Abstract:
A rigid, portable, and modular outdoor shower enclosure has a base, walls, and a shower fixture. The shower enclosure may be quickly and easily reassembled after disassembly for storage or transportation. When assembled, pegs, sockets, and gravity constrain the shower enclosure in all degrees of motion. Bolts, screws, and other means of affixing the panels to the base and frame are not necessary to make the shower enclosure rigid. The pegs and sockets are not visible when the shower enclosure is in its assembled position, giving the shower enclosure the pleasing appearance of a permanent structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/821,412 filed on May 9, 2013, entitled “Outdoor Shower,” by inventors Kirsten E. Oxboel and James N. Lobley. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to outdoor shower enclosures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A number of shower enclosures have been developed to permit persons to shower outdoors. Most prior art devices involve some type of frame supporting a shower curtain or other non-rigid, non-transparent material that affords privacy to the person using the shower. See Barney U.S. Pat. No. 20,110,094,027; Jackson U.S. Pat. No. 20,080,040,851; Zheng U.S. Pat. No. 20,110,226,298; Suarez U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,536; Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,927; Roberts U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,369; Patterson U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,992 and Witczak U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,310. 
         [0004]    Outdoor shower enclosures which have rigid side panels are known. For example, Mazpule U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,778 discloses a portable enclosure assembly with panelized walls. Each wall panel is comprised of at least three wall segments that interlock along mating tongue-and-grove edges. While this assembly is rigid, it does not have the pleasing appearance of a permanent shower because of its segmented wall panels. The visible mating tongue-and-grove interconnecting means also necessitates a number of assembly steps for each panel. 
         [0005]    Boegler U.S. Pat. No. 7,979,926 discloses a collapsible outdoor shower enclosure. The panels of the enclosure are connected by hinges, allowing it to fold into its collapsed position. The enclosure does not include a base or a means of attaching the enclosure to a base. 
         [0006]    Sedala U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,310 also discloses a portable shower stall. The side walls of the shower stall are secured to posts at the corners of the shower stall. The only means of securing the side panels to the posts disclosed involves the use of screws. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An object of the invention is to provide a knock-down outdoor shower enclosure that can be easily assembled without tools and may be easily disassembled for storage or transportation. A further object is to provide a shower that is structurally sound and sturdy, durable, that has the pleasing appearance of a permanent structure. 
         [0008]    In accord with the invention, an embodiment of a rigid, portable, and modular outdoor shower enclosure comprises a base, walls, and a shower fixture. When assembled, pegs, sockets, and gravity constrain the shower enclosure in all degrees of motion. Bolts, screws, and other means of affixing the panels to the base and frame are not necessary to make the enclosure rigid. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the invention, the sockets that accept the pegs at the bottom and top of each side panel are formed by the hollow bore of columns that extend from the bottom to the top of the panels. The columns are vertical when assembled. Alternating slats fitted to the columns block the line of sight into the shower enclosure, affording privacy to the user. 
         [0010]    A tapered drain pan may rest in the base to collect greywater from the shower and direct it to a drain. Greywater flowing down the drain passes through a plumbing fixture to an outlet. Adapters may be fitted to the outlet. In one embodiment of the invention, the adapter is threaded to accept a garden hose. 
         [0011]    A plumbing fixture that includes one or more overhead or handheld shower fittings, knobs to adjust the water temperature and pressure, and adapters to accommodate hot and cold water supply may be affixed to the interior side of one of the panels. The adapters for hot and cold water supply may be threaded to accommodate garden hoses. 
         [0012]    The shower enclosure is shipped and stored in a disassembled fashion. The panels can be set on the base, or removed for storage or shipping. The shower will most commonly be assembled and used outdoors, but may also be assembled and used indoors. 
         [0013]    The invention presented in this application is an advancement over the prior art as it is a rigid, portable, and modular shower enclosure that has the pleasing appearance of a permanent shower but that can be easily assembled without tools and disassembled for storage or transportation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a single-occupant shower enclosure when assembled; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the single-occupant shower enclosure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the single-occupant shower enclosure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the single-occupant shower enclosure of  FIG. 1  when disassembled. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a simplified rendering of the base, side panels, top and doors of a shower enclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates peg and socket connections of the single-occupant shower enclosure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows the perspective view of a double-occupant shower enclosure when assembled; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the double-occupant shower of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a modification of a single-occupant shower enclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The invention was previously described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/821,412 filed May 9, 2013, entitled “Outdoor Shower.” The disclosure thereof is hereby incorporated by reference. The various embodiments of the invention described below are preferably made with the frame, base, columns, and shower fixtures made of polished metal; the wall slats made of finished wood; and the pegs made of plastic. Other materials of construction may be used. 
