Abstract:
A portable solar shower includes two detachable water reservoirs. One of the reservoirs may be coupled to a water source and includes a diverter valve regulating the flow and temperature of water spayed by a shower head, and the other reservoir has a port for coupling to the shower head. When the solar shower is not in use, the reservoirs may be separated from one another to form a compact package adapted for storage or transportation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to showering equipment for outdoor use and, more particularly, to a portable solar shower. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various configurations of solar showers including structural elements having lengths of about 6-7 feet have previously been disclosed. For both manufacturers and consumers of such solar showers, their storage and transportation represent a challenging task. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable solar shower is disclosed. In one embodiment, the solar shower includes a first water reservoir having a port for coupling to a water source and a diverter valve for regulating the flow and temperature of water spayed by a shower head thereof, and a second water reservoir having a port for coupling to the shower head. The reservoirs are detachably connected to one another (e.g., using a threaded joint having a lock ring, a clamp, etc.). When the solar shower is not in use (for example, stored or transported), the reservoirs may be separated from one another to provide even greater compactness and portability of the shower. 
     All objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description. 
     The Summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention, which these and additional aspects will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing illustrating a solar shower, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of water in the solar shower of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating a connection between reservoirs of the solar shower of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are schematic drawings depicting the solar shower of  FIG. 1  prepared for storage and/or transportation. 
     
    
    
     The images in the drawings are simplified for illustrative purposes and are not depicted to scale. To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals are used, where possible, to designate substantially identical elements that are common to the figures, except that suffixes may be added, when appropriate, to differentiate such elements. 
     It has been contemplated that features or steps of one embodiment may be incorporated in other embodiments of the invention without further recitation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides a portable solar shower. The invention may advantageously be utilized as an outdoor washing apparatus in open spaces such as, for example, pools, gardens, campgrounds, etc. 
     With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a schematic drawing illustrating a solar shower  100 , according to one embodiment of the invention. The shower  100  includes a first water reservoir  101 , a second water reservoir  103 , and a shower head  116 . The second water reservoir  103  is detachably connected to the first reservoir  101  using a connector  120 . Internal pluming of the reservoirs  101  and  103  is discussed in detail below in reference to  FIGS. 2-3 . In operation, water contained in the reservoirs  101  and  103  is heated by solar radiation  105 . 
     The reservoir  101  generally includes an enclosure  102 , an intake port  106 , a diverter valve  110  having a handle  112 , and a base  108 . The base  108  supports the shower  100  in an operational position (for example, substantially vertical position). The shower  100  may be coupled to a water source (for example, residential water plumbing or an attachment thereto, such as a garden hose, etc.) via the intake port  106 . The flow and temperature of the water flowing into and sprayed by the shower head  116  are regulated using the diverter valve  110 . 
     The reservoir  103  generally includes an enclosure  104  having an outlet port  114  adapted for coupling to the shower head  116 , and an optional cover  118 . The outlet port  114  may be disposed on a sidewall of the enclosure  104  (as shown) or, alternatively, on an upper surface thereof. With embodiments wherein the outlet port  114  is disposed on the upper surface of the enclosure  104 , a long shower head pipe may be utilized to create a dramatic and fashionable “long neck” design of the invention. In one embodiment, a length  124  of the water reservoir  103  (about 3-3.5 feet) is approximately equal to a length  122  of the water reservoir  101 . 
     Typically, the enclosures  102  and  104  have form factors of elongated cylinders that, in cross-sections, have circular, rectangular, and the like shapes. The enclosures  102  and  104  may be fabricated from polymers, plastics, composites, metals, alloys, or a combination thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the enclosures  102  and  104  are fabricated from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PE (polyethylene) using, for example, injection-molding technique. 
     The connector  120  is generally a threaded joint having a lock ring (shown in detail in  FIG. 3 ), a clamp connector, a flange connector, and the like connector suitable for providing a rigid and water-tight coupling between the reservoirs  101  and  103 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a schematic diagram  200  illustrating a flow of water in the shower  100  of  FIG. 1 . Water is provided into the shower  100  via the intake port  106  of the reservoir  101 , as shown with an arrow  201  (for example, using a garden hose). 
     Internal plumbing of the reservoir  101  comprises pipes  202 ,  204 , and  214 , a coupler  210 , and the diverter valve  112  having an inlet  206  and outlets  208  and  212 . The pipe  202  connects the intake port  106  to the inlet  206 , the pipe  214  extends from the outlet  212  and is terminated with the coupler  210 , and the pipe  204  extends from the outlet  208  and is fluidly connected to an interior of the reservoir  101 . For example, an end of the pipe  204  may be open into the reservoir  101 , as shown with an arrow  203 . 
     Correspondingly, internal plumbing of the reservoir  103  comprises pipes  216  and  220  and a coupler  224 . The coupler  224  terminates the pipe  216  and forms a water-conducting slip (i.e., movable) joint  310  (shown in  FIG. 3  below) with the coupler  210 . The pipe  216  is fluidly connected to an interior of the reservoir  103  and to the pipe  220 , which connects the pipe  216  to the outlet port  114 . In the depicted embodiment, an end  218  of the pipe  216  is open into the reservoir  103 , and the pipes  216 ,  220  form a tee. Illustratively, in this embodiment, the pipes  216 ,  220  are branches of the same structure. 
