Body door for a motor vehicle and shower device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A body door for a motor vehicle with a holder for a shower head is proposed. Furthermore, a shower device for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising a housing and a shower hose, wherein the housing has a first cavity for storing the shower hose, and wherein a portion of the shower hose is designed to be extendable from the housing. A motor vehicle equipped with such a body door and / or such a shower device is also proposed. Such a body door, such a shower device, or a motor vehicle with such a body door and / or such a shower device enables particularly comfortable showering outside of a motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a body door for a motor vehicle, a shower device for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle.

[0002] It is common practice to equip motor vehicles to provide living or overnight accommodation. Such vehicles are generally referred to as motorhomes, campervans, or by similar terms. Depending on the vehicle's features, it may include amenities such as cooking facilities, a toilet, or other sanitary facilities like a shower. Depending on the size and price of the vehicle, a shower may be located inside the vehicle, or an external shower may be provided. This is usually achieved using a water tank located in the vehicle, to which a shower hose can be connected, for example, to a valve. The shower hose may include a handheld shower head.It is also known to use magnetic or suction cup-equipped holding devices to hold the shower head, which are then attached to an exterior wall of the vehicle and, after the showering process is finished, removed from the exterior wall and stored in the vehicle.

[0003] The usual methods for showering outside a vehicle are relatively cumbersome and require carrying several individual components, such as the shower hose and, if necessary, a separate holder. These components must be stored in the vehicle when not in use, can get lost, and must be installed before each use. Furthermore, without a separate holder, the user must hold the shower head continuously during showering, which reduces showering comfort.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to improve the showering comfort for a user of a motor vehicle when showering outside the motor vehicle.

[0005] The object of the invention is achieved by a body door for a motor vehicle with a holding device for a shower head. The object is further achieved by a shower device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing and a shower hose, wherein the housing has a first cavity for storing the shower hose, and wherein a portion of the shower hose is designed to be extendable from the housing, as well as by a motor vehicle comprising such a body door and / or such a shower device.

[0006] A body door can be understood to be any door that closes an opening in the body of a motor vehicle. In particular, it can be a side door or a tailgate. If the body door is a side door, it is preferably designed to swing open. In other words, it is a hinged door and not a sliding door.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the retaining device is arranged on the inside of the body door. In other words, the retaining device is then located on the side of the body door that faces the interior of the vehicle when closed. Such an embodiment offers advantages in terms of ease of use and also prevents damage to or contamination of the retaining device by environmental influences.

[0008] A particularly convenient design is achieved when the vehicle's rear door is a tailgate that pivots around a horizontal axis. In most motorhomes or campervans equipped with such a tailgate, the tailgate is in an approximately horizontal position when open. Since the pivot axis typically runs along an upper rear edge of the vehicle, this design usually provides sufficient space beneath the open tailgate for a user to stand upright. This allows for the shower head to be positioned at an optimal horizontal distance from the vehicle's interior.This makes it easy to prevent unwanted moisture from entering the vehicle interior and at the same time increases the user's comfort during the showering process, as their freedom of movement is greater compared to a shower head attached to an exterior wall or side door of the vehicle.

[0009] A further development of the invention provides that the holding device is designed such that a mounting component of a shower head can be held securely within the holding device, preventing rotation. For this purpose, the holding device can be designed to match a mounting component of the shower head. In other words, the holding device and the shower head can be coordinated in such a way that the shower head can be held securely within the holding device, preventing rotation. This also improves showering comfort. Furthermore, this design prevents an unintentional change in the direction of the water jet, thus saving water and preventing the vehicle interior from being unintentionally wet.

[0010] To achieve the aforementioned anti-rotation feature, the holding device can be designed with a magnetic anti-rotation mechanism to securely hold the shower head. Advantageously, the shower head itself should also have a magnet, or at least a ferromagnetic component, that interacts with the magnet in the holding device to keep the shower head securely in place. Of course, the reverse configuration, where the holding device has a magnet and the shower head has a ferromagnetic element that interacts with this magnet, is also conceivable.

[0011] One possible embodiment of a rotation-proof holding device features a pin on the vehicle-mounted side with a central point and two dovetail grooves offset radially outwards. A magnet can be attached to the end of the pin. The shower head can have a corresponding counterpart, for example, a hole with two radially arranged dovetail pins. A magnet with the opposite pole can be embedded in these dovetail pins. By screwing the hand shower into the holding device, a positive fit is achieved, which is further supported by a magnetic force and thus prevents it from unscrewing. If an opposing torque is applied that exceeds the force exerted by the magnet, the shower head is released and freed from the holding device. The described embodiment is therefore characterized in particular by a magnet in the holder and a magnet with the opposite pole in the shower head.Furthermore, the holding device can have a dovetail guide that corresponds to dovetail pins arranged on the shower head.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, the shower device according to the invention includes a winding device for the shower hose. The winding device can be operated manually. Alternatively, it can be an automatic winding device. The automatic winding device can be designed similarly to an automatic cable winder of a vacuum cleaner. The automatic winding device can, for example, have a spring element that builds up tension when the shower hose is pulled out, which can then be converted into a rotary motion when the hose is wound up. The winding device can have a drum or similar central element rotatable about a pivot axis, onto which the hose is then wound.

