U.S. patent application number 10/884974 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-10 for sliding support for a shower rail.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sanicro S.r.l.. Invention is credited to Cropelli, Serafino.
Application Number | 20050028266 10/884974 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33547847 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050028266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cropelli, Serafino |
February 10, 2005 |
Sliding support for a shower rail
Abstract
A sliding shower support for shower rails comprises a main body
holding a shower, said main body being suitable for connection to a
guide rail so that it runs along the same rail, and releasing stop
systems to lock the main body in a position along the guide rail.
The stop systems comprise a cam which elastically grips onto the
guide rail to lock it in place due to friction, in which the cam is
made so that it grips onto the rail in the event of a first
movement of the shower in a first direction to prevent this first
movement and reduce the friction in the event of a second movement
of the shower support in a second direction, opposite to the first,
to allow this second movement of the shower support.
Inventors: |
Cropelli, Serafino;
(Brescia, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOGAN & HARTSON LLP
IP GROUP, COLUMBIA SQUARE
555 THIRTEENTH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Assignee: |
Sanicro S.r.l.
|
Family ID: |
33547847 |
Appl. No.: |
10/884974 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/570 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/06 20130101; E03C
1/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/570 |
International
Class: |
A47K 003/20; A47K
004/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 7, 2003 |
EP |
03425543.0 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sliding shower support for shower rails comprising a main
body, for supporting a shower and suitable for connection to a
guide rail in such a way as to allow the movement of the shower
support along the guide rail, and of releasing stop systems to lock
the main body in a position along the guide rail, wherein said stop
systems comprise a cam, which rests elastically against the guide
rail gripping it using friction, the cam being made in such a way
as to grip onto the rail at the first movement of the shower
support in a first direction to stop such movement and reduce the
friction in the event of a second movement of the shower support in
a second direction, opposite to the first, to allow this second
movement of the shower support.
2. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 1 in which,
due to friction between the cam and the guide rail, during the
first movement of the shower support, the cam is moved in the
second direction compared with the main body and, during the second
movement of the shower support, the cam is moved in the first
direction compared with the main body, and in which the cam is
shaped and supported by the main body in such a way that: with the
movement of the cam in the first direction compared with the main
body the cam moves towards the guide rail, increasing the friction,
to automatically prevent the second movement of the shower
support.
3. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 2, in which
the cam is supported by the main body rotating around a rotational
axis.
4. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 3, in which
the cam has, in the direction of movement of the shower support a
substantially convex shape, rounded or curved towards the guide
rail.
5. A sliding shower support in accordance with claims 4, in which
the cam has a circle sector shape with the geometric centre in the
rotation axis and the axis is shifted, compared with a point of
contact between the cam and the guide rail, in the direction of
movement of the cam compared with the main body which produces the
automatic lock of the shower support.
6. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 5, comprising
release systems to release the cam from the guide rail and enable
the movement of the shower support along the guide rail in the
second direction.
7. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 6, in which
the release systems comprise two buttons or cursors for manually
releasing the cam, these two buttons or cursors being positioned on
two substantially opposite sides of the main body.
8. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 7, comprising
a central element rotationally supported inside the main body and
equipped with a first portion, facing towards the guide rail and
holding the cam as well as a second, fork-shaped portion with two
substantially parallel levers, the ends of which constitute the two
release cursors or buttons.
9. A sliding shower support in accordance with claim 8, comprising
a preloaded spring, acting between the main body and the cam to
elastically press the cam against the guide rail.
10. A sliding system for showers, comprising a guide rail suitable
for fastening to a wall using special fastenings and a sliding
shower support comprising a main body, for supporting a shower and
suitable for connection to a guide rail in such a way as to allow
the movement of the shower support along the guide rail, and of
releasing stop systems to lock the main body in a position along
the guide rail, wherein said stop systems comprise a cam, which
rests elastically against the guide rail gripping it using
friction, the cam being made in such a way as to grip onto the rail
at the first movement of the shower support in a first direction to
stop such movement and reduce the friction in the event of a second
movement of the shower support in a second direction, opposite to
the first, to allow this second movement of the shower support.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This innovation refers generally to sliding shower supports
for rails and, in particular, to a device for supporting and
fastening a shower to a guide rail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many sliding shower systems which mainly consist
of a guide rail and a shower support. The guide rail can be
fastened to the wall using special fastenings, such as spacing
brackets mounted at the ends of the guide rail. The shower support
holding the shower is joined to the guide rail in such a way as to
run up and down it, adjusting the height, and also revolving around
the longitudinal axis of the guide rail.
[0003] In order to lock the shower in the position required, the
shower support is equipped with special parts to stop it, such as
screw stop systems or friction stop systems, which act upon the
guide rail, gripping the latter from the outside.
[0004] Standard sliding systems however have several disadvantages,
linked mainly with the difficulties involved in locking and
releasing the shower support, and the fact that, when moving the
shower support along the guide rail, it jams. This often means that
the user has to use both hands to release, reposition and lock the
shower support in place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The purpose of this innovation is to provide a sliding
shower support for rails and a slide system with the features
needed to avoid the problems inherent in traditional systems, as
described above.
