Patent Publication Number: US-2016237661-A1

Title: Hidden Extendable and Retractable Shower Hose System

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/115,949 filed on Feb. 13, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to retractable shower head systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system that is adapted to be mounted behind a wall and configured to assist in retracting the shower head when it is removed from the wall by means of a counterweight assembly attached to a pulley. 
     Showers equipped with an external and movable shower head offer the advantage of added flexibility and mobility when compared to a shower with a fixed shower head. The user can detach the shower head from a resting position and point the water flow in any direction. However, many such shower systems include an unsightly hose hanging between the shower head and wall connection point when not in use. This presents both an aesthetic problem and a safety issue. Many shower areas are enclosed with transparent glass panes that leave the inside of a shower visible. A dangling hose can spoil an otherwise minimalist and stylish bathroom design. Additionally, a loose hose can get in the way of a user during the actual showering process. Furthermore, such a hose can increase the risk of injury to those with access to the shower, such as young children playing in the surrounding area. 
     In order to address these issues, devices in the prior art disclose shower hoses that are retractable. These devices fail to disclose a retractable shower hose system that uses a weighted pulley to assist in retracting the shower head into a housing and that can be placed and hidden behind a wall. These devices also fail to provide an air drying and drainage system to ensure that the housing is free of mold-inducing moisture between uses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shower hose systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system wherein the same can be installed behind a wall and provides a hose that uses a counterweight attached to a pulley to assist in retracting the hose back within the housing. 
     The present invention comprises a housing that contains a system of pulleys, a hose, and a counterweight. The hose is threaded through the pulleys and is adapted to be connected to a water supply on one end and a shower head on the other end. At least one of the pulleys is attached to the counterweight. The counterweight moves upward with the attached pulley when the hose is extended exterior to the housing. The counterweight applies a downward force on the pulley. The force which is applied is configured to counterbalance the shower head assembly, such that the hose remains in the extended position when released by a user. Additionally, the force is sufficient to assist in retracting the shower hose back into the housing when the user is finished with the hose. 
     The invention also includes two ventilation openings designed to be connected to a fan and exhaust system and an outlet opening designed to drain excess water. When air passes from one ventilation opening to the other ventilation opening, the inside of the housing is dried of moisture, which reduces the possibility of mold and other undesirable effects of moisture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of one end of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the front side of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the back side of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. The invention comprises a housing  10  with an interior, a number of pulleys  11  that are mounted inside of the interior, a hose  13  that is routed through the interior over the pulleys  11 , and a counterweight  14  attached to an unmounted pulley  12 . In one embodiment of the invention, the hose  13  has a first end that is adapted to connect to a shower head and a second end adapted to connect to a water supply source. The hose  13  is routed from the exterior of the housing to the interior, around two fixed pulleys  11 , then around an unmounted pulley  12  that is attached to a counterweight  14 , and then affixed to an unmovable connector  17  that is adapted to connect to a water source. When the first end of the hose  13  is extended outside of the housing, the pulley  12  attached to the counterweight  14  is raised due to the shortening of the length of the hose  13  that is within the housing  10 . The weight of the pulley  12  and counterweight  14  apply a downward force on the hose  13  sufficient to hold the hose  13  and shower head in place when extended and released by a user. The counterweight  14  additionally supplies sufficient force to assist the user in retracting the shower head assembly when the user applies a slight upward force to the shower head. 
     A further embodiment of the intervention consists of a housing having a longer side and shorter side. The shorter side extends perpendicular from an end of the longer side. The second end of the hose can be connected to a water faucet while the first end of the hose can exit the housing along a vertical straight line above the faucet. Such a configuration allows the housing to be installed behind a wall in such a way as to allow a shower head to be placed at a point in the wall directly above the controlling water faucet. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the housing contains three addition openings, a first opening  15  adapted to be attached to a source of forced air, a second opening  18  adapted to be attached to an exhaust duct, and a third opening  19  placed on the bottom of the housing configured to function as a drain for any water that enters the housing  10 . The first opening  15  can be attached to a fan, such as a fan commonly found in a bathroom. The forced air dries out the interior of the housing, preventing mold or mildew from forming. Furthermore, the bottom of the housing is slanted  16  toward the third opening  19  in order to assist in draining moisture from the housing  10 . 
     Another embodiment of the invention includes one or more brackets  23  that are attached to the housing  10 . These brackets  23  are adapted to mount the housing behind a wall. For example, the housing  10  can be designed with dimensions that fit in between two wall studs, where the brackets are secured to the studs by means of a fastening device such as a nail or a screw. In an additional embodiment of the invention, one of the brackets  23  is adjustable via a sliding mechanism, such that the width between two of the brackets can be reduced or expanded to be made to fit precisely in between two wall studs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of one end of an embodiment of the invention. There are two pairs of wheels attached to the counterweight  14 . The first pair of wheels  26  is positioned to run along the side walls of the housing  10 , and the second pair of wheels  27  is positioned to run along the front and back walls of the housing. These wheels allow the counterweight  14  to move smoothly up and down the interior of the housing. Additionally, these wheels can be made of rubber to reduce noise and minimize wear, both on the housing  10  and on the counterweight  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective front view of an embodiment of the invention from another angle. A shower head  21  is connected to the invention by means of an adapter  20  that is configure to attach the first end of the hose  13  to the shower head  21 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the present invention, the housing  10  further includes a collar  47  and a shower head handle  29 . The collar extends from the opening on the housing through which the first end of the hose extends. The collar  47  has an interior diameter to a close tolerance of the diameter of the shower head handle  29 , thereby allowing the shower head handle  29  to slide upward into the housing through the collar  47 . The collar  47  is configured to hold the shower head handle  29  in place when the hose is fully returned into the housing. This allows a user to use the shower head  21  hands-free as a conventional shower assembly would permit. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a perspective back view of an embodiment of the invention. The back side of the housing is made up of a first element  52  and a second element  51 . The first element  52  is rectangular-shaped and covers the bottom part of the housing  10 . The second element  51  is shaped to cover the remaining top part of the housing. Additionally, the second element  51  is positioned such that when it is removed, a user is provided with easy access to the pulleys and counterweight for maintenance purposes. The fixed pulleys are located directly adjacent to the second element  51 , and the pulley that is attached to the counterweight can be accessed by extending the hose fully from the housing. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.