Abstract:
A shower mount is mounted to a fixed shower arm in a bathing area for universally receiving a hand-held showerhead. The shower mount is connected to the shower arm and includes a base member with a fluid passageway in communication with the shower arm and a shower hose. Water flows through the fluid passageway and shower hose to a showerhead. A shower saddle is interchangeably mounted the base member to support the showerhead. The shower saddle is selected depending upon the design of the showerhead in order to securely retain the showerhead to the base member.

Description:
The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/709,070, filed on Aug. 17, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a mounting saddle for a hand-held shower. In particular, a mount adaptable to retain various hand-held shower at the shower arm for dispensing shower water. 
     Hand-held showers have become widely accepted as a necessary convenience for bathing. In order to eliminate the need for both a hand-held shower and an overhead or fixed showerhead, means have been developed for securing the hand-held shower at or near the shower arm extending from the wall. In such a position, the hand-held shower operates as an overhead shower for general bathing yet can be removed for specific bathing requirements. Water is directed to the hand-held through a hose which is in fluid communication with the shower arm on the wall. 
     Because hand-held showers are offered in a variety of shapes, sizes and finishes, a different mount may be required for each product. The mount must be configured to snugly receive the hand-held shower to prevent inadvertent release. Depending upon the offering of hand-held shower, a corresponding number of mounts may be required resulting in increased manufacturing and inventory requirements. 
     Accordingly, providing an improved arrangement for a showerhead mount adaptable to receive multiple handle designs is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An example shower according to this invention provides an interchangeable shower mount to accommodate varying shower handle configurations and finishes. 
     The shower mount includes a base member and a shower saddle. The base member is adapted to be threadably attached to a fixed shower arm extending from the wall in the bathing area. The base member has a through bore to direct fluid flow from the shower arm to a shower hose connected to a downstream end of the base member. Water flows through the shower hose to a shower head connected at the opposing end. 
     The shower saddle is mounted to the base member to support the shower head. The shower saddle is interchangeable to accommodate a specific design of the shower head. A retaining feature on the base member locks with a snap feature on the shower saddle to retain the shower saddle to the base member. A release on the base member can disconnect the shower saddle. As a result, the base member can be utilized with a variety of shower saddles thereby reducing manufacturing and inventory costs. To further customize the shower mount, different connectors can be used with the base member for attaching the shower mount to the shower arm to accommodate differing shower arm designs. 
     These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example shower of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the example shower mount; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the example shower mount; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the example shower mount; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the example shower mount; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the example shower mount; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the example shower with a second example shower saddle; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the example shower with a third example shower saddle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example shower  10  having a shower mount  12 . A shower arm  14  extends from a wall  16 . The shower arm  14  is fluidly connected to a water supply  18  to provide hot and cold water for the shower  10 . The shower mount  12  includes a base member  20  and a shower saddle  22 . The base member  20  is used to connect a showerhead  24  to the shower arm  12 . A shower hose  26  extends between the showerhead  24  and the base member  20 . The showerhead  24  is supported on the shower mount  12  and can be removed to allow handling by a user. The showerhead  24  includes a handle  28  to support the showerhead  24  on the shower saddle  22 . The handle  28  can be removed from shower saddle  22  when desired by the user. The handle  28  includes a nut used to attach the shower hose  26  to the handle  28 . The nut fits within the shower shower saddle  22 . The shapes of the handle  28 , including the nut determine the shape of the shower saddle  22 . 
     As shown, there are plural saddle  22   a - n  and plural showerhead  34   a - n . Each of the saddles  22   a - n  will fit on the common base member  20 . Thus, a selected saddle and showerhead can be mated to the base member  20 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the example shower mount  12 . The base member  20  includes an attaching portion  30  extending therefrom. The attaching portion  30  has a threaded connection  32  to mate with the shower arm  14  in a typical manner. By replacing the attaching portion  30  the base member  20  can be adapted to fit differing shower arms  12 . A ball joint  34  is located between the attaching portion  30  and a sleeve  36  the base member  20 . The ball joint  34  rotates relative to the sleeve  36 . Thus, the shower mount  12  can be rotatably adjusted relative to the shower arm  14 . 
     The shower saddle  22  is mounted to the base member  20  and extends in an opposing direction from the attaching portion  30 . The shower saddle  22  includes a handle support  38  that extends in an opposing direction from the attaching portion  28 . The handle support  38  is shaped to receive the handle  28 , including the nut. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the example shower mount  12 . The base member  20  includes a support portion  42  that extends out to support the shower saddle  22 . A connector  44  extends downward from the support portion  42  for attaching the shower hose  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The connector  44  is preferably a threaded connection as is typical for shower hoses  26 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the example shower mount  12 . The handle support  38  includes a handle slot  46  shaped to receive the handle  28 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the example shower mount  12  including the base member  20  and the shower saddle  22 . The shower saddle  22  is preferably manufactured as a separate component from the base member  20 . The base member  20  is manufactured from a high grade plastic or other material suitable to act as a water conduit  48  for water from the water supply  18  to the shower hose  26 . The shower saddle  22  is made from a material adaptable to have different surface finishes, such as chrome plating, or color applied. One skilled in the art would know suitable materials and application methods for the desired surface finishes. 
     Guiding features  50  on the base member  20  are used to align the shower saddle  22 . A gasket  52  is located within the base member  20  once assembled to prevent water leaks from the water conduit  48 . The base member  20  includes the supporting portion  42  to received the shower saddle  22 . The gasket  52  fits between the support portion  42  and the sleeve  36 . The support portion  42  has a threaded member  54  to fit with and retain the support portion  42  to the sleeve  36 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section of an assembled shower mount  12 . The threaded connection  32  is adapted to fit the typical shower arm  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The threaded connection  32 , the ball joint  34  and the supporting portion  42  define the water conduit  48 . The gasket  52  is located between the support portion  42  and the sleeve  36  to seal the water conduit  48 . Pressure is applied to the gasket  52  when the threaded member  54  is received within the sleeve  36 . 
     Guiding feature  50  correspond with the guided features  56 . A retaining feature  52  removable secures the shower saddle  26  to the base member  18 . A release button  60  is mounted on a support post  62  and biased away from the base member  20  with a spring  64 . The release button  60  extends through a slot  66  in the base member  20  to be accessed by the user. 
     A first interlocking feature  68  within the base member  20  interlocks with a second interlocking feature  70  on the shower saddle  22 . In the example shown, the first interlocking feature  68  is a protrusion  72  extending inwardly from the base member  20 . The second interlocking feature  70  is a snap feature  74  extending from the shower saddle  26 . The snap feature  74  is a u-shaped design having a locking portion  76 . The u-shape of the snap feature  74  biases the locking portion  76  away from the shower saddle  26  and toward the protrusion  72 . 
     The guided features  56  on the shower saddle  22  are aligned with guiding features  50  on the base member  20 . Pressure is applied to move the shower saddle  22  against the base member  20 . The snap feature  74  is pushed together as it passes by the protrusion  72 . Once the snap feature  74  moves past the protrusion  72  it returns to the original position. The locking portion  76  interfits with the protrusion  72  to prevent the shower saddle  22  from moving away from the base member  20 . 
     To release the shower saddle  22 , pressure is applied to the release button  60  by the user. The release button  60  is moved toward the base member  20  overcoming the bias of spring  64 . The movement of the release button  60  acts on the snap feature  74  to squeeze the snap feature  68  together allowing the locking portion  76  to move past the protrusion  72 . Once the snap feature  74  moves past the protrusion  72  it returns to the original position. 
     The finish of the shower saddle  22  and the shape of the handle support  38  can be selected to correspond to a desired handle  28  configuration and finish. Multiple shower saddles  22  with different handle supports  38  and finishes can be manufactured to secure with the base member  20 . The shower saddle  22  can be selected and replaced base upon the configuration and finish of the handle  28 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a second example shower mount  100  having a shower saddle  102 . The shower mount  100  has a base member  104  that is adapted to fit a shower arm  106 . The shower saddle  102  has a handle support  108  that corresponds to the configuration of a handle  110 . The shower saddle  102  is supported on the base member  104  and is retained in a similar manner to that described above. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a third example shower mount  200  having a shower saddle  202 . The shower mount  200  has a base member  204  that is adapted to fit a shower arm  206 . The shower saddle  202  has a handle support  208  that corresponds to the configuration of a handle  210 . The shower saddle  202  is supported on the base member  204  and is retained in a similar manner to that described above. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.