US3590398A - Portable shower assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable shower assembly having a rigid circular base with a short upstanding sidewall and a top lip includes a circular curtain outwardly tapered from bottom to top with a flexible ring securing the curtain to the base in a leak-proof connection, and a top ring for securing the curtain in open position for use. By using flexible rings the curtain folds into the base for storage.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harold M. Jetter 605 Stagecoach Road 8.15., Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87112 [21] Appl. No. 831,364 [22] Filed June 9, 1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [54] PORTABLE SHOWER ASSEMBLY 3 Clalms, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 4/154 [51] Int. Cl A47k 3/14, A47k 3/23 [50] Field of Search 4/154, 145

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,015 4/1878 Furey 4/154 477,515 6/1892 Cox et a1 4/154 548,190 10/1895 Grant 4/154 Ricks 4/154 l'lerscovitz. 4/154 Nenofi... 4/154 Heitler 4/154 Gallob... 4/154 X Sherg 4/154 Wittrup 4/154 Winkler 4/154 Primary Examinerl.averne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Richard D. Law

ABSTRACT: A portable shower assembly having a rigid circular base with a short upstanding sidewall and a top lip includes a circular curtain outwardly tapered from bottom to top with a flexible ring securing the curtain to the base in a leak-proof connection, and a top ring for securing the curtain in open position for use. By using flexible rings the curtain folds into the base for storage.

PATENTEDJUL 6I9TI 3.590.398

SHEET 1 BF 2 Egg-.33

HAROLD M. JETTER I g;

ATTORNEY INVENTOR.

PATENTED JUL 6 1911 3,590,398

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR HAROLD M. JETTER ATTORNEY PORTABLE SHOWER ASSEMBLY Portable showering equipment suitable for camping or temporary use has been devised in many forms. A basic criterion for the portable shower is that it must be collapsible, and most such showers utilize a curtain which is foldable' when not in use. Some types of portable showering apparatus utilizes poles driven into the ground to support a collapsible canvas wall. Other types utilize an overhead support for hanging-the curtain. Most of these prior shower apparatus requires considerable skill and a certain amount of time in setting up the unit for use, and the dissassembly, likewise is time-consuming and requires some skill in replacing components of the unit into the storage containers.

It is, therefore, among the objects and advantages of the present invention to provide a highly useful portable shower apparatus.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable shower apparatus having a rigid base structure for supporting the weight of the bather and a tapered enclosure extending upwardly from the base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable shower apparatus which is very simply set up and taken down after use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified water system for a gravity flow of water into a portable shower according to the invention.

These and other objects and advantages .of the invention may be ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of portable shower assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, side elevational detail of one form of connection for an enclosure curtain in a shower base;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational detail of one form of means for inserting a ring in a curtain for connection to a base;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1 in folded position for storage;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional detail of a modified form of fastening means between a curtain and a base of a portable shower unit;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a support bracket for a water container; I

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a water container for use with the bracket ofFIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a detail of the top of a curtain with means for holding a ring.

In the device illustrated in FIG. I, a tapered shower curtain 10, having a large upper opening 12 and a smaller lower opening 14 is secured to a base 16, providing an upwardly expanding enclosure. The shower curtain is preferably made as a one-piece unit, providing a lapped opening 18 extending from the bottom to the top, to permit entry and exit of a user into the interior of the enclosure. The base 16 is a cup-shaped member having a lip and an outlet 20 for water and being otherwise imperforate. A drain tube 21 is attached to the outlet 20 for conveying the water to a point of discharge. Four adjustable hanger straps 22 are secured to the top edge of the curtain 10, or around the top loop and hooks 24 mounted on the straps provide means for hanging the unit from an appropriate support. A plurality of pockets 25 may be sewn on the interior of the curtain to provide a holder for soap, shampoo, or the like, in a convenient location.

In one form, the shower curtain is made of waterproof plastic, and the base may be of a fiberglass, rigid plastic, metal or the like for supporting the weight of a user. The bottom container or base is of a size to easily accommodate a bathers feet and the curtain is tapered outwardly from the pan to the top to provide adequate space for bathing in the interior. The entrance to the enclosure may be a flap-type entrance, it may be a zippered closure to prevent splashing of water to the outside, or any other convenient closure.

One form of connection between the curtain and the pan is shown in FIG. 2-, wherein a pan is provided with an outwardly sloped wall 32. having an inwardly directed lip 33. A curtain 34 has its bottom edge 35 turned back on itself with the edge 36 secured to the body of the curtain to form a loop 36. Passing through the loop 36 is a flexible hollow tube 37 which is of sufficient length to form a ring in the pan. By sizing the length of the tube to fit in the pan, it securely holds the curtain under the lip 33 of the pan. One method of installing the flexible tube 37 into the loop 36 is shown in FIG. 3, where the curtain 34 is provided with a notch 38 in the bottom cutting through the loop 36 is made'from the folded back material. This leaves two openings 39 and 40 in the loop for the insertion of the tube 37. A flap 41 may be secured around the opening of the notch to prevent water from splashing out of the shower when in use. The notch 38 may be placed below the zipper 43 which provides entrance into the enclosure. With the flexible tube 37 in place in the loop 36 it may be placed under the lip 33 forming a leakproof connection between the shower and the pan.

