GB2311458A

GB2311458A - Bracket for shower handset

Info

Publication number: GB2311458A
Application number: GB9606389A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin T Peel; Tania Louise Ashdown
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-27
Filing date: 1996-03-27
Publication date: 1997-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-27
Also published as: GB2311458A8; GB9606389D0; GB2311458B

Description

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT BRACKET FOR SHOWER HANDSET This invention concerns improvements in or relating to adjustable support brackets for shower handsets.

Support brackets for shower handsets are known in which the support bracket is slidable lengthwise of a vertical slide rail to adjust the height of the handset for different users, for example children and adults.

Previously, a clamp has been provided to secure the support bracket in any adjusted position. Such clamps require two handed operation to release the clamp, slide the support bracket along the rail, and secure the clamp. This requires considerable manual dexterity and problems can arise, especially for use by the elderly or children, if the clamp is over-tightened.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing problem and has for its object to provide an adjustable support bracket which allows one handed operation in a simple manner.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable support bracket for a shower handset comprising a first part arranged for sliding movement lengthwise of a slide rail for adjusting the axial position of the bracket on the slide rail, and a second part arranged to grip the slide rail in an operative position for securing the first part axially on the slide rail, the second part being pivotal to an inoperative position releasing the grip so that the first part can be slid along the slide rail.

The present invention allows for single handed operation of the support bracket to adjust the axial position of the support bracket on the slide rail by gripping the first part to pivot the second part to the inoperative position releasing its grip on the slide rail and freeing the support bracket for sliding movement along the slide rail.

Preferably, the second part has a portion through which the slide rail passes for gripping the slide rail in the operative position.

Advantageously, the second part is biased to the operative position in which the grip portion is skewed on the slide rail to grip the slide rail in the operative position.

Preferably, the second part comprises a lever and the first part has a socket for locating the handset.

Advantageously, the socket is pivotal for adjusting the attitude of the handset to vary the trajectory of the spray.

Preferably, a detent device is provided for locating the socket in any selected one of a range of adjusted positions.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view an adjustable support bracket according to the invention mounted on a slide rail; and FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the bracket.

Referring to the drawings, a shower handset 1 is shown located in a parking socket 2 of a support bracket 3 mounted on a slide rail 4. Details of the construction and operation of the handset 1 are not described herein as these form no part of the invention.

The slide rail 4 is a hollow cylindrical tube provided at each end with a wall bracket 5 (one only shown) for securing the slide rail 4 to a wall with the tube extending vertically and spaced from the wall.

The support bracket 3 is a hollow plastics moulding having a body portion 6 through which the slide rail 4 extends with an angled neck portion 7 extending from the upper end of the body portion 6 and terminating in a forked head portion 8.

The socket 2 is mounted in the head portion 8 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis for adjusting the attitude of the handset 1 to vary the trajectory of the spray to suit the requirements of different users and has an entry 9 at the front end through which a flexible hose 10 connecting the handset 1 to a water source (not shown) may pass to allow the handset 1 to be detached from the bracket 3 if required.

An internal chassis 11 is secured in the neck portion 7 and has an integral spring 12 at the front end having a rib 13 arranged to snap into any selected one of a series of integral notches 14 in the rear end of the socket 2 for holding the socket 2 in a range of annularly adjusted positions.

The chassis 11 has a hole 15 at the rear end through which the slide rail 4 passes for locating the support bracket 3 on the slide rail 4 at the upper end of the body portion 6.

The chassis 11 is a tough plastics moulding so that the exposed outer body, neck and head portions of the support bracket 3 are relatively unstressed and the plastics material for these parts can be chosen for decorative qualities.

The support bracket 3 is arranged for sliding movement lengthwise of the slide rail 4 and has a manually operable lever 16 forming the front face of the body portion 6 for releasably securing the support bracket 3 in any selected position of vertical adjustment to vary the height of the handset 1 to suit the requirements of different users.

