The present disclosure relates to shower and tub accessories. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a handshower docking station or holder that can be mounted to a grab bar installed on a shower or tub wall.
Conventional showerheads are typically fixed on a shower wall at a certain height and have a limited number of angles at which they can spray water. This can be inconvenient for a user who may desire to have more control over the angle and direction of water spray. Additionally, conventional baths and showerheads may be inconvenient for users who are attempting to bath children or pets in a conventional bathtub for these same reasons. As such, handshowers are often utilized to relieve such inconveniences.
A conventional handshower may be in fluid communication with a flexible hose which, in turn, is fluidly coupled with a water source spaced apart from the sprayhead of the handshower. Such a handshower may be docked at a fixed location within the shower or tub, and may be undocked for use when greater flexibility of use is desired. The handshower may be docked at the same position as a conventional fixed showerhead when not in use. Such a docking position may present problems to users who are not be able to reach such a docking position, for example, disabled or elderly users. Furthermore, such docking stations are typically semi-permanent and are not easily movable should the user want to change the position of the docking station. As such, it is often desired to provide a moveable holder for a handshower that may be easily installed on a conventional shower wall.
A handshower assembly is disclosed herein as including a docking station or holder with a first portion and a removable second portion. The docking station is configured to removably support a handshower, and to mount to a grab bar of a tub or shower and move relative to the grab bar for a user to position the handshower as desired.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a handshower assembly includes a docking station having a body with a first portion and a second removable portion, the first portion having a first sleeve and the second removable portion having a second sleeve. A handshower holder is coupled to the docking station, and a stem adapter is coupled to the docking station, wherein movement of the stem adapter results in movement of the first sleeve.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a handshower assembly includes a docking station having a body with a first portion and a second removable portion, the first portion having a first sleeve and the second removable portion having a second sleeve. A handshower holder is coupled to the docking station, and a handshower is removably supported by the handshower holder. A grab bar includes opposing curved ends and a linear center portion, wherein the docking station is mounted on the center portion of the grab bar.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of positioning a handshower includes the steps of providing a handshower assembly including a docking station having a body with a first portion and a second removable portion, the first portion having a first sleeve and the second portion having a second sleeve, a handshower holder coupled to the docking station and supporting a handshower, and a stem adapter coupled to the docking station, wherein the first sleeve is configured to move in response to movement of the stem adapter. The method further includes the steps of positioning a grab bar within the first portion of the body of the docking station, coupling the second removable portion of the body of the docking station to the first portion so that the grab bar extends within the body of the docking station, and moving the stem adapter so that the first sleeve moves to secure the position of the docking station relative to the grab bar.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
A detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.
Referring initially to
With further reference to
In an illustrative embodiment, the hose 112 may be coupled to the supply elbow 120 at the opposite end of the hose 112 from the handshower 102 via a fluid coupler 122. In the illustrative embodiment shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
In an illustrative embodiment as depicted, the removable portion 140 may be coupled to the main portion 138 using mechanical fasteners, such as hex screws 148 (
Still referring to
Referring to
A rotating member or stem 176 may be disposed through the inner spline 168 and communicate with the bottom 158 of the cavity 156 via first locating members 160 and third locating members 178 disposed on the bottom of the rotating member 176. Rotation of the rotating member 176 may be communicated to the inner spline 168 via a flange-and-groove connection between the rotating member 176 and inner spline 168. For example, in an illustrative embodiment, the rotating member 176 includes flange 180 configured to mate with a groove 182 located on an inner surface 184 of the inner spline 168. Other embodiments may utilize a latch system, a tab system, or threading to facilitate communication between the rotating member 176 and the inner spline 168.
