The present invention relates to a holder for a shower handset, a shower slide rail apparatus, a kit for a shower slide rail apparatus, and a method for altering the height of a shower handset.

Shower heads can be fixed to a wall using a slide rail. A “shower handset”, as described herein, is a shower head which is intended to be releasably mounted such that a user can also hold it manually and move it as desired. The shower handset is held in a holder which may allow the handset to be swivelled, tilted, removed and replaced. The holder is attached to a rail which generally extends vertically along the wall. The holder is able to move up and down the rail, and can be secured in place, to allow the height of the shower handset to be set.

It is known to secure the holder using a clamp mechanism that can be tightened and loosened using a rotatable handle, allowing repositioning of the shower handset. This arrangement requires the user to adjust the position of the shower head with both hands, one to operate the clamp mechanism, and the other to move the holder along the rail. This arrangement may also make adjustment difficult for users with limited dexterity.

Other known examples rely on friction to hold the body in place, and on a user overcoming the friction to move the body. Whilst such examples may require use of only a single hand, the force necessary for movement may be high, and the grip generally reduces with time, leading to product failure.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a holder for a shower handset, the holder configured to grip a slide rail, and comprising: a body, the body being arranged to slide along the slide rail in use; a deformable constriction member mounted within the body and arranged to extend along/surround at least half of the circumference of the slide rail, the constriction member having a contact surface arranged to contact the slide rail; and one or more actuation members configured to act on the constriction member in response to an applied force. In an unactuated configuration, the contact surface of the constriction member contacts the slide rail, applying a frictional force to hold the holder in place, and in an actuated configuration, the frictional force on the slide rail is reduced, such that the holder may be moved along the slide rail.

The holder may be described as a pinch grip holder. The constriction member may be a constriction clamp which extends more than halfway around, e.g. surrounds, in use, a slide rail or bar. The constriction clamp may grip the rail, and may be actuated by a suitable mechanism to close and release the constriction clamp, so gripping and releasing the rail. For example, the actuation mechanism may comprise two side buttons (i.e. two buttons on one side or the other of the rail) and a spring.

The constriction member may comprise a constriction portion comprising the contact surface. The constriction member may comprise an actuation portion configured to be acted upon by the one or more actuation members, and to actuate the constriction portion.

The deformable constriction member may have a constriction portion which is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein the constriction portion has a gap in its circumference such that the constriction portion does not form a complete cylinder, the gap being arranged to allow the diameter of the constriction portion to be adjusted. The constriction portion may provide the contact surface. The cylindrical shape may have a relatively small height in comparison to its diameter, such that the constriction portion is substantially ring-shaped, or may have a larger height in comparison to its diameter, such that the constriction portion is substantially tube-shaped. The constriction portion may therefore take the form of a ring or tube, split by a single gap arranged to allow the diameter of the constriction portion to be adjusted. The constriction portion may otherwise be continuous, providing a continuous contact surface. The gap may be at least substantially linear. The gap may extend at least substantially perpendicularly to the diameter of the constriction portion / parallel to the height of the cylindrical constriction portion.

The gap may form a single, straight, line parallel to the height of the cylindrical constriction portion. In other embodiments, the gap may form a line angled with respect to the cylinder, whilst still extending from one end of the cylinder to the other. Having only a single gap extending from one end of the cylindrical constriction portion to the other, the constriction portion otherwise providing a continuous surface, may maximise the area of the contact surface, so improving grip, whilst maintaining simplicity of components.

The constriction member may be resiliently biased to grip the slide rail in the absence of an applied force.

It may be that the constriction member is resiliently biased by a biasing means, wherein the biasing means may comprise a coil spring.

It may be that the contact surface of the constriction member contacts at least half of a circumference of the slide rail in the absence of an applied force.

The constriction member may be supported by an alignment member which may surround the constriction member to hold it in place.

Providing a large contact area between the constriction member and the slide rail may mean that less pressure may be needed to achieve the same frictional force. In this way, the constriction member can be less strongly biased to grip the slide rail. This in turn means that less pressure may be required to overcome the biasing and hence the actuation member(s) may be easier to operate.

The holder may include one or more input members which are configured to act on the one or more actuation members in response to the applied force on the one or more input members. The one or more input members may be separately formed and may abut the one or more actuation members. Alternatively, the input members may be input surfaces which may be integrally formed with the actuation members. The input surfaces/members may transfer the user input to the actuation members in any suitable way.

