GB2360702A

GB2360702A - Shower cubicle with steamer unit

Info

Publication number: GB2360702A
Application number: GB0007398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Thomas Wozencroft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-27
Filing date: 2000-03-27
Publication date: 2001-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-27
Also published as: GB2360702B; GB0007398D0

Abstract

A shower cubicle is provided with a steamer unit enabling the cubicle to be used as a sauna. The cubicle is also provided with a shower tray and a fan providing forced warm or cold air circulation.

Description

2360702 1 This invention relates to an auto dryer shower cubicle with

steamer unit and sauna Showers and shower cubicles are very useful washing facilities, but at present have no drying facilities for after shower use other than a conventional hand towel. Also their design is sutch that they can be adopted to provide additional services, being a steamerunit and or, a sauna giving a varied choice of functions to their users.

Shower cubicles are common washing facilities for sanitation. Most showers consist of a stand in tray to catch used waterwith a simple waste disposal drain in their floor. They also have some form of variable temperature water dispensing mechanism, above the person stood in the tray, allowing water to be sprayed all over the body. Most shower also have vertical sides, either made from glass or tiles sometimes plastic too. The sides guide falling water down into the shower tray and away.

Shower cubicles are very good washing devices with the added bonus of water economy although allowing you to wash cubicles in the past have not had any form of drying facility other than a form of the conventional absorbent cotton hand operated drying towel used overthe body. Also previously you have not been able to have a steam bath or sauna in them before.

Page 2 Accordingto thepresent inventionthere is provided an auto dryer shower cubicle withsaunaand steamer unit. This comprises of a shower tray to stand in with drain facilities and shower cubicle sides made of a suitable material heat and water proof. The source of forced air entering the shower cubicle being delivered by a suitable variable temperature water proof blower unit situated out side the shower cubicle in a safe place to prevent electricution with a temperature control resistor switch reachable from inside the cubicle by hand. A heatproof pipe joins the blower unit to the cubicle and the forced air being distributed to any one stood in the shower via vertical and lateral air ducts also made of heatproof material to prevent them causing bums if accidently touched whilest in use. The air supply would enter all the ducts by means of them being interlock when assembled inside the cubicle providing an even air pressure coming out of each port and being directed towards the middle of the shower creating an all round drying action to any one inside at the time. The airducts would be manufactured in a manner so as to have a slight downward sloping angle this having a self draining effect expelling any water from them. The air supply motor would be situated well above the level where any backflow of moisture from the shower unit could occur. The blower unit would also have a moisture proof air shut off valve along the supply Page 3 pipe to the cubicle that has to be operated before the sauna or steamer systems can be used. This is achieved by use of a simple approved water proof switch fitted to the valve that isolates the blower unit when turned off. The mains power is then transfered to another two way water proof switch which when turned one way allows the sauna to function and turned the other allows the steam unit to be used. The temperature of these also controlled by a "hand reachable" water proof thermostat on the side of the shower unit and also a thermostat inside the shower unit.

The steam and sauna units also need to be mounted in a safe place outside the shower cubicle and can be either mounted as "two seperate units" or an all in one combination.

The sauna unit is actuated by a heating element inside a heat proof unit surrounded by the type of volcanic rock, coke, or other heat storing and moisture retentive substance required for this purpose. A thermostaticly operated solenoid valve regulates how much water flows over the element and the volcanic rock determining the temperature and the relative humidity passed through the insulated pipe into the cubicle Page 4 The steamer unit would work on a similar principle. The two way switch would be first operated to supply power to the heating elemement. At the same time isolating the sauna unit.

The heating element situated in the supply pipe to the cubicle would then rise to the required temperature of the occupants choice. The thermostaticly operated solenoid valve situated above the heating element then opens and closes quickly to allow the desired ammount of water on to it. The action of the water falling on to the heating element produces steam that travels along the supply pipe to the cubicle and into it via the dischare point near to the floor The temperature of the steam in the cubicle is kept at a safe level by a thermostat inside it.

Page 5 A specific description of the invention will now be made using the drawing supplied for easy referance. Figure 1 shows in perspective the shower tray with all the attachments to it Figure 2 shows the temperature control and spray water device supplying water for showering Figure 3 shows the shower cubicle structure Figure 4 shows the variable speed/temperature air blower with insulated supply pipe to the shower cabinet. Figure 5 shows the insulated speed and temperature control for the fan blower unit Figure 6 shows vertical ducts fixed to the corner of the shower cubicle with air port holes facing slightly downwards to expell water and connected to the lateral ducts at shower tray level. Figure 7 shows the lateral ducts with air portholes facing slightly downwards to expell water, these ducts being attached to the supply pipe from the blower unit and also to the vertical ducts at their base to distribute forced air blast evenly. Figure 8 shows the sloping air portholes in the vertical and lateral ducts Figure 9 shows moisture proof air shut off valve.