A cover flange 192 may cover the cavity 156 of the first branch 154 and its contents, including the outer spline 164, the inner spline 168, and the rotating member 176, to give the docking station 128 an aesthetically pleasing look while providing a transition from the docking station 128 to the handshower cradle 136. The handshower holder first branch 154 may comprise threading 186 on an outer perimeter 188 of a distal portion 190 of the first branch 154 configured to mate with threading 194 located on an inner perimeter 196 of the cover flange 192 so that the cover flange 192 may be coupled with the first branch 154. In other embodiments, other coupling means may be utilized, including hooks, clasps, clamps, adhesives, magnets, buttons, latches, grooves, clips, buckles, and/or hook-and-loop fasteners. In yet other embodiments, the cover flange 192 may be fixedly attached to the first branch 154 using a variety of manufacturing methods, including welding, after the interior components of the first branch 154 have been assembled.
Still referring to
The handshower cradle 136 is illustratively disposed on the cover flange 192 and includes an aperture 208 for receiving a mechanical fastener, such as a screw 210. The screw 210 may pass through an aperture 208 of the handshower cradle 136 and the aperture 198 of the cover flange 192 to engage with the fastener opening 206. Illustratively the screw 210 engages with the fastener opening 206 via threading 212 disposed on the screw 210 and threading 214 disposed within the fastener opening 206. As illustratively manufactured, the handshower cradle 136 maintains the ability to rotate about an axis substantially orthogonal to the cylindrical opening 150 of the docking station 128 or rotate about another axis that does not interfere with the function of the docking station 128, allowing a user to place the handshower 102 in a variety of desired positions when the handshower 102 is docked within the handshower cradle 136. The relative rotational position of the cradle 136 is fixed via interaction of the outer spline 164 and the inner spline 168. In other embodiments, other fasteners may be used. In yet other embodiments, the handshower cradle 136 may be fixedly attached to the cover flange 192 through a variety of manufacturing means, including, but not limited to, welding or unitary construction. Such a construction may not allow the handshower cradle 136 to rotate.
The main portion 138 receives a main sleeve 216 that is shaped and sized to correspond with the inner sidewall 218 of the main portion 138. The main sleeve 216 may be formed of a friction enhancing material, such as a polymer, an elastomer or mixture thereof. Proper placement of the main sleeve 216 along the inner sidewall 218 may be ensured using a tab 220 located on the main sleeve 216 corresponding with a recess or divet 222 located on the inner sidewall 218. In other embodiments, such locating elements may be absent. The cooperating shapes of the sleeve 216 and the inner sidewall 218 facilitate frictional engagement and coupling between the sleeve 216 and the main portion 138 of the docking station body 134.
Similarly, the removable portion 140 receives a removable sleeve 224 that is shaped and sized to correspond with the inner sidewall 226 of the removable portion 140. The removable sleeve 224 may be formed of a friction enhancing material, such as a polymer, an elastomer or mixture thereof. Proper placement and retention of the removable sleeve 224 along the inner sidewall 226 may be ensured using tabs 228, which correspond to an opening 230 formed in the inner sidewall 226. When the tabs 228 are pushed into the opening 230, they must bend toward each other to conform to a size that corresponds with the opening 230. Once inside the opening 230, the tabs may spring back to their default position, and ridges 232 lock the tabs within the opening 230. As discussed above, the removable portion 140 may be coupled to the main portion 138 using mechanical fasteners, such as hex screws 148. As discussed above, in other embodiments, other methods of removably coupling the removable portion 140 to the main portion 138 may be used. For example, hooks, clasps, clamps, adhesives, magnets, buttons, latches, grooves, clips, buckles, and/or hook-and-loop fasteners may be utilized.
Still referring to
The branch portion 240 of the stem adapter 142 forms a fastener opening 246 capable of receiving a fastener, such as a screw 248. The screw 248 may be inserted into the cavity 244 and mated with the fastener opening 246 of the stem adapter 142. In other embodiments, a number of alternate fasteners may be utilized as described through the present description. In an illustrative embodiment, washers 250 and an elastomeric o-ring 252 are disposed between the screw 248 and the stem adapter 142.
