Patent Description:
As is known, shower columns are used in the sanitary fittings industry typically within shower enclosures or cabins to support hand showers or shower heads for water supply.

Shower columns comprise a pipe, typically metal, which has both the function of conducting water to a supply point consisting of a hand shower or a shower head, and the function of physically supporting said hand shower or the shower head.

The shower column then extends from a lower end where it is fluidly connected to at least one supply tap (preferably of the mixer type) to receive a flow of water to be delivered, to an upper end where it supports the hand shower or shower head to which it distributes water to be delivered by means of a supply pipe housed in a cavity of the shower column.

Between said lower and upper ends, the shower column provides at least one mounting wall or panel to limit the portion of the column overhanging the lower tap body.

During installation, it is obviously necessary to adjust the height of the supply point, i.e., the upper end of the column that acts as a support point for the hand shower or shower head.

This adjustment is carried out by the fact that the shower column is usually connected telescopically or slidably with respect to the tap body.

Then, once the desired height has been established, depending on the user's needs and/or size, the installer provides for fixing the position of the shower column typically using tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, or Allen wrenches on special threaded mounting means arranged at the tap body and/or at the mounting wall or panel.

This operation is rather inconvenient since it requires the use of tools such as screwdrivers, Allen wrenches or wrenches often on threaded means that are difficult to access because they are expediently hidden for design reasons.

In other cases, these mounts are easily accessible and visible, as in the case of exposed nuts or bolts, coaxial to the column and/or wall mount, with the risk that they may be easily scratched or damaged as a result of mounting them.

It follows that, regardless of the type of mounting used, the user makes the adjustment when installing the shower column and then does not change it again (due to the inconvenience of the operation and the risk of scratching/damaging visible parts of the shower column).

Clearly the lack of adjustment of the shower column, even though it provides a telescoping connection to the tap body, constitutes a limitation for shower column users. In effect, said users will be forced to adapt to the single height adjustment chosen during installation, regardless of their actual needs and stature.

If one considers the differences in age, height, and build between the members of the same household, it is evident how the adjustments of the known solutions are necessarily a compromise between needs that may strongly conflict with each other.

Therefore, the known solutions for shower columns have the problem of being inconvenient to adjust and, in effect, are no longer adjusted after the time of their first installation. Solutions according to prior art are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>.

Thus, there is a need to resolve the cited drawbacks and limitations with reference to the prior art.

In particular, there is a need to provide an adjustable support for the shower column, which makes it easy to lock and unlock.

This requirement is satisfied by a shower column with adjustable support according to claim <NUM>.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description of its preferred and non-limiting examples of embodiments, wherein:.

The elements or parts of elements in common among the embodiments described below will be indicated by the same numerical references.

With reference to the aforesaid figures, an overall schematic view of a shower column has been indicated with the numerical reference <NUM>.

The shower column <NUM> comprises a column body <NUM> having a main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y. Typically, but not exclusively, the column body has a cylindrical shape and is axisymmetric with respect to said prevailing longitudinal extension axis Y-Y. In other words, typically the column body has a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section; obviously other geometries are also envisaged, such as elliptical, square, rectangular cross-sectional geometries, etc..

The column body <NUM> extends from a lower end <NUM>, where it is shaped to be fluidly connected to a water connection <NUM>, to an upper end <NUM>, where it comprises or supports a water supply point <NUM>. More specifically, the column body <NUM> at said lower end <NUM> is telescopically coupled, by means of a related telescopic coupling <NUM>, with a pipe <NUM> connecting to said water connection <NUM>. The telescopic coupling allows the related hydraulically sealed translation between the column body <NUM>, which translates along the main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y for adjustment of its position, and said pipe <NUM>, which is instead fixed.

The water connection <NUM> preferably comprises a mixer tap.

Further, preferably, the column body <NUM> is mechanically supported and/or guided by said mixer tap <NUM>; for example, the mixer tap comprises a seat that accommodates and guides the column body <NUM> along said main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y.

The water supply point <NUM> comprises, for example, a hand shower or a shower head.

The hand shower or shower head may be connected to the column body <NUM> via, for example, a curved portion in a known manner. The column body <NUM>, therefore, may not have the shape of a straight cylindrical bar along its extension but may have curved or non-straight portions, especially at said lower end <NUM> and upper end <NUM>.

