EP3529421B1 - Shower panel device and method for installing shower panel device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device forming a shower panel or wall light, in particular for a community, as well as to a method for installing a device forming a shower panel and to a shower comprising a shower panel or wall light.

Conventionally, a shower panel is made up of a panel in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepipedal box intended to be fixed on a wall to form a shower, a shower head projecting in the upper part of a front face of the box, while in the lower part there are control elements of the shower, for example buttons for the temperature, the selection of a main shower or a hand shower and the timer control, connecting pipes extending between the control elements and the shower head and the hand shower and between the control elements and the hot/cold water inlets being received inside the casing.

Panels of this type are already known in the prior art, for example US 3,333,284 or of EP 1 950 355 . The panels are fixed directly to the wall, in particular by means of screws. The installation, in particular the fixing to the wall, of the known panels is particularly difficult taking into account in particular the total weight of the panel consisting of the box, the knob and the elements of order, as well as the need to connect the pipes to the water inlets and position them inside the panel before fixing it. This particularly complicated laying operation conventionally requires the presence of at least two people to carry it out. Similarly, when a repair has to be carried out on the panel, for example to replace a shower head or a defective control button, the operation is also complicated, since the panel must be removed and then put back. Finally, wintering operations, for example for communal showers in campsites, require removing the panels at the end of the summer season, storing them during the winter and installing them again at the start of the season, which implies on the one hand complicated operations both for removal and for refitting and on the other hand having space to store it.

A shower panel according to the preamble of claim 4 is known from WO 93/08724 .

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method for installing a shower panel, in particular for communities, which allows simpler installation and removal as well as a shower panel, in particular for communities, whose the installation and removal are particularly simplified compared to the devices of the prior art.

According to the invention, a method for installing a shower panel, in particular for communities, intended to be surface-mounted on a wall is as defined in claim 1.

According to one embodiment, the U-shaped box is fixed to the support, leaving the interior space accessible, the pipes or conduits intended to be connected to the hot and/or cold water inlets are connected, in particular at the rear of the panel , and we close the interior space. According to another embodiment, the pipes or ducts intended to be connected to the hot and/or cold water inlets are connected, in particular in the upper or lower part of the panel, after the interior space has been closed.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, a shower panel, in particular for communities, intended to be wall-mounted on a wall is as defined in claim 4, improvements being defined in sub-claims 5 to 13.

The open case is pivotally mounted via at least one hinge, in particular two lower and upper hinges.

The at least one hinge comprises a first hinge, respectively a first sleeve, secured to the support element and a second hinge, respectively a second sleeve, secured to the housing and an intermediate element in the form of a plate comprising at its ends two sockets, respectively two hinges, to cooperate with the first and second hinges, respectively the first and second sleeves.

The axis of the first hinge, respectively of the first sleeve, is offset towards the inside of the case with respect to the axis of the second hinge, respectively of the second socket, to allow, when the panel is mounted on the wall, a movement of more than 90°, in particular a movement of up to 160°, despite the U-shape of the box.

In particular, the intermediate element in the form of a plate is bent, the concavity of the bend being turned away from the interior space defined by the casing.

Preferably, the axis of the second hinge, respectively of the second sleeve, is substantially level with the bottom of the case, at a distance from the edge of the opening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control elements, for example a time delay push-button, a temperature adjustment button, a hand shower/hand shower selection lever, as well as their respective connection to the pipes to the supply points and to the shower head and/or the hand shower, are fixed together on an insert comprising an auxiliary plate forming a plate received in a corresponding opening formed in the front wall of the housing, the plate auxiliary that can be easily removed, especially for wintering.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, independent of the previously mentioned aspect, but which can advantageously be implemented in combination therewith, a shower panel, in particular for communities, intended to be mounted in applied to a wall, comprises a box, having a U-shaped section defining between its opening and at least one front wall an interior space, in which the control elements of the shower are received, in particular timers, as well as pipes or ducts for connecting the hot and/or cold water inlets, the control elements and at least one main outlet for the water, in particular fitted with a shower head, and at least one element supporting the panel to the wall intended to be fixed to the wall, for example two upper and lower crosspieces, the open box being pivotally mounted relative to at least one support element. Preferably, the support element comprises a support frame consisting of two lower and upper horizontal crosspieces and two vertical rods mounted to slide relative to the two crosspieces.

