AU743871B2 - 'Sharince' Shower rinsing system - Google Patents

Description

13-SEP-'9'3 17: 18 FROM TO 0986202264#'2I6 Shower Rinsing System Field of the invention The present invention relations to an apparatus which allows for the rinsing of shower cubicles or stalls to remove suds and grime which may have deposited onto the walls, door, shower curtains etc during use of a shower.

Background of the invention Everyday use of normal shower cubicles or stalls results in soap and grime being flung onto the walls which remains and dries thereon after the user has finished with the shower cubicle.

US patent 4872225 is directed to a shower cubicle cleaning system which is operable after a shower or when it is time to clean. It discloses a pipe system around the four walls of a cubicle which receives water and/or a cleaning fluid via an injection system. The mounted pipes include orifices which direct water to walls with the pipes being attached to the walls. The difficulty *with this system is that it is particularly unsightly and requires fixing to the actual wall thus providing potential for cracks and damage to the wall surfaces.

15 US patent 4383341 discloses a series of ppout srynozzles whchae rane the wlsof a bath tub or similar apparatus. Spray nozzles are connected by a manifold to a combined concentrate and dilutant mixing control valve. This system suffers fr-om the difficulty of the piping being hidden, thus the cost is quite significant to provide a system embedded in the bath/shower or in the surrounding walls. It is a system which must be installed during installation of bathrooms and does not lend itself to a ready installation in existing bath/shower systems. Another major difficulty is that it requires many scattered nozzles, It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower rinsing apparatus which substantially ameliorates at least one of the disadvantages of the prior ant.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a shower rinsing apparatus having an inlet and at least one outlet formation, said inlet adapted to be connected to a plumbing fitting in a shower stalk said at least one outlet formation having a nozzle including a plurality of radially directed ports so as to discharge water from one location in said shower stall, to the walls of said shower stall to, rinse said walls when in use.

DRAFT 13/09/1999 13;16 13-SEP-1999 17:19 FROM TO 0962022644216 P.06 CA99253X).]I 2 A second outlet can be present which enables a shower rose to be connected, directly or indirectly, to said apparatus, said shower rose dispensing water for showering which passes through said apparatus.

The apparatus can be positioned on or within a shower rose. The shower rose has a shower rose body which is, in use, holds a shower rose plate from which water is dispensed for showering purposes, said apparatus being located in or on said body.

The shower rose plate can be selectively rotatable relative to said shower rose body to prevent, or enable, water to be discharged from said ports- Preferably the shower rose plate has attached to it a tubular member which when aligned when a water pipe supplying water to said shower rose 1 will direct water to discharge out of said ports.

The apparatus can include a valve means whereby said at least one outlet formation can be closed to prevent water flowing out of said ports, or opened to enable water to flow from said ports. Preferably the valve means is able to selectively direct water through one or more of the following: said ports only; said shower rose; said ports and said shower rose simultaneously.

15 The valve can operate by translating said valve member or by rotation of a valve member.

If the valve operate by translation, the valve member in one position can allow water to flow transversely through said valve member to a shower rose, whilst in a second position water flows axially through said valve member to said ports. Preferably the translatinig valve member is biased to allow water to flow through said apparatus to said shower until said valve member 20 is translated to position whereby water will flow through said ports. The translating valve member can be translated by means of a lever, a chain mechanism or a mechanism which provides mechanical advantage.

The apparatus can be located between a wall fitting leading to a shower rose or between a shower rose and a pipe leading from a wall fitting.

Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the present 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 first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section through the lines AA of Figure 1; DRAFT 13109/1999 12:06 13-SEP-1999 17:20 FROM TO 0962022641216 P.07 CA992531XX. I 3 Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment; Figure 5 is a cross-section through a fourth embodiment; and Figure 6 is a side view of a shower rose and associated fittings to which the invention can be applied; and Figure 7 is a cross-section through an embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 with Figure 7 being similar to Figure 2 with some alterations thereto to provide for a different operation mode.

Detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in Figure 1 is a shower rinsing apparatus 2 which is made from a body 4 having an inlet 6 which has a communicable passage to the body 4. A generally upright outlet conduit or S: nozzle 8 is provided together with another outlet 10. The outlet conduit 8 has a closed end 12 and a series of equi-spaced ports 14 through which water can be discharged. The outlet conduit 8 is adapted to be centrally located in a shower stall/recess as will be described below.

The ports 14 are circumferentially located around the outlet conduit 8 and are preferably substantially equi-distant therearound. The shape of the ports 14 is illustrated as being circular, however other shapes such as slots or slits can be provided to result in a more angularly extensive discharge to better rinse down the surfaces of the shower recess or stall Rotatably mounted in the body 4 is a valve member 16 which is visible in cross-section in Figure 2. The valve member 16 can be turned within the body 4 by means of a handle 18.