The straight section, between said ends <NUM>, <NUM>, will ensure the guided sliding of the column body <NUM> to allow its height adjustment with respect to the main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y.

The column body <NUM> in effect slides along said main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y, as better described below.

The shower column <NUM> comprises a wall mount <NUM> for the column body <NUM> between the lower end <NUM> and the upper end <NUM>.

The wall mount <NUM> comprises a first end <NUM> that at least partially surrounds a side wall portion <NUM> of the column body <NUM> and a second end <NUM> shaped to secure the shower column <NUM> to a wall or panel.

Thus, the first end <NUM> is used to attach the wall mount <NUM> to the column body <NUM>; the second end <NUM> is used to secure said mount <NUM> to a wall or panel, typically by means of pins, screws, bolts, expansion plugs, and the like. The second end <NUM> may, for example, be associated with a mounting plate <NUM> provided with respective holes for the passage of said pins, screws, bolts, expansion plugs, and the like.

It is also possible to provide a cover <NUM>.

The shower column <NUM> comprises locking/unlocking means <NUM> of the column body <NUM> relative to said main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y.

Advantageously, said locking/unlocking means <NUM> comprise a pusher <NUM> arranged at the first end <NUM> of the wall mount <NUM>.

The pusher <NUM> is movable from an extracted or locked position, wherein it abuts against the side wall <NUM> of the column body <NUM> so as to lock the column body <NUM> in place, to a retracted position, wherein it does not interfere with the column body <NUM>, allowing it to slide/adjust relative to the main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y.

The pusher <NUM> is contained within the wall mount <NUM> and is coaxial therewith.

In particular, the pusher <NUM> moves along a transverse direction X-X substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction Y-Y of said column body <NUM>.

According to the invention, said pusher <NUM> is associated with the wall mount <NUM> according to a screw-type connection <NUM>, along said transverse direction X-X.

Preferably, the screw is on the pusher <NUM> while the nut is recessed on an inner side wall of the wall mount <NUM>.

The pusher <NUM> is provided with a head <NUM> that is at least partially counter-shaped with respect to the side wall <NUM> of the column body <NUM> with which it interfaces in abutment.

The head <NUM> preferably comprises a front wall having a cylindrical lateral surface shape so as to conform to the cylindrical side wall <NUM> of the column body <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, said head <NUM> is made of a polymeric material, typically rubber.

Preferably, said head <NUM> is a disc, removable relative to the pusher <NUM>, so that it may also be replaced and may be made of a material different from the material of said pusher.

The pusher <NUM> is provided with an operating lever <NUM> accessible from outside the wall mount <NUM> for rotating the pusher <NUM> relative to the wall mount <NUM>. For example, said operating lever <NUM> is arranged along a radial direction R-R perpendicular to the transverse direction X-X.

The wall mount <NUM> comprises a slot <NUM> delimiting two rotational end stops of the operating lever <NUM>, for locking and unlocking the column body <NUM>, respectively.

Between the column body <NUM> and the wall mount <NUM> is interposed at least one sliding bushing <NUM>, positioned on an inner side wall <NUM> of the wall mount <NUM> to facilitate the sliding of the column body <NUM> relative to said main longitudinal extension axis X-X.

For example, the wall mount <NUM> has an overall 'T' configuration wherein at the first end <NUM> the head of the 'T' has a collar <NUM>, which coaxially surrounds the column body <NUM>, and the shank <NUM> of the 'T' engages, through the second end <NUM> and the mounting plate <NUM>, a mounting wall or panel.

The operation, i.e., adjustment of a shower column with an adjustable support according to the present invention will now be described.

In particular, at the time of the initial installation or at any other time when the user wishes to adjust the height of the supply point <NUM>, it is sufficient to loosen the pusher <NUM>, i.e., to arrange the pusher <NUM> in a backward or non-interference position with the side wall <NUM> of the column body <NUM>. In this way, it is possible to freely slide the column body <NUM> along the main longitudinal extension axis Y-Y, which may translate within the wall mount <NUM>, in particular within the collar <NUM> and the associated sliding bushings <NUM>.

