US3045250A - Shower manifold - Google Patents

Description

July 24, 1962 R. .1. BOOKER ETAL 3,045,250

SHOWER MANIFOLD Filed Sept. 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a -i y INVENTORS ROBERTJ.BOOKER HOWARD G.MULLETT ATTORNEY R. J. BOOKER; ETAL 3,045,250

July 24, 1962 SHOWER MANIFOLD Filed Sept. 19, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT J. BOOKER HOWARD 6.MULLETT BY.M(%M

ATTORNEY July 24, 1962 R. J. BOOKER ETAL 3,045,250

SHOWER MANIFOLD Filed Sept. 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ROBERT J.BOOKER HOWARD G-MULLETT ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,045,250 SHOWER MANIFOLD Robert J. Booker and Howard G. Mullett, Milwaukee,

Wis., assignors to Bradley Washfountain Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Sept. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 57,037 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-145) This invention relates to water mixing apparatus for multi-person showers and the like, and it more particularly pertains to the use in such an apparatus of individual manifold units that include a mixing chamber having an outlet port for connection to a shower head and a pair of spaced supply chambers alongside the mixing chamber, each of said supply chambers being in communication with the mixing chamber through a valve opening and having a pair of spaced supply ports adapted for connection with a water supply, the individual manifold units being adapted for connection to one another to form a mixing apparatus for a plurality of showers.

Water mixing devices for multiple shower assemblies have heretofore included one or more manifolds which function as a common supply for a plurality of individual showers making up the assemblies. For example, some mixing devices have included hot and cold manifolds cast together as a unit and adapted to receive control valves for each individual shower and to fit within the central column of the shower unit. Other mixing devices have consisted of spaced, toroidal manifolds with valve means connected therebetween, each toroid functioning as a hot or cold supply for a group of showers.

None of the previously devised assemblies has been sufficiently versatile for use in all shower applications, however, and all have necessitated the stocking by shower manufacturers of a variety of manifolds, some of which are seldom used, in order to provide for both wall and column showers involving varying numbers of shower units. For example, such manifolds have generally been formed by casting and can only be supplied with a predetermined number of shower supply openings. Thus, it has heretofore been necessary for shower manufacturers to stand ready to supply different manifolds for showers designed to serve three, four, or some other number of persons. Further, the shower supply openings in prior manifolds have necessarily been closely spaced in order to reduce the size of the casting. A relatively small casting of toroidal form may be suitable for column showers, but it becomes rather unwieldy and unsuitable for use in wall shower assemblies where the individual shower units are more widely separated and are arranged in an arcuate pattern.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an individual manifold unit, a plurality of which may be readily interconnected to provide a mixing assembly useful in multiple showers constructed with any number of variably spaced shower units.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a manifold which may be easily cast and inexpensively constructed and assembled.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a modular unit for multiple showers that will reduce the inventory of major parts necessary for the manufacture of multi-person showers.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a specific embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation, with parts broken away, of a multi-person column shower incorporating a plurality of modular manifolds,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the column shower of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in section,

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section, with parts broken away, taken along the plane 3-3 shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section, with parts broken away, taken along the plane 44 shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a front view in elevation with parts broken away and'in section, taken along the plane 55 shown in FIG. 6, of an individual manifold unit formed according to the invention herein,

FIG. 6 is a view in cross section of the unit of FIG. 5, taken along the plane 66 shown in 'FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown therein a multi-person column shower having a base 1, a hollow column portion 2 and an overhanging capital 3, all of which are preferably formed of stainless steel or a similarly suitable material. The base 1 is adapted to be fastened to the floor and may be provided with drain openings 4. The capital 3 is provided with spaced radially elongated openings 5 through which shower heads 6 of any suitable design project. Soap trays 7 may be mounted on the outside of the column portion 2 at a convenient height, and a removable cover 8 serves to close an access opening to the interior of the column 2. Valve operating handles 9 project outwardly through the wall of the column 2 and are used to control and regulate the temperature of the shower spray in a manner to be hereinafter described. A hot water supply 10 and a cold water supply 11 extend upwardly within the column 2 and serve to supply hot and cold water to a manifold assembly made up of a set of four individual manifold units 12.

Each of the interconnected units 12 is provided with a threaded outlet port 13 at its upper end to which is connected a shower supply circuit 14. A secure connection between each conduit 14 and its associated outlet port 13 is obtained by means of a nipple 15 threadedly engaged with the conduit 14 and the outlet port 13 and locked in place by a nut 16. The conduits 14 extend upwardly within the column 2 and are bent back upon themselves near their upper extremities to be connected in any suitable manner to the shower heads 6 which project downwardly and outwardly of the capital 3. A cover 17 is removably secured to the top of the capital 3 by assembly screws 18 whereby the cover 17 may be removed for cleaning, adjustment or repair of the internal elements of the shower.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5 through 7, it can be seen that each of the modular manifold units 12 comprises elongated casing 19, preferably cast of brass or any other suitable material, which serves to enclose and define an elongated mixing chamber 20 having the externally communicating outlet port 13.