The top of the curtain is supported in open position by means of a tube 45, shown in FIG. 8, secured in a loop 46 in the curtain 10. The loop is formed by folding back the edge of the material on itself and securing it to the material forming the loop. The tube may be flexible resilient tube which is foldable yet will return to approximately the circular shape when released. Thus, for storage, the hooks 24 removed from their support and the curtain folded into the pan, shown in FIG. 4, with the tube 45 being folded into the pan as it is flexible and resilient. A soft rubber, soft plastic or the like tube may be used for the top support member. A handle 19 may be used for carrying the collapsed unit.

Another method of forming a leakproof connection between the curtain and base is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a pan 50 is provided witha sloping side 51 and an outwardly directed lip 52. A curtain 53 is arranged with its bottom end 54 extending into the pan 50. An outside flap 55 is connected to the curtain 53, as by sewing, cementing or the like, and the bottom of the flap 55 is turned back on itself forming a loop 56. The edge 57 of the loop is secured to the flap forming a closed loop. A band or belt 58 may be passed through the loop 56 and as shown in FIG. 1, and an opening 59 in the flap 50 provides means for securing the band tightly on the pan 16 thereby securing the flap S5 and attached curtain to the outside of the pan.

In some instances a trailer may not have a pressure water supply, or when used with a tent or other hanging means, a

water supply may not be available. For a gravity system, a container and support shown in FIG. 6 and 7 provides an adequate means for providing water for the shower. In this instance, a bracket or fixture 60, which is a plate having rolled under edges 61 and 62 is provided with holes 63 for attachment to the ceiling of a trailer. A container 65, provided with an outlet 66, to which is attached a hose 67 and a shower head 68, is attached to a plate 69 which is of a size to slide into the opening between the rolled under edges 61 and 62 of plate 60. This provides a removable connection for supporting the tank above a' shower. An inlet 70 provides means for filling the container 65. The tank support bracket should be affixed adjacent the position where the shower will be used and after filling the tank 65 it may be placed in the bracket 60 with the shower head 68 extending over the top of the shower curtain. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a valve in the line 67 for shutting off the water, in other instances it may be satisfactory to merely raise the level of the shower head above the level of the water in the tank to stop the flow.

While the invention has been illustrated with reference to particular drawings there is no intent to limit the spirit or scope of the invention to the precise details so set forth except as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable, collapsible shower assembly comprising a pan-shaped, essentially rigid, imperforate base having an upstanding, outwardly sloping side wall and a lateral flange depending from the top of said side wall; a flexible curtain arranged to form a tapered, tubular enclosure with an enlarged end at the top, said curtain being collapsible and stowable into said base; a first loop formed at the lower end in said curtain by folding the lower edge portion of said curtain back upon itself and securing said edge to the contiguous curtain material, said first loop having a vertical slit formed therein; a second loop formed at the upper end in said curtain by folding the upper edge portion of said curtain back upon itself and securing said edge to the contiguous curtain material, said second loop having a vertical slit formed therein; a first flexible, elongated member insertable into said first loop for holding said top in generally circular configuration in extended position; hook means depending from said first member for suspending said curtain in extended upright position; a second flexible elongated member insertable into said second loop for holding said curtain material snugly under said flange against said base to prevent water from leaking from the connection between said curtain and said base; flap means depending interiorly of said curtain for covering said slit in said second loop and acting as a splash guard; said curtain material having a generally vertical elongated slit therein with slit ends terminating a substantial distance from said loops forming an entrance when said curtain is in extended upright position; and a zipper for closing said entrance.

2. A portable, collapsible shower assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lateral flange is inwardly directed and said second flexible elongated member is fitted interior to said base.

3. A portable, collapsible shower assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lateral flange is outwardly directed, said second flexible elongated member is secured around said base under said flange, and said flap extends about the interior circumference of said curtain and extends into said base.

Claims (3)

1. A portable, collapsible shower assembly comprising a panshaped, essentially rigid, imperforate base having an upstanding, outwardly sloping side wall and a lateral flange depending from the top of said side wall; a flexible curtain arranged to form a tapered, tubular enclosure with an enlarged end at the top, said curtain being collapsible and stowable into said base; a first loop formed at the lower end in said curtain by folding the lower edge portion of said curtain back upon itself and securing said edge to the contiguous curtain material, said first loop having a vertical slit formed therein; a second loop formed at the upper end in said curtain by folding the upper edge portion of said curtain back upon itself and securing said edge to the contiguous curtain material, said second loop having a vertical slit formed therein; a first flexible, elongated member insertable into said first loop for holding said top in generally circular configuration in extended position; hook means depending from said first member for suspending said curtain in extended upright position; a second flexible elongated member insertable into said second loop for holding said curtain material snugly under said flange against said base to prevent water from leaking from the connection between said curtain and said base; flap means depending interiorly of said curtain for covering said slit in said second loop and acting as a splash guard; said curtain material having a generally vertical elongated slit therein with slit ends terminating a substantial distance from said loops forming an entrance when said curtain is in extended upright position; and a zipper for closing said entrance.

2. A portable, collapsible shower assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lateral flange is inwardly directed and said second flexible elongated member is fitted interior to said base.

3. A portable, collapsible shower assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lateral flange is outwardly directed, said second flexible elongated member is secured around said base under said flange, and said flap extends about the interior circumference of said curtain and extends into said base.

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