Shower bar system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9677256-B2
Application number	US-201615056642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2010
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A shower system, a handshower system and a transfer valve assembly. The system may include an adjustable supply assembly fluidly connectable to the water supply pipe, the supply assembly including an adapter defining an axis and having an inlet coupleable to the pipe outlet, a supply member having a supply outlet and coupled in fluid communication with the adapter, the supply member being coupled to the adapter for movement along the axis to adjust a distance between the pipe outlet and the supply outlet, and a seal positioned and operable to provide a sealed connection between the adapter and the supply member in adjusted positions of the supply member relative to the adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transfer valve assembly for a shower system connectable to a water supply, the system including a first shower member fluidly connectable to and operable to dispense water from the water supply, the first shower member having a first shower member inlet, and a second shower member fluidly connectable to and operable to dispense water from the water supply, the second shower member having a second shower member inlet, the transfer valve assembly comprising:
a valve body defining a first valve inlet, a second valve inlet, a first valve outlet fluidly connectable to the first shower member inlet, and a second valve outlet fluidly connectable to the second shower member inlet, one of the first valve inlet being fluidly connectable to a first supply pipe having a first pipe outlet at a first position and the second valve inlet being fluidly connectable to a second supply pipe having a second pipe outlet at a second position, the other of the first valve inlet and the second valve inlet being sealed from the water supply;
a valve member positioned in the valve body for adjustment between a first condition, in which the one of the first valve inlet and the second valve inlet is in fluid communication with the first valve outlet and is not in fluid communication with the second valve outlet, and a second condition, in which the one of the first valve inlet and the second valve inlet is in fluid communication with the second valve outlet and is not in fluid communication with the first valve outlet; and
an actuator operable to adjust the valve member between the first condition and the second condition.

2. The transfer valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first shower member includes a showerhead.

3. The transfer valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second shower member includes a handshower.

4. The transfer valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein the handshower includes a hose having an inlet coupled to the second valve outlet.

5. The transfer valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve member is pivotable between the first condition and the second condition.

6. The transfer valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a handle engageable by a user.

7. A shower system connectable to a water supply, the water supply including a supply pipe having a pipe outlet, the system comprising:
a first shower member fluidly connectable to and operable to dispense water from the water supply, the first shower member having a first shower member inlet;
a second shower member fluidly connectable to and operable to dispense water from the water supply, the second shower member having a second shower member inlet;
a shower bar assembly fluidly connectable to the water supply, the shower bar assembly including
an outer pipe,
a first flow path within the outer pipe communicating between the pipe outlet and a supply outlet, and
a second flow path within the outer pipe communicating between a return inlet and a return outlet fluidly connected to the first shower member inlet; and

a transfer valve assembly coupleable to the shower bar assembly and operable to direct water to the first shower member and to the second shower member, the transfer valve assembly including
a valve body defining a valve inlet fluidly connectable to the supply outlet, a first valve outlet fluidly connectable to the return inlet, and a second valve outlet fluidly connected to the second shower member inlet,
a valve member positioned in the valve body for adjustment between a first condition, in which the valve inlet is in fluid communication with the first valve outlet and is not in fluid communication with the second valve outlet, and a second condition, in which the valve inlet is in fluid communication with the second valve outlet and is not in fluid communication with the first valve outlet, and
an actuator operable to adjust the valve member between the first condition and the second condition.

8. The shower system of claim 7 , further comprising an inner pipe positioned within the outer pipe, the inner pipe defining one of the first flow path and the second flow path.

9. A shower system connectable to a water supply, the water supply including a supply pipe having a pipe outlet, the system comprising:
an adjustable supply assembly fluidly connectable to the supply pipe, the supply assembly including
an adapter defining an axis and having an inlet coupleable to the pipe outlet;
a supply member having a supply outlet in fluid communication with the adapter, the supply member being coupled to the adapter for movement along the axis to adjust a distance between the pipe outlet and the supply outlet; and
a seal positioned and operable to provide a sealed connection between the adapter and the supply member in adjusted positions of the supply member relative to the adapter;

a shower bar including a shower pipe having a shower pipe inlet and a shower pipe outlet, the shower pipe inlet being coupleable to the supply outlet in a position at the distance from the pipe outlet, the supply member being movable relative to the pipe outlet to define the distance;
a showerhead fluidly connectable to the shower bar and operable to dispense water from the water supply;
a hand shower fluidly connectable to the shower bar and operable to dispense water from the water supply; and
a diverter valve operable to selectively direct water to at least one of the showerhead or the hand shower.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the shower system is mounted in an enclosure having a wall, wherein the adapter connects to the pipe outlet on one side of the wall, and wherein the supply outlet is located on another side of the wall, the axis extending in a direction from the one side of the wall to the other side of the wall.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the shower system is mounted in an enclosure having a wall, wherein the pipe outlet is located on one side of the wall, and wherein the supply outlet is located on an other side of the wall, the axis extending in a direction from the one side of the wall to the other side of the wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a mounting collar engageable with the other side of the wall, the supply member being coupled to the mounting collar.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the axis extends in a direction from one side of the wall to another side of the wall, and wherein the supply member is coupled to the adapter for sliding movement along the axis.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the seal includes an o-ring between the adapter and the supply member.

15. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the shower system is mounted in an enclosure having a wall, wherein the axis extends in a direction from one side of the wall to another side of the wall, and wherein the supply member is coupled to the adapter for sliding movement along the axis.

16. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adapter is threadedly coupled to the supply pipe.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Wilson John M

Classifications

• F16K11/0856

  having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug · CPC title

• F16K5/08

  Details · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

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

• E03C2201/30

  Diverter valves in faucets or taps · CPC title

• F16K11/085 Primary

  with cylindrical plug · CPC title