Referring specifically to
When the stem adapter is rotated in a second direction opposite from the first direction, the coupled connection between the stem adapter 142 and the second branch 234 allows axial movement of the stem adapter 142 away from the docking station 128. This movement pulls the screw 248 away from the main sleeve 216, allowing the main sleeve 216 together with the removable sleeve 224 to return to a larger, default diameter. When the docking station 128 is positioned on a grab bar 130, this loosening of the sleeves 216, 224 releases the friction hold on the grab bar 130 and allows movement of the docking station 128 along the grab bar 130.
Now referring to
With reference to
A first mounting ring 274 and a second mounting ring 276 are configured to mate with the first end 270 and the second end 272 of the grab bar 130 to facilitate the mounting of the grab bar 130 to the tub and/or shower wall 132. In the illustrative embodiment, the first end 270 of the grab bar 130 includes external threads 271 configured to mate with internal threads 275 on the first mounting ring 274, and the second end 272 of the grab bar 130 includes external threads 273 configured to mate with internal threads 277 on the second mounting ring 276. In other illustrative embodiments, other methods of coupling the grab bar 130 to the mounting rings 274, 276 may be utilized as otherwise described herein. A set screw 286 may be used to further secure the grab bar 130 to the mounting rings 274, 276. A first decorative cover 278 and a second decorative cover 280 may be disposed between the respective mounting rings 274, 276 and the grab bar 130 for aesthetic purposes. A first seal 282 and a second seal 284 may be disposed between the respective mounting rings 274, 276 and the respective decorative covers 278, 280 to facilitate a friction fit between the mounting rings 274, 276 and the decorative covers 278, 280. Illustratively, the mounting rings 274, 276 may be fastened to the tub and/or shower wall 132 using mounting screws 288.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exit within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2621968 | Vickroy | Dec 1952 | A |
4174822 | Larsson | Nov 1979 | A |
4211380 | Lillegard et al. | Jul 1980 | A |
5277391 | Haug et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
5632049 | Chen | May 1997 | A |
6024331 | Bischoff et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
D425608 | Haug et al. | May 2000 | S |
6123308 | Faisst | Sep 2000 | A |
6473916 | Schiødt | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6802089 | Cropelli | Oct 2004 | B2 |
7000265 | Faisst | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7197776 | Tsai | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7407140 | Sen | Aug 2008 | B2 |
7721363 | Huang | May 2010 | B2 |
7766291 | Eilmus et al. | Aug 2010 | B2 |
8448270 | Yang | May 2013 | B2 |
9149826 | Vartanian et al. | Oct 2015 | B2 |
9200651 | Lin | Dec 2015 | B2 |
D754288 | Bahler | Apr 2016 | S |
9382699 | Andersen et al. | Jul 2016 | B2 |
9677257 | Andersen et al. | Jun 2017 | B2 |
20050028266 | Cropelli | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20090265848 | Tsai | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20190390447 | Herzog | Dec 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2642033 | Sep 2013 | EP |
2202131 | Sep 1988 | GB |
WO02018078322 | May 2018 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Delta, Premium 3-Setting Slide Bar Hand Shower, retrieved Feb. 1, 2019 from https://www.deltafaucet.com/bathroom/product/57021, 2 pages. |
Ciencia, Shower Sliding Bar Stainless Adjustable Hand Shower Wall Mount, retrieved Feb. 1, 2019 from https://www.amazon.com/CIENCIA-Shower-siding-Stainless-Adjustable/dp/B072Q9G3Z2, 4 pages. |
Brasstech Inc., Drawing of Side Bar Holder ASM—TRAD, on sale prior to Aug. 30, 2018, 1 pg. |
Newport Brass, Installation Instructions, Slide Bar Assembly, Model No. 294,295, NWP-294, dated Oct. 10, 2011, 1 pg. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20210062485 A1 | Mar 2021 | US |