WO2014195940A1

WO2014195940A1 - A floating shower device

Info

Publication number: WO2014195940A1
Application number: PCT/IL2014/050490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avi Cohen; Michal Cohen
Original assignee: Avi Cohen; Michal Cohen
Priority date: 2013-06-03
Filing date: 2014-06-01
Publication date: 2014-12-11
Also published as: IL226709A0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating shower device, which comprises: a) a housing having an upper member and a lower member, wherein said housing is configured in such a way that the lower member will be immersed in water while the upper member will remain above the water level; b) an electric pump mechanism for recirculating the water, wherein said pump intakes water through opening(s) at said lower member and outputs pressurized water through an outlet that projects from said housing; and c) an image projection unit adapted for displaying images through at least one light sources located on the upper member.

Description

A FLOATING SHOWER DEVICE Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of bath-oriented devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a floating shower device that combines mobile shower capabilities with indication and amusement functions.

Background of the invention

A variety of shower sprayer systems are available including handheld shower sprayers in many different configurations, such as the LiT Luxuries Whirlpool, Bubbling Spa & Shower by Summer Infant, which includes a removable shower unit that provides a gentle and clean rinse. However, such a shower unit is attached to a wall of a bathtub in a fixed location. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a shower unit which provides a variety of features and is not limited to conventional mounting and stowage locations.

Moreover, when shampooing and washing an infant or a toddler, in a bathtub, it is usually required to cause them to move their head up (i.e., lean back and look at the ceiling) and to remain in such a position for a while, in order to avoid the penetration of water or soap to their eyes. Accordingly, it is also desirable to provide a shower unit which encourages infants and toddlers to lean back their head and to remain in such a position until completing the shampooing/washing tasks of the head and neck regions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower device which is mobile and applicable to any type of bathtub.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shower device for which there is no need of installation work, and thus it is easy to handle. It is yet an object of the present invention to provide a shower device for infants and children that encourage them to lean their head back while shampooing and washing the head and neck regions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shower device which can easily be transferred to the desired position in a bathtub.

It is still an object of the present invention to provide a shower device that is useful for the amusement of a child while taking a bath.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a floating shower device, comprising:

a) a housing having an upper member and a lower member, wherein said housing is configured in such a way that the lower member will be immersed in water while the upper member will remain above the water level;

b) an electric pump mechanism for recirculating the water, wherein said pump intakes water through opening(s) at said lower member and outputs pressurized water through an outlet that projects from said housing; and

c) an image projection unit adapted for displaying images through at least one light sources located on the upper member.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the light source adapted to display images on surfaces adjacent to said device, in particular the ceiling located above said device and/or the wall(s) adjacent to it According to an embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a shower head having a spray nozzle is connected to the outlet via a flexible hose or tube.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the shower head includes a control valve for enabling/disabling the flow of water through said shower head.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a thermometer and a display thereof.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a sound unit.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a bubble generation element coupled to the outlet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings :

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a floating shower device provided with a shower head, according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the electronic units of the device of

Fig. i;

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the device of Fig. 1 floats in a bathtub;

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates the floating shower device provided with a bubble maker add-on, according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an implementation of a floating shower device, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a front view of the shower device of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a top view of the shower device of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 schematically illustrates a bottom view of the shower device of Fig. 5.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the claimed invention.

The terms, "for example", "e.g.", "optionally", as used herein, are intended to be used to introduce non-hmiting examples. While certain references are made to certain example system components, other components can be used as well and/or the example components can be combined into fewer components and/or divided into further components.

Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a floating shower device, embodying the principle of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 designates a housing made of a plastic. This housing 10 is constituted of a hollow lower member 11 of a substantially truncated frustoconical configuration with larger and smaller open ends, a lid-like upper member 12 of a corresponding rounded- angled configuration, hermetically closing the large open end of the lower member 11 and a filter cap of a flat sieve-like structure covering the smaller open end of the lower member 11. For example, the upper and lower members 11, 12 are hermetically closed in a common screw-like manner while using a gasket (or other sealing element) that incorporates between them (e.g., a typical ring shaped rubber gasket can be used the sealing element). As will be further described hereinafter, device 10 includes one or more electronic units and a power source (e.g., a battery) that powers them. Therefore, such a closing configuration provides an easy way to open/close housing 10 whenever required, such as for replacing the battery that powers device 10 as well as to keep the battery and its associated circuitry dry.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the lower member is at least partially perforated as indicated by holes 17 that are disposed along the surface area of lower member 11. Optionally, lower member 11 comprises a filter layer (not shown) of a flat sieve-like structure for covering holes 17.

Device 1 comprises an electric pump mechanism 21 (Fig. 2) that recirculates the water within a bathtub or other form of water reservoir. Pump 21 intakes water through the filtered smaller end (or through holes 17) and in turn outputs water jet through an outlet 13 (Fig. l). Outlet 13 projects outward from the surface area of the frustoconical configuration. A shower head 18 with a control valve can be connected to outlet 13 (via a flexible hose or tube) for enabling/disabling the water jet (i.e., the water flow through said shower head). For example, the shower head 18 includes a spray nozzle while the control valve allows spraying water on demand while washing the infant or child.

Device 1 comprises an image projection unit 24 that includes one or more lighting sources (as indicated by numerals 16) positioned on top of the upper member 12 (i.e., on its outer surface) and directed in such a way that one or more images will be displayed on the ceiling above the bathtub or on the walls or other surfaces located adjacent to the bathtub. The displayed images amuse the infant but in the same time they encourage the infant to look upward while leaning back the head. Such a leaned back position helps the one who wash the infant (e.g., the parent) to easily shampoo the infant's hair and also to easily clean the infant's neck area.

