Patent Application
20080313801
This invention relates to the field of marine apparatus and more particularly to a telescoping shower for installation into an aperture of a boat.
When boating, it is desirable to shower with fresh water, especially after swimming in salt water such as found in the oceans and many bays and gulfs. Very large boats often have complete bathrooms with built-in shower facilities. A known solution for smaller boats is a hose with a nozzle such as a kitchen sink sprayer with a longer hose. This solution works but requires the user to hold the sprayer in one hand while using the other hand to wash or, in rough water, to keep from falling off the boat.
Many portable showers are known in the art. For example, a simple plastic bag filled with water with a hook on its top end and a shower nozzle on its bottom end works well for campers. The camper fastens the hook to a tree and stands under the shower to get clean. Unfortunately, a boater doesn't always have access to a place to hook such a device.
Many other portable showers have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,503 to Nazworth discloses a portable shower that could be adapted to work on a boat, but, boats have limited storage space and such a device as that which is disclosed would take up too much space.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,888 Beccaria et al discloses a portable shower that also could be adapted to work on a boat. The disclosed shower would take up too much space for boating use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,538 to Chapman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,836 to Montrose, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,142 to Colman all disclose portable showers that also could be adapted to work on a boat. Each of the disclosed showers consume too much valuable storage and deck space and, therefore, would be of limited use on a boat.
What is needed is a boat shower that requires minimal space and stores out of the way when not in use.
In one embodiment, a telescoping boat shower is disclosed including telescoping extensions of decreasing diameter that collapse inside of a fishing pole holder of a boat when in storage and extend upwardly from the fishing pole holder when in use. The telescoping extensions conduct water from a larger, lower telescoping extension to a smaller, upper telescoping extension where a nozzle is attached. The nozzle sprays water on a user of the telescoping shower. An adaptable fitting attaches to a bottom of the fishing pole holder, providing a water-tight seal. The adaptable fitting has a water supply fitting for attaching to a supply of water and the adaptable fitting conducts water from the water supply to the telescoping extensions.
In another embodiment, a method of adding a shower to a fishing pole holder of a boat is disclosed including providing a telescoping shower that has telescoping extensions of decreasing diameter, the telescoping extensions collapse inside of the fishing pole holder of a boat when in storage and extend upwardly from the fishing pole holder when in use. The telescoping extensions also conduct water from a larger, lower telescoping extension to a smaller, upper telescoping extension where a nozzle is attached. An adaptable fitting attaches to the bottom of the fishing pole holder, providing a water-tight seal and includes a water supply fitting for conducting water from a water supply to the telescoping extensions. The method continues with attaching the adaptable fitting to the bottom of the fishing pole holder and attaching the water supply to the water supply fitting. Now, the collapsible extensions are fitted into the fishing pole holder and extend when water pressure is supplied or by pulling on an optional pull tab at the top end of the smallest collapsible extension.
In another embodiment, a telescoping boat shower is disclosed including telescoping extensions of decreasing diameter; the telescoping extensions collapse inside of a fishing pole holder of a boat when in storage and extend upwardly from the fishing pole holder when in use. The telescoping extensions conduct water from a larger, lower telescoping extension to a smaller, upper telescoping extension where a device for spraying water is attached. Another device is provided for attaching the water supply to the fishing pole holder.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
Referring to
The telescoping extensions of the shower 20/24/26 store within the fishing pole holder 54 and/or the attachable fitting 12 and extend either by water pressure emanating from the water supply 18 or by lifting a finger pull 35. Although three telescoping extensions 20/24/26 are shown, any number including one telescoping extension are envisioned and included herewithin.
In some embodiments, detents (not shown) hold the telescoping shower 10 in its extended position until it is pushed back into the fishing pole holder 54 and/or the attachable fitting 12. A shower head 30 is integrated or disposed in the upper-most extension 26 of the telescoping shower 10 and aims towards the user. In this embodiment, the water spray 32 is aimed downward at an angle although any configuration of shower head designs is envisioned.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the telescoping shower 10 is installed into existing fishing pole holders 54 or a new fishing pole holder 54 is installed in a location where a shower is desired and the telescoping shower 10 is then installed into the new fishing pole holder 54. In some embodiments of the present invention, the telescoping shower 10 is fabricated into a boat when it is manufactured or installed later into a newly formed hole. In such, the fishing pole holder 54 is replaced by a similar component and the entire assembly is installed into a hole in the top surface 52 of the side of the boat.
Referring to
Referring to
The extensions of the shower 20/24/26 extend out of the fishing pole holder 54 either under water pressure emanating from the water supply 18 or by lifting the optional finger pull 35. In some embodiments, detents (not shown) hold the telescoping shower 10 in its extended position until it is pushed back into the fishing pole holder 54. A shower head 30 is integrated or disposed in the upper-most extension 26 of the telescoping shower 10 and aims towards the user. In this embodiment, the water spray 32 is aimed downward at an angle although any configuration of shower head designs is envisioned.
There are many ways known in the industry to implement telescoping action and the mechanism shown in
Referring to
Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