Preferably, a lower cover fitting to the lower edge of the housing is fixed to the frame, in particular to the ends of the two rods, so that when the housing is mounted on the frame, the housing is closed on the underside by the lower cover.

Preferably, the casing comprises a top cover closing the casing on the top.

Preferably, at least one rod of the frame cooperates with at least one respective blind hole formed in the casing to prevent pivoting of the casing.

The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a shower panel according to one of claims 4 to 11 and a removable control element or plate comprising only a base plate and control elements, for example a mixing valve, a valve three-way and a timed tap, elements for actuating control elements, for example a rotary knob for adjusting the temperature, a selector lever between a main shower or a hand shower and a timed control push button projecting from 'a first outer face of the plate and the connecting elements of the associated control elements for the connection to the conduits/hoses to the hot or cold water supply, to the shower head, the hand shower and the like as well as to each other making projecting from a second inner face of the plate.

The plate (which could moreover be made in the form of a closed box or cassette simply comprising outlet orifices for the pipes) comprising all the control elements of the shower panel can thus be changed, when a control element is faulty or when you want to upgrade the shower panel. In addition, during the installation of a panel according to the invention, the cassette can be positioned only after the installation of the U-section of the panel, which further reduces the weight to be carried during the installation of the U-profile on the bracket fixed to the wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the plate comprises at least one rim, preferably a peripheral rim going around the plate, in the form of a step, so that, when the plate of the insert is inserted by the inside a complementary shaped opening formed in the front wall of a shower panel, the rim abuts the inside edge of the opening.

Access to the control means is thus possible only from inside the shower panel, which protects them against attempts at theft and/or "disassembly" or damage.

Preferably, the plate is fixed to the front wall at the level of the at least one rim.

According to one embodiment, conduits or pipes are connected at one of their ends to a respective connector coming from the inner face of the added element and the other end of which is intended to be connected to the supply points and to the shower head and/or the hand shower.

la figure 1

est une vue en perspective à l'état ouvert d'un panneau de douche suivant un mode de réalisation de l'invention, le panneau étant fixé au mur ;

la figure 2

est une vue de face de la partie formant l'élément de support au mur du boîtier du panneau de douche de la figure 1, le boîtier n'étant pas présent ;

la figure 3

est une vue en perspective avant du boîtier du panneau de la figure 1, la plaque auxiliaire formant cassette de commande ayant été omise ;

la figure 4

est une vue en perspective avant de la plaque auxiliaire formant cassette de commande et de tuyaux de raccordement associés du panneau de la figure 1, destinée à être encastrée dans l'ouverture frontale formée dans la paroi avant du boîtier de la figure 3 ;

la figure 5

est une vue arrière de la plaque auxiliaire formant cassette de commande de la figure 4, les tuyaux de raccordement ayant été omis ;

la figure 6

est une vue en perspective avant du boîtier complet, c'est-à-dire avec la cassette de commande encastrée dans l'ouverture frontale ;

la figure 7

est une vue en perspective du côté avant d'une partie basse du panneau de la figure 1 à l'état fermé ou d'utilisation, le mur ayant été omis pour une meilleure compréhension ;

la figure 8

est une vue en perspective du côté avant d'une partie basse du panneau de la figure 1 dans un état intermédiaire, tandis que les figures 8A et 8B sont des vues respectivement du côté arrière d'une partie basse et d'une partie haute du panneau à l'état intermédiaire représenté à la figure 8 ;

les figures 9A, 9B et 9C

sont des vues en perspective représentant des étapes du montage du panneau au mur ;

la figure 10

est une vue du panneau de la figure 1 pour lequel les connexions des tuyaux aux arrivées d'eau chaude et froide du réseau s'effectue à l'arrière du panneau, notamment à l'intérieur du cadre support, tandis qu'à la figure 1 ces connexions sont réalisées en partie haute du panneau ;

la figure 11

est une vue d'une partie inférieure du panneau des figures 1 ou 10 ;

la figure 11A

est une vue à plus grande échelle de la partie A encerclée de la figure 11 ; et

la figure 12

est une vue éclatée de la partie inférieure de la figure 11, la platine étant représentée à distance de l'ouverture formée dans la paroi avant pour sa réception.

