GB2153219A - Bath/shower mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

A bath/shower mixer comprises an inlet chamber (11), a mixing chamber (12) and an outlet chamber (13). The inlet chamber (11) includes means (18) for selecting any one of first, second and third outlet ports (23,26,29). the mixing chamber (12) is adapted to receive a soluble substance such as a bar of soap and is connectable to the first outlet port (23) of the inlet chamber, and the outlet chamber (13) is connectable to the outflow (32) from the mixing chamber (12) or to the second outlet port (26) of the inlet chamber. The outlet chamber (13) is also adapted to receive a soluble substance such as liquid shampoo. A shower supply means is connectable to the third outlet port (29) of the inlet chamber or to the outlet chamber, and a bath tap supply means (36) is provided in the outlet chamber (13) whereby either the shower supply means or the bath tap supply means may provide the outflow from the mixer. The mixer can provide water containing dissolved soap, water containing dissolved shampoo, or clear water to the shower or, by leaving chamber 13 empty, to the bath. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bath/Shower mixer This invention relates to a bath/shower mixer, and is of the kind in which the mixer is in the form of a unit for securing in place on the bath adjacent a pair of bath taps.

One kind of mixing device for showers comprises a branched flexible pipe, each of the branched pipes having a push-on connector for the hot and cold taps respectively of a bath. Another, more sophisticated device replaces the existing taps, and includes a valve device for switching mixed streams of water either to an outlet over the bath, or to a shower fixture.

The first of these known devices suffers from the disadvantage that in order to fill a bath in the normal way, it is necessary to remove the pipe connectors from their taps.

The second of these known devices suffers from the disadvantage that it requires a plumbing operation to fit it.

A third kind of mixer, described in my UK Patent Specification No. 1 403 874. overcomes these disadvantages, as well as making it possible to obtain a mixed (i.e. mixed hot and cold) water outflow to either a bath or a shower, containing for example dissolved soap or shampoo.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixer of this third kind, but with improved capabilities.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bath/shower mixer comprising an inlet charnber including means for selecting any one of first, second and third outlet ports, a mixing chamber adapted to receive a soluble substance and connectable to the first outlet port of the inlet chamber, an outlet chamber connectable to the outflow from the mixing chamber or to the second outlet port of the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber being adapted to receive a soluble substance, shower supply means connectable to the third outlet port of the inlet chamber or to the outlet chamber, and bath tap supply means connected to the outlet chamber, either said shower supply means or said bath tap supply means providing the outflow from the mixer.

A mixer in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of the mixer; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional front view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the mixer; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the mixer; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional rear view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the casing 10 of the mixer is internally divided into an inlet chamber 11 at the rear of the mixer, a mixing chamber 1 2 in the upper part of the front of the mixer, and an outlet chamber 1 3 in the lower front part of the mixer. The lower surface of the mixer is so shaped, with a recessed portion 1 4 towards the rear of the casting, as to fit over the edge of a bath, preferably between the hot and cold taps. The mixer may be secured in place by any suitable means such as rubber suction cups 1 5 that are fixed to the recessed portion 14 of the casing.

The inlet chamber 11 has hot and cold water inlet pipes 1 6 and 1 7 (Figs. 3 and 4) in its side walls for connection, for example by flexible hoses, to the hot and cold bath taps.

Mixed hot and cold water which has entered the inlet chamber 11 leaves the chamber by the selected one of three possible outlets of a rotary diverter 1 8. The diverter 1 8 consists of an inner, rotatably mounted cylinder 1 9 and an outer cylinder 20 which is secured to the casing of the mixer and into which the inner cylinder is a close sliding fit.

Water in the inlet chamber enters the hollow inner cylinder 19 through an inlet port 21 in the lower portion of the inner cylinder. The outer cylinder is suitably cut away in this region so that water always enters the inlet port 21 of the inner cylinder regardness of its rotational position. In an alternative form of inlet, not shown, water may enter the inner cylinder in an upwards, axial, direction through its open lower end and a gravityoperated ball valve arrangement may be incorporated to permit water to flow only into the inner cylinder from the bath taps, and not in the reverse direction.

