US3760431A

US3760431A - Portable shower

Info

Publication number: US3760431A
Application number: US00096745A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Schwibner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-10
Filing date: 1970-12-10
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

A portable shower assembled from a standard, conventional water container. A kit for converting standard containers into a portable shower. A connector is provided in the kit for mounting a conduit and shower head. The connector replaces the filler cap of the water container and provision is made for connecting a deformable air foot pump thereto.

Description

United States Patent [191 Schwibner 1 Sept. 25, 1973 2/1939 Bullington 4/145 3,080,568 3/1963 Burnett 4/145 3,483,571 12/1969 Cox, Jr. 4/145 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,073,127 9/1954 France 4/155 Primary Examiner-1-1enry K. Artis Att0rneyR0bert E. Burns and Emmanuel .1. Lobato [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable shower assembled from a standard, conventional water container. A kit for converting standard containers into a portable shower. A connector is provided in the kit for mounting a conduit and shower head. The connector replaces the filler cap of the water container and provision is made for connecting a deformable air foot pump thereto.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIED $92 5 I975 sum 1 0r 3 1 PORTABLE SHOWER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART qThe construction of portable showers is well known. Many Patents have been granted on such portable showers, such as Nos.: 17,979; 428,252; 2,148,926; 3,067,434; 3,293,664; 3,332,091; 3,483,571. The known portable showers, however, do not provide for easily converting a conventional, standard water container into a portable shower by assembly therewith of the elements necessary for such a conversion.

Prior art constructions in portable showers have concerned themselves with specific construction of a portable shower using a container which is peculiar to the shower construction. No provision has been made for converting different types of known portable water containers into a shower by connecting thereto the necessary accessories for such a conversion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of the invention is to provide a readily assembled portable-shower for use in the field assembled in conjunction with a standard water container. To attain this, the present invention includes a kit comprising conduit means connectable to the conventional or standard water container by removing a filler cap therefrom and replacing it with a connector,

for connecting the conduit means to the container. The

. connector has an opening into which the conduit means extends and a part thereof extends outwardly of the container for mounting a shower head. An inner portion extends inwardly into the container for taking a flexion therefrom. Provision is made for connecting a deformable foot pump to a vent or otherwise in the water container if it is so provided or through a separate connection in the connector.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sim-' ple, inexpensive assembly of units reusable for converting a type of standardwater container into a portable shower.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive portable shower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of a portable shower according to the invention:

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the shower illus- FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of still another container constructed into a shower according to the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a section fragmentary view of a connector for connecting a shower to a standard, conventional water container according to the invention.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of examples of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the drawings as illustrated in FIG. 1, a water container 14), is assembled into a portable shower by placing thereon a connector 12 internally threaded in a manner similar to a filler cap. The connector 12 has an inner sleeve 12a that extends axially into the container and is integral with a cap part 12b which is internally threaded and mounts conduit means comprising

outer conduit portions

14, 15 which can be disassembled and relatively rotated. The outermost or uppermost portion 15 has a shower head 16 connected thereto. The conduit means mounted by the connector 12 includes an inner section or portion 17, which is a part of the lower outer section 14 connecting downwardly into the tank as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive which is held spaced from the bottom of the container but has its lower end scalloped to insure flow of water if its lower end were to touch the bottom.

The tank or container 10 is provided with a vent 20 to which is connected a portable air foot pump 21 having a bulbous, deformable pump 22 with a flexible hose or tube 23 connectable to the air vent for applying air under pressure in a space 25 above the water as illustrated in FIG. 3 to expell water through the shower head 16 for taking a shower. The air pump is a known pump and has an air valve that allows compressing the air and applying it to the tank under pressure. The valve allows air to be taken into the bulb 22 when not deformed. This valve, not shown, is disposed circumferentially of the discharge tube 23 at the area of juncture with the bulb 22. It is, of course, understood the pump may be constructed otherwise.

- In the illustration of the invention in FIGS. l3 the tank or container 10 has a substantially longer length dimension than its width. This provides a very stable portable shower for use on boats, for example, after swimming in salt water.

The invention also provides for converting known water containers, including collapsible water containers, for example canvass bags, collapsible plastic containers and the like into a portable shower. The known portable canvass bags, not shown, may be suspended and a connector as hereinafter described mounted thereon for mounting a shower assembly and foot pump on the collapsible water container for converting it into a shower. An illustration of a collapsible plastic water container converted into a shower, according to the invention, is hereinafter described.

