Shower panel with infrared heating element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11484158-B2
Application number	US-202117167796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2021
Priority date	Aug 10, 2018
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A shower panel includes an infrared heater and a panel assembly. The panel assembly includes a deflection surface. The infrared heater, located near the panel assembly, produces infrared rays in the shower cell. The infrared rays heat the general space of the shower cell. The deflection surface includes a profile that contains various deflection features that deflect the stream of water toward the user in the shower cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel assembly for use in a shower, the panel assembly comprising:
a body configured to be coupled to a surface within the shower;
a panel coupled to the body opposite the surface;
a deflection surface disposed on the panel opposite the body; and
an infrared heater disposed within the panel and proximate to the deflection surface, the infrared heater configured to heat the deflection surface and produce infrared rays.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deflection surface further comprises deflection features, the deflection features configured to reflect a spray of water toward a target.

3. The panel assembly of claim 2 , wherein the deflection features are structurally integrated into the deflection surface.

4. The panel assembly of claim 2 , wherein the deflection features are coupled to the deflection surface.

5. The panel assembly of claim 2 further comprising a first spray director disposed on the deflection surface, the first spray director configured to accept a stream of water and reflect the stream of water at a first angle.

6. The panel assembly of claim 5 further comprising a second spray director disposed on the deflection surface, the second spray director configured to accept the stream of water and reflect the stream of water at a second angle.

7. The panel assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first spray director and the second spray director are structurally integrated with the panel.

8. A shower system comprising:
a first shower head; and
a panel assembly comprising:
a body configured to be coupled to a support surface of the shower system;
a panel coupled to the body opposite the support surface;
a deflection surface disposed on the panel opposite the body; and
an infrared heater disposed within the panel and proximate the deflection surface, the infrared heater configured to heat the deflection surface and produce infrared rays;

wherein the first shower head is configured to provide a first stream of water along a trajectory to the panel assembly.

9. The shower system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first deflection feature disposed on the deflection surface and configured to receive the first stream and reflect the first stream at a first trajectory; and
a second deflection feature disposed on the deflection surface and configured to receive the first stream and reflect the first stream as a second trajectory;
wherein both the first deflection feature and the second deflection feature are structurally integral to the deflection surface.

10. The shower system of claim 9 , further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the first shower head, wherein the actuator is configured to alternate directing the first shower head toward the first deflection feature and directing the first shower head toward the second deflection feature.

11. The shower system of claim 9 , further comprising a second shower head configured to provide a second stream of water to the second deflection feature.

12. A shower system comprising:
a first shower head; and
a shower cell comprising:
a left deflection surface coupled to a left wall; and
a right deflection surface coupled to a right wall;

wherein the first shower head is controlled by a first actuator to spray a first stream along a first trajectory at any of the left deflection surface and the right deflection surface.

13. The shower system of claim 12 , further comprising a front deflection surface coupled to a front wall, the first shower head controlled by the first actuator to spray the first stream along the first trajectory to any of the left deflection surface, the right deflection surface, and the front deflection surface.

14. The shower system of claim 13 , further comprising a top deflection surface coupled to a front wall, the first shower head controlled by the first actuator to spray the first stream along the first trajectory to any of the left deflection surface, the right deflection surface, the front deflection surface, and the top deflection surface.

15. The shower system of claim 14 , further comprising a second shower head, the second shower head controlled by a second actuator to spray a second stream along a second trajectory at any of the left deflection surface, the right deflection surface, the front deflection surface, and the top deflection surface.

16. The shower system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a left deflector structurally integrated with the left deflection surface and configured to receive any of the first stream or the second stream;
a right deflector structurally integrated with the right deflection surface and configured to receive any of the first stream or the second stream;
a front deflector structurally integrated with the front deflection surface and configured to receive any of the first stream or the second stream; and
a top deflector structurally integrated with the top deflection surface and configured to receive any of the first stream or the second stream;
wherein each of the left deflector, the right deflector, the front deflector, and the top deflector are configured to reflect both the first stream and the second stream toward a target within the shower cell.

17. The shower system of claim 15 , further comprising a shower head mount coupled to the front wall, the first shower head, and the second shower head.

18. The shower system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first infrared heater interposed between the left deflection surface and the left wall, the first infrared heater configured to heat the left deflection surface and produce infrared rays; and
a second infrared heater interposed between the right deflection surface and the right wall, the second infrared heater configured to heat the right deflection surface and produce infrared rays.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Chung Chanseol

Classifications

• A47K3/30

  Screens or {collapsible} cabinets {for showers or baths (A47K3/283 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47K3/281 Primary

  Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers (A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05B3/008

  for heating of inner spaces · CPC title

• A47K3/28

  Showers {or bathing douches} (combined with baths A47K3/20) · CPC title

• B05B1/18

  Roses; Shower heads · CPC title