AU2010101457A4

AU2010101457A4 - Portable shower assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2010101457A4
Application number: AU2010101457A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Oppy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-22
Filing date: 2010-12-22
Publication date: 2011-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-22

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "PORTABLE SHOWER ASSEMBLY" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: TITLE PORTABLE SHOWER ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to devices for providing a bathing facility in outdoor environments. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a portable shower assembly. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 10 There are many instances where a person(s) may be located in an environment where bathing facilities are not readily available. Such instances include camping, boating, beach activities or other types of outdoor environments. Thus, there is a need to provide bathing facilities in these situations. 15 There have been many devices developed for use as a portable shower. Examples of these devices include showers having a nozzle or shower rose connected to a tank which can be hung from a tree, or mounted in an elevated position, so that the dispensed water can fall on the person positioned beneath the nozzle or shower rose. However, one main drawback 20 of these devices is that they are difficult to adjust to suit users of different heights. Other shower devices include a hand-held shower nozzle connected via a hose to a tank, wherein the tank can be worn as a backpack on a person's back. The tank is provided with a pump for delivering water from the tank to be dispensed from the nozzle. While these backpack devices suit 2 users of different heights, the device can be cumbersome to wear and it does not provide the freedom of a hands-free shower. Use of these prior art devices has mainly been limited to camping and outdoor sporting enthusiasts as they are often complex in construction, 5 difficult and inconvenient to use manually and expensive to manufacture. United States Patent No. 5,161,266 describes a portable shower comprising a tank having a vertical post and a shower head connected thereto. A manually operated air-pressure foot pump is connected to the tank to pressurise the tank and deliver water from the tank to the shower head. 10 While the components of the portable shower can be disassembled for storage and transport, manual operation of the pump makes this portable shower laborious to use. The portable shower also cannot be adjusted to suit users of different heights. United States Patent Application No. 20080313801 describes a 15 telescoping shower for a boat comprising telescopic members of decreasing diameter that collapse inside a fishing pole holder for storage and extend upwardly when in use. An upper telescopic member has a nozzle for spraying water onto a user. An adaptable fitting attached to the bottom of the fishing pole holder comprises a water supply fitting for attaching to a water 20 supply to conduct water to the telescopic members. While the telescoping shower is adjustable to suit users of different heights, it is restricted to use on a fishing boat and is not portable for use elsewhere. In this specification, the terms "comprises", "comprising" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly 3 and/or portable shower that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 5 It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a portable free-standing shower assembly which can be adjusted to suit users of different heights and is suited for use in any outdoor environment having an even or uneven ground surface, that addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. 10 It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a portable shower assembly which is simple to assemble and easy to use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable 15 shower assembly. According to one aspect, although not necessarily the broadest or only aspect, embodiments of the present invention reside in a portable shower assembly comprising: an adjustable pole assembly having a first end for receiving an 20 adjustable shower head attachment and a second end for receiving a pump releasably attached thereto; and a support stand releasably attached to the adjustable pole assembly for supporting the adjustable pole assembly in an upright position. Preferably, the support stand comprises a support rod and a coupling 4 member connected to an upper end of the support rod for holding the adjustable pole assembly. Preferably, the coupling member comprises a locking member or other suitable securing mechanism for tightening or loosening the coupling 5 member about the adjustable pole assembly. Suitably, a bottom end of the support stand is held in the ground via support pegs on an uneven ground surface. Preferably, the bottom end of the support stand further comprises a removable foot portion and is positioned on a base plate for assembly on an 10 even ground surface. Suitably, the portable shower assembly is assembled using a tension fit connection between adjacent parts. Preferably, the adjustable pole assembly is in the form of a telescopic pole assembly comprising at least one telescopic tube to enable height 15 adjustment of the adjustable pole assembly. Preferably, the adjustable pole assembly is hollow to allow water to pass therethrough. Preferably, the adjustable shower head attachment comprises a swivel head shower rose to enable the direction of water flow from the 20 shower head to be adjusted. Suitably, the shower head attachment is folded into a storage position when not in use. Suitably, the shower head attachment comprises a tap member for controlling the amount of water flow from the shower head.

