US2997722A

US2997722A - Water powered flexible extension bath shower-single valve

Info

Publication number: US2997722A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1961-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1978-08-29

Description

2 997,722 SINGLE VALVE CONTROLLED WITH TUB SPOUT AND OVERHEAD FIXED SHOWER Filed Sept. 30, 1959 Aug. 29, 1961 R. c. PEARSON WATER POWERED FLEXIBLE EXTENSION BATH SHOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ogr OFF

WW FQM -W 'II I U V M Aug. 29, 1961 n. a n MW 7% S 9 r wVEm 2 e Eu u S R. C. PEARSON WATER POWERED FLEXIBLE EXTENSION BATH SHOWER-SINGL- CONTROLLED WITH TUB SPOUT AND OVERHEAD FIXED Filed Sept. 30, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

United Smes Patent WATER POWERED FLEXIBLE EXTENSION BATH SHOWER-SINGLE VALVE CONTROLLED WITH TUB SPOUT AND OVERHEAD FIXED SHOWER Raymond C. Pearson, 28 Grant Ave.,

East Rockaway, N.Y. Filed Sept. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 843,501 5 Claims. (Cl. 4-191) This invention pertains to shower installations in bathrooms or the like and, more particularly, to a device comprising a flexibly extendable and retractable shower on one end, of bathtub height and length; an overhead fixed shower on the other end; a bathtub filling over the rim spout; a selector valve to distribute suitably mixed cold and hot water to them and to the means for powering the shower extension and retraction.

Bathrooms are often furnished with a shower device of some kind, most often set rigidly in place at a fixed overhead height. There has, however, been a continuing and long-felt desire, expressed in many ways, particularly by or in behalf of infirm or elderly people and parents of young children, for shower devices which are adjustable in height or length, flexible, readily retractable and out of the way when finished with them. There are thus some shower devices available, which answer some of these needs to a degree. Some of the adjustments available, however, have to be made with considerable manipulation. Hydraulic cylinder and piston systems have lacked much desired flexibility. Retractability, in the sense of being out of the way when finished with them, still has left much to be desired in that they have unsightly, unwieldly, or more or less inconvenient and messy means for accomplishing it.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a bathroom device comprised, on one end, of an inside the wall retractable and extensible shower hose and nozzle, which may be turned, twisted and flexibly moved about for tub washing and rinsing; an over the rim bathtub filling spout; and, on the other end, an overhead fixed shower-all controlled from a single selector valve-to make it a more effective means as a type of bath in homes, hotels and the like.

Since water is generally supplied under substantial pressure, very often from 40 to 80 pounds per square inch, it is an important object of this invention to utilize this to furnish the work needed to extend and retract the flexible shower hose and nozzle.

A simple and quick adjustment of extension in the flexible shower unit, without creep or gradual change in extension, is a highly desirable feature. It is accordingly thus another object of this invention to provide means for conveniently and automatically locking the extension shower in any operative position between fully extended and retracted positions.

Easy access to the selector valve, while either standing or seated in the tub is especially important to infirm or elderly persons. So is the ability to operate the device with freedom from anxiety and tension and having a clear path without any obstructing hose while getting outof the tube when done with the bath and shower. It is therefore a further object to have the extension shower fully retractable behind or within a bathroom wall and handily controlled by the selector valve mounted above tub height, on the same wall.

Another object is to provide a flexible extension shower, which can be manipulated or otherwise lowered and extended to all corners of the tub, so that maximum concentration of spray, with a minimum of splashing onto the bathroom floor, is possible, such as while bathing 'young children.

A 2,997,722 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 Still another object of this invention is to provide a flexibly extendable shower hose with such versatility that the shower nozzle can be quickly and easily detached and replaced with attachments, such as various types .of irrigating or douching instruments, massage sponges, brushes, etc.

A detailed description of a preferred form of this invention, its manner of operation, together with other objects and advantages follow. They will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the device, showing one method of mounting it between studs within a bathroom wall structure, with the flexible shower unit partly extended into the tub.

FIG. 2 is a three quarter section of the cylinder top cap, along the cutting plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, exposing the fluid passageways therein, and a half section of the piston means for powering the extension and retraction of the flexible shower unit.

