Shower device

Abstract

The invention relates to a shower device (10) comprising a reclining surface (14) for one person and a shower unit (16) comprising at least one shower head (22), which has a support arm (18) arranged above the reclining surface (14) and supporting the at least one shower head (22), and a water supply line (20), wherein each shower head (22) has a branch line (34) extending from the supply line (20) and terminating at at least one outlet opening (36), and wherein each shower head (22) is pivotably mounted on the support arm (18). According to the invention, a motor-driven, reciprocating drive rod (38) is provided, which is articulated to each shower head (22) to generate its pivoting movement.

Description

The invention relates to a shower device according to the preamble of claim 1.Such shower devices are also referred to as vichy showers. The person lying on the lying surface is usually lying on the abdomen, is drowned with water, preferably with thermal or mineral water, and often receives a massage in the process. If no massage is administered, it is advantageous to move the water jets emitted by the shower device in order to achieve a high-quality shower experience or an effect similar to a massage effect. Known shower devices of this type operate according to the lawn shower principle, wherein the shower head or shower heads are driven to produce a pivoting movement by the pressure of the water flowing through. In order not to make the forces acting on the shower head or shower heads through the water too large, the line cross sections in the previously known shower devices are quite small. This results in the problem that when using thermal or mineral water, the lines become clogged quickly, so that the shower heads must be replaced regularly.It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop a shower device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that it is easier to use.This object is achieved according to the invention by a shower device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.The invention is based on the idea of providing a simple, external mechanical drive for the at least one shower head, so that the same can be pivoted back and forth independently of the forces caused by the water pressure. For this purpose, a reciprocally movable drive rod is provided, which is hinged to each shower head for producing its pivoting movement. For the movement of the drive rod, a drive disk is advantageously provided, which is mounted rotatably about a central axis of rotation and on which the drive rod is eccentrically articulated. The drive of the drive pulley is advantageously effected with an electric motor, and the drive rod and / or the drive pulley and / or the electric motor are expediently arranged in the boom. The rotational movement of the electric motor is then transmitted to the drive disk and is converted into a back and forth movement due to the off-center articulation of the drive rod on the drive disk.It is possible that at least one of the branch lines consists at least in sections of a flexible material. The shower head in question is then moved back and forth simply by bending its branch line. The drive rod is articulated to each of the flexible branch lines of the at least one outlet opening and the feed line from which the branch line branches off.It is further possible that at least one of the shower heads is rigid and can be pivoted about a pivot axis. Such a rigid shower head forms a lever on which the drive rod can engage. It is possible here for the drive rod to be articulated on each of the rigidly designed shower heads at an articulation point which is arranged between the pivot axis and the at least one outlet opening, in the sense of a single-armed lever. However, it is also possible for the drive rod to be articulated on each of the rigidly designed shower heads at an articulation point, between which and the at least one outlet opening the pivot axis is arranged, in the sense of a two-armed lever.In addition to the at least one shower head pivotably mounted on the boom, at least one further shower head immovably mounted on the boom can be provided in order to increase the amount of water acting on the person lying on the reclining surface. If a plurality of shower heads and / or a plurality of further shower heads are present, it is preferred that these are arranged in a row.Advantageously, a control unit is provided for controlling the movement of the drive rod. This controls in particular the electric motor and can additionally control the supply of water into the feed line. In particular, the control unit can be programmed to execute the movement of the at least one shower head in a predetermined time sequence. The release of water through the at least one further shower head can be coupled to the chronological sequence of the movement of the at least one shower head, as can light effects, sound effects or the release of fragrances. Treatment sequences with at least one temperature wechel are also possible.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment schematically shown in the drawing. They show FIG. 1 shows a shower device in a perspective view, and FIG. 2 shows the boom of the shower device according to FIG. 1 in longitudinal section.The shower device 10 shown in the drawing has a couch 12 with an upper lying surface 14 and a shower device 16. The shower device 16 has a cantilever 18 which extends at a distance above the reclining surface 14 approximately over the entire length thereof. A supply line 20 for water extends through the cantilever 18, with which a person lying on the lying surface 14 is showered.Two shower heads 22 are each mounted in the cantilever 18 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 24, wherein the pivot axes 24 extend transversely, in the exemplary embodiment shown, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the couch 12 and of the cantilever 18. The longitudinal direction 26 extends from a foot part 28, by means of which the extension arm 18 is connected to the couch 12, and a head part 30, which adjoins the couch surface 14 and on which the person places his head. Furthermore, three further shower heads 32 are fixedly mounted on the boom 18 so that they discharge water substantially vertically downwards.The shower heads 22 and the further shower heads 32 are connected to the supply line 20. The shower heads 22 are rigid and each of them has a branch line 34 branching off from the supply line 20 extending as far as an outlet opening 36, the pivot axes 24 being arranged at such a height that they intersect the supply line 20. Above the feed line 20, a drive rod 38 is displaceably guided in the extension 18. The drive rod 38 is each linked at a linkage point 40 on each of the shower heads 22, wherein the pivot axis 24 of each shower head 22 is located between the associated linkage point 40 and the associated outlet opening 36. A back and forth movement of the drive rod 38 thus results in a back and forth pivoting of the shower heads 22, so that water is discharged obliquely and perpendicularly downward from the outlet openings 36 in temporally changing directions. The drive rod 38 is driven by eccentric articulation with a drive disk 44 mounted in the boom 18 such that it can rotate about a central axis of rotation 42 and is rotated by means of an electric motor 46. A rotational movement of the drive plate 44 is thus converted into a back and forth movement of the drive rod 38. For this purpose, the drive rod 38 is formed in two parts, with a push rod 48 articulated on the drive disc 44 and a drive section 50 articulated on the shower heads 22.The electric motor 46 is controlled by a control unit not shown in the drawing. A predefined time sequence of movements can be stored therein, which is implemented when a person is lying on the lying surface 14. The control unit can also control further functional elements that are coordinated with the movement sequence of the electric motor 46 and that, for example, generate light and / or sound effects or emit fragrances and / or change the water temperature at least once.In summary, the following is to be stated. The invention relates to a shower device 10 having a couch 12 having a couch 14 for a person and having a shower device 16 having at least one shower head 22, which shower device has a boom 18 arranged above the couch 14 and carrying the at least one shower head 22, and a feed line 20 for water, wherein each shower head 22 has a branch line 34 branching off from the feed line 20, which branch line ends at at least one outlet opening 36, and wherein each shower head 22 is pivotably mounted on the boom 18. According to the invention, a motor-driven, reciprocally movable drive rod 38 is provided, which is linked to each shower head 22 for generating its swivel movement.

