US20080184478A1

US20080184478A1 - Steam shower system

Info

Publication number: US20080184478A1
Application number: US11/701,929
Authority: US
Inventors: Fredrick T. Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-05
Filing date: 2007-02-05
Publication date: 2008-08-07

Abstract

A steam-water shower provides an inexpensive and easy to operate system which is low operating cost and easy to convert a convention shower to the present invented shower. This shower has a pivotal top which is hinged, at one end to the upper end of one of the walls. The top is provided with a slid able rod to enable to open and closed the top whichever is desirable. When steam shower is desired, the top can be closed. When the top is open, the shower turns to a

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a combination of steam and hot-cold shower stall. More particularly, this invention relates to an economical shower having an open-close top wall for steam treatment and regular cleansing.
2. Prior Art
Conventional showers are known in the art. Hot and warm showers are beneficial in the day-to-day activities of humans and are common place with regard to today's socially acceptable health and cleanliness standards in both the private and public sectors.
There is also an added benefit with regard to the use of showers, namely steam shower. Steam offers perhaps by far the most desirable result and effect on the body. Because it sooths and relaxes, yielding both a massaging and therapeutic effect on the body. purpose of therapeutic treatment.
Many physicians have also promoted and endorsed the benefits of steam showers. Studies have shown findings in the medical community that person with certain medical conditions have controlled exposure to steam in order to assist in relieving the persistent symptoms of asthma, allergies, colds, flu, sinus infections, bronchial infections and disease, colic in children and other repository abnormalities. One solution introduced into the present art of known showers has been the steam rooms and steam shower system. These showers have been utilized for decades and are of a more custom, elaborate, expensive and complicated design. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat No. 5,142,713, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,417 and among many others.
The main purpose of the steam shower are for relaxation or therapeutic treatment and lack the flexibility of daily necessity of cleansing.
These systems often employ an added electrical output and generator source as well as additional logistical and design complication in order to achieve the whole Furthermore, the installation process is therefore expensive and time consuming. The price of an average after market shower is about $6,000 and can range in the $15,000s. Yet, the effects of the steam only replicate a system that is standard and is integral within a modern home as taught by the present invention. conventional shower.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the shower system. The object of this invention is to provide a combination of both a steam and a water shower based on its simplicity and economy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shower stall of this invention, herein after referred to as the shower, comprises essentially an closure of at least three side walls and a door having hot and cold faucets. A top wall pivotally attached or hinged at one of its ends, to the upper end of one of the side walls for the easy opening and closing of the shower enclosure. The top wall hereinafter referred to as the top is provided with a projected flange along one of its parallel sides, terminating at the hinge. A slidable means is mounted on the flange for securing a rod. When the rod is lifted and sliding to the hinged end, and the top will be fully open. When the rod is swung over the hinge, the rod is then sliding downward, the top will be lining against the outside of the shower wall. This feature serves as a convenient and quick opening operation. When a steam shower is desired, the top is swung to a closed position. When a warm shower is intended, the top is swung backward to its open position. A door is preferably provided on said shower at the front. The water supply consists of hot and cold water mixed through said shower head which is well known in the art. In addition, there is provided a vent on the top for justing air circulation and also for controlling of temperature within the shower. The vent is operated by a movable sliding cover over the vent opening. When the hot water is on and the top is closed, a safe steam shower is in operation. When the top is open, a standard shower is in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objectives and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of steam and water shower with a pivotable top.

FIG. 2 is a partially fragmented view of an embodiment of a mounting structure for the pivotal top.

FIG. 3 shows the front view of the slid able means with attached rod.

FIG. 3 a is an end view of the pivotal top connected to the slid able means with the attached rod structure

