Abstract:
A portable and rapidly deployable shower station is provided particularly for emergency wash-down use, such as flush-flow decontamination of a person exposed to hazardous materials such as hazardous chemical agents or the like. The shower station includes a plurality of tubular frame components adapted for quick and easy assembly to define an interior shower stall. The frame components incorporate a plurality of upright telescopic tubular posts having their upper ends interconnected by a flexible hose, wherein these telescopic posts are extensible upon connection to a supply of water under pressure to raise the flexible hose to an elevated position at the top of the shower stall. The tubular posts and the flexible hose carry a plurality of spray nozzles for delivering a substantial water flow projected from multiple locations and in multiple directions into the shower stall.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/361,228, filed Mar. 1, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to emergency shower units of a type designed principally for flush-flow wash-down as an initial first aid measure for a person or persons who may have been exposed to hazardous materials such as toxic chemical agents or the like. More specifically, this invention relates to a portable shower station designed for convenient transport to a site of potential use where it can be rapidly deployed to provide effective flush-flow wash-down. 
     Significant attention has been directed in recent years to problems associated with exposure to a wide range of toxic chemical and/or biological agents known or suspected to produce adverse medical conditions in humans. Such chemical and/or biological agents, commonly referred to as hazardous materials, are widely used in many industrial applications, laboratory environments, etc., whereby undesired exposure can occur in the event of accidental spillage during use, or during handling and transport of a hazardous material. In addition, exposure to hazardous materials may occur in the course of military action, or as a result of terrorist activity. When an exposure incident occurs, particularly with certain hazardous agents, a typical first step in the decontamination process can be to wash the exposed person and clothing with a substantial flushing flow of water, wherein it can be important for this flush-flow wash-down to take place as soon as possible after exposure. 
     A variety of emergency shower units have been developed with the intent of providing flush-flow wash-down of a person or persons exposed to hazardous materials. In general, these emergency shower units have provided a shower stall adapted for connection to a supply of water under pressure to one or more spray nozzles for flushing contaminants from a person. In some designs, these shower units have been provided in a collapsible and portable form conducive to convenient transport to a potential site of use, whereat the shower unit is adapted for assembly and use. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,216,763 and 5,469,587. However, these prior shower assemblies have typically included a relatively large number of component parts, and/or have not been ideally suited for fast assembly in an intuitive manner for rapid deployment in an emergency situation. In addition, some of these prior shower assemblies have been constructed from a large number of flexible components that do not provide sufficient structural stiffness and stability in the erected state for outdoor use during windy weather conditions. 
     The present invention pertains to an improved emergency shower unit or station constructed from a substantial minimum number of component parts suitable for convenient and compact transport to a potential use site, and designed for quick and easy on-site assembly in an emergency environment to provide a substantially rigid shower stall structure with multiple spray nozzles for flush-flow wash-down of a person exposed to a hazardous material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, a portable and rapidly deployable shower station is provided particularly for emergency flush-flow wash-down of a person exposed to hazardous materials such as hazardous chemical agents or the like. The shower station comprises a plurality of tubular frame components adapted for quick and easy assembly to form a substantially rigid structure defining an interior shower stall. These tubular frame components are adapted for connection to a supply of water under pressure wherein the water pressure displaces the assembled frame components from a compact collapsed configuration to a fully erected state defining the interior shower stall. A plurality of spray nozzles are carried by the frame components for delivering a substantial flush-flow of water to a person standing within the shower stall. 
     In a preferred form, the frame components of the portable shower station comprise a lower base frame including at least one frame member such as a pair of rigid tubular side rails interconnected at one end by a rigid tubular cross rail, by means of interfitting quick connect-disconnect fittings suitable for rapid assembly to define an interconnected water flow passage therethrough. The opposite ends of each of the two side rails are connected respectively by means of additional quick connect-disconnect fittings to a plurality of upright telescopic tubular corner posts defining internal water flow passage in flow communication with said base frame. The upper ends of these corner posts are connected in turn to a nonrigid top frame comprising a plurality of flexible hose segments defining internal water flow passages in flow communication with said corner post passages and extending inwardly from the corner posts to a generally X-shaped central connector fitting. 
