GB1602191A

GB1602191A - Shower assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB1602191A
Application number: GB2558777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MUGGLESTONE K
Current assignee: MUGGLESTONE K
Priority date: 1978-05-26
Filing date: 1978-05-26
Publication date: 1981-11-11
Also published as: SE450197B; SE8106668L

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SHOWER ASSEMBLIES (71) 1, KEITH MUGGLESTONE, a British Subject of Stillwater Cottage, Anton's Gowt, Boston, Lincolnshire do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a shower assembly and particularly a self-contained shower assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided a selfcontained shower assembly comprising a water reservoir, means for heating the water in the reservoir, the heating means being controllable to heat the water to a preselected temperature, pump means having an inlet conmunicating directly with said reservoir and an outlet connected with a shower head so as to discharge water from the latter substantially at said desired temperature, means for collecting water from the shower head, and means for delivering the collected water to the pump inlet.

Preferably the hose extends through a plurality of tubular members which can removably interlock with one another to form a rigid support column for the shower head. Alternatively a separate support column is provided for the shower head comprising a plurality of tubular members which can be removably interlocked with one another.

Advantageously a filter is provided in the flow path for water through the assembly. The filter may be removable.

Further said reservoir may be defined as a cavity in a base structure, said cavity having an opening thereto which is closable by a plug.

The base structure may be removably housed in a casing and the support means removably seats on the casing, the support means having a drain for communicating with the cavity opening, and may be filled with a foamed plastics material which encapsulates the pump means and electric circuitry for control thereof.

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 a shower assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of part of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing a cotrol circuit for the assembly of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic elevation showing a second embodiment of a shower assembly according to the invention; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a preferred third embodiment of a shower assembly according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit for the assembly of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings a first embodiment of the shower assembly according to the invention comprises a base structure 10 of substantially rectangular configuration having an internal open-topped cavity in the form of a reservoir or tank 12 for holding water, the tank 12 being separated into adjacent compartments 14, 16 by a central dividing wall 18. The floor 20 of the tank 12 slopes from one end to another, for example at an angle of 2", and the floor 20 also slopes from either side downwardly to the dividing wall 18, for example at an angle of 5 : The dividing wall 18 is provided at the lower end of the tank 12 with a drain hole 22 which can receive a plug (not shown) to enable communication between the compartments 14 and 16 when desired.

The base structure 19 is otherwise preferably hollow, its internal cavity being filled by an insulating plastics material such as polyurethane foam. Encapsulated within the foam adjacent to the lower end of the tank 12 there is provided a water pump 24 which has an inlet communicating with the compartment 14 and an outlet connected to one end of a flexible plastics hose 26. The latter extends upwardly from the base structure 10 and at its other end has a shower head 28 fixed thereon. On the hose 26 there are arranged a plurality of tubular members 30 each of which is provided with a spigot at one end and 2 complementary socket at the other end, such that the tubular members 30 can removably interlock with one another to form, in their interlocked positions, a rigid support column for the shower head 28.The lowermost tubular member 30 has its spigot receivable in an aperture 32 provided in the top face of the base member 10. The uppermost tubular member 30 is adapted to receive in its socket a curtain support rail 34 which is of rectangular shape and has leg portions 36 engage able in the socket of the uppermost tubular member 30. A curtain (not shown) conventionally supported on the rail 34 by rings (not shown) is arranged to be capable of extending around the rectangular rail so as to form a shower cubicle, the ends of the curtain preferably meeting at a side of the rail other than that side opposite the shower head 28 so as to prevent as far as possible splashing of water outside the cubicle when the curtain is opened.

A support member in the form of a shower tray 38 has a peripheral flange arranged to removably seat in a peripheral recess around the top of the tank 12 such that the tray 38 extends across the tank 12. The tray 38 has a waste outlet 40 at one side thereof which allows water to pass through into the compartment 16. A support for the tray 28 is provided in the form of a false partition 39 extending laterally across the tank 12 to either side of the wall 18 but terminating short of the floor 20 of the tank 12.

Heating means in the form of an electric heater 42 is mounted on the base member 10 to extend into the compartment 14 for heating of water therein. The heater 42 is thermostatically controlled, an adjustable thermostat being provided on the base structure 10.

A lid 44 is hingedly mounted on an upper surface of the base structure 10 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The operation of the shower assembly will now be described with reference to the circuit drawing as shown in Figure 3. With the drain hole 22 in the dividing wall 18 suitably plugged, water is introduced into the compartment 14 width the thermostat contacts 43 closed and a suitable electrical lead is connected to the mains supply. A manual set button 46 is pressed and a relay 48 is thereby energised through the thermostat contacts 43. The relay 48 holds in the button 46, and the heater 42 and an indicator 50 are maintained in an on condition. When the water in the compartment 14 reaches a predetermined temperature the thermostat opens and the relay 48 drops out to release the button 46. This isolates the heater 42 and the indicator 50 and the change in position of the button 46 energises a 12-volt D.C. circuit for the pump 24 through a transformer 52.The pump 24 can then be operated to pump the water from the compartment 14 to the shower head 28. The heated water from the shower head 28 falls on to the shower try 38 from where it drains through the outlet 40 into the compartment 16.

