IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOWERS AND BATHS

Abstract: A shower curtain having facing sheets of material secured together along peripheral parts thereof with the space between the sheets formed with a series of passageways (23), (25), (27). Air is supplied to the curtain and inflates the passageways, thereby forcing the sheets from a limp folded condition to an extended, operative condition. A bath (1) for use with the curtain has a bottom (3) or side wall formed with a series of apertures (5) connected to a source (11) of air under pressure. A disinfectant or perfumed material is supported within the conduit means (7). Air from the source is therefore perfumed within the conduit means (7) and the perfumed air is bubbled through water within the bath or, alternately, air from the source is charged with disinfectant and serves to disinfect the conduit means whilst the bath is empty. The conduit means are formed integrally with the bottom or side wall of the bath.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOWERS AND BATHS This invention relates to curtains, suitably curtains for use as shower curtains. According to the present invention there is provided a curtain, suitably for use as a shower curtain, wherein facing sheets of material are secured together along peripheral parts thereof, means are provided for suspending the sheets from a curtain rail, the space between the sheets is formed with a. series of passageways, and an inlet is provided for the supply of air under pressure to the said passageways, the arrangement being such that air supplied to the said inlet inflates the passageways and forces the *** sheecs from a limp folded condition to an extended condition, whereby the curtain is moved from a drawn-back to an operative condition. Preferably, the said passageways comprise a series of elongate parallel-arranged passages. These passages may extend vertically within the space between the two sheets. The passages may be formed by securing the two sheets together along a series of vertically extending lines. A series of apertures may be formed in one of the sheets so that, in use, air flowing along the passageways flows outwardly- through the apertures into a shower area. Means may then be provided for warming the air prior to supplying the air to the passageways. A curtain according to the invention may be associated with a bath having a bottom wall or a side wall formed with a series of apertures, and means for supplying air under to the interior of the bath via the said apertures, whereby the air bubbles through water within the bath. In this case, valve means may be provided for alternately directing air from the supply means to the input to the curtain or to the apertures in the bath. According to the invention there is also provided a bath having a bottom or side wall formed with a series of apertures, conduit means for connecting the apertures to a source of air under pressure, and means for supporting a disinfectant or perfumed,material within the conduit means, whereby air from the source is perfumed within the conduit means and the perfumed air is bubbled through water within the bath or air from the source is charged with disinfectant and serves to disinfect the conduit means whilst the bath is empty. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bath provided with a shower curtain in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bath and shower curtain of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a bath in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show a bath 1 which can be used for normal bathing or as a "bubble-bath" and which is provided with a wall-mounted spray and a shower curtain. For use as a bubble-bath, a bottom wall 3 of the bath 1 is SUBSTITUTE SHEET formed with a series of air inlet apertures.5 which are arranged in two or more rows extending lengthwise of the bath. Each row may also have one or more side branches containing further air inlet apertures. The apertures 5 in each row or branch are connected to an associated conduit 7 formed integrally with the bottom wall 3« Each conduit 7 is connected to a manifold 9 at the head of the bath 1 and the manifold 9 is in turn connected to an air compressor 11. Associated with the compressor 11 is a heater (not shown) . For use as a shower, a conventional wall-mounted spray (not shown) is provided at the head of the bath and a valve (also not shown) is provided for diverting water from the bath taps to the spray. A curtain rail 15 is mounted above the bath 1 and extends a short distance along one side of the bath and then transversely across the bath to an opposite side thereof. Suspended from the rail 15 is a shower curtain 17. The curtain 17 is formed of two facing sheets 19 of en -air impervious material, such as p.v.c, a tightly woven textile, or a textile waterproofed with silicone or similar material. Each sheet is generally rectangular and the two sheets are secured together in an airtight or substantially airtight manner along the peripheries thereof. Additionally, the two sheets are secured together in a substantially airtight manner along a series of vertically extending lines 21. Each of the lines 21 extends downwardly from a location a short distance below the top of each sheet 19 to a location a short distance above the bottom of the sheets. The space between the sheets SUBSTITUTESHEET 19 is therefore formed with a series of vertical passageways 23, each located between an adjacent pair of lines 21, an upper passageway 25, which extends horizontally between the top of each sheet and the top of each passageway 23, and a lower passageway 27, which extends horizontally between the bottom of each sheet and the bottom of each passageway 23- To enable air to be supplied to the passageways within the curtain 17, an air inlet 29 at one end of the upper passageway 25 or lower passageway 27 is connected to the manifold via a pipe 31- A diverter valve 3 is provided for directing air from the manifold 9 either to the curtain 17 or to the conduits 7 in the bottom wall 3 of the bath 1. A series of small air outlet apertures (not shown) is provided in the sheet 19 which faces inwardly of the bath 1. At the top of the curtain 17 is a series of rings 33 for suspending the curtain from the rail 15• When the bath 1 of Figures 1 and 2 is used for normal bathing, the compressor 11 is switched off. There is then no supply of air to the inlet apertures 5 in the bottom wall 3 of the bath or to the curtain 17, which remains in the drawn-back condition indicated by the hatched area of Figure 1. To use the bath 1 as a bubble-bath, the diverter valve 2 is switched to a position which provides communication between the compressor 11 and the conduit 7- The bath 1 is filled with water and the compressor 11 is switched on. Air -under pressure is then supplied to the apertures 5 via the manifold 9 and the conduits 7 and this air bubbles through water in the bath. SUBSTITUTESHEET To use the shower, the valve for diverting water