The one or more input members may be resiliently biased against the applied force.

The one or more input members may be resiliently biased by one or more springs.

The one or more input members may be one or more buttons. It may be that the holder includes two input members, for example two buttons.

The holder may include a single actuation member.

The body of the holder may completely surround the circumference of the slide rail.

It may be that the contact surface of the constriction member is made from a high friction material. This may increase the friction force between the constriction member and the slide rail which may better secure the holder in position. This may also have the effect that less pressure is needed to achieve the same frictional force. In this way, the constriction member can be less strongly biased to grip the slide rail. This is turn means that less pressure may be required to overcome the biasing and hence the actuation members may be easier to operate.

It may be that the entire contact surface of the constriction member is configured to contact the slide rail in the unactuated configuration.

The constriction member, and in particular a constriction portion of the constriction member, may have the shape of a broken ring or tube, having two ends. That is, the constriction portion may be cylindrical in shape, with a single, optionally linear, gap extending the full height of the ring/tube, i.e. between its two ends. The broken nature of the ring or tube / the presence of the gap is arranged to allow the diameter of the constriction portion to be adjusted.

A single constriction member may be provided, the one or more contact surfaces of the single constriction member may be arranged to contact at least half of the circumference of the slide rail in the absence of an applied force. The single constriction member may have a single contact surface, the single contact surface being arranged to contact at least half of the circumference of the slide rail in the absence of an applied force.

It may be that in response to the applied force, the one or more actuation members act on the constriction member so as to expand the circumference of the constriction member. The one or more input members may be configured to transfer an applied force to the one or more actuation members via a slidably engageable contact surface.

It may be that the slidably engageable contact surface is arranged to transfer the direction of the applied force through substantially 90 degrees.

The one or more input members may be configured to receive an applied force in a longitudinal direction oriented along the slide rail.

The one or more input members may be arranged to be offset from the slide rail, to one side of the slide rail, in use. For example, the or each input member may be spaced from the slide rail by a distance of at least 1 cm, and optionally at least 2 cm. The or each input member may extend away from the slide rail, for example covering a range from 1 to 2 cm from the slide rail to 4 to 7 cm from the slide rail. The holder may be arranged to hold the showerhead on the far side of the rail from the one or more input members. The holster may be shaped such that the shower handset is similarly spaced from the slide rail.

In various embodiments, the one or more input members, which may be buttons, are spaced from the slide rail and on the far side of the slide rail from a holster on, or of, the holder, which is arranged to hold the shower handset. Having the input member(s) on the opposite side of the rail from the handset (when the handset is mounted in the holster) may facilitate use of the buttons without interrupting the spray, as compared to having the input member(s) on or immediately adjacent the holster.

In various embodiments, an overhead, fixed, showerhead (e.g. a rain type showerhead) may be located above and in line with the slide rail. The input members, which may be buttons, being optionally located to one side of the slide rail may facilitate a user reaching the buttons without extending an arm through the spray, or at least without extending an arm through the densest region of the spray, from the fixed showerhead. Similarly, having a holster portion of the holder arranged to hold the showerhead spaced from the slide rail may reduce splash-back of the overhead shower spray on the shower handset, by keeping the shower handset out of the spray, or at least out of a densest region of the spray. The spray from the fixed showerhead may therefore be less interrupted than in other holder arrangements. It may be that the contact surface of the constriction member is an inner surface of the constriction member and arranged to contact an outer surface of the slide rail. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower slide rail apparatus comprising a slide rail, and the holder of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for providing the shower slide rail apparatus of the second aspect, the kit comprising a slide rail, and the holder of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for altering the height of a shower handset mounted on a slide rail using the holder of the first aspect mounted on the slide rail, the method comprising: applying a force to the one or more actuation members so as to reduce the frictional force between the holder and the slide rail; and applying a force to the holder in a longitudinal direction oriented along the slide rail to move the holder along the slide rail.

The holder may move in the longitudinal direction in response to the applied force.

It may be that applying the force to the one or more actuation members causes the one or more actuation members to increase the circumference of the restriction member.

The force applied to the one or more actuation member may be oriented in a direction at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

In some embodiments, the force applied to the holder may be applied simultaneously to the force applied to the one or more actuation members. A force may be applied to the one or more actuation members and maintained whilst a longitudinal force is subsequently applied to the holder, or vice versa, so that both forces are present for an overlapping period.