The casing 19 also serves to define and enclose a pair of spaced supply chambers 21 lying alongside the mixing chamber 20 and separated therefrom by walls 22. Water in the supply chambers 21 may enter into the mixing chamber 20 through threaded valve openings 23 in the walls 22. Each supply chamber 21 is further provided with a pair of spaced, laterally extending supply ports 24. Valve seats 25, of standard construction, are threadedly engaged in the valve openings 23 and valves 26 of any suitable construction are threadedly engaged in valve mounting openings 27 in the casing 19 and opposite the valve openings 23. The valves 26 include projecting stems 28 terminating in closure discs 29 which are engagcable with the seats 25 whereby the flow of water through the valve openings 23 may be controlled. The valves 26 are manually operable by means of the handles 9 projecting outwardly from the column 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, it can be seen that the four manifold units 12 provided herein are vertically disposed and arranged in a square within the column portion 2. A Y-fitting 30 is connected in a suitable mannor to one of the lower supply ports 24 of each of two adjacent units 12 and the cold Water supply pipe 11 is threadedly connected to the base of the fitting 30 and is locked in place by a nut 31. Copper elbows 32, bent at right angles, serve to connect the opposite lower supply ports 24 of the units 12 connected to the fitting 30 to one of the lower supply ports 24 of the succeeding adjacent units 12. The remaining supply ports 24, diagonally opposite the fitting 30, are preferably closed by means of plugs 33. Thus, the supply pipe 11 serves to supply cold water to the lower supply chambers 21 of each of the units 12.

Similarly, the upper supply chambers 21 of each of the units 12 are interconnected by similar conduit means including a fitting 34, similar to the fitting 30, connected to the hot water supply pipe 10, and elbows 35. The supply ports 24 opposite the fitting 34 are plugged as at 36.

In the case of the lower supply chambers 21, the plugs 33 allow for sufiicient space for the pipe 10 to extend to the fitting 34 without necessitating bending of the pipe 10. It will be obvious, however, that this opening need not be provided and that the pipe 10 could be bent to pass through the opening formed within the square of manifold units 12. Alternatively, the supply pipes 10 and 11 could extend to the manifold units 12 either from below, as shown, or from above the shower unit.

In operation, and with the valves 26 in a closed position, hot water is supplied to the upper supply chamber 21 of each unit 12 by the pipe 10, fitting 34 and elbows 35, but is prevented from flowing into the mixing chamber 20 and through the associated conduit 14 since the upper valve opening 23 is blocked by the closure disc 29 of the closed upper valve 26. Similarly, cold water is allowed to circulate through the lower supply chamber 21 of each unit 12 but is prevented from passing into the mixing chamber 20 due to the closed position of the lower valve 26. When the shower is to be used, the user has merely to open the lower and upper valves 26 of the particular shower unit being used to the extent desired whereby cold and hot water are admitted into the mixing chamber 20 and are then forced by water pressure through the conduit 14 to the shower head 6.

It may readily be seen that the use of the individual, modular units 12 allows for any number of showers to be included in a column shower, such as that shown, it only being necessary to vary the length and configuration of the elbows and fittings. Similarly, it would be possible by providing longer elbows of different angles to allow for the mounting in arcuate fashion of a number of manifold units 12 for a wall shower. Thus, it is only necessary for a shower manufacturer to stock one simple casting which may be used to provide mixing apparatus for showers of a variety of forms and designed to serve any number of persons.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is desired that it be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific form and arrangement of parts Shown except insofar as such limitations are contained in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a mixing chamber assembly for a multi-person shower, the combination comprising: a plurality of individual elongated, vertically disposed manifold units arranged to form a polygon, each of said units having a mixing chamber running legthwis'e of the unit with a shower supply conduit extending from the top thereof and a pair of vertically spaced supply chambers along the side of the unit that faces the center of the polygon, each of said supply chambers having a valve opening therein in communication with the mixing chamber and a pair of integrally formed supply ports extending transversely to opposite sides of the unit, a first conduit means, including a water supply pipe and elbow connections, connected to the supply ports of the lower supply chambers of each of said units, whereby water may flow therethrough; plug means closing the facing supply ports of two adjacent lower supply chambers; a second conduit means, including elbow connections and a water supply pipe that extends upwardly between the plugged supply ports, connected to the supply ports of the upper supply chamber of each of said units whereby water may flow therethrough; and a pair of vertically spaced valve means mounted on each of said units on the side opposite the supply chambers, said valve means having projecting operating stem means engageable with the corresponding valve Openings of said supply chambers to control the flow of water between the supply chamber and the main chamber.

2. A manifold unit for a shower system comprising: an elongated, vertically disposed body having a mixing chamber running lengthwise of the body; and a pair of vertically spaced supply chambers formed integrally with the body and 'lying alongside the mixing chamber on the rear side of the body each of which is connected to the mixing chamber by a valve opening extending forwardly from the supply chamber to the mixing chamber, said mixing chamber having an outlet port at the upper end thereof and a pair of vertically spaced valve mountings each directly opposite a corresponding valve mounting and adapted to mount a valve closable upon the associated valve opening, and each of said supply chambers having a pair of integrally formed supply ports that extend transversely on opposite sides of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,330,441 Fraser Feb. 10, 1920 2,281,199 McGarry et al Apr. 28, 1942 2,698,029 Branson Dec. 28, 1954 2,956,579 Moore et al Oct. 18, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,045,250 July 24, 1962 Robert J. Booker et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 47, for "mounting" read opening Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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