GB2396553A

GB2396553A - Bar shower bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2396553A
Application number: GB0401774A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Proctor
Original assignee: Bristan Ltd
Current assignee: Bristan Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-08
Filing date: 2002-11-08
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-08
Also published as: GB2396553B; GB0401774D0; GB2396553C; GB2392471A; GB0226171D0; GB2392471B

Abstract

A bracket for a water outlet fitting such as a bar shower, said bracket being provided with hot and cold water outlet pipes and said outlet pipes being adjustably mounted relative to a wall mounting plate or part in order to receive associated hot and cold water inlet pipes that may flow from different directions. Preferably, the bracket or support has one or more of the following features:- <SL> <LI>a) an exposed length of outlet pipe in between a connection of the bracket or support to said outlet fitting and a cover plate, said exposed length being externally unthreaded and of a length between 1 and 3cm, and <LI>b) an outlet pipe which is angularly adjustable relative to a wall mounting part or plate. </SL>

Description

1 2396553

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FLUID CONTROL

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to fluid flow control and is more particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a bar shower bracket that can be mounted, in use, in a cavity wall.

It is known to provide a wall bracket for a bar shower that can be mounted in a cavity wall and which has a facility for receiving hot and cold water inlet pipes. The bracket has hot and cold water outlet pipes, which, in use, project or extend through purpose-

made holes in an outer skin of the cavity wall and the bar shower can be attached to the hot and cold outlet pipes, usually by a threaded engagement. It is also known for annular cover plates to be located over the hot and cold water outlet pipes of the bar shower bracket in order to cover the holes in the outer skin of the cavity wall that surround the protruding outlet pipes. There tends to be a problem with such arrangements in that the bracket hot and cold water outlet pipes are externally threaded for a substantial part of their length and this thread remains exposed once the annular cover plates have been positioned over the associated outlet pipes firmly against the outer skin of the cavity wall, covering the holes. Where this occurs, this tends to be disadvantageous since the presence of the exposed external thread along a substantial portion of the bracket hot and cold water outlet pipes is somewhat unsightly and detracts from an overall, neat appearance or uniformity of mounting of the shower bar to the external skin of the cavity wall. Of course, in practice, the external skin of the outer cavity wall may be surface- finished for example with tiling, and in such an instance, the cover plates may be introduced over the associated hot and cold water outlet pipes after tiling has taken place and thus the cover plates abut

the tiling. Generally speaking, the shower bracket is designed to fit into a particular depth of cavity wall with almost all of the protruding portion of the hot and cold water outlet pipes being externally screw threaded and thus, in practice, once the shower bar has been connected to the hot and cold water outlet pipes an external screw threaded section will be visible between the shower bar connections to the outlet pipes and the cover plates. The distance between such a shower bar connection and cover plate may be in the order of two or more centimetres.

Additionally, the hot and cold water outlet pipes ofthe bracket are in a fixed orientation relative to a wall mounting plate or part ofthe bracket. Thus, the bracket will usually be made to receive hot and cold water inlet pipes from an upward or downward direction only. In certain circumstances, it is believed that such a bracket design is lacking in versatility in that it is restricted to receiving hot and cold water inlet pipes from predetermined directions. Thus, the same bracket could not be utilised to convey hot and cold water flowing downwardly through hot and cold water inlet pipes to the bracket in one particular cavity wall or be utilised instead to convey water flowing through hot and cold water inlet pipes in a different, for example, side-

ways direction.

lit is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate one or more of the aforementioned, or other, problems associated with such brackets for bar showers or indeed brackets that may be used to convey fluid to any other type of fluid outlet such as a bath or bath/shower mixer outlet.

- According to the present invention there is provided a bracket for a fluid outlet fitting such as a bar shower, said bracket being mountable, in use, in a cavity wall with hot and cold water outlet pipes projecting through an outer skin of the cavity wall for feeding said water outlet fitting, said outlet pipes being provided with adjustably mounted cover plates that allow the bracket to be mounted into different depths of cavity wall with a non-threaded portion of the outlet pipes extending between the cover plates and connections of the water outlet fitting with the outlet pipes once the water outlet fitting is fully assembled, in situ, onto the outlet pipes of the bracket.

Thus, by embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to use the same bracket in different depths of cavity wall whilst maintaining a smoothly integrated appearance of the water outlet fitting with the bracket avoiding any unsightly threaded or other engagement mechanism being visible in between the connections (usually connecting nuts) of the water outlet fitting to the outlet pipes of the bracket and the cover plates, once the cover plates are firmly attached in position up against the outer skin of the cavity wall or against a surface finish applied to said outer skin.

