Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02337671 2001-02-21
ADJUSTABLE SHOWER ARM ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to shower arm assemblies, and in particular, to
shower arm assemblies that can be adjusted to the desired orientation
independent of
the connections between the shower arm assemblies and the water supply pipes.
2. Description of Related Art
Shower arms are well known bathroom fixtures that extend outward from a
water supply pipe located in a wall to supply water from the water supply pipe
to a
shower head (not shown) attached to the free end of the shower arm. As shown
in
Figs. 5 and 6, a conventional shower arm 200 is a one-piece construction
having an
inlet end 202 that attaches to the water supply pipe, a body 204, an outlet
end 206 and
a bore 208. The bore 208 extends through the body 204 from the inlet end 202
to the
outlet end 206.
The inlet end 202 typically includes a male threaded portion that threadedly
engages a female fitting of the water supply pipe, within the wall. The body
204 is
slightly bent to project water flowing through the bore 208 downward when the
shower arm 200 is installed in its proper orientation. The outlet end 206
includes a
male threaded portion to threadedly engage a shower head or other downstream
fixture.
In a typical installation, a shoulder 210 of the shower arm 200 abuts the wall
when the shower arm 200 is fixedly attached to the water supply pipe.
Specifically,
during installation, an installer rotates the shower arm 200 to engage the
male
threaded portion of the inlet end 202 with the stationary fitting (in this
case, a female
fitting) within the wall. As stated, the outlet end 206 of the properly
installed shower
arm should be oriented to point directly downward when the installation is
complete.
The installer may reach the desired tightness between the inlet end 202 of the
shower arm 200 and the wall fitting while the outlet end is not pointed
directly
downward. If so, the installer may be forced to rotate the shower arm 200
clockwise
(i.e., thereby overtightening the connection) or counterclockwise (i.e.,
thereby
loosening the connection and causing it to be a loose connection until the
shower arm
200 is in the desired orientation).
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An overtightened connection between the shower arm and the wall fitting can
lead to cracks in the wall material (e.g., tile). Also, the overtightened
connection may
be difficult to loosen in the future if the shower arm must be serviced,
maintained or
replaced, or the water supply pipe accessed.
A relatively loose connection between the shower arm and the water supply
pipe may lead to water leaks. Also, there may be undesirable play and/or an
undesirable gap between the shoulder 210 and the wall surface adjacent the
shoulder
210. Such play may cause undesirable noise and/or wear due to contact between
the
shoulder 210 and the adjacent wall surface when water supplied through the
shower
arm 200 is initiated or terminated. Also, water may leak into the gap between
the wall
and the shoulder 210.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a shower arm construction that would
allow an installer to achieve the optimum tightness between the inlet end of
the
shower arm and the water supply pipe, yet still permit the installer to adjust
the
1 S orientation of the outlet end. Stated differently, it is desirable to have
a shower arm
assembly wherein the orientation of the shower arm assembly is independent of
the
shower arm assembly/water supply pipe connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shower arm assembly of the present invention solves the problems
associated with conventional shower arms as discussed above, as well as other
problems.
According to the present invention, the shower arm assembly includes a fixed
conduit and an adjustable conduit. The fixed conduit has an inlet end that is
connectable to the supply plumbing and an outlet end. The adjustable conduit
has an
inlet end which receives the outlet end of the fixed conduit and an outlet end
for
supplying water to a shower fixture. The adjustable conduit is adjustable to a
desired
orientation relative to the fixed conduit. Preferably, the adjustable conduit
is rotatable
relative to the fixed conduit.
Preferably, the inlet end of the fixed conduit includes a threaded portion
that is
threadedly engagable with the supply plumbing. The shower arm assembly
preferably
includes a set screw that can be engaged to secure the adjustable conduit of
the fixed
conduit in the desired orientation. Preferably, the set screw passes through
the
adjustable conduit and bears on the fixed conduit.
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The outlet end of the fixed conduit preferably includes a pair of opposing
flat
surfaces. The fixed conduit preferably includes a shaft and at least one O-
ring
disposed in a groove in the shaft. The shaft preferably defines an attachment
axis
along which the adjustable conduit is selectively attachable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the
following drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements,
and
wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the shower arm assembly of
the present invention showing the fixed conduit and the adjustable conduit
assembled
together;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig.l with a portion of the
adjustable conduit cut away to show the engagement between the fixed conduit
and
the adjustable conduit;
Fig. 4 is side sectional view along the line IV-IV of the embodiment of Fig.l;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional shower arm; and
Fig. 6 is a side sectional view along the line VI-VI of the conventional
shower
arm of Fig. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figs. 1-4, certain embodiments of a shower arm assembly,
shower-arm assembly 10, of the present invention include a fixed conduit 12
and an
adjustable conduit 14. The fixed conduit 12 is attached to the water supply
pipe to the
proper tightness, and the adjustable conduit 14 is then attached to the fixed
conduit 12
after being adjusted to the desired orientation, as discussed below.
The fixed conduit 12 includes an inlet end 16, a shaft 18, an outlet end 23
and
a bore 24 extending between the inlet end 16 and the outlet end 23. The inlet
end 16
is designed to be attached to a standard water supply pipe commonly used to
supply
water to shower assemblies.
In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet end 16 includes a male threaded
portion for threadedly engaging a corresponding female fitting in the water
supply
pipe. Of course, the inlet end 16 could be configured differently (e.g., with
a female
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threaded portion) depending upon the corresponding wall fitting with which the
inlet
end 16 is designed to engage.
The shaft 18 bears at least one seal 20 disposed within a groove in the shaft
18
to seal the connection between the fixed conduit 12 and the adjustable conduit
14
when the fixed conduit 12 and the adjustable conduit 14 are secured together.
[Globe-Union - please confirm] In the illustrated embodiment, two seals 20
that are
spaced from each other along the shaft 18 are used.
The outlet end 23 preferably includes one or more pairs of opposing flat
surfaces 22. The installer can engage the flat surfaces 22 with a tool (e.g.,
pliers or a
wrench) if the fixed conduit 12 must be rotated to properly engage the water
supply
pipe.
The adjustable conduit 14 includes a shoulder end 26, a body 34, an outlet end
32 and a bore 38 extending from the shoulder end 26 to the outlet end 32. In
the
illustrated embodiment, the body 34 includes a set screw bore 28 that can
receive a set
screw 30.
The adjustable conduit 14 is installed by fitting the adjustable conduit 14
over
the installed fixed conduit 12, rotating the adjustable conduit 14 to its
proper
orientation relative to the fixed conduit 12, and tightening the set screw 30
to secure
the adjustable conduit 14 to the fixed conduit 12. Of course, any other known
means
or mechanisms for fixedly attaching the adjustable conduit 14 to the fixed
conduit 12
can be employed instead of the set screw 30.
The body 34 includes a bent portion 36. As stated, the bent portion is
normally oriented 36 so that water flowing through the shower arm 10 exits in
a
directly downward direction. The outlet end 32 may include a threaded portion
as
illustrated to receive, e.g., a shower head or other fixture.
When the adjustable conduit 14 and the installed fixed conduit 12 are
assembled, the bore 24 of the fixed conduit 12 and the bore 38 of the
adjustable
conduit 14 form a passage for water to be supplied from the water supply pipe
to the
outlet end 32. The seals 20 prevent water from traveling in a reverse
direction toward
the shoulder end 26 between the fixed conduit 12 and the adjustable conduit 14
(e.g.,
by capillary action). [Globe-Union - please confirm]
The adjustable conduit 14 is adjustable with respect to the fixed conduit 12
in
two ways. First, the adjustable conduit 14 can be rotatably adjusted relative
to the
CA 02337671 2001-02-21
fixed conduit 12 as discussed above. Second, the adjustable conduit 14 can be
longitudinally adjusted relative to the fixed conduit 12. Stated differently,
the
adjustable conduit 14 can slide longitudinally along fixed conduit 12 until
the desired
combined length is obtained and/or until shoulder end 26 abuts the wall e.g.,
to
accommodate different wall fitting-to-outside wall surface distances, to
accommodate
additional conduits (e.g., a ring) between the wall surface and the shoulder
end 26, etc.
The fixed conduit 12 and the adjustable conduit 14 are preferably made of
metal, although other suitable materials such as plastics (e.g., PVC) may also
be used.
Although the connection between the inlet end 16 of the fixed conduit 12 has
been
described above as a threaded connection, the present invention also pertains
to
applications with an inlet end that is attached to the wall fitting without
threads (e.g.,
by brazing or bonding).
Although this invention is described in conjunction with its specific
embodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications and variations will be
apparent
1 S to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the
invention as
set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limited. Various changes
to the
invention may be made without departing from its true spirit and scope as
defined in
the following claims.
