Footrest waterfall shower

Abstract

A showerhead assembly includes a showerhead assembly mounted to a shower wall above a footrest. The showerhead showers water directly on the footrest to provide a waterfall effect on a bather's foot thereby permitting lathering and shaving of the bather's leg while providing a soothing massage affect to the foot. When pivoted to another position, the showerhead showers the water past the footrest to provide a waterfall effect on a bather's leg thereby permitting convenient rinsing of the bather's leg prior and after to shaving.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shower, and more particularly to showerhead mounted adjacent a shower or tub surround to facilitate leg shaving within a waterfall effect.

Oversized luxury showers and tubs are becoming increasing desirable in new construction and bathroom renovations. Such showers typically include one or more multi-function showerheads that have a plurality of spray modes, including various standard sprays and pulsed sprays. These showers will also often include hand-held shower sprayers. Luxury tub surrounds typically include numerous water jets or other water effects which are utilized to fill the tub.

Disadvantageously, even with the multitude of showerheads and spray devices, women must contend with difficulties while shaving their legs. The contortions required to shave legs may prove difficult and minimize the comfort and enjoyment of bathing. A woman typically uses the ledge of a tub or seat within the shower to raise her foot above the floor to facilitate leg shaving. Furthermore, the woman must move her leg in and out of the water spray or retrieve and replace a hand-held sprayer to rinse her legs which may minimize the warmth and comfort of the bathing experience.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a convenient showerhead assembly for a woman to shave her legs without minimizing the warmth and comfort of the bathing experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A showerhead assembly according to the present invention includes a showerhead assembly mounted to a shower wall above a footrest. The showerhead is pivotable such the showerhead permits the water to be showered as sheets directly on the footrest to provide a waterfall effect on a bather's foot thereby permitting lathering and shaving of the bather's leg while providing a soothing massage affect to the foot. When pivoted to another position, the showerhead showers the bather's leg thereby permitting convenient rinsing prior and after to shaving.

The present invention therefore provides a convenient showerhead assembly for a woman to shave her legs without minimizing the warmth and comfort of the bathing experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view a showerhead assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic side view of the showerhead assembly in a first position; and

FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the showerhead assembly in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a general perspective view of a shower 10. The shower 10 generally includes a base 12, and one or more walls 14. It should be understood that the term “base” is not limited to just shower bases but that relatively deeper tubs and the like will also benefit from the present invention. It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements, e.g. molded surround or tiled construction will benefit from the instant invention.

The shower 10 includes a showerhead assembly 18 mounted to the wall 14 adjacent to a ledge 20 of the shower 10. It should be understood that although a ledge of a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements such as a shower surround ledges or tub surrounds will likewise benefit from the instant invention.

The showerhead assembly 18 includes a deflector 22 such as a footrest and a showerhead 24 mounted to the wall 14. The deflector 22 is preferably located just above the ledge 20, however, it should be understood that the deflector 22 may be located at any convenient height along the wall 14. The deflector 22 is preferably of a concave shape such that water from the showerhead 24 is directed to impinge off the deflector 22 and into the base 12. The deflector 22 also preferably includes a textured surface to further facilitate support of a foot while shaving. It should be understood that although a footrest is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements such as a deflector which directs water flow onto a bather's back will likewise be usable with the instant invention.

The showerhead 24 is mounted to the wall 14 generally above the footrest 22. Notably, the showerhead 24 is located relatively low in height on the wall 14. The showerhead 24 is generally rectilinear in shape such that water is dispensed as sheets therefrom generally parallel to the wall 14 for a waterfall-like effect. It should be understood that although a rectilinear waterfall shower is preferred, other showerheads with other shower effects will also be usable with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the showerhead 24 is preferably manually pivotable about a pivot axis P defined parallel to the wall 14. The showerhead 24 permits the water to be showered as sheets directly on the deflector 22 (FIG. 2A). Such a position provides the waterfall effect on a bather's foot thereby permitting lathering and shaving of the bather's leg while providing a soothing massage affect to the foot. When pivoted to the position illustrated in FIG. 2B, the showerhead 24 showers the water past the deflector 22 and directly into the base 12. Such a position directs the waterfall effect onto the bather's leg thereby permitting convenient rinsing prior to and after shaving.

Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention.

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A showerhead assembly comprising:

a deflector; and

a showerhead adjacent said deflector to dispense a shower of water toward said deflector.

2. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said showerhead dispenses said shower of water as a sheet.

3. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said showerhead is articulatable to direct said shower of water.

4. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said showerhead is rectilinear.

5. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said showerhead is generally parallel to said deflector.

6. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said deflector is a footrest.

7. A shower comprising:

a shower wall;

a deflector mounted to said shower wall; and

a showerhead mounted to said shower wall adjacent said deflector to dispense a shower of water toward said deflector.

8. The shower as recited in claim 7, wherein said showerhead dispenses said shower of water as a sheet.

9. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said showerhead is articulatable to direct said shower of water.

10. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said deflector is located adjacent a ledge of a tub.

11. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said showerhead is generally parallel to said deflector.

12. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said deflector is a footrest.

13. A tub surround comprising:

a deflector mounted adjacent to a ledge of a tub; and

a showerhead mounted adjacent to said deflector to dispense a shower of water toward said deflector.

14. The shower as recited in claim 13, wherein said showerhead dispenses said shower of water as a sheet.

15. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said showerhead is articulatable to direct said shower of water.

16. The showerhead assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said showerhead is generally parallel to said deflector.

15. A method of showering water comprising the steps of:

(1) locating a showerhead over a deflector; and

(2) showering water from the showerhead toward the deflector.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

articulating the showerhead.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

locating the showerhead on a wall of a tub surround.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

locating the showerhead on a wall of a shower surround.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said step (2) further comprises:

showering water from the showerhead as a sheet of water.