[0006] This is achieved using a sliding shower support for shower
rails (referred to herewith as shower support), comprising a main
body for supporting a shower which can be connected to a guide rail
so that it runs along the same rail, as well as releasing stop
systems for locking the main body in place along the guide rail, in
which these stop systems comprise a cam which exercises elastic
pressure against the guide rail to lock it in place due to
friction. The cam is made in such a way as to grip onto the rail at
the first movement of the shower support in a first direction to
stop such movement and reduce the friction in the event of a second
movement of the shower support in a second direction, opposite to
the first, to allow this second movement of the shower support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] In order to provide a better understanding of the innovation
and to appreciate its advantages, an unrestrictive example of a
form of its creation will be described herein, referring to the
figures attached, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a prospective view of a partial section of the
shower support according to the innovation;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a prospective view of the shower support
according to the innovation;
[0010] FIGS. 3 and 4 show lateral partial sections, which show the
shower support according to the innovation in two states of
operation;
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a prospective view of a part of the device
according to the innovation.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] With reference to the figures, a whole shower support is
indicated by reference number 1. The shower support 1 comprises a
main body 2, equipped with a revolving fork element 3 to support a
shower (not shown in the figures) as well as means for connecting
the shower support 1, particularly its main body 2, to a guide rail
3. These means of connection are prepared in such a way as to allow
the movement of the shower support 1 along the guide rail 3, or the
placement of the shower in terms of height (assuming the rail is
positioned vertically).
[0013] In the form of creation shown in the figures, the means of
connection include channels or cavities 5 made in the main body 2
and destined to be coupled, as part of a running system, with
corresponding ridges 6 formed along the guide rail 3.
[0014] Alternatively, the means of connection include a through
hole (not shown) made in the main body 2, through which the guide
rail 3 is slotted.
[0015] The main body 2 of the shower support 1 has an inner seat
which houses a moving or rotating central element 7, shown in FIG.
5, which has a front portion 8 facing away from the guide rail 3.
The front portion 8 is equipped with a cam 10, positioned in line
with an opening (facing towards the guide rail 3) of the main body
2 and the rear portion 9 has two levers 11 which are substantially
symmetrical and conjoined to the front portion 8. The free ends of
the levers are equipped with manual activation devices 12, which
enable the movement or rotation of the central element 7 inside the
main body 2. The activation devices 12 may be buttons or cursors 12
for instance, preferably positioned on two opposite sides of the
shower support 1.
[0016] In accordance with the form of creation shown in the
figures, the cursors 12 are housed in special openings 13 in the
main body 2. These openings 13 and/or the inner seat of the main
body 2 should preferably be shaped in such a way as to create a
guide for the movement of the central element 7.
[0017] The shower support 1 also comprises elastic pieces which
work between the main body 2 and the central element 7 to prompt
the latter into a locking position, in which the cam 10 rests
elastically against the guide rail 3 gripping it using friction.
These elastic pieces should preferably comprise a preloaded
helicoidal spring 14, the first end of which is threaded onto a
plug 15 positioned on the side of the front portion 8 opposite that
of the cam 10 and the second end of which rests against a wall 16
positioned centrally inside the main body 2.
[0018] In accordance with a form of creation of the innovation, the
rear portion 9 of the central element 7 is positioned across the
central wall 16 so that the two levers 11 extend along both sides
of the central wall 16.
[0019] The central element 7 holding the cam 10 is supported
internally by the main body 2, so that a movement of the cam 10
towards the upper side of the main body 2 pushes the cam out of the
main body 2 towards the guide rail 3, and a movement of the cam 10
towards the lower side of the main body 2 withdraws the cam into
the main body 2, moving it away from the guide rail 3.
[0020] Consequently, during an upward movement of the shower
support 1, the cam 10 locked by friction to the guide rail 3 is
dragged by the latter towards the lower side of the main body 2 and
moves away from the guide rail 3, so reducing the friction to allow
the upward movement.
[0021] During a downward movement of the shower support, due to the
force of gravity for instance, the cam 10 locked by friction to the
guide rail 3 is dragged by the latter towards the upper side of the
main body 2 and locks against the guide rail 3, so increasing the
friction to effectively prevent the downward movement.
[0022] The cam 10 can also be moved by manually activating the two
activation cursors 12, against the force of the spring 14, towards
the lower side of the main body 2 and away from the guide rail 3 to
enable the movement of the shower support 1 either upwards or
downwards.
[0023] In accordance with an advantageous form of creation, in the
direction of movement of the shower support 1, the cam 10 has a
substantially convex shape, rounded or curving towards the guide
rail (FIG. 5).
[0024] The cam 10 should preferably have a circle sector shape with
the geometric centre in the rotation axis R of the same cam, the
axis R of which is shifted upwards compared with the point of
contact C between the cam 10 and the guide rail 3, or, more
generally, in the direction of movement of the cam 10 compared with
the main body 2 which produces the lock of the shower support
1.
[0025] In accordance with this innovation, the shower support 1 is
highly advantageous because it creates an automatic release to
enable the upward movement of the shower support 1 without using
the release cursors 12 and automatically increases the forced
coupling or friction between the cam 10 and the guide rail 3, in
the event of an undesired downward movement of the shower support 1
(due to the weight of the shower or in the event that the user
grasps the shower to avoid slipping or falling for instance).
Lastly, thanks to the position of the release cursors 12 on
opposite sides of the lower part of the shower support 1, the
downward movement of the shower is extremely easy, controlled and
precise, requiring the use of just one hand. Just rest the hand
from underneath, against the lower side of the shower support 1 and
use two fingers to activate the two release cursors 12 to slide
(thanks to the weight of the shower) the shower support 1 down the
guide rail 3. The shower support 1 locks automatically in the
required position, thanks to the spring 15, after freeing the
release cursors 12.
[0026] Obviously a qualified technician may make further
alterations and variations to the shower support in accordance with
this innovation in order to satisfy contingent needs and
specifications, all of which are encompassed in the rights
protecting the innovations, as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *