Shower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10675644-B2
Application number	US-201514843710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly is configured to receive water from a water source and pass water through a plurality of outlets. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure, and is configured to adjust the shower assembly. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to fixedly couple to the building structure. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably received to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shower system comprising:
a shower assembly including a chamber and a plurality of outlets, the chamber configured to receive water from a water source and pass water through the plurality of outlets, a maximum pressure of the water passing from the chamber through the plurality of outlets being independent of a line pressure of the water source, and the shower assembly including one or more shower mounting features fixed in a first non-adjustable spatial orientation on the shower assembly; and
a mounting system for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure, the mounting system being configured to adjust the shower assembly, and comprising:
a bracket configured to fixedly couple directly to the building structure;
a plurality of posts fixed relative to the bracket in a second non-adjustable spatial orientation on the bracket; and

a plurality of fittings adjustably coupled to the plurality of posts, wherein each of the plurality of fittings is configured to allow for selective adjustment relative to a respective post of the plurality of posts such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the plurality of posts and the building structure;
wherein the second non-adjustable spatial orientation is configured to align each of the plurality of posts with a respective one of the one or more shower mounting features.

2. The shower system according to claim 1 , wherein each post is a male member, and each fitting is a female member adjustably received on the post.

3. The shower system according to claim 1 , wherein each post is a female member, and each fitting is a male member adjustably received in a respect post of the plurality of posts.

4. The shower system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more shower mounting features includes at least three shower mounting features, the plurality of posts includes at least three posts, and the plurality of fittings includes at least three fittings, each post and each fitting corresponding to one of the at least three shower mounting features, such that the shower assembly may be adjusted to a predetermined shower assembly orientation relative to a horizontal plane.

5. The shower system according to claim 4 , wherein the shower assembly includes a panel having the plurality of outlets arranged in a plane, and the predetermined shower assembly orientation requires the plurality of outlets to be arranged in a horizontal plane.

6. The shower system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the chamber is defined by an upper wall, each fitting extending into the chamber through the upper wall in a region to allow vertical adjustment of the shower assembly from within the chamber.

7. The shower system according to claim 6 , wherein the upper wall is sealed in the region through which each fitting extends.

8. The shower system according to claim 6 , wherein the shower assembly includes a lower panel that seals the chamber and that is removable to provide access to each fitting for adjusting the vertical position of the shower assembly.

9. The shower assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the chamber is substantially sealed.

10. The shower system according to claim 9 , wherein the panel includes the plurality of outlets.

11. The shower system according to claim 1 , wherein each post is externally threaded and each fitting includes a bore that is internally threaded for receiving a post and adjusting the vertical position of the shower assembly.

12. The shower system according to claim 11 , wherein the shower assembly includes an upper wall having a hole, at least one of the plurality of fittings includes a flange and an externally threaded shaft extending through the hole, and the mounting system further includes a nut received on the threaded shaft, the upper wall being compressed between the flange and the nut.

13. The shower system according to claim 12 , wherein the nut includes a seal that is compressed against the upper wall to seal the hole to prevent passing of water from the shower assembly through the hole.

14. The shower system according to claim 12 , wherein the mounting system further includes a seal, the seal being compressed between the upper wall and the nut to seal the hole to prevent passing of water from the shower assembly through the hole.

15. The shower system according to claim 14 , wherein the mounting system further includes a washer, the washer being compressed between the seal and the nut.

16. The shower system according to claim 15 , wherein the seal and the washer are provided as a single unit.

17. A shower system, comprising:
a shower assembly having a chamber configured to receive water from a water source and pass water through one or more outlets, the shower assembly having a plurality of shower mounting features provided in a first non-adjustable spatial orientation on the shower assembly;
a mounting system for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure, the mounting system being configured to adjust a vertical position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure, and comprising:
a bracket configured to fixedly couple directly to the building structure;
a plurality of bracket mounting features fixed relative to the bracket in a second non-adjustable spatial orientation on the bracket, the second non-adjustable spatial orientation being configured to align each of the plurality of bracket mounting features with a respective of the plurality of shower mounting features for coupling thereto; and
a plurality of fittings;

wherein each shower mounting feature comprises a hole through an upper wall of the shower assembly, and each bracket mounting feature is a post configured to be inserted through a respective one of the holes; and
wherein each fitting is received on a respective one of the posts and is inserted into a respective one of the holes for coupling each post to the shower assembly.

18. A shower system, comprising:
a shower assembly having a chamber configured to receive water from a water source and pass water through one or more outlets, wherein the shower assembly includes an upper wall and a lower wall coupled to the upper wall to define the chamber, and a plurality of shower mounting features provided in a first non-adjustable spatial orientation on the upper wall;
a mounting system for adjustably coupling the upper wall directly to a building structure, the mounting system comprising:
a plurality of posts configured to be fixed relative to the building structure in a second non-adjustable spatial orientation, the second non-adjustable spatial orientation being configured to align each of the plurality of posts with one of the shower mounting features for coupling thereto; and
a fitting adjustably coupled to a post of the plurality of posts, wherein the fitting is configured to allow for selective adjustment relative to the post;

wherein the lower wall is removable from the upper wall to provide access to the fitting for adjusting a vertical position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Rexach Rafael Alfredo
• Szemetylo Stephanie
• Richter-O'Connell David J
• Elsesser Jeffrey James
• Giefer James S

Classifications

• Y10T137/698

  Wall · CPC title

• B05B1/185 Primary

  characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• E03C1/042 Primary

  Arrangements on taps for wash-basins or baths for connecting to the wall · CPC title

• B05B15/60

  Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus · CPC title