EP2085143A1

EP2085143A1 - Dispenser assembly for a shower

Info

Publication number: EP2085143A1
Application number: EP08172713A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Leonardo Bossini; Nadia Bossini
Original assignee: Bossini SpA
Current assignee: Bossini SpA
Priority date: 2008-02-01
Filing date: 2008-12-23
Publication date: 2009-08-05
Also published as: ITBS20080015A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser assembly comprising a shower head (2) connectable to a water supply. The shower head (2) comprises an inner chamber defined by a lower dispensing surface (3), which has at least one nozzle (4) for dispensing water from the chamber.

The assembly comprises, in addition, electric means connectable to electric mains, comprising at least one electric component, and a protection element (5) comprising an annular wall (6) extending around a wall axis (X), incident to the shower head (2).

The annular wall (6) surmounts the shower head (2) and annularly defines a containment compartment, extending along the wall axis (X) such as to contain the electric component lodged in the containment compartment (7).

Description

. The present invention relates to a dispenser assembly for a shower.
. Shower heads are known of in the art, connectable to the ceiling or wall, comprising lighting means or loudspeakers suitable for joint use with the shower.
. The known devices have however a number of drawbacks.
. For example, to connect such devices to the electricity supply, cables need to pass outside the shower head and/or any transformers need to be lodged above the same.
. Such disposition, as well as being unsightly also entails the risk of contact between the water and the live components.
. In any case, the electric components are positioned in a damp environment and may come into contact with the vapour released during a shower.
. The aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome the problems connected with the known technique and, specifically, the aforesaid drawbacks.
. Such objective is achieved by a dispenser assembly according to claim 1.
. Further advantages may also be achieved by means of the additional characteristics of the dependent claims.
. The dispenser assembly which the present invention relates to will be described in detail below, with the help of the attached tables, which show:
. figure 1 a perspective view of a dispenser assembly according to a first possible embodiment;
. figure 2 a further perspective view of the assembly in figure 1;
. figure 3 a view from above of the assembly in figures 1 and 2;
. figure 4 a perspective view of a dispenser assembly according to a further possible variation;
. figure 5 a lateral view of the assembly in figure 4;
. figures 6 and 7 are two perspective views with separated parts according to two further embodiments.
. With reference to the aforesaid tables, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a dispenser assembly, for example of the type suitable for hanging from the ceiling or suspended ceiling of a bathroom.
. In one embodiment variation, the shower head is supported by a frame attached to a lateral wall of the room.
. The dispenser assembly 1 comprises a shower head 2, connectable to water mains, for example by a supply pipe 10.
. The shower head 2 comprises an inner chamber defined by a lower dispensing surface 3, having at least one nozzle 4, preferably a number thereof, to dispense the water from the inner chamber.
. According to one embodiment, the shower head is connected to the ceiling by a rod or by the supply pipe 10, inside which the water flows.
. The assembly 1 further comprises electric means, connectable to electrical mains and comprising at least one electric component.
. In one embodiment, the electric means form a light source and comprise at least one bulb 11 or LED; said LEDs are positioned in the shower head 2, for example protruding from the lower dispensing surface 3, to illuminate the water jet.
. This way, the person using the shower is contemporaneously struck by the water and by the beam of light coming from the mentioned sources.
. According to a further preferred embodiment variations, the light sources, such as LEDs and/or bulbs, are positioned above the shower head, as shown for example in figures 6 and 7.
. Said electric means further comprise an electric cable and/or transformer 12, to power the LEDs.
. In one embodiment (for example illustrated in figure 6 or 7), the light sources are joined to a support or bracket 13, suitable for being fixed to the wall or ceiling.
. According to a preferred variation, such bracket 13 comprises an attachment plate 14 identifying a through cavity of the plate 15 suitable for accommodating the water supply pipe 11.
. According to a further embodiment, the electric means form a sound source. E.g. said electric means comprise a loudspeaker.
. The dispenser assembly 1 further comprises a protection element 5 comprising an annular wall 6 extending around a wall axis X, incident to the shower head, for example orthogonal to it.
. The annular wall 6 surmounts the shower head 2 and defines annularly a containment compartment 7. The annular wall 6 extends along the wall axis X so as to contain, and especially, to conceal from sight, the electric component housed in the containment compartment 7.
. In other words, the shower head is positioned at a pre-set height from the ceiling of the bathroom; the annular wall 6 is positioned above the shower head, resting on the same, between the shower head itself and the ceiling, like the suction pipe of a hood.
. The bulbs and/or LEDs and/or loudspeakers and/or electric transformers are positioned above the shower head, but contained in the annular wall and are preferably out of sight.
. According to a preferred embodiment, the shower head 2 has a perimetral rim and the annular wall 6 of the protection element 5 follows the perimetral rim.
. In other words, the aperture of the containment compartment 7 facing the shower head completely overlaps the shower head along the wall axis X, so that it is closed off from the shower head.
. According to one possible embodiment variation, the shower head 2 presents, orthogonal to the wall axis X, a polygonal cross-section, eventually comprising curved sections.
. Preferably, the shower head 2 has a round (for example as illustrated in figure 4 or 7), square or rectangular (as illustrated for example in figure 1 or 6), ovoid or ellipsoidal cross-section.
. According to a possible variation, the coupling between the annular wall 6 of the protection element 5 and the perimetral rim is watertight.
. This way the passage of water or vapour inside the containment compartment 7 where the electrical components are lodged is prevented.
. The watertightness is ensured by the reciprocal contact of the wall 6 and the perimetral rim of the shower head, or by interposing suitable sealing means between them such as, for example, a gasket.
. According to a preferred embodiment variation, the protection element 5 is connected by attachment means to the shower head 2 and/or the bracket 13, and preferably to both.
. In one embodiment, the protection element 5 is secured to the shower head 2 and to the bracket 13 by screws 17, preferably at the axial extremities of the protection element 5.
. This way the passage of water or vapour into the containment compartment 7 is further prevented.
. In addition, the surface features of the annular wall 6 are preferably such as to mask the content of the containment compartment 7, for example said electric components and/or the pipe connecting the shower head 2 to the water supply network and/or rod for the connection of the shower head to the ceiling.
. According to a preferred embodiment, the light source, that is bulb or LED, is positioned inside the annular wall 6 so that the light it produces is also propagated towards the annular wall 6.
. Preferably, the annular wall 6, is at least partially permeable to the light. This way the light generated inside the containment compartment can also be seen from the outside.
. Preferably, the annular wall 6 comprises at least partially opaque portions so as to create an ornament with the light coming from behind.
. In other words, the wall 6 is fitted with decorative outlines 16, for example glued on or silk screened, which allow the light to pass through to the outside of the containment compartment 7.
. Contrarily, according to other embodiments, such outlines prevent the passage of light outside the compartment, so as to produce a decorative image on the annular wall.
. According to a preferred embodiment, the annular wall 6 comprises a folded sheet which extends from a first edge 8 and a second edge 9, which when connected to each other fold the sheet so as to form the containment compartment 7.
. In other words, the solid structure of the containment compartment is achieved by starting from a relatively thin layer of material.
. Preferably in fact, the annular wall 6 is at least partially constituted of a polymeric material, for example comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene.
. This way the protection element has a limited weight, facilitating its support by the shower head, and occupies little space when packaged.
. Preferably, the first edge 8 and/or second edge 9 comprise fixing means able to reciprocally connect the edges 8, 9 in a permanent manner, to make the containment compartment 7.
. For example, the fixing means comprise at least one tab extending from the first edge 8 and at least one slit on the second edge 9. The tab is able to engage the slit, preferably releasably.
. According to a possible variation, the annular wall 6 is fully composed of a flexible material.
. This embodiment proves advantageous in the case in which the curved sections of the shower head are excessively marked.
. According to a further variation, the annular wall 6 has at least one flexible portion, for example on each side of the square cross-section of the shower head to be coupled, as shown in figure 2.
. Innovatively, the dispenser assembly which the present invention relates to makes it possible to conceal the electric components used from view, and if necessary protect them from water or damp.
. Advantageously, the dispenser assembly which the present invention relates to fulfils an original aesthetic function, creating interesting plays of light and shade on the wall of the protection element and, for example, also on the walls of the shower cabin.
. Advantageously, the dispenser assembly which the present invention relates to facilitates support by the shower head.
. Advantageously, the dispenser assembly which the present invention relates to permits easy and intuitive assembly by anyone, without the use of tools.
. A person skilled in the art may make numerous modifications, adaptations and replacements of elements with others, functionally similar, to the dispenser assembly described above so as to satisfy contingent requirements, while remaining within the scope of protection of the appended claims.
. For example, the annular wall may be fixed to the ceiling or to the suspended ceiling, thus itself becoming the support for the shower head.
. Each of the features described as pertaining to one possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other embodiments described.