\FIG. 3 is a diagonal half section of the bottom end of the device, along the cutting plane 3-3 of FIG. 1, revealing the fluid passage therein, the manner of sealing the extension shower tube or hose, the tub filling spout, the extension shower nozzle in the fully retracted position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the selector valve showing all the ports and passageways therein, the casing to the left, the rotor in the center, the cover enclosing and supporting the rotor to the right.

FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic cross-section of the invention, showing the fluid passageways therein, for one operating position of the selector valve. FIGS. 5B thru 5F show the selector valve only and how the passageways are interconnected as the rotor is turned to the other five operating positions.

FIG. 6 is a three quarter sectional view of the assembled selector valve, in perspective, from the rear, along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, the principal parts of this invent-ion shown in FIG. 1 consist of: a cylinder 10, which houses the flexible extension shower hose 28, and acts as a main support for associated parts; a cylinder top cap 20, which serves as a closure for 10 and a terminal block for the upper conduits and overhead shower 24; a cylinder bottom cap 30, serving as a closure for the lower end of 10 and anchoring block for the lower end appurtenances; a housing 35, attached to 30 for containing the extension shower nozzle 37, when retracted, and forming the tub spout 38; a selector valve 40, for distributing the water to the various functions.

Selector valve 40 is connected to a hot water faucet 16 thru pipe 17 and to a cold water faucet 18 thru pipe 19. The hot and cold water flow and mix thru 40 according to how much faucets 16 and 18 are opened. Distribution of water from 40 is according to the position of the valve handle pointer 41 and indication on an escutcheon plate 42, attached to 40 against the bathroom wall. Six index positions are provided, equally spaced around 42,

and labeled as shown. When handle pointer 41 is indexed to Out, the extension shower hose, 28, is ejected from cylinder 10 by a water flow thru riser tube 12. Indexing to On, causes water to shower out of nozzle 37, from a flow thru riser tube 13. Indexing to In, causes the extension shower hose 28 to be retracted inside of cylinder 10, from a water flow thru downoomer tube 14. The Off position provides a shut-ofi for the water flow, without having to turn off facuets 16 and 18. Indexed to Tub, water flows thru the downcomer tube 15 and out of spout 38 into the tub 36. Indexed to OHD, water showers out of overhead nozzle 24, from a flow thru riser tube 11. Handle 41 can be turned in either direction, for backtracking or stalting a new cycle.

The cylinder top cap 20, of FIG. 2, includes a closure for the top end of cylinder and a support for the

riser elbows

21, 22 and 23. They can be parts of a one piece east unit, as indicated, or separate items joined as by brazing or welding in the case of metals, or cemented together if made of plastics. Elbow 21 connects riser tube 11 with the overhead shower 24. Elbow 22 connects the ejection riser 12 with a pressure chamber 25, formed between cap 20, piston 26, cylinder 10 and extension shower downcomer tube 27. Elbow 23 connects riser tube 13 with the downcomer tube 27. The piston 26 and the extension shower hose 28 are preferably molded as a one piece unit from any of a number of suitable rubber or plastic compounds available. Piston 26 has a nominally watertight sliding fit between cylinder 10 and downcomer 27. The hose 28 has clearance over downcomer 27. A piston bumper 29, is fitted between 10 and to prevent crumpling and fatigue cracking of the upper piston skirt 269, should the piston be driven up against 20 during retraction and remain so for extended periods of time.

The cylinder bottom cap 30, of FIG. 3, serves to close off the bottom end of cylinder 10, with the aid of a cover seal 31 and cover plate 32, held in place such as by screws 32s, while permitting the extension shower hose 28 to slide thru in a nominally leakproof manner. A pressure chamber 33 is thus formed between piston 26 (shown in FIG. 2), the seal 31, cylinder 10 and hose 28, so that when water is valved thru the retraction downcomer elbow 14a, the piston 26 and hose 28 are forced upwards. A piston bumper 34 is fitted between and 31 to prevent crumpling of the lower piston skirt 26s (shown in FIG. 2) should the piston be driven down against 31 and remain so for extended periods of time. It also prevents the piston 26 from being driven so far down during ejection of hose 28 that it blocks off the water flow thru the retraction downcomer elbow 14a. The bottom cap 30 also serves as an anchoring medium for the housing 35, held in place such as by means of screws 35s (one shown).

