WO2004107945A1

WO2004107945A1 - Articulated wash means

Info

Publication number: WO2004107945A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000758
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerard Clement Connor
Original assignee: Clevacorp Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-09
Filing date: 2004-06-09
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: AU2003902862A0

Abstract

An articulated wash means particularly in the form of an articulated shower arm assembly (200) having an arm (72a) pivotally attaching to a wall (14), an adjustment means (212, 214) for adjustably setting the orientation of the arm (72a) and a flexible conduit (160) connecting the arm (72a) to a water outlet (18) so that a shower rose (176) attached to a free end (150) of the arm (72a) can spray water onto a person for washing - without the need for articulated water connections, so as to avoid water leakage. Also, an articulated shower arm assembly (10) including a tube spring (70) for allowing pivoting of the arm (72) about a substantially horizontal axis against a returning force for adjusting the orientation of the arm (72), in a hand held mode of operation, such that upon release of the shower hand piece (170) the tube spring (70) retracts the shower hand piece (170) upwardly. Wall mounted 'slop-hopper' or 'pre-rinse' hose systems also disclosed

Description

TITLE

ARTICULATED WASH MEANS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an articulated wash means particularly, although not exclusively, envisaged for use in a shower recess for operation by a carer for cleaning a person seated in a wheel chair, shower chair, sitz bath or the like. The articulated wash means of the present invention is, however, of general applicability. For example, it could be used by a person standing in a shower recess to wash themselves or as a so-called "slop-hopper" or "pre- rinse" hose.

More particularly the present invention relates to an articulated wash means for use in so-called "high care" or "disabled care" shower installations.

The present invention also relates to an articulated wash means particularly, although not exclusively, envisaged for use in a shower recess for allowing reliable and convenient height adjustment of a shower rose to accommodated people of differing height whilst eliminating the risk of leakage at pivot joints.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the "high care" and "disabled care" industries it is known to use hand held shower heads with long extension hoses to allow carers to wash a person seated in a wheel chair, shower chair, sitz bath or the like located in a shower recess. Typically, in these installations there is a toilet installation located in close proximity to the shower recess. Design rules demand that there be a minimum clearance between the shower rose of the shower extension hose, when full extended, and the bowl of the toilet pedestal. Government legislation requires that the shower rose "falls short of the toilet bowl pedestal". Typically, this is achieved by providing a clearance of at least 25 mm from the top lip of the toilet bowl pedestal.

This minimum clearance dictates the maximum length of the shower extension hose. In some installations the result of the minimum clearance is that the shower extension hose must be made shorter - the result being that it is difficult to gain sufficient reach with the shower extension hose to position the shower rose underneath the person to clean their anus and genitalia. The effective reach is also shorter because the other end of the shower extension hose is fixed to the wall behind the person being washed.

Conventional shower installations have the added problem that where a shower arm is used it usually does not extend very far out from the wall. In the case of "high care" and "disable care" this tends to lead to the carer having to drape the shower extension hose across the patient during showering. This is undesirable in terms of "cross contamination" (the cleaning apparatus should not touch the person being cleaned) and in terms of patient comfort (where the shower extension hose is made of metal and is cold to the touch).

In some installations it is possible to use a longer shower extension hose, which does provide for a longer reach. The disadvantage of these installations is that the shower rose can be dropped onto the floor of the shower and break. Also, it is not hygienic to rest the shower rose on the floor. Also, the shower extension hose must still be draped over the person being cleaned in many cases. Further, government legislation also requires an air gap of 25 mm between the shower rose when allowed to hang and the floor of the shower recess to inhibit the chances of water backflow from the drain into the water supply. Still further, generally such installations also require the use of a one-way valve for the same reason.

