AU5448701A - Shower rinser - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION Applicant(s): MARK JAMES BAILEY Invention Title: SHOWER RINSER

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S S S. S *5 5 *SSS S The invention is described in the following statement: k 2 SHOWER RINSER The present invention concerns a shower rinser for mounting in a shower to rinse shower walls after use or while cleaning.

Oils from the human body and in soap collect in showers on the shower base and walls with every wash and, if not wiped down immediately, accumulate and dry into, soap scum, grime and mould which are difficult to remove without scrubbing and application of disinfectants. Most household showers are not properly cleaned with disinfectants after every use and thus grime and mould builds up on tiles, corners and edges resulting in greater difficulty in cleaning the shower when a proper attempt is made.

Aside from appearing unsightly and dirty, mould and grime in showers breaks down grouting between tiles and i: contributes to the decay of rubber seals. This can lead to defects in the shower structure including water leakage. OO o The present invention seeks to overcome the above problems. According to the present invention there is provided a shower rinser comprising: a water pipe adapted to extend substantially around an upper inner periphery of a shower; holes spaced along the pipe; and a connector connecting the pipe to a source of water; wherein, in use, water flows from the water source through the connector and into the pipe to spray out of the holes and onto walls of the shower.

The pipe is preferably a closed circuit pipe consisting of a series of pipe segments and having the shape of the shower periphery. In a preferable embodiment the holes are located on an outer periphery of the pipe so as to face the walls of the shower. The pipe is preferably mounted on the H: \mbourke\Keep\Speci\28959 shower rinser.doc 28/09/0000 3 upper periphery of a shower with hooks and spaced approximately 10mm from the walls.

The connector preferably connects to the shower head water outlet between the shower head and a wall. The connector is further preferably provided with a diverting valve for controlling the water flow into the pipe.

Preferably, the connector is directly connected to an internal open-ended tube provided inside the pipe so as to increase the water pressure at farthest points in the pipe from the connector. o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments, incorporating all aspects of the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower rinser according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 2-2 of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION Figure 1 illustrates a shower rinser 10 for mounting at an upper end of a shower (not shown) and around the inner periphery. The shower rinser sprays water onto the shower walls thereby rinsing soap and oils off shower walls after use or while cleaning the shower, whenever rinsing is desired.

Shower rinser 10 comprises a closed-circuit water pipe 11 shaped according to the perimeter of a shower, that is, generally square or rectangular. The pipe 11 consists of five interconnected pipe segments 13, 15 and 16 to form a H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\28959 shower rinser.doc 28/09/0000 4 continuous water circuit. Pipe 11 has small holes 12 spaced along its length through which water sprays onto the walls. The pipe may vary in shape according to the shape of the shower to be fitted.

As illustrated in Figure 1, end pipe segment 13 extends along the end of the shower opposite to the shower head and is connected at both ends by a corner connector 24 to two side pipe segments 15. At their other end, side segments 15 are each connected to a short pipe segment 16. Short segments 16 co-axially align with each other and are connected together by a T-piece 20. Together, end segment 13, side segments 15 and short segments 16 form the squareshaped closed-circuit pipe 11.

Connected to the T-piece 20 perpendicular to short segments 16 is a connecting tube 21. Connecting tube 21 connects pipe 11 to a water outlet pipe at the shower head (not shown) so that the shower rinser draws water from the same water line as the shower head. A connecting piece 22 on the end of connecting tube 21 connects with a suitable mating piece (not shown) located on the water outlet pipe, and conveniently located between the shower wall and the shower head. The mating piece includes a diverting valve o..

which is used by the user to redirect flow from the shower head to the shower rinser. Of course, water may be directed to both the shower head and shower rinser but at a reduced flow.

The holes 12 are provided at spaced intervals along the outer perimeter of pipe 11, and specifically along the outer perimeter of each pipe segment, so that water exiting through the holes spray directly onto the shower walls.

The size of the holes and spacing between them are designed, within the limitations of water mains pressure, to provide a consistent discharge of water at a reasonable pressure. Thus, the size of the holes and spacing between H:\mbourke\Keep\speci\28959 shower rinser.doc 28/09/0000 I I; j'i l;ir i~.-cr F. ii iYi.--~ji~jli-. 5 them are designed to avoid a build up of excessive back pressure in the pipe or too little pressure.

Where mains pressure is not sufficient to force water from connecting tube 21 all the way around to end segment 13, an internal pipe 23 is provided inside short segments 16.

This is illustrated in Figure 2. Internal pipe 23 directly receives inflowing water (arrow A) from connecting tube 21.

Internal pipe 23 spans across the inside of short segments 16 and has open ends 25 terminating short of the ends of short segments 16 at connectors 24. The diameter of internal pipe 26 is sufficiently small to fit inside short segments 16 but also to allow enough space for water flowing out of the open ends 25 of internal pipe to flow under backpressure back into short segments 16 as illustrated by arrow C in Figure 2. Thus water at mains pressure enters pipe 11 at arrow B near connectors 24 resulting in a lower pressure loss in end segment 13 than the loss experienced when no internal pipe is provided in pipe 11. The pipe segments are made of aluminum or plastic tubing and joined together at corners by plastic corner connectors. Pipe 11 is suspended inside the perimeter of the shower by hooks (not shown) fixed at intervals to end segment 13 and/or side segments 15. At the other end to end segment 13, pipe 11 is propped upright by connecting tube 21 which is connected to the shower water outlet.

The present shower rinser operates by simply diverting water flow from the shower head to the pipe using the diverting valve. Water flows up connecting tube 21 and into short segments 16. In the embodiment comprising an internal pipe 23, the water first flows from the connecting tube 21 into the internal pipe 23 then into short segments 16. It is envisaged that internal pipe 23 could extend further along the interior of pipe 11 reaching as far as H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\28959 shower rinser.doc 28/09/0000

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6 the side pipe segments. Water flows around the squareshaped pipe from short segments 16 to side segments 15 and lastly to end segment 13, the whole way being discharged through holes 12 provided in all the pipe segments. To keep the water pressure as constant as possible it is envisaged that in addition to internal pipe 23, fewer holes are provided in short segments 16, where water pressure is at a maximum, than in end segment 13. Similarly, side segments 15 could be provided with more holes then shorter segments 16 but with fewer holes than end segment 13.

Holes 12 are provided on the pipe segments facing outwardly of pipe 11 so as to spray water directly onto the shower walls.

Ideally, the rinser is used after every use of the shower so as to immediately remove soap and oils from the shower walls before grime and mould is allowed to build up. The shower rinser is also suitably used to rinse walls after proper cleaning with detergents, mould removers, and the like. It is estimated that the shower rinser need only be used for approximately 10-15 seconds to substantially remove soap and oils off the walls after use. It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Dated this 18th day of September 2000 MARK JAMES BAILEY By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\mbourke\Keep\Speci\28959 shower rinser.doc 28/09/0000

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