In some embodiments, the initial application of a force to the one or more actuation members may lock the holder in an actuated position, in which the rail is not gripped. In such embodiments, the force applied to the one or more actuation members may be released before the longitudinal force is applied to the holder. A second force may then be applied to the one or more actuation members to de-actuate the holder, allowing it to grip the rail. The forces may not be simultaneously present in such embodiments.

In some embodiments, the longitudinal force applied to the holder may be applied to the actuation member(s) of the holder. A single motion may therefore cause both forces, for example pushing upwards/parallel to the slider rail, on an actuation member on a lower side of the holder.

It will be appreciated that any feature discussed in relation to a particular aspect may also be applied to any other aspect, mutatis mutandis.

Brief description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a holder according to an embodiment of the invention, in a plane parallel to the slide rail;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a constriction member according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the holder shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the holder shown in Figures 1 and 3 in a plane perpendicular to the slide rail;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shower apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the method according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a holder with a holster.

In the following description, it will be understood that references to top/bottom, upper/lower, front/rear, above/below are intended to refer to the orientation of objects in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, i.e. a slide rail 14 mounted in a vertical orientation, such that a holder 1 mounted thereon can be moved up and down the rail (the longitudinal direction described herein is therefore vertical / up and down, in this orientation). In alternative embodiments, a slide rail 14 may be mounted horizontally, to allow a showerhead to be moved from side to side, instead of up and down, or may be mounted at an angle. It will be appreciated that the orientation of a holder 1 mounted on the slide rail 14 would change accordingly, so “upper, “lower” and the likes are not intended to be limiting but rather used for simplicity of description.

Figures 1, 3, and 4 all show different views of the holder 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The holder 1 comprises a body 5 arranged to be mounted on a slide rail 14 in use, as shown in Figure 5. The body 5 is arranged to have the showerhead 27 mounted thereon. The body 5 holds the other components of the holder 1.

In the embodiment shown, the body 5 defines a cavity arranged to house the other components of the holder 1. The other components are located at least partially within the body 5 in use. In alternative embodiments, the body 5 may provide a frame on which the other components are mounted, and may not have an internal cavity arranged to house components.

The holder 1 further comprises a constriction member 2 and an actuation member 11. The constriction member 2 is deformable between a first configuration and a second configuration, and arranged to grip the slide rail 14 in the first configuration and to reduce or remove its grip on the slide rail in the second configuration. The actuation member 11 is arranged to allow or cause the constriction member to move between the first and second configurations.

In the illustrated embodiment, both the constriction member 2 and the actuation member 11 are housed inside the cavity defined by the body 5.

The constriction member 2 has a constriction portion 16 which is substantially cylindrical, or tubular, in shape and is configured to receive the slide rail 14 in use. The constriction member 2 is shown in perspective view in Figure 2. The constriction portion 16 is not a complete cylinder, instead having a gap or opening which allows the shape and/or diameter of the constriction member 2 to be adjusted by varying the width of the gap. The gap in the constriction portion 16 is a single line gap which extends from one end of the cylindrical constriction member 2 to the other such that the constriction member 2 does not overlap itself. In the illustrated embodiment, the gap is parallel to the central axis of the cylinder. In the illustrated embodiment, the line of the gap is straight; in other embodiments, the line may curve.

The constriction portion 16 has a continuous surface, split only by the gap or opening which allows the shape and/or diameter of the constriction member to be adjusted.

In the embodiment shown, the constriction member 2 comprises two flanges 15a, 15b, one on either side of the opening. In particular, the constriction member 2 may comprise an actuation portion which comprises the two flanges 15a, 15b. The opening is lengthways/oriented along the longitudinal direction in the embodiment shown. In alternative embodiments, the opening may be of a different shape, differently oriented (e.g. diagonally) and/or more than one opening may be provided. The flanges 15a, 15b are arranged to provide one or more contact surfaces to facilitate deformation of the constriction member 2. The actuation member 11 acts on one or more contact surfaces of one or each flange 15a, 15b so as to allow or cause the constriction member 2 to move between the first and second configurations. In alternative embodiments, no flanges 15a, 15b may be present and the actuation member 11 may act directly on the constriction portion 16, or be connected thereto by any suitable means known in the art.

