Pipes and tubular conduits – Combined – With hose protector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-11-06
Hook, James (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Combined
With hose protector
C138S162000, C138S166000, C004S605000, C285S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311734
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF ART
This invention relates generally to showerhead assemblies, and more particularly, to showerhead security covers to minimize the theft of such showerhead assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional showerheads are at risk of being removed and stolen from hotels and other public places. Several attempts have been made to address this problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,350 (Nelson) discloses a tamper-resistant flow control attachment for a shower arm. One end of the attachment is threadedly engaged with the shower arm and the other end is threadedly engaged with the showerhead. During installation of the shower arm and showerhead, the attachment is inserted between the shower arm and the showerhead. The attachment comprises a two-piece assembly—a housing and a shell. The attachment includes a first setscrew to prevent rotation of the housing relative to the shower arm and a second setscrew, which limits any axial movement of the shell. The housing and the shell each encase the showerhead volumetric flow control device to limit the water flow through the showerhead to a predetermined level. However, the attachment complicates showerhead assembly and requires the disassembly of existing showerheads in order to insert the attachment into the line. Also, the attachment can be used only with specific showerhead configurations, or requires the modification of the shower arms or showerheads.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,429 (Moen) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,116 (Moen) disclose variations of tamper-proof showerhead assemblies. The assemblies are mounted between the swivel ball and the shower body member, a sleeve encasing the shower body member. The one-piece body, one-piece sleeve, and shower handle are secured together in such a manner that no part of the assembly can be removed without removing the entire showerhead from its supporting conduit. However, the connector portion of the swivel ball and the shower arm are not encased by the assembly, enabling direct access to the connector and removal of the showerhead assembly.
In addition, there are other prior art references in a similar but non-related application directed at preventing the removal of conventional hoses—see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,014 (Erickson), U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,280 (Johnson), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,858 (Parker). These devices generally surround the connector between the faucet and the hose and include a distinct lock to prevent access to the connector.
What is needed is a showerhead security device specifically designed for showerheads that covers the connector between the shower arm and the showerhead preventing direct access thereto, that is compatible with essentially all conventional showerhead designs, that is a deterrent to any unauthorized removal thereof, that indicates when any unauthorized access has been attempted, and that has component parts that are of a relatively simple design and easy to make from conventional materials.
What is needed is a showerhead security device for showerheads that enables removal with the use of a special tool, that is strong enough to resist gripping by conventional pliers, that is easy to install not requiring disassembly to the shower arm from the showerhead in existing units, that is capable of snap closure assembly, and that the only method of access to the showerhead connector is by mutilation of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various preferred embodiments of the showerhead security covers of the present invention as hereafter described meet each or all of the above-identified needs. The preferred embodiments of the showerhead security cover of the present invention prevent unauthorized access to a connector of a shower assembly during engagement. The connector as used herein, includes any device, conventional or otherwise, that secures the showerhead to the shower arm. Preferably, the connector, showerhead, and shower arm are standard without any modification required. The connector is attachable to a shower arm by a threaded retention therebetween, an external thread being generally disposed on the shower arm and an internal thread being generally disposed on the connector.
The showerhead security cover of the present invention comprises a housing and a lock-the lock being preferably integral with the housing enabling the showerhead security cover of the present assembly to be injection molded when plastic materials are used. Once the lock is engaged, the housing encases the connector and prevents access to the connector. During engagement, no substantial rotational movement of the connector relative to the shower arm is enabled, and one end-wall of the housing seats against an end-wall of the connector preventing any substantial axial movement of the housing relative to the connector. The housing is strong enough to prevent engagement with the connector even when the housing is grasped with pliers. Disengagement of the showerhead security cover of the present invention may be enabled by the use of a special tool that is generally accessible to maintenance personnel such as an allen wrench.
For a more complete understanding of the showerhead security cover of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example. As the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, it is expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 968759 (1910-08-01), Fogg
patent: 1587327 (1926-06-01), Johnson
patent: 3578026 (1971-05-01), Meyer, Jr.
patent: 4219693 (1980-08-01), French
patent: 4372593 (1983-02-01), Kesselman
patent: 4405161 (1983-09-01), Young et al.
patent: 4426108 (1984-01-01), Kesselman
patent: 4600220 (1986-07-01), Agnelli
patent: 4826215 (1989-05-01), Sullivan
patent: 5158114 (1992-10-01), Botsolas
patent: 5531695 (1996-07-01), Swisher
patent: 5709249 (1998-01-01), Okada et al.
patent: 5905231 (1999-05-01), Houte et al.
Alson's Corporation
Doigan Lloyd D.
Hook James
Kapustij Myron B.
LandOfFree
Showerhead security cover does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Showerhead security cover, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Showerhead security cover will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613332