A collapsible container is illustrated in FIG. 4 in which a plastic jug or container 30 has its conventional filler cap replaced by a connector 31 which is internally threaded or otherwise removably connected to the container. It being understood that this connector and all other connectors hereinafter described are removable and adapted to replace the conventional filler plug or cap or some similar cap of the respective standard water container. In this instance the filler cap replacement connector is provided with conduit means comprising a hose or tube 34 connected to two

sections

35, 36 of rigid conduit, for example a plastic conduit, mounting a shower head 38. In order to support the shower a collapsible tripod 40 is employed for mount ing the shower assembly thereon. A foot pump 42 constructed as a deformable air pump of the type heretofore described has its tube 43 connected through a nipple 45 provided on the connector 31 for supplying air under pressure into the space 47 so that the tube inner section 49 discharges water through the shower head 38 upon activation of the foot pump 42.

Another standard container such as a Jerry Jug 50 can be converted into a shower by connecting a connector S2 replacing the conventional filler and discharge cap of the container of the Jerry Jug 50. These jugs or cans are provided with a vent 53 to which is connected a hose 55 of an air foot pump 56 of the type heretofore described. In this construction an inner conduit portion 57 extends downwardly at the proper angle into the container for discharging the water therethrough as before described.

In this embodiment the conduit means can be constructed as three separate parts in which the lower conduit portion 57 is mounted on the connector 52 and two upper outer portions made of rigid conduit, for example plastic, are assembled thereto. Thus, the invention provides an assembly or portable shower or a kit as described for converting a water container into a portable shower.

Soldiers in the field have always constructed their showers by use of materials readily available. For example, large drums are filled with water and a perforated coffee can is suspended above those showering. Water is lifted from the drum to the suspended perforated can. However, military forces in the field are provided with standard water cans of the type illustrated in FIG. 7. The invention provides for converting a standard military water can 60 used by the armed forces into a shower by replacing the conventional filler cap thereon with a connector 62 having a cap portion internally threaded, as illustrated in FIG. 9 with respect to another embodiment hereinafter described. The connector 62 has an elbow 63 connected thereto to which upper conduit sections 64, and others not shown, may be connected for mounting a shower head as before described. An inner conduit 66 extends inwardly of the water can to which is connected a short hose or tube 68 for discharging water from the standard water can by application of air pressure through an inlet connection 69 on the connector for supply of air into the container through the hose 70 provided on a deformable foot pump 72 of the type heretofore described. Thus, a combat unit of men can be provided with a kit for converting the standard water can into a shower for use in the field quite readily and easily.

Another type of water can or container is illustrated in FIG. 8 in which a container 80 is constructed in a connical configuration. Its filler cap, not shown, is replaced by a connector 82 illustrated in detail in FIG. 9 having a cap portion 83 internally threaded for mounting on the container and a conduit lower portion or sleeve 84 extending inwardly into the container into which rigid conduits for mounting a shower are connected. The rigid conduits, for example a conduit 85 for mounting the shower head has a lesser outer diameter than the inner diameter of the conduit or sleeve mounted on the connector and seats itself on a socket shoulder 86. The connector is provided with a nipple 88 to which a tube or discharge tube 90 of an air foot pump, not shown, of the type heretofore described is connected.

Thus, it can be seen the invention provides a simple, easily assembled and disassembled portable shower and a kit for readily converting standard conventional water containers into a portable shower. Moreover, those skilled in the art will understand that instead of sockets for joining the conduit means and the connector, threaded connections may be used and different materials may be used for the various components.

What I claim and desire to be secured by letters patent is:

1. A kit for assembling a portable shower in conjunction with a portable, sealed water container comprising, conduit means connectable in operation to a conventional portable, sealed water container having a removable filler cap, a connector for connecting said conduit means to said sealed container and constructed to replace said filler cap, said connector having an opening, into which said conduit means extends, said conduit means including a portion mounted in operation outwardly of said container and a portion extending into the interior of said container when said conduit means is connected to said container, a portable air pump having a tube connectable in operation to said container for applying air under pressure into the interior of said container for expelling water therein out through said conduit means, and a shower head mounted in use on said conduit means, whereby said conventional sealed container is easily converted into a shower with said kit.

2. A kit for assembling a portable shower in conjunction with a portable, sealed water container according to claim 1, in which said portable pump comprises a deformable bulbous pump portion connected to said tube for compressing air in said pump portion by intermittent deformation thereof.

3. A kit for assembling a portable shower in conjunction with a portable, sealed water container according to claim 2, in which said pump comprises a foot pump.

4. A kit for assembling a portable shower in conjunction with a portable, sealed water container according to claim 1, in which said connector comprises means for connecting thereto said tube of said pump for supplying air into said container through said connector.

5. A kit for assembling a portable shower in conjunction with a portable, sealed water container according to claim 1, in which said portion of said conduit means extending outwardly of said container comprises a rigid conduit.

6. A kit for assembling a portable shower in conjunction with a portable, sealed water container according to claim 1, in which said connector comprises a threaded cap portion removably mounting said conduit means on said container.