Once all the heated water in the compartment 14 has been utilised the pump 24 is arranged to switch off by any suitable means and the drain hole 22 in the dividing wall 18 is then unplugged. The water from the compartment 16 accordingly drains through into the compartment 14 and once all the water has been collected in the compartment 14 the pump 24 can then again be switched on. With the shower head 28 in a sink or other suitable receptacle the used water can then be pumped out of the assembly.

It will be appreciated that when not in use the curtain rail 34 can be removed from the support column and the latter can be collapsed, the components then being packed on top of the shower tray 38 and the lid 44 closed thereover so as to provide a unit which can be easily stored or moved. Each shower assemby is therefore a self-contained unit which only requires a plug-in connector to an electric mains supply for operation.

In a second embodiment (Figure 4) which operates in the same manner as the first embodiment with the same control circuit, a base structure 60 has a cavity defining a first water compartment 62 and seated over the base member 60 there is a cover 64 which has a recess portion therein defining a second water compartment 66. The latter has a bottom wall sloping from one end to the other and at its lower end has a drain hole 68 provided with a out 70.

Within the recess in the cover 64 a shower tray 72 extends across the compartment 66 and has a waste outlet 74 to allow water to pass from the tray 72 into the compartment 66.

A pump 76 has its inlet in communication with the compartment 62 and its outlet connected with a flexible plastics hose 78, the other end of the hose 78 being connected to a shower head 80. The latter is adapted to be mounted on a collapsible support column 82 defined by a plurality of releasable interlocking members the lowermost of which is releasably engageable through the cover 64 into the base member 62 and the uppermost of which is adapted to receive a curtain rail 84.

A thermostatically controlled heater 86 is mounted on the base member 60 to extend into the compartment 62 and the electrical circuitry and the pump 76 are again preferably encapsulated in polyurethane foam.

A lid 88 is hingedly mounted on the cover 64 to extend there-across when the various components are collapsed and packed on the shower tray 72.

In a preferred third embodiment of the shower assembly according to the invention with reference to Figures 5 and 6 a base structure or unit 100 of substantially rectangular configuration has a reservoir in the form of an internal cavity 102 which has an opening 104 in an upper surface of the unit 100 for filling and emptying of the cavity as desired. When not in use the opening 104 can be closed by a plug (not shown).

The base unit 100 is otherwise preferably hollow, being filled by an insulating plastics material such as polyurethane foam. Encapsulated within the foam there is provided a water pump 106 which has an inlet communicating through a filter element 108 with the cavity 102 and an outlet connected to one end of a hose 110. The latter extends from the pump 106 to an outlet tap 112 on the upper face of the base unit 100. The filter element 108 is arranged to be accessible from externally of the base unit 100 and is removable for replacement purposes. A further hose 114 extends between a secondary outlet of the pump 106 to communicate with the cavity 102 to function as an air bleed and also improve circulation of the water and helping to keep an even temperature throughout the water.

Heating means in the form of an electric heater 116 is mounted on the base unit 100 to extend into the cavity 102 for heating of water therein. The heater 116 is thermostatically controlled by a thermostat 118 which is adjustable as desired from externally of the base unit 100 by manual adjustment of a spindle 120 as hereinafter described. The thermostat 118 the heater 116 and the pump 106 are connected in an electrical circuit which is supplied from the mains through a mains connection 122, an indicator lamp 124 which is also connected in the circuit being visible from externally of the base unit 100,the circuitry being encapsulated within the polyurethane foam.

The base unit 100 is adapted to be located in a casing 126 through an opening 128 in a side wall thereof, the base unit 100 having a handle 130 on a respective side wall to facilitate movement of the base unit 100 into and out from the casing 126. The latter has a through opening 132 which aligns with the mains connection 122 to allow entry of a mains connector (not shown) and a further opening 135 which aligns with the lamp 124 such that the la latter is visible from externally of the casing 126. A thermostat control knob 136 is mounted on the thermostat spindle 120 through a third opening provided in the casing 126 the knob 136 having a marker which co-operates with a scale 138 provided on the casing 126 to give an indication of the adjustment of the thermostat 118.