Housing 35 serves as: a guide for the extension hose 28 as it is being ejected from cylinder 10 into the tub 36; a container for the extension hose nozzle 37 when hose 28 is fully retracted; a tub filling spout 38, in conjunction with tub downcomer 15 and spout plate 39, held in spaced relationship to the bottom of 35 such as by a type of boss and screw attachment 39s, one shown; a means for neatly closing off the bathroom wall around the extension shower opening; a means for holding a recessed soap dish 70 (FIG. 1), of which a side holding bracket 70b is shown in FIG. 3; a means for mounting a grab handle (not shown) in screw holes 30s, for aiding a bather in entering, arising from or leaving the tub 36.

The selector valve 40, of FIG. 4, is comprised of three main parts; a valve casing 43 to the left, a rotor 44 in the center, a cover 45 to the right, held together in alignment by screws thru the holes in the flange section of 43 and 45.

Valve casing 43 has a series of tubular elbow like fittings on the back side, 46 thru 52, connected to the water supply, riser and downcomer conduits previously described. Their water passages, which may be cored or drilled, extend thru to the front surface 43f, where they terminate in a supply port 53 and receiver ports 54 thru 58. The front face 43f is finished off to a plane surface, both to efiect a seal over a large surface area and to simplify machining. The hot and cold water inlets, 52 and 49, terminate in a common supply port 53 at the center of 43]. The other five, receiving ports 54 thru 58, are spaced radially equidistant around 53, sixty degrees apart, except the two bottom ones, which are 120 degrees apart, to allow a blank sixth space at the bottom midpoint for one definite water shut-01f position, independent of faucets 16 and 18. The hot and cold water supply fittings, 52 and 49, as well as the overhead shower 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2), have threaded connections for ease of installation. All the other conduits have, preferably, slip-on-solder joints. This provides a pre-fabricated package deal wherein all component parts are assembled into one unit, ready to be installed at the site with a minimum of plumbing work. In addition, valve 40 can be disassembled for inspection, replacement of seals, etc., without having to remove or disturb any of the conduiting. Instead of separate hot and cold water faucets connected to valve 40, a thermostatic mixing valve could be connected to either of

inlets

49 or 52 and the other closed off with a pipe plug.

The rotor 44 has two fluid U shaped passageways in its body, 59, serving as a distributor and 60, as a drain. Their ends open to the front face, 44f, in the form of ports; 61 as a receiver, 62 as a distributor, 63 and 64 as drains. Port 61 is located in the center of 44 and is axially in line with the supply port 53 of casing 43.

Ports

62, 63 and 64 line up with ports 54 thru 58 as rotor 44 is indexed and held in position by detents, 42d, on the escutcheon plate 42. Port 61 is made somewhat larger in diameter than port 53, so that the water flow from 53 funnels into 61, to minimize erosion around the edges of 61. Receiving ports, 54 thru 58, of 43, are likewise slightly larger in diameter than port 62, so that water is funneled into each in turn, as 62 is positioned in front of each during use. Drain passage 60 empties fluids out of pressure chamber 33 (FIGS. 2 and 3) while chamber 25 is pressurized for ejecting the extension shower hose 28, and vice versa when retracting it.

FIG. 6 shows how the cover 45 holds the rotor 44 in position against casing 43. Adjustments for overcoming leakage and the separating force between casing 43 and rotor 44 is made such as by spring means 65 and nut 66. A lock nut 67 is one means for holding the adjustment securely. Absolute leak tightness between valve surfaces 43 and 44 is not needed, nor desirable. Leakage which does occur here is led off thru downcomer 15, out thru spout 38 nad into the tub 36, with the rest of the Waste paper. External leakage is prevented by means of 0 ring seals, 68 between cover and casing and 69 between rotor shaft and cover.

Having described this invention, its manner of operation will be outlined in terms of FIGS. 5A thru F. Assume for instance, that a young child is to be given a shower bath. The first step would be to assure oneself that the water is neither too hot nor cold. The selector valve handle 41 could be turned to Tub, on the index plate 42. The hot and cold water faucets 16 and 18 would then be turned on and adjusted until the water flow at spout 38 was at the desired temperature. If it is then desired to use the extension shower, the pointer 41 is flipped over to Out" on 42. The hot and cold water mixture from port 53 would then flow as indicated in FIG. 5A; thru distributor passage 59, up riser 12, into pressure chamber 25, of cylinder 10. As the water accumulated therein, piston 26 would be foced downward. The extension shower hose 28, being attached to piston 26, would then be ejected from cylinder 10, thru the bottom seal 31 and housing 35, along with the nozzle 37, into the tub 36. The piston will continue to move down, and the extension hose out, as long as the selector valve handle is in this position, for any desired distance or until the piston hits the bottom bumper stop. As piston 26 moves down, fluid in pressure chamber 33, from a previous cycle, is forced out thru downcomer 14, into rotor drain passage 60, to be discharged thru downcomer 15 and spout 38, into tub 36.

