Shower kit with concealed flexible hose

Abstract

A shower kit with a concealed flexible hose includes a vertical pipe that conceals a mechanism consisting of a cylinder having an inverted axial outlet. The vertical pipe deforms to integrate a flexible hose and a handheld shower head within it. The vertical pipe rotates at its two edges to conceal or reveal the flexible hose and the handheld shower head, and has a rotation locking system at the upper edge when water exits from the upper shower head.

Description

[0001] As its title indicates, this specification relates to a shower kit in which the shower hose and handheld shower head are concealed, hidden, and retracted into a housing formed for this purpose in a vertical pipe, which also contains a water pipe that guides the shower hose and handheld shower head from the faucet to the overhead shower head. In addition to concealing or revealing the flexible hose and handheld shower head, the rotation of the vertical pipe also serves as a selector for the outlet of either the overhead shower head or the handheld shower head. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in the shower market, more specifically, there are numerous solutions seeking differentiation and high aesthetic value. The most popular form of this type of shower kit is based on a faucet that has an upper outlet for supplying the upper shower head and a lower outlet for supplying a flexible hose for a handheld shower head, as well as a dispensing mechanism within the faucet for supplying one or the other.

[0003] The flexible hose hangs below the faucet, making it inconspicuous in the shower area. This hose is unhygienic and requires frequent replacement. While there are solutions in the current technology for concealing the shower hose connecting the handheld shower head to the faucet—often called a flexible hose—most existing shower hoses are based on hiding the hose by sliding it through holes designed for this purpose. Besides the moisture problems and difficulty in cleaning these spaces, there are also issues with noise, clogging, and breakage due to friction, making hygienic conditions impossible.

[0004] In the prior art, we have found several documents relating to objects or devices for concealing flexible hoses and handheld shower heads, but as shown here, they are technically quite different from the present invention outlined here. Some of these documents are mentioned below.

[0005] Document DE 10137966A1 relates to a wall-mounted shower kit. The kit includes a large rotating door-shaped housing around a vertical axis, which, when closed, conceals a flexible hose and handheld shower head, along with other faucet components and water massage nozzles, within its interior.

[0006] Document JP 2008200222A describes a device for concealing a flexible hose suspended on a support, wherein a gate-shaped pivoting member around a vertical axis covers only the flexible hose.

[0007] Document EP 3501356A1, entitled "Sanitary Equipment", describes a cabinet that conceals an automatic retraction mechanism for a flexible hose and also has internal supports to keep the shower handle in an upright position.

[0008] Another document, US 5870781A, shows a housing that covers a flexible hose, and a handheld shower that remains fixed and swings downwards onto a cavity provided in the housing.

[0009] Finally, document EP 3401451A1 illustrates a solution for quickly connecting flexible hoses and handheld shower heads to faucets.

[0010] The invention described below includes highly innovative details regarding connection to wall-mounted faucets, outlet selection control, and water locking and safety systems. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The shower kit with concealed flexible hose described below consists of a vertical tube that is cylindrical in a short section at its base. This vertical tube internally houses an innovative outlet selection mechanism that rotates only slightly via the top spray head or the handheld shower head and deforms along its greater length to accommodate and conceal the flexible hose and handheld shower head. The upper end of the vertical tube connects to a horizontal tube fixed to the wall. Between these two components is a connector that conceals the internal mechanism securing the handheld shower head. This connector can be magnetic or mechanical, and optionally a rotation-locking mechanism, to prevent accidental water leakage through the handheld shower head when water flows out via the top spray head. The horizontal tube has an adaptable wall retainer at one end to hold the tube in a vertical position, while at the other end, the end furthest from the wall, it has a chamfer. This surface has a threaded top spray head with an outlet protrusion that can be adjusted at different angles.

[0012] The cylindrical base of the shower kit conceals the innovative mechanism within. A tube with an axial outlet is inserted and secured upside down, with the main shaft pointing downwards and the collector located on top. This inversion transforms it into an outlet selector or exchanger mechanism, rather than a mixer. Installed and inverted in this manner, it functions accordingly; the main shaft or nozzle, with a flat or knurled surface, inserts into the outlet on top of the faucet or into a pre-installed outlet in the wall and secures it to either, leaving a leak-proof connection. Water previously mixed in the faucet flows in through the main shaft or nozzle, which was previously the outlet and is now the collector. The ceramic element, previously used as a mixer, now functions as a selector, while the hot and cold water collectors now serve as outlets for the top shower head or handheld shower head.

[0013] The selector function of the tub with the inverted axial outlet is activated by rotating the vertical pipe of the shower kit. When the hose and handheld shower head are concealed, the selector directs water to the overhead shower head, and when the hose and handheld shower head are made visible by rotating the tub 180°, the selector directs water to the handheld shower head.

[0014] The vertical pipe is cylindrical at its base to accommodate the aforementioned tube. Starting from this short section of the vertical pipe, the cylinder deforms along most of its length, in a manner that makes it appear regular and concave in the front view, while the other half of the view becomes convex. The new cross-sectional shape of this long section of the vertical pipe resembles a semi-circular crescent, concealed, and its convex side accommodates and integrates components including a flexible hose and a handheld shower. Inside the deformed vertical pipe, a water pipe is inserted and concealed, guiding water to the upper shower head. The transition from concave to convex creates a chamfer, at which a hole is drilled to open an outlet from the corresponding outlet of the tube with an axial outlet to the outside of the flexible hose.

