This invention relates to shower heads of the kind mounted on an arm from a wall, ceiling or riser at a fixed height. These are commonly known as overhead showers, and are usually of large diameter or area, with a relatively large number of nozzles to provide good coverage.

In such shower heads water is supplied through the arm to all the nozzles, so there is a single spray pattern. The shower head is typically mounted on a swivel joint so that the angle of the shower head can be altered to suit the user or the space, such as the shape of a shower enclosure, or a sloping wall or ceiling. If more than one spray pattern is required it is not possible to provide the selection for these at the shower head as is common with handheld shower heads where flow is directed to different sets of nozzles, because the head may be too high to reach. Instead, it is known to provide separate pipes leading to separate sets of nozzles in the shower head, with selection being made at a convenient point for the user to direct the flow to the required pipe. The pipes are mounted side by side in the arm. This has the disadvantage that the swivel joint cannot be used, and so adjustment of the shower head is restricted to rotation about a single axis.

According to the present invention, we provide a shower head mounted on a distal end of an arm at a fixed height, the shower head having at least two separate sets of nozzles for delivering water, each set being supplied by a separate flow path in the arm, each flow path including a pipe mounted coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the arm.

This enables the shower head to provide different spray patterns while being more adjustable. Because the pipes are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the arm, the shower head can be mounted for rotation about the axis of the arm, as well as being adjustable about a perpendicular axis, using a pivotal mounting for the shower head on the arm.

Preferably the shower head is mounted on the arm by a mounting enabling the head to pivot about an axis which is substantially horizontal in use. Two flow paths are preferably provided, using two coaxial pipes of the arm. An outer pipe may form the outer surface of the arm, with the other pipe inside it. Each flow path leads to a separate set of nozzles in the shower head. This provides three possible spray patterns, using either of the nozzle sets separately, or both together.

The flow paths may be provided by a base manifold at a proximal end of the arm, the pipes in the arm, and a head manifold leading to the nozzle sets in the shower head.

The base manifold may be mounted in a base structure such as a wall or a ceiling. It may be adapted for different constructions of the base structure. The base manifold is supplied with water via a selector mechanism enabling the different flow paths to be selected.

The proximal end of the arm is preferably mounted on the base manifold by a mounting assembly which allows limited rotation of the arm relative to the base manifold about the longitudinal axis of the arm.

Conveniently, the distal end of the arm carries a first part of the head manifold, with a second part of the head manifold carried by the shower head. The second part of the head manifold preferably provides the pivotal mounting of the shower head relative to the arm. The first part of the head manifold is preferably permanently attached to the arm.

A second aspect provides a fluid delivery system comprising a shower head according to the first aspect, the shower head being in fluid communication with a fluid supply, e.g. a water supply.

A third aspect provides a kit of parts arranged to form a shower head according to the first aspect or a fluid delivery system according to the second aspect.

The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an arm mounted on a wall and adapted to carry a shower head at a fixed height, with the shower head not shown;

Figure 2 shows a shower head connected to the distal end of the arm of Figure 1, and illustrates three different positions of the shower head;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a part of a mounting assembly; Figure 4 shows a section through a mounting assembly for the arm on a first wall construction;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section through a head manifold;

Figure 7 is a section perpendicular to Figure 6; Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of two parts of the head manifold of Figures 6 and 7:

Figures 10 to 13 show the stages in the assembly of the shower head onto the arm; Figure 14 is similar to Figure 3, but shows a second wall construction; and Figure 15 is similar to Figure 3, but shows a third wall construction.

The shower head mounting shown in the Figures comprises a shower head 1 (best seen in Figure 2) mounted on a distal end of an arm 2 at a fixed height on a structure, in this case a wall 3. The shower head 1 has two separate sets 4 of nozzles 5 for delivery of water, providing different spray patterns. Each set 4 is supplied by a separate flow path including a pipe 6, 7 coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the arm 2. The arm 2, and thus the pipes 6, 7, is mounted for limited rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to the wall 3.

As shown in Figure 2, and explained in more detail below, the shower head 1 is mounted on the arm 2 so that it can pivot about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm 2, through a range of movement as shown. The pivot axis will usually be substantially horizontal in use.

Figures 3 to 5 show the mounting of the proximal end of the arm 2 to the wall 3 by a mounting assembly 10. The arm 2 comprises the two coaxial pipes 6, 7. The outer pipe 6 forms the outer surface of the arm 2. At first flow path 12 is through the inner pipe 7, and a second flow path 13 is between the outer and inner pipes 6, 7. The two flow paths are supplied by a base manifold 11 mounted to the wall 3, and forming part of the mounting assembly 10. The base manifold 11 has parts of the two flow paths 12, 13, each supplied through a separate supply pipe 14, 15 (see Figure 3). Flow through the pipes 14, 15 is controlled by a selector mechanism (not shown) which is provided at a convenient place for the user, usually near the other controls for the shower head 1, such as temperature and rate of flow. It will be appreciated that the user may select flow through either or both of the pipes 14, 15 and their respective flow paths, in order to select the appropriate spray pattern at the shower head 1.