Claims

Dispenser assembly (1) comprising:
- a shower head (2) connectable to water mains comprising an inner chamber defined by a lower dispensing surface (3), having at least one nozzle (4) for dispensing water from said chamber;

- electric means connectable to electric mains, comprising at least one electric component;

- a protection element (5) comprising an annular wall (6) extending around a wall axis (X), incident to the shower head;
wherein the annular wall (6) surmounts the shower head (2) and defines annularly a containment compartment (7),
said dispenser assembly (1) being characterised in that the annular wall (6) extends along the wall axis (X) so as to contain the electric component lodged in the containment compartment (7).
Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electric component is an electric cable.
Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric means form a light source.
Assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the light source is positioned inside the annular wall (6).
Assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the annular wall (6) is at least partially permeable to light.
Assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the annular wall (6) comprises at least partially opaque portions able to form an ornament with the light coming from behind.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the electric means form a sound source.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the shower head (2) comprises a perimetral rim and wherein the annular wall (6) of the protection element (5) follows the perimetral rim.
Assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the coupling between the annular wall (6) of the protection element (5) and the perimetral rim is watertight.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the annular wall (6) comprises a folded sheet which extends from a first edge (8) to a second edge (9) which, when connected to each other, fold the sheet to form the containment compartment (7).
Assembly (1) according to claim 10, wherein the first edge (8) and/or the second edge (9) comprise fixing means able to connect said edges (8, 9) in a permanent manner so as to form the containment compartment (7).
Assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the fixing means comprise at least one tab which extends from the first edge (8) and at least one slit on the second edge (9), said tab being able to engage the slit, for example releaseably.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the annular wall (6) has at least one flexible portion.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the annular wall (6) is at least partially made of a polymeric material, for example polyethylene and/or polypropylene.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the shower head (2) has a polygonal cross-section orthogonally to the wall axis (X), eventually comprising curved sections.
Assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the shower head (2) has a round, square, rectangular, ovoid or ellipsoidal cross section, orthogonally to the wall axis (X).
Assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the annular wall conceals from view said electric component.