EP1505214A1

EP1505214A1 - Sliding support for shower rail

Info

Publication number: EP1505214A1
Application number: EP03425543A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Serafino Cropelli
Original assignee: Sanicro Srl
Current assignee: Sanicro Srl
Priority date: 2003-08-07
Filing date: 2003-08-07
Publication date: 2005-02-09
Also published as: US20050028266A1

Abstract

A sliding shower support (1) for shower rails, comprising a main body (2) holding a shower, said main body (2) being suitable for connection to a guide rail (3) so that it runs along the same rail (3), and releasing stop systems (7, 10, 12) to lock the main body (2) in a position along the guide rail (3). The stop systems (7, 10, 12) comprise a cam (10) which elastically grips onto the guide rail (3) to lock it in place due to friction, in which the cam (10) is made so that it grips onto the rail (3) in the event of a first movement of the shower (1) in a first direction to prevent this first movement and reduce the friction in the event of a second movement of the shower support (1) in a second direction, opposite to the first, to allow this second movement of the shower support (1).

Description

This innovation refers generally to sliding shower supports for rails and, in particular, to a device for supporting and fastening a shower to a guide rail.
There are many sliding shower systems which mainly consist of a guide rail and a shower support. The guide rail can be fastened to the wall using special fastenings, such as spacing brackets mounted at the ends of the guide rail. The shower support holding the shower is joined to the guide rail in such a way as to run up and down it, adjusting the height, and also revolving around the longitudinal axis of the guide rail.
In order to lock the shower in the position required, the shower support is equipped with special parts to stop it, such as screw stop systems or friction stop systems, which act upon the guide rail, gripping the latter from the outside.
Standard sliding systems however have several disadvantages, linked mainly with the difficulties involved in locking and releasing the shower support, and the fact that, when moving the shower support along the guide rail, it jams. This often means that the user has to use both hands to release, reposition and lock the shower support in place.
The purpose of this innovation is to provide a sliding shower support for rails and a slide system with the features needed to avoid the problems inherent in traditional systems, as described above.
This is achieved using a sliding shower support for shower rails (referred to herewith as shower support), comprising a main body for supporting a shower which can be connected to a guide rail so that it runs along the same rail, as well as releasing stop systems for locking the main body in place along the guide rail, in which these stop systems comprise a cam which exercises elastic pressure against the guide rail to lock it in place due to friction. The cam is made in such a way as to grip onto the rail at the first movement of the shower support in a first direction to stop such movement and reduce the friction in the event of a second movement of the shower support in a second direction, opposite to the first, to allow this second movement of the shower support.
In order to provide a better understanding of the innovation and to appreciate its advantages, an unrestrictive example of a form of its creation will be described herein, referring to the figures attached, in which:
figure 1 shows a prospective view of a partial section of the shower support according to the innovation;
figure 2 shows a prospective view of the shower support according to the innovation;
figures 3 and 4 show lateral partial sections, which show the shower support according to the innovation in two states of operation;
figure 5 shows a prospective view of a part of the device according to the innovation.
With reference to the figures, a whole shower support is indicated by reference number 1. The shower support 1 comprises a main body 2, equipped with a revolving fork element 3 to support a shower (not shown in the figures) as well as means for connecting the shower support 1, particularly its main body 2, to a guide rail 3. These means of connection are prepared in such a way as to allow the movement of the shower support 1 along the guide rail 3, or the placement of the shower in terms of height (assuming the rail is positioned vertically).
In the form of creation shown in the figures, the means of connection include channels or cavities 5 made in the main body 2 and destined to be coupled, as part of a running system, with corresponding ridges 6 formed along the guide rail 3.
Alternatively, the means of connection include a through hole (not shown) made in the main body 2, through which the guide rail 3 is slotted.
The main body 2 of the shower support 1 has an inner seat which houses a moving or rotating central element 7, shown in figure 5, which has a front portion 8 facing away from the guide rail 3. The front portion 8 is equipped with a cam 10, positioned in line with an opening (facing towards the guide rail 3) of the main body 2 and the rear portion 9 has two levers 11 which are substantially symmetrical and conjoined to the front portion 8. The free ends of the levers are equipped with manual activation devices 12, which enable the movement or rotation of the central element 7 inside the main body 2. The activation devices 12 may be buttons or cursors 12 for instance, preferably positioned on two opposite sides of the shower support 1.
In accordance with the form of creation shown in the figures, the cursors 12 are housed in special openings 13 in the main body 2. These openings 13 and/or the inner seat of the main body 2 should preferably be shaped in such a way as to create a guide for the movement of the central element 7.
The shower support 1 also comprises elastic pieces which work between the main body 2 and the central element 7 to prompt the latter into a locking position, in which the cam 10 rests elastically against the guide rail 3 gripping it using friction. These elastic pieces should preferably comprise a preloaded helicoidal spring 14, the first end of which is threaded onto a plug 15 positioned on the side of the front portion 8 opposite that of the cam 10 and the second end of which rests against a wall 16 positioned centrally inside the main body 2.
In accordance with a form of creation of the innovation, the rear portion 9 of the central element 7 is positioned across the central wall 16 so that the two levers 11 extend along both sides of the central wall 16.
The central element 7 holding the cam 10 is supported internally by the main body 2, so that a movement of the cam 10 towards the upper side of the main body 2 pushes the cam out of the main body 2 towards the guide rail 3, and a movement of the cam 10 towards the lower side of the main body 2 withdraws the cam into the main body 2, moving it away from the guide rail 3.
Consequently, during an upward movement of the shower support 1, the cam 10 locked by friction to the guide rail 3 is dragged by the latter towards the lower side of the main body 2 and moves away from the guide rail 3, so reducing the friction to allow the upward movement.
During a downward movement of the shower support, due to the force of gravity for instance, the cam 10 locked by friction to the guide rail 3 is dragged by the latter towards the upper side of the main body 2 and locks against the guide rail 3, so increasing the friction to effectively prevent the downward movement.
The cam 10 can also be moved by manually activating the two activation cursors 12, against the force of the spring 14, towards the lower side of the main body 2 and away from the guide rail 3 to enable the movement of the shower support 1 either upwards or downwards.
In accordance with an advantageous form of creation, in the direction of movement of the shower support 1, the cam 10 has a substantially convex shape, rounded or curving towards the guide rail (fig. 5).
The cam 10 should preferably have a circle sector shape with the geometric centre in the rotation axis R of the same cam, the axis R of which is shifted upwards compared with the point of contact C between the cam 10 and the guide rail 3, or, more generally, in the direction of movement of the cam 10 compared with the main body 2 which produces the lock of the shower support 1.
In accordance with this innovation, the shower support 1 is highly advantageous because it creates an automatic release to enable the upward movement of the shower support 1 without using the release cursors 12 and automatically increases the forced coupling or friction between the cam 10 and the guide rail 3, in the event of an undesired downward movement of the shower support 1 (due to the weight of the shower or in the event that the user grasps the shower to avoid slipping or falling for instance). Lastly, thanks to the position of the release cursors 12 on opposite sides of the lower part of the shower support 1, the downward movement of the shower is extremely easy, controlled and precise, requiring the use of just one hand. Just rest the hand from underneath, against the lower side of the shower support 1 and use two fingers to activate the two release cursors 12 to slide (thanks to the weight of the shower) the shower support 1 down the guide rail 3. The shower support 1 locks automatically in the required position, thanks to the spring 15, after freeing the release cursors 12.
Obviously a qualified technician may make further alterations and variations to the shower support in accordance with this innovation in order to satisfy contingent needs and specifications, all of which are encompassed in the rights protecting the innovations, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Sliding shower support for shower rails comprising a main body (2), for supporting a shower and suitable for connection to a guide rail (3) in such a way as to allow the movement of the shower support 1 along the guide rail (3), and of releasing stop systems (7, 10, 12) to lock the main body (2) in a position along the guide rail (3), characterised in that said stop systems (7, 10, 12) comprise a cam (10), which rests elastically against the guide rail (3) gripping it using friction. The cam (10) is made in such a way as to grip onto the rail (3) at the first movement of the shower support (1) in a first direction to stop such movement and reduce the friction in the event of a second movement of the shower support (1) in a second direction, opposite to the first, to allow this second movement of the shower support (1).
Shower support (1) in accordance with claim 1 in which, due to friction between the cam (10) and the guide rail (3), during the first movement of the shower support (1), the cam (10) is moved in the second direction compared with the main body (2) and, during the second movement of the shower support (1), the cam (10) is moved in the first direction compared with the main body (2), and in which the cam (10) is shaped and supported by the main body (2) in such a way that:

