Patent Publication Number: US-2010125944-A1

Title: Shower assembly for shower stall

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/117,984 filed on Nov. 26, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to bathing systems, and more particularly, to a shower assembly for providing a pleasant showering experience to an individual. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A shower stall generally includes multiple walls for enclosed an area that may be used for taking shower. Moreover, a shower head is mounted on one of the walls of the shower stall. Typically, the shower head is coupled to a water source pipe extending from the wall of the shower stall. The shower head is capable of discharging water for enabling an individual to take a shower. Further, the shower head is capable of being pivotally moved about the water source pipe for providing a certain degree of movement to water discharged from the shower head. 
     Generally, while taking a shower with the help of a conventional shower head, the design thereof allows an individual to wash only a portion of the individual&#39;s body at a time. More specifically, the shower head in incapable of providing an even discharge of water which is sufficient to cover the entire body of the individual while taking the shower. Accordingly, the individual takes substantial time for completing the shower. Further, the conventional shower head necessitates an individual to stand close and facing a wall mounted with the shower head thereon. Such a standing posture (close to the wall and facing the wall) may be uncomfortable for the individual as the individual has to restrict his/her movement within the shower stall while taking the shower. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of a shower assembly for a shower stall is provided. The shower assembly may include an elongated hollow member, a plurality of spray nozzles, a fastener, and a hollow connecting member. The elongated hollow member may be adapted to be mounted between walls of the shower stall. The elongated hollow member may have a plurality of openings configured between end portions of the elongated hollow member. Each of the plurality of spray nozzles may be mounted on a respective opening of the plurality of openings. The fastener may be capable of mounting the elongated hollow member between the walls of the shower stall. The hollow connecting member may be adapted to fluidically couple the elongated hollow member to a water source outlet of the shower stall. The hollow connecting member may be adapted to direct water from the water source outlet to the elongated hollow member for discharging water through the plurality of spray nozzles within the shower stall. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded cross-sectional front view of a shower assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an environment in which the shower assembly of  FIG. 1  is utilized by an individual for taking shower in a shower stall, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a shower assembly for a shower stall, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The present disclosure provides a shower assembly for a shower stall. The shower assembly of the present disclosure is capable of being easily installed in the shower stall. The shower assembly of the present disclosure is capable of providing a pleasant showering experience to an individual. More specifically, the shower assembly is capable of providing a full body shower (even discharge of water sufficient to cover the entire body). The aspect of full body shower enables in precluding a restricted movement of the individual within the shower stall. Further, the aspect of full body shower enables in reducing a time taken by the individual for completing the shower. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a shower assembly  100  is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. More specifically,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded cross-sectional front view of the shower assembly  100 , and  FIG. 2  illustrates an environment in which the shower assembly  100  of  FIG. 1  is utilized by an individual  200  for taking shower in a shower stall  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shower assembly  100  includes an elongated hollow member  102 , a plurality of spray nozzles, such as spray nozzles  104   a,    104   b,    104   c,  and  104   d  (hereinafter collectively referred to as the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d ) adapted to be mounted on the elongated hollow member  102 , a fastener  106  capable of mounting the elongated hollow member  102  between walls, such as walls  302   a  and  302   b,  of the shower stall  300  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), and a hollow connecting member  108  adapted to fluidically coupled the elongated hollow member  102  to a water source outlet  304  of the shower stall  300  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that for the sake of illustration and brevity of present description, only four spray nozzles ( 104   a,    104   b,    104   c,  and  104   d ) have been numbered, and that should not be considered as limiting. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the elongated hollow member  102  includes a plurality of openings, such as openings  110   a,    110   b,    110   c,  and  110   d  (hereinafter collectively referred to as the openings  110   a  through  110   b ). It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that for the sake of illustration only four opening ( 110   a,    110   b,    110   c,  and  110   d ) have been numbered, and that should not be considered as limiting. The openings  110   a  through  110   d  are configured on the elongated hollow member  102  between end portions, such as a first end portion  112   a  and a second end portion  112   b,  of the elongated hollow member  102 . In the present embodiment, the elongated hollow member  102  is configured to assume a shape of a circular elongated structure, such as a cylindrical structure. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the elongated hollow member  102  may be configured to assume other shapes apart from the shape of the cylindrical structure, such as an oval elongated structure and a polygonal elongated structure. 