According to an embodiment of the invention, device 1 may further include a thermometer 22 for measuring the water's temperature. In this configuration, the thermometer includes a display unit 14 positioned on top of the upper member 12. Display unit is adapted to display the measured water temperature and optionally other information such as an alert when the water temperature is below/above an idle temperature.

According to an embodiment of the invention, device 1 further includes a sound unit 25 for playing music or other amusement sounds via a speaker 15. Additionally, sound unit 25 can also be used to generate alert sounds in case the temperature of the water is not idle.

Device 10 is designed in such a way that it will have buoyancy properties, such that when device 1 floats on water with its upper member 12 facing upward. In this embodiment, device 1 is subjected to buoyancy such that the waterline comes up to the seam 19 between the upper member 12 and the lower member 11. For example, housing 10 may include an air chamber or other floatable element located within the interior of the lower member 11 at its large end (not shown). The air chamber of housing 10 serves as float means for floating device 1 on water. In other words, device 1 can float on water with its lower member 11 under the water and its upper member 12 over the water. Device 1 is configured in such a way that when it is placed on water with its upper member 12 facing upward, it floats on the water considerably stably. In addition, both the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of device 1 are disposed on the center axis X.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pump mechanism 21 includes common elements such as an electric motor, impeller and other relevant members (not shown). An electric cord can be disposed on the assembly in order to connect the pump mechanism 21 (i.e., the pump's motor) to an electric power source 25 located within the upper member 12.

A waterproof off/on switch (not shown) for the pump mechanism 21 can be disposed at an intermediate portion of such electric cord. The electric power source 25 is, for example, a battery able to continuously supply a current of DC 9V for powering assembly 1.

The operation of device 1 will now be described. Upon using device 1, the entire device is brought into a bathroom in which a bathtub is located. Then, as shown in Fig. 3, the device is floated on water in the bathtub 30 with its upper member 12 facing upward. That is all pre-operation which should be accomplished before device 1 is turned on, and thus no more work for installing the device is required. When the device 1 is on the bath water, the lower member 11 is held under the bath water, and the upper member 12 is held over the bath water. Therefore, the inlet holes 17 are held under the bath water.

Due to the actuation of pump 21, the bath water is drawn into the inlet holes 17 and then is led into the pump 21. The water drawn into the pump 21 is, then, pressurized and is sent to the shower head 18 via outlet 13. The water is, subsequently, discharged in a jet via control valve of shower head 18.

Optionally, the shower head 18 can be disconnected from outlet 13 such that when the jet of water impinges on the surface of the bath water, it introduces oxygen in atmosphere into the bath water. This result in the generation of a multiplicity of minute bubbles suspended throughout the water.

Referring now to Fig. 4, a bubble generation element is shown that can be attached to outlet 13 of device 1 (instead of the shower head 18). The bubble generation element is coupled to outlet and it comprises a main tube 20 and an air intake tube 21. The main tube 20 and the air intake tube 21 are positioned in such a way (e.g., essentially in a perpendicular manner as shown if the figure) that when flow of pressurized water from outlet 13 pass through main tube 20 causes air from the atmosphere to flow through air intake tube 21 to main tube 20 and to mix together. The mixture of air and water flows to the water in the bathtub. This arrangement result in an enhanced generation of a multiplicity of minute bubbles suspended throughout the water.

As will be appreciated by a skilled person, when such innumerable bubbles in the water contact the human body immersed in the bath water, they break instantly, and generate ultrasonic waves throughout the bathtub. These ultrasonic waves enhance the heat transfer rate between the bath water and the human body, massage the human body and promote the removal of dirt and oils from the skin of the human body, which help in the prevention of skin diseases and muscular pains which can afflict the human body.

Whenever required, the image projection unit 24 is also turned on to display images on the bathroom's ceiling. The projected images attract the attention of the infant resulting in remaining his/her head in a lean back position. As a result, device 1 encourages the infant to lean his head back during the shampooing and washing task in a pleasant manner. In addition, when it is not necessary or not required to keep the aforementioned device in the bathtub, the assembly can easily be removed from the bathtub.

Figs. 5-8 schematically illustrate an implementation of a floating shower device 50, embodying the principle of the present invention. Generally, device 50 may include the same element as descried hereinabove with respect to device 1. Device 50 includes controls such as a main on/off switch 53, a sound control switch 51 for operating the sound unit 25 (Fig. 2) and a control switch 52 for operating the image projection unit 24 (Fig. 2) and its corresponding light sources 16. The display unit 14 positioned on top of the upper member 12 and the water intake holes are indicated by numeral 17 at the lower member 11.

All the above description and examples have been given for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Many different mechanisms, electronic and logical elements can be employed, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A floating shower device, comprising:

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the light source adapted to display images on surfaces adjacent to said device, in particular the ceiling located above said device and/or the wall(s) adjacent to it.

3. A device according to claim 1, further comprises a shower head having a spray nozzle is connected to the outlet via a flexible hose or tube.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which the shower head includes a control valve for enabling/disabling the flow of water through said shower head.

5. A device according to claim 1, further comprises a thermometer and a display thereof.

6. A device according to claim 1, further comprises a sound unit.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprises a bubble generation element coupled to the outlet.