Patent Document

This application is related to Disclosure Document number 500,467, filed on Sep. 28, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to water delivery apparatus and, more particularly, to a portable shower device. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     The prior art is replete with water delivery devices for shower capabilities. The U.S. Patent to Coleman (U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,456) discloses a shower system that diverts the water delivery into two directions so that a lower shower head may be in use simultaneously with a higher shower head. The U.S. Patent to Tiernan (U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,346) issued Sep. 1, 1998, also teaches of a dual shower head having movable tubular sections. 
     The U.S. Patent to Healy issued Oct. 21, 1997, discloses a multiple showerhead device. Herein, an apparatus has a wall mounted water pipe supporting a plurality of individual showerheads by swivel joints and manual on/off valves for selective operation. Apertures are provided on the housing through which the showerheads protrude. 
     Wilson teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,839, (issued Oct. 21, 1975) of a dual shower attachment device wherein a single shower may be converted into a dual shower with water delivery outlets at opposite sides of the shower. Gellmann (U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,235, issued Feb. 18, 1964) discloses a shower line unit with a plurality of showerheads positioned along a unit line of the shower device. 
     None of these patents either teaches or suggests a water delivery device used for a shower having easily assembled pipe construction that is portable for use indoors or outdoors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention features a shower device made of lightweight, easily assembled parts that can be adapted to a water source for hand-held or stationary water delivery at varying heights of water distribution. This sort of water delivery device enables one with compromised height, e.g., a handicapped person, to enjoy the full extent of water delivery during a shower, as well as allowing multiple head delivery in lieu of a single head system. The shower system is a kit comprising parts that are coded in a particular fashion to provide error-free assembly instruction by sight (such as color, numbers, alphabet, etc.,) or touch (i.e., Braille or other tactile identification means). 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a modular water delivery system that is lightweight and easy to transport. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a modular water delivery system that is easy to assemble and disassemble with error-free construction assembly means incorporated into the system. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a water delivery system with standard sized plumbing for shower capabilities. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a water delivery system with selective water delivery outlets at various positions within a bathing unit. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages will be more apparent from a study of the enclosed text and the appended drawings. 
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     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when taken in conjunction with the detail description thereof and in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows the unassembled compounts of the water delivery kit of the of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the components of the water delivery kit, as they would be assembled in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows the assembled components of the water delivery kit. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8). 
     Generally speaking this invention relates to water delivery systems for showers that alternatively divides water delivered from one outflow into a plurality of water streams. As shown in FIG. 1, the water delivery system  100  is comprised of various types of plumbing accessories to be described herein. 
     It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a portable, shower device that is easily assembled, and that provides a choice between water delivery configurations. These objects are achieved by the plumbing parts, (i.e., pipes  90 , elbow couplers  40  &amp;  45 , outlets  30 , etc.) being specifically manufactured to facilitate such. The parts are made of a pre-cut and pre-molded suitable material, such as PVC. 
     FIG. 2 shows the individual parts of a preferred embodiment of the water delivery system  100  laid out for assembly and how the parts are configured to provide a square panel shower capability. However, it is to be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other shower configurations may be employed with minor changes to the connections between the parts. Other configuration options include, but are not limited to, fixed, wall mounted, double hinged corner form, and single hinged for corner, ceiling mounting, etc. 
     FIG. 1 shows the unassembled parts of the water delivery system  100 , those parts generally consisting of: 
     at least one cross connector  10  which may divide the water into three different directions of delivery; 
     tube couplers  20  having female threaded fittings at each end; 
     tee connectors  30  and  35  which may divert the water direction into two delivery directions, tee connectors  30  having slip fittings at each end and a threaded fitting at the center coupling while tee  35  has slip fittings at all three couplings; 
     elbow connectors  40  and  45  offset at 90 degree and 45 degree angles, respectively, for changing the direction of the water delivery, the 90 degree elbows  40  forming a corner of the perimeter of the water delivery system  100 , as seen in FIG. 1, while the 45 degree elbow connector  45  is connected to the water source via quick connects  80   a  and  80   b  for allowing water flow into the water delivery system  100 ; 
     at least one flow diverter  50 ; 
     at least one shower head  55 ; 
     90° side outlet elbows  58 , which are used to form the bottom perimeter corners of the water deliver system  100 , the side outlet being threaded and allowing draining of the system when not in use; 
     threaded plugs  60 , which may be threaded into the threaded fittings of the tee couplers  30  and side outlet elbows  58 ; 
     pipe nipples  70  having male threads along their entire length; 
     male adapters  75  having male threads at a first end and slip connector at a second end; 
     quick connect connectors  80   a  and  80   b  for joining the water delivery system  100  to a water system; and 
     tubes  90  of various lengths. 
     It would be evident to one skilled in the art that, although specific threaded/slip joint combinations are specified herein, other combinations of fittings could work with equal effectiveness, as long as the interconnect between standard plumbing features, such as permanently installed plumbing and the portable system, and the portable system and shower heads attached thereto, may be easily made. 
     The elbow connectors  40 ,  45  and tee connectors  30  and  35  change the direction of the water flow wherein tubes  90  provide conduits for one-directional water flow. The tubes  90  may be precut to fit the specifications of particular dimensions of the water delivery system  100 . Tube couplers  20  may be employed to join sections of threaded pipe  90  to any lateral portion of the assembled water delivery system  100 . Male adapters  75  may be employed to adapt pipe  90  to connect to standard female thread fittings. 
     A water diverter  50  is employed to divert water flow to a single shower head  55  or optionally to the water delivery system  100 , as a whole and any additional shower heads  55  attached thereto. Shower head  55  is herein defined as a water outlet which may consist of a hand held shower head, a rigidly mounted shower head, or any other type of water outlet as are known in the art, including hoses. Plugs  60  close the side outlets of tee connectors  30  when a shower head  55  is not installed therein. Additional water diverters  50  may be used at any junction throughout the water delivery system  100 , optionally providing flow to individual shower heads  55 . When not in use as a water output, the openings of diverters  50  may be sealed with plugs  60 . 
     In as much as one particular configuration is illustrated in FIG. 2, showing a finite number of each of the parts for construction, it is to be appreciated that a larger quantity or lesser quantity of the individual parts to construct alternate embodiments. 
     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit a particular operating requirements and environment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     An intended primary embodiment of the present invention is as a kit of the individual parts for assembly by the consumer. To aid in the assembly, the parts may be color coded  72   a , numbered  72   b , lettered  72   c , or marked by other means known in the art, including such methods as Braille  72   d . Additionally, in order to facilitate proper alignment of the parts, all non-threaded parts could optionally be formed with a key/keyway (not shown). 
     A container of PVC primer  82  and PVC glue  84  may be included in the kit, as well as a roll of TEFLON, or similar, plumbing tape  86 , shown FIG.  1 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the inventive system  100  may be sold as an assembled unit. 
     It would be evident to one skilled in the art that, in order to maintain water pressure, certain water channels may be permanently plugged such that flow is directed through other channels or terminated at the plug. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequent appended claims.

Technology Category: 2