         [0024]    A single-occupant outdoor shower enclosure  20 , having features which make it particularly suitable for use outdoors, is first described. Another product, a double-occupant shower enclosure  10 , is then described. The single-occupant and double-occupant shower enclosures have similar inventive features. It will thus be understood how still other shower enclosures comprising panels and a base may embody the principles and features of the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  show shower enclosure  20  in different orientations.  FIG. 4  shows shower enclosure  20  when disassembled. A stick-figure rendering of a shower enclosure comprised of a base, three panels, a top, and two doors appears in  FIG. 5  with doors open.  FIG. 6  illustrates peg and socket connections of shower enclosure  20 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show shower enclosure  10  when assembled and disassembled. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows shower enclosure  20  in the assembled position with left door  14  and right door  16  closed and a shower head plumbing fixture  18  installed. Shower enclosure  20  has six base columns. Four base columns  221 ,  222 ,  223  and  224  of the six total base columns are visible in  FIG. 1 . The orientation of shower enclosure  20  in  FIG. 1  blocks the remaining two base columns, which form the base at corner  17 . Upper base side rails  241  and  242  and lower base side rails  261  and  262  connect base columns  221 ,  222 ,  223  and  224 . Corners under doors  14  and  16  have one base column each, such as  221  and  222  at corners  13  and  15 , respectively. Alternate embodiments of the invention, such as shower enclosure  800  of  FIG. 9  have to additional base columns  703  and  707 , resulting in two base columns at all corners. Corners  11  and  17  have two base columns each, such as  223  and  224  located at corner  11 . 
         [0027]    Three side panels rest on six base columns when shower enclosure  20  is in the assembled position. Side panel  272  comprised of columns  274  and  276 , side rail  278 , and slats  279  rests on base columns  222  and  223 . Columns, side rails, and slats similarly comprise side panel  282  and side panel  292 , which each similarly rest on two base columns each. Base pegs  92 ,  94 ,  96  and  98  and top pegs  91 ,  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99  and  101 , which are visible when shower enclosure  20  is disassembled, as in  FIG. 4 , are not visible when shower enclosure  20  is assembled, as in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    When in the assembled position, top frame  202  mounts to the tops of columns  274 ,  276 ,  284 ,  286 ,  294  and  296 . Pegs  91 ,  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99  and  101  shown in  FIG. 4  mounted to top frame  202  insert into sockets at the tops of columns  274 ,  276 ,  284 ,  286 ,  294  and  296  when shower enclosure  20  is assembled, as in  FIG. 1 . Mounting top frame  202  to the tops of the panels prevents the panels from swaying about base columns and generally adds rigidity to shower enclosure  20 . 
         [0029]    In an embodiment of the invention, slats  12  attach to columns, obstructing the line of sight into the shower enclosure. Slats attached to the exterior side of columns alternate with slats attached to interior side of columns. In other embodiments of the invention, slats may connect to wooden ribs that mount on columns. This embodiment is preferred when metal columns are used to reduce the amount of drilling into columns. The alternating slats overlap slightly. Notwithstanding the slight overlap, the width of the columns creates an air gap between the alternating slats. Such construction spacing provides good ventilation through the side, enables rapid drying and inhibits mold growth, while at the same time substantially blocking visibility of a person within the enclosure. 
         [0030]    Doors  14  and  16  attach to columns  284  and  276 , respectively, of side panels  282  and  272 , respectively, by means of hinges. Alternatively, doors  14  and  16  may attach to independent columns  701  and  703  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates the non-symmetrical doors of shower enclosure  20 , an embodiment of the invention. Right door  45  may be comprised of interior wood slats  46  attached to the interior of right door frame  31  and exterior wood slats  47  attached to the exterior of right door frame  31 . Right door  45  has a handle  44 . Exterior slats  47  of right door  45  overlap right door frame  31 , creating a doorjamb for right door  45 . 