with the movement of the cam (10) in the first direction compared with the main body

the cam (10) moves towards the guide rail (3), increasing the friction, to automatically prevent the second movement of the shower support (1).
Shower support (1) in accordance with claim 2, in which the cam (10) is supported by the main body (2) rotating around a rotational axis (R).
Shower support in accordance with claim 3, in which the cam (10) has, in the direction of movement of the shower support (1) a substantially convex shape, rounded or curved towards the guide rail (3).
Shower support (1) in accordance with claims 3 or 4, in which the cam (10) has a circle sector shape with the geometric centre in the rotation axis (R) and the axis (R) is shifted, compared with a point of contact (C) between the cam (10) and the guide rail (3), in the direction of movement of the cam (10) compared with the main body (2) which produces the automatic lock of the shower support 1.
Shower support (1) in accordance with any of the previous claims, comprising release systems (7, 12) to release the cam (10) from the guide rail (3) and enable the movement of the shower support (1) along the guide rail (3) in the second direction.
Shower support (1) in accordance with claim 6, in which the release systems (12) comprise two buttons or cursors (12) for manually releasing the cam (10). These two buttons or cursors (12) must be positioned on two substantially opposite sides of the main body (2).
Shower support (1) in accordance with claim 7, comprising a central element (7) rotationally supported inside the main body (2) and equipped with a first portion, facing towards the guide rail (3) and holding the cam (10) as well as a second, fork-shaped portion (9) with two substantially parallel levers (11), the ends of which constitute the two release cursors or buttons (12).
Shower support (1) in accordance with claim 8, comprising a preloaded spring (14), acting between the main body (2) and the cam (10) to elastically press the cam (10) against the guide rail (3).
Sliding system for showers, comprising a guide rail (3) suitable for fastening to a wall using special fastenings and a shower support (1) in accordance with any of the previous claims.