5 Suitably, the shower head attachment is interchangeable with a light attachment. Preferably, the pump is in the form of a 12 volt DC pump which is operated via a vehicle battery or suitable rechargeable battery. 5 Suitably, the pump comprises a removable mesh filter. Suitably, the water supply is a container of water. Further features and forms of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by 15 way of example only, wherein: FIG 1 is a perspective view of a portable shower assembly according to embodiments of the present invention; and FIG 2 is a detailed view of a shower head attachment of the portable shower assembly of FIG 1 according to embodiments of the present 20 invention; and FIG 3 is a detailed view of a pump of the portable shower assembly of FIG 1 according to embodiments of the present invention. Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to 6 scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 5 Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to a portable shower assembly suitable for use in an outdoor environment where bathing facilities are not readily available. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be used to provide a shower assembly which can be used in any suitable outdoor 10 environment or application such as camping, beach, boating, emergencies or natural disasters, instances of water shortage and/or to provide a community benefit. It will be appreciated that variations may need to be made as required. Referring to FIG 1, the portable shower assembly 100 is provided in 15 accordance with embodiments of the present invention. According to some embodiments of the invention, the portable shower assembly 100 comprises an adjustable pole assembly 200. It is envisaged that the adjustable pole assembly can be made of an anodised aluminium material or any other suitable material for outdoor use. Preferably, the adjustable pole assembly 20 200 comprises a first end 201 for receiving a shower head attachment 300 and a second end 202 for receiving a pump 400. Preferably, the adjustable pole assembly 200 is in the form of a telescopic pole assembly comprising at least one hollow telescopic tube 210, which is collapsible to enable the height of the portable shower assembly 7 100 to be adjusted. The adjustable pole assembly 200 comprises at least one locking member 220, preferably in the form of either an external or an internal locking nut. The locking member(s) 220 is/are positioned between adjacent telescopic members 210 for locking the telescopic tubes 210 at a 5 desired height. Referring to Fig 1, the portable shower assembly 100 is illustrated having three hollow telescopic tubes 210 which are fixed at a desired height via two locking members 220 positioned between the adjacent telescopic tubes 210. Preferably, the diameter of each of the telescopic tubes 210 10 increases slightly from the first end 201 to the second end 202 of the portable shower assembly 100, such that an upper telescopic tube is able to slide within a lower telescopic tube positioned therebeneath, to allow the telescopic tube 210 to collapse. The telescopic tubes 210 can be extended or collapsed until the desired height is achieved and fixed at the desired 15 height via the locking locking members 220. As illustrated in Fig 1, the portable shower assembly 100 comprises a support stand 500 releasably attached to the adjustable pole assembly 200 for supporting the adjustable pole assembly 200 in an upright position. The support stand 500 can be made of an anodised aluminium material or any 20 other suitable material. According to some embodiments, the support stand 500 comprises a vertically-orientated support rod 510. The support stand 500 comprises a coupling member 520 attached to an upper end of the support rod 510. Preferably, the coupling member 520 is in the form of a clamp comprising a locking handwheel 521. The locking handwheel 521 is rotatable 8 so that the clamp 520 can be tightened or loosened to tighten or release the adjustable pole assembly 200 respectively. In alternative embodiment of the present invention, it is envisaged that other suitable coupling devices can be utilised to attach the upper end of the support rod 510 to the adjustable pole 5 assembly 200. According to some embodiments where the portable shower assembly 100 is used on even ground, as illustrated in Fig 1, the support rod 510 of the support stand 500 is positioned on a base plate 530 for supporting the portable shower assembly 100 on an even ground surface. Accordingly, the 10 support rod 510 can have a removable foot member (not illustrated) made of a rubber, plastic, aluminium or other suitable material, at a bottom end to support the support rod 510 in an upright position. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the base plate 530 can have an annular protrusion (not illustrated) extending upwardly from the base plate 530 which is adapted 15 to receive a bottom end of the support rod 510 to enable attachment of the support rod 510 to the base plate 530 of the support stand 500. In an outdoor environment where the portable shower assembly 100 is to be used on an uneven ground surface, the removable foot portion can be removed from the bottom end of the support rod 510 and the support rod 20 510 can be hit into a ground surface to be held in the ground. One or more support pegs (not illustrated) can be utilised to stabilise the support rod 510 in the ground. In a further embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the bottom end of the support rod 510 could be tapered at its tip so that it is easier to insert into the ground.

9 The portable shower assembly 100 comprises a shower head attachment 300 which is releasably attachable to the first end 201 of the adjustable pole assembly 200. Referring now to Fig 2, the shower head attachment 300 is connected to the adjustable pole assembly 200 via at least 5 one securing member 303 and "0" ring seal. Preferably, the securing member 303 is in the form of a self-locking snap-in connector. The shower head attachment 300 comprises a swivel head shower rose 301 to enable a user to adjust the direction of water flow from the shower rose 301 and fold the shower rose away for compact storage when not in use. Preferably, the 10 shower head attachment 300 comprises a tap member 302 for controlling the degree of water flow from the shower rose 301. The shower head attachment 300 is removable to facilitate cleaning or replacement of the shower head if required. However in an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the shower head attachment can be permanently fixed to the 15 top end 201 of the adjustable pole assembly. Referring now to Fig 3, the portable shower assembly 100 comprises the pump 400 which is releasably attached to the second end 202 of the adjustable pole assembly 200. The pump 400 comprises a removable mesh filter 401 which can be removed and cleaned in the event that unfiltered 20 water is used (i.e. water from a lake, river etc.). Preferably, the removable mesh filter 401 is provided at the base of the pump 400. According to some embodiments, the pump 400 is a 12 volt DC pump having a cable 402 for connection to a power source such as a vehicle battery, rechargeable battery or the like. However, any other suitable pump or motor may also be utilised.