By way of example only to illustrate the invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the drawings, in which:

figure 1

is an open perspective view of a shower panel according to one embodiment of the invention, the panel being fixed to the wall;

figure 2

is a front view of the part forming the support member to the wall of the box of the shower panel of the figure 1 , the case not being present;

figure 3

is a front perspective view of the panel housing of the figure 1 , the auxiliary plate forming the control cassette having been omitted;

figure 4

is a front perspective view of the auxiliary plate forming the control cassette and associated connection pipes of the panel of the figure 1 , intended to be recessed in the front opening formed in the front wall of the casing of the picture 3 ;

figure 5

is a rear view of the auxiliary plate forming the control cassette of the figure 4 , the connecting pipes having been omitted;

figure 6

is a front perspective view of the complete case, that is to say with the control cassette recessed in the front opening;

figure 7

is a perspective view of the front side of a lower part of the panel of the figure 1 when closed or in use, the wall having been omitted for better understanding;

figure 8

is a perspective view of the front side of a lower part of the panel of the figure 1 in an intermediate state, while the figures 8A and 8B are views respectively from the rear side of a lower part and an upper part of the panel in the intermediate state shown in figure 8 ;

figures 9A, 9B and 9C

are perspective views showing steps in mounting the panel to the wall;

figure 10

is a panel view of the figure 1 for which the connections of the pipes to the hot and cold water inlets of the network are made at the rear of the panel, in particular inside the support frame, while at the figure 1 these connections are made in the upper part of the panel;

figure 11

is a view of a lower part of the panel of the figure 1 Where 10 ;

figure 11A

is a larger scale view of the circled part A of the figure 11 ; and

figure 12

is an exploded view of the bottom of the figure 11 , the plate being shown at a distance from the opening formed in the front wall for its reception.

To the figure 1 , there is shown a shower panel according to the invention mounted on a vertical wall M. The shower panel comprises a housing 1 of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape open at the rear and having a front wall 2 and two side walls 3 and 4 left and right. The housing 1 thus defines between the walls 2, 3 and 4 an open interior space on the side of the wall and which receives within it control elements of the shower, as well as the pipes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 connection between the hot and cold water supplies 5 and 6, the main shower head and the wall-mounted hand shower respectively and the mixer tap 28, the timer device 29 and the device 30 for selection between the shower (top) and the hand shower manual (bottom).

The shower panel further comprises two crosspieces 8 and 9 in the form of an upper and lower plate respectively, which are fixed to the wall M by means of screws 10.

The housing 1 comprises an element 14 forming an upper cover which closes the interior space defined by the front housing 1 on the top, the fixing of the upper cover 14 being carried out by means of screws at the level of the upper edges. According to another mode of possible embodiment, the upper cover 14 could be in one piece with the walls 2, 3 and 4.

The two crosspieces 8 and 9 further form with two vertical cylindrical rods 16 and 17 a support frame, the rods being mounted to slide relative to the two crosspieces 8 and 9 passing respectively through sockets 18. A lower cover 15 of suitable shape to close the case 1 from below is attached to the lower ends of the rods 16 and 17.

Two stops 20 are integral with the rod 17 and prevent it from moving downwards beyond a certain limit. On the other hand, springs 21 are mounted along the rods 16 and 17 between the lower crosspiece 9 and the lower cover 15 secured to the rods 16 and 17. The rods 16 and 17 protrude beyond the upper crosspiece 8 in view to cooperate with the upper cover 14. The cooperation of the rods 16 and 17 with the upper and lower covers 14 and 15 can be seen in particular at the figure 8 , 8A and 8B . Two blind holes 32 and 33 protrude from the lower or inner face of the cover 14, the upper ends of the rods 16 and 17 being able to enter these holes 32 and 33 by pushing the lower cover 15 upwards, against the forces springs 21.

Thus, once the box 1 has been pivoted relative to the position of the figure 1 in a position which puts it parallel to the wall M, so that the lower edges of the walls 2, 3 and 4 of the box 1 come into correspondence with the upper edge of the lower cover 15, the installer can apply upward pressure on the lower cover 15 against the springs to cause the rods to slide upwards and that the upper ends of the rods 16 and 17 enter the blind holes 32 and 33 until the upper edge of the lower cover 15 bears against the lower edges of the walls 2, 3 and 4 of the case 1. It is then possible , using a screw 45, block the panel in its position of use. When the screw 45 is unscrewed, the springs 21 return the rods 16 and 17 downwards, so that their ends come out of the blind holes 32 and 33, thus freeing the case to allow it to be opened by pivoting.