     In the present embodiment, the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102  are configured to have an open end configuration. Accordingly, the shower assembly  100  includes a pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b  adapted to be mounted on the end portions of the elongated hollow member  102  for closing the end portions of the elongated hollow member  102 . More specifically, the cap member  114   a  is adapted to be mounted on the first end portion  112   a  for closing the open end configuration of the first end portion  112   a.  Similarly, the cap member  114   b  is adapted to be mounted on the second end portion  112   b  for closing the open end configuration of the second end portion  112   b.  However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102  may be configured to have a closed end configuration. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the mounting of the pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b  on the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b,  respectively, is enabled by means of a threaded coupling. More specifically, each of the pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b  includes an external threaded portions (not numbered), and each of the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b  includes a complementary internal threaded portion (not numbered). Accordingly, the internal threaded portion threadably receives the external threaded portion for enabling the mounting of the pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b  on the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b,  respectively. However, it may be evident to a person skilled in the art that the pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b  may be mounted on the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b,  respectively, by other arrangement apart from the threadable coupling, such as a snap fit arrangement. 
     As explained herein, the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  are adapted to be mounted on the elongated hollow member  102 . More specifically, each of spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  is mounted on respective opening of the openings  110   a  through  110   d  configured on the elongated hollow member  102 . In the present embodiment, the mounting of the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  on the openings  110   a  through  110   d,  respectively, is also enabled by a threadable coupling. For example, each of the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  includes an external threaded portion (not numbered), and each of the openings  110   a  through  110   d  is defined by a complementary internal threaded portion (not numbered) configured on the elongated hollow member  102 . Accordingly, the internal threaded portion threadably receives the external threaded portion for enabling the mounting of the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  on the openings  110   a  through  110   d,  respectively, configured on the elongated hollow member  102 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the elongated hollow member  102  is adapted to be mounted between the walls  302   a  and  302   b  of the shower stall  300  with the help of the fastener  106 . The fastener  106  includes a pair of suction cups, such as suction cups  116   a  and  116   b,  capable of being mounted on the walls  302   a  and  302   b,  respectively. The pair of suction cups  116   a  and  116   b  enables in coupling the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b,  respectively, on the walls  302   a  and  302   b,  which is further explained in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fastener  106  further includes a pair of sleeves  118   a  and  118   b,  and a pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  adapted to be enclosed by the pair of sleeves  118   a  and  118   b,  respectively. Each of the pair of sleeves  118   a  and  118   b  is capable of receiving an end portion of the elongated hollow member  102  and is capable of being partially received by a suction cup of the pair suction cups  116   a  and  116   a.  More specifically, the sleeve  118   a  is capable of receiving the first end portion  112   a  of the elongated hollow member  102  and further the sleeve  118   a  is capable of being partially received by the suction cup  116   a , mounted on the wall  302   a.  Accordingly, the suction cup  116   a  and the sleeve  118   a  facilitate mounting of the first end portion  112   a  of the elongated hollow member  102  on the wall  302   a  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Similarly, the sleeve  118   b  is capable of receiving the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102  and further the sleeve  118   b  is capable of being partially received by the suction cup  116   b  mounted on the wall  302   b.  Therefore, the suction cup  116   b  and the sleeve  118   b  collectively facilitate coupling of the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102  on the wall  302   b  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Further, as explained herein, the pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  is adapted to be enclosed by the pair of sleeves  118   a  and  118   b,  respectively. More specifically, the pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  is capable of being enclosed by the pair of sleeves  118   a  and  118   b,  respectively, for allowing each of the pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  to be disposed between a respective end portion of the elongated hollow member  102  and a respective suction cup of the pair suction cups  116   a  and  116   b.  For example, the spring  120   a  is enclosed by the sleeve  118   a,  and the sleeve  118   a  being partially received by the suction cup  116   a.  Further, the sleeve  118   a  receives the first end portion  112   a,  the spring  120   a  gets disposed between the first end portion  112   a  and the suction cup  116   a.  Moreover, as explained herein, the cap member  114   a  is mounted on the first end portion  112   a;  thereby disposing the spring  120   a  between the cap member  114   a  and the suction cup  116   a.  Similarly, the spring  120   b  is enclosed by the sleeve  118   b  and further disposed between the cap member  114   b  and the suction cup  116   b.    
     The pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  enables in rigidly mounting the end portions of the elongated hollow member  102  on the walls  302   a  and  302   b  of the shower stall  300 . More specifically, when the pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  is disposed between the respective cap member of the pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b,  and the respective suction cup of the pair of suction cups  116   a  and  116   b,  the pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  get compressed and tend to space apart each of the pair of cap members  114   a  and  114   b  from the respective pair of suction cups  116   a  and  116   b.  Accordingly, the pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  enables rigid mounting of the first end portion  112   a  and the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102  on the walls  302   a  and  302   b,  respectively. For example, the compressed pair of springs  120   a  and  120   b  enables in avoiding a rotational movement of the elongated hollow member  102  about the pair of suction cups  116   a  and  116   b , thereby retaining the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  in a position pointing downward from the elongated hollow member  102 . 