After the extension hose 28 has been ejected the required amount, and it is desired to have the water shower out of it, one simply turns valve handle 41 to On. The porting in valve 40 will then be as indicated in FIG. 53. Water will flow from 59, up thru riser 13, into downcomer 27 and out thru hose 28 and shower nozzle 37 Passage 60 is closed ofl at the bottom sothere is no fluid flow thru the rest of the apparatus.

When finished with theextension shower and it is desired to retract it, handle 41 is turned to In. The porting in valve 40 will then be as indicated in FIG. 5C. Water will flow out of 59, thru downcomer 14, into pressure chamber 33, forcing piston 26 upwards and drawing the extension hose 28 with it into cylinder 10. The fluid above the piston, in pressure chamber 25, is in the meantime being ejected thru riser 12, into rotor drain passage 60, out thru downcomer 15, to drain from spout 3-8 into tub 36. Piston26 will continue to move up, for any desired distance, or until the piston hits the topbumper stop. No harm will come to the apparatus by allowing the piston to hit hard up against either top or bottom stops and not turning oif the water. This is a desirable feature when bathing children, since there is no need of waiting till the extension shower has been retracted, to shut ofl the water. The child could be picked up immediately, for drying and dressing, after the handle 41 had been turned to In. Faucets 16 and 18 could be turned oif later.

A full shut-off of water flow thru the selector valve has been provided at the next stop, as indicated in FIG. 5D, without having to turn ofl hot and cold water faucets 16 and 18. This is a desirable feature, such as during shampooings, in that the water can be shut off in between rinsings to conserve the hot water otherwise flowing down the drain uselessly. Although drain passage 60 connects ll with 13, there is no water flow between them, beyond that little amount required to balance their static head pressures.

Should water be desired for a warm tub bath, valve handle 41 is turned to Tub. Water flow thru 40 will then be as in FIG. SE; from 59, thru downcomer 15, out thru spout 38, into tub 36. Although drain passage 60 now connects 12 with 14, there is no water flow between them since frictional forces of piston 26 and hose 28 against cylinder 10, downcomer 2.7 and bottom seal 31 prevent movement.

Should an overhead shower be desired, valve handle 41 is turned to OHD. Water thru 40 will then be as in FIG. 5F, from 59, up riser 11, and out thru 24. Passage 60 is closed off at the bottom so there is no fluid flow thru the rest of the system.

The rotor 44 can be turned in either direction at any time to either repeat the cycle of events or to backtrack for re-adjustment of extension or retraction of shower hose 28.

The shower end of hose 28 is fitted with means for detaching the nozzle 37 and attaching accessories, such as irrigating or douching instruments, massage sponges and spray brushes. These can be fitted with conventional screw thread connections or with a type of quick disconnect coupling.

Since the shower hose 28 will be subjected to considerable amounts of flexing, particularly at the nozzle end, the housing 35 is made somewhat greater in height than is really required, so as to provide for extra length of hose 28 for one or more cutbacks, for hose repairs just back of nozzle 37. Hose 28 can be of a type having considerable amount of flexibility and yet not buckle or collapse during ejection from cylinder because downcomer 27 gives it a considerable internal stiffening.

The invention described and illustrated in the drawings, to this point, can lend itself to several modifications.

Instead of having a housing 35 making the thru-the- Wall-connection between cylinder 10 and the bath tub 36 for the extension shower hose Z8, cylinder 10 and downcomer 27 could be extended in length and bent out ward. The bend angle could be within the range of ten to thirty degrees to emerge just over the tub rim 36.

The outside'shape' of bottom cap '30 would, of course, be suitably modified for this type of construction. Housing 35, as such, would then be eliminated.

Selector valve 40, instead of having the six indexed positions indicated on 42, could be made with just five equally spaced positions, i.e. Tub, Out, On, In, and OHD. Valve casing 43 (FIG. 4) has the

ports

58, 54, 55, 56 and 57 spaced sixty degrees apart, with 57 and 58 at degrees. These ports could be spaced seventytwo degrees apart. This, with an edge to edge distance between ports greater than the diameter of a port, would allow a shut-off position between each of the five index marks. The ports in rotor '44 would, of course, be respaced; 62 being 144 degrees apart from 63 and 64, with 63 and 64 being seventy-two degrees apart.

