GB2597562A

GB2597562A - Shower device for use in bath tub

Info

Publication number: GB2597562A
Application number: GB2102856.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Thacker Malcolm
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-28
Filing date: 2021-03-01
Publication date: 2022-02-02
Also published as: GB202011648D0; GB202102856D0

Abstract

The shower device, particularly for use in a bath tub, comprises a shower head 2 connected via a hose 3 to an ovoid body 10 with a rubber base. A tubular components housing 16 is held horizontally inside a water flow passage or tunnel 5 (e.g. by fixture members 14) and comprises a motor 6 powered by a rechargeable battery pack 11 to drive a protruding impeller 15 via a drive shaft. Water intake is via a mesh opening 8. A water flow space may be defined by an exterior surface of the components housing and the interior of the water flow tunnel. The impeller, drive shaft, motor and battery may be arranged in line within the components housing. The battery pack may be connected via cables to an external power connector and operating switch 7. Water may pass through a chamber 12 before exiting by the hose.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION OF

MALCOLM DONALD THACKER

FOR

SHOWER DEVICE FOR USE IN BATH TUB

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices which provide a shower system when bathing in a bath tub.

Background

The use of showers in baths is known and if a shower is not provided on the wall above the bath tub an alternative will usually consist of attaching a device to the taps of the bath via flexible pipes, providing a mixed hot and cold water supply to a shower head fixed onto the end of the two pipes. The user turns the taps to supply the water to the shower head which can then be used while in the bath for showering.

However, there are limitations to the use of these and therefore attempts have been made to provide an improved shower for use when in a bath, as follows: This is shown in patent US3431565 (NELSON) discloses a portable shower unit for campers includes a water-collecting tray and a curtain-supporting frame carried at the upper ends of collapsible corner posts. The posts are urged into extended elevated positions by spring means such as spiral springs or elastic bands associated with pivots interconnecting individual linkages forming the extendable corner posts. The unit is held in its collapsed configuration by a pliable wrapper which usefully also served to contain a collapsible water-supply container and a collapsible waste water-receiving bladder_ Patent CN2087488 faitH-0 discloses a portable simple shower device, which is composed of a plastic basin, a plastic pipe, a minitype clean water pump, an adjustable choke and an injection head, wherein, without a heater. The utility model is used for shower bath with hot water or cold water and for shower bath in an ordinary toilet with installation in a specific room. The portable simple shower device has the advantages of small size, light weight and portability, convenient to be used by people on business and travelling. The utility model does not need coal gas, easy to be accepted by inhabitants in broad urban and rural.

Patent JP2005152575 (KOTANI) discloses a submersible pump device 3 which is disposed in the bathtub P so as to be connected to the pressure supply device 2 and pressurized and lifted hot water in the bathtub P through the hot water supply tube 4, and swings at the tip of the hot water supply tube 4. Both shower shower 7 and bather ft.,), which are pivotally attached and spray hot water in bathtub P which is pumped up through hot water supply pipe 4 by submersible pump device 3 from the upper side of bathtub P inward. There is an attachment means 11 for fixing the hot water supply pipe 4 to the bathtub P so that the shower jetting tool 7 can be positioned with respect to the shoulder and back.

Patent EP1077291 discloses a device for operating a sanitary object (17.32) without its own water tap and in particular for relocating a water tap of a first sanitary object (1,18) to at least one other sanitary object (17,32) is characterized in that a mobile one is located between the two sanitary objects Device carrier (8.21) is switched on, which is connected to the water inlet of the first sanitary object (1,18) and which has a mobile or stationary water tap (16,31) assigned to the further sanitary object (18,32). The first sanitary object is, for example, a fixed hot and or cold water connection, e.g. a wash basin, from which a further sanitary object, e.g. a toilet bowl (17) or a bidet bowl, is fed with cold and/ or hot water.

Patent 1)31840812 (HARDY) discloses a combination bath appliance for attachment to the faucet of a water-supply system for producing a shower spray,:and to which attachment may be connected to adapt the appliance as a rubbing sponge, or a waieter driven inassagedevice. The device is esmOun'ted within a showerhead, there being peeiillly intended to permit-a user to stimulate the tissues oi? The body by a massaging action which tends to open the-pores of the skin to allow thorough cleansing of the same not otherwise possible by the usual bathing method.

