the water delivered therefrom is heated by solar radiation, commonly have water supply popes and other plumbing fixtures supported externally on a shower column. As well as lacking aesthetic appeal, the external plumbing is prone to damage over time due to exposure to a wide variety of weather conditions, and to tampering by children or others.

It has been found by the present inventor that a more reliable and aesthetically appealing outdoor shower apparatus that delivers both cold and hot water on demand can be provided by locating the water supply pipes and other plumbing fixtures internally of the apparatus.

According to the invention, there is provided an outdoor shower apparatus comprising a substantially vertical, hollow column adapted to store water within an external wall thereof for heating by the effect of solar radiation increasing the temperature of the external wall, an inlet socket connected to the external wall for receiving a supply of water, an internal supply pipe assembly located within the column and in water flow communication between the inlet socket and a shower head that delivers water as a spray, the internal supply pipe assembly including a feed pipe from the inlet socket to a T-junction pipe fitting at which water supplied through the feed pipe is diverted by control means through either an ascending pipe or a descending pipe, the ascending pipe being connected to the shower head and the descending pipe having an open end for releasing water for storage in the column, cold water tap means and hot water tap means operably engaging the control means, wherein operation of the cold water tap means causes the control means to divert water 13/06/06 from the feed pipe to the ascending pipe to deliver cold water through the shower head, and wherein operation of the hot water tap means causes the control means to divert water stored in the column to the descending pipe and then to the ascending pipe to deliver hot water through the shower head.

Preferably, the cold and hot water tap means comprise a single tap handle that can be moved in a first direction to cause delivery of cold water through the shower head and in a second direction to cause delivery of hot water through the shower head.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig 1 is a front elevation view of an outdoor shower apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig 2 is a sectional view showing the internal supply pipe assembly of the outdoor shower apparatus of Fig 1.

The outdoor shower apparatus 10 shown in Figs 1 and 2 has a substantially vertical, hollow column 12 or tank that is sealed for storing water within an external wall 13 thereof. The column 12 is mounted on an anchor plate 14 that can be bolted to a paved or other hard surface around a swimming pool or the like. A sealing plug assembly 16 allows water drainage from the column 12 when required. The column 12 is constructed of a thermally conductive plastic material capable of absorbing the heat of the sun (solar radiation).

Connected to a lower portion of the external wall 13 of the column 12 is an inlet socket 18. The socket 18 can receive a supply of water through a garden water hose (not shown) having a terminal clip-on fitting that sealably mates with the socket 18. The socket 18 is connected within the column 12 to 13/06/06 an internal supply pipe assembly that allows water flow communication between the socket 18 and a shower head 20. The shower head 20 delivers water as a spray through a conventional shower rose fitting.

The internal supply pipe assembly includes a feed pipe 22 interconnecting the inlet socket 18 with a T-junction pipe fitting 24 at which water supplied through the feed pipe 22 is diverted by a control means or valve arrangement through either an ascending pipe 26 or a descending pipe 28.

The ascending pipe 26 is connected to the showerhead 20. The descending pipe 28 has an open end 30 for releasing water for storage in the column 12 where it may be heated by the effect of solar radiation increasing the temperature of the external wall 13.

A single tap handle 32 provides means for delivering either cold or hot water through the shower head 20 depending on the direction in which the tap handle 32 is moved by a user. Movement of the tap handle 32 in a first direction causes the control means, to which the tap handle 32 is operably engaged, to divert water from the feed pipe 22 to the ascending pipe 26 to deliver cold water through the shower head 20. Movement of the tap handle 32 in a second direction causes the control means to divert solar heated water stored in the column 12 to the descending pipe 28 and then into the ascending pipe 26 to deliver hot water through the shower head Although not shown in Figs 1 and 2, the outdoor shower apparatus may include a foot wash head connected to a portion of the external wall of the column at a height corresponding to about the level of the knee of a user. It may also include several spray nozzles operable by a button on the column for delivering a fine spray of water to about the level of the head of a user.

13/06/06 It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the outdoor shower apparatus described above without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

13/06/06

Claims

1. An outdoor shower apparatus comprising a substantially vertical, hollow column adapted to store water within an external wall thereof for heating by the effect of solar radiation increasing the temperature of the external wall, an inlet socket connected to the external wall for receiving a supply of water, an internal supply pipe assembly located within the column and in water flow communication between the inlet socket and a shower head that delivers water as a spray, the internal supply pipe assembly including a feed pipe from the inlet socket to a T-junction pipe fitting at which water supplied through the feed pipe is diverted by control means through either an ascending pipe or a descending pipe, the ascending pipe being connected to the shower head and the descending pipe having an open end for releasing water for storage in the column, cold water tap means and hot water tap means operably engaging the control means, wherein operation of the cold water tap means causes the control means to divert water from the feed pipe to the ascending pipe to deliver cold water through the shower head, and wherein operation of the hot water tap means causes the control means to divert water stored in the column to the descending pipe and then to the ascending pipe to deliver hot water through the shower head.

2. The outdoor shower apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cold and hot water tap means comprise a single tap handle that can be moved in a first direction to cause delivery of cold water through the shower head and in a second direction to cause delivery of hot water through the shower head. 13/06/06

3. The outdoor shower apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the column is mounted to an anchor plate.

4. The outdoor shower apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 and further including a sealing plug assembly for allowing water drainage from the column.

The outdoor shower apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the column is constructed of thermally conductive plastic material.

6. The outdoor shower apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 and further including a foot wash head.

7. An outdoor shower apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 13 day of June 2006 Magic Pool Products Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL AND ASSOCIATES 13/06/06