The apparatus 2 can be installed in a shower system 20 as illustrated in Figure 6 at one of two locations. The first location is at the connection of the shower rose pipe 22 to the wall plumbing fitting located behind cover 24. In this case the male fitting on the inlet 6 may need to be replaced with a female terminus or alternatively a female union.can be provided between the plumbing fitting and the inlet 6 in the configuration illustrated in Figure 1. In this case the female fitting 26 on the terminus of the shower rose pipe 22 would be connected to the outlet Alternatively the apparatus 2 can be connected between the shower rose 28 and the distal end of the shower rose pipe 22. In this arrangement male and female threaded couplings will be required together with mating couplings on the apparatus 2.

DRAFT 13/09/1999 12:06 1 3-SEP-1399 17:20 FROM TO 096202264421 6 P. 06 C.A99' .34m. I 4 With the apparatus connected and the valve member 16 in the orientation of Figure 2 water will pass straight through the central portion of the valve member 16 via the inlet 6 and out the outlet 10 and ultimately pass through the shower rose 28. In the orientation of Figure 2 no rinsing water will be discharged out of the ports 14.

By rotating the valve member 16 so that the periphery 32 of valve member 16 is aligned with surface 34 of inlet 6, the outlet passage end 16B of valve member 16 will open into passage SB3 of outlet conduit 8, allowing water to discharge through the ports 14. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, it may be possible to find a position for the valve member 16 such that the inlet throat 16C opens into both the outlet 10 and passage 81B whilst the outlet passage 16B opens to the inlet 6. Notwithstanding this, such an arrangement may result in only a trickle of water to the respective passages 8B and 10. Thus the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 is especially adapted to enable use of either the shower rose for showering or the upright conduit 8 for the purpose of ejecting or discharging water to rinse the shower stall or recess.

Illustrated in Figure 7 is an embodiment similar to Figures 1 and 2 except that the valve member 16 has a flared outlet passage 16B as well as a flared inlet throat 16C so that when the valve fl::member 16B is in the orientation illustrated in Figure 7, the flared outlet passage 16B allows ::~full opening to the passage S13 as well as the passage 10. By the flared inlet throat 16C and flared outlet passage 16B (basically a converging diverging arrangement), full possible flow can pass through both the passages 8B and One of the specific advantages of the valve member 16 of Figure 7 is that the water pressure or flow through the outlet 10 can be decreased whilst maintaining full flow out of or through the passage SB. Alternatively the flow through the passage 8B can be decreased whilst maintaining full flow through the passage 10 and full available flow being maintained from the inlet 6 into flared throat 16C of valve member 16. Also if desired the water flow can be completely shut off from outlet 10 while passage SB3 is fully open or shut off passage SB with outlet 10 fully open.

If desired flow can be completely shut off at the inlet 6. (It shouldbe noted that the embodiment of Figure 2 can also shut off water at the inlet Whilst shutting off the water at this inlet 16 is generally not desirable by comparison with shutting off water at a shower faucet,, the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 7 can provide a quasi shut off valve if required and if appropriate sealing is provided between the moving parts of the apparatus 2.

It should also be noted that the perspective view (not illustrated) of the embodiment of Figure 7 would not be dissimilar to that of Figure 1, in that the only functional difference between the DRAFT 13/09/1999 12:06 1 3-!BEF-19q' 17:21 FROM TO 096202264#216 P. 09 apparatus of Figure 1 and that of Figure 7 is the shape of the passage through the valve member 16, which in normal use would not be visible.

Illustrated in Figure 3 is a third embodiment in an exploded view configuration. This embodiment includes an apparatus 50 having an inlet 52, a body 54 and outlet 56 with the inlet 52 having a similar in purpose to that of inlet 6 of the apparatus of Figure 1 and the outlet 56 having a similar purpose to the outlet 10 of Figure 1.- The body 54 has a base plate 58 and a substantially cylindrical side wall 60- Rotatably held inside the cylinder 60 is a combined rotatable nozzle 68 and valve member 70. When the nozzle 68 and valve member 70 are positioned inside the cylinder 60 and the nozzle 68 is rotated relative to the cylinder 60 so that arrow 72 is pointing to the inlet 52 water can pass through channel 75 and out through the series of elongated ports 74 which are located substantially equidistant around the full 36O' of the nozzle 68- The distance 76 is the circumferential width of valve member 70 in which the opening of passage 75 is formed, and this distance 76 is larger than the inside diameter of inlet 52. Thus with arrow 72 pointing to the inlet 52, and with the provision of appropriate sealing, no water can pass through passage 78, thus forcing all water to pass through passage 75 and out through t. ports 74. By rotating the nozzle 68 from a position where arrow 72 is pointing to inlet 52 to approximately the position as illustrated in Figure 3, the water will no longer flow into passage but through passage 78 and out of outlet 56 to ultimately exit through a shower rose.