[0015] The vertical pipe connects at its free end to another horizontal pipe. This connector conceals an attachment that forms part of a mechanism securing the flexible hose and handheld shower assembly to the pipe. This attachment can be magnetic, consisting of a magnetic element inserted into a central rod that attracts and secures the assembly when the ferromagnetic upper closure of the handheld shower approaches it; alternatively, the magnetic element can be mechanical, via a connecting element positioned between the upper closure of the handheld shower and a connector located in the connector. This combination between the vertical and horizontal pipes can also accommodate a rotation-locking system to prevent simultaneous activation of the shower head and handheld shower when the rod rotates, thus avoiding accidental splashing. As described in the preceding paragraphs, when the central rod is in the concealed flexible hose and handheld shower position, the water supply to the shower head is open, causing the water pressure through this line to rise and prevent the rotating plunger. When the water stops flowing, a spring returns the plunger to its original position, allowing the vertical pipe to rotate again. When the water supply is interrupted, the closed plunger is positioned with a groove-shaped profile around its base to allow water to automatically drain from the upper nozzle and horizontal pipe into the internal water pipe of the vertical pipe.

[0016] The internal water pipes and flexible hoses, along with a handheld shower assembly extending parallel to the vertical pipes, connect to the top of the faucet. This type of connection allows gravity to work, facilitating the complete drainage of the internal water in this manner, provided the faucet to which they are connected has an automatic drainage system.

[0017] The horizontal pipe is fixed to the wall and has a position adjustment and correction mechanism at its enclosed end to ensure that the vertical pipe can fit any faucet and maintain a perfect vertical position. The horizontal pipe can be divided into two sections of different diameters, allowing for telescopic adjustment to change its length. The free end of the horizontal pipe can be cut at an angle, and the upper shower head can be fixed to the surface created by this angled cut, which remains in an inclined position relative to the horizontal line. Alternatively, a single straight horizontal pipe without telescopic adjustment can be selected, with its free edge enclosed by a component that allows the upper shower head to be horizontally fixed.

[0018] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that features of different embodiments can be combined with features of other possible embodiments, provided that such combination is technically possible. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To better understand the purpose of this invention, the accompanying drawings illustrate actual and preferred embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the entire shower kit assembly with a vertical pipe (1) connected to a faucet (12) is shown.

[0021] Figure 2 Shower kit shown Figure 1 The detailed cross-section of the lower part, the cylindrical base (2) of the vertical pipe (1) and the cylinder inside it having an axial outlet (10) on the faucet (12).

[0022] Figure 3 Shower kit shown Figure 1 The detailed cross-section of the lower part of the vertical pipe (1) includes a cylindrical base (2) and a cylinder inside it with an axial outlet (10) on a wall-mounted outlet (13).

[0023] Figure 4 A detailed cross-section of the upper part of the joint (17) between the vertical pipe (1) and the horizontal pipe (6) and the locking system (18) is shown.

[0024] Figure 5 A cross-section of the vertical pipe (1) is shown, which highlights the cross-section of the deformed long stretch section (16).

[0025] Figure 6 A view of the shower kit, which conceals the flexible hose (5) and handheld shower (4), is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A view of a shower kit with a visible flexible hose (5) and a handheld shower (4) is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the shower kit of the present invention includes a vertical pipe (1) concealed inside its cylindrical base (2), with an inverted cylinder having an axial outlet (10) so that the inlet and outlet are reversed and the cylinder functions as a selector instead of a mixer. From the cylinder and the water connectors to the shower head (14) and the handheld shower (15), the vertical pipe is deformed in its portion (16) to give it a circular "half-moon" shape, thereby concealing the handheld shower (4) and the flexible hose (5) on their convex sides. The vertical pipe (1) is closed at its upper end with a joint (17) with a horizontal pipe (6), which guides the rotation of the vertical pipe (1). The horizontal pipe, which is divided into two parts for telescopic adjustment (23), is fixed to the wall at one end and is also equipped with an adjustment and correction mechanism (21). The opposite free edges are cut at a certain angle, and the upper nozzle (3) is screwed into the surface (24) formed by the angle cut.

[0028] Figure 2 A detailed cross-section of the cylindrical base (2) of the vertical pipe (1) of the shower kit is shown. The inverted cylinder with the axial outlet (10) is clearly visible, and the spindle (11), assembled and fixed to the faucet (12), serves as a collector for the mixed water from the faucet (12). The ceramic cylinder of the cylinder with the axial outlet (10) acts as a selector rather than a mixer, and by rotating the vertical pipe (1), water is directed to the outlet of the shower head (14) or the outlet of the handheld shower (15).

[0029] Figure 3 Details of how the shower kit has the option to be mounted on itself are shown. In this case, the main shaft (11) of the axial sleeve is inserted into the wall-mounted outlet (13), which is constructed of a mechanism similar to that of a faucet (12). The axial sleeve (10) functions in the same way as the vertical pipe (1) rotates.

