FR2513678A1 - SHOWER SYSTEM AND CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SUCH A SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Connection device for a shower system comprising a wall support (1, 2) for a vertically adjustable shower head (7) and a device (3) supplying water to the said shower head, said wall support being constituted by a piston-cylinder assembly (1, 2) of which one element is fixed, whereas the other is adapted to move vertically and a multiway valve (13, 20) being provided between said water supplying device (3) and the piston-cylinder assembly (1, 2) for permitting either the admission of water into said assembly (1, 2), or permitting to place the said piston-cylinder assembly (1, 2) in communication with a drain pipe (16) after admission of water therein, said connection device forming a construction unit, characterized in that said construction unit contains the multi-way valve (13, 20) and comprises a first orifice (9) connectable to the outlet (10) of the supply device (3), a second orifice (11) connectable to the shower head (7), a third orifice (15) connectable to the admission of the piston-cylinder assembly (1, 2) and a fourth orifice (16) acting as drain orifice.

Description

The present invention relates to a shower system and a

  connecting device for such a system.

  There are already known shower systems comprising a wall bracket for a shower head adjustable in height and a water supply device of said shower head. This feeder can be a simple faucet, or a mixer, a mixer, etc. The wall bracket is usually constituted by a vertical bar, which is fixed to a wall and on which can slide a slide can be fixed in position along said bar The shower head can be made integral, generally removably, said slide and is

  connected to the supply device by a hose.

  It is easy to imagine that by manually varying the position of the slide along the bar, it is possible

  to vary the height of the showerhead.

  The present invention relates to a shower system in which the height adjustment of the shower head is automatic. To this end, according to the invention, the shower system comprises a wall bracket for a height adjustable shower head and a water supply device for said shower head, is remarkable in that said wall bracket is constituted by a cylinder-piston assembly of which one element is fixed and the other of which is capable of moving vertically, in that said shower head is carried by said element of the cylinder-piston assembly which can move and in that the there is provided a multi-way valve interposed directly between said water supply device and the cylinder-piston assembly making it possible either to admit water into said assembly or to close it after having admitted to it. water, or else to put said cylinder-piston assembly into

  communication with a purge-after having admitted water.

  Thus, thanks to the combination of the cylinder-piston assembly and said multi-way valve, it is possible to raise said movable member, to stop at the desired height and to lower it, that is to say to adjust and fix in height said shower head, either during

  the climb, either during the descent.

  Preferably, the rise of the movable element of the piston cylinder assembly is independent of the pressure of the water upstream of the feed device and depends only on the control of said flow, which is that of the feed source (Mixer, mixer tap, tap, etc. Of course, the showerhead could be permanently attached to the movable element of the cylinder-piston assembly and be continuously fed through a conduit

  sealingly traversing said cylinder-piston assembly.

  However, it is often advantageous for the shower head to be connected to the water supply via a flexible hose outside said cylinder-piston assembly and to be removably attachable to said movable element.

said set.

  Preferably, in order to simplify the installation of the system according to the invention and to allow the implementation of the present invention to known shower systems, there is provided a connection device forming a building unit enclosing said multi-way valve. and having a first port connectable to the output of the supply device, a second port connectable to the shower head, via a flexible conduit for example, a third port connectable to the inlet of the cylinder assembly piston and a fourth bleed port. In an advantageous embodiment, in which the shower is always supplied as soon as the water supply source is used in the "shower" position, the first and the second orifices are connected directly to one another by a duct, while, between this duct and the third E and fourth orifices, is provided a three-way valve allowing either the communication between said duct and the third orifice with closure of the fourth orifice, or the closure of the third and fourth orifices; , as well as the connection between these and said duct, is still the communication between the third and fourth ports with closure of the connection between said duct

  and said third and fourth orifices.

  Preferably, in order to facilitate the choice of one or the other of the three positions of the three-way valve corresponding to the three states mentioned above, provision is made for a position marking of the movable member of the

  valve at the passage to each of said positions.

  The figures of the annexed drawing will make clear how

the invention can be realized.

  Figure 1 is a side view of a shower system

according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the shower system according to the invention, in positio

piston rise.

  FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG.

  piston being in a high stable position.

  FIG. 4 corresponds to FIGS. 2 and 3 and shows the

piston in down position.

  Figures 5, 6 and 7 correspond respectively to

  sections V-V, VI-VI and VII-VII of Figures 2, 3 and 4.

  FIG. 8 shows in section - an alternative embodiment of the

device according to the invention.

  The shower system according to the invention, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a cylinder 1-piston assembly 2 connected to a known mixer or mixer 3 via a device 4 according to the invention. The cylinder 1 is connected to

  a wall 5 by means of fixing lugs 6.

  Furthermore, at the upper end of the piston rod 2 can be mounted, preferably removably, a shower pump 7, capable of being supplied with water via a flexible hose 8 connected to the device 4

according to the invention.

  Figures 2 to 7 illustrate in section the structure and the

  operation of the system according to the invention.

  As can be seen in these figures, the device 4 comprises an input 9, intended to be connected directly

at the outlet 10 of the mixer 3.