The lever 16 has a grip portion 17 of circular section through which the slide rail 4 passes at the lower end of the body portion 6, and the lever 16 is located for pivotal movement about the slide rail 4 by a retainer ring 18 secured to the lower end of the body portion 6.

The grip portion 17 is elongated at the back of the slide rail 4 and the lever 16 is biased by a spring 19 located between the chassis 11 and the upper end of the lever 16 to an operative position in which the grip portion 17 is skewed on the slide rail 4 and applies pressure to opposite sides of the slide rail 4 at 20,21 so as to grip the slide rail 4 and secure the support bracket 3 axially on the slide rail 4.

The lever 16 is movable against the biasing of the spring 19 to an inoperative position in which the grip portion 17 is centred on the slide rail 4 and so releases the support bracket 3 for sliding movement lengthwise of the slide rail 4.

The chassis 11 guides the upper end of the lever 16 for such pivotal movement and the lever 16 returns automatically to the operative position under the biasing of the spring 19 when released to secure the support bracket 3 in any selected vertical position of adjustment.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the invention allows for one-handed adjustment of the vertical position of the support bracket 4 on the slide rail 3 by the user.

Thus, gripping the body portion 6 to depress the lever 16 against the biasing of the spring 19 releases the engagement of the grip portion 17 allowing the support bracket 3 to be slid up or down the slide rail 4 and automatically secured at any desired position on releasing the lever 16 to cause the grip portion 17 to re-engage the slide rail 4 under the biasing of the spring 19.

It will be understood that the invention has general application to support brackets for shower fittings mounted for sliding movement on a slide rail and is not limited to the embodiment above-described.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable support bracket for a shower fitting such as a handset, the bracket comprising means resiliently biased to an operative position for axially locating the bracket on a rail and movable to an inoperative position releasing the bracket for sliding movement lengthwise of the rail.

Claims

Claims:

1. An adjustable support bracket for a shower fitting comprising means operable to secure axially the bracket on a slide rail, and a manually operable lever for releasing the securing means so that the bracket can be slid along the slide rail for adjusting the axial position of the bracket.

2. A bracket according to Claim 1 wherein the securing means is operable to secure axially the bracket on the slide rail under pressure of biasing means when the lever is released.

3. A bracket according to Claim 2 wherein the biasing means acts between a bracket member and the lever.

4. A bracket according to Claim 3 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

5. A bracket according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the securing means has a tubular portion through which the slide rail is passed, and the tubular portion is skewed on the slide rail under pressure of the biasing means causing the tubular portion to grip the slide rail

6. A bracket according to Claim 5 wherein the lever is operable to align the tubular portion on the slide rail against the pressure of the biasing means to release the securing means.

7. A bracket according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the tubular portion is integral with the lever.

8. A bracket according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the bracket has a socket for locating a shower handset.

9. A bracket according to Claim 8 wherein the socket is pivotal for adjusting the attitude of the handset to vary the trajectory of the spray.

10. A bracket according to Claim 9 wherein a detent device is provided for locating the socket in any selected one of a range of adjusted positions.

11. An adjustable support bracket for a shower handset comprising a first part arranged for sliding movement lengthwise of a slide rail for adjusting the axial position of the bracket on the slide rail, and a second part arranged to grip the slide rail in an operative position for securing the first part axially on the slide rail, the second part being pivotal to an inoperative position releasing the grip so that the first part can be slid along the slide rail.

12. An adjustable support bracket for a shower fitting adapted for mounting on a rail is released for sliding movement along the rail by operation of a pivotal actuator and is secured in a selected position of adjustment when the actuator is released so that the user can adjust the position of the bracket with one hand.

13. A bracket according to Claim 12 wherein the bracket includes a part through which the rail extends and the actuator is resiliently biased to cause the part to engage the rail.

14. An adjustable support bracket for a shower fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A slide rail assembly for mounting a shower fitting comprising a slide rail adapted for mounting on a support surface and a support bracket according to any one of the preceding Claims mounted for sliding movement on the slide rail.