     At least one of the base frame components is adapted for rapid connection by connecting means to a supply of water under pressure, for water flow upwardly through the plurality of telescopic corner posts and the nonrigid top frame. The water pressure automatically and hydraulically causes the corner posts to extend from a normal retracted or collapsed configuration to an elongated or extended and fully erected state. In addition, the water pressure effectively inflates and substantially rigidifies the flexible hose segments of the top frame. In this fully erected state, the frame components cooperatively provide a substantially rigid shower structure suitable for outdoor use during windy conditions. In use, the multiple spray nozzles carried by the corner posts and preferably also by the top frame deliver a substantial water flow from multiple locations and projected from different directions into the interior shower stall to provide effective flush-flow wash-down of a person within the shower stall. A shower curtain can be draped from the frame components to enclose one or more sides of the shower stall, if desired. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable shower station embodying the novel features of the invention, and illustrating the shower station in a deployed and operational configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the components of the portable shower station in an unassembled array; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the shower station components to illustrate quick connect assembly thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shower station, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the shower station in a nonoperational configuration prior to connection thereof to a supply of water under pressure; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the assembled shower station as viewed in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmented sectional view taken generally on the line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the exemplary drawings, a portable shower station referred to generally in FIGS. 1-5 by the reference numeral  10  is provided for convenient transport in a disassembled state (FIG. 2) to a site of use whereat the shower station components can be rapidly assembled and deployed (FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 ). The portable shower station  10  is designed primarily for use in an emergency environment or the like to provide a substantial flush-flow of water for wash-down of a person exposed to a hazardous material such as a toxic chemical agent. 
     The portable shower station  10  of the present invention generally comprises a plurality of tubular frame components which, in a disassembled state, can be stored in a compact space typically encased within a carrying case or bag (not shown) having a size approximating the size of a conventional golf bag. These tubular frame components are constructed from relatively lightweight materials, such as plastic PVC pipe or the like, for convenient transport to a potential use site. Importantly, the frame components are designed for rapid and simple assembly in an intuitive manner, and for quick and easy connection to a supply of water under pressure, to provide a pressure-erected and substantially rigid shower structure defining an interior shower stall  12  (FIGS. 1 and 5) into which a substantial flush-flow of water is directed from a plurality of spray nozzles  14  and  16  (FIG.  1 ). 
     As shown best in FIGS. 2-4, the tubular frame components of the portable shower station  10  include a lower base frame  18  comprising a pair of rigid tubular side rails  20  adapted for interconnection at one end by a transversely extending cross rail  22 . In one preferred configuration, these side rails  20  and the cross rail  22  are formed from schedule  80  PVC pipe having a size of 1½ inch. A pair of connector fittings  24  are mounted respectively at one end of the two side rails  20 , with at least one and preferably both of these connector fittings  24  being adapted for convenient coupling via a shut-off valve  26  (FIGS. 2 and 4) and a hose  28  (FIG. 1) or the like with a supply of water under pressure. These connector fittings  24  additionally define a pair of male and female coupling members  30  and  32  (FIG. 2) of a conventional quick connect-disconnect coupling. The male coupling members extend transversely for suitable connection with additional mating female coupling members  32  carried at the opposite ends of the cross rail  22 , for quickly and easily interconnecting the cross rail  22  between the side rails  20  to form a stable three-sided base for the shower structure. The female coupling members  32  of each connector fitting  24  extend upwardly for connection to other frame components, as will be described. An elbow fitting  34  is mounted at the opposite end of each side rail  22  and carries another upwardly extending female coupling member  32  for connection to other frame components. 
     The upwardly presented female coupling members  32  at the opposing ends of the two side rails  22  are designed for quick connect-disconnect assembly with mating male coupling members  30  mounted at the lower ends of a plurality of telescopic corner posts  36 , again as shown best in FIG.  2 . As shown in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, each corner post  36  is formed by a lower cylinder or tube  38  which can also be formed from schedule 80 PVC pipe having a size of 1½ inch, and slidably receives therein an upper tube  40  such as a length of schedule 80 PVC pipe having a size of 1 inch. FIGS. 2-4 show the upper tube  40  in a position retracted substantially into the lower cylinder  38 , whereas FIG. 1 shows the upper tube  40  extended and projecting upwardly from the lower cylinder  38 . A tee fitting  42  at the upper end of the lower cylinder  38  of each corner post  36  slidably receives the upper tube  40  and incorporates at least one seal such as an O-ring seal  44  (FIG. 6) to substantially prevent water leakage therebetween. In addition, the upper end of this tee fitting  42  includes a radially inwardly turned stop  46  for engaging a flange  48  near the lower end of the upper tube  40 , when the upper tube  40  is in the extended position, to prevent separation of the upper tube  40  from the lower cylinder  38 . 