In onder to secure minimum selector valve size and also eliminate any tendency toward water hammering, the edge to edge distance between

ports

58, 54, 55, 56 and 57 could be made less than the diameter of port 62. This would allow for the gradual closing downof one port, say 54, and the gradual opening up, of say, adjafcent port 58 before port 54 had been completely closed o Although the objects, specification and claims herein are flor an invention as it relates to a bathroom device, I do not limit it to this field alone. It can be extended and adapted for use in many other applications as well, where both fixed and flexibly extendible and retractable dispensing means are desired for fluids, such as in: kitchens, laundries, food processing, just to mention a few.

Having now particulanly described my invention and in what manner it is to be operated, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A bathroom shower device having individually operable means connecting hot and cold water supply to the same, said means merging into a selector valve casing having a valve rotor with a plurality of openings rotatable Within a plurality of fixed positions tor directing flow of said water supply to distribution passages in said valve casing, a plurality of pipes connected with said distribution passages, an upright cylinder, end closures to said cylinder with passages connected with spaces inside cylinder and to said pipes, an overhead shower connected with the upper of said end closures and one of passages therein, a concentric inner tube in said cylinder connected with said upper end closure and a passage thereto, a piston sealingly slidable between said cylinder and inner tube, a flexible tube joined to said piston at one end and at the other to a shower nozzle, means for sealing transit of said flexible tube thru bottom closure of said cylinder, a spout housing connected with said bottom closure, distribution of water provided by a handle on said valve rotor turned to predetermined positions, one of said pipes responsive to an opening in said valve casing for passage of water to said overhead shower, a second pipe to supply water for actuating said piston and thereby eject said flexible tube relative to said spout, a third pipe to supply water to said inner tube and thereby to said flexible tube and its shower nozzle, a fourth pipe connected to said cylinder near said bottom closure to supply water to actuate said piston to retract said flexible tube within said cylinder and a fifth pipe connected to said spout.

2. A shower device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve casing has a sixth position between said fourth and fifth pipes wherein the valve rotor is non-responsive to any of said pipes for shut off of water supply.

3. A shower device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the edge to edge spacing between valve casing distribution passages is less than the width of the passages whereby gradual closing off a passage and the gradual opening up of an adjacent one to said water supply is eifected.

4. A bathroom device for showering having individually operable means connecting hot and cold water supply to the same, said means merging into a selector valve casing having a valve rotor with a plurality of openings 7 rotatable within a plurality of fixed'positions for directing flow of said water supply to distribution passages in said valve casing, a plurality of pipes connected with said distribution passages, an upright cylinder, end closures to said cylinder with passages connected with spaces inside cylinder and to said pipes, an overhead shower connected with the upper of said end closures and one of passages therein, a concentric inner tube in said cylinder connected with said upper end closure and a passage thereto, a piston sealingly slidable between said cylinder and inner tube, a flexible tube slidable over the free end of said inner tube joined to said piston at one end and at the other to a shower nozzle, means for sealing transit of said flexible tube thru bottom closure of said cylinder, a tub spout housing connected with said cylinder bottom closure, access of water to said pipes provided by a handle on said valve rotor turned to predetermined positions, one of said pipes responsive to a position of said valve rotor to direct water supply to space within said cylinder between top closure and piston to cause ejection of said flexible tube from within said cylinder and drainage of waste power water below piston to tub spout, a second pipe responsive to a second rotor position to direct water supply to said flexible tube and its shower nozzle, a third pipe responsive to a third rotor position to direct water supply to space within said cylinder between bottom closure and piston to cause retraction of flexible tube within cylinder and drainage of waste power water above piston to tub spout, a fourth rotor position unresponsive to any of said pipes for shut 0E of 'water supply, a fourth pipe responsive to a fifth rotor position to direct water supply to said tub spout and a fifth pipe responsive to a sixth rotor position to direct Water supply to said overhead shower.

5. A shower device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the edge to edge spacing between valve casing distribution passages is greater than the width of said passages whereby closing olf of water supply between said passages is elfected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,903,710 Pearson Sept. 15, 1959