FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to tubs, whirlpool tubs and handheld showers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art whirlpool tub system including a tub 12 having a sidewall 14 and a upper deck rail 16′ connected to the sidewall 14. A cold water control valve 18 and an associated handle 20 are mounted to the upper deck rail 16 and a cold water inlet conduit 22 is provided and is connected to the cold water control valve 18. A cold water outlet conduit 24 runs from the cold water control value 18 to a diverter valve 26. A diverter handle knob 28 is connected to the diverter valve 26. A hot water valve 30 and an associated hot water valve handle 31 are also mounted to the upper deck rail 16′. A hot water inlet conduit 32 runs to the hot water valve 30 and a hot water valve outlet 34 runs from the hot water valve 32 to the diverter valve 26. A first diverter valve outlet conduit 36 runs from the diverter valve 26 to a vacuum breaker 38 positioned in an overflow box 40 mounted behind a bathroom wall 42. A vacuum breaker outlet conduit 46 runs from the vacuum breaker 38 to a handheld shower 50. The handheld shower mount 52 having a through hole form therein may be received in a through hole formed in the upper deck rail 16′ to hold the handheld shower 50 in a mounted position. The vacuum breaker outlet conduit 46 includes a flexible portion connected to the handheld shower 50 to allow the handheld shower 50 to be retractably removed from the mount 52 and used by an occupant of the tub 12. A second outlet conduit 53 extends from the diverter valve 26 to a tub spout 55, that is also mounted to the upper deck rail 16′, to allow water to flow into the tub 12 when the diverter valve is moved to change the flow of water from the handheld shower 50 to the tub spout 55. The area under the upper deck rail 16′ in which the water piping or conduits must be connected and soldered specifically less than six inches. As a consequence, it may take a plumber more than six hours to install a whirlpool tub and handheld shower system as described above. Numerous elbows must be soldered together in a very small work area. The more soldered joints there are increase the likelihood of a leak. Furthermore, the use of a vacuum breaker 38 and a drain pipe 44 in an overflow box 40 that is mounted behind the drywall 42 of the bathroom typically limits the installation of this whirlpool tub and handheld shower combination to new home construction. Installing the overflow box 40 after the home has been built requires removal of any title and the drywall. Even more time would be associated with converting an existing installed whirlpool tub to include a handheld shower wherein the overflow box 40 would have to be installed behind an existing building drywall 42.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a whirlpool tub and handheld shower combination which may be carried out in a variety of different embodiments. One embodiment includes a whirlpool tub, and a handheld shower mounted to flow water into the whirlpool tub, and with the proviso that the handheld shower is not connected to a diverter for diverting water from the handheld shower to another spout, shower device or faucet for flowing water into the whirlpool tub.
Another embodiment includes a handheld shower assembly including at least two pieces. A first piece is an elongated member having a bore form there through. The first piece is mounted to a deck of a whirlpool tub having a through hole form therein and so that the bore and the through hole are aligned. A flexible hose is connected to a second piece of the handheld shower assembly and so that a portion of the flexible hose extends through the bore in the first piece and through the through hole formed in the whirlpool tub deck rail. The second piece includes a showerhead for flowing water into the whirlpool tub.
These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description of exemplary embodiments and appended claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art assembly.
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The following description includes a variety of exemplary embodiments in which the present invention may take form or may be carried out. These exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention but merely to provide illustrated examples of embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment includes a handheld shower assembly 60 may include a first piece 62 having a bore 63 formed therethrough. The first piece 62 may include an abutment 64 which engages a deck 16 (for example, an upper deck rail 16′ of the deck 16) of a tub 12. In a preferred embodiment the tub 12 is a whirlpool tub. The tub 12 is constructed and arranged to hold an adult human in a sitting position. The first piece 62 may also include an extension 66 which may be threaded. The extension 66 extends through a through hole 67 formed in the deck 16 of the tub 12. A nut 68 may be placed over the threaded extension 66 to mount the first piece 62 to the deck rail 16. Of course, the first piece 62 may be mounted to the deck 16 by any of a variety of means known to those skilled in the art and is not limited to the specific combination of a threaded extension 66 and a nut 68.
