Dual Shower Head Attachment Device

Abstract

An attachment device for converting a single shower head personal shower installation or to dual, opposed shower head installation to provide for showering from each side of the shower enclosure or recess, is described. A rigid conduit pipe, threaded at one end for connection with a shower installation shower water outlet fitting at one end of the shower recess or enclosure in substitution for the usual single shower head arm, is provided along its length with a pair of longitudinally-spaced shower heads and, at its outer end, is provided with adjustable thrust abutment means for frictional engagement with the opposite wall of the shower recess or enclosure in securing the attachment device in place. A control valve in the path of flow to the two shower heads provides for selective control of shower water thereto for independent or dual use in showering.

Description

This invention relates to personal showers and is directed particularly to a dual shower head assembly for use in substitution for the usual single shower head assembly in personal shower enclosures.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a dual shower head attachment device which, upon installation, provides a pair of elevated shower heads spraying inwardly from each side of a personal shower enclosure, thereby enabling two persons to shower independently at the same time or, alternatively, one person, standing centrally in the shower enclosure, to be showered from each side for more rapid and effective cleansing.

Yet another object is to provide a dual shower head attachment device that is particularly well suited to installation and use in association with a standard bathtub by simple substitution for the usual shower head arm pipe installed within a tub wall of the associated tub enclosure recess.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual shower head attachement device of the above nature which, at one end, threads into the shower water outlet fitting within the wall at one end of a bathtub enclosure and which, at the other end, is provided with adjustable means enabling abutting thrust securement to the opposite tub enclosure wall.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual shower head attachment device of the character described which will be simple in construction, easy to install, attractive in appearance, light in weight, and durable and effective in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following desccription when read with reference to the single FIGURE of the accompanying drawing, indicating, in elevation, an ordinary bathtub and portions of its enclosure recess and illustrating a dual shower head attachment device embodying the invention assembled thereto.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, generally, a dual shower head attachment device embodying the invention assembled for use between the head and foot walls 11, 12, respectively, of a bathroom tub recess R partially surrounding a standard built-in tub T. The attachment device 10 comprises a short, externally-threaded nipple 13 at one end fitted to and extending outwardly of a two-way flow control valve 14. The in-line outlet port of the control valve 14 communicates with a first co-axial length of pipe 15, which connects, through a coupling member 16, with a second co-axial length of pipe 17. The second length of pipe 17 connects with a T-fitting 18, the co-axial outlet port of which is connected with a short length of pipe 19, co-axial with the first and second lengths of pipe 15 and 17. The short length of pipe 19, as is hereinbelow more particularly described, serves as part of the support mechanism for the attachment device 10 and is therefore plugged, as by a plug member 20 screw-threaded into an interior thread provided at the outer end of said pipe. Alternatively, a solid rod could be substituted for the length of pipe 19, thereby dispensing with the plug member 20. Exteriorly threaded to the outer end of the short length of pipe 19 is an internally-threaded coupling member 21 into the outer end of which is adjustably threaded a headed abutment member 22, the outer end of which is provided with a resilient friction pad 23, such as of hard rubber. The overall length of the attachment device 10 from just short of the outer end of the nipple 13 and the outer end of the friction pad 23 is approximately 5 feet, corresponding to the distance between the opposite end walls of the recess within which a standard bathtub is installed. The length of the coupling member 21 and its associated abutment member 22 is such as to provide about two inches of overall length adjustment of the attachment device 10, allowing for sufficient length adjustment to accommodate a wide range of variation in the spacing between the end walls of an ordinary 5' tub recess.

The perpendicular outlet ports of the two-way flow control valve 14 and the T-fitting 18 extend in the same direction and are fitted with curved mutually inwardly-directed shower head arms 24, 25 the outer ends of which connect with adjustable shower heads 26, 27 controlled by adjustment levers 28, 29, respectively.

In use, the usual curved shower head arm (not illustrated) of an ordinary tub shower installation will be removed from the internally-threaded fitting F installed within the wall 12 at the foot of the tub, after which the nipple 13 of the attachment device 10 will be threaded in place in substituion. In order to permit such installation of the attachment device 10 it will ordinarily first be necessary to adjust the abutment member 22 to its innermost position within the coupling member 21. After the attachment device 10 has thus been securely threaded in place with the shower heads 26 and downwardly, extending donwardly, and with the longitudinal axis of the device extending horizontally and substantially in the perpendicular direction with respect to the opposing tub recess walls 11 and 12, the abutment member 23 will be unscrewed from the coupling member 22, to extend the overall length of the attachment device to such an extent that the friction pad 24 abuts against the tub recess wall at the head of the tub, thereby securely wedging the attachment device in its installed position, ready for use.

In use, the tub shower controls, (not illustrated) will be operated in the usual manner to supply shower water to the supply fitting F, whereupon it will flow through either one or both, selectively, of the shower heads 26 and 27, depending upon the setting of the control valve 14. In this connection it is to be noted that the control valve will adjustably control flow to the shower heads so that shower strength can be varied from strong to weak, selectively, as well as off. The shower head adjustment levers 28, 29 serve additionally to control the flow force of their associated shower heads 26, 27. Thus, one person can either use the dual shower head attachment device as an ordinary single shower head shower or, by activating both shower heads upon adjustment of the flow control valve 14, can be showered upon from each side for more effecient and rapid showering. In instances when two people wish to shower independently but at the same time, such as a mother and small child, the device is particularly advantageous.

Although the attachment device 10 can conveniently and economically be fabricated of ordinary metal piping and fittings, such as of copper, brass or galvanized iron, it will preferably be fabricated of synthetic plastic material, such as of PVC piping and fittings, for economy and lightness in weight. For shipping purposes, the coupling member 17 will be secured to only one of its associated pipe lengths 15 and 17 with connection being made upon installation. If fabricated of PVC plastic material, the dual shower head attachment device 10 could be supplied as a kit with a tube of cement for effecting the in-line connection of the pipe lengths 15 and 17. It is also contemplated that such a kit could be supplied with long enough pipe lengths 15 and 17 to permit cutting to size to fit shower enclosures of various widths.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is given by way of example only, and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dual shower head attachment device comprising, in combination, a two-way flow control valve having an inlet port, an in-line outlet port and a perpendicularly-directed outlet port, a threaded nipple connected with said valve inlet port and adapted for screw-thread connection with an internally-threaded shower water outlet fitting in a side wall of a shower enclosure, a T-fitting having an inlet port, an in-line outlet port and a perpendicularly-directed outlet port, an elongated conduit communicatingly interconnecting said oulet port of said control valve with said inlet port of said T-fitting, adjustable abutment means extending co-axially outwardly of said outlet port of said T-fitting, said abutment means comprising a friction pad adjustably-extensible with respect to said elongated conduit, a pair of shower heads, and conduit means communicatingly interconnecting one each of said shower heads with said perpendicularly-directed outlet port of said control valve and said perpendicularly directed outlet port of said T-fitting, respectively.

2. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit comprises a first length of pipe, a second length of pipe and a coupling member interconnecting said first and said second lengths of pipe in co-axial relation.

3. A dual head attachmnet device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustable abutment means comprises a comparatively short length of pipe connected at one end to said in-line outlet port of said T-fitting, an internally threaded coupling member secured at one end to the other end of said comparatively short length of pipe, and a headed abutment member having an externally-threaded portion adjustably received within the outer end of said internally-threaded coupling member.

4. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 3, wherein said friction pad is in the form of a hard rubber member secured against the outer end of said headed abutment member.

5. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said shower heads is provided with manual control means for adjusting the strength of shower water flow.