US20060200902A1

US20060200902A1 - Portable shower apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20060200902A1
Application number: US11/077,558
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey Stinchcomb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-09
Filing date: 2005-03-09
Publication date: 2006-09-14

Abstract

A portable shower apparatus for storing and dispensing water during an outdoor activity. The apparatus includes a container for storing water and an electrical pump within the container. The water is dispensed by a shower head actuated by a push button that regulates the flow of water dispensed by the shower head. The pump is powered through a 12-Volt DC adapter of a vehicle. The container is further provided with a bracket for mounting the shower head and a pouch for storing additional accessories.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a portable shower apparatus to transport and dispense water during outdoor activities, such as camping or going to the beach.
2. Description of Related Art
Prior art devices attempt to solve the problem of storing water during an outing. Some of these devices include flexible fluid container such as a bag, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,663 B1 of Haller et al, or a solid container as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,907 B2 of Rodd and U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,919 of Roteman.
Moreover, these devices address the problem of dispensing said liquid with the help of a pumping means. In the apparatus of Haller, the pumping means is a foot pump while Rodd and Roteman show the use of a DC powered pump.
However, these devices fail to show means for protecting elements of the apparatus that extend from the fluid container, such as the shower head and power connector cord, thus preventing said elements from being damaged or soiled during transport and/or storage. For example, when a prior art portable shower apparatus is stored in a trunk of a vehicle the shower head and power
cords are likely to lay on the floor of the trunk where they can be ruptured by another object placed on top thereof.
The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing means for holding the shower head when not in use and means for carrying the power cord and additional accessories during storage and/or transport of the device.
Other benefits of the present invention are ease of storage and transport by providing means to anchor the apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a portable shower apparatus with a variable flow shower head and an electric fluid pump which can be powered through a 12-Volt DC adapter of a vehicle. Additionally, the fluid container is provided with several features to facilitate handling, storing and/or transporting the apparatus while protecting the shower head, power connector cord and other accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows the portable shower apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the interior of said shower apparatus.
FIG. 3 shows a top view of said shower apparatus, illustrating details of the lid and bracket for the shower head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The system of the present invention includes a solid container 10 for storing a volume of fluid. The container has a top 12, bottom 14 and side walls 16 a-16 d. The top 12 of the container 10 has a circular aperture 12 a with an internal thread 18 a formed on perimeter of the aperture 12 a. First 20 and second 22 ports are installed on the exterior of the container 10. A fluid connection coupler 20 a is engaged to the first port 20 and an electrical connection coupler 22 a is engaged to the second port 22. A bracket 24 is installed on the exterior of said container 10, preferably on the upper portion of a side wall 16 of said container 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The function of said bracket 24 will be described in detail below.
The apparatus further includes a lid 26 for said container 10. The bottom surface of the lid 26 is provided with external threads 18 b that mate with the internal threads 18 a on the container aperture 12 a to form a watertight seal. The lid 26 is also provided with a knob 28 engaged to the top surface of the lid to facilitate handling of the lid 28, thereby ensuring a proper sealing of the container 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the knob 28 is generally round and has a number of protrusions to prevent slipping when handling the lid.
A fluid pump 30 is positioned within the container 10 to force dispensing of the liquid carried by the container 10. Said pump requires a 12-Volt power source to operate. In the illustrated embodiment, the pump 30 is powered through a 12-Volt DC adapter of a vehicle, such as a cigarette lighter adapter. However, the apparatus can alternately be powered through any 12-Volt DC power adapter of a vehicle or by providing a battery. The use of the term vehicle refers in general to an automobile, truck, boat, trailer, or camper. The pump 30 has an electrical power input terminal 32 connected to the second coupler 22 a by an electrical lead 34. A fluid inlet 36 of the pump 30 accepts liquid held by the container. A fluid outlet 38 discharges fluid from said pump 30 into a corrugated conduit 40 connected from the outlet 38 to the first coupler 20 a.
Extending from the container 10, a hose 42 is connected to the first coupler 20 a opposite said conduit 40 transports fluid into the shower head 44. The first coupler 20 a ensures a water tight connection between the corrugated conduit 40 and the hose 44 to prevent a leakage of fluid from the container. The shower head 44 is capable of dispensing a variable flow of fluid and is actuated by a push-button 46 which regulates the flow of liquid dispensed by the shower head 44. The bracket 24 is used to secure the shower head 44 onto the container when not in use. This prevents damage to the shower head 44 that can occur by someone stepping on it or placing an object on top of the shower head, and further prevents the shower head 44 from getting soiled with mud or other substances in the trunk of a vehicle.
Also extending from the container 10, a cable 48 is connected to the second coupler 22 a opposite the electrical lead 34 and the other end of the cable 48 is coupled to an adapter plug 50 through which electrical power is provided to the pump 30. The second coupler 22 a ensures a water tight electrical connection between the lead 34 and the cable 48 and prevents a leakage of fluid from the container. The adapter plug 50 is adapted to mate with a 12-Volt DC adapter in a vehicle, such as a cigarette lighter adapter.
A pouch 52 is releasably attached to a side wall of the container 10. The pouch is used to hold the cable 48 and adapter plug 50 when the shower is not is use and can also carry additional accessories, such as a brush, and bath products to be used with the shower apparatus.
When the portable shower apparatus is stored or transported in a vehicle, the apparatus can be anchored by the use of an elastic band 54 provided with hooks 54 a at either end. The use of this band prevents the device from slipping or turning on its side during transport and/or storage, thereby preventing damage to the container and any feature extending there from. The elastic band 54 is also stored in the pouch 52 when not in use.
The present invention can also be used for other applications besides acting as a portable shower, such as carrying and dispensing a beverage; carrying and dispensing water for engine cleaning; carrying and dispensing water for pet care or kid care during an outdoor activity; or for use during any medical, military, or emergency personnel activities.
While the present invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures, modifications, adaptations, variations and alterations in the described methods and systems may be made and will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the foregoing description which does not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention which is therefore not to be limited to the details herein.
For this reason, such changes are desired to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The descriptive manner which is employed for setting forth the embodiments should be interpreted as illustrative but not limitative of the full scope of the claims which embrace any and all equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A portable shower apparatus comprising:

