Convenience Accessories Patents (Class 4/605)
  • Patent number: 4432105
    Abstract: A plumbing device stores one or more additives, and allows injection and mixing of such additives into the water stream delivered to a plumbing fixture such as a shower head or faucet. The design of the passage for the water stream provides a pressure differential sufficient to draw the additive into the water stream, while check valves are used to prevent backflow of additives. A mixing chamber, with an impeller element, mixes the injected material with the water stream. Metering valves may be used to control the amount of additive dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Inventor: Pravin G. Pitroda
  • Patent number: 4426745
    Abstract: An automatic drain-off valve for an ablutionary shower system is provided at the lowest point of the supply pipe at or from the shower control or mixing valve to the shower spray head. The drain valve (30) comprises a body (1) having a chamber (7) in which a clack valve (3) is mounted and which is normally biassed into the open position relative to a port (16) surrounded by a seating (8). The port (16) comprises a series of through bores opening to the bottom of the valve for discharging water from the chamber (7) to waste. When water flows through the supply pipe of the shower system, the chamber (7) fills and pressure on the clack valve overcomes the bias applied to the valve spindle (4) by a spring (14) so that the valve close on the seating (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Walker Crosweller & Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Beck
  • Patent number: 4424598
    Abstract: Bath module includes a shell-like housing defining interiorly a tub/shower facility wherein whirlpool, steam, tanning and mist functions or modes of operation are selectable through actuation of pneumatic controls located therein. The preferred embodiment includes recessed storage and grab bar compartments, the recessed storage compartment housing the pneumatic controls as well as other items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Aqua Glass Corporation
    Inventor: Louis E. Cima
  • Patent number: 4417362
    Abstract: The present device provides a complete stationary unit including brushes and sponges. The unit is removeable affixed to a tub or shower wall wherein the bather can, by his or her own movement against the brushes and sponges in the unit easily and efficiently wash his or her back or other inaccessible parts of their bodies. The device includes a soap dispencer which dispences liquid soap onto the brushes and sponges as they are contacted by the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Inventor: Frank S. Walker
  • Patent number: 4398639
    Abstract: A safety towel bar for a plastic wall surround panel for showers and tubs comprises a substantially flat plastic wall panel adhesively secured to a dry wall which is secured to a framework. A pair of laterally spaced rearwardly opening upright channels are integral with the panel and receive the ends of a towel bar, which are nested, supported and secured upon a pair of laterally spaced brackets secured to the dry wall and extend into the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Novi Plastics Company
    Inventor: Phillip D. Daniels
  • Patent number: 4398308
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for decreasing the energy consumed by shower baths. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger used to preheat incoming cold water with hot drain water and a local hot water heater used to elevate the temperature of the hot water feed to levels above about 170.degree. F. The local heater and heat exchanger cooperate to result in energy savings of approximately 50% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Inventor: Charles A. Berg
  • Patent number: 4398309
    Abstract: A bathroom fixture such as a sliding shower caddy of a plastic material mounts to sliding doors of a shower enclosure by rubber suction cups and is supported by rollers which rest on the upper extruded aluminum support or channel guide which holds up the sliding shower doors. The fixture slides along the extrusion as the shower door to which it is attached is opened and closed to thus remove the hanging fixture from the entrance opening to facilitate entry to and exit from the shower stall or enclosed tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Inventor: Shelden M. Simons
  • Patent number: 4384376
    Abstract: A shower door assembly having a panel with an opening therethrough and a moveable closure member in co-acting relation with the opening, the opening being located at the level of the water faucets for providing access to the faucets with the door closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Inventor: June O. Shrode
  • Patent number: 4361914
    Abstract: A device for preventing the movement of a flexible material disposed over an open area, such as a shower or a window, includes a rigid elongated rod which is held in a substantially horizontal plane intermediate the top and bottom of the flexible material. In one preferred embodiment the rigid elongated rod is maintained in a static horizontal operative position by a pivot means at one end and an attachment means at the other extremity. A holding means, such as a U-shaped hook or bracket, is attached to a wall above and in a substantially vertical plane with the pivot means to hold the elongated bar in a substantially vertical inoperative position when the bathing facility is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventor: Earl P. Oliver
  • Patent number: 4360159
    Abstract: An adjustable shower assembly in which the shower head is connected by way of an elongated flexible hose or tube to a source of fluid under pressure in which the flexible hose is supported under a substantially constant and uniform tension to thereby permit selective vertical adjustment of the shower head while preventing flexing, twisting or vibration of the flexible hose due to the forces applied thereto during adjustment of the shower head or due to fluid pressures within the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Inventor: Joseph C. Haynes
  • Patent number: 4348777
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a portable shower particularly adapted for use at construction sites, campgrounds, industrial plants, truck and auto service stations and the like in which persons can conveniently and efficiently shower, the module including first, second and third compartments within which a person can respectively disrobe, shower and dress, first through third doors for respectively entering the first through third compartments and a fourth door for exiting the third compartment, first through fourth locks associated with the first through fourth doors, a conveyor for conveying clothes placed upon the same in the first compartment to the third compartment, and a control mechanism for operating the conveyor means to move the clothing from the first compartment to the third compartment generally in synchronism with the movement of the person from the first to the third compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Inventor: Guy E. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4282612
    Abstract: An adjustable shower and massage apparatus adapted to be connected to water systems generally associated with bathtubs and stall showers. The apparatus is formed with a plurality of interconnected pipe members, the leading pipe member being attached to the water system and the trailing or end pipe being affixed to a stationary member such as a wall. The pipe members are interconnected by a plurality of universal joints which allow the contiguous pipe members and a connected shower-spray head to be positioned at any selected angular position, whereby water can be directed to any part of an individual's body, the apparatus including a handle for positioning the pipe members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Inventor: Joseph L. King
  • Patent number: 4242201
    Abstract: A by-pass water softener system including a water softener made from a tube and two end caps, enclosing a charge of ion-exchange resin. A port passes through each end cap. One port is connectible to a hose which leads to a water distributor such as a hand-held shower head. The other port is connected to a diverter valve which selectively directs water from a water supply either to some other water distributor such as a wall-mounted shower head, or to a hose which leads to the other port of the water softener. A suspension device is provided to suspend the water softener, perhaps from the wall of a shower stall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: TDV Co.
    Inventors: James B. Stephens, Charles G. Miller