  The device 4, according to the invention, consists of a block, for example metal, in which are machined different pipes and orifices Thus, the inlet 9 is connected to an outlet 11 connected directly to the flexible pipe 8, it is ie feeding the showerhead 7 The orifices 9 and they are connected to each other-by a curved duct

12.

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  In branch on the conduit 12 is mounted a three-way valve whose plug 13 is rotated by a control member 14 The plug 13 is interposed

  between the conduit 12 and two outlet ports 15 and 16.

  The orifice 15 opens into the cylinder 1 facing the piston 17 connected to the rod 2. Moreover, the orifice 16 is a purge orifice and the water likely to pass through it falls, for example via a special end piece (not shown) in the shower tray (also not

  shown) arranged under the system according to the invention.

  As can be seen in the figures, the bushel 13 is

  crossed by two ducts 18 and 19 angularly arranged.

  In the position shown in Figures 2 and 5, the conduit 18 connects the conduit 12 to the orifice 15, so that water is admitted into the cylinder 1 and pushes the piston 17, and therefore the rod 2 and the Thus, in this position, the shower head 7 is raised. In this position, the purge hole 16 is closed, while water supplies the shower head 7 through the orifice 9. the duct 12, the orifice 11 and the

flexible hose 8.

  In the position represented by FIGS. 3 and 6, the plug closes the communication between the duct 12 and the orifices 15 and 16. In this position, the piston 17 remains in the last position corresponding to the rotation of the plug 13 between FIGS. 5 on the one hand and 3 and 6 on the other hand, the orifice 11 being immediately and separately always fed, as soon as the water supply source

is in "shower" position.

  In the position represented by FIGS. 4 and 7, the ducts 18 and 19 connect the orifices 15 and 16, so that the water stored in the cylinder 1 can escape through the purge. The piston 17 and its stem thus descend towards the device 4, since then

  the plug 13 closes the connection to the conduit 12.

  Note that in the three positions illustrated in Figures 2 to 7, the feed rate of the showerhead 7 is never interrupted. Thus, the system according to the invention allows the height adjustment of the shower head, the rise, the descent and the position of use being ensured by the flow supplying

the shower head.

  The shower is always powered and usable

whatever the position of the system.

  FIGS. 2 to 7 show the plug 13 in the form of a spherical rotor. Of course, the three-way valve according to the invention may comprise a plug of any other shape. For example, in FIG. However, these embodiments are not limiting and one could also provide a conical plug, or even disks of any material including ceramic materials. and, in general, any system of multi-way valves with simultaneous or successive closing of the supply passages

and purge.

  Of course, these different elements can be mounted in a different way from that represents, to put an easy replacement and this, even by a nonprofessional, in case of wear of a seal The entire system according to the invention can be made in any material and for example synthetic material, anodized aluminum, brass etc. It is thus seen that in the device according to the invention all the raising and lowering maneuvers are controlled independently of the admission of water to the showerhead, which is continuously fed as soon as the water supply source is in the "shower" position, the stop of the rise and fall can be adjusted to

  all desired heights of use.

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Claims (5)

  1. shower system comprising a wall bracket for a height-adjustable shower head and a water supply device-for said shower head, characterized in that said wall bracket is constituted by a cylinder assembly (1) -piston (2) one element is fixed and the other is movable vertically, in that said shower head (7) is carried by said element of the cylinder assembly (1) -piston (2) capable of move and in that there is provided a multi-way valve (13,20) interposed between said water supply device (3) and the cylinder assembly (1) -piston (2) and allowing either to admit water in-said set (1) - {2), either to close it after having admitted water, or even to put said cylinder assembly (1) -piston {2) in communication with a purge (16) after having admitted water 2 Shower system according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply in water from the cylinder (1) -piston assembly (2) is derived from the flow of water passing through the showerhead (7).   3. System according to any one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the shower head is permanently integral with the movable element of the cylinder (1) -piston assembly (2) and is fed through a through conduit in a sealed manner said assembly.   4. System according to any one of claims 1 or   2, characterized in that the shower head is connected to the water supply via a flexible hose external to said cylinder (1) -piston assembly (2) and can be removably secured to said movable member of said assembly (1) - (2).   5. Connection device for the system specified under   any one of the preceding claims, forming   building unit, characterized in that said building unit encloses the multi-way valve (13,20) and has a first port (9) connectable to the outlet (10) of the supply device (3), a second port (11) connectable to the shower pump (7), a third port (15) connectable to the inlet of the cylinder (1) -piston assembly (2) and a   fourth port (16) serving as a purge port.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and second orifices (9 and 11) are connected directly to one another by a conduit (12) while between this conduit (12) and the third and fourth orifices (15 and 16) is provided with a three-way valve (13, 20) allowing either the communication between the duct (12) and the third orifice (15) with closure of the fourth orifice, ie the closing of the third and fourth orifices (15, 16) and the connection thereof with said duct (12), or again the communication between the third and fourth orifices (15 and 16) with closure of the connection between said duct and said third and fourth holes.   7 Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the positions of the movable member of the valve are marked at the passage of each of said positions.