Claims

Shower device having a couch (12) which has a couch surface (14) for a person and having a shower device (16) which has at least one shower head (22) and has a boom (18) which is arranged above the couch surface (14) and carries the at least one shower head (22) and a feed line (20) for water, each shower head (22) having a branch line (34) which branches off from the feed line (20) and ends at at least one outlet opening (36), and each shower head (22) being mounted pivotably on the boom (18), characterized bya drive rod (38) which is movable back and forth in a motor-driven manner and is articulated on each shower head (22) in order to produce the pivoting movement thereof.Shower device according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive rod (38) is articulated eccentrically on a drive disc (44) rotatable by motor about a central axis of rotation (42).Shower device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised byan electric motor (46) for driving the drive rod (38).Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive rod (38) and / or the drive disc (44) and / or the electric motor (46) is or are arranged in the boom (18).Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the branch lines (34) is made at least in sections from a flexible material.Shower device according to claim 5, characterised in that the driving rod (38) is articulated to each of the flexible branch pipes (34) between the at least one outlet opening (36) and the supply pipe (20).Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the shower heads (22) is of rigid design and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (24).Shower device according to claim 7, characterised in that the drive rod (38) is articulated on each of the rigidly formed shower heads (22) at an articulation point (40) which is arranged between the pivot axis (24) and the at least one outlet opening (36).Shower device according to claim 7, characterised in that the drive rod (38) is articulated on each of the rigidly formed shower heads (22) at an articulation point (40), between which and the at least one outlet opening (36) the pivot axis (24) is arranged.Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byat least one further shower head (32), which is mounted immovably on the boom (18) and is connected to the feed line (20).Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bya control unit for controlling the movement of the drive rod (38).Shower device according to claim 11, characterised in that a supply of water into the supply line (20) can be controlled by means of the control unit.Method for using a shower device (10) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a person lying on the lying surface (14) is acted upon by a water jet moving to and fro by means of the at least one shower head (22), and wherein the movement of the drive rod (38) is controlled by means of the control unit.Method according to claim 13, characterised in that an illumination unit for generating light effects and / or an audio unit for generating sound effects and / or a unit for emitting fragrances and / or a temperature control unit for varying the temperature of the water jet is controlled by means of the control unit.

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