In US Patent 5,855,348 by Fomara & Maulin Spa there has been an attempt to provide an adjustable increase in the distance the showerhead can be positioned out from the wall, by the use of a positioning arm pivotally attached to the wall and having a shower extension hose slidably attached to the positioning arm with a showerhead attached to the end of the shower extension hose. A draw back of the device Fomara & Maulin Spa is that to meet the rules of minimum distance to a toilet bowl pedestal the shower extension hose must be made shorter. Also, the shower rose can be dropped on the floor and become contaminated or even break.

"Pre-rinse" or "slop-hopper" hoses are also known for use with dirty water and faecal waste bowls. These are typified by US Patents 2,853,262 by Reimann and 4,709,715 by Hayes-Ivy Manufacturing Inc. These devices have a spray head used for spraying water onto articles for cleaning. The spray head is connected to a supply of water via a flexible hose typically wrapped in a coil spring having an inverted "U" shape. The spring biases the spray head upwardly. This spring bias ensures that the spray head cannot be left in the dirty water or faecal waste bowl. It is allowable to set-up a pre-rinse hose so that it can be pulled down into the dirty water or faecal waste bowl, provided that when the spray head is released it is urged out of the bowl by the action of the spring bias - thus meeting the requirements of minimum clearance. A disadvantage of the pre-rinse hoses is that the spray head must always be held by the hand of user. If the spray head is not held then no water can be sprayed - that is, there cannot be hands-free operation of the pre-rinse hose. Also, the spring allows only a limited amount of vertical movement of the spray head. Further, in the event that the spray head was modified to operable in a hands free mode it would snake about and be unsuitable for use in a shower installation. The articulated wash means of the present invention has the advantage that it can be used hands-free, in one mode of operation, then pulled to a length that would normally conflict with minimum toilet bowl pedestal distances, in another mode of operation, and released to return to a safe clearance from the toilet bowl pedestal, when not in use.

In the case of conventional hands-free shower installations shower roses of the prior art are attached to the wall of the shower by a hinged pipe. Water is fed to the shower rose through the hinged connection at the wall and through this pipe. Adjustment of the height of the shower rose is typically provided by pivoting of the said pipe at the hinged connection and at the shower rose. A disadvantage of this kind of installation is that the pivoting connections in the hinge and the pipe are prone to leaking. The amount of leaking increases with continued adjustment of the height of the shower rose severely shortening the useful life of the shower rose assembly.

The articulated wash means of the present invention also has the advantage that the pivots used to adjust the height of the shower rose do not convey water to the shower rose. Hence, continual adjustment of the height of the shower rose does not lead to leakage problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an articulated wash means, which is capable of overcoming at least some of the difficulties of the prior art.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an articulated wash means including:

an arm;

a pivot for pivotally attaching the arm to a wall, the pivot being devoid of a means for conveying water to the said arm;

adjustment means for adjustably setting the orientation of the arm with respect to the wall;

a flexible conduit connecting the arm to a supply of water; and,

a shower rose attached to a free end of the arm for spraying said water onto a person for washing.

In one embodiment the articulated wash means also has a bias means for allowing pivoting of the said arm about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the said wall against a returning force for adjusting the orientation of the arm with respect to the wail. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an articulated wash means including:

an arm;

a first conduit connecting the arm to a supply of water;

a bias means for allowing pivoting of the said arm about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the said wall against a returning force for adjusting the orientation of the arm with respect to the wall;

a shower hand piece; and,

a second conduit connecting the shower hand piece to a free end of the arm;

wherein the shower hand piece is pivotally attachable to the wall, in a hands-free mode of operation, and removable from the said wall mount for moving the said arm against the returning force of the said bias means for moving the said shower hand piece about with respect to the wall, in a hand held mode of operation, such that upon release of the shower hand piece the bias means retracts the shower hand piece upwardly with respect to a floor adjacent said wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view, seen from above, of an articulated wash means in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, shown installed in a shower recess and hereinafter referred to as an articulated shower arm assembly;

Figure 2A is a side view of the articulated shower arm assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 2B is a front view of the articulated shower arm assembly of Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is a side view of the articulated shower arm assembly of Figure 2A, shown in a downward orientation;