Preferably, each cover plate is resiliently mounted (e.g. by its own internal spring force) on the associated outlet pipe (e.g. by internally directed legs) so once adjusted to the required location is automatically retained in said position. Each cover plate may be of annular, dished form and/or may have substantially axially extending (preferably, part circumferential) legs. Thus, each cover plate may comprise a (part-

conical) spring plate.

Preferably, each outlet pipe is surface-finished (for example chromefinished) to blend in or match the appearance of the water outlet fitting.

The bracket may have a flat, elongate wall mounting plate or part for easy fitting to the interior of a cavity wall.

Usually, each outlet pipe will be angularly adjustable relative to the mounting plate or part in order to allow connection to water supply pipes from different (e.g. non-

parallel or sideways) directions. Said angular adjustment may be provided by screw fastening means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a bracket for a water outlet fitting such as a bar shower, said bracket being provided with hot and cold water outlet pipes and said outlet pipes being adjustably mounted relative to a wall mounting plate or part in order to receive associated hot and cold water inlet pipes that may flow from different directions.

By this aspect of the present invention the same bracket may be mounted in a cavity wall with the outlet pipes being able to receive hot and cold water flowing in respective upward, downward or sideways directions as required.

Further according to the present invention there is provided the combination of a water outlet fitting such as a shower and a bracket in accordance with any one of the statements of invention appearing in this specification.

- -> Many other advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

An embodiment of a bracket in accordance with the present invention and suitable, for example, for use with a water outlet fitting in the form of a thermostatic bar shower will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying simplified FIGURES of the drawings in which: FIGURE I shows a front and side perspective view of the bracket mounted to an inner skin of a cavity wall; FIGURE 2 shows an enlarged plan view of the bracket shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 shows an enlarged inverted plan view of the bracket shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged side view of the bracket looking substantially in the direction of arrow A in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 shows an enlarged rear view of the bracket attached to hot and cold water supply inlet pipes and FIGURE 5a shows a front perspective view of a cover plate; FIGURE 6 shows an enlarged plan view of a thermostatic bar shower that can be connected to the bracket as shown in FIGURES 1 to 5, and

FIGURE 7 shows an enlarged view of the bracket shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 connected to the bar shower fitting shown in FIGURE 6.

Refernug to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the drawings, a wall bracket 1 for a water outlet fitting such as a thermostatic shower bar S (see FIGURES 6 and 7) has respective hot and cold water outlet pipes 2 and 3. The thermostatic bar shower S is of a known type and thus will not be further described in detail. The bracket 1 has a flat elongate wall mounting plate or part 4 that is screwed to inner cavity wall W by means of mounting holes 5 and 6 ( see FIGURE 5) and screws 7 and 8 in a manner which should be evident from the drawings. Water outlet pipe 2 (which may for example be for the outlet pipe of hot water) is provided with a short, integral, upwardly directed inlet pipe 9 having an external screw thread 9a receiving an appropriate internally threaded nut 10. Thus, the inlet pipe 9 can be coupled to a hot water pipe P 1 (see FIGURES 5 and 7) by way of a standard compression joint, said pipe P 1 including an olive (not shown) held under compression against the threaded pipe end 9a by means of the nut 10. Similarly, the second, water outlet pipe 3 (for example for conveying cold water to the bar shower fitting S) has an upwardly directed water inlet pipe 11 having an externally threaded end 1 la engaging an internally threaded nut 13 that can be used to connect a cold water inlet pipe P2 ( see FIGURES 5 and 7) to the bracket 1 by means of a compression fitting in similar manner to that already described relation to in the pipe 9. The cold water inlet pipe P2 has an olive (not shown) which in use is placed against the open end of the inlet pipe l l by means of the nut 13. As will be apparent from FIGURES 1 to 5 of the drawings, the outlet pipes 2 and 3 extend parallel to one another each from an associated end of the wall mounting plate 4 and at right angles thereto. As shown, the inlet pipes 9 and 11 to the associated outlet pipes 2 and 3 of the

bracket 1 extend parallel to one another in an upward direction at right angles to the outlet pipes 2 and 3 which in use extend in a horizontal plane.

Each outlet pipe 27 3 has an associated, identical annular cover plate 14, 15 (see FIGURE Sa) of dished form that can be located over the associated threaded end 2a, 3a of outlet pipe 2, 3. Once a cover plate 14, 15 has been located axially on the associated outlet pipe 2, 3 and pushed axially beyond the threaded end 2a, 3a, advantageously, it is able to slide smoothly along the associated outlet pipe 2, 3 in an adjustable manner all the way between the respective threaded end 2a, 3a as far inlet pipe 9, 10.

