Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Means for spraying user
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-07-10
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Means for spraying user
C004S567000, C004S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256808
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to shower systems, and in particular to mechanisms for positioning and supporting a shower post.
People commonly shower while standing in a tub enclosure or shower stall. The main showerhead is usually mounted on the wall to shower water down upon the person's head and body. However, the head is usually positioned to best accommodate people of average height. This can require individuals of large stature to bend down and duck their heads under the showerhead to wash their hair or faces. For children and shorter adults showerheads at this height may splash into their faces or be at an undesirably low pressure when the water reaches their bodies.
It is also known to attach a showerhead to a plumbing supply line via a hose or other flexible conduit to create what is known as a personal shower. The showerhead may be removed from a fixed shower wall mount and held by the hand during showering. However, this requires the bather to assign one hand to holding the spray head. This makes it more difficult to use shampoo, or shave, or use soap, at the same time.
In another approach showerheads have been attached to a rod so as to be vertically slidable along the rod. However, these systems typically require the user to loosen and re-tighten fasteners to adjust the height of the showerhead and secure it in the adjusted position.
Other shower systems provide a height adjustment mechanism in which the user can lift or lower the showerhead and the showerhead is held in a new position. See e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,360,159 and 2,685,093. Yet, such shower systems typically do not permit the stem or post of the showerhead to be rotated. Thus, the spray direction of the shower can only be adjusted at the pivot joint of the showerhead.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a further improved shower system having an adjustment mechanism in which both the height and angular direction of the showerhead can be easily adjusted.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a shower system having an adjustment mechanism which facilitates vertical and angular repositioning of the showerhead. The adjustment mechanism automatically holds the shower held in the adjusted position.
In one aspect the invention provides an adjustable showerhead which has a stationary sleeve defining an axial pathway, and a bearing disposed within the sleeve and axially slidable along the axial pathway, the bearing having an axial bore defining an inner race.
There is also a showerhead post having an upper end attached to a showerhead and an opposite end rotatably disposed within the bearing inner race while being essentially fixed in an axial position with respect to the bearing.
In a preferred aspect there is also a counter balance assembly. The sleeve includes a vertical slot and the bearing includes a tab extending through the slot. The counter balance assembly is attached to the bearing tab so as to assist in maintaining the vertical position of the showerhead post.
The counter balance assembly has a weight, an upper pulley, a lower pulley, an upper cable riding within the upper pulley and coupled to the bearing and to the weight, and a lower cable riding within the lower pulley and coupled to the bearing and to the weight. When the showerhead post moves up the weight moves down, and vice versa.
The sleeve has an axial track at its outer periphery along which the weight travels, and a cable attachment plate can be mounted to the bearing tab. There can also be a spring coupled to an end of the lower cable and to attachment plate, and the lower cable can have a ball tip at an end adjacent the bearing. There can also be a bracket mounted to the weight such that upper and lower cables are connected to the bracket via hooks.
In other aspects there can be an annular bearing fixed at an upper end of the sleeve and having an axial bore through which the showerhead post rides for further guiding the showerhead post within the sleeve. There can also be at the lower end of the showerhead post a coupler. The coupler has a first end fixedly disposed within the showerhead post, a second end disposed with the bearing bore, and an annular shoulder between the first and second coupler ends for abutting the showerhead post on one side and a top surface of the bearing on the opposite side.
In yet another aspect there can be a travel stop secured to the bottom end of the showerhead post adjacent the bearing for restricting the showerhead's upward and axial rotational movement.
The showerhead post is a hollow, open-ended tube in which a flexible water line can be positioned. The water line extends from a water valve to a showerhead mounted at an upper end of the showerhead post.
Preferably, friction elements, such as resilient o-rings, are fit between the coupler and the axial bore of the bearing to prevent unintended pivot within the bearing.
Thus, the shower system of the present invention permits the height of the showerhead to be easily and simply adjusted by lifting or pulling down on the upper (preferably curved) end of the showerhead post. The showerhead post stays in the adjusted position by operation of the counterbalance system without the need to adjust fasteners or otherwise additionally secure the showerhead post. The showerhead post can also be easily rotated by pivoting the upper end. The showerhead post is held at the adjusted rotational angle by friction between the bearing and the end of the showerhead post.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In this description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which there is shown by way of illustration preferred embodiments of the invention. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. Thus, the claims should be looked to in order to judge the scope of the invention.
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Cook Michael G.
Graham Gary E.
Fetsuga Robert M.
Kohler Co.
Quarles & Brady LLP
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