US3982285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined grab bar and shower head fixture
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-07-17
•
Granted: 1976-09-28
•
Expires: 1995-07-17
Abstract
Abstract An assembly which is designed to function both as a grab bar and as a shower head fixture. A grab bar structure which is adapted to be fixed to a wall has opposed end regions at least one of which has a hollow interior space while a shower head which is to be used for providing a shower spray also has a hollow interior space. A mounting structure mounts the shower head on the grab bar structure with the hollow interior space of the shower head communicating with the hollow interior space at the above end region of the grab bar structure so that in this way the combined assembly forms a combination grab bar and shower head fixture.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Douglas Roberts, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:35
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03C; E03C1/00; E03C1/02; E03C1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
462 words
In a combined grab bar and shower assembly, grab bar means having opposed end regions and an intermediate elongated region extending between said opposed end regions, a pair of fixing means respectively connected operatively with said opposed end regions of said grab bar means for fixing said opposed end regions thereof to a wall with said intermediate region spaced from said wall so as to be accessible to an individual taking a shower, at least one of said end regions of said grab bar means having a hollow interior space which can be placed in communication with a supply of water to be used for shower purposes, shower head means for providing a shower spray, said shower head means also having a hollow interior space, and mounting means operatively connected with said grab bar means and with said shower head means for mounting the latter on said grab bar means with the hollow interior space of said shower head means communicating with the hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means, whereby the assembly forms a combined grab bar and shower fixture, said mounting means including at least a portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means which is formed with a hollow interior space communicating with said hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means, and said hollow interior of said shower head means communicating with said hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means through said hollow interior space of said intermediate region of said grab bar means, said mounting means further including a hollow sleeve surrounding and at least partly spaced from said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means, said sleeve having opposed ends fluid-tightly engaging said intermediate region of said grab bar means, and the portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means which is formed with said hollow interior space communicating with said hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means being formed at a wall thereof with at least one opening providing communication between the interior of said sleeve and the interior space of said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means, and said shower head means being carried by said sleeve and having its hollow interior space communicating with the interior of said sleeve so that water will flow through the hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means and the hollow interior space of said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means through said opening into the interior of said sleeve to be received therefrom by the hollow interior space of said shower head means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
462 words
In a combined grab bar and shower assembly, grab bar means having opposed end regions and an intermediate elongated region extending between said opposed end regions, a pair of fixing means respectively connected operatively with said opposed end regions of said grab bar means for fixing said opposed end regions thereof to a wall with said intermediate region spaced from said wall so as to be accessible to an individual taking a shower, at least one of said end regions of said grab bar means having a hollow interior space which can be placed in communication with a supply of water to be used for shower purposes, shower head means for providing a shower spray, said shower head means also having a hollow interior space, and mounting means operatively connected with said grab bar means and with said shower head means for mounting the latter on said grab bar means with the hollow interior space of said shower head means communicating with the hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means, whereby the assembly forms a combined grab bar and shower fixture, said mounting means including at least a portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means which is formed with a hollow interior space communicating with said hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means, and said hollow interior of said shower head means communicating with said hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means through said hollow interior space of said intermediate region of said grab bar means, said mounting means further including a hollow sleeve surrounding and at least partly spaced from said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means, said sleeve having opposed ends fluid-tightly engaging said intermediate region of said grab bar means, and the portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means which is formed with said hollow interior space communicating with said hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means being formed at a wall thereof with at least one opening providing communication between the interior of said sleeve and the interior space of said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means, and said shower head means being carried by said sleeve and having its hollow interior space communicating with the interior of said sleeve so that water will flow through the hollow interior space of said one end region of said grab bar means and the hollow interior space of said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means through said opening into the interior of said sleeve to be received therefrom by the hollow interior space of said shower head means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said shower head means has an elongated tubular end region formed with said hollow interior space of said shower head means and fluid-tightly connected with said sleeve to communicate with the space between the latter and said portion of said intermediate region of said grab bar means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
161 words
The combination of claim 2 and wherein said opposed ends of said sleeve have at said fluid-tight engagement with said intermediate region of said grab bare means a sliding fit with respect to said intermediate region of said grab bar means and said sleeve having a length which is substantially less than the length of said intermediate region of said grab bar means so that said sleeve can be shifted together with said shower head means along said intermediate region of said grab bar means for adjusting the location of said shower head means, said sleeve having a length at least equal approximately to 1/2 the length of said intermediate region of said grab bar means and said opening being situated at least approximately midway between said end regions of said grab bar means so that at all possible positions of said sleeve on said intermediate region of said grab bar means said opening communicates with the interior of said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 3 and wherein a guide means is situated between an operatively connected to said sleeve and intermediate region of said grab bar means for guiding said sleeve for longitudinal movement along said intermediate region while restraining said sleeve from turning around said intermediate region of said grab bar means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination of claim 4 and wherein said intermediate region of said grab bar means has an outer surface portion and said sleeve has an inner surface portion directed toward said outer surface portion, and said guide means being carried by the latter surface portions and including a keyway member fixed to one of said surface portions and formed with a groove and a key member fixed to the other surface portions and received in said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
The combination of claim 5 and wherein said opposed ends of said sleeve are removably fixed to the remainder of said sleeve, and said sleeve having an inner diameter which is larger than the diameter of said intermediate region of said grab bar means to an extent sufficient to displace said key member out of said groove of said key-way member when said ends of said sleeve are separated therefrom, and said intermediate region of said grab bar means including a pair of sections respectively connected to said end regions of said grab bar means and removably connected to each other at a location within said sleeve, so that after said ends of said sleeve are separated therefrom and said sections of said grab bar means are separated from each other said sleeve can be removed from said grab bar means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 6 and wherein one of said sections of said intermediate region of said grab bar means has an exteriorly threaded end region while the other has an interiorly threaded end region to receive said exteriorly threaded end region for providing said removable connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination of claim 7 and wherein said other section of said intermediate region of said grab bar means is connected with said one end region thereof and said other section and one end region forming a single continuous tubular member having said hollow interior spaces of said one end region and intermediate region of said grab bar means which communicate with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 8 and wherein said opening is formed in a wall of said one section adjacent said interiorly threaded portion thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |