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

[0001] The invention relates to a shower device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such shower devices are also known as Vichy showers. The person lying on the surface usually lies on their stomach and is showered with water, preferably thermal or mineral water, and often receives a massage. If no massage is being 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. Common shower devices of this type work on the lawn sprinkler principle, with the shower head or heads being driven by the pressure of the water flowing through them to create a pivoting movement. To prevent the forces acting on the shower head or heads from becoming too great, the pipe cross-sections of previously known shower devices are quite small.This results in the problem that when using thermal or mineral water, the pipes quickly become clogged, so that the shower heads have to be replaced regularly.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop a shower device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it is easier to use.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a shower device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a simple, external mechanical drive for the at least one shower head so that it can be pivoted back and forth independently of the forces caused by the water pressure. For this purpose, a reciprocating drive rod is provided, which is articulated to each shower head to generate its pivoting movement. To move the drive rod, a drive disk is advantageously provided, which is rotatably mounted about a central axis of rotation and to which the drive rod is articulated off-center. The drive disk is advantageously driven by an electric motor, and the drive rod and / or the drive disk and / or the electric motor are expediently arranged in the boom.The rotational movement of the electric motor is then transferred to the drive pulley and is converted into a back and forth movement due to the off-center linkage of the drive rod to the drive pulley.

[0006] It is possible for at least one of the branch lines to be made of a flexible material, at least in part. The shower head in question can then be moved back and forth simply by bending its branch line. The drive rod is connected to each of the flexible branch lines of the at least one outlet opening and the supply line from which the branch line branches off.

[0007] Furthermore, it is possible for at least one of the shower heads to be rigid and pivotable about a pivot axis. Such a rigid shower head forms a lever onto which the drive rod can engage. It is possible for the drive rod to be pivoted on each of the rigid shower heads at a pivot point located between the pivot axis and the at least one outlet opening, in the sense of a one-armed lever. However, it is also possible for the drive rod to be pivoted on each of the rigid shower heads at a pivot point located between the pivot axis and the at least one outlet opening, in the sense of a two-armed lever.

[0008] In addition to the at least one shower head pivotably mounted on the boom, at least one additional shower head fixedly mounted on the boom can be provided to increase the amount of water acting on the person lying on the bed. If multiple shower heads and / or multiple additional shower heads are provided, it is preferable that they be arranged in a row.

[0009] Advantageously, a control unit is provided to control the movement of the drive rod. This control unit controls, in particular, the electric motor and can also control the water supply to the supply 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 by the at least one additional shower head can be linked to the time 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 change are also possible.

[0010] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. Fig. 1 a shower device in perspective view and Fig. 2 the boom of the shower device according to Fig. 1 in longitudinal section.

[0011] The shower device 10 shown in the drawing comprises a bed 12 with a lying surface 14 on top and a shower device 16. The shower device 16 has an extension arm 18 that extends at a distance above the lying surface 14 over approximately its entire length. A water supply line 20 extends through the extension arm 18, which is used to shower a person lying on the lying surface 14.

[0012] Two shower heads 22 are each pivotably mounted in the boom 18 about a pivot axis 24, with the pivot axes 24 extending transversely, in the illustrated embodiment perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed 12 and the boom 18. The longitudinal direction 26 extends from a foot section 28, by means of which the boom 18 is connected to the bed 12, and a head section 30 adjoining the lying surface 14, on which the person rests their head. Furthermore, three further shower heads 32 are permanently mounted on the boom 18, so that they discharge water essentially vertically downwards.

[0013] The shower heads 22 and the additional shower heads 32 are connected to the supply line 20. The shower heads 22 are rigid, and a branch line 34 branches off from the supply line 20 through each of them to an outlet opening 36. The pivot axes 24 are arranged at a height such that they intersect the supply line 20. A drive rod 38 is movably guided in the boom 18 above the supply line 20. The drive rod 38 is pivotally connected to each of the shower heads 22 at a pivot point 40, with the pivot axis 24 of each shower head 22 located between the associated pivot 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 from the outlet openings 36 in temporally changing directions, obliquely and vertically downwards.The drive rod 38 is driven by an off-center linkage to a drive pulley 44 mounted in the boom 18 for rotation about a central axis of rotation 42, which is rotated by an electric motor 46. A rotary movement of the drive pulley 44 is thus converted into a reciprocating movement of the drive rod 38. For this purpose, the drive rod 38 is constructed in two parts, with a push rod 48 hinged to the drive pulley 44 and a drive section 50 hinged to the shower heads 22.

[0014] The electric motor 46 is controlled by a control unit not shown in the drawing. A predefined, timed movement sequence can be stored in this unit, which is then implemented when a person lies on the reclining surface 14. The control unit can also control additional functional elements coordinated with the movement sequence of the electric motor 46, which, for example, generate light and / or sound effects, release fragrances, and / or change the water temperature at least once.

[0015] In summary, the following can be stated: The invention relates to a shower device 10 with a bed 12 having a lying surface 14 for a person and with a shower device 16 having at least one shower head 22, which has a boom 18 arranged above the lying surface 14 and supporting the at least one shower head 22, and a supply line 20 for water, wherein each shower head 22 has a branch line 34 branching off from the supply line 20, which ends at at least one outlet opening 36, and wherein each shower head 22 is pivotally mounted on the boom 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.

Claims

1. Shower device with a bed (12) having a lying surface (14) for a person and with a shower device (16) having at least one shower head (22), which has a boom (18) arranged above the lying surface (14) and carrying the at least one shower head (22) and a supply line (20) for water, wherein each shower head (22) has a branch line (34) branching off from the supply line (20) and ending at at least one outlet opening (36), and wherein each shower head (22) is pivotally mounted on the boom (18), characterized by a motor-driven reciprocating drive rod (38) which is pivoted on each shower head (22) to generate its pivoting movement.

2. Shower device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive rod (38) is articulated off-center to a drive disk (44) which is motor-rotatable about a central axis of rotation (42).

3. Shower device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized byan electric motor (46) for driving the drive rod (38).

4. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive rod (38) and / or the drive pulley (44) and / or the electric motor (46) is / are arranged in the boom (18).

5. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the branch lines (34) consists at least in sections of a flexible material.

6. Shower device according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive rod (38) is articulated on each of the flexible branch lines (34) between the at least one outlet opening (36) and the supply line (20).

7. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the shower heads (22) is rigid and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (24).

8. Shower device according to claim 7, characterized in thatthe drive rod (38) is articulated on each of the rigidly designed shower heads (22) at a linkage point (40) which is arranged between the pivot axis (24) and the at least one outlet opening (36).

9. Shower device according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive rod (38) is articulated on each of the rigidly constructed shower heads (22) at a linkage point (40), between which and the at least one outlet opening (36) the pivot axis (24) is arranged.

10. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one further shower head (32) mounted immovably on the boom (18) and connected to the supply line (20).

11. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control unit for controlling the movement of the drive rod (38).

12. Shower device according to claim 11, characterized in thata supply of water into the supply line (20) can be controlled by means of the control unit.

13. A method for using a shower device (10) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a person lying on the lying surface (14) is subjected to a reciprocating water jet 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.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that by means of the control unit, a lighting unit for generating light effects and / or an audio unit for generating sound effects and / or a unit for dispensing fragrances and / or a temperature control unit for varying the temperature of the water jet is controlled.

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