A Shower Unit and a Shower Area

The present invention relates to a shower unit and a shower area.

Mixing units are known to be used in conjunction with shower heads for mixing a fluid, such as liquid soap with air and the shower water.

US4218013 shows a shower head fluid dispenser wherein liquid soap is admitted into a parallel section of pipe. Air is also admitted into the same parallel section of pipe at the same axial location via a distinct air inlet. In order to reduce the amount of soap being admitted more air is admitted and vice versa.

US5356076 shows a system where air and liquid soap are premixed and then admitted into a water stream through a single inlet. US4623095 also shows a system where air liquid soap can be premixed and then admitted into the water stream through a single inlet.

In all of the above three mentioned shower units the air and liquid soap are admitted at the same axial position.

In all of the above three mentioned shower units a complicated system of varying the amount of air being admitted is used. In US4623095 and US5356076 the bottle containing the liquid soap is attached to the mixing unit only at an end, leaving the rest of the bottle unsupported. In US4218013 a completely separate mounting for the bottle is required, this separate mounting being expensive. In all of the above three mentioned shower units the venturi arrangement is fitted immediately adjacent to the shower head and the inlet to the venturi is above the outlet from the venturi. As such, the system for administering soap is positioned relatively high in the shower cubicle. As such, relatively short people and children find it difficult to reach.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved shower unit.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a shower unit having a shower head and

a mixing unit having a conduit with a water inlet, a water outlet, a venturi positioned between the water inlet and the water outlet, a fluid inlet, and an air inlet, the fluid inlet being distinct from the air inlet

the shower head being connected to the water outlet, the air inlet being vented to the atmosphere.

Advantageously such a shower unit provides a simply method for mixing water, air and a fluid (typically soap).

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a shower area including a shower unit as defined in any preceding claim, the shower area including a shower drain, the shower area being configured to allow water in the shower head to drain via the air inlet into the shower drain.

Advantageously, such an arrangement allows water above the mixing unit to drain away. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric view taken from above of a mixing unit according to the present invention and of a shower head according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a front view of figure 1,

Figure 3 is a front view of part of the mixing unit of figure 1,

Figure 4 is a top view of figure 3,

Figure 5 is a front view of a liquid reservoir of figure 1, Figure 6 is a top view of figure 5,

Figure 7 is a section view of part of the mixing unit of figure 1,

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of part of figure 7,

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a valve of figure 1,

Figure 10 is an end view of figure 9,

Figure 11 is a cross-section of figure 10 taken along line BB,

Figure 12 is a view of a shower area according to the present invention, and

Figure 13 is a cross-section view of the mixing unit of figure 12. With reference to the figures there is shown having a shower head 12 and a mixing unit 14.

The shower head 12 is a conventional shower head and any known shower head could be used in place of shower head 12.

The mixing unit 14 includes a conduit 16 and a fluid reservoir 18.

Turning to figures 7 and 8, the conduit 16 includes a water inlet 20, a water outlet 22 and a venturi 24. The venturi includes a convergent portion 26, a parallel sided portion 28 and a divergent portion 30. In this case the convergent portion 26 has a total (included) angle of 60 degrees, though in further embodiments the included angle could be between 70 degrees and 50 degrees. In this case the divergent portion 30 has a total (included) angle of 8.66 degrees, though in further embodiments the included angle could be between 11 degrees and 7 degrees.

In this case the water inlet 20 and water outlet 22 have parallel sided portions.

The conduit 16 defines a bore 34 having a wall 36. A liquid inlet 32 is defined in the wall 36, in particular in the parallel sided portion 28. The liquid inlet 32 is connected to fluid reservoir 18 via a variable valve 38.

An air inlet 40 is also provided. The air inlet 40 is defined in tube 42. Tube 42 has a blind end 44 and an open end 46 defined by flange 48. The tube 42 has a series of holes 50 positioned laterally relative to an axis of the tube. The tube itself is orientated laterally relative to the main axis of the bore 34. The holes 50 therefore face the water outlet 22. As will be appreciated, there is no means of adjusting the amount of air entering the air inlet, i.e. the air inlet is a fixed air inlet. The air inlet is vented to atmosphere i.e. the air pressure supply to the air inlet is at atmospheric pressure.