Patent 1J83015828 (BEEBE) discloses a spray attachment for continuously recirculating water from the tub for the discharge thereof into the tub in the form of a spray. A further object of the invention is to provide a motor driven impeller located below the bottom of the bath \tub for gravitationally receiving a stream of Water from the tub which is forced through a spray head mounted on the free end of a flexible hose adapted to be directed downwardly into the tub. Still another object of the invention is to provide an impeller having a top wall and vanes connected therewith and extending outwardly in offset relation from the center of the impeller and with adjacent vanes disposed in substantially right angular relation.

Patent US3341885 (VANCE) discloses a bath tub piping and plumbing equipment as provided for supplying and controlling ow of bath water to a tub or shower head that is disposed over the tub. Furthermore, it relates to the incorporation, in the present equipment, of means for the discharge of a forcible circulation creating flow of bath water into the tub water by a regulated or controlled discharge of an established mixture of cold and hot water into the bath water in the tub. More specifically, the invention relates to the provision of a novel arrangement of controls for the mixing of water from hot and cold water supply lines and for the diversion of the mixture selectively to tub, shower or to the circulation creating means as applied in the bath tub, and in the specific d-etails of the various pans as used in combination for control of water discharge for the accommodation and desires of the particular person using the equipment.

Patent U86315220 (GRUBB) discloses a method and apparatus for converting a faucet or existing shower head into a flexible and extendable shower apparatus which includes an adaptabie connector having one end for receiving a faucet or existing shower head, a flexible and extendable hose connected to an opposite end of the adaptable connector, and a shower head connected to the extendable hose opposite the adaptable connector. The apparatus also includes clamping means for releasable securing the adaptable connector around a faucet or existing shower head. Further, the adaptable connector and flexible, extendable hose may comprise one continuous piece.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective shower device for use in a bath tub that is able to provide a stream of pressured water while remaining in the bath water.

The present invention aims to provide an improved device which is seated on the bottom of a bath tub under the water to provide a hand held shower while the person is seated therefore.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a shower device for use in a bath tub wherein it can be seated on the bottom of the tub under the water.

The device has a shower head located on the end of a flexible hose which locates and is attached to an ovoid body of the device. The body has a rubber non slip base to enable it to seat onto the bottom of a bath tub under the water and when a person in seated in the tub bathing.

The ovoid body of the device has a mesh opening to its rear through which bath water is drawn via an internal impeller driven pump and out from the shower head onto the user and of course the water advantageously returns into the bath to be recycled again as use continues. Inside the ovoid body is a pump system which uses components inside a sealed tubed housing. A protruding water impeller extends from the end of said housing and is attached via a drive shaft onto a rotation motor inside. The rotation motor is operated by a rechargeable battery pack, which is connected by cables to an external charging and switching point. The battery pack is located to the opposing end of of the impeller, with all components arranged in a line inside the components housing thereto. The housing is slid inside a slide in fitting within the ovoid body and can be slid out for maintenance or battery replacement as the battery has a connection plate for connection to the charger and switch end. As the impeller rotates when the switch is pressed to operate the device, the bath water is drawn into an initial opening area with force and pushed through a water flow tunnel; which passes around the exterior of the components housing in a water flow space. The water flow space passes the water under pressure around the components housing tube to a pressure point chamber which is a more narrowed section to the front of the water flow tunnel and out through the hose fitting and into the hose.

In a second embodiment spiral channels are added inside the water flow channel to spiral the bath water around the water flow space to increase its pressure due to the water being forced to pass through a more narrowed and spiral space before gathering within the said pressure point chamber at the end.

Once the use of the device is over, the switch is depressed again to turn off the motor and therefore the impeller, thus water is no longer drawn into the device and it can be removed after bathing to be dried and re-charged using domestic power sources.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is riot limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beng pracflced and carried out n various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is t intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shower device for use in a bath tub which has all the advantages of the prior art bath tub showers and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new shower device for use in a bath tub which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shower device for use in a bath tub which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shower device for use in a bath tub which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shower device for use in a bath tub which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the shower device for use in a bath tub. Figure 2 shows a rear elevation view of the shower device for use in a bath tub Figure 3 shows a frontal elevation view of the shower device for use in a bath tub.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a person using the shower device for use in a bath tub.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the shower device for use in a bath tub is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the device 1, which has a shower head 2 and hose 3 attached to a hose fitting 9. The device 1 is seated under the water level 4 of a bath tub and is used when the person is in the bath by being seated on the bottom.