Page 6 Fi aure 10 shows mains transfer switch to divert power to the sauna or steam unit. Figure 11 shows the water proof on off switches to the sauna and the steam unit Each unit can only be operated on their own for safety reasons. Figure 12 shows the variable temperature heating element to the cubicle producing steam via the insulated pipe Figure 13 shows the variable temperature heating element for the sauna housed insidethesealed heatproof unit. Flaure 14 shows the hand operated water proof temperature control switch for the sauna and steamer devices Figure 15 shows the volcanic rock or other suitable product surrounding the heating element acting as and performing a heat and moisture stabilising action Figure 16 shows the water supply unit, for use with sauna and steam unit. Figure 17 shows a thermostaticly controled solenoid valve regulating the water flowing over the heating element determining how much steam is produced Figure 18 shows a thermostaticly controled solenoid value controling the amount of water allowed onto the volcanic rock and regulating the relative humidity Figure 19 shows the water supply pipe to the steam unit.

Page 7 Figure 20 shows the heat proof discharge point into the shower cubicle carring heat and moisture from the sauna or steam units. Figure 21 shows a temperature control thermostat linked to the steam and sauna units allowing the temperature inside the cubicle to be kept at a safe desired level figure 21, also shows an additional option being a humidistat for the sauna unit to keep the relative humidity at a given level Page 8

Claims

1 An auto dryer shower cubile with steamer unit and sauna comprising a shower tray and cubicle surround, the cubicle being adapted to house an automatic variable temperature fan, allowing the occupant to dry themselves with warm or cold forced air There is also an additional facility, facilities, being the adaption of the shower cubicle to use as a sauna unit or a steamer room 2 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna as claimed in 1 equipted with a variable temperature water spray wash facility 3 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims A shower cubicle to which all required material and devices may be attached 4 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims Including a variable speed/temperature fan air blower unit with an insulted supply pipe to the shower cubicle and being connected to the vertical and lateral ducts with push, snap, or coller type connectors.

An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all proceeding claims provides a hand operated water proof speed and temperature control for the blower system 6 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides vertical air ducting attachable to all four corners of the cubicle Page 9 7 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides lateral air ducting around the top of the shower tray being connected to all vertical ducts by push fit, snap or coller connector ensuring even air pressure in each duct and being emitted from each duct via the port holes towards the middle of the cubicle 8 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides sloping air port holes in the vertical and lateral ducts preventing entry of water 9 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims with moisture proof air shut off valve in the air delivery pipe from the blower.

An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides waterproof on/off switches to the sauna and steam unit, each unit only operable individually for safety reasons.

11 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims equipted with a water proof on/off switch responsible for activating steamer and sauna heating elements 12 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a variable temperature heating element situated inside a heat proof pipe to the shower cubicle providing heat to activate steaming action.

Page 10 13 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims with a variable temperature heating element in a heat proof vessel, surrounded by volcanic rock or other suitable product for sauna use.

14 An auto dryer shower, cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a hand operated water proof temperature control switch to regulate the temperature of the sauna and steam units An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims a water supply unit for the use with sauna and steamer unit providing the water for their action This unit is situated above the heating element to achieve a gravity feed system. The water level in the reservoir kept constant by a ballcock (not shown) 16 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamerunit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a thermostaticly controled solenoid valve regulating the water flowing over the heating element surrounded by the volcanic rock. This produces high temperature humidity and is transfered into the cubicle via the heat proof pipe.

17 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a themostaticly controled solenoid valve controling the amount of water allowed onto the heating element this regulating the temperature and amount of steam delivered to the cubicle via the heatproof pipe.

Pagge 11 18 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a thermostaticly controled solenoid valve regulating the amount of water into the sauna vessel containing the volcanic rock or suitable product When the water flows onto the hot rock it produces high temperature humidity, then transfered to the cubicle via the heat proof pipe- 19 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a water supply pipe from the header tank to the heating element responsible for steam production An auto dryer shower cubicle with steam unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provide a temperature control thermostat linked to the steamer and sauna units keeping the temperature inside the cubicle at a safe desired level 21 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides a hummidistat for the sauna unit allowing the relalative humidity to be kept at a constant level. 22 An auto dryer shower cubicle with steamer unit and sauna and all preceeding claims provides that all products and workmanship complies with the national association of plumbing and heating engineers, The N.I.C.E.I.C., B.S.I. and N.H.B.C.