10 The cable 402 can be passed upwardly through the coupling member 520 and secured to the adjustable pole assembly 200 via a cable tie clip 403 or the like, as illustrated in Fig 1. Preferably, a waterproof or water-resistant on/off switch with at least one light emitting device (LED) 404 is provided on 5 the cable to activate the pump and shower. The LED 404 can be used to indicate when the power is on and being supplied to the portable shower assembly 100. In an embodiment where a rechargeable battery is used, it is envisaged that an LED 404 can also be used to indicate when the battery level is low. Suitably, the exposed end of the cable 402 has a waterproof or 10 water-resistant male DC plug 405 for connection to a female DC plug 406 connected to a power source. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the cable have an appropriate length and the required plug for direct connection to power source. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a rechargeable battery pack (not illustrated) can be located in a waterproof 15 casing and either attached or positioned adjacent to the adjustable pole assembly 200. According to some embodiments, a container of water positioned on the base plate 530 or a ground surface is utilised as a water source to provide water for the portable shower assembly 100. In an alternative 20 embodiment, the pump 400 can be connected to an alternate water source, such as a tap, stream or lake or the like via a hose. The support stand 500 is connected to the adjustable pole assembly 200 by loosening the locking handwheel 521 so that the clamp 520 can be positioned about the adjustable pole assembly 200. The adjustable pole assembly 200 can be lowered into 11 the container on the base plate 530 or ground surface until the base of the pump 400 contacts a bottom inner surface of the container. The positioning of the support rod 510 located outside the container is then also adjusted to balance the adjustable pole assembly 200 and the locking handwheel 521 is 5 tightened to tighten the clamp 520 to hold the adjustable pole assembly 200 in an upright position. The locking nuts 220 inside or on the adjustable pole assembly 200 can be loosened to increase or decrease the height of the adjustable pole assembly 200 and tightened to lock the adjustable pole assembly 200 at a 10 desired height. The user can then activate the shower assembly 100 by pressing the on/off switch 404 and adjust the direction and degree of water flow from the shower rose 301 as desired. In further embodiments of the invention, it is envisaged that other attachments can be provided, such as a soap holder or light attachment 15 which can be interchangeable with the shower head attachment 300, to provide additional functionality and versatility for the portable shower assembly 100. Hence, the portable shower assembly 100 of the present invention thus provides a solution to the aforementioned problems of the prior art by 20 providing a portable shower assembly 100 which is height-adjustable and enables a person to have a shower in any outdoor environment having an even or uneven ground surface, where bathing facilities are not readily available. The compact nature of the portable shower assembly 100 when collapsed, allows for efficient storage and transportation of the portable 12 shower assembly 100 as required. The portable shower assembly 100 can be rapidly, easily and intuitively assembled via tension-fit connections with limited or no instructions and without the need for skilled labour or resources, such as specialized assembly tools. All components can also be easily 5 dissembled for cleaning or replacement. Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the 10 scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable shower assembly comprising: an adjustable pole assembly having a first end for receiving an adjustable shower head attachment and a second end for receiving a pump 5 releasably attached thereto; and a support stand releasably attached to the adjustable pole assembly for supporting the adjustable pole assembly in an upright position.

2. The adjustable shower assembly of claim 1, wherein the support 10 stand comprises a support rod and a coupling member connected to an upper end of the support rod for holding the adjustable pole assembly.

3. The adjustable shower assembly of any proceeding claim, wherein a bottom end of the support stand is retained in the ground via support pegs 15 on an uneven ground surface.

4. The adjustable shower assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the bottom end of the support stand further comprises a removable foot portion and is positioned on a base plate for assembly on an even ground surface. 20

5. The adjustable shower assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the adjustable pole assembly is in the form of a telescopic pole assembly comprising at least one hollow telescopic tube to enable height adjustment of the adjustable pole assembly and/or the adjustable shower head attachment 14 comprises a swivel head shower rose to enable the direction of water flow from the shower head to be adjusted.