     Generally, the pipes  202 ,  204 ,  214 ,  216 , and  220  and the couplers  210 ,  224  may be fabricated from polymers, plastics, composites, metals, alloys, or a combination thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, these components of the shower  100  are fabricated from PVC or PE using injection-molding technique. 
     In one extreme position of the handle  112  of the diverter valve  110  (illustratively, in a position  213  (shown in phantom)), water coming from the intake port  106  flows through the pipe  202 , inlet  206  and outlet  208  of the diverter valve  112 , and pipe  204  into the reservoir  101 , as shown with the arrow  203 . After filling the reservoir  101 , water flows into and fills the reservoir  103  (shown with arrows  205 A-B) and enters the pipe  216  via the open end  218  thereof (shown with arrows  207 A-B). Then, through the pipe  220  and outlet port  114 , water flows into the shower head  116  (shown with an arrow  211 ). In operation, water in the reservoirs  101  and  103  is heated by the solar radiation  105 , and in this position of the handle  112 , water flowing from the shower head  116  has a high temperature T 1 . 
     In another extreme position of the handle  112  (illustratively, in a position  215  (shown in phantom)), water coming from the intake port  106  flows through the pipe  202 , inlet  206  and outlet  212  of the diverter valve  110  into the pipes  214  and  216  (shown with an arrow  209 ). Thereafter, through the pipe  220 , water flows into the shower head  116  (shown with the arrow  211 ). In operation in this configuration, water flowing to, into and then from shower head  116  has a low temperature T 2  (approximately, the same temperature as water coming from the intake port  106 ) 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the reservoirs  101 ,  103  are at least partially empty, water fills the reservoirs prior to flowing into the shower head  116 . When the handle  112  is in position  213 , water enters reservoir  101  and then fills reservoir  103  before flowing into pipe  216  (and then to the shower head  116 ). With the handle  112  in position  215 , water coming from the intake port  106  flows through the pipe  202 , inlet  206  and outlet  212  of the diverter valve  110  into the pipes  214  and  216  (shown with an arrow  209 ). Thereafter, through the pipe  220 , water flows into the shower head  116  (shown with the arrow  211 ). However, until reservoirs  101  and  103  are filled, water will also continue to flow up pipe  209  and out opening  218  until the reservoirs are full. In this position of the handle  112 , water flowing from the shower head  116  has a low temperature T 2  (again, approximately, the same temperature as water coming from the intake port  106 ). 
     In operation, by selecting an intermediate position of the handle  112 , temperature of water sprayed by the shower head  116  may be regulated in a range from T 2  (“cold”) to T 1  (“hot”). 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating a connection between reservoirs  101  and  103  of the shower  100  of  FIG. 1 . Specifically,  FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a portion A in  FIG. 2  in an assembled state of the shower  100  (i.e., when the reservoirs  101  and  103  are attached to one another). 
     In the depicted embodiment, the reservoir  101  comprises an insert  302  and the reservoir  103  comprises an insert  304 . The inserts  302 ,  304  form fixed water-tight joints  320  and  322  with the enclosures  102  and  104 , respectively (adhesive joints  320 ,  322  are shown) and, together, form a slip joint  328 . In the slip joint  328 , a path between adjacent surfaces of the inserts  302  and  304  is water-sealed using an o-ring  308  (illustratively, the o-ring  308  is disposed in the insert  304 ). 
     The insert  302  includes a guide  324  defining an end position of the coupler  210  and a threaded outer flange  340  for engaging a lock ring  330 , and the insert  304  includes a guide  326  defining an end position of the coupler  224 . In operation, the guides  324  and  326  provide matching of the end positions of the couplers  210 ,  224 . 
     The pipes  214  and  216  form fixed water-tight joints  312  and  314  with the couplers  210  and  224 , respectively (for example, threaded (as shown) or, alternatively, adhesive joints  312 ,  314 ). The couplers  210  and  224  have coinciding through holes  316  and  318 , respectively, and, together, form a water-conducting slip joint  310 . The slip joint  310  may include an o-ring that water-seals a path between adjacent surfaces of the couplers  210 ,  224  (o-ring  306  disposed in the coupler  224  is shown). 
     To attach the reservoir  101  to the reservoir  103 , the couplers  210  and  224  are advanced towards one another to form the slip joint  310 , and then a lock ring  330  is engaged into a thread formed on an outer flange  340  of the insert  302  and is tightened thereto. Correspondingly, to detach the reservoirs  101  and  103 , the lock ring  330  is disengaged from the outer flange  340  of the insert  302  and the enclosures  102  and  104  are pulled apart, thereby separating the couplers  210 ,  224 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are schematic drawings depicting the shower  100  of  FIG. 1  prepared for storage and/or transportation. In one embodiment ( FIG. 4A ), the reservoirs  101  and  103  are detached from one another as discussed above in reference to  FIG. 3 , and the shower head  116  is separated from the reservoir  103 . In an alternate embodiment ( FIG. 4B ), additionally, the base  108  is separated from the reservoir  101 . 
     Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. Therefore numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.