In practice, outlet pipes 2 and 3 will extend or project through purposemade holes in an outer skin Y (see FIGURE 7 where outer skin Y is shown transparent for ease of illustration) of the cavity wall W. Cover plates 14, 15 can then be located over the threaded ends 2a and 3a of outlet pipes 2 and 3 and slid along the associated outlet pipe 2, 3 as far as the outer skin Y (see FIGURE 7) of the cavity wall W thereby covering any unsightly hole in the outer skin of the cavity wall surrounding the outlet pipes 2 and 3. Owing to the relatively large length of outlet pipe 2, 3 quite widely varying depths of cavity wall W (i.e. the distance between the inner wall W and the outer skin Y) can be catered for. Thus, the outer skin Y could be arranged quite close to the inlet pipes 9 and 10 or conversely quite remote from the inlet pipes 9 and 10 near to the threaded ends 2a, 3a of the outlet pipes 2, 3 albeit spaced from the threaded ends by as distance equal to the actual dimensions of the cover plates 14,15.

/ Thus, in practice, the threaded ends 2a and 3a, will be hidden from view by the connection nuts S 1 and S2 of the bar shower S. as shown more particularly in FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings and, advantageously, the portions Z (see Figure 7) of the protruding water outlet pipes 2, 3 in between the connecting nuts S1 and S2 and the cover plates 14 and 15 when firmly abutting the outer skin Y of the cavity wall (or firmly abutting any surface finish such as tiling applied to that skin) appear smooth and free of any screw thread or any other engaging surface. Each portion Z is approximately 2 centimetres long but this distance could be longer e.g. 3 centimetres if desired. Since the cover plates 14 and 15 are able to slide a considerable distance up and down the outlet pipes 2 and 3,it should be evident that quite widely different varying depths of cavity wall can be catered for without any unsightly screw thread being visible on the completed assembly of the bracket and the thermostatic shower bar. It is to be appreciated that bracket 1 could be utilised with any sort of water outlet fitting, not necessarily a thermostatic shower bar S. The cover plates 14 and 15 themselves can be moved axially along the associated outlet pipe 2, 3 but are retained by their own internal spring force in their chosen axial location by means of four resilient, internal, part-circumferential, substantially axially extending legs L ( two of legs can be seen in Figure 5a). The legs L extend in a rearward direction at a slight angle to the outlet pipe axis in order to grip onto the exterior of said pipe 2,3 as it is pushed onto the pipe. Thus, the dished cover plate 14,15 is resiliently adjustably mounted on the associated outlet pipe and once adjusted to the required axial location is automatically retained in said position.

Where the shower part S is chrome finished it is envisaged that the cover plates 14 and 15 and the outlet pipes 2 and 3 will be similarly chrome finished in order to give a neat overall uniform appearance to the shower bar S and wall bracket 1.

In addition to providing a much neater overall appearance to the joint of the bracket with the particular water outlet fitting, advantageously, bracket I also has water outlet pipes 2, 3 which are adjustable relative to the wall mounting plate or part 4. Each water outlet pipe 2, 3 is axially rotatable on its own axis relative to wall mounting plate 4 once the respective mounting screw 16, 17 has been loosened (see FIGURE 5) from the associated solid end 2b, 3b of the outlet pipe 2,3 adjacent the mounting plate 4. Thus, it is possible to utilise the bracket with hot and cold water inlet supply pipes that enter the fitting from a variety of directions that need not necessarily be parallel.

For example, if the hot water inlet supply pipe is present in the cavity wall in a sideways direction the screw 17 connecting outlet pipe 2 to bracket 4 may be loosened and the outlet pipe 2 rotated anti-clockwise 90 degrees (as shown in FIGURE 1 by arrow B) so that inlet pipe 9 is horizontal ready to receive the end of a supply pipe.

Once the outlet pipe 2 is in the correct annular orientation relative to the plate 4 the screw 17 can be tightened up securing said outlet pipe 2 in this position.

Thus, it should be evident how outlet pipes 2 and 3 can be moved to any required annular orientation in order to cater for hot and cold water inlet supply pipes entering the cavity wall from varying directions. It is believed that this feature renders the wall bracket 1 extremely versatile and avoids several different versions of the same bracket having to be produced to cater for water supply pipes in varying directions in the cavity walls.

\ In general, it is envisaged that the connections of the water outlet fitting 6 to the outlet pipes 2,3 will usually be screw-threaded with nuts S1, S2 on the outlet fitting engaging associated screw-threads on the ends 2a,3a of the outlet pipes but is it possible that an alternative form of connection could be utilised..