[0013] The shower device may have a substantially closed housing, with one side of the housing having a hose opening through which a portion of the shower hose can be drawn out of the housing. The hose opening may expediently be circular and have a diameter slightly larger than the hose diameter. The shower device may further include a tank connected to the shower hose.

[0014] The housing of the shower unit can have a second compartment for storing a shower head. In other words, the housing can have a hole or other recess that can accommodate a shower head. Such a shower head can be attached to one end of the shower hose. Of course, the shower unit can also have such a shower head even if no such second compartment is present. Advantageously, the second compartment can be designed so that the shower head does not protrude from the housing, or only protrudes slightly (for example, less than 0.5 cm), when inserted. The second compartment can widen towards the outer wall of the housing or have a ledge that allows the shower head to be gripped and removed. The second compartment can also be referred to as a shower head garage or a shower head pocket.

[0015] The shower head may have a slight wedge shape. If the shower head pocket has a corresponding shape with an identical angle, a clamping action can be achieved when the shower head is inserted into the pocket, thus holding the shower head securely in place and preventing rattling, for example, during vehicle movement.

[0016] It is conceivable that the second cavity has an opening whose shape roughly corresponds to one end face of the shower head. The shower head can then be inserted lengthwise into the second cavity. In this configuration, the hose opening and an open side of the second cavity are aligned one behind the other. In this way, removing the shower head simultaneously pulls the shower hose out of the housing. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the second cavity has an open side whose circumference roughly corresponds to that of the shower head when viewed from above. The depth of the second cavity then roughly corresponds to the thickness of the shower head.In such a design, it may be necessary to perform the removal movement of the shower head successively in two directions, by first removing the shower head from the second cavity and then performing a movement of the shower head approximately perpendicular to the first direction of movement in order to pull the shower hose out of the shower device.

[0017] The second cavity can serve as a dedicated storage space for the shower head. This prevents the shower head from getting lost or having to be searched for and / or installed before use.

[0018] The side surface with the hose opening can be a rear wall of the first cavity. Likewise, the side surface of the housing with the hose opening can be a front wall of the second cavity. The first and second cavities can be separated from each other by a housing wall that has the loop opening.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the winding device comprises a wringing mechanism that squeezes out any water present in the shower hose during the winding process. This prevents the proliferation of germs, and in particular the formation or proliferation of Legionella bacteria, in the water remaining in the shower hose. Preferably, the wringing mechanism is designed such that the shower hose no longer experiences a wringing effect during the final phase of winding. For example, it can be provided that no water is squeezed out of the shower hose during the winding process of the last 15 cm, 20 cm, or 30 cm of the extended hose. This ensures that, if the shower device is located near an outer edge of the vehicle, no water escapes from the shower head inside the vehicle during the winding process.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the shower device comprises a shower head with a locking device which, in a first position, allows water to escape from the water jets of the shower head, and in a second position prevents water from escaping the water jets. In other words, the shower device, and in particular the shower head, can have a switching device with which a water jet can be switched on and off during the showering process.

[0021] When a shower unit is installed in a motor vehicle, it can be advantageous for one side of the unit, where a hose opening is located, to face the vehicle door. This allows for particularly comfortable use of the shower unit.

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings and the following description. They show: Fig. 1: a first embodiment of a car body door and a shower device according to the invention, Fig. 2: A first detailed view of the first embodiment, Fig. 3: a second detailed view of the first embodiment, and Fig. 4: A detailed view of the first embodiment in a jammed position.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a body door 2 according to the invention and a shower device 18 according to the invention. The body door 2 is designed as a tailgate, which is shown in the illustration in Fig. The vehicle interior 14 is shown in an open state. The interior space 14, including the window 8 and the floor 22, is visible, with the shower device 18 located within the interior space 14. The shower device 18 has a housing 24 from which a shower hose 6 extends. A shower head 4 is located at one end of the shower hose 6 opposite the housing 24. The shower head 4 is held by a retaining device, which is not visible in the figure because it is obscured by the shower head 4 in the illustrated view. The shower head 4 is secured in the retaining device by a locking mechanism, which can be released by rotating the shower head 4 about the axis of rotation 16, allowing the shower head 4 to be detached from the retaining device and reinserted into the housing 24.