In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 1 also includes an alignment member 19. The alignment member 19 is received inside the cavity formed by the body, and acts to hold the actuation member 11 in place. The alignment member 19 of the illustrated embodiment also includes a portion which surrounds the constriction member 2 and holds it in place. In alternative embodiments, no alignment member may be present - for example, the actuation member 11, and constriction member 2 may instead be held in place by the body 5 or another component.

In the illustrated embodiment, two buttons 3 are provided on the body 5, one on the top of the body 5, and one on the bottom of the body 5. The buttons 3 are provided to allow a user to move the actuation member 11, so as to release or reintroduce the grip of the constriction member 2 on the slide rail 14. The buttons 3 are vertically aligned in the embodiment shown, on opposing sides of the holder 1 in the vertical direction. In alternative embodiments, a single button 3, or more than two buttons 3, may be provided, and/or button positioning may differ. For example, whilst the top and bottom surfaces of the body to one side of the shower rail were chosen in the embodiment shown for ease of access by a user, one or more buttons 3 may instead be provided on a front and/or rear surface of the holder, or at a different angular position.

The buttons 3 extend through a wall of the body 5 such that a contact surface of each button intended to be contacted by a user is accessible from outside the body 5 and a mechanism actuated by the buttons 3 is within the body.

These buttons 3 are each resiliently biased against an applied force in a direction parallel to the slide rail 14 and towards a centre of the holder 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the top button 3 is biased against a force from above, and the bottom button 3 is biased against a force from below. The buttons 3 are therefore biased away from each other, and arranged to be pushed towards each other by the application of respective forces. In the embodiment shown, the biasing is provided by four springs 7. In alternative embodiments, more or fewer springs 7, and/or an alternative biasing means, may be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, each button 3 comprises a projection 4 as described below, which extends within the holder 1 and is arranged to act on the actuation member 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the orientation shown, the flanges 15a, 15b extend rearwardly from the shower rail 14. One flange 15b is held in a set position, and the other flange 15a is arranged to be pushed towards that flange 15b, against the biasing of a spring 17, by movement of the actuation member 11, and to move away from that flange 15b when the force applied by the actuation member 11 is released. Relative movement of the flanges 15a, 15b may be provided in a different way in other embodiments - for example by movement of both flanges. The actuation member is arranged to move in a direction perpendicular to the shower rail 14, towards and away from the flange 15a, in the embodiment shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuation member 11 is approximately cuboidal in shape. The actuation member 11 has a first end region adjacent the flange 15a and a second end region further from the constriction member 2 than the first, and near the projections 4 of the buttons 3. The first end region of the actuation member 11, nearest the constriction member 2, is configured to act on the constriction member 2, and more specifically on the nearest flange 15a of the constriction member 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end region of the actuation member 11 comprises a substantially flat surface oriented parallel to a substantially flat contact surface of the flange 15a, and arranged to push and release that contact surface.

The second end region of the actuation member 11 has two vertical slots, each comprising an internal angled contact surface 13 - one angled contact surface 13 facing upwards, and the other facing downwards. These angled contact surfaces 13 are each configured to receive an applied force. The portions of the actuation member 11 which provide the angled contact surfaces 13 are widest near the constriction member 2, narrowing as they extend towards the opposite end of the body 5. The actuation member 11 has one degree of freedom, and is configured to move towards the constriction member 2 in a horizontal direction in response to an applied force, and then back away from the constriction member 2 when the force is removed.

Each button 3 has a projection 4 extending into the interior of the holder 1 (away from a contact surface arranged to be pressed by a user) which includes an angled contact surface 9 arranged to be slidably engageable with a corresponding angled actuation member contact surface 13. Each protrusion 9 occupies one of the two vertical slots in the actuation member 11. These contact surfaces 9 are configured, in the absence of an applied force, to apply no force, or at least no force of any significance, to the corresponding angled actuation member contact surfaces 13.

The actuation member 11 is received inside the cavity defined by the body 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuation member 11 is on one side of the slide rail 14, and at least partially between the buttons 3. The actuation member 11 being located at least partially between the buttons 3 allows the projections 4 to act on the actuation member 11 via the slidably engageable contact surfaces 9, 13.

