GB2356561A

GB2356561A - Shower additive mixing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2356561A
Application number: GB9921258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Linsay Cuthbertson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-08
Filing date: 1999-09-08
Publication date: 2001-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-08
Also published as: GB9921258D0; GB2356561B

Description

2356561 SHOWER ADDITIVE MIXING APPARATUS This invention relates to an

apparatus for introducing additives to shower water supplies.

Shower baths, or hand held shower nozzles provide a spray of water for use in washing all or a limited part of the user's body, such as the hair.

Particularly when a hand held shower spray is used, it is difficult for the user to manipulate soaps, shampoos or lotions when, for example, washing hair, and holding the spray nozzle at the same time to direct water onto the area being washed.

An object of this invention is to provide a solution to this problem, so that a shower user does not have to try to manipulate bottles or sachets of -aneously at empting to shampoo, conditioner, gel or soap whilst simult Lt LI L manipulate the shower nozzle.

According to the invention there is provided a shower additive mixing apparatus for mixing one or more additives to the water supply to a shower nozzle. The apparatus preferably comprises means for holding one or more containers for additives, and for admitting material from the container or containers to the water supply.

Preferably, the additive container or containers are arranged to deposit mateHal into a bypass conduit of the water supply, to which water may be selectively admitted by a control valve.

The or each container may be provided with a piston device which -2 expels material from the container under the influence of water under pressure applied to the other side of the piston device.

The water pressure acting on the piston device may be exerted by a bleed conduit from the bypass conduit.

The bypass conduit may include a one-way valve at its inlet end, and a flow rate control valve for varying the rate of flow of water through the bypass may be provided. A gate valve in the main conduit arranged to be bypassed by the bypass conduit may be used to control the flow of water direct to the shower head.

A means for breaking up the additives may be provided in the bypass conduit, for example in the form of a gauze screen, which creates small scale turbulence to enhance mixing of the additives with the water.

The water pressure bleed to each additive container may be controlled by an on/off stop valve.

In a preferred example, a pair of additive containers may be provided, for example one for shampoo and the other for gel.

A preferred embodiment of shower additive mixing apparatus according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a unit embodying the apparatus of the invention; and Figure 2 is an elevation of a front panel of the unit of Figure 1.

-3 The apparatus of the invention is embodied on a unit 10 comprising a cabinet 11 with a one-way inlet connection 12 for an input pipe 13 from a water source, and a one-way outlet connection 14 for an output pipe 15 for connection to- a shower nozzle, not shown. Within the cabinet 11, a direct conduit 16 connects inlet 12 and outlet 14, through a gate valve 17 which controls flow of water through the conduit 16.

A bypass conduit 18 forms a loop in the cabinet, and leaves the conduit 16 just downstream of inlet 12, through a one-way valve 19, and rejoins the conduit 16 just before the outlet 14. Flow through the bypass conduit 18 is controlled by a regulator valve 20.

A pair of containers 21, 22 are mounted in the cabinet, between respective caps '43 with one-way outlet valves 2"ArwhiCh lead into the bypass conduit 18, and pistons 25, which move towards the tops of the containers under the influence of water under pressure admitted below the pistons 25 through respective bleed lines 26, 27 which are connected to the bypass conduit 18 through respective on/off valves 28, 29.

The cabinet 11 as shown in Figure 2 features a hinged door 30 for insertion and removal of the containers 21, 22 and also respective valve controls 31 for gate valve 17, 32 for flow regulator valve 20, and 33, 34 for bleed line on/off valves 28, 29.

In use, water is passed through the cabinet 11, via conduit 16 and bypass conduit 18. If an additive such as shampoo is required, the user may open valve 28 which admits water under pressure below piston 25 of container 21. The piston 25 is moved up, causing shampoo to be dispensed through valve 24 into the bypass conduit 18. The relative rates of flow of the main and bypass streams are controlled by manipulation of valves 17 and 20. After discharge of the container 21, the water may be emptied from the container which is then refilled with shampoo, etc.

Alternatively, disposable cartridges may be discarded after emptying and replaced.

The water supplied to the shower nozzle from the outlet 14 of the cabinet will contain a dosage of shampoo, and when sufficient has been dispensed, valve 28 can be shut off. Similarly, if gel is required, valve 29 is operated.

Other additives such as choice of soaps, conditioner or moisturiser or the like may be included as options, with an appropriate number of containers and bleed lines.

The unit preferably includes an electronic timer which can be preset by the user to adjust to a variety of different requirements, such as to allow for the amount of lotion required, and massage time required for short hair or long hair. The timing may provide for a quantity of clean water to be dispensed followed by a short pause; then a quantity of e.g. shampoo may be dispensed followed by a pause to allow for massaging the shampoo into the user's hair. This may be followed by a quantity of water for rinsing off the shampoo in one or more bursts. After a further pause a quantity of conditioner may be dispensed followed by a pause for application, then a burst of rinse water. The conditioner option may be omitted by selection where a combined shampoo/conditioner is used. The options may allow for a sequence of hot and cold rinses if desired, and for use of preparations other than shampoos and conditioners.

With the apparatus of the invention it is no longer necessary for a user to try to use a hand nozzle and apply shampoo or other material simultaneously.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A shower additive mixing apparatus for mixing one or more additives to the water supply to a shower nozzle comprising means for holding one or containers for additives and for admitting material from each container to the water supply.

2. A shower additive mixing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the container or containers are arranged to deposit material into a bypass conduit of the water supply, to which conduit water may be selectively admitted by a control valve.

3. A shower additive mixing apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the container or containers are each provided with a piston device which expels material from the container under the influence of water under pressure applied to the other side of the piston device.

4. Mixing apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the water under pressure acts on the piston device by a bleed conduit from the bypass conduit.

5. Mixing apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the bypass conduit includes a one-way valve at its inlet end and a flow rate control valve for varying the rate of flow of water through the bypass conduit.

6. Mixing apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein a gate valve in the main conduit is arranged to be bypassed by the bypass conduit, and is used to control the flow of water direct to the shower nozzle.

7. Mixing apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein means for breaking up the additives is provided in the bypass conduit to create small scale turbulence to enhance mixing of the additives.

8. Mixing apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said means for breaking up the additives comprises a gauze screen.

9. Mixing apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein each container -has a bleed conduit which is controlled by an on/off stop valve. 1-. A shower additive mixing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.