Figure 3 is an exploded front view of a mounting pivot of the articulated shower arm assembly of Figure 2B;

Figure 4 is a part cut-away side view of a tube spring of the extension arm of Figures 1 to 2C;

Figure 5 is a side view of a shower rose and wall mount of the articulated shower arm assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, seen from above, of an articulated shower arm assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, shower installed in a shower recess; and,

Figure 7 is a side view of a settable wall mount of the articulated shower arm assembly of Figure 6.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

In Figure 1 there is shown an articulated shower arm assembly 10 installed in a shower recess 12 having a wall 14, a floor 16, a water outlet 18 and two water control taps 20.

The articulated shower arm assembly 10 includes an upper pivot mount 30, a lower pivot mount 32 and a shower hand piece mount 34 for attaching the articulated shower arm assembly 10 to the wall 14. Each of the pivots 30 to 34 is mounted on the wall 14. Preferably the pivot 30 is located vertically above the pivot 32. It is also important that the pivot mounts 30 and 32 be horizontally offset from the water outlet 18, as described hereinafter. The location of the shower hand piece pivot 34 is not critical and can be located directly below the lower pivot mount 32 for neatness of appearance or to one side as desired.

Particularly as shown in Figures 2A to 3 the upper and lower pivot mounts 30 and 32 each include a mounting plate 40, a support post 42 with a transverse hole 44 and a hinge 46. The mounting plate 40 is typically circular in plan and has two holes 48 for fixing to the wall 14 with bolts 49. Each of the support posts 42 is disposed substantially at 90 degrees to the face of the mounting plate 40. The support post 42 of the upper pivot mount 30 has its hole 44 oriented horizontally for pivoting of its hinge 46 about a horizontal axis (i.e. in a vertical plane), whereas the hole 44 of the lower pivot mount 32 is oriented vertically for pivoting of its hinge 46 about a vertical axis (i.e. in a horizontal plane).

The hinge 46 is formed by two clevises 50 and 52 mounted back to back, in longitudinal alignment and at 90 degrees of pivot with respect to each other. Each clevis 50 and 52 has a hole 54 and 56, respectively, disposed through it for receiving a pin 58 and 60, respectively. The pin 58 attaches the clevis 50 to the support post 42 of the upper pivot mount 30. The clevis 50 has a slot that is wider than the support post 42 and the pin 58 is smaller in diameter than the hole in the support post 42 so that the hinge 46 can pivot on the support post 42 via the pin 58.

In the exemplary embodiment the lower pivot mount 32 is identical to the upper pivot mount 30 - except that it is installed at 90 degrees of pivot with respect to the upper pivot mount 30 - particularly as shown in Figure 2B.

The articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention also includes an extension arm 68 pivotally supported on the upper and lower pivot mounts 30 and 32 respectively. The extension arm 68 includes a tube spring 70 and an arm 72.

Particularly as shown in Figure 4 the tube spring 70 includes a tube casing 80 with a clevis 82 having a transverse hole 83 at one end 84 of the tube casing 80. The clevis 82 also has a slot 85 for pivotal attachment to the arm 72. The tube spring 70 also includes a spring 86 mounted upon a shaft 88 having a lug 90 protruding from an opposite end 92 of the tube casing 80, a threaded retainer 94 for capturing the spring 86 in the tube casing 80. The lug 90 has a hole 96 for attachment to the upper pivot mount 30 with the pin 60 of the second clevis 52, particularly as shown in Figure 3 to form a pivot 98, particularly as shown in Figure 2A. Thereby the tube spring 70 can pivot left and right with respect to the wall 14 about the axis of the pivot 98, shown by arrow 100. Simultaneously the hinge 46 can pivot about a horizontal axis of the upper pivot mount 30 as indicated by arrow 102. Also, the threaded retainer 94 has a hole (not shown) in its end for allowing the shaft 88 to slide longitudinally in it for extension of the length of the tube spring 70, particularly as shown in Figure 2C.