The fluid reservoir 18 is a bottle having an outlet 52 and a vent hole 54. As shown in figure 6 the bottle has an open sided recess 56. The recess is a re-entrant recess, i.e. the mouth 58 of the recess is narrower than the general diameter 60 of the recess. The bottle is made from a plastics material which is flexible. The bottle has a volume for receiving a liquid (i.e. it has a liquid receiving portion). Part of that volume surrounds recess 56. In this case angle B is 270 degrees, i.e. the liquid receiving portion of the bottle surrounds recess 56 by 270 degrees. In further embodiments the volume could surround recess 56 by more than 180 degrees, preferably the volume surrounds the recess by more than 250 degrees.

As shown in figure 3, the conduit 16 has an outer surface 17 in this case a cylindrical outer surface. The diameter of outer surface 17 is slightly less than the general diameter 60 but greater than the opening 62 of the mouth 58.

A tube 64 has an end 66 which is received in outlet 52 of the bottle. In order to assemble the bottle onto the mixing unit the outlet 52 is positioned near end 66 and the bottle is then pushed downwardly so that end 66 enters outlet 52. Simultaneously with the downward movement of the bottle, the bottle is also moved towards the conduit 16 such that the mouth 58 is pushed around the outer surface 17 and snap fits onto the conduit such that the outer surface 17 is received, within the recess 56. Thus, the weight of the bottle and its contents can be taken by abutments on the bottom of the bottle contacting abutment 67 on the mixing unit and the bottle is prevented from falling sideways or forwards by the snap fit connection. In this manner the bottle can be easily coupled to and decoupled from the mixing unit. Valve 38 includes a handle portion 70 and a cylinder 72 having a through hole 74. The cylinder 72 is a friction fit in a bore 75 of the mixing unit. Bore 75 has diametrically opposed holes, one of which defines the outlet from tube 64 and the other one of which defines the inlet to tube 65. Progressive rotation of the handle portion 70 will vary the amount of liquid 76 that passes through the valve 38. The amount of liquid that passes through the valve can be a maximum amount, a minimum amount (which minimum may be zero) and an amount between a maximum amount and a minimum amount i.e. the valve is a variable valve. In this example the amount of liquid passing through the valve can be infinitely variable between a maximum amount and a minimum amount.

Once the liquid has passed through valve 38 it proceeds through tube 65 to the liquid inlet 32.

As can be seen from the figures the venturi is orientated generally vertically with the water outlet 22 being positioned above the water inlet 20. It will also be appreciated that the venturi is positioned below the shower head. Operation of the mixing unit and the shower unit is as follows :-

Water, at a suitable temperature is fed into inlet 20 in the direction of arrow A. The water then passes through the venturi, through the water outlet 22, and through the shower head 20 and out of the shower head nozzle 78. As the water passes through the venturi, and in particular as the water passes liquid inlet 32 a low pressure is created which draws liquid 76 through end 66, tube 64, partially or fully open valve 38, tube 65 and liquid inlet 32 into the water stream.

Only a limited amount of mixing of the liquid 76 and water will occur before the liquid/water combination reaches the air inlet 40. Because the air inlet 40 is in the venturi, and in particular in the parallel sided portion of the venturi, a low pressure still exists and hence air is drawn through holes 50. It is this air that thoroughly mixes the liquid 76 with the water. As will be appreciated, the air inlet 40 is positioned downstream (when considering the direction of movement of the water) of the liquid inlet 32.

As described above, both the liquid inlet and the air inlet are in the parallel sided portion of the venturi. In further embodiments the air inlet and/or the fluid inlet may be positioned in the divergent section of the venturi. In further embodiments the venturi may have a convergent section and a divergent section without an intervening parallel sided portion. Under these circumstances the air inlet and/or fluid inlet may be positioned in the divergent section of the venturi.

As described above, air inlet 40 admits air into the water stream. In further embodiments a further tube, identical to or similar to tube 42 may be positioned downstream of tube 42. Such an additional tube may be orientated laterally relative to the main axis at bore 32. Typically the further tube may be orientated on a different diameter to the diameter on which tube 42 is orientated, i.e. when viewed axially the further tube may be angled relative to tube 42, for example it may be angled at 90 degrees relative to tube 42. The further tube may have a different arrangement of holes or may have an identical arrangement of holes. As will be appreciated from figures 2, 3 and 7 the part of the conduit about which the bottle snap fits is situated generally downstream of the venturi. Thus, when the venturi is orientated generally vertically the liquid within the bottle is at a height generally above the venturi and as such less venturi under pressure is required to draw liquid into the water stream.