         [0032]    Similarly, left door  48  may be comprised of interior wood slats  34  attached to the interior of left door frame  32  and exterior wood slats  33  attached to the exterior of left door frame  31 . Left door  48  does not have a handle. Interior slats  34  of left door  48  overlap right door frame, creating an additional doorjamb for door  45 . 
         [0033]    Base top  39  shown in  FIG. 2  may be a permeable floor. A permeable floor may be constructed from boards  74  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Boards  74  making the permeable floor rest on upper side rails  71 . Boards  74  may be connected by joists affixed to the underside of boards  74 . Space  76  between boards  74  makes the floor permeable and prevents greywater from the use of the shower water from accumulating on floor  39  by passing through to the ground below or to drain pan  500  shown in 
         [0034]    A plumbing fixture may be attached to a panel. A plumbing fixture may be comprised of shower head  71  attached to pipe  72  that receives hot and cold garden hose adapters  75  and  76 , respectively. The plumbing fixture may include a means of controlling the water pressure and temperature at the shower head, such as a water faucet. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows shower enclosure  20  when disassembled. The various individual components shown in  FIG. 4 , being base  81 , drain pan  500 , left door  48 , right door  45 , left side panel  83 , right side panel  87 , back panel  85 , and top frame  202  may be stacked in various configurations not shown for storage or shipping. The taper of drain pan  500  causes water to flow into drain  502  and out adapter  504 , which is threaded to accept a garden hose. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of the peg and socket connections of shower enclosure  20 . The cross-section of pegs  421  and  419  can take the form of many shapes, including that of a circle, triangle or a rectangle. The embodiment presented in this application has pegs  421  and  419  with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Another embodiment of the invention would involve complimentary pegs that are mounted to the base and panels and that are mated with a double-ended socket that acts as a coupling. Channels  423  and  425  or holes cut lengthwise into or through pegs  421  and  419  prevent water from becoming trapped above pegs  421  and  419 . Pegs may be tapered to facilitate insertion into sockets or, the case of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the bore of columns  415  and  417 . 
         [0037]    The bore of base sockets  411  and  413  is shorter than the length of pegs  421  and  419 , such that when pegs  413  and  411  rest in base sockets  413  and  411  the pegs  421  and  419  protrude from base sockets  413  and  411  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and are available to insert into the sockets  417  and  415  formed by the bore at the bottoms of columns of adjacent panels. When in the assembled position, pegs fit completely in sockets and are not visible, as in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0038]    As an alternative to fitting into sockets in both base and panel sockets, pegs may be fixed to the base and insert only into panel sockets. Likewise, pegs may be fixed to the panels and insert only into base sockets. 
         [0039]    When assembled, the pegs, sockets, and gravity constrain the shower enclosure in all degrees of motion. Bolts, screws, and other means of affixing the panels to the base and frame are not necessary to make the enclosure rigid. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a simplified rendering of shower enclosure  20  illustrating alternate axes along which the peg and socket assembly of  FIG. 5  may be aligned. While locating two peg and socket assemblies to secure panel  607  to base  601  along axes EE and GG gives the pegs the most mechanical advantage, the assemblies can be located at other locations, such as along axes EE′ and GG′. Pegs at the top of panel  607  may not lie along the same axes as pegs at the bottom of panel  607 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in the form of shower enclosure  10 , which is suitable for two or more occupants. The exploded drawing of shower enclosure  10  shown in  FIG. 8  demonstrates that shower enclosure  10  shares the peg and socket construction of shower enclosure  20  shown in  FIG. 1  et seq. 
         [0042]    Components of the shower may be formed of metals, woods, molded synthetic resin or other materials as desired. 
         [0043]    The invention, with explicit and implicit variations and advantages, has been described and illustrated with respect to several embodiments. Those embodiments should be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Any use of words which relate to the orientation of an article pictured in space are for facilitating comprehension and should not be limiting should an article be oriented differently. Any use of words “preferred” and variations thereof suggest a feature or combination which is desirable but which is not necessarily mandatory. Thus embodiments lacking any such preferred feature or combination may be within the scope of the claims which follow. Persons skilled in the art may make various changes in form and detail of the invention embodiments which are described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.