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular use of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced or supplemented by an equivalent or generic term. Furthermore, it is to be understood that individual features, method or function related to the bracket may be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural and vice versa. It is to be appreciated that the present invention offers many improvements, which may be patentable individually or in combination. Any individual feature as aforementioned or as shown or implicit herein or combinations thereof, or functions or methods appertaining to, may be patentably inventive and any specific term as used herein should not be construed as unnecessarily or unduly limiting: the scope of such a term should extend to, or may be replaced or supplemented by, any equivalent or generic expression. For example 'bracket' could be replaced by 'support' or 'cover plate' could be replaced by 'cover ring' or 'cover'. Additionally, any range mentioned herein for any parameter or any variable shall be taken to include a disclosure of any

derivable sub-range within that range or of any particular value of the variable or parameter, within, or at an end of, the range or sub-range.

Therefore, still further according to the present invention there is provided a bracket for a water outlet fitting such as a shower bar, said bracket being mountable in use within a cavity wall and having a water outlet pipe which, in use, extends through a

hole in an outer skin of the cavity wall, said bracket being arranged to cater for different depths of cavity wall wherein a cover plate can be introduced onto the outlet pipe abutting the cavity wall or surface finish applied thereto and covering said hole and the water outlet fitting can be connected to said bracket such that there is no external screw thread on the water outlet pipe in between the cover plate and the connection of the water outlet fitting to said pipe.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a bracket or support for a fluid outlet fitting having one or more of the following features:-

a) an exposed length of outlet pipe in between a connection of the bracket or support to said outlet fitting and a cover plate, said exposed length being externally unthreaded and, preferably, of a length between about 1 and about 3cm, and b) an outlet pipe which is angularly adjustable relative to a wall mounting part or plate.

Claims

1. A bracket for a water outlet fitting such as a bar shower, said bracket being provided with hot and cold water outlet pipes and said outlet pipes being adjustably mounted relative to a wall mounting plate or part in order to receive 5 associated hot and cold water inlet pipes that may flow from different directions.

2. A bracket or support for a fluid outlet fitting having one or more of the following features: 10 a) an exposed length of outlet pipe in between a connection of the bracket or support to said outlet fitting and a cover plate, said exposed length being externally unthreaded and, preferably, of a length between about I and about 3cm, and b) an outlet pipe which is angularly adjustable relative to a wall mounting 15 part or plate.

3. A bracket for a water outlet fitting such as a shower bar, said bracket being mountable in use within a cavity wall and having a water outlet pipe which, in use, extends through a hole in an outer skin of the cavity wall, said bracket 20 being arranged to cater for different depths of cavity wall wherein a cover plate can be introduced onto the outlet pipe abutting the cavity wall or surface finish applied thereto and covering said hole and the water outlet fitting can be connected to said bracket such that there is no external screw thread on the water outlet pipe in between the cover plate and the connection of the water 25 outlet fitting to said pipe.

4. A bracket for a fluid outlet fitting such as a bar shower, said bracket being mountable, in use, in a cavity wall with hot and cold water outlet pipes projecting through an outer skin of the cavity wall for feeding said water outlet 5 fitting, said outlet pipes being provided with adjustably mounted cover plates that allow the bracket to be mounted into different depths of cavity wall with a non-threaded portion of the outlet pipes extending between the cover plates and connections of the water outlet fitting with the outlet pipes once the water outlet fitting is fully assembled, in situ, onto the outlet pipes of the bracket.

5. A bracket as claimed in Claim 4 in which each cover plate is resiliently

mounted on the associated outlet pipe (e.g. by internally directed legs)

6. A bracket as claimed in Claim 5 in which each cover plate is of annular, 15 dished form.

7. A bracket is claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which each cover plate has substantially axially extending legs.

20

8. A bracket as detailed in Claim 7 in which the legs are partly circumferential.

9. A bracket as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 8 in which each cover plate is a spring plate.

25

10. A bracket as claimed in Claim 9 in which each cover plate is part conical.

\

11. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each outlet pipe is surface-finished to blend in or match the appearance of the water outlet fitting. s

12. A bracket as claimed in Claim 11 in which the surface finishing is chrome.

13. A bracket as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the bracket has a flat, elongate wall mounting plate or part for easy fitting to the interior of a 10 cavity wall.

14. A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each outlet pipe is angularly adjustable relative to the mounting plate or part

15 15. A bracket as claimed in Claim 14 in which said angular adjustment is provided by screw fastening means.

16. A bracket for a fluid outlet fitting such as a bar shower, substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. The combination of a water outlet fitting such as a shower and a bracket in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

18. A combination as claimed in Claim 17 and substantially as herein described 25 with reference to FIGURE 7 the accompanying drawings.