U.S. patent application number 11/083572 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for overhead waterfall shower.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alsons Corporation. Invention is credited to Jeffrey A. Deboer, Aaron M. Hughes.
Application Number | 20060218718 11/083572 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37068585 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060218718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deboer; Jeffrey A. ; et
al. |
October 5, 2006 |
Overhead waterfall shower
Abstract
A showerhead assembly includes a showerhead that is generally
rectilinear in shape and mounted transverse to a support. The
support is mounted between a first shower wall and a second shower
wall such that the showerhead overhangs the shower to provide a
waterfall effect. The showerhead may be manually positioned along
the support or may be driven by a drive system to selectively
transit and/or pivot the showerhead relative the support.
Inventors: |
Deboer; Jeffrey A.; (Ann
Arbor, MI) ; Hughes; Aaron M.; (San Francisco,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD
SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Assignee: |
Alsons Corporation
|
Family ID: |
37068585 |
Appl. No.: |
11/083572 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/596 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 15/62 20180201;
E03C 1/0408 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/596 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/28 20060101
A47K003/28 |
Claims
1. A showerhead assembly comprising: a support; and a showerhead
mounted transverse to said support.
2. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said
showerhead is movable along said support.
3. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said
showerhead is pivotable relative to said support.
4. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a drive to transit said showerhead along said
support.
5. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said
drive reciprocates said showerhead back and forth along said
support.
6. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said
drive includes a mechanical drive structure.
7. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said
drive includes a hydraulic drive structure.
8. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said
showerhead is rectilinear.
9. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said
showerhead is generally perpendicular to said support.
10. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said
showerhead dispenses water as a sheet.
11. A shower comprising: a first shower wall; a second shower wall;
a support mounted to said first wall and said second wall; and a
showerhead mounted to said support.
12. The shower as recited in claim 11, further comprising a drive
to move said showerhead along said support.
13. The shower as recited in claim 11, wherein said support extends
from a top of said first wall and a top of said second wall.
14. The shower as recited in claim 11, wherein said support bridges
said first wall and said second wall.
15. The shower as recited in claim 11, wherein said showerhead is
mounted transverse to said support.
16. A method of showering water comprising the steps of: (1)
locating a showerhead on a support which extends between a first
shower wall and a second shower wall; and (2) showering water from
the showerhead.
17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step
of: transiting the showerhead along the support.
18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step
of: articulating the showerhead relative to the support.
19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step (2) further
comprises: showering water from the showerhead as a sheet of water.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a shower, and more
particularly to a powered showerhead assembly that generates sheets
of water to provide a waterfall effect.
[0002] Oversized luxury showers and accessories are becoming
increasing desirable in new construction and bathroom renovations.
Such showers typically include one or more a multi-function
showerheads that have a plurality of spray modes, including various
standard sprays and pulsed sprays. Multi-function showerheads may
also have flow control valves to allow the user to adjust the flow
pressure to a desired level. Other conventional showerheads provide
simulated rainfall or waterfall experiences.
[0003] Although somewhat effective in providing such simulated
experiences conventional rainfall and waterfall showerheads may be
lacking in the simulated rainfall or waterfall effect. Such effects
are typically constrained adjacent to a shower wall which minimizes
the bather's experience.
[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a showerhead
assembly which provides a significantly satisfactory simulation of
being within a rainfall or waterfall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A showerhead assembly according to the present invention
includes a showerhead that is generally rectilinear in shape and
mounted transverse to a support. The support is mounted between a
first shower wall and a second shower wall such that the showerhead
overhangs the shower. The showerhead is mounted to the support such
that the water dispensed therefrom is generally perpendicular to
the support to provide a waterfall-like effect
[0006] The showerhead is longitudinally and pivotally mounted to
the support. The showerhead may be manually positioned along the
support to assure that a bather within the shower surround is
directly in line with the waterfall effect. The showerhead may also
be driven by a drive system to selectively transit and/or pivot the
showerhead along the support.