The shaft 88 is threaded at its free end 110 and has a lock nut 112 retaining a washer 116 for retaining one end 118 of the spring 86. The other end 120 of the spring 86 is retained by the threaded retainer 94. Accordingly, as the lugs 82 and 90 are pulled apart the shaft 88 is pulled i out of the tube casing 80, through the hole in the threaded retainer 94. This causes the washer 116 to push the end 118 of the spring 86 towards the end 92 of the tube casing 80. Thereby the spring 86 becomes compressed between the washer 116 and the threaded retainer 94 and provides a retarding/restoring force against further movement of the lug 82 away from the lug 90. By this mechanism the tube spring 70 can be lengthened and urged back to its initial length.

) The tube casing 80 has a drain hole 121 at the end 84 for allowing water condensed in the tube casing 80 to drain out.

The tube spring 70 has a minimum "rest" length and a maximum "extended" length depending upon the amount of extension of the spring 86 as indicated by arrow 122 (see also Figure 2C). Also, the tube spring 70 is biased towards its rest length by the spring 86.

Particularly as shown in Figure 2A the arm 72 has two lugs 130 and 132 depending substantially upwardly and rearwardly from it. The lug 130 is located proximate a lower end 134 of the arm 72 and is attached to the lower pivot mount 32 by one of the hinges 46 for allowing pivotal movement of the arm 72 about a horizontal axis (i.e. in a vertical plane) with respect to the lower pivot mount 32, as shown by arrow 140.

The lug 132 is located intermediate the length of the arm 72 and adjacent an upper end 150 of the arm 72 and is attached into the slot 85 in the clevis 82 of the tube spring 70 by a pin 152 forming a pivot 154 for allowing pivotal movement of the arm 72 with respect the tube spring 70 as indicated by the arrow 156.

Particularly as shown in Figure 1 , the articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention also includes a first flexible hose 160, a swivel connector 162, and a second flexible hose 164. The first flexible hose 160 is connected between the swivel connector 162 at the lower end 134 of the arm 72 to the water outlet 18 on the wall 14. The flexible hose 160 is relatively short, typically less than about 250 mm in length - although it could be much longer in the event that the water outlet 18 is much closer to the floor 16. The second flexible hose 164 is connected between the upper end 150 of the arm 72 to a shower hand piece assembly 170. The flexible hose 164 is typically of such length that the shower hand piece assembly 170 does not reach to the floor when the tube spring 70 is at its shortest length, typically around 1700 mm. This is desirable to avoid the risk of breakage of the shower hand piece assembly 170 from dropping onto the floor 16 if the hose were longer - as it often the case with prior art shower installations.

The swivel connector 162 allows the arm 72 to pivot about a vertical axis 166 substantially without restriction from the hose 160, as indicated by arrow 168. In the event that the swivel connector 162 is omitted the hose 160 must be twisted whenever the arm 72 pivots about the vertical axis 166. Such twisting is not preferred since it leads to premature failure of the hose 160 and/or its couplings, and it also restricts the otherwise free swing the arm 72 about the vertical axis 166.

Also, to facilitate the swinging of the arm 72 about the vertical axis 166 it is also important that the lower pivot mount 32 and hence the swivel connector 162 be laterally displaced or offset from the water outlet 8. It is further important that the lower end 134 of the arm 72 have a straight portion that is disposed substantially vertically. In the absence of these features it becomes difficult to swing the arm 72 about the vertical axis 166 and/or there will be portions of the swing of the arm 72 that are easy and other portions of the swing that are difficult; thus making the swinging action of the arm 72 unreliable.

The combination of the two hinges 46 on the two support posts 42, the three pivots 98, 138 and 154 and the swivel connector 162 constitutes the articulation of the articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention.

In the exemplary embodiment the shower hand piece mount 34 is similar to the upper pivot mount 30 and like numerals denote like parts, see Figure 5. The shower hand piece mount 34 differs in that it does not require the hinge 46. Also, the pivot mount 34 has a pivot post 42a tapered towards its free end 42b.

Particularly as shown in Figures 1 and 6, the shower hand piece assembly 170 includes a hinge mount 172 and a hand piece 174 with a shower rose 176. The hinge mount 172 has a tapered hole that seats on the tapered support post 42a of the shower hand piece mount 34 and can bind thereon to enable setting of the orientation of the hand piece 174 with respect to the wall 14. The shower rose 176 can be oriented to direct a spray of water away from the wall 14 onto a person located in the shower recess 12. When the hinge mount 172 is forced onto the support post 42a the hand piece 174 can be used in a "hands-free" mode of operation. In this mode the hand piece 174 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis, as indicated by arrow 178, to vary the distance of throw of water from the wall 14, and about a vertical axis, as indicated by arrow 180 for varying the direction of the spray of water from the wall 14.

Also, the hinge mount 172 can be lifted off the support post 42a for allowing operation of the hand piece 174 in a "hand-held" mode of operation.

It is envisaged that the orientation of the shower rose 176 could also be adjustable about the longitudinal length of the hand piece 174. That is, it is envisaged that the hand piece 174 could be swivelled longitudinally - about an axis directed into the wall 14.

It is also envisaged that the shower hand piece assembly 170 could be removably attached to the upper end 150 of the arm 72. This would obviate the need for the shower hand piece mount 34, but dictate the need for a retaining bracket at the upper end 150 of the arm 72. In such as case the pivot post 42a or the like could be mounted on the upper end 150 of the arm 72 and disposed away from the wall 14.

It is further envisaged that the tube spring 70 could be replaced with some other means of return bias. This could take the form of a cantilever, a counter-weight and pulley system, a tension spring, a variable cross-section compression spring, a hydraulic of pneumatic ram, a shock cord or other resilient member or the like. For example, a cord could be attached to the arm 72 proximate the upper end 150, run through a pulley at the upper pivot mount 30 and down to a counter-weight. Raising and lowering of the counter-weight would then allow adjustment of the height of the shower rose 176 attached to the end 150 of the arm 72. Such height adjustment could also include adjustment of the orientation of the shower rose 176 with respect to the hand piece 174.

It is still further envisaged that a locking mechanism could be provided for locking the tube spring 70 in an extended position when the hand piece 174 is attached to the upper end 150 of the arm 72 to allow use in a conventional shower mode for people of differing heights.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is shown an articulated shower arm assembly 200, similar to the articulated shower arm assembly 10, and like numerals denote like parts. The articulated shower arm assembly 200 differs in that it does not have the tube spring 70 and upper pivot mount 30. Instead the articulated shower arm assembly 200 has a pivot mount 210 including two wing nuts 212 and 214 for clamping the arm 72a in a desired orientation (in place of the pins 58 and 60). This allows setting of the orientation of the shower rose 176 without the need for the tube spring 70. In most other respects the pivot mount 210 is similar to the pivot mount 30, and like numerals denote like parts.

Also, the articulated shower arm assembly 200 does not have the hose 164, instead the hose 160 is connected to the arm 72a via the swivel connector 162 and the shower rose 176 is connected to the upper end 150 of the arm 72a. The shower rose 176 could be of conventional type.

It is envisaged that the pivot 138 could include serrations so that the wing nut 214 can be tightened an amount that allows for pivoting of the arm 72a without the need to loosen or tighten the wing nut 214. This could be achieved by using serrations with a spring, a pawl and detent so that the arm 72a can jump between serrations to give differing "pre-set" angles of adjustment.