As seen in the figures, the open box 1, consisting of the front wall 2, the side plates 3 and 4 and the upper cover 14, is pivotally mounted in the manner of a hinge on the two support elements 8 and 9 in form of crosspiece which are fixed to the wall M.

Two upper and lower cylindrical hinges 30 project vertically respectively from the two crosspieces 8 and 9 to cooperate with an upper and lower intermediate element 40 respectively. Each intermediate element 40 is in the form of a bent plate having at each of its ends a respective sleeve 41 central and 42 side. The central sleeve 41 cooperates with the hinge 30 coming from the crosspiece 8, 9, while the lateral sleeve 42 cooperates with a lateral hinge 43 integral with the casing 2.

The side hinge 43 is located inside the housing, close to the corner formed by the front wall 2 and the right side wall 4. The intermediate plate 40 is bent. It comprises a lateral section 50 extending from the lateral socket 42 to the elbow 51, then a central section 52 which extends from the elbow 51 to the socket 41 central. The central section 52 has a Y-shaped section, comprising a base part 53 therefore the section increases gradually and which ends by separating into two forks 54 and 55, which each extend to the side socket 42. This shape Y of the central section ensures greater resistance of the hinge which must withstand the weight of the case and the elements it encloses.

The angled shape and/or the offset of the two hinges, respectively central and lateral, means that the case can perform a rotation greater than 90° before the right side wall comes to abut against the wall M, in particular a rotation of the order of 160°, which greatly facilitates installation. In particular, as can be seen in the figures, the two central hinges 30 protrude from the two crosspieces 8 and 9 substantially at the level of the middle of these two crosspieces.

The installation of a panel according to the invention, as represented above, is particularly simple.

The user initially positions the wall frame consisting of the crosspieces 8 and 9, the two rods 16 and 17 and the lower cover 15 on the wall M by conventional means, in particular by screwing with screws 10 screwed into the wall. He then brings the rest of the panel, namely the box 1, to mount it by covering the two hinges 30 with the sockets 41 of the hinges 40. He can then connect the various pipes to their respective connection, either in the upper or lower part of the housing (as shown in the figures) or, according to another embodiment, at the rear of the housing. In addition, he can mount the box 1, either without the control plate 60, or with it. previously fixed to the panel. Indeed, the plate 60 is removably mounted in an opening 61 formed in the front wall 2 of the box, so that it can be added after having installed the panel, which further simplifies the installation by having a panel particularly light to hold when positioning it on the wall. Once the panel is mounted on a hinge to the wall frame, the control plate is installed in the panel and the pipes are connected, the installer only has to rotate the box 1 to bring it into correspondence with the lower cover 15 , then pushing the panel 15 upwards to cause the rods 16 and 17 to slide upwards so that they enter the corresponding blind holes of the upper cover 14 and on the other hand that the walls 2, 3 and 4 of the housing abut against the upper edge of the lower cover 15 to block any possibility of rotation of the housing which can then be blocked definitively by means of a screw 25. The housing, or the interior space defined by the U-section and the wall is thus closed.

In the above example, cylindrical hinges from crosspieces 8 and 9 have been described which cooperate with sockets formed in the intermediate plate. It goes without saying that the reverse can be done while remaining within the scope of the invention. It can also be done as described above for one of the intermediate elements and vice versa for the other intermediate element. One could also provide a hinge and a socket on the intermediate element, rather than two sockets or two hinges.

Tuyau 22 :

raccordement entre le mitigeur 28 et le robinet temporisé.

Tuyau 23 ou 24 :

raccordement eau chaude ou eau froide avec le mitigeur 28.

Tuyau 25 :

raccordement entre le sélecteur 30 et la sortie d'eau principale vers le pommeau 7 de douche.

Tuyau 26 :

raccordement entre le sélecteur 30 et la sortie d'eau auxiliaire vers la douchette manuelle (non représentée).

Tuyau 27 :

raccordement entre le sélecteur 30 et le robinet temporisé 29.

On the other hand, the connection pipes are flexible and make the following connections:

Hose 22:

connection between the mixer 28 and the timed tap.

Hose 23 or 24:

hot or cold water connection with mixer tap 28.

