GB2550143A

GB2550143A - A Shower device

Info

Publication number: GB2550143A
Application number: GB1608124.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Warwick Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-09
Filing date: 2016-05-09
Publication date: 2017-11-15
Also published as: GB201608124D0

Abstract

A shower head or shower rose may comprise a water inlet hose 13attached via threaded fixings 6 and 7 to an inlet 3. The water inlet and water outlet 15 are connected via a passage 8. A replaceable battery 11 is connected 12 to a pump 10 having a centrifugal impellor therein. The pump is used to boost the flow rate of the shower. The shower head may be easily removed from the hose and may be transported to a variety of locations. An on off switch and flow control regulator 14 may be provided.

Description

A SHOWER DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shower device, in particular a device for using when showering to control the flow of water in the shower and from the shower head. More particularly but not exclusively the device provides a highly portable low-cost solution to improving the showering experience.

Background

Increasing pressure on spatial availability in many societies and on available user free-time can mean an increased uptake of showering.

In addition many users may be required to live in rented accommodation or premises. Such premises often have inadequate showering facilities, for example having simple gravity showers that comprise a hose and head connected to the mains water supply.

Most gravity showers operate at a pressure of 0.1 to 0.3 bar. This is because in most two story houses the water storage tank provides the head of water and may be only 1 to 3 Meters above the position of the shower head where the shower is on the 1st floor.

Installing power showers, or otherwise electrically increasing pressure through shower heads, can be problematic, costly and disruptive, in particular to remove if needed. In particular therefore it is unlikely to be suitable for rented accommodation.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

Chinese utility model CN 204 638 392 (HU et al) relates to a booster -type shower gondola water faucet, including gondola water faucet head and gondola water faucet handle, supercharging device is equipped with on the gondola water faucet handle or between gondola water faucet handle and the gondola water faucet head, supercharging device be equipped with the casing, the both ends of casing are equipped with inlet outlet respectively, are equipped with the direct current booster pump in the casing. The utility model discloses a be equipped with supercharging device on the gondola water faucet handle or between gondola water faucet handle and the gondola water faucet head, improved the water pressure of shower gondola water faucet, increased the comfort level of bathing. Its simple structure in addition, superchargers effect is good, uses the photovoltaic power generation system power supply, and DC power supply is stable lastingly, and the solve user uses the low or unstable drawback of water pressure.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 476 804 (HARVEY et al) discloses a showerhead in the form of a handset provided with an internal diffuser operable to inject a gas or a mixture of gases as a stream of fine bubbles into a water stream upstream of a spray head prior to discharge from the handset. Adding the gas or mixture of gases to the water stream within the handset has the effect of volumizing the water which increases both the perceived flow rate and spray force without altering the actual flow rate. The handset has particular application to showers employing an instantaneous electric water heater as the source of temperature controlled water. A pump may be added to the spray head. A later embodiment relates to a method of adding a gas or a mixture of gases to a water stream in a shower.

United Kingdom patent application GB 2 192 335 (WATSON) discloses a shower device that can easily and immediately be fitted or installed to any conventional bath taps to provide an efficient shower with any hot water system whose pressure would normally be insufficient to provide the same. A low voltage battery drives a small water pump in a housing placed near the bath taps. Furthermore the device can easily be removed from the bathroom so as to recharge the battery at a normal household powerpoint outside the bathroom.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a shower device comprising a housing having an inlet for fluid from a distal source, a fluid pathway, an outlet for fluid from the device; wherein a fluid impeller is included in the fluid pathway.

In some embodiments the housing comprises a shower head.

In some embodiments therefore the device comprises an energy source. In some embodiments the energy source is internal to the housing. In this way tenants may be enabled to take the device with them when they move property.

For example in some embodiments the device includes a self-contained or integral battery, wherein such battery may be displaceable in some embodiments, or may be connected to for charging purposes.

In this way the battery may be displaced for charging or recharging. In other embodiments the device may include a charging port. In such embodiments the charging port may comprise waterproofing, for example such as a tethered silicone stopper seal.

In some embodiments the impeller may be arranged to impel fluid from the inlet through the fluid pathway and from the outlet, at an increased velocity and/or pressure.

In some embodiments the fluid pathway may comprise a narrowing or Venturi pathway, so as to further increase velocity.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a light source. Such light source may be arranged to illuminate a user or locality when showering, or when the device is in use.

Such light source may alternatively or additionally act to indicate charge level of the energy source or battery.

Such light source may comprise at least one light emitting diode (LED).

In some embodiments the device may be included in a shower head such that the inlet may comprise a screwthreaded joint with a single perforation, and the outlet may comprise a shower rose, for example with plural perforations.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a shower head rose attachment, for example attachable to and detachable from the shower head rose for use.

In some embodiments the device may be included in a shower hose. In this way the inlet and outlets may comprise elongate members with the fluid pathway intermediate and two distal screwthreaded joints each having for example a single perforation. The housing may comprise a known gooseneck in part or whole; or may comprise a unit intermediate the elongate hose members.

In some embodiments the device may be included in a unit attachable precedent or subsequent the hose. Such unit may therefore comprise two screwthreaded joints and housing intermediate. In such manner some embodiments of the device may be included after or at the water source.

The housing may be substantially rigid.