It is envisaged that the articulated shower arm assembly 10, 200 of the present invention could be made from stainless steel materials. This is desired for longevity of the arm 10, 200 and for reasons of better sanitariness. It is understood, however, that the articulated shower arm assembly 10, 200 could made in total or in part from chrome plated brass, plastics materials or the like materials known for use in shower installations.

INSTALLATION

The articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention is intended to replace an existing shower rose in a shower recess 12 particularly in situations where a carer is required to shower a disabled person seated in a wheel chair, shower chair, sitz bath or the like. The conventional shower rose is removed and one end of the hose 160 is attached to the water outlet 18 in the wall 14. The mounting plates 40 of the pivot mounts 30 to 34 are then fixed to the wall 14 with the bolts 49 so that the support posts 42 are disposed vertically outwardly from the wall 14 and at least those of the pivot mounts 30 and 32 are vertically aligned and horizontally offset from the water outlet 18. The hinges 46 are then attached to the tube spring 70 and the arm 72, and the lug 82 is attached to the arm 72. Next the hose 160 is threaded onto the swivel connector 162, which is threaded onto the lower end 134 of the arm 72. The other hose 164 is then connected between the upper end 150 of the arm 72 and the shower hand piece assembly 170. The hand piece 174 is then set upon the support post 42 of the pivot mount 34. The articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention is now ready for use.

Alternatively, the articulated shower arm assembly 10 could be assembled prior to installation, in which case it is only required to fix the pivot mounts 30 and 32 to the wall 14 and then attach the extension arm 68 to them, and similarly for the rose mount 34 and the shower rose 170.

IN USE

In use, the articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention can be operated in a hand held mode and in a hands free mode.

In the hand held mode the hand piece 174 is lifted off the shower hand piece mount 34 and can be moved throughout the shower recess 12 for washing a person. The hand piece 174 can be pulled to the left or right with respect to the pivot mounts 30 to 34, in which case the extension arm 68 pivots about the axes 100 and 166. This movement, combined with the length of the hose 164, allows the shower rose 176 to be moved over a large area of the shower recess 12. The reach of the shower rose 176 can be further increased by pulling downwardly on the hose 164. This exerts a downward force on the tube spring 70 which compresses the spring 86 and lengthens the tube spring 70 as shown in Figure 2C. By this lengthening the arm 72 can pivot about the clevis 58 of the upper pivot mount 30 (as indicated by arrow 102), pivot 138 and pivot 154, to bring the end 150 of the arm 72 closer to the floor 16 of the shower recess 12.

The amount of extension in the reach of the shower rose 176 can be such that it could reach into a toilet bowl pedestal or the like. However, upon release of the downward pull on the hose 164, the spring 86 acts to shorten the tube spring 70 and thereby raise the shower rose 176 out of the toilet bowl pedestal thereby rendering the articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention in compliance with health and safety regulations. By this extension a carer can use the articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention to reach all around a person seated in the shower recess 12 on a wheel chair or the like. Such reach enables cleaning of the said person in ways that is not conventionally possible because of the, otherwise, shorter allowable length of the hose 164.

Also, the arm 72 is of such length as to position the upper end of the hose 164 substantially above the head of the said person and thereby avoids the situation in which the hose 164 is draped over and in contact with the person as the carer cleans around them.

In the hands free mode, the hinge mount 172 of the hand piece 174 is forced onto the pivot post 42a of the shower hand piece mount 34 and its orientation adjusted to provide the desired throw of water from the shower rose 176, both about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. Without the tapering of the pivot post 42a the shower hand piece 174 would snake about when water passes through it under pressure.

It is envisaged that the hand piece 174 could be removably mounted on the end 42b of the arm 72. It is also envisaged that a lock mechanism could be provided so that the tube spring 70 could be extended and locked at its extended length. In such a situation it is preferred that such locking mechanism only be activatable in the event that the hand piece 174 is mounted either on the end 150 of the arm 72 or on the shower hand piece mount 34 so as to avoid the possibility of the shower rose 176 becoming lodged in the toilet bowl pedestal.

