US20060218720A1

US20060218720A1 - SuperShower

Info

Publication number: US20060218720A1
Application number: US11/308,285
Authority: US
Inventors: James Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-05
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-10-05

Abstract

By mounting the shower-head device on the ceiling, the spray from the shower-heads is in a downward direction from above the bather(s) taking the shower, as opposed to spraying at the bather(s) in a sideways or angular direction from the wall. The center shower-head is positioned near the middle of the shower ceiling so it can imitate natural rainfall directly above the bather(s). The other two (2) shower-heads are positioned approximately one (1) foot to one and a half (1.5) feet on either side of the center shower-head and angled toward the center so that the spray is hitting the bather(s) from two (2) sides, either front/rear or left/right depending on how the device is installed or how the bather is standing. All three shower-heads may be replaced and/or interchanged with any commercially available shower-head(s) therefore NO CLAIM is made with respect to the three shower-heads (5 a, 5 b, 5 c) attached to the SuperShower device. No Claims are made with respect to the elbow fitting (1) shown in the drawing as this is just one of many ways the device may be connected to the existing water supply. No claims are made with respect to the flexible hose (2) shown in the drawing as there are many types of such hose available commercially. Chrome or stainless steel hoses are preferred, but vinyl, plastic or even rubber flexible hoses can be used. Lastly, no claims are made with respect to the clips (4) shown in the drawing as there are a wide variety of clips available commercially that will permit attachment of the device to the ceiling.

Description

A device which converts a single wall-mounted shower to three (3) shower-heads mounted on the shower ceiling, usually in a linear pattern along the length of the tub/shower. SuperShower is intended primarily as a retro-fit for existing showers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unless specially constructed, most conventional bathroom showers are built very much alike; a water supply on one end of a tub-style shower area, or one side of a stall-type shower area, with the shower water supply outlet usually about 5½ feet to 6 feet or so from the floor. For most persons this provides an adequate arrangement. However, there are three conditions that are poorly served by such a configuration;

- 1. First, taller than average bathers are often required to bend down or stoop over to wash and rinse their upper bodies, including the head and hair.
- 2. Second, much of the area of the shower is wasted as the bather has to stand at the end or side of the shower area nearest the water supply in order to obtain maximum exposure to the shower spray.
- 3. And third, if more than one person is occupying the shower simultaneously, the person on the farthest end or side of the shower area away from the water supply is deprived of adequate exposure to the spray pattern of the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein addresses all three of those conditions in a manner not known to have ever been offered before elsewhere;

- 1. By being ceiling-mounted, taller bathers no longer have to bend down or stoop over to obtain maximum exposure to the spray pattern on their upper body, as the showerheads are much higher (nearer to the ceiling) than in a conventional shower.
- 2. By placing three showerheads in a linear pattern, the whole of the shower area is awash in the spray pattern, thereby eliminating wasted space.
- 3. And, additional bathers are not deprived of adequate exposure to that spray.

This invention also provides a solution to another important issue; that is the cost and convenience of making such a change to existing shower areas. While tearing out ceilings, walls and plumbing, then rebuilding, is certainly one way to reconfigure the shower area, such a process is likely to be messy, often time-consuming and can be costly. This invention, because it is intended as a retro-fit to the water supply of existing showers, is easily installed in just minutes without making a mess, without modifying existing plumbing and without excessive cost.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

As an unintended side benefit, the configuration offered by this invention actually makes showering SAFER for ALL bathers. Moving around on slippery surfaces such as those often found in tubs and showers (ceramic tile, porcelain, acrylic surfaces, etc.), can be unsafe, especially if the bather is mobility-impaired or suffers from equilibrium or balance problems. Falls resulting from such movement in that environment can cause severe injury and even death. This is of particular concern as it affects elderly and handicapped bathers.
With this ceiling-mounted invention, taller bathers no longer have to bend in an awkward manner. And, since most of the shower area is now covered within the spray pattern of the water, no one needs to turn or maneuver around on a slippery surface to wash and rinse their bodies. In both cases the risk of falls and resulting injuries is lessened.

REFERENCES TO PRIOR ART

Examination of existing Patents issued in this area reveals almost nothing like what is being put forth herein. The only shower or showerhead-related Patent discovered remotely similar in design had a stated use entirely different than that contained in this submission. It was for a shower cleaning apparatus as opposed to a device intended for facilitating showering itself. References cited are;



No. 1354838	Bath Shower Attachment	Inventor: Perkins
No. 4865254	Two-head Shower Arm	Inventor: Kragle
No. 4901927	Dual Shower Head Assembly	Inventor: Valdivia
No. 5564139	Dual Shower Head Assembly	Inventor: Shorr
No. 6550080	Shower Cleaning Apparatus	Inventor: Grewal

Claims

1. By mounting three shower-heads on the ceiling as opposed to one or more shower-heads on the wall, the bather(s) can shower their entire body/bodies on all sides without having to turn toward or away from the side or end of the shower where a single shower-head (or other wall-mounted shower device) is usually positioned on the wall. This is particularly advantageous to bathers who may have a disability, or elderly bathers for whom moving around in a wet shower environment may be unsafe.

2. This configuration permits taller bathers to stand up straight directly beneath the SuperShower and wash their face, head and/or hair without having to bend over to get their head under the spray as in a typical wall-mounted shower-head.

3. The SuperShower Device (3) is connected to an Elbow Fitting (1) at the existing water supply on the wall through a Flexible Hose (2). Then Mounting Clips (4) attach the SuperShower Device (3) to the ceiling. The three shower-heads (5 a, 5 b, and 5 c) attach to standard fittings on the SuperShower Device (3). NO CLAIM is made with respect to the three shower-heads (5 a, 5 b, and 5 c) and NO CLAIMS are made with respect to the elbow fitting (1), the flexible hose (2) or to the clips (4) shown in the drawing.