The base manifold 11 is shown in perspective in Figure 3, and in section in Figure 4. The base manifold 11 has a main body 16 defining the flow paths 12, 13 and a respective inlet 17, 18 for each flow path 12, 13. As best seen in Figure 3, each supply pipe 14, 15 carries a seal 19, and is a push fit in the respective inlet 17, 18, being retained by a clip 20.

The main body 16 has outer and inner concentric cylindrical elements 21, 22 defining the flow paths 12, 13. The outer element 21 has an external screw thread 23 and a smooth internal surface 24. The inner element 22 is adapted to mount an inner sleeve 25, which is of stepped outline. An inner seal 26 is captured between the inner element 22 and the inner sleeve 25, and provides the seal between the two flow paths 12, 13. The inner element 22 and the inner sleeve 25 are adapted to receive the pipes 6, 7 of the arm 2. At the proximal end the outer pipe 6 is shorter than the inner pipe 7. The inner pipe 7 is received in the inner element 22, and seals against the inner seal 26. The outer pipe 6 is received in the inner sleeve 25 and abuts a shoulder 27 at a step in diameter of the inner sleeve 25. The main body 16 also has mounting ears 28 adapted to receive screws (not shown) for attaching to the wall 3.

The other components of the mounting assembly 10 will now be described. These comprise a wall plate 30, an outer sleeve 31, an outer seal 32, a nut 33, an olive 34, a clip 35 and a shroud 36.

The wall plate 30 is a hollow, substantially cylindrical component of stepped outline, with an internal screw thread 37 adapted to engage the external screw thread 23 on the outer element 21 of the manifold body 16. The wall plate 30 also has an external shoulder 38 near its distal end, which is adapted to engage the wall 3, and a hexagonal formation 39 at its distal end.

The outer sleeve 31 is also a hollow, substantially cylindrical component of stepped outline. At its proximal end it has a pair of external radial projections 40, 41, which serve to locate the outer seal 32 between them. The outer seal 32 seals between the inner surface of the outer element 21 and the outer sleeve 31. At its distal end the outer sleeve 31 has a stepped profile. This has an external projection 43 forming a shoulder 44 with which the wall plate 30 engages, and a further shoulder 45 for location of the clip 35. An internal projection 46 of the profile is adapted to engage the outer surface of the outer pipe 6. The projection 46 is angled radially outwardly, towards an internal screw thread portion 47 of the distal end 48 of the outer sleeve 31, which is also hexagonal.

The nut 33 has an external screw thread 49 at its proximal portion, to engage the internal screw thread portion 47 of the outer sleeve 31, and a hexagonal distal end 50. The olive 34 is accommodated between the projection 46 and the nut 33, and is provided round the outer pipe 6, to seal in the usual way.

The shroud 36 provides a cover for the mounting assembly 10, and is retained on the shoulder 38 of the wall plate 30 in use.

It can be seen from Figure 4 that the flow path 12 runs from the supply pipe 14 to the interior of the inner element 22 to the inner pipe 7, being sealed by the inner seal 26. The flow path 13 runs from the supply pipe 15, into the space between the outer and inner elements 21, 22, and then into the space between the outer and inner pipes 6, 7, being sealed by the inner and outer seals 26, 32, and the olive 34.

At its distal end the arm 2 is connected to the shower head 1 as shown in Figure 2, and in more detail in Figures 6 to 13. The connection is by means of a head manifold 60, which provides the connections from the respective flow path 12, 13 to the respective set of nozzles 5. The head manifold 60 is in two parts, the first part being a component 55 mounted on the arm 2, and the second part 61 being mounted on the shower head 1, and able to pivot on the shower head 1. The first part 55 is permanently attached to the arm 2, for example by soldering, so that the relative longitudinal positions of the outer and inner pipes 6, 7 are fixed. As shown, at the distal end the outer pipe 6 extends beyond the inner pipe 7. The first part 55 has a portion 62 of circular profile with a domed head 63 and a lateral extension 64 to which the arm 2 is attached. The extension 64 has outer and inner hollow cylindrical parts 65, 66, defining an annular recess 67 between them. The outer pipe 6 is received in the recess 67, with the inner pipe 7 attached to the inner cylindrical part 66, which projects beyond the outer part 65. The annular recess 67 forms part of the flow path 13, and leads to an annular recess 68 in the portion 62. The interior of the hollow cylindrical part 66 forms part of the flow path 12, and leads to a central cylindrical space 69 in the portion 62. The portion 62 is attached by screws 70 to a connector ring 71, which forms part of a bayonet-type connection to the second part 61 of the head manifold 60. The underneath of the ring 71 can be seen in Figure 8, which shows four cut-outs 72, each leading to a locking recess 73.

The second part 61 has a circular portion 75 for engagement with the portion 62, and two laterally-opposed arms 76, 77, each forming part of a respective flow path 12, 13, and leading to a respective set 4 of nozzles 5 in the shower head 1. The circular portion 75 has outer and inner concentric annular upstands 78, 79. The outer upstand 78 has an internal seal 80 sealing to the outer cylindrical part 65, and the inner upstand 79 has an external seal 81 sealing the space 69. As best seen in Figure 9, the outer upstand 78 has at its free end four radial projections 82, comprising the corresponding part of the bayonet-type connection.

