MULTIPLE HEAD SHOWER KIT

Abstract

A shower manifold for installation in an existing enclosure includes one or more bifurcated conduits each having a main branch and an auxiliary branch. The main branch is in fluid communication with a bib in the enclosure, either directly or through a flexible hose. The bifurcated conduits are connected with straight conduits and attached to spacer shafts as required to extend between the walls forming the enclosure. Shower heads are mounted to the auxiliary branches, which are angularly oriented to direct the water stream within the enclosure. A cruciform conduit having two transverse branches may also be part of the manifold. Two shower heads are connected to free ends of the transverse branches. Coupling of the components to one another is effected by male and female components, the male components having both screw threads and channels to engage a female component having either lugs or compatible screw threads.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower stall with a manifold made from a kit according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views of representative manifolds made from a kit according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a portion of a manifold made from a kit according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a component included with the kit according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional side view of the component shown in FIG. 5 taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a portion of a manifold connected to a water supply;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracket for support of a manifold and included in the kit according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bracket shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a quick connect/disconnect coupling included in the kit according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the manifold according to the invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates adjustability of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 15-17 illustrate alternate embodiments of various forms of couplings useable with the manifold according to the invention.

Claims

1. A shower manifold for installation in an existing enclosure having a bib connected to a source of pressurized water, said shower manifold being mountable between first and second facing walls forming said enclosure, said shower manifold comprising: a bifurcated conduit in fluid communication with said bib, said bifurcated conduit having a main branch and an auxiliary branch for conducting water therethrough, said main branch having a first end attachable to said first wall and an opposite end;a shower head mounted on said auxiliary branch for discharging water within said enclosure; anda spacer shaft having a first end attached to said opposite end of said main branch and a second end attachable to said second wall.

2. A shower manifold according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary branch is angularly oriented with respect to said main branch.

3. A shower manifold according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary branch has an orientation angle between about 40° and about 90° relatively to said main branch.

4. A shower manifold according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible hose extending between said bib and said main branch thereby providing fluid communication between said bib and said bifurcated conduit.

5. A shower manifold according to claim 4, further comprising first and second mounting brackets mountable on said first and second facing walls, said mounting brackets having a plurality of openings therein, said openings being positioned at a plurality of different heights within said shower stall, said mounting brackets being adapted to receive said first end of said main branch and said second end of said spacer shaft for mounting said shower manifold within said shower stall.

6. A shower manifold according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said bifurcated conduit is connectable directly to said bib.

7. A shower manifold for installation in an existing enclosure having a bib connected to a source of pressurized water, said shower manifold being mountable between first and second facing walls forming said enclosure, said shower manifold comprising: a first bifurcated conduit in fluid communication with said bib, said first bifurcated conduit having a first main branch and a first auxiliary branch for conducting water therethrough;a first shower head mounted on said first auxiliary branch for discharging water within said enclosure;a second bifurcated conduit having a second main branch and a second auxiliary branch for conducting water therethrough, said second main branch being in fluid communication with said first main branch; anda second shower head mounted on said second auxiliary branch for discharging water within said enclosure.

8. A shower manifold according to claim 7, wherein said first auxiliary branch is angularly oriented with respect to said first main branch and said second auxiliary branch is angularly oriented with respect to said second main branch.

9. A shower manifold according to claim 8, wherein said first and second auxiliary branches have an orientation angle between about 40° and about 90°.

10. A shower manifold according to claim 7, further comprising a flexible hose extending between said bib and said first main branch thereby providing fluid communication between said bib and said first bifurcated conduit.

11. A shower manifold according to claim 7, wherein said first bifurcated conduit is connectable directly to said bib.

12. A shower manifold according to claim 7, further comprising: a cruciform conduit having a first cruciform branch in fluid communication with said first and second main branches and a second cruciform branch oriented transversely to said first cruciform branch, said second cruciform branch being in fluid communication with said first cruciform branch and having oppositely disposed ends; anda third shower head mounted on one said end of said second cruciform branch and a fourth shower head mounted on another said end of said second cruciform branch, said third and fourth shower heads for discharging water within said enclosure.

13. A shower manifold according to claim 7, further comprising a spacer shaft having a first end coupled to one of said first and second bifurcated conduits and a second end mountable on one of said walls forming said enclosure.

14. A shower manifold according to claim 7, further comprising a straight conduit positioned between said first and second bifurcated conduits and providing fluid communication therebetween.

15. A shower manifold according to claim 7, further comprising a coupling for joining said first and second bifurcated conduits together, said coupling comprising: a male component extending from one of said bifurcated conduits, said male component having external threads there around and a channel cut transversely to said threads in said male component; anda female component mounted on the other of said bifurcated conduits, said female component having a lug projecting radially inwardly so as to engage said channel when said male component engages said female component.

16. A shower manifold according to claim 15, wherein said channel has a J shape.

17. A shower manifold according to claim 7, further comprising a coupling for joining said first and second bifurcated conduits together, said coupling comprising: a male component extending from one of said bifurcated conduits, said male component having external threads there around and a channel cut transversely to said threads in said male component; anda female component mounted on the other of said bifurcated conduits, said female component having internal threads compatible with said external threads of said male component when said male component engages said female component.

18. A kit for a shower manifold installable within an existing enclosure having a bib connected to a source of pressurized water, said kit comprising: a plurality of bifurcated conduits, each bifurcated conduit having a main branch and an auxiliary branch;a plurality of straight conduits connectable to said bifurcated conduits;a plurality of spacer shafts connectable to said bifurcated conduits and said straight conduits; anda plurality of shower heads attachable to said auxiliary branches.

19. A kit according to claim 18, further comprising a flexible hose connectable between said bib and one of said bifurcated conduits for providing fluid communication therebetween.

20. A kit according to claim 18, further comprising a cruciform conduit having a first cruciform branch connectable with said main branches of said bifurcated conduits and a second cruciform branch oriented transversely to said first cruciform branch, said second cruciform branch being in fluid communication with said first cruciform branch and having oppositely disposed ends, wherein said shower heads are mountable on said ends of said second cruciform branch.