     The upper end of each corner post  36 , as defined by the upper end of the associated upper tube  40  thereof, is connected by an inwardly turned elbow fitting  50  to a flexible hose segment  52  formed from a relatively sturdy yet flexible and preferably reinforced hose material having a diametric size of about 1½ inch. As shown, each hose segment  52  extends inwardly from the upper end of the associated corner post  36 , and has an inner end coupled in turn to a central X-shaped connector fitting  54 . The connector fitting  54 , together with the hose segments  52 , defines a top frame  56  for the shower structure. 
     The multiple spray nozzles  14  and  16  are mounted on the frame components at different positions to provide multiple water sprays discharged into the shower stall  12  from different positions and directions. In the illustrative embodiment as shown, each of the tee fittings  42  of the corner posts  36  includes an inwardly directed fitting leg  58  (FIG. 6) having one of the spray nozzles  14  mounted thereon. Thus, as shown, four of the spray nozzles  14  are mounted at the four corners of the shower stall  12  for providing inwardly directed sprays at a substantially mid-height location. The spray nozzles  16  are shown mounted along the lengths of the hose segments  52  and thus provide downwardly directed sprays from different positions on the top frame  56 . Persons skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the specific number and locations of the spray nozzles  14  and  16  may vary. 
     In the unassembled state, as viewed in FIG. 2, the shower station  10  thus comprises a relatively small number of component parts that are relatively lightweight and compact. The corner posts  36  are each stored in the retracted configuration with the upper tube  40  retracted substantially into the associated lower cylinder  38 . Importantly, the top frame  56  including the flexible hose segments  52  is and remains preassembled with the corner posts  36 . 
     When shower deployment is desired, the two side rails  20  are quickly and easily assembled with the cross rail  22  by means of the quick connect fittings  30 ,  32  thereon to provide the substantially rigid and stable three-sided tubular lower base frame  18 . The four corner posts  36  are then quickly and easily assembled with the lower base frame  18 , again by means of the quick connect fittings  30 ,  32  thereon, to form the shower structure in a collapsed configuration as viewed in FIG.  4 . Then, by connecting the tubular frame structure to the supply of water under pressure by means of one of the valves  26 , the water under pressure automatically displaces the frame structure from the collapsed configuration to the extended or fully erected configuration (FIG. 1) and water is sprayed into the shower stall  12  via the spray nozzles  14  and  16 . More particularly, the pressurized water supply is communicated through the base frame side rails  20  and cross rail  22  to each of the four upstanding corner posts  36 , resulting in pressure-forced elongation or extension of each of the upper tubes  40  to the elevated, fully erect position. Such elevation of the upper tubes  40  of the corner posts  36  lifts the top frame  56  to form the substantially rectangular and substantially rigid shower structure enclosing the interior shower stall  12 , as viewed in FIG.  1 . Concurrently with movement of the frame components to the fully erect position, the lower ends of the upper tubes displace upwardly beyond the tee fittings  58  so that the water under pressure can flow through the associated spray nozzles  14 . Additionally, the water under pressure flows upwardly through the upper tubes  40  and the top frame  56  to the upper spray nozzles  16 . The combined water spray through the nozzles  14  and  16  provides the desired substantial flush-flow of water directed into the shower stall. 
     An individual can step quickly and easily into the shower stall  12  for flush-slow wash-down. If desired, a shower curtain (not shown) can be draped onto the erected shower frame structure to enclose one or more sides of the shower stall. Conveniently, when the pressurized water supply is turned off, the flexible hose segments  52  of the top frame  56  will sag to pull inwardly on the uppermost ends of the upper tubes  40 , thereby slightly cocking those tubes  40  relative to the lower cylinders  38  of the corner posts  36 , so that the corner posts will tend to remain in the elevated and fully erected configuration. If desired, additional mechanical means such as a thumbscrew (not shown) of the like may be provided for releasibly locking the corner posts  36  in the fully erected state, following initial pressure-forced deployment, so that the water supply may be turned off without resultant movement of the corner posts  36  back to the collapsed configuration. When use of the shower station is concluded, the corner posts  36  can be quickly and easily guided manually back to the retracted state followed by similarly quick and easy disassembly of the frame components. 
     A variety of modifications and improvements in and to the portable shower station of the present invention will be apparent to those persons skilled in the art. For example, while the intended primary use pertains to emergency flush-flow wash down of persons exposed to certain hazardous materials, it will be recognized and understood that the invention may be employed in alternative portable shower applications, such as in treatment of persons for heat exposure, or for use in non-emergency environments such as a camping or beach environment. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.