[0030] Figure 4Details of the intersection between the vertical pipe (1) and the horizontal pipe (6) are shown. The joint (17) between the two pipes provides the necessary conditions to conceal important innovative elements within the shower kit product range. The first of these is the locking system (18), which prevents us from accidentally rotating the vertical pipe (1) and initiating the flow of water through the handheld shower (4) as water flows out of the top shower head (3), thus avoiding unpleasant splashing. The locking system (18) functions as follows: when water flows through the water pipe (25) to the shower head (3), the water pressure raises the plunger (19), which inserts into a hole prepared for this purpose, thus locking the rotation of the vertical pipe (1). When the tap is turned off and the water stops flowing through the water pipe (25) of the shower head (3), the spring (20) returns the plunger to its original position, disabling the locking system (18) and allowing the vertical pipe (1) to rotate. The profile of the plunger base is grooved to allow reverse water flow from the top nozzle to the faucet, which is convenient and hygienic, provided the faucet has a drain system. An attachment (7) is also shown in the figure, which is used to properly position and secure the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower (4) when the locking part (22) of the handheld shower (5) is attached to it. This attachment can also be magnetic or mechanical.

[0031] Figure 5 The deformation (16) of the vertical pipe is shown, on which a convex surface is formed, and a flexible hose (5) and a handheld shower (4) are positioned on the convex surface.

[0032] Figure 6 A complete shower kit is shown, in which the vertical pipe (1) connected to the faucet (12) rotates to conceal the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower (4). At opposite edges, a joint (17) is found between the vertical pipe (1) and the horizontal pipe (6). At the wall edge fixed to the horizontal pipe (6), a position adjustment system (21) is visible, allowing the two sections of the horizontal pipe (6) to be adjusted in length using a telescopic system (23), and a chamfer (24) is created at the free edge furthest from the wall, forming the face that holds the shower head (3).

[0033] Figure 7A complete shower kit is shown, in which a vertical pipe (1) connected to a faucet (12) is rotated to reveal a flexible hose (5) and a handheld shower head (4), and at opposite edges, as in the previous figure, a connector (17) of the vertical pipe (1) connects to a horizontal pipe (6). The rotation of the vertical pipe actuates a selector mechanism of the axial outlet tube (10), which opens the water supply to the shower head (3) when the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower head (4) are concealed; on the other hand, it opens the water supply to the hose (5) and the handheld shower head (4) when they are visible.

[0034] All information relating to examples or embodiments is part of this specification.

Claims

1. A shower kit having a concealed flexible hose (5), wherein the vertical pipe (1) of the shower kit - Its base (2) is cylindrical over a shorter length, concealing a mechanism consisting of a cylinder with an axial outlet (10), which is mounted in the opposite position to the main shaft (11) used as a collector, and the ceramic selector disc and the previous collector are now the outlet. - Deform along most of its length to integrate the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower head, -The water pipe (25) that is connected to the nozzle (14) of the axial cylinder is hidden inside. - Rotate on both edges, wherein when rotating, the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower (4) are hidden or revealed, and additionally, when rotating, the ceramic disc of the axial cylinder is moved, and when the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower (4) are hidden, the outlet to the upper nozzle (3) is opened, and when the sprayer flexible hose (5) and the sprayer handheld shower (4) are visible, the outlet of the handheld shower (4) is opened. - It has a connector (17) that connects the vertical pipe (1) to the horizontal pipe (6) at the upper free edge of the vertical pipe (1), the horizontal pipe (6) having a mechanism with an attachment (7) inside to secure the handheld shower (4).

2. The shower kit with concealed flexible hose (5) according to claim 1, wherein the main shaft (11) of the hose has an axial outlet (10), the main shaft (11) has a multifaceted or knurled surface, and is inserted into and secured to a tap water outlet or a wall outlet (13).

3. The shower kit with concealed flexible hose (5) according to claim 1, wherein the deformation along most of the length of the vertical pipe (1) is convex.

4. The shower kit with a concealed flexible hose (5) according to claim 3, wherein an open path (27) is formed in the chamfer (26) formed in the transition from the convex to the concave surface to allow the flexible hose (5) to pass through.

5. The shower kit with a concealed flexible hose (5) according to claim 1, wherein the connector (17) conceals a locking mechanism (18) comprising a plunger (19) and a spring (20) connected to a water pipe (25), the plunger (19) being raised by the pressure of the water flow, the spring (20) causing the plunger to return to its original position when the water flow stops, the plunger (19) being slotted at its base to allow water to drain from the top nozzle (3) and the horizontal pipe (6) into the water pipe (25).

6. The shower kit with a concealed flexible hose (5) according to claim 1, wherein the water pipe (25) and the flexible hose (5) and the handheld shower (4) are connected to the upper side of the faucet (12).

7. The shower kit with a concealed flexible hose (5) according to claim 1, wherein the attachment (7) is selected to be magnetic or mechanical.

8. A shower kit with a concealed flexible hose (5) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper free edge of the handheld shower (4) is covered with a ferromagnetic element.

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