The handheld shower assembly 60 may include a second piece 74 that is a handheld shower that includes a bore 71 formed therethrough. The handheld shower 74 includes a head 104 having a plurality of holes 106 form therein communicating with the bore 71 so that water may flow through the handled shower 74 and out of the holes 106. An aerator 108 may also be provided in a handheld shower 74 for aerating water flowing out of the head 104. A flexible hose 70 includes a first end 72 connected to the handheld shower second piece 74. For example, the second piece 74 may include a threaded extension 75 in which the bore 71 extends therethrough. A connector 69 may be secured to the flexible hose 70 and threaded on the threaded extension 75 of the second piece 74.
A cold water inlet conduit 76 is provided for flowing cold water to the second piece 74 of the handheld shower assembly 60. An anti-backflow check valve 87 may be connected to the cold water inlet conduit 76. When a valve is referred to in this description the reference numerals indicate the general location of the value and do not show actual valve structure because those are well known to those skilled in the art and the illustration of specific structures of valves is not necessary to understand the invention. The cold water inlet conduit 76 is connected to a valve 78 which is controlled by a cold water valve handle 80. A cold water outlet conduit 82 runs from the valve 78 to a T-shaped conduit 92 and connects to a first nipple 94 of the T-shaped conduit 92.
A hot water inlet conduit 84 is provided and is connected, for example, to a hot water heater at one end and at another end to a hot water valve 86 which is controlled by a hot water value handle 88. An anti-backflow check valve 85 may be connected to the hot water inlet conduit 84. A hot water outlet conduit 90 is connected to the hot water value 86 and extends to a second nipple 96 of the T-shaped conduit 92. A second end 100 of the flexible hose 70 is connected to a third nipple 98 of the T-shaped conduit 92. A connector 99 may be attached to the second end 100 of the flexible hose 70 and may be threaded on to the third nipple 98, soldered onto the third nipple 98 or otherwise attached to the third nipple 98 in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
An anti-backflow check valve 77 may also be provided in the second piece 74 of the handheld shower assembly 60. A button 154 may be provided on the second piece 74 of a handheld shower assembly 60 for moving a valve (not shown) in the second piece 74 to direct the flow of water first through the aerator 108 or directly through the holes 106 in the head 104 of the second piece 74. FIG. 3 illustrates another view of the second piece 74 showing the head 104, plurality of holes 106, and an aerator 108.
Referring now to FIG. 4, in one embodiment the tub 12 may be a whirlpool tub having a plurality of venturi jet units 110 that may be connected to a sidewall 14 of the tub. The sidewall 14 is connected to a upper deck 16 (which may extend generally in a horizontal direction) to which the handheld shower assembly 60 is also mounted to the deck 16. The handheld shower assembly 60 includes the first piece 62 mounted to the tub deck 16 and the second piece 74 which may be retractably mounted to the first piece 62. Cold water handle 80 and hot water handle 88 may also be mounted to the deck 16 as previously described. The tub 12 may abut a wall 58 of the building along at least one side of a tub 12. The tub 12 may also include an outer wall 54 which does not abut a wall of the building.
Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment includes the whirlpool tub 12 including a floor 130. Sidewalls 14 extend upward from the floor 130 and connected to a deck rail 16′ which may extend generally in a horizontal direction. One portion of the whirlpool tub may include an outer wall 54 extending downward from the deck rail 16 and supported by a floor 132 of the building. The outer wall 54 is spaced a distance from any wall 58 of the building as will be best appreciated from FIG. 4. The distance between the outer face 15 of the sidewall 14 and the inner face 56 of the outer wall 54, as illustrated by arrow B, is less than six inches. Despite this relatively small space (six inches) in which to make connections, the present invention can be easily installed utilizing the flexible hose assembly. Typically, the installation will take less than 2 hours.
The handheld shower assembly 60 may be utilized with any type of whirlpool tub known to those skilled in the art. FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a whirlpool tub and handheld shower assembly combination. For example, the plurality of jet units 110 may individually be connected to a water pipe 112 that is also connected to a water manifold 114. A pump pipe 116 may be provided and connected to the water manifold 114 at one end and to a pump 118 at another end. The pump 118 may also be connected to a recirculation pipe 120 that has one end connected to a recirculation port 122 for drawing water from the inside of the whirlpool tub and through the pump 118. The pump 118 may have variable speeds which may be controlled by a pump control knob 128 connected to the upper deck 16. The plurality of jet units 110 may be also connected to air pipes 156 that are connected to an air manifold 124. The amount of air allowed to flow into the air manifold 124 and the air pipes 156 may be controlled by an air control knob 126 also mounted on the deck 16. The whirlpool tub 12 may abut a building wall 58, and a floor 130 of the whirlpool tub may rest on a floor 132 of the building. As previously described, the handheld shower assembly 60 may include the first piece 62 mounted to the deck 16 and a second piece 74 retractably mounted to the first piece 62. The flexible hose 70 extends from the second piece 72 through the first piece 62 and through a through hole (not shown in FIG. 6) of the deck 16 (or deck rail 16′). The amount of water flowing through the second piece 74 of the handheld shower assembly 60 may be controlled by a lever 150 in a manner which will be described hereafter.