from the bath taps to the spray is first switched to the spray position. The diverter valve 32 is then moved to a position wherein the valve provides communication between the compressor 11 and the pipe 31• When the compressor 11 is energised, air -under pressure is supplied via the pipe 31♦ the manifold and the pipe 31 to the upper passageway 25 in the curtain 17. The air flows downwardly from the upper passageway 25 to the lower passageway 27 via the vertical passageways 23. Air is discharged from the curtain via the above-mentioned apertures on the inwardly facing sheet 19- The flow of air through the vertical passageways 23 has the effect of switching each passageway frc the deflated condition of Figure 1 to the inflated condition of Figure 2. In the condition of Figure 1 the facing sheets 19 are in contact with each other and the curtain is limp and readily maintained in a drawn-back condition. In the inflated condition of Figure 2, the facing sheets 17 are forced apart and each passageway 23 has assumed a generally circular cross-section. The change from the condition of Figure 1 to the condition of Figure 2 results in an extension of the effective width of the curtain, which is accommodated by a movement of the free end of the curtain along the rail 15- In the result, the curtain is moved to the drawn operative condition of Figure 2. As indicated above, some of the air flowing through the passageways 23 is ejected via the apertures in the inwardly facing sheet 19. By switching on the heater associated with the compressor 11 this inwardly directed air is heated and serves to assist a person SUBSTITUTESHEET drying himself after completing his shower. It will be appreciated that the curtain 17 of Figures 1 and 2 can be modified by replacing the vertically extending passageways 23 by passageways which are horizontally or inclined to the vertical. Alternatively, passageways of zig-zag configuration may be employed. In a modification of the curtain 17 of Figures 1 and 2, there are no air outlet apertures in the inwardly facing sheet 19. Instead, a user switches off the compressor 11 when the curtain 17 is fully drawn and closes a non-return valve which is located between the compressor 11 and the curtain 17- Leakage of air from the curtain 17 is thus prevented and the curtain remains fully drawn. To drawback the curtain, a user must first operate the non-return valve to allow exhaustion of air within the curtain. Alternatively, a separate air- release valve may be provided. In another modification, the series of small outlet apertures in the inwardly facing sheet 19 is replaced by a single air outlet in the passageway 25 or 27- Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, a bath 4l according to the invention corresponds to the bath 1 of Figures 1 and 2 in that a series of apertures 43 is formed in a bottom wall of the bath and conduits 45 connect these apertures via a manifold 47 to an air compressor (not shown). '' In the bath 4l, an opening 49 is provided in a top wall of the manifold 47 and. a cage for receiving a block of perfumed or disinfectant material is secured to an under side of a cover 53 f° r the opening. If a block of perftimed material is placed in the cage 51. perfumed air is bubbled through water within the bath 4l whenever the air compressor is energised. Alternatively, if a block of disinfectant material is placed in the cage 51 and the compressor is energised with the bath empty, disinfectant is forced through the conduits 45 and the apertures 3- This serves to prevent a build-up of germs and bacteria in the conduits 45- It will be appreciated that a cage for a block of perfumed or disinfectant material can be included in the manifold 9 of Figures 1 and 2, thus combining the features of the bath shown in Figure 3 with the arrangement shown in these earlier figures. The bath shown in figures 1 & 2 of the drawings is formed by moulding plastics materials, the base and side walls of the bath are the conduit means for air being formed as a single moulding.

Claims: Claims 1. A curtain, suitably for use as a shower curtain, wherein facing sheets of material are secured together along peripheral parts thereof, means are provided for suspending the sheets from a curtain rail, the space between the sheets is formed with a series of passageways, and an inlet is provided for the supply of air under pressure to the said passageways, the arrangement being such that air supplied to the said inlet inflates the passageways and forces the sheets from a limp folded condition to an extended condition, whereby the curtain is moved from a drawn-back to an operative condition. 2. A curtain as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said passageways comprise a series of elongate parallel-arranged passages. 3- A curtain as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the passages extend vertically within the space between the two sheets. 4. A curtain as claimed in Claim 3. wherein the passages are formed by securing the two sheets together along a series of vertically extending lines. _. . A curtain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a series of apertures is formed in one of the sheets so that, in use, air flowing along the passageways flows outwardly through the apertures into a shower area. 6. A curtain as claimed in Claim 5. wherein means are provided for warming the air prior to supplying the air to the passageways. 7. A curtain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a bath having a bottom wall or a side wall formed with a series of apertures, and means for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the bath via the said apertures, whereby the air bubbles through water within the bath. 8. A curtain as claimed in Claim 7. wherein valve means are provided for alternately directing air from the supply means to the input to the curtain or to the apertures in the bath. 9- A bath having a bottom or side wall formed with a series of apertures, conduit means for connecting the apertures to a source of air under pressure, and means for supporting a disinfectant or perfumed material within the conduit means, whereby air from the source is perfumed within the conduit means and the perfumed air is bubbled through water within the bath or air from the source is charged with disinfectant and serves to disinfect the conduit means whilst the bath is empty. 10. A bath having a bottom or side wall formed with a series of apertures and conduit means for connecting the apertures to a source of air under pressure, wherein the conduit means are formed integrally with the said bottom or side wall of the bath. 11. A bath as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the bath and the said conduit means are formed of a single moulding of plastics material. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: JENNINGS MARK FRANCIS, SAGOL SAMUEL, JENNINGS, MARK, FRANCIS, SAGOL, SAMUEL
Applicants: IND DESIGN CONSULTANCY LTD
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A47K3
IPC codes: A47K3