A support member in the form of a shower tray 140 has a peripheral flange 142 arranged to removably seat on a peripheral ledge 144 around the open top of the casing 126. The shower tray has a waste outlet 146 which is arranged to align with the opening 104 for the cavity 102 and also has an opening 148 on the flange 142 which aligns with the outlet tap 112 on the base unit 100.

A shower connection member 150 is arranged to connect with the outlet tap 112 and on the free end of the connection member 150 there is provided a flexible plastics hose 152 which at its free end has a shower head 154 fixed thereon. The latter can be provided with a support column of the type described with reference to either of the first and second embodi- ments, having a similar curtain support rail and curtain (not shown).

When the shower assembly is to be used the base unit 100 is drawn out from the casing 126, the plug is removed and the cavity 102 is filled with water through the opening 104. The plug is then reinserted into the opening 104 and the base unit 100 is moved back into the casing 126. The mains electrical supply is connected through the mains connection 122 and the plug for the opening 104 is removed through the shower tray outlet 146. The shower connection member 150 is connected to the outlet tap 112 and the shower head 154 is positioned as desired.

When the mains supply is provided through the circuit the indicator lamp 124 is lit while the water is being heated by the heater 116 and when the water in the cavity 102 reaches a predetermined temperature the thermostat 118 operates to remove the heater 116 and the lamp 124 from the circuit, the extinguishing of the lamp 124 thus indicating when the assembly is ready for use.

The pump 106 can then be operated to pump the water through the filter element 108 to the shower head 154 from where the water falls on to the shower tray 140 and drains through the outlet 146 back into the cavity 102 through the opening 104. The water can then be recirculated through the filter element 108 for re-use.

After use with the pump inoperative the shower connection member 150 is disconnected from the outlet tap 112 and the shower head 154 and the hose 152 are drained into the shower tray 140. The plug for the opening 104 is then replaced through the shower tray outlet 146, the mains connection is removed and the base unit 100 is then drawn out of the casing 126 for emptying. The filter element can be removed by removing a filter cap 156 and when the filter element 108 is removed for replacement the base unit 100 can be completely drained through the opening for the filter element.

It is to be appreciated that the filter element can be positioned at other locations in the flow path of the water for example at the pump outlet or at the shower tray outlet 146.

It is also to be appreciated that a filter element can be used in either of the first or second embodiments hereinbefore described and that the circuitry described with reference to Figure 6 can also be applied to either of the first or second embodiments. Conversely the circuit of Figure 3 can be applied to the third embodiment described with reference to Figure 5.

It is preferred that the base members and the shower trays are formed of glass reinforced plastics material with the shower curtain of a fibreglass material.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A self-contained shower assembly comprising a water reservoir, means for heating the water in the reservoir, the heating means being controllable to heat the water to a preselected temperature, pump means having an inlet communicating directly with said reservoir and an outlet connected with a shower head so as to discharge water from the latter substantially at said desired temperature, means for collecting water from the shower head, and means for delivering the collected water to the pump inlet.

2. A shower assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the heating means is thermostatically controlled.

3. A shower assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump is connected with the shower head by means of a flexible hose.

4. A shower assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the hose extends through a plurality of tubular members which can removably interlock with one another to form a rigid support column for the shower head.

5. A shower assembly according to Claim 3, wherein a separate support column is provided for the shower head comprising a plurality of tubular members which can be removably interlocked with one another.

6. A shower assembly according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein a curtain rod is releasably mounted at a free end of the support column when the latter is erected.

7. A shower assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a secondary outlet from the pump means communicates with said reservoir to function as an air bleed.

8. A shower assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a filter is provided in the flow path for water through the assembly.

9. A shower assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the filter is provided between the pump inlet and said reservoir.

10. A shower assembly according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the filter is removable.

11. A shower assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said reservoir is defined as a cavity in a base structure, said cavity having an opening thereto which is closable by a plug.

12. A shower assembly according to Claim 11, wherein the base structure is removably housed in a casing and the water collecting means removably seats on the casing, the water collecting means having a drain for communicating with the cavity opening.

13. A shower assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein said reservoir comprises first and second compartments in a base structure separated by a dividing wall, a drain hole being provided in the dividing wall and being closable by a plug, the pump inlet communicating with one of the compartments.

14. A shower assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the water collecting means removably seats on the base structure to cover the compartment and has a drain hole communicating with the other of the compartments.

15. A shower assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein said reservoir is defined by a hollow base structure, and wherein a cover member seats on the base structure and has a recessed portion including a drain hole, the latter being closable by a plug, and the support means being removably seated on the cover member and having a drain for communicating with the recessed portion.

16. A shower assembly according to any of Claims 11 to 15, wherein the base structure is filled with a foamed plastics material which encapsulates the pump means and electric circuitry for control thereof.

17. A shower assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a closable lid is provided.

18. A shower assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.