When a force is applied to both of the buttons 3, for example as a result of a user pinching the buttons 3 together, the buttons 3, and therefore the projections 4, move towards each other, against the biasing of the springs 7. This movement causes the slidably engageable contact surfaces 9 of the projections 4 to act on the corresponding actuation member contact surfaces 13. The contact surfaces 9, 13 are angled (by approximately 45° in the example shown) to both the direction of the applied force on the button 3 (parallel to the slide rail) and the direction perpendicular to the slide rail 14 such that the angled surfaces face each other in pairs. The projections 4 of the buttons 3 are shaped to be widest near the outer surface of the body 5, narrowing as they extend inward towards a centreline of the body 5 (i.e. downward for the upper button, and upward for the lower button). A side of the projection 4 closest to the slide rail 14 provides the angled contact surface 9. The side of the projection 4 furthest from the slide rail 14 is at least substantially vertical in the embodiment shown; as this does not act as a contact surface, its shape and orientation may be less important than that of the opposing side, and may vary widely between embodiments. In the embodiment shown, each projection 4 has a substantially cuboid portion extending below (for the upper button 3) or above (for the lower button 3) the angled portion which provides the contact surface 9. This extension may serve as a backstop for the slideable actuation member 11, preventing the actuation member 11 from sliding too far away from the slide rail 14.

Due to the interaction of the contact surfaces 9, 13, the movement of the projections 4, which is in a direction parallel to the direction of the slide rail 14 in the embodiment shown, is translated into movement of the actuation member 11 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the slide rail 14 and towards the slide rail 14. The slidably engageable contact surfaces are therefore arranged to transfer the direction of the applied force through substantially 90 degrees.

In turn, the actuation member 11 acts on the constriction member 2. The constriction portion 16 of the constriction member 2 is not a complete cylinder, and has an opening parallel to the direction of the slide rail 14 which allows the circumference of the constriction portion 16 to expand and contract. An inner surface of the constriction portion 16 of the constriction member 2 is arranged to contact the shower rail 14 in use, and may therefore be described as a contact surface of the constriction member 2.

In the embodiment being described, the constriction member 2 has a single, continuous, contact surface which is the interior surface of the constriction portion 16. For example, in various embodiments with a cylindrical constriction portion 16, the contact surface may be quadrilateral in shape - e.g. a square, rectangle, or parallelogram - in the plane of the cylindrical surface. The ends of the cylinder and the edges provided by the gap provide the four sides of the continuous shape.

In alternative embodiments, the constriction member 2 may have a plurality of discrete contact surfaces, for example comprising a plurality of spaced pads arranged to lie around the circumference of the slide rail 14.

The constriction member 2, or at least the contact surface thereof, may be made of, or coated with, a material selected to provide a firm grip on the slide rail 14 - such a material may be referred to as a high friction material. For example, rubber or any suitable compressible polymeric material may be used. Additionally or alternatively, the slide rail 14 and contact surface may both be textured, or have corresponding protrusions and recesses, to improve grip.

In the illustrated embodiment, the contact surface of the constriction member 2 is an inner surface of the constriction member 2, and is arranged to contact an outer surface of the slide rail 14. In alternative embodiments, the slide rail 14 may be at least substantially hollow and/or may comprise a slot through which the holder 1 extends. In such an embodiment, the constriction member 2 may be located at least partially within the slide rail 14, and may grip it internally - the constriction member 2 may therefore be expanded to grip the rail 14 and contracted to release the grip.

In the illustrated embodiment, the constriction member 2 is caused to expand to release the shower rail 14, so increasing its circumference. In alternative embodiments, the circumference may not noticeably change - for example the constriction member 2 may change in shape so as to contact less than one half of the slide rail’s circumference without changing in circumference. For example, in various embodiments the entire contact surface of the constriction member 2 may be configured to contact the slide rail in the unactuated configuration, but the contact surface may deform, e.g. by folding and retracting around the circumference, so as to release grip without changing its average circumference. In additional or alternative embodiments, the slide rail 14 may not be circular in cross-section, and the constriction member 2 may therefore also not be circular in cross-section - “circumference” therefore may not be an appropriate description in such embodiments. The skilled person would appreciate that any suitable deformation may be used to achieve the desired result of gripping and releasing the shower rail 14.

