GB2461496A

GB2461496A - A shower head

Info

Publication number: GB2461496A
Application number: GB0805007A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Rankin; Philip Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-18
Filing date: 2008-03-18
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Also published as: GB0805007D0

Abstract

A shower head that re-hydrates the skin of the user by mixing a solution of moisturising lotion for example with shower water prior to the shower water leaving the shower head. Preferably the shower head has a dispensing and mixing chamber. The dispensing chamber contains a re-hydrating solution that may be dispensed by the user manually into the water flow. The mixing chamber may have a rotating paddle that rotates due to the water flow through the chamber and assists the mixing of the re-hydrating solution and the shower water prior to the shower water exiting the shower head. The water inlet pipe may be constricted to increase the velocity of the water. The dispensing chamber may have a door to allow a solution capsule to be placed inside the chamber. A manually sliding plunger may be used to dispense the required solution as required into the shower water.

Description

Re-Hydrating Shower Head This invention relates to a device that provides the dispensation of a moisturising solution through a shower head.

Many people in the UK suffer from some form of dry skin, either clinically e.g. dermatitis or through expose of hard water. When one showers, the water will dry the skin out, exasperating the individuals' dry skin condition. As such, people would be required to apply moisturising solution to their skin in order to stem the condition.

However, when someone has a shower, the water dries the skin out and there is a need for the individual to spend some time after to apply moistunsing creams to their skin.

However, by that time, the skin has already dried out and the skin has been damaged by the exposure to the water. Consequently, this means that individuals' can feel a degree of fear when they go for a shower, as they are aware of what will happen to their skin. Additionally, as the whole of the body is exposed to dryness, the whole body requires to be moisturised, which can take some considerable time, as the creams needs to be absorbed by the skin prior to getting dressed. This can mean people feel dissatisfied with their appearance and can have an affect on their life comfort. In order to over come this, the proposed invention would allow the individual to have a shower while simultaneously applying a moisture solution that is mixed with the water. The individual can regulate the moisture composite, thus allowing them to apply a greater ratio of water/moisture where/when required.

Features This product is made up of a unique component that has been designed to mix a solution and water together prior to the expenditure of the mixed solutionlwater from the shower head. This product comprises of the following; 1. Mixing Chamber * An inside chamber that houses' the leading pipe for the water/solution to be mixed.

* A paddled rotor (mixing mechanism), which operates, with the current (water force) from the incoming water, when the shower is switched on.

* Centrally fixed, the mixing rotor is constructed in a circular fashion, with small paddles attached. When the water passed through the pipe, the water catches the paddles, this turning the rotor. Thus, the mixing function operates when the shower is switched on.

* After the water and solution has passed through the mixing chamber, there is a greater concentration of solution and water, where all of the measured solution that has been provided, is thoroughly mixed with the water.

2. Pinch Point * A specific narrowed point within the water pipe provided added pressure within the pipe, thus ensuring that thc paddled rotor moves quicker than without. Consequently, this addition enables for the measured solution to mix with the water better, creating a greater concentration of solution to water ratio.

3. Solution Dispenser * A chamber to house the solution capsule, which will incorporate a sliding switch, allowing for a measured release of the solution to the water.

* The required solution capsules will be able to be loaded into the shower head, via a small compartment door. These will then be able to be docked in the required slot, ready to be dispensed when required.

* There is a slider switch will be used primarily used to push a plunger down on top of the capsule, thus allowing the individual user to dispense the required amount of solution when and if required.

* This method of dispensing the solution also means that the shower head will be used in every day to day usage, where those who do not needlrequire a dispensed solution, do not utilise the switch.

Figure 1 shows a side view of the shower head, highlight the positioning of key components to the Re-Hydrating Shower Figure 2 shows a front view of the shower head, highlight the positioning of key components to the Re-Hydrating Shower Figure 3 shows the inside chamber, within the shower head. This figure highlights the solution chamber and the movement of the dispensed solution and the water. This shows where the pinch point is located and the mixing mechanism.

Figure 4 shows the mixing mechanism in more detail, highlighting how the mechanism ensures that the water and the solution mix together to provide the desired effect.

When the user operates the Re-Hydrating shower head, they would be able to connect the shower head to the shower unit, through the use of the standard connection at the base of the Re-Hydrating shower head unit. When the water is switched on, the user would be able to use the shower as normal, however, for those who require a mixed solution would be able to regulate the solution with a slide switch. This would then dispense the solution from the capsule to the inside water pipe. The solution and the water may mix lightly during this process, however, the water and solution would then traverse towards the mixing mechanism, which would then turn, due to the pressure of the water generated by the pinch point. The water and the solution would pass through the mixing mechanism, which would then in turn spin, mixing the solution and the water together to provide a greater water/solution density. This would mean that the output from the shower head would be a mixed solution of water and moisturiser, allowing the user to apply the moisturiser directly to the skin, thus combating the drying out effect of only water.

The Re-hydrating shower would be able to operate with out the moisturising solution dispensed, thus allowing for all people to use it. On the other hand, it allows the user to regulate the density of moisturiser to water ratio, allowing the user to apply more moisturiser in the areas that require so. Once the moisturising capsule has been dispensed completely, it can be removed and another can be placed in the capsule chamber.

Claims

Claims 1. A shower head that re-hydrates the skin through an application of mixing a suitable solution with water prior to the water/solution mix is exposed to the users' skin area.
2. A re-hydrating shower head as in claim 1, in which a mixing mechanism is installed prior to the shower head, thus mixing the applied solution and water before the mixture exits
3. A re-hydrating shower head as in claim 2, in which the mixing of the solution is comprised of a mixing mechanism and an input chamber for the dispensing of the soluble solution
4. A re-hydrating shower head as in claim 2, in which the user can vary the ratio of soluble solution to water. * * * * * ** * ** * S SI-.. * .S * S S * IS -.S * I * *f