Patent Application
20120260417
This invention pertains generally to equipment for camping and other outdoor use and, more particularly, to a portable shower system.
At many campgrounds, outdoor sporting events, and other outdoor facilities, there is a lack of available shower units to be used by the public. Some facilities have open showerheads where a swimmer or camper can shower in a swimming suit. Such shower facilities do not provide any privacy. While such units may be convenient for rinsing off salt water they do not allow a camper or sportsman to take a shower after a day's hike using heated water.
Some technical solutions to this problem suggest using solar heated showers that are installed at a rest stop. Such solar heated showers often disclose the use of simple flexible plastic bags designed to heat water by exposure to the sun and then to be hung above the user for gravity to provide water flow. More complex apparatus include frame structures for hanging curtain material to provide privacy when using an outdoor shower apparatus. Also portable showers using pumps which may be electric or combustion engine powered have been developed wherein an external pump, using hose or conduit, forces water from a ground level container to the shower head for water dispensing.
However, the conventional portable shower designs assume that the facility will have access to an unlimited supply of fresh water, which is not often the case. The portable shower units may be needed at mountain rest stops, sporting events that take place away from a ready source of municipal water. The conventional designs dot not provide for collection or recycling the precious water resource. There is exists therefore a need to provide a portable shower unit that can be expeditiously erected as a freestanding unit and which would allow recycling of the washing water.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a portable shower unit that allows delivery of heated water for washing.
It is another object of the invention to provide a portable shower unit that is adapted to collect washing water.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable shower unit that is equipment with a recycling pump and filter assembly for recycling of collected washing water.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a portable shower unit that affords privacy to the user.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a portable shower has an enclosure formed from non-transparent material to afford privacy to the user. A showerhead is connected to a water container mounted above the showerhead. Water in the water container is heated by solar panels that capture solar energy. The solar energy also powers a re-circulation pump, which re-circulating bathing water between a water collection chamber mounted below the shower enclosure and the water container.
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein
Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the portable shower unit according to this invention. The unit 10 comprises a main enclosure or housing 12 having a bottom plate 14, a roof panel 16, parallel sidewalls 18 and parallel end walls 20. Of course, the nomenclature of the “sidewalls” and “end walls” is relative, since all upright walls defining the enclosure 12 can be termed simply “sidewalls.” The sidewalls 18 and the end walls 20 are preferably formed from a lightweight non-transparent material to afford privacy to the user taking a shower. The sidewalls 18 and the end walls 20 can be formed from lightweight flexible plastic sheets or other suitable material.
An access door 22 is formed in one of the sidewalls 18. Of course, the access door 22 can be formed in the end wall 20, if desired. The housing 12 forms an enclosure with an inner chamber 24 that can be divided into a dressing portion and a showering portion by a partition, a curtain, or other similar means.
A floor panel 26 is secured to the sidewalls 18 and end walls 20 above the bottom plate 14. A water collecting and recycling assembly is positioned in a bottom enclosure 34, in the space between the bottom plate 14 and the floor panel 26. The floor panel 26 is provided with a drain 30 below a showerhead 32 that allows the water to flow by gravity into the base enclosure 34. The water collection and recirculation assembly is mounted in the base enclosure 34.
As can be seen in
A sump drain 50 is mounted in the base plate 14 in fluid communication with the chamber 40 to remove water accumulated in the chamber 40 when necessary. The sump drain 50 is provided with a sump drain conduit 52 which can be connected to a conventional sump pump. A cleanout conduit 54 is connected to the end wall 20 in fluid communication with the chamber 40 for cleaning the base enclosure when necessary.
The second chamber or holding chamber 42 of the base enclosure 34 receives water from the first water collection chamber 40 through the opening 48. The water delivered into the second chamber 42 may contain contaminants that need to be removed before the water is recycled. The third chamber 46 houses the filter and pump assembly of the present invention. An opening 56 in the lower part of the second partition wall 38 is sealed on the side of the third base chamber 46 by a suction conduit 60 of a water circulation pump 62.
The pump 62 can be powered by any available fuel, such as diesel or electrical power that can be generated by solar panels, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The pump 62 is activated by a pressure switch 64 to remove water from the second base chamber 42 and move it through a filter unit 68. One side 70 of the filter unit 68 contains a filtration medium, for instance activated charcoal. The second side 72 of the filter unit 68 has a conduit 74 through which cleaning chemical materials can be added to facilitate removal of harmful biological matter from the recycled water. The second side 72 of the filter unit 68 can be a chlorinator using chlorine as the water-cleaning medium.
A final filtration stage is conducted by the fine filter 76 mounted downstream of the filter unit 68. An outlet conduit 78 of the fine filter 76 is fluidly connected to a water container 80 positioned above the showerhead 32. The water container 80 is supported above the showerhead 32 and below the roof panel 16. A solar panel assembly 81 is positioned on the roof panel 16 for capturing solar power by passive absorption.
The solar energy is stored in the solar power battery assembly 94 located in the dry chamber 46. The solar energy is used to heat water in the water container 80 and to power the water circulation pump 62. Suitable wiring 90 connects the solar panels 81 with the power unit 94. If desired, the power unit 94 can be a 12-volt battery with recharging capabilities, where the solar energy is used as a recharging power. An insulation layer 82 made of lightweight insulation material is coupled to the water container 80 to prevent loss of heat from the water container 80.
In operation, the user positions the housing 12 in any desired location, be it a camping site, a sporting event site or other location where portable shower is needed. The user deposits a predetermined amount of clean water, for instance 40 or 50 gallons, in the water container 80. The user allows the solar energy to heat water in the water container 80 and charge the battery 94, if necessary. The user then operates the shower head knobs 33 to admit heated water into the showerhead 32 and takes the shower in a usual manner.
Used shower water is collected in the first collection chamber 40 and is transmitted to the holding tank or second chamber 42 by gravity. The pressure switch 64 on the pump 62 is used to suction water from the second chamber 42 and move the circulated water through the filter unit 68 and fine filter 76. The pressure switch 64 sensing a drop in pressure in the on the suction side of the pump 62 activates the pump 62 withdrawing more water from the holding second chamber 42. The pump 62 circulates the water through the filter and into the water container 80 refilling the water container 80 and making it ready for the next user. The solar panels continuously recharge the battery and heat the water in the container 80 during daylight hours.
The roof panel 16 is formed from a lightweight plastic material capable of supporting the solar panels 81 and transmitting heat to the solar panels 81. The water container 80 is formed from a heat-retaining material suitable for maintaining elevated water temperature. Heavy dirt particles introduced through the drain 30 sink to the bottom of the chamber 40, from where they are removed through the sump drain 50.
The portable shower 10 allows recirculation of almost all water deposited into the container 80. As a result, the unit 10 is economical and eco-friendly. The portable shower 10 can be easily emptied for transportation to another location. The empty the system, the pump 62 is turned off, and the drain 54 is opened. The user then opens the showerhead allowing all water from the container 80 to be drained into the base 34, from which the water can be emptied. Once the water is drained, the portable shower unit 10 would be ready for cleaning and transportation.
It is envisioned that the enclosure 12 can be formed from a lightweight plastic, for instance plastic sheets that are stretched on a foldable frame. The pump and filtration assembly can be easily disconnected from the connecting conduits and either transported separately or boxed together with the base 34.
Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