FIG. 3 b is a sectional view of FIG. 3 showing the groove of the slid able means and the T projection of the flange.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the pivotal top being shortened to accommodate a low ceiling of a room.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the invention, the combination of steam and water shower denoted as 1, in FIG. 1, has two side walls 2 with a door 3, for entering the shower and a back wall opposing the door. Said shower is provided with hot and cold water supply (not shown) mixed through in the shower head 4, which is installed on an upper end of one of the side walls 2 and a drain on the bottom floor as in any conventional shower.
The essential gist of the invention lies in the swing-able top 5, having two parallel sides and two ends. One of the ends is pivotally attached to an upper end of the side wall 2 by hinge means 6, while the other end extending to the opposite side wall and is free to swing.
Along the front side of the top 5, there is provided a projected flange 22, extending from one end and terminating at the hinge 6. The projected flange 22 has a T-shaped projection. The detailed view is best shown in FIG. 3 a.
A vent 7, on the top wall 5, whose opening is adjustable with a slid able cover, 8. This vent is provided for air circulation while steam shower is being used. Said vent is a rectangular opening with outward extending ledges along any of the two parallel sides. A cover of commensurate size and with inward extending ledges which are movably slid over the vent ledges of the vent opening for operating the opening size.
The shower material can be light weight plastic glass which is clear or translucent, and is well known in the art. A contiguous hinge 6 which is commercially available suffices to support the top to be pivotally fastened to the upper end of the wall 2.
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a hinge,10. Said hinge is of an inverted open channel 9 with its bottom plate laid flat on the upper edge of side wall 2. The sides of said channel are fixed on the wall 2. A fastening plate 11 is hinged to one of the parallel sides along the edge enables plate 11 is to fasten to the top 5 for swing movement of the top 5. Several such hinges are needed for the width of the top.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the slid able means 20 in the installed position as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4.
FIG. 3 a is an end view of the slid able means 20, best viewed from FIGS. 1, and 4, having a T-shaped groove 21 which is movably mounted on the projected flange 22 of top 5.
FIG. 3 b is similar to FIG. 3, in addition, shows the groove 21 and flange 22. Viewing the figures together, it will be understood that the slid able means is about 1.5 inch to 2 inches long and is to be mounted on the flange 22 of the top 5. The flange 22 has a mating T projection 28 commensurate to that of the groove 21. Under the slid able means 20, there is fixed a block 23 having a bore 24, to receive a hook 25. Said hook can be made detachably at the vicinity of the hook, such as with threaded neck, or snapped together with pins. In addition, the hook 25 is lengthened by inserting a detachable handle rode 26 to a connector 27 at the lower end of the hook, 25. It is apparent that by holding the rod or hook, lifting and sliding from one end of the top 5 to the opposite or hinged end, the top 5 will be swung from closed position to fully open position. Further more, by sliding the rod 26 further, the top 5 will turn downward outside of the shower enclosure against the side wall in one action. This feature enables the shower to be installed outside of a building or when space allows.
Referring to FIG. 4, should the indoor ceiling be low, the length of the top 5 of the shower is shortened. The remaining portion of 5 a is fixed on the wall opposite to the hinged wall such that when top 5 is in closed position, the two parts of the top will meet as a whole top, and the shower is closed as can be visualized in FIG. 4.
In conclusion, a steam shower is provided just by turning on hot water first with the top closed in order to generate enough steam and when water shower is needed, the top can be opened as a shower stall. This feature in accordance with the invention is simple to use and economical to fabricate. Residential shower can easily be converted to steam and water shower system of this invention by adding such top as described.
The features presented herein meet many requirements of conditions where limited ceiling height may have problem. Therefore the shower of this invention is flexible and useful in addition to being versatile and economical.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description or illustration in the drawings.

Claims

1. A steam-water shower comprising

an enclosure of at least three walls, a door, and a hot and cold water supply connected to a shower head;

a top pivotally mounted at its end on an upper end of one of said walls and extending to the opposite wall, said top having a T-shaped flange along a front side of the top, terminating at the mounted wall; and

Slid able means mounted on the flange for carrying a hook thereby said top is opened by lifting and sliding the hook towards the mounted wall for water shower and is closed by reversingly sliding and lowering the hook for steam shower.

2. The steam-water shower of claim 1 wherein the top opens downward outside of the shower, when the hook is further sliding down.

3. The steam-water shower of claim 1 wherein slid able means is a carrier having a mating T-shaped channel for movably mounding on said T-shaped flange, and said carrier further comprising a block having a bore to receive a removable hook.

4. The steam-water shower of claim 3 wherein the hook is extended by inserting a handle rod to a connector at the lower end of the hook.

5. The steam-water shower of claim 1 wherein the top is mounted with a continuous hinge and is provided with a vent for controlling air intake.

6. The steam-water shower of claim 1 wherein the top is mounted with a fastening plate of a hinged inverted channel whose parallel sides being fixed on the side wall.

7. A steam-water shower comprising

an enclosure of at least three walls, a door, a hot and cold water supply connected to a shower head;

a top pivotally mounted on an upper end of one of said walls,

said top being terminated at a predetermind length and the remaining length of the top being separately fixed to the opposite wall to the mounted wall thereby when the top is closed the shower enclosure is closed; and

Said top having a T-shaped flange along a front side, terminating at the mounted wall; and a slid able means having a commensurate T-shaped groove for mounting on the T-flange and for carrying a hook thereby said top is opened by lifting and sliding the hook towards the mounted wall for water shower and is closed by reversing sliding and lowering the hook for steam shower