The first outlet of the rotary diverter 1 8 is provided by an aperture 22 in the inner cylinder 19, and when the diverter is turned to the appropriate position to select the mixing chamber 12, the aperture 22 is aligned with a corresponding aperture 23 in the upper part 24 of the front wall of the inlet chamber 11. When this position is selected, the other two outlets of the diverter are closed, as indeed the remaining two outlets are closed when any one of the positions is selected.

The second outlet of the rotary diverter 1 8 is provided by an aperture 25 in the inner cylinder 19, positioned such that when the diverter is turned to the appropriate position to select the outlet chamber, the aperture 25 is aligned with a corresponding aperture 26 in the lower part 27 of the front wall of the inlet chamber.

The third outlet of the rotary diverter 18 is provided by an aperture 28 in the upper part of the inner cylinder 19, and when the diverter is turned to the position to select the shower outlet (to be described further below), the aperture 28 is aligned with an outlet port 29 which is connected directly into a shower supply pipe 30 mounted vertically in the entral part of the inlet chamber 11 but not communicating with it in any way. The mixing chamber 1 2 is divided from the outlet chamber 13 by a sloping floor 31, which slopes downwards towards the front of the mixer and which has an outlet aperture 32 which allows water to flow down into the outlet chamber 1 3. A non-return valve 33 is provided in the outlet aperture 32 to permit only downward flow, and may be, for example, a simple flap valve.

Mounted just above the outlet aperture 32 is a grill or mesh support 34 for carrying solid soap, and for preventing such soap from blocking the outlet aperture. Soap may be placed in the mixing chamber 12 through any suitable sealable hatch such as the screwthreaded caps 35 shown in Fig. 1.

Water in the outlet chamber can leave by one of only two routes, that is either through a bath tap 36, or through a shower outlet aperture 37 which is connected directly into shower supply pipe 30. A non-return valve 38 is provided in the shower outlet aperture to prevent reverse flow. The floor 39 of the outlet chamber slopes downwards towards the bath tap 36 to assist drainage. The bath tap 36 has a control knob which, on selecting 'bath' allows water to flow directly into the bath, in which case no water goes up into the shower. When the control knob 40 is turned to select 'shower', the bath outlet is closed, so water entering the outlet chamber leaves through the shower outlet aperture 37, to supply the shower, The shower is connected, for example by means of a flexible pipe 41, to the shower suply pipe 30.

Mounted vertically with its upper end projecting through the top wall of the inlet chamber 11 is a shampoo inlet pope 42, which, although it passes through the inlet chamber is not in communication with it in any way.

Shampoo may be poured into hopper 43, attached to the upper end of pipe 42, and thence into pipe 42 on opening a tap 44 which is closed except when it is desired to introduce a liquid such as shampoo into the mixer. The lower end of pipe 42 is a curved portion 45 which enters the outlet chamber 13, into which chamber the shampoo may be introduced when desired.

The operation of the mixer will now be described with reference also to Fig. 5, where the various elements of the mixer are represented in diagrammatic form, but where the reference numbers used correspond with those used above in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

When the first outlet 22,23 of the diverter 18 is selected, water flows into the mixing chamber 1 2 where soap that it contains is dissolved in the water. The resulting soapy water flows, through aperture 32, into outlet chamber 1 3. From here, the soapy water may go either to the bath (through tap 36) or to the shower (through aperture 37 and pipe 30), depending on which has been selected by knob 40.

When the second outlet 25,26 of the diverter 1 8 is selected, water flows directly into the outlet chamber 1 3. In the absence of shampoo in the outlet chamber, clear water may leave either through the bath tap or through the shower (as just described for the case of soapy water). If shampoo has been introduced into the outlet chamber, then it will normally be desirable to select the shower outlet for hair washing. If a liquid soap is introduced instead of shampoo, then either the bath or the shower outlet might be appropriate. If a bubble bath liquid is introduced, then the bath outlet will usually be appropriate.