The use of the articulated shower arm assembly 200 of Figures 7 and 8 is substantially the same as the use of the articulated shower arm assembly 10 other than that the wing nuts 212 and 214 are loosened to allow for height adjustment of the shower rose 176, after which the wing nuts 212 and 214 are retightened to fix the shower rose 176 into a desired orientation. Once the taps 20 are turned on water flows to the shower rose 176 via the hose 160 and the arm 72a. This alleviates the problem of leakage of conventional pivot connectors used in conventional shower installations. The tightening of the wing nuts 212 and 214 clamps the hinge 46a onto the support post 42 and the lug 130 respectively.

By the use of the articulated shower arm assembly 10 of the present invention a carer can more easily clean a person seated on a wheel chair or the like in a shower recess 12. Also, the articulated shower arm assembly 10 enables a carer to wash a person laying on a shower bed, without having to wheel the bed out of the shower recess to turn it around to clean the other end of the person - that is the reach of the articulated shower arm assembly 10 is so much increased that the entire length of a reclined person can be reached. Also, the arm 72 of the articulated shower arm assembly 10 allows cleaning around the said person substantially without the hose 164 coming in contact with the said person. Further, the articulate shower arm 0, 200 allows for use of the shower rose 176 in a conventional hands-free mode for use by able-bodied users.

Also, the articulated wash means of the present invention can be used to replace conventional "slop-hopper" and "pre-rinse" hose installations in wall-mounted situations.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the tube spring 70 could be replaced by a cantilever mechanism, or a counter-weight system or the like. Also, other kinds of retainers could be used to attach the shower hand piece 174 to the end 150 of the arm 72.

Claims

CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION

1. An articulated wash means including:

an arm;

a flexible conduit connecting the arm to a supply of water; and,

2. An articulated wash means according to Claim 1, in which the pivot allows for movement of the free end of the arm in up and down and side to side with respect to the wall.

3. An articulated wash means according to Claim 1 , in which the adjustment means includes a locking means capable of locking the arm into a desired orientation with respect to the wall.

4. An articulated wash means according to Claim 1 , in which the adjustment means includes a locking means capable of locking the arm into a desired orientation with respect to the wall, and a bias means attached between the wall and the arm for inhibiting downward movement of the arm, whereby the locking means is configured to lock the arm against the returning force of the bias means for maintaining the desired orientation of the arm.

5. An articulated wash means according to Claim 1 , in which the pivot is laterally offset from the connection of the flexible conduit to the supply of water.

6. An articulated wash means according to Claim 5, also including a swivel coupling connecting the flexible conduit to the arm.

7. An articulated wash means including:

an arm;

a pivot for pivotally attaching the arm to a wall, the pivot being devoid of a means for conveying water to the said arm; a first conduit connecting the arm to a supply of water;

a shower hand piece; and,

a second conduit connecting the shower hand piece to a free end of the arm;

8. An articulated wash means according to Claim 6, in which the pivot allows for movement of the free end of the arm in up and down and side to side with respect to the wall.

9. An articulated wash means according to Claim 6, in which the bias means is in the form of a spring mounted in a tube with a captive rod retained against the spring, wherein downward pulling of the arm causes one end of the rod to be pulled away from the tube against the returning force of the spring.

10. An articulated wash means according to Claim 6, in which the first conduit is connected via a swivel coupling to one end of the arm adjacent the pivot for reducing resistance to pivoting of the arm about a vertical axis.

11. An articulated wash means according to Claim 6, in which the pivot operates about both horizontal and vertical axis.

12. An articulated wash means according to Claim 6, in which the pivot is laterally offset from the connection of the flexible conduit to the supply of water.

13. An articulated wash means according to Claim 12, also including a swivel coupling connecting the flexible conduit to the arm.

14. An articulated wash means substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of more of the accompanying drawings.