Extending from each side of the opening is a flange 15a, 15b. Flange 15a is acted upon by the actuation member 11. Flange 15b abuts a fixed surface, and so is fixed in position. In the illustrated embodiment, this fixed surface is a part of the alignment member 19, and more particularly is a flat vertical surface which is an extension of the portion of the alignment member 19 which surrounds the constriction member 2. In embodiments where an alignment member 19 is not present, the fixed surface may instead be provided by a part of the body 5, flange 15b may be secured in a different manner, or flange 15b may instead be arranged to move. In the illustrated embodiment, the flanges 15a, 15b cross over such that pulling the flanges apart moves the edges of the opening towards each other, and pushing the flanges towards each other moves the edges of the opening away from each other and hence increases the circumference of the constriction portion 16. The flanges 15a, 15b are configured such that they define a volume between them, which is directly adjacent the slide rail 14, in which a spring 17 is housed. The volume is between the actuation member 11 and the fixed surface of the alignment member which flange 15b abuts. The spring 17 biases the flanges 15a, 15b apart, so biasing the corresponding edges of the constriction member 2 together as the flanges 15a, 15b cross, which means that, in the absence of an applied force, the constriction portion 16 has a small circumference and hence grips the slide rail 14. When a force is applied, the spring is compressed and the circumference of the constriction portion 16 is increased, releasing the grip on the slide rail 14. Alternative or additional biasing means may be provided in alternative embodiments. In some cases, tension within the constriction portion 16 itself may serve to bias the flanges 15a, 15b apart, and no separate biasing means may be provided.

When the actuation member 11 moves in response to the force applied to the buttons 3, it acts on the outer surface of flange 15a (outer being defined with respect to the volume between the flanges) which in turn moves towards flange 15b, against the biasing of the spring 17. This movement increases the circumference of the constriction portion 16 of the constriction member 2 which releases the grip on the slide rail 14 and allows the holder 1 to be moved along the slide rail 14. In the illustrated example, only one of the two flanges 15a,b is actuated by the actuation member 11. It is envisaged that in alternative embodiments, both flanges 15a, 15b may be actuated. In such embodiments, the buttons 3 may be in alternative positions, such as on either side of the slide rail 14, and more than one actuation member 11 may be present. Both flanges 15a,b may be actuated by the same actuation member 11 (for example, with a tapered actuation member moving between the flanges 15a, 15b and pushing them apart), or by separate actuation members 11 (for example, one arranged to push or pull each flange 15a, 15b).

It may be that the buttons 3 act directly on the constriction member 2 and no separate, intermediate, actuation member 11 is provided. In such embodiments, the button 3 is also the actuation member 11.

Figure 3 shows the discrete pieces of the holder 1. The body 5, constriction member 2, buttons 3, and actuation member 11 can all be seen. Also shown is the alignment member 19. The alignment member 19 defines an internal volume into which the actuation member 11 is received; the alignment member 19 itself is received inside the body 5. There are inlets 21 into the alignment member 19, on the top and the bottom of the alignment member 19, to allow the projections 4 to pass through walls of the alignment member 19 and engage with the actuation member 11 inside. The alignment member 19 also houses the constriction member 2, and forms the fixed surface against which the flange 15b abuts, in the embodiment shown.

A cover 25 is provided which fits onto the body 5 to hide the internals from the user and give the holder 1 a more sleek appearance. The cover 25 may also make the holder 1 easier to clean.

Figure 5 shows a shower apparatus 20 incorporating the holder 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Not shown in the earlier Figures, the holder 1 in Figure 5 also includes a holster portion 23, attached to the end of the body 5, which is configured to hold a shower handset 27. The holster portion 23 is pivotally connected to body 5 in a known manner to enable adjustment of the angle of the shower handset 27. The holster 23 may therefore be rotated relative to the rest of the holder 1 so as to change shower handset angle. In alternative embodiments, an integral part of the body may be shaped to receive the shower handset 27 instead of using a separate holster portion 23. Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the holder 1 with the holster portion 23 mounted thereon. The holster portion 23 may be a part of, and integral with the rest of, the holder 1 in other embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the buttons 3 are positioned on the top and bottom of the holder 1. It is envisaged that the buttons 3 may be in a different position, for example on the front and rear of the holder 1, and/or on both sides of the slide rail 14 rather than on only one side. It is also envisaged that a single button may be used in place of the pair of buttons 3 shown in the illustrated embodiment.

In the illustrated embodiment, the buttons 3 and the holster 23 are both offset from a centreline of the slide rail 14 - the buttons 3 to the left thereof from a user perspective, and the holster 23 to the right. The length of the holder 1, including the holster 23, is approximately equal on either side of the centreline in the embodiment shown, although this may vary in other embodiments.

In Figure 5, a second, fixed, showerhead 28 is present in addition to the moveable showerhead 27. A diverter valve 29 directs water to either or both showerheads 27, 28 as desired.