When the third outlet 28,29 of the diverter 18 is selected, clear water goes directly to the shower supply pipe 30, thereby making clear water rapidly available at the shower head at any time. This obviates the need to empty the outlet chamber of shampoo when it is desired to have rinsing water available, for example between successive applications of shampoo or liquid soap.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 9. In these figures, parts having the same function as in the first embodiment (Figs. 1 to 4) are given the same reference numerals.

In the second embodiment, the mixing chamber 1 2 is in the lower part of the mixer, with the outlet chamber 1 3 above it. The inlet chamber 11 is formed by the interior of the rotary diverter 1 8. Water from the bath taps enters the inlet chamber 11 by way of inlet pipes 1 6 and 17, which may either be connected to the bath taps by way of flexible hoses (not shown) or plumbed in by means of permanent connections which include flow control valves and which replace the existing bath taps. Water from the inlet pipes 1 6 and 1 7 may enter the lower end of the rotary diverter 1 8 as shown in Fig. 6, or may enter through the side walls of the diverter in similar fashion to the first embodiment (but without first mixing in a separate inlet chamber).

Ball valves 50 may be provided in the inlet pipes, for seating in valve seats 51, to allow water to flow into the mixer, but to prevent any possibility of reverse flow from the mixer into the mains supply. When the first outlet 22,33 of the diverter is selected, water flows into the lower, mixing, chamber 1 2 where it dissolves soap from one or more bars of soap contained in the mixing chamber. Soap may be placed in the mixing chamber 1 2 by way of a hinged door 52 in the lower front portion of the mixer. The door is provided with a catch 53 that allows two "closed" positions, a first position sealing the mixing chamber, and a second position leaving a small opening to allow for drainage of the mixing chamber after use of the mixer.

Water containing dissolved soap flows upwardly from the mixing chamber into the outlet chamber 1 3 through valves 33 each of which has a ball 54 and a valve seat 55.

These valves prevent reverse flow, i.e. flow from the outlet chamber 1 3 back into the mixing chamber 1 2. Valves 33 may be removably mounted in semicylindrical enclosures 56 in the side walls of the mixer, each valve being introduced through an opening in the lower end of its enclosure 56 and secured in place by a threaded sleeve 57. The sleeve 57 may be provided with a mesh screen 58 to prevent any pieces of soap from entering the ball valve 33.

Once in the outlet chamber 13, water containing dissolved soap is directed either to the bath or the shower by means of the tap 36, as in the first embodiment.

When the second outlet 25,26 of the diverter 1 8 is selected, water flows directly into the upper. outlet chamber 1 3. If no shampoo or other liquid has been introduced into the outlet chamber, then clear water can be directed either to the bath or the shower outlet by means of the tap 36.

Liquid shampoo, or other liquids such as liquid soap or foam bath liquid, may be introduced into the outlet chamber by first pouring it into the shampoo hopper 43 (Fig.

7) of a shampoo inlet device 60. Device 60 consists of a fixed inner cylinder 61 and a rotatable outer cylinder 62 which is a sealing.

sliding fit around the inner cylinder. A watertight seal between the inner and outer cylinders may be provided by, for example, resilient O-rings set in grooves in the cylinder walls. The hopper 43, which forms an upward extension of the outer cylinder 62, has a floor 64 which has a non-central aperture 65.

Aperture 65 may be aligned (as shown in Fig.

7) with an aperture 66 in an upper wall 67 of the inner cylinder 61 to allow shampoo or other liquid to flow from the hopper 43 into the shampoo inlet device 60. On rotating the hopper, and hence the outer cylinder 62, the apertures 65 and 66 are moved out of alignment, thereby sealing the upper wall 67 of the inner cylinder 61. At the same time, apertures 68, 69 in the side walls of the outer cylinder 62 are aligned with apertures 70, 71 in the inner cylinder 61 to allow shampoo to flow from the shampoo inlet device into the outlet chamber 1 3.