Each arm 76, 77 has a stepped external profile, and is attached to an end piece 83 which is received in the shower head 1. The end pieces 83 complete the flow paths 12, 13 to the sets of nozzles. The end pieces 83 are stationary in the shower head 1, and a seal 84 is provided between each arm 76, 77 and its respective end piece 83 which enables the second part 61 to pivot with respect to the shower head 1.

The second part 61 is retained on the shower head 1 by a retaining member 85.

The head manifold is completed by a lock ring 86 which ensures that the two parts 55, 61 remain in engagement. The lock ring 86 has a part-circular profile. For use, the arm 2 is mounted on the wall 3 as follows. Firstly, the base manifold 11 is secured to the wall 3. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the wall 3 is a wall of blocks 51, finished by relatively thin tiles 52. A recess 53 is formed in a block 51, and the base manifold 11 screwed to the block 51 using the mounting ears 28. The wall 3 also has recesses to accommodate the supply pipes 14, 15, which are attached to the base manifold 11. The pipes 6, 7 forming the arm 2 are cut to the appropriate lengths and assembled with the pipe 7 inside the pipe 6. The distal end of the arm 2 is attached to the head manifold component 55. The component 55 maintains the relative longitudinal positions of the pipes 6, 7 for assembly. As shown in Figure 5, the various parts of the mounting assembly 10 are put onto the arm 2 from the proximal end. In order, these are the shroud 36, the nut 33, the wall plate 30, the olive 34 and the outer sleeve 31 (including the seal 32). The proximal end of the arm 2 is then pushed into the base manifold 11 such that the inner pipe 7 is received in the inner sleeve 25 and the inner element 22, and seals on the inner seal 26. The outer pipe 6 is received in the inner sleeve 25 and abuts the shoulder 27. This movement also takes the outer sleeve 31 into the base manifold 11, so that the outer seal 32 engages with the outer element 21. The wall plate 30 can then be slid over the outer sleeve 31 such that the screw threads 23 and 37 engage. The wall plate 30 is then screwed in until the shoulder 38 engages the wall 3. The wall plate 30 will also have moved the outer sleeve 31 into the correct position in the base manifold, by its engagement with the shoulder 44. The olive 34 is then compressed to form a seal round the arm 2 by tightening the nut 33 relative to the outer sleeve 31. The clip 35 is inserted round the outer sleeve 31 to maintain the assembly 10 in the position shown in Figure 3. Lastly, the shroud 36 is brought up to the wall 3 and engages with the wall plate 30.

Once the arm 2 is attached to the wall 3, with the first part 55 of the head manifold 60 attached as shown in Figure 1, the second part 61 is assembled with the end pieces 83 and mounted in the shower head 1 with the retaining member 85.

The shower head 1 is then located relative to the arm 2 so that the projections 82 align with the cut-outs 72 (Figure 10). The parts 55, 61 can then be pushed together (Figure 11) and the shower head 1 rotated through approximately 45 degrees, so that the projections are received in the locking recesses 73 (Figure 12). The lock ring 86 is then pushed onto the second part 61 (Figure 13) to prevent relative rotation of the first and second parts 55, 61.

Once complete, the flow of water through the flow paths 12, 13 can be controlled to provide the different spray patterns. The orientation of the shower head 1 can also be altered, by pivoting the head 1 and second part 61 of the head manifold 60 about the seals 84, to the extent shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the arm 2 can be rotated about is longitudinal axis, to provide a second way of altering the orientation of the shower head 1. It will be appreciated that the inner pipe 7 rotates relative to the inner seal 26, while the nut 33, the outer pipe 6, the olive 34, the outer sleeve 31 and outer seal 32 rotate relative to the outer element 21. The rotation is limited by the clip 35.

Figure 14 shows a different wall construction. In Figure 14 the wall is still made of blocks 51, but the tiles 52 are much thicker. The base manifold 11 and supply pipes 14, 15 are mounted, in a similar way to Figure 4, in a recess 53 in the blocks 51. The arm 2 is assembled and mounted on the base manifold 11 as described in relation to Figure 4, but it will be apparent that the thicker tiles 52 are accommodated by the wall plate 30 not being screwed as far onto the outer element 21. Otherwise the construction and assembly is the same as that of Figure 3, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts.

Figure 15 shows a further wall construction. In Figure 15 the wall is a panel or stud wall, formed by sheets 56 of plasterboard or other suitable material, with a void on the inside of the wall 3. The base manifold 11 is then secured to the inside of the sheet or sheets 56 using four feet 57, each of which is accommodated between a mounting ear 28 and the inside of the sheet 56. In Figure 15 the tiles 52 are relatively thin, as in Figure 4, but thicker tiles 52 could also be accommodated, up to the thickness shown in Figure 14. Otherwise the construction and assembly is as shown in Figure 4, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above- described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.