Hose 25:

connection between the selector 30 and the main water outlet to the shower head 7.

Hose 26:

connection between the selector 30 and the auxiliary water outlet to the hand shower (not shown).

Hose 27:

connection between selector 30 and timed valve 29.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the materials and shapes of the various constituent elements of the panel, in particular of the frame, of the casing and of the hinges, are chosen to ensure that in the open state of the casing ( figure 1 ) the housing is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical defined by the rods of the frame, for example by an angle of between 1° and 5°. In the closed position ( figure 7 ), the case, adapted to the frame, is on the other hand parallel to the vertical defined by the rods. This inclination allows better stability of the case in the open state, in particular better resistance to stresses, thus avoiding untimely breakage at the level of the hinges.

To figures 4 and 5 , there is shown in detail a control plate according to the invention. The plate 60 comprises a rectangular plate 63 of complementary dimension to the opening 61, extended by a rim 62 substantially all the way around the plate 63.

Thus, when the plate 60 is introduced from the inside of the case 1 into the opening 61, the plate 63 adapts exactly to the opening while the peripheral rim 62 abuts against the inner edge of the opening. . Once the rim 62 is pressed against the inner face of the front wall 2 of the casing, the cassette is removably fixed by screws in the holes 65 formed in the rim 62 to the front wall.

From the outer face of the plate 63 protrude the push button 66 of the timed shower valve 29, a lever 67 for selecting the selector 30 between the main shower and the hand shower and a rotary button 68 of the mixing valve 28 for the choice of the water temperature.

From the inner face of the plate 63 protrude, in correspondence with the button 66, the handle 67 and the button 68, the rest of the time flow valve, the three-way valve and the mixer, in particular their respective connector intended to be connected to the pipes 22 to 27. Consideration could be given to enclosing them in an auxiliary protective box or cassette. However, this is not a necessity.

Thus, only the actuating buttons are within reach of the user and the latter cannot pull the plate towards him, due to the abutment of the flange 62 against the inner edge of the opening 61. At the same time , it is very simple for the owner of the shower to replace a defective button and/or completely change the plate, by simply removing it from the inside, after opening the box 1.

To the figure 10 , the pipes 23 and 24 intended to be connected to the hot and cold water inlets in coming from the network are connected to the arrivals on the wall behind the panel between the two crosspieces, inside the frame. Once the U-shaped box has been fixed to the hinges of the support frame and the network connections have been made, the box is pivoted to close the interior space and is then in the position of use.

To the figure 1 , the pipes 23 and 24 intended to be connected to the hot and cold water inlets from the network are fixed to the upper crosspiece so as to protrude from the top of the panel, their fixing being carried out to then allow their connection to the inlets water from the network. Once the U-shaped box has been fixed to the hinges of the support frame and the fixings to the upper crosspiece for the connection to the network have been made, the box is pivoted to close the interior space and is then in the position of use.

To figures 11 and 11A , the way in which the plate is fixed to the front wall is shown. This attachment is effected by lugs 80 fixed to the inner face of the front wall and pressing against the inner face of the plate, so that the latter is sandwiched between the edge of the opening and the lugs. In addition, each lug has a screw 81 whose screwing towards the plate has the effect of increasing the pressure force of the lugs against the plate and thus locking the latter in position.

Claims (13)

1. Method for fitting a shower panel, notably for communal use, intended to be surface-mounted on a wall, comprising a housing (1), with a U-shaped section defining between its opening and at least one front side (2) an interior space containing the shower controls, notably timed, and the pipes or ducts for connecting the hot and/or cold water inlets, the controls and at least one main outlet for the water, notably fitted with a shower head, and at least one wall support element (8, 9, 15, 16, 17) for the panel intended to be fixed to the wall, for example two cross-members, one upper and one lower, characterised in that it includes the following steps:

   - the support is fixed to the wall; then

   - the U-shaped housing is fixed to the support and the interior space is closed, the housing being able to rotate with respect to at least one support element (8, 9, 15, 16, 17), the open housing (1) being mounted so that it can rotate by means of at least one hinge, notably two hinges, a lower one and an upper one (30, 40, 41, 42, 43), and

   the at least one hinge includes a first pin, respectively a first bush, integral with the support element and a second pin (43), respectively a second bush, integral with the housing (1) and an intermediate element (40) in the form of a plate having at its ends two bushes (41, 42), respectively two pins, that engage with the first and second pins, respectively the first and second bushes, the centre line of the first pin (30), respectively the first bush, being offset towards the interior of the housing (1) with respect to the centre line of the second pin (43), respectively the second bush, to permit a travel of greater than 90° when the panel is mounted on the wall, notably a travel of up to 160°, in spite of the U-shape of the section of the housing.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the U-shaped housing is fixed to the support leaving the interior space accessible, the pipes or ducts to be connected to the hot and/or cold water inlets, notably at the back of the panel, and the interior space is closed.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipes or ducts to be connected to the hot and/or cold water inlets are connected, notably at the top or bottom of the panel, after closing the interior space.
4. Shower panel, notably for communal use, intended to be surface-mounted on a wall, comprising an open housing (1), with a U-section defining between its opening and at least one front side (2) an interior space containing the shower controls (28, 29, 30), notably timed, and the pipes or ducts to connect the hot and/or cold inlets water, the controls and at least one main outlet for water, notably fitted with a shower head, and at least one panel support element (8 ; 9) or wall mounting, for example two cross-members (8, 9), one upper and one lower, characterised in that the housing (1) can rotate with respect to the at least one support element (8, 9, 15, 16, 17), the open housing (1) being able to rotate on at least one hinge, notably two lower and upper hinges (30, 40, 41, 42, 43), and

   the at least one hinge comprises a first pin (30), respectively a first bush, integral with the support element and a second pin (43), respectively a second bush, integral with the housing (1) and an intermediate element (40) in the form of a plate including at its ends two bushes (41, 42), respectively two pins, working with the first and second pins, respectively the first and second bushes,

   the centre line of the first pin (30), respectively the first bush, being offset towards the interior of the housing (1) with respect to the centre line of the second pin (43), respectively of the second bush, so that when the panel is mounted on the wall it can travel more than 90°, notably up to 160°, in spite of the U-shape of the cross section of the housing.
5. Panel according to claim 4, characterised in that the intermediate element (40) in the form of a plate is bent, the concave side of the bend (51) facing away from the interior space defined by the housing.
6. Panel according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the centre line of the second pin, respectively the second bush, is essentially at the bottom of the housing, at a distance from the edge of the opening.
7. Panel according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the controls, for example a knob (29) on a timer, a knob (30) for adjusting the temperature, a lever (28) to select the main shower/hand shower, and their respective connection to the pipes to the water supply and to the shower head and/or the hand shower, are mounted together on a detachable element comprising an auxiliary plate forming a base (60) mounted in a corresponding opening (61) formed in the front wall (2) of the housing, it being possible to remove the auxiliary plate easily, notably for winter storage.
8. Panel according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the support element comprises a support frame (8, 9, 16, 17) constituted of two horizontal lower and upper cross-members and two vertical rods that can slide with respect to the two cross-members.
9. Panel according to claim 8, characterised in that a lower cover (15) fitting the lower edge of the housing (1) is fixed to the frame (8, 9, 16, 17), notably at the ends of the two rods (16, 17), so that when the housing is mounted on the frame, the housing is closed at the bottom by the lower cover.
10. Panel according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the housing (1) comprises an upper cover (14) closing the housing at the top.
11. Panel according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that at least one rod (16, 17) of the frame engages with at least one respective blind bush formed in the housing (1) to prevent rotation of the housing.
12. Assembly comprising a shower panel according to claims 4 to 6 or 8 to 11 and one of said controls, the control being removable, or the assembly comprising a base comprising only one base plate and the controls, for example a mixer (28), a three-way valve and a timed valve, elements for actuating the controls, for example a rotary knob (68) to adjust the temperature, a lever (67) to select either a main shower or a hand shower and a timed control knob (66) projecting from a first exterior side of the plate and connection elements (22 to 27) for the associated controls for connecting the ducts/pipes to the hot or cold water supply, the shower head (7), the hand shower and similarly projecting between them from a second interior side of the plate (63), the removable control being removably contained into an opening formed in the front side of the shower panel.
13. Assembly according to claim 12, characterised in that the plate (63) includes at least one flange, preferably a peripheral stepped flange (62) all around the plate so that, when the plate of the detachable element is inserted from the interior into the opening (61) of complementary shape formed in the front wall of the shower panel, the flange butts against the interior edge of the opening.

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