In order to optimise the mixing of shampoo into the water flowing out of the mixer, a deflector baffle 72 (Fig. 8) directs water emerging from aperture 26 of diverter 1 8 towards the shampoo inlet device 60.

When water is flowing from the outlet chamber 13, through shower outlet aperture 37 and into shower supply pipe 30, it flows through non-return ball valve 38. The ball 75 of valve 38 is contained within a tube 76, the tube 76 being connected to a closed-end tube 77 by means of two apertures 78 and 79.

The closed-end tube 77 is in turn connected to the diverter 1 8 by aperture 29. The ballvalve tube 76 has a closed end 80 and an open end which constitutes the shower outlet aperture 37. The shower supply pipe 30 is connected to the tube 76 near its closed end 80. The open end 37 of the tube 76 has a valve seat 81 for the ball 75, and a stop 82 in the mid-section of tube 76 prevents the ball 75 from moving beyond the position shown in Fig. 8, i.e. between the apertures 78 and 79. When water is flowing from the outlet chamber 1 3 to the shower, the ball 75 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8, so that water flows through aperture 37, into tube 76, through aperture 78 into tube 77, through aperture 79 and back into tube 76 on the other side of ball 75. It then flows up into shower supply pipe 30 to provide a shower.In this mode, of course, aperture 25 of diverter 1 8 is aligned with aperture 26, and aperture 29 is closed.

In the third mode of operation, apertures 28 and 29 of diverter 18 are aligned, so the only outlet for the (clear) water in diverter 1 8 is into tube 77. In this case, ball 75 is urged into a sealing position against seat 81, so clear water flows directly to shower supply pipe 30 through tube 76.

The second embodiment, despite its different construction, operates in exactly the same way as the first embodiment, and the diagram of Fig. 5 applies equally well to the second embodiment.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the mixer of the invention provides a simple yet versatile way of introducing soap (from either solid or liquid supplies) or shampoo as required into either the bath or the hower. It is also possible to provide a rapid change to clear water, for example for rinsing between successive applications of shampoo.

Claims (8)

1. Bath/shower mixer comprising an inlet chamber including means for selecting any One of first, second and third outlet ports, a mixing chamber adapted to receive a soluble substance and connectable to the first outlet port of the inlet chamber, an outlet chamber connectable to the outflow from the mixing chamber or to the second outlet port of the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber being adapted to receive a soluble substance, shower supply means connectable to the third outlet port of the inlet chamber or to the outlet chamber, and bath tap supply means connected to the outlet chamber, either said shower supply means or said bath tap supply means providing the outflow from the mixer.

2. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the means for slecting the outlet ports of the inlet chamber comprises a rotary diverter including an inner, hollow cylinder which is a sliding fit within an outer cylinder, the required port being selected by rotating the inner cylinder to align apertures therein with apertures in the outer cylinder. the apertures in the outer cylinder being connected respectively to the mixing chamber, the outlet chamber, and the shower supply means.

3. The mixer of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the outflow from the mixing chamber to the outlet chamber includes a non-return valve.

4. The mixer of claim 3 wherein the dividing wall between the mixing chamber and the outlet chamber slopes downwards towards said outflow from the mixing chamber.

5. The mixer of any one of claims 1 to 4 including means for enabling the introduction into the mixing chamber of solids to be dissolved in the water outflow of the mixer.

6. The mixer of any one of claims 1 to 5 including means for enabling the introduction into the outlet chamber of liquids to be dissolved in the water outflow of the mixer.

7. The mixer of any one of claims 1 to 6 including a non-return valve in the connection between the outlet chamber and the shower supply means.

8. A bath/shower mixer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.