Once the desired adjustment has been made, the predetermined position of the column body <NUM> is locked. For this purpose, the operating lever <NUM> is turned so as to rotate the pusher <NUM> along the transverse direction X-X.

In this way, the head <NUM> of the pusher <NUM> comes to rest against the side wall <NUM> of the column body <NUM> and causes said column body to be locked in position. Preferably, as shown, the head <NUM> is counter-shaped with respect to said side wall <NUM> according to a cylindrical geometry so as to facilitate locking.

Whenever the user wishes to change the height adjustment of the shower column <NUM>, it will be sufficient to release the pressure of the pusher <NUM> on the column body <NUM> by turning the operating lever <NUM> in reverse so as to retract the pusher <NUM> relative to the column body <NUM> and repeat the above-described adjustment. This operation will be carried out by the user directly without the aid of any type of tool and without damaging or scratching in any way the side wall <NUM> of the column body <NUM> nor the wall mount <NUM> or other parts of the column <NUM>.

It is to be noted that the stroke of the pusher <NUM> is very limited, being equal to a fraction of the pitch of the screw-nut coupling between the pusher <NUM> and the wall mount <NUM> equal to the maximum angle of rotation of the operating lever <NUM>.

Typically, said maximum angle of rotation, defined by the width of said slot <NUM>, is <NUM>-<NUM> degrees; this means that the corresponding stroke of the pusher is ¼-½ of the pitch of the screw-nut coupling between the pusher <NUM> and the wall mount <NUM>.

As may be appreciated from what has been described, shower columns with adjustable supports according to the invention make it possible to overcome the drawbacks presented in the prior art.

In particular, the present invention makes it possible to provide a shower column solution that is easily adjustable by any user quickly and without the aid of any type of tool.

In effect, it is sufficient to grip and partially rotate the operating lever to be able to raise or lower the shower column and thus the support and water supply point through the corresponding hand shower or shower head fixed to the upper end of the shower column. Thus, it is sufficient to simply turn the same operating lever in the opposite direction to lock the shower column in the new position thus established.

This operation may be repeated at will by the user when necessary and always quickly and without the use of any type of tool.

In addition, this adjustment does not result in any damage to visible parts of the shower column.

Any users, having the need to adapt the supply height to their needs, may unlock the operating lever, make the adjustment, and lock the column in a few seconds from inside the shower enclosure without the need to use any type of tool and without running the risk of damaging or scratching parts of the shower column or its supports.

Claim 1:
A shower column (<NUM>) comprising
- a column body (<NUM>) having a main longitudinal extension axis (Y-Y),
- said column body (<NUM>) extending from a lower end (<NUM>), where it is shaped to be fluidly connected to a water connection (<NUM>), to an upper end (<NUM>), where it comprises or supports a water supply point (<NUM>),
- said column body (<NUM>) sliding along said main longitudinal extension axis (Y-Y),
- a wall mount (<NUM>) for the column body (<NUM>), between the lower end (<NUM>) and the upper end (<NUM>), comprising a first end (<NUM>) at least partially surrounding a portion of the side wall (<NUM>) of the column body (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) shaped to lock the column body (<NUM>) to a wall or panel,
- locking/unlocking means (<NUM>) of the column body (<NUM>) with respect to said main longitudinal extension axis (Y-Y),
wherein
- said locking/unlocking means (<NUM>) comprise a pusher (<NUM>), arranged at the first end (<NUM>) of the wall mount (<NUM>), the pusher being movable from an extracted or locked position, wherein it abuts against said side wall (<NUM>) of the column body (<NUM>) so as to lock the column body (<NUM>) in position, to a retracted position, wherein it does not interfere with the column body (<NUM>),
characterized in that said pusher (<NUM>) is joined to the wall mount (<NUM>) according to a screw-type connection (<NUM>), along said transverse direction (X-X),
wherein the pusher (<NUM>) is equipped with an operating lever (<NUM>) accessible from the outside of the wall mount (<NUM>), to achieve the roto-translation of the pusher (<NUM>) with respect to the wall mount (<NUM>),
wherein said wall mount (<NUM>) comprises a slot (<NUM>) that delimits two rotational end stops of the operating lever (<NUM>) in locking and unlocking the column body (<NUM>).