Hollow shower panel

A device for showering and the like has a body having a front wall, a peripheral wall and an open rear side with an edge configured to abut against a wall, hose means associated with the body for supplying water for taking a shower, a throughgoing receptacle formed in the body, so that the body is formed as an element surrounding the receptacle, which receptacle allows a user through the receptacle to access existing water control means in assembled condition, means for connecting the hose means to a source of water, and to existing water controlled means, the body having at least a portion which is formed as a hollow element having a U-shaped cross-section with a rear edge configured to abut against a wall so as to form hollow channels for the hose means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for taking showers and the like.

Devices of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. There are a plurality of devices which are mountable in bathrooms and used for issuing water for taking showers and the like. One of such devices is disclosed in our U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,682. It is believed that this device can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for showering and the like, which is a further improvement of the existing devices.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a device for showering and the like, comprising a body having a front wall, a peripheral wall and an open rear side with an edge configured to abut against a wall; hose means associated with said body for supplying water for taking a shower; a throughgoing receptacle formed in said body, so that said body is formed as an element surrounding said receptacle, which receptacle allows a user through said receptacle to access existing water control means in assembled condition; means for connecting said hose means to a source of water; and separate means for suspending said body, said means for connecting said hose means to a source of water including at least one hose extending from a rear side of said body to a front side of said body and connectable to the existing water control means, at least a part of said body being hollow and having a rear edge configured to be pressed against a wall so as to form hollow channels.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention a throughgoing passage is provided in the body and open at said rear side of the body to allow passage of a hose.

In accordance with still a further feature of the present invention, the body can be composed of upper and lower body parts movable relative to one another.

Shelves and the like can be mounted on the upper body part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device shown inFIGS. 1-5for showering and the like, in accordance with the present invention has a single body which is configured as a panel and identified as a whole with reference numeral1. The body1is hollow and has a U-shaped cross-section with a front wall, a peripheral wall and an open rear side with an edge to abut against a wall and the like as shown in the drawing.

The U-shaped cross-section forms hollow channels for hoses and other elements. The edge of the rear side of the hollow body1is formed by rear ends of two legs that form U and are opposite to the web which connects the legs with one another. The rear ends of the two legs of U are substantially uninterrupted over a whole periphery of the body1. The body1is mountable for example on a wall of a bathroom.

A pipe or hose system includes hose means with a hose16extending from a control9to a shower arm, a hose20extending from the control9to the nozzles4, and a hose21extending to an outlet for a hand shower or a tub outlet as shown inFIGS. 1,2. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 4,5the control9and the outlet5form a single unit.

As can be seen from the drawings, two groups of the jet nozzle4are provided. The jet nozzles in each group are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction, or in other words in the direction of elongation of the body1, and also the groups of the jet nozzles are spaced from one another in a transverse direction. The control element9can be formed as a two-way zone control for switching water to corresponding elements, in particular to the nozzles4, or to the outlet5for a hose6of a hand shower7.

The device ofFIGS. 1 and 2is different from the device ofFIGS. 4 and 5in that the control9′ located at a lower side is connected by the hose16with a water source.

In accordance with the present invention a receptacle12is provided in the body1and formed as a throughgoing opening. The receptacle12is preferably elongated in the direction of elongation of the body1. The body1is therefore formed as a peripherally closed hollow U-shaped element which surrounds the receptacle12.

As shown inFIGS. 1-5the receptacle12is formed so that an existing water control element24mounted on the wall of a bathroom and the like can be accommodated in the receptacle12so that the body1does not interfere with the water control element24, and a user can correspondingly operate the control element24, as needed, to supply water, to change water temperature, etc.

In the region of the receptacle, means are also provided for attaching at least one supporting member for supporting accessories. These means can be formed for example as a groove10in which a shelf11can be introduced forcedly to be retained in it. Accessories such as for example bottles with shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc.12can be placed on the shelf11. The wall has a thickness. A reinforcement1′ can be provided in the region of the groove10.

Shelves can be provided at both vertical sides of the control element24as considered in a vertical direction. When it is not necessary to arrange the control element24in the region of the receptacle, the shelve can occupy more space, and can be provided at various locations in the direction of elongation of the receptacle. As shown in the drawings, the direction of elongation of the receptacle12coincides with the direction of elongation of the body1.

In accordance with the present invention, the hose16is connected with a source of water. For this purpose a passage1″ is provided in an upper edge (FIGS. 1-2) or in a lower edge (FIG. 10) of the receptacle12and formed for example as a slot which opens from a rear side of the body1as shown inFIG. 3. Therefore, the hose16, can pass from the rear side of the body1to a lateral side of the body1or to a front side of the body through the slot.

A device for showering shown in furtherFIGS. 6 and 8has a lower body part1, which corresponds to the body1ofFIGS. 1-5, an upper body part3, and a sliding element2. In the shown embodiment the sliding element2can be fixedly connectable to the lower body part1and vertically slidable relative to the upper body part3(inside or outside of the latter). It is believed that an opposite arrangement is also possible.

The device further has a water supply hose16which is connectable to an existing water issuing element15a, shown as an overhead shower arm, and to a water distribution control9which distributes incoming water through outlet hoses20and21to jet outlets4and to the outlet5connectable to a shower hose6with a hand shower7.