     The elongated hollow member  102  is further fluidically coupled to the water source outlet  304  (an existing pipe for supplying water in a shower stall) with the help of hollow connecting member  108 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the present embodiment, the hollow connecting member  108  is a flexible hose extending between the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102  and the water source outlet  304  of the shower stall  300 . More specifically, a top end portion  122   a  of the hollow connecting member  108  is fluidically coupled to the elongated hollow member  102  with the help of a connector  124 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the connector  124  is configured on the elongated hollow member  102 . More specifically, the connector  124  is configured in proximity to the second end portion  112   b  of the elongated hollow member  102 . In the present embodiment, the connector  124  is a pipe tee configured in proximity to the second end portion  112   b  for allowing the fluidical coupling of the hollow connecting member  108  with the elongated hollow member  102 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the shower assembly  100  includes an adaptor  126  and a flow restrictor  128 . The adaptor  126  and the flow restrictor  128  collectively enables in fluidically coupling the top end portion  122   a  of the hollow connecting member  108  with the connector  124 . More specifically, the adaptor  126  may be partially received by the connector  124 , and thereafter threadbly coupled to the top end portion  122   a  of the hollow connecting member  108 . The flow restrictor  128  may define an orifice configured to reduce the flow of water. For instance, the flow restrictor  128  in one form may have an orifice with a 3/16-inch diameter. Of course, the flow restrictor  128  may instead have various other flow restricting elements, such as orifices with smaller or larger diameters. Further the flow restrictor  128  may be received by the top end portion  122   a  of the hollow connecting member  108 , when the adaptor  126  is threadbly coupled to the top end portion  122   a  for allowing a rigid threadable coupling therebetween. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the shower assembly  100  includes a two-way valve  130  adapted to be coupled to a bottom end portion  122   b  of the hollow connecting member  108 . Furthermore, the shower assembly  100  includes a shower head  132  adapted to be fluidically coupled to the water source outlet  304  with the help of the two-way valve  130 . More specifically, the two-way valve  130  includes an inlet  134  adapted to be mounted on the water source outlet  304  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Further the two-way valve  130  includes a first outlet  136   a  adapted to be fluidically coupled to the bottom end portion  122   b  of the hollow connecting member  108  and a second outlet  136   b  adapted to be fluidically coupled to the shower head  132 . Accordingly, in use, the two-way valve  130  is capable of channelizing water from the water source outlet  304  to one of the first outlet  136   a  and the second outlet  136   b  for allowing the discharge of the water through one of the shower head  132  and the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in use, the shower assembly  100  may be installed between the walls  302   a  and  302   b  of the shower stall  300 . Further, as explained herein, the hollow connecting member  108  is adapted to fluidically couple the elongated hollow member  102  to the water source outlet  304 . More specifically, the connector  124  and the two-way valve  130  enable the hollow connecting member  108  to fluidically couple the elongated hollow member  102  with the water source outlet  304 . Accordingly, the hollow connecting member  108  is capable of channelizing water from the water source outlet  304  to the elongated hollow member  102  for discharging the water from the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  within the shower stall  300 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the individual  200  is capable of taking shower with the help of the shower assembly  100 . 
     The shower assembly  100  of the present disclosure provides a full body shower to the individual  200 . More specifically, the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  facilitate even discharge of water, sufficient to cover entire body of the individual  200 , and thereby provides the full body shower to the individual  200 . Accordingly, the shower assembly  100  of the present disclosure facilitates in reducing a time taken by the individual  200  to take the shower. Further, the shower assembly  100  enables the individual  200  to move within the shower stall  300  while taking the shower. More specifically, the water discharged from the spray nozzles  104   a  through  104   d  substantially cover the shower stall  300 , thereby allowing the individual  200  to move within the shower stall  300  while taking shower. Moreover, the individual  200  may take shower with the help of the shower head  132  by channelizing water from the water source outlet  304  to the shower head  132  by means of the two-way valve  130 . 
     Based on the foregoing description of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a shower assembly, such as the shower assembly  100  is capable of providing a pleasant showering experience to an individual. More specifically, the shower assembly is capable of providing a full body shower, thereby precluding a restricted movement of the individual within a shower stall and to reduce a time taken by the individual to complete the shower. Further, the shower assembly of the present disclosure provides a cost effective means for having a luxurious showering experience. Moreover, a fastener, such as the fastener  106 , enables in easy installation of the shower assembly in the shower stall. The shower assembly may be configured to have various sizes for being used in conjunction with various sizes of shower stalls. In a preferred embodiment, an elongated hollow member, such as the elongated hollow member  102  of the shower assembly may have a diameter of about 0.75 inches. Additionally, the elongated hollow member may be composed of a material which may include but not limited to a metal, such as steel or aluminium, and a plastic material. The shower assembly  100  may have a total length of about 4 feet to 5 feet. Of course, it is contemplated that the shower assembly  100  and each of its components may have larger or smaller dimensions as desired. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.