Obviously appropriate sealing systems such as 0-rings, sealing surfaces, gaskets and the like can be provided between moving surfaces of the rinsing apparatus so that proper sealing of the valve member 16 in Figures 1 and valve member 70 of Figures 3 and the other embodiments will work effectively.

If desired, in the embodiment of Figure 3, the arrangement of passage 75 relative to passage 78 can be adjusted (by being relocated, rearranged or widened) to provide. appropriate flow through the discharge port 74 and through outlet 56 to a shower rose simulItaneously or to selectively switch one on while the other is switched offillustrated in Figure 4 is another embodiment which shows a shower rinsing apparatus included in and on a shower rose 82. In this embodiment the shower rose 82 has a rotatable shower rose plate 84 which is rotatably held within the shower rose body 86. Centrally located on the shower rose plate 84 is an annular apparatus body 88 having an inlet 90. A terminus 92 DRAFT 13109/1999 12:06 15-SEF-i3999 TO 0962020264#216 CA99253MX). I 6 of the inlet 90 is made from a material which will seal against the inside surface of the side wall 94 of the shower rose body 86- Such a suitable material may be of a silicon base, however complete sealing in this embodiment is not essential between the terminus 92 and the inside surface of the side wall 94 of shower rose body 86. More will be said about this later.

In this embodiment a discharge end 96 interconnects with the body 88 of apparatus 80 by any appropriate connection such as a screw connection or press fit, in such a way as to ensure that the discharge ports 98 will discharge water without the water stream contacting the top surface 100 of the shower rose 82.

The embodiment of Figure 4 in use is such that if the inlet 90 is not aligned with the inlet 102 of JO the shower rose 82, water will pass through the shower rose holes 104 in the shower rose plate 84 for normal shower usage. If the terminus 92 does not properly seal with the inside face of side wall 94 of shower rose body 86, water will seep or make its way through the inlet 90 and ultimately out through discharge slits 98, however as the passage of water is hindered, the body 88 will fill with water and water should dribble out of the slits 98, over the surface 100 and 15 down the sides 94 of the shower rose body 86. This dribbling water may not be discernible in the shower to any specific degree as this water will fall on the person using the shower but with not the same force as the water being discharged through the shower rose holes 104.

If it is desired to use the shower rose 82 and the apparatus 80 to clean the shower walls at the same time, the shower rose plate 84 is rotated so that the inlet conduit 90 partially overlaps with inlet 102 to the shower rose 82.

These inlets 102 and 90 being preferably of the same internal diameter, if both are fully aligned, water may only dribble out of the shower rose 104, with the main water pressure being directed to discharge water out of the slits 98 in the nozzle 96 to thereby rinse the walls.

If only partial alignment occurs and if this is adjusted, sufficient water pressure for water being discharged through shower rose holes 104 and through the slits 98 of nozzle 96 can be provided to serve both a showering purpose and a shower rinsing purpose simultaneously.

The body 88 is represented in Figure 4 as being of a straight sided cylindrical sh ape. If desired however a tapered shape can be provided to minimise the number of shower rose holes 104 which may be not present or occluded in view of the presence of the body 88 of the shower rinsing apparatus.

17-.-SEP- 1999 17:=3 FRON TiO 0962022644216 P.11 7 Illustrated in Figure 5 is another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a shower rinsing apparatus 120 having an inlet 122, outlet 124 for connection to a shower rose in the same way as the embodiment of Figure 1. A vertically oriented valve member 126 is provided which has an opening 12.8 to discharge passage 130 and a series of ports 132 circumferentially located a full 3600 around a nozzle formed in the top of the valve member 126. The valve member 126 has a divider 134 which serves as the base of the passage 130 and the top of passage 136.

When the passage 136 is aligned with inlet 122 and outlet 124, the compression spring 138 will have extended to its uncompressed height, thus water will flow through the apparatus 120 and out through the outlet 124, ultimately to a shower rose.

To have the rinsing apparatus 120 rinse the walls of the shower, a pull chain or lever mechanism or some other means of mechanical advantage can be provided to push the valve member 126 against spring 138 to the position as illustrated in figure 5. In this position the ports 132 clear the upper periphery 140 of the body 142 of apparatus 120 and water will discharge as illustrated by arrows 144 and 146 to the side walls of a shower. Once force is released on the mechanism providing force to move or keep the valve member 126 to the position of Figure 5, the compression spring 138 will move the valve member such that the passage 136 is aligned with the inlet and outlet 122 and 124 respectively.