The device 1 has an ovoid body 10 which has a planar flat base to enable successful seating onto the tub bottom. Within the body 10 is housed all components which are arranged 'in-line' with the water flowing around them, having a water flow tunnel 5 which is held by insertion into a close fitting cavity within said body 10, as shown. Located centrally of the water flow tunnel 5 is components housing 16, which is a sealed tubed housing with a protruding water impeller 15 to its rear end. The components housing 16 is held in place using fixture members 14 which are located around the exterior of the components housings tubed body and attach to the water flow tunnel 5, to hold the components housing 16 horizontally within water flow tunnel 5 thereto.

The diameter of the components housing 16 is considerably less of that of the water flow tunnel, forming a water flow space within the water flow tunnel, between the water flow tunnel 5 interior and the exterior of said components housing 16, as shown.

The components housing 16 contains the working components for the pumping of bath water through the device and out through the shower head 2. These components comprise rechargeable battery pack 11 which is connected to a recharging point and switch 7, which is attached to a recharging lead (not shown) for mains charging. The rechargeable battery pack 11 connects in the known way to the rotation motor 6 which drives the impeller 15. As the impeller 15 rotates due to the rotation motor it draws bath water inward through mesh opening 8 to pass into the water flow tunnel 5, as indicated by the smaller black arrows.

The force of the water being drawn into the more narrowed space of the water flow tunnel 5 creates pressure and forces the water out of the water flow tunnel opening 13 and into the pressure point chamber 12 and out through the hose fitting and into the hose 3 The pressure point chamber builds the waters pressure in its narrowed end as it arrives from the water flow tunnel opening 13 to increase its momentum to a higher pressure into the further narrowed hose thereto.

In Figure 2 we can see the device 1A and its ovoid body 10A with side located re-charging point and switch 7, as a rear end elevation view. This shows the mesh opening 8A to the rear of the device which is the inlet for the bath water, as aforementioned, drawn in by the impeller 15A rotating on its drive shaft 17.

The bath water is drawn into the initial opening area (not shown) and then onto the water flow tunnel 5A around the exterior of the centrally located components housing 16A.

The body 10A is seated onto the bath tub bottom 19 with aid from an anti-slip rubber base 18.

A frontal elevation view of the ovoid body 10B shows the hose fitting 9B at the front with the re-charging point and switch 7B on the side of the body; this is sealed in rubber with a small water tight rubber hatch to lift when out of the water for charging. Anti-slip rubber base 18B is also shown on the bottom of the body to the underside, as shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 4 we can see a person seated within a bath tub using the device 1C.

Claims

Claims 1) A shower device for use in a bath tub comprising; a shower head on a hose which connects to an ovoid body having a rubber non slip base for seating onto the bottom of a bath tub, said ovoid body has components arranged in-line having a central water flow tunnel; inside which is affixed a horizontally opposed tubed components housing, having a protruding motor driven water impeller mounted to a drive shaft, a rotation motor located to the drive shaft powered by a rechargeable battery pack within, a water flow space enables water flow from a rear located mesh opening through to said shower head.
2) A shower device for use in a bath tub according to claim 1 wherein a water flow tunnel has an in-line tubed components housing affixed horizontally and centrally inside it by means of fixture members.
3) A shower device for use in a bath tub according to claim 2 wherein a water flow space is created between said exterior of a tubed components housing and the interior of a water flow tunnel.
4) A shower device for use in a bath tub according to claim 3 wherein a water impeller; a drive shaft; a rotation motor and a rechargeable battery pack are arranged in-line inside said tubed components housing.
5) A shower device for use in a bath tub according to claim 4 wherein a battery pack is externally connected and switched on and off by extending through said ovoid body via cables for external power connecting and switch operation.
6) A shower device for use in a bath tub according to claim 6 wherein water exits to a hose at a pressure point chamber.
7) A shower device for use in a bath tub according to claim 7 wherein water is passed from entry to exit by a water flow space.