A feedpipe for the overhead showerhead 28 forms, or extends through, the slide rail 14. The holder 1 therefore moves up and down the feedpipe. The fixed showerhead 28 is aligned with the slide rail 14, extending forward therefrom. In many embodiments, the spray from the overhead showerhead 28 is therefore densest directly in front of the slide rail 14. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 7, the input member buttons 3 are both to one side of, and spaced from, the slide rail 14. Similarly, the holster 23 for the shower handset 27 is to one side of, and spaced from, the slide rail 14. In the embodiment shown, the buttons 3 and holster 23 are on opposite sides of the slide rail 14. Locating these components to either side of the slide rail 14 may decrease splash-back of the overhead showerhead 28 spray when a user reaches for the buttons 3 or to take or replace the shower handset 27, and may also decrease splash-back from the shower handset 27 itself, especially when the shower handset 27 is angled more horizontally (forward), instead of vertically (upward) as shown in Figure 5. Having the buttons 3 on the far side of the slide rail 14 from the shower handset 27 may also facilitate changing the height of the shower handset 27 whilst it is mounted on the holder 1 without splash-back of the spray from the shower handset 27.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, each input member 3 is spaced from the slide rail 14 by a distance of 1-2 cm. The exposed surface of each button 3 is at least substantially rectangular and extends away from the slide rail 14 for a distance of 3- 5 cm. The holster 23 may similarly space the handset 27 from the slide rail 14.

In the embodiment described above, a single actuation member 11 is present, and both buttons 3 act on the same actuation member 11. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of actuation members 11 may be present. Each button 3 may act on a separate actuation member 11. Multiple actuation members 11 may act on each flange 15a, 15b. Alternatively, a single actuation member may act on each flange 15a, 15b.

It is further envisaged that alternative input members may be used in place of buttons 3. For example, levers may be used, which may reduce the magnitude of the necessary applied force. Sliders may be used in place of conventional buttons 3 to act on the actuation member 11.

The components of the holder of the present invention may be manufactured from plastic, metal, or any other suitable material. Components may be formed by casting, milling, additive manufacturing, or any other suitable manufacturing technique. Components which are shown as integrally formed may be made of constituent parts.

Figure 6 shows a flowchart which illustrates the method 30 according to the invention. The first step 31, applying a force to the input member 3, releases the frictional grip on the slide rail 14. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by applying a force to the actuation member 11, for example via buttons 3. The actuation member 11 resultantly acts on the constriction member 2, for example via flange 15a, to increase the circumference of the constriction portion 16 of constriction member 2. Step 31 therefore releases the grip on the slide rail 14 by deformation of the constriction member 2; this in turn allows the holder 1 to be moved along the slide rail 14 in either direction. The movement along the slide rail (i.e. in the longitudinal direction) is achieved by performing the second step 32 - applying a force in the longitudinal direction.

If using the holder 1 according to the illustrated embodiment, whilst maintaining the force on the actuation member 11, for example by keeping buttons 3 depressed, a force is applied to the holder 1 in the desired direction of movement. Since the resistive friction between the constriction member 2 and the slide rail 14 has been removed or reduced by step 31, the holder 1 moves in response to the force.

If using the holder 1 according to the illustrated embodiment, step 32 is therefore to be performed whilst the force applied in step 31 is being maintained. Both forces may be initiated simultaneously, or one may be initiated after the other provided that the first and second forces are both maintained for an overlapping time period. Ideally, the force 31 on the input member 3 is applied no later than the application of the force 32 to the holder 1, to reduce the risk of damage to the constriction member 2 by attempting to force it to move whilst it is gripping the rail 14.

In alternative embodiments, it may not be necessary for steps 31 and 32 to be performed simultaneously, or in such a manner as to overlap in time. In some embodiments, the initial application of a force (step 31) to the one or more actuation members 11 may lock the holder 1 in an actuated position, in which the rail 14 is not gripped. The force may therefore be released before performing step 32 by applying a longitudinal force to the holder 1 to move it along the slide rail 14. In such embodiments, a third step may be necessary to apply a further force to the one or more actuation members 11. This further force may de-actuate the holder 1, causing it to grip the slide rail 14 and lock the holder 1 in its new position.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and that the features of the holder 1 may be altered, omitted, or adapted without departing from the scope of the invention. It will also be understood that the invention includes any feature described herein as well as combinations and sub combinations of any of the features and equivalents thereof.