As described above, the liquid in the fluid reservoir may be liquid soap. The liquid soap may include a fragrance. Alternatively the fluid reservoir may contain a liquid medicament, for example a medicament for treating skin complaints. With reference to figures 12 and 13 there is shown a further embodiment of a shower unit according to the present invention and also a shower area according to the present invention. Components of shower unit 110 which fulfil the same function as those of shower unit 10 have been labelled 100 greater. Figure 12 shows a shower area 80 within which people, either adults 81 or children (not shown) can shower. The shower head 112 is positioned at a height D suitable for a fully grown adult. Typically height D may be 6 foot or greater (1800 mm or greater). The shower head is mounted on a wall 182 of the shower area. Lower down the wall, at height d, is mounted the mixing unit 114. Typically height d will be at approximately waist height for a fully grown adult, i.e. below 5 foot (1500 mm or less). The person showering stands on a floor 183 of the shower area which includes a drain 184. The shower area is configured so that water exiting the shower head 112 will drain through the drain 184. A lip 185 may be provided to prevent the escape of water.

Figure 13 shows the mixing unit 114 in greater detail. In this case the air inlet is provided as a hole at the wall of the venturi. In this case the air inlet 140 is connected to a flexible pipe having an end 186A open to atmosphere and positioned above the floor 183 (see figure 12). In use, water flows through inlet 120, through the venturi 124, through water outlet 122, through pipe 187, through shower head 112, over adult 81, onto floor 183, and out of drain 184. Immediately after tap 188 (shown schematically) has been turned off, there is a column of stationary water in pipe 187. Because air inlet 140 is permanently connected to atmosphere via pipe 186, the water in pipe 187 will drain through pipe 186 and fall onto the floor 183 of the shower area whereupon it will drain into the drain 184. Advantageously, this means that water in pipe 187 is drained and does not remain stagnant between successive uses of the shower. In circumstances where the shower is used infrequently this can have hygienic advantages.

In a similar manner to showers units 10, shower unit 110 has the fluid reservoir 118 coupled to the fluid inlet 132 via a variable valve 138 (shown schematically). Between the variable valve 138 and the fluid reservoir 118 there is a one-way valve 198 (shown schematically). The one-way valve 198 allows fluid 176 to be drawn into the venturi when the shower is being used (i.e. when tap 138 and tap 188 are open). As described above, immediately after tap 188 has been closed there is a column of water in pipe 187 and the one-way valve 198 prevents water in this column being fed into the reservoir whilst the column of water is draining through flexible pipe 186.

The one-way valve requires a certain pressure to open (i.e. it has a cracking pressure). In one example the cracking pressure is 0.1 bar. Providing a one-way valve having a cracking pressure above zero bar ensures that fluid 176 in reservoir 118 does not drain through pipe 186 when tap 188 is closed and valve 138 has been left open. The cracking pressure must be above the pressure generated by the height of fluid 176 in the reservoir 188 above the one-way valve 198. In one embodiment the cracking pressure may be above 0.05 bar and below 0.5 bar. In another embodiment the cracking pressure may be above 0.05 bar and below 0.3 bar. In another embodiment the cracking pressure may be above 0.05 bar and below 0.2 bar.

The mixing unit 14 does not include a one-way valve equivalent to one-way valve 189. In order to prevent drainage of fluid 76 the person showering can turn off variable valve 38. Alternatively, the viscosity of fluid 76 and the bore of tube 64 and 65 could be sized such that with no water flowing through the venturi 24 drainage of liquid 76 does not occur. Only when a depression is created in the venturi does fluid start to flow and mix with the water and air.

In the pipe feeding inlet 120, there is included a further one-way valve 190 (see figure 12). This ensures that the water in pipe 187 cannot contaminate the water mains supply in the event of loss of pressure in the mains supply. The shower area shown in figure 12 may be an individual shower area. The shower area may have a shower tray having a relatively low lip 185, or alternatively the shower area may include a bath having a relatively high lip. Alternatively the shower area may not include any lip at all and simply be a "wet room". Alternatively, the shower area may be configured as a communal shower area having multiple shower heads.

As will be appreciated from figures 12 and 13, the water in pipe 187 is allowed to drain via pipe 186 whereupon it falls on to the floor 183 and is hence directed to drain 184. In other embodiments a dedicated pipe could be provided to route the water all the way to drain 184, for example pipe 186 could pass through wall 182 and be routed to drain 184. This would be aesthetically more pleasing, though more complicated.