Referring now to FIG. 7, one embodiment includes a handheld shower assembly 60 including a first piece 62 mounted to the deck 16 of the tub 12 and a second piece 74 having a flexible hose 70 attached thereto. The flexible hose 70 extends through a bore 71 formed in the first piece 62. The hot water inlet 84 (not shown) and the cold water inlet 76 are connected to a single valve 158 in the assembly 60. The flexible hose 70 is also connected to the single valve 158 in the assembly 60. A single handle 150 is provided and connected to the single valve 158 for controlling the flow of both hot water and cold water into the flexible hose 70 in a manner known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment the first piece 62 extends above the deck 16 the distance, as shown by arrow A, of at least one inch.
Referring now to FIG. 8, another embodiment includes a first piece 62 of the handheld shower assembly 60 which may extend vertically straight up from a deck 16 and includes a bore 71 formed in a side thereof into which a portion of a second piece 74 is received to hold the second piece 74.
Referring now to FIG. 9, in another embodiment the handheld shower assembly 60 may include only the second piece 74 which is constructed and arranged to be received in the through hole 67 formed in the deck 16. The flexible hose 70 extends through the through hole 67 and the deck 16 and is connected to hot and cold water supplies in a manner illustrated in FIGS. 7 or 2, or in any other manner known to those skilled in the art with the proviso that no diverter is connected to the flexible hose 74 for diverting water from the second piece 74 to another spout, shower device or faucet for flowing water into the tub 12.
Referring now to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the invention includes a handheld shower assembly 60 including the second piece 74 as previously described and a flexible hose 70 connected to the second piece 74 at one end 72, and at the second end 100 the flexible hose 70 is connected to hot and cold water supplies, for example, through a T-shaped connector having a third nipple 98. The tub 12 may abut a building wall 58. The first piece 62 may optionally be provided and mounted to the deck 16. The flexible hose 70 may extend through the second piece 74 and through a through hole formed in one of the deck 16. The first piece 62 may be positioned or bent to prevent water from flowing through the through hole when the second piece 74 is in an elevated position. A handheld shower holder 134 is mounted to the wall 58 at a position that is at least three feet, as designated by arrow C, above the deck rail 16. The handheld shower holder 134 may be a single piece, or two pieces wherein one piece is movable with respect to the other to adjust the position of a second piece 74 of a handheld shower assembly 60. One embodiment of a two-piece handheld shower holder 134 is illustrated in FIG. 11, and includes a first piece 160 have a body portion 136 mounted to the building wall 58. Spaced apart projections 138 extend from the body portion 136. A second piece 162 is provided and may include spaced apart arms 142 defining a space 144 therebetween through which the flexible hose 170 may be passed. The second piece 74 of the handheld shower assembly 160 may be supported by the arms 142. A tail 146 extends from the arms 142 and may have a through hole formed therein. The projections 138 may also have a through hole form therein, and a pin 148 may extend through the projections 138 and the tail 146 in a manner to allow the second piece 162 of the handheld shower holder 134 to pivotally move about the pin 148 in a manner to adjust the position of the second piece 74 of the handheld shower assembly 60.
Referring now to FIG. 12, one embodiment for the invention includes a valve control including single handle 150 and a rotatable knob 152 attached thereto which may be used in unison to turn the water supply on by moving the handle 150 in a linear direction and controlling the amount of hot and cold water by rotating the knob 152 in a manner which is known to those skilled in the art.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing, numerous embodiments eliminate the need for a diverter connected to the flexible hose 70. Further, numerous embodiments may be installed in less than two hours thus drastically reducing the time of assembly, and the associated costs of prior art assemblies such as that shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, an existing installed whirlpool tub may be easily retrofitted to include a handheld shower 74.
Patent Application
20090205122