In some embodiments the device may comprise an electricity generation or harvesting mechanism. In this way when the impeller is not in use the harvesting mechanism may allow for generation of electrical energy for storage in the energy source. In this way the energy source may be recharged for usage of the impeller at a later stage. The device may comprise a toggle control for activating impelling or harvesting mechanisms.

In some embodiments the fluid pathway may comprise at least one chamber, so as to better regulate outflow.

In some embodiments the pump may comprise a rotating or centrifugal pumping means, such as an impeller or at least one propelling vane. In others the pump may comprise a reciprocating pumping or positive displacement pumping means, and in still further embodiments the pump may comprise overlapping chambers within the fluid pathway so as to create a pulsing outflow.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a sealing mechanism, for example arranged to seal the inflow or outflow or fluid pathway, in a manner such that the device may comprise a displaceable part. In this way the displaceable part may be displaced from the device so as to allow for recharging or replacement of the energy source, and the sealing mechanism may ensure that the fluid pathway remains closed.

In other embodiments it may be envisaged that the device may be displaced from the hose or shower, wherein the device is displaced in whole by unscrewing or related.

The device comprises an actuation control means, which control means may comprise a switch button control for actuation of the pump or suspension. Further embodiments may comprise variant modes, for example pulsing modes.

The outlet may comprise plural perforations, wherein the flow id directed through the perforations. In some embodiments the device comprises flow variation means, for example wherein the flow is divided, spread or otherwise varied, for example using the perforations or pattern of perforations.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a water flow control means. Said control means may allow for control over rate of water flow, for example such as through variation of pump speed.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a sketch of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention in use.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured embodiments feature a miniature pump, powered by a battery so as to boost the flow and pressure of the inflowing water from the distal water source or system.

With reference to the figures there is shown a first embodiment comprising a small 12v DC (direct current) centrifugal pump 3 powered by rechargeable energy source 5 built into the shower head. Use of 12Volt DC helps provide safety to the device.

The embodiment comprises a 12 V DC rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 12 V DC centrifugal pump, and a manual on/off switch control means (not shown).

In the pictured embodiment the removable battery can be charged up and may provide sufficient power to run 6-8 showers of approx 8-10 minute duration. As the electrical power comes from the contained energy source of 12 V DC there are minimal electrical safety issues regarding high voltage electricity and/or faulty connections

The battery in the pictured embodiment is wholly removable from the housing for - charging, and may be plugged into a free standing re-charging unit. In some embodiments the device may be detachable from the water source or fluid pathway for recharging.

In some other embodiments the device comprises a battery that is sealed in, having a charging port that is waterproofed for when not in use.

In some further embodiments therefore the battery may alternatively or additionally include a standard or universal serial bus connector, for example micro-USB, so as to enable the battery to be charged using standard electronic device charging equipment. Said connector may comprise a waterproofed port, whether the battery is integrated in the device or displaceable therefrom.

The embodiment of the device attaches to a standard shower hose using a Ά BSP male screw threaded hose connector 1.

The water is thereby accelerated from the inflow at the connector through the internal fluid pathway to the outflow at the perforated rose 4.

As the actuation control, a simple manual on/off switch control may be included, being cheaper than a flow switch. This additionally allows the pump to be switched off at any point during the shower for water saving needs. v

With reference to the second embodiments there is shown an embodiment of the device comprising a hose 13 leading from a water source, for example a mains water supply of a home. A fluid pathway leads from an inflow 3 to an outflow 15, wherein the outflow comprises a plurality of perforations 9 and the fluid pathway 8 passes through the pump in avoidance of electrical parts.

The energy source comprises a displaceable lithium-ion battery 11, which battery sits uppermost on the embodiments and dips into place on the pump, with the actuation control means to one side of the battery and vertically and horizontally offset from the fluid pathway.

The battery and pump are connected in use at a connection 12, which connection comprises a male part extending from the battery into an indentation in the pump 10, wherein the connection is waterproofed and may comprise resilient deformation or spring bias (not shown).

The pump may comprise a horizontally arranged rotating pumping means (not shown).

Said perforations as shown comprise narrowing Venturi so as to alter the flow characteristic from the pump 10. Said perforations may be narrowed or replaced of changed in shape, so as to alter the outflow characteristics, as common to known shower heads, for example by rotating the rose 16.

The embodiment further comprises an actuation control and flow control means 14, so as to allow actuation and the flow to be controlled so as to turn the device on or off, and allow for different speeds of pumping.

The pictured embodiments of the device are used instead of a known shower head and connected to a standard shower hose so as to provide a boost to water pressure and flow, providing a low cost solution to low flow and pressure of most gravity type showers.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A shower device comprising a housing having an inlet for fluid from a distal source, a fluid pathway, an outlet for fluid from the device; wherein a fluid impeller is included in the fluid pathway.

2. A device according to claim 1 comprising a shower head with standard screw fitting for a shower hose.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the fluid pathway is internal to the housing.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fluid pathway comprises a shower hose.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a shower rose.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the impeller comprises a centrifugal pump.

7. A device according to any preceding claim comprising an actuation control means for selectively activating the impeller.

8. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a control mechanism for altering rate of fluid flow.

9. A device according to any preceding claim having a rechargeable energy source.

10. A device according to any preceding claim having a displaceable energy source.

11. A device substantially as described herein with reference to figure 1.

12. A device substantially as described herein with reference to figure 2.