a solid container comprising a top side, bottom side and side walls;

a circular aperture on the top side of said container provided with an internal thread; and

first and second ports provided on the upper portion of a side wall of said container;

a lid for said container, said lid having an external thread on its bottom surface which is configured to mate with the internal thread of the container aperture to form a watertight seal;

a knob installed on the upper surface of the lid to facilitate handling of the lid;

a fluid pump positioned inside said container, said pump having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and an electrical power terminal;

a first coupler installed on said first port;

a fluid conduit within said container connected from said pump outlet to said first coupler;

a fluid hose having a first and second end, said first end being coupled to said first coupler, opposite said fluid conduit, wherein said first coupler provides a watertight coupling between said fluid conduit and said hose;

a shower head provided with a push button configured to regulate a variable flow of fluid dispensed by said shower head, wherein said shower head is coupled to said second end of said fluid hose;

a second coupler installed on said second port;

en electrical lead within said container connected between said electrical power terminal of said pump to said second coupler;

a cable having a first and second end, said first end being coupled to said second coupler, opposite said electrical lead, wherein said second coupler provides a water tight electrical connection between said lead and said cable;

an adapter plug coupled to said second end of said cable, wherein said adapter plug is configured to mate with a 12-Volt DC adapter of a vehicle to provide power to said pump;

a bracket engaged to the exterior of said container configured to hold said shower head, when not in use; and

a pouch releasably attached to the exterior the container and configured to store said adapter plug and shower accessories.

2. The portable shower apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container holds from about 4 to about 10 gallons of fluid.

3. The portable shower apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container holds from about 4 to about 10 gallons of water.

4. The portable shower apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an elastic band with a hook on each end, configured to anchor the container to a vehicle during storage and transport of the apparatus.

5. The portable shower apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vehicle adapter comprises a cigarette lighter adapter.

6. The portable shower apparatus of claim 1, wherein said accessories comprise at least one of the group consisting of a brush, bath products and an elastic band.