[0007] The present invention therefore provides a showerhead
assembly which provides a significantly satisfactory simulation of
being within a rainfall or waterfall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The various features and advantages of this invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The
drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly
described as follows:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a general perspective view an exemplary shower
surround and showerhead assembly;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a mechanically powered
showerhead assembly; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a hydraulically powered
showerhead assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a general perspective view of a shower
10. The shower 10 generally includes a base 12, one or more walls
14 and a ceiling 16. It should be understood that the term "base"
is not limited to just shower bases but that relatively deeper tubs
and the like will also benefit from the present invention. It
should be further understood that although a particular component
arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other
arrangements, e.g. molded shower and tub surrounds or tiled
construction will benefit from the instant invention.
[0013] The shower 10 includes a showerhead assembly 18 mounted
above the base 12. The showerhead assembly 18 preferably dispenses
water in sheets to provide a waterfall effect to the bather,
however, other spray patterns may also be provided.
[0014] The showerhead assembly 18 generally includes a showerhead
20 mounted to a support 22. The support 22 is preferably mounted
between a first shower wall 14a and a second shower wall 14b such
that the showerhead 20 overhangs the shower 10. The showerhead
assembly 18 is particularly useful with a shower surround in which
the support 22 may be mounted to bridge two walls 14a, 14 which do
not have a molded ceiling. The support 22 preferably extends from a
shower wall 14a which also includes a handheld shower sprayer 24 or
the like to facilitate water communication.
[0015] The showerhead 20 is generally rectilinear in shape and
mounted transverse to the support 22. That is, the showerhead 20 is
mounted to the support such that the water dispensed therefrom is
generally perpendicular to the support 22 for a waterfall-like
effect. It should be understood that although a rectilinear
waterfall shower is preferred, other shower effects will also be
usable with the instant invention.
[0016] The showerhead 20 is longitudinally (illustrated
schematically by arrow L) and pivotally (illustrated schematically
by arrow P) mounted to the support 22. The showerhead 20 is
manually positionable along the support 22 to assure that a bather
within the shower 10 can be directly in line with the waterfall
effect. The showerhead 20 is connected to a water supply though a
flexible conduit Fw or the like located through the support 22. The
flexible conduit Fw preferably coils and uncoils from within the
support 22 to provide a water communication to the showerhead 20 as
the showerhead 20 is longitudinally (illustrated schematically by
arrow L) and pivotally (illustrated schematically by arrow P) moved
relative to the support 22. It should be understood that the
flexible conduit Fw may be located within the shower wall 14 and
that various extension mechanism may likewise be usable with the
present invention.
[0017] Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the showerhead 20 is
driven by a drive system 26 (illustrated schematically in FIG. 2).
The drive system 26 selectively reciprocates the showerhead 20
along the support 22 and/or pivots the showerhead 20 relative
thereto to provide an additional random waterfall effect to a
bather. It should be understood that various pivoting an
translational systems will be usable with the present invention. In
additional or alternatively, the water spray itself may be
pivotable relative the showerhead 20.
[0018] The drive system 26 may be a mechanical system in which
gears and a battery-powered motor drive the showerhead 20 along the
support 22 in which the support operates as a track. One of
ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the teaching
contained herein will be able to readily incorporate various gear
drive systems within a shower heat to provide the desired
longitudinal and pivotal movement.
[0019] Alternatively, the drive system 26 may be a hydraulic system
in which water pressure is utilized to drive the showerhead 20
through a piston or other arrangement. By utilizing water pressure
the showerhead 20 may be both supplied and driven by water which
thereby reduces installation complexity. One of ordinary skill in
the art with the benefit of the teachings contained herein will be
able to readily incorporate hydraulic drive systems within a
showerhead to provide the desired longitudinal and pivotal
movement. It should be understood that various drive systems will
be usable with the present invention.
[0020] Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and
claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any
order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will
still benefit from the present invention.
[0021] The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined
by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The
preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed,
however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that
certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope
of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described. For that reason the following
claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of
this invention.
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