The water supply hose16can be also connected to a 2-way water diverter13, which then connects to the water issuing element15aand to a shower head8. Therefore, by turning a diverter switch14, a user can divert a flow to the shower head or the panel.

The water supply hose16passes from the back of the body or panel through the sliding element2with the upper body3and comes out at a side or a front of the panel or the body through a passage18. The upper body part3has an opening (passage17) that allows to slide it over the water issuing element15ain the form of an overhead shower arm, thereby securing its position vertically.

During installation the lower body part1can be positioned higher or lower (according to user's height preference in existing wall fixture limitations) by moving the lower body part1with a sliding element2into or out of the upper body part3. The above described embodiment is shown inFIGS. 6-8.

FIGS. 9-10show another embodiment of the invention. It is used to fit showers when the water issuing element15is not an overhead shower arm, but instead a part of (or in the same area as) existing wall-mounted on/off/temperature control24′, usually located on a lower wall.

The water supply hose16comes to the front through a slot passage26and connects the water issuing element15, which can end up inside of the receptacle12, as shown, or outside, for example below the lower body part1a.

In this case, the lower body part la can function without the elements2and3and without the shower head. However, if the shower head is desired, then the upper body part3and the sliding element2remain and an additional outlet hose22is connected to the water distribution control9″ passing through the sliding element2and the upper body3and connectable to a shower head outlet23built into the upper body part3, to which the shower head8is connected. In this case, the water distribution control9′ must have an additional outlet connection and a switching means to direct water flow to three outlets, as inFIG. 9, instead of two outlets, as inFIG. 8.

When the overhead shower arm is not present, wall brackets25may be required to secure the upper and lower body parts of panel to the wall. This can be carried out by screws or adhesive tape.

As shown inFIGS. 11-13the sliding element2can be connectable to the lower body1by screws inserted through screw holes27of the sliding element2and screw holes29of the lower body part1that are aligned with one another.

A hose passage slot28of the sliding element2is also aligned with a hose passage30of the lower body part1to allow passage of the water supply hose16or the shower outlet hose22.

The lower body part1is lined up and connected to a wall by an L-shaped bracket33connectable to the lower body part1through a slot31by a tightening screw32and attachable to the wall by a piece of tape or screw. By loosening of the screw32the panel or the body of the device can be removed if needed, for example for cleaning, leaving the bracket33attached to the wall.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the shape of the body and its parts. As can be seen fromFIG. 13, the lower body part1has a substantially hollow U-shaped cross-section with an open side top of U pressing against the wall, so as to create hollow tunnels for hiding connections, hoses, etc. and an opposite side (bottom of u) parallel to the wall. The upper body part3can have the same shape. The sliding element2can also have the same shape.

As can be seen fromFIGS. 14-16, the sliding element2is connectable to the overhead shower arm or the water issuing element15aby a wire rail35. The rail35hands over the shower arm. Its ends are inserted into openings38and39of the sliding element2and through locking parts36and37. The vertical position of the lower body part1is adjusted by moving the sliding element2up or down the rail.

To fix the position, a male thread41of the locking element37is inserted through an opening39and screws into a female thread42of the locking element36. When this connection is tightened, the sliding element3is locked between the locking parts36and37, while a slotted tip43of the locking element2grips around the rail35, thus preventing a vertical movement.

As can be seen fromFIGS. 17-20, a shelf or another part44can be provided, which has a cutout45fitting a profile and a depth of the upper body part3. Therefore, when pressed against the upper body part, L-shaped mounting ends46of the shelf will also press against the wall to be mounted to it by an adhesive tape or screws47. In addition, the shelf44can have a section48wrapping horizontally around the upper body part3to give the shelf an additional support.

FIG. 21shows an alternative construction of the sliding element and the upper body part3′, in which the sliding element2′ and the upper part3′ has an angled shape completely coextensive with one another, or also provided with additional rounded ends in the upper body part3. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 16, the sliding element2′ is wider than the upper body part3and is slidable over the upper body part3′, instead of under it.

FIGS. 23-28illustrate the connection of the upper body part3and the sliding element2. The upper body part3and the sliding element2have one or more holes49and50. When any of the two holes are aligned with one another, a locking pin51can be inserted to lock the upper body part3and the sliding element2with one another. When a plurality of holes49and50are used, the upper body part3and the sliding element2can be connected with one another at different points, making the assembly length-adjustable. In this case the shelf is mounted on the sliding element2instead of the upper body part3.

In addition a fixture or a shelf44can be added. It has an L-shaped mounting on a support section52with a pin hole53. A locking pin51can be inserted through the pin hole53,49and50to hold the shelf44in place and at the same time to lock the sliding element2to the upper body part3.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 29-32the sliding element2and the upper body part3are provided with a plurality of slots54and55, instead of the holes of the previous embodiment. When any of two corresponding slots are aligned with one another, sections56and57of the shelf44are inserted through both slots to lock the sliding element and the upper body part3together, and at the same time to provide the storage space for the user. The shelf44is held in place by the locking section57and a support section58.