With this embodiment depression of the valve member 126 to a mid point between its limits of travel will provide water through both outlet 124 and discharge passage 130.

me Little discussion has been made above with respect to the sealing mechanisms relating to the embodiments. Any appropriate sealing mechanism can be utilised however one of the specific advantages of the present invention is the fact that the apparatus of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and 7 exist downstream of shower fauicets and thus once the shower is functioning, worn seals will not be a major issue to the operation of the embodiments as a shower area is a wet area.

If desired an embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 can be provided whereby the outlet 10 is blanked off at the body 4 and the outlet fitting removed. In which case the embodiment will only rinse the shower and a separate shower rose provided. Such an embodirn't will require its own associated fittings to the wall plumbing and water connections. In this way if desired some shower units may have an apparatus similar to those illustrated in the figures (other than the apparatus of Figure 4) whereby water will pass only through inlet 6 and only out through the DRAFT 13/09/1999 12:oe6 13>SER-i'399 17:24 FROM TO 096202264#216F CAV9253'AX).

ports 14, 74 or 132 of the embodiments of Figures 1, 3 and 5 respectively to serve a rinsing purpose.

Depending upon the location of the embodiments of the invention relative to the walls of the shower recess or stall means can be provided to vary water volume, flow rate or pressure exiting the nozzle. One such means is to make the ports 14, 74, 98 and 132 various sizes so that those ports discharging volumes of water having to travel a short distance from the embodiment to a wall are relatively large so as not to have a high discharge velocity. Whereas.. for those ports directing water to the walls of the shower which must have the water reach them by travelling a much further distance (such as for those embodiments of the invention not centrally located in the shower stall) the ports can be made with relatively smaller holes to discharge water at a higher flow discharge velocity in order to travel the required distance. As the embodiments are *.able to be installed in a variety of conditions or locations relative to the walls, a swivelling nozzle (such as nozzles 68 and 96 of Figures 3 and 4) whereby differing flow rates from ports in particular positions on the nozzles can be provided and rotated in use to adequately spray all walls and not waste water speed on close walls.

above embodiments of figures 1, 2, 3,4 and 7 are illustrated as attachable to the fittings of a shower rose assembly, such as that illustrated in figure 6. However, embodiments of the invention, similar to those illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 can be integrally formed with a shower rose assembly.

By utilising an embodiment of the present invention during or after using a shower will allow soap and grime to be rinsed off thus preventing its drying or accumulating on the shower stallrecess walls, door or curtain.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention, The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope bfthe present invention.

DRAFT 13/09/1999 12:06

Claims (1)

13-SEP-1999 17:24 FROM TO 9 Claims 1 A shower rinsing apparatus having an inlet and at least one outlet formation, said inlet adapted to be connected to a plumbing fitting in a shower stall; said at least one outlet formation having a nozzle including a plurality of radially directed ports so as to discharge water from one location in said shower stall, to the walls of said shower stall to, rinse said walls when in use. 2 An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where a second outlet is present and wherein said second outlet enables a shower rose to be connected, directly or indirectly, to said apparatus, said shower rose dispensing water for showering which passes through said apparatus. 3 An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said apparatus is positioned on or within a shower rose. 4 An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said shower rose has a shower rose body which is, in use, holds a shower rose plate from which water is dispensed for showering purposes, said apparatus being located in or on said body. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shower rose plate is selectively rotatable relative to said shower rose body to prevent, or enable, water to be discharged from said ports. 6 An apparatus as claimed 5, wherein shower rose plate has attached to it a tubular member which when aligned when a water pipe supplying water to said shower rose, will direct water to discharge out of said ports. 7 An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said apparatus includes a valve means whereby said at least one outlet formation can be closed to prevent water flowing out of said ports, or opened to enable water to flow from said pents. 8 An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said valve means is able to selectively direct water through one or more of the following: said ports only; said shower rose;, said ports and said shower rose simultaneously. 9 An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said valve operates by translating said valve member. DRAFT I3JO9I1999 12;06 -i I i r rx-uri I U Wj b P. 14 CAL99251XX I An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said valve-operates by rotation of a valve member. 11 An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve member in one position will allow water to flow transversely through said valve member to a shower rose, whilst in a second position water flows axially through said valve member to said ports. 12 An apparatus as claimed in claim I or 2 or one of claims 7 to 11 when dependent on claims 1 or 2, wherein said apparatus is located between a wall fitting leading to a shower rose or between a shower rose and a pipe leading from a wall fitting. 13 An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 or 1 wherein said translating valve member is biased to allow water to flow through said apparatus to said shower until said valve member is translated to position whereby water will flow through said ports. 14 An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said translating valve member is translated by means of a lever, a chain mechanism or a mechanism which provides mechanical advantage. *i DRAFT 13/09/1999 12:06