[0024] The holding device is located on the inside 10 of the tailgate. It is positioned on the side of a tailgate window facing away from the hinge 12, so that, in the illustrated situation, a comfortable distance is maintained between the shower head 4 and the vehicle interior 14 when viewed in the direction of travel. A section of the shower hose 6 pulled out of the housing 24 has a length that is slightly greater than the distance between the holding device and the area of ​​the housing 24 where the shower hose 6 exits. The hose can, of course, continue further inside the housing 24, for example, to connect to a water tank and, if necessary, be secured to an optional reel. The movement of the shower head when it is pulled out is indicated by the arrow 20.

[0025] The housing 24 of the shower device 18, which can also be referred to as the base module, is arranged on the interior floor 22 of the vehicle. The base module is positioned near a side wall of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, this is the left side wall of the vehicle; however, a mirror-image arrangement is also possible, in which the base module is located near the right side wall of the vehicle. An outer wall of the base module, in particular the outer wall of the housing containing openings for the shower hose 6 and the shower head 4, is flush or nearly flush with the opening provided by the tailgate.

[0026] Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows two different views of a detail of the shower device according to the invention in the form of the hand shower 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the hand shower 4 consists of a frame section 40 and a central section 34, which has a plurality of water nozzles 26. The frame section 40 is designed to encircle the central section 34. Between the central section 34 and the frame section 40, a clearance 30 is formed adjacent to an end face 36 of the central section 34, which extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis L of the shower shower 4 through the shower shower 4. In other words, the clearance 30 connects the surface of the shower shower 4, on which the water nozzles 26 are arranged, with the surface opposite this surface. The clearance 30 allows operation of the switching element 28, which is arranged on the end face 36 of the central section 34 opposite the shower hose 6.The switching element 28 is designed to block the flow of water through the water jets 26 and can therefore be used to switch the water jet on and off during the showering process. The shower hose 6 is connected to the shower head 4 via a hose connection 32 on a second end face.

[0027] Fig.Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the first embodiment of a shower device 18 according to the invention in a stowed position. As previously described, the shower device 18 is located on the interior floor 22 of the motor vehicle, adjacent to a side wall 50 of the motor vehicle. The shower device 18, and in particular its housing 24, is located near the loading edge, in other words, in the area where the tailgate of the motor vehicle is located when it is closed. It can be seen that the shower head 4 has been inserted into the associated cavity 44, in other words, into the shower head compartment or pocket. The shower head 4 is thus in a stowed position.It can also be seen that the previously described free space, which allows the actuation of the switching element, can be used to access the space in order to remove the shower head from the cavity 44. Furthermore, a control element 46 is arranged next to the cavity 44. Both the control element 46 and the opening of the cavity 44 are located on a front side 48 of the housing 24 of the shower device 18. The term "front side" refers to a typical viewing direction during use. In the illustrated embodiment, the front side 48 of the housing 24 faces rearward when viewed in the direction of travel. The control element 46 can, for example, be used to switch a pump connected to the shower hose or to regulate the water flow rate. Reference symbol list 2 body doors 4 shower heads 6 shower hoses 8 windows 10 Inside 12 hinge 14 Vehicle interior 16 Rotation axis 18 Basic Module 20 Arrow 22 Interior floor 24 cases 26 water jets 28 switching element 30 free space 32 Hose connection 34 Central share 36 Front 40 frame share 42 cases 44 Cavity 46 Control element 48 Front page 50 Side wall of the motor vehicle L longitudinal direction

Claims

[1] Body door (2) for a motor vehicle with a holding device for a shower head (4). [2] Body door (2) according to claim 1, characterized by that the body door (2) is a tailgate pivotable about a horizontally oriented pivot axis. [3] Body door (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the holding device has an anti-twist device comprising a magnet for holding a shower head (4) in a twist-proof manner. [4] Body door (2) according to claim 3, characterized by that the holding device has a dovetail guide which corresponds to dovetail pins arranged on the shower head (6). [5] Shower device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (24) and a shower hose (6), wherein the housing (24) has a first cavity for storing the shower hose (6), and wherein a portion of the shower hose (6) is designed to be retractable from the housing (24). [6] Shower device according to claim 5, characterized by a reeling device for the shower hose (6). [7] Shower device according to claim 6, characterized by that the winding device comprises a wringing device which presses water present in the shower hose (6) out of the shower hose (6) during a winding process. [8] Shower device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by a second cavity (44) for storing a shower head (6). [9] Shower device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized bythat the shower head (6) has a blocking device which, in a first position, allows water to escape from water nozzles (26) of the shower head (6) and, in a second position, prevents water from escaping from the water nozzles (26). [10] Motor vehicle with a body door (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and / or with a shower device according to one of claims 5 to 9.

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