US3007178A - Combination steam bath and shower - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1961 Filed July '7, 1958 M. ALTMAN ET AL COMBINATION STEAM BATH AND SHOWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BLowE if SHOWER & LIGHT I I a g Q 5? U l INVENTORS SUN LAMP col-D JCT/ T1? g k 57774/)&- 2 BY 9 2270x 26. fur rm Nov. 7, 1961 M. ALTMAN ET AL 3,007,178

COMBINATION STEAM BATH AND SHOWER Filed July 7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 7, 1961 M. ALTMAN ET AL COMBINATION STEAM BATH AND SHOWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1958 ELEcfr'Rlc WATER B NLER E l ATWoF/W F Nov. 7, 1961 M. ALTMAN ETAL 3,007,178

COMBINATION STEAM BATH AND SHOWER Filed July 7, 1958 5 sheets-sheet 4 PWE. SUPPLY BLOWER L o-roxz 4- STEAM TlME-R 2 HOT WATER SUPPLY CG L-D WATEQ SUPPLY FOUNTAIN 5 Nov. 7, 1961 M. ALTMAN ET AL 3,007,178

COMBINATION STEAM BATH AND SHOWER Filed July 7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,007,178 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 3,007,178 COMBINATION STEAM BATH AND SHQWER Murray Altman, David Altman, and Seymour E. Altman, Bronx, N.Y (all l) & A Plumbing 81 Heating Co. Inc., 702 E. 12th St, New York, N.Y.)

Filed July 7, 1958, Ser. No. 746,813 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-161) This invention relates to plumbing fixtures and, more particularly, to bathing apparatus.

It has been found that steam baths are quite refreshing and healthy to all types of individuals. However, many homes do not have sufficient space or facilities for separate steam bath installations, such that such steam baths are ordinarily available only in special bath houses, club houses, and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination steam bath and shower that may be readily installed in any home, clubhouse, or institution which is extremely simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which requires a minimum amount of installation and maintenance cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined steam bath and shower which further includes sun bathing means, temperature control apparatus, and seating means so as to provide the utmost in comfort, overall results, and safety.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide automatic control apparatus for independently and carefully controlling the temperature of the steam bath, length of exposure to the sun lamp, and which may be selectively adjusted from the interior and exterior of the enclosure, as may be desired.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination steam bath and shower unit of the above type that may be installed in the form of a stall shower or applied to the interior of a bathtub enclosure, all with a minimum amount of structural change to the room in which it is PlaCed. V

A further objectof the present invention is to provide a steam bath and shower unit of the above type that is completely safe touse, all parts being individually controlled, and which can be manufactured and installed with a minimum ou t of expens and y- All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combination steam bath and shower unit in the form of a stall, made in accordance with one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of certain control elements of the unit shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away, of an upper portion of the unit shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the interior of the unit shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and fluid circuits of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a thermostat forming another part of the present invention; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, showing a combination steam bath and shower unit in the form of a bathtub enclosure made in accordance with another form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 8 thereof, a combination steam bath and shower unit 10 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to include a stall shower enclosure having side walls 12 and 12a. At least one of such side walls 12 and 12a is provided with a hingedly supported door 14, while the other such side walls may be provided with glass panels 13. A shower spray nozzle 16 is supported upon one of the walls of the enclosure, while the floor includes a drain 17 for removing liquid therefrom.

It will also be seen that the wall 12a is a false wall, and is provided with another wall 12b behind it, so as to enclose the switches, controls for electrical apparatus, and plumbing apparatus, all of which is housed between said wall 12a and wall 1211.

Referring especially to FIGURE 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that there is shown a plan view of the control panel P, which is supported against the wall 12a by four setscrews C, and which can be readily removed for inspection or repair services.

Another one of the walls of the enclosure includes hinges 19 which rotatably support a bench 18 for selective movement between a seating position and a raised storage position. Chains 20 in opposite ends of the bench 18 supported in a horizontal seating position, while hooks 21 are operative to engage outwardly extending pintles 22 on opposite ends of the bench for securing it in the raised storage position.

The bench wall of the enclosure also includes a chest 23 for medication, soap, and the like, a lamp 24 being supported above it to provide sufficient illumination for shaving, dressing the hair, and the like. Clothes racks 25 are supported on the outside of the frame 13a of glass panel 13, for supporting towels, washcloths, and clothing.

A false ceiling 27 cooperates with side walls 28 to define an enclosure within which various elements of the novel structure are supported. Louvres 29 in the side walls 28 provide suflicient circulation of air therethrough for proper functioning of all of the parts. A bulb 31 carried within a reflector 32 that is fastened upon the upper side of the false ceiling 27 provides sufficient illumination within the interior of the enclosure during use. A sunlamp 33 mounted within a reflector 35 may be selectively energized to emit sun tanning ultra violet rays before or after enjoying the shower or steam bath. The sunlamp 33 is supported within a reflector 35 that has a universal connection 36 to a bracket 37 that is adjustably slidably supported upon a depending rod 38. Thus, by

raising and lowering the reflector 35 it is possible to control the intensity of the ultra violet rays during use.

A water boiler 40 is also supported upon the upper surface of the false ceiling 27 and is supplied with hot water through a supply line 41. Heating elements 39 within the boiler 40 heat the supplied water sufficiently to boil it, following which the steam emanating therefrom is directed outwardly from the interior of a boiler through the steam outlet line 43 where it enters the interior of the enclosure through a grill 44 adjacent to the floor. A blower 46 carried upon the false ceiling 27 is operative to introduce air to the interior of the enclosure through the grill 48, so as to constantly circulate fresh air through the enclosure for comfort and breathing ease.

A drinking fountain 50 supported upon the shower nozzle wall is provided with a manually operated valve 49 which controls the supply of cold water thereto from the cold water supply line 51 which also supplies cold water to the shower nozzle 16 through the manually operated valve 52. Hot water is supplied to the nozzle 16 from the hot water supply line 53 under the control of the manually operated valve 54. Both the hot and cold water branch supply lines are connected together adjacent to the nozzle 16 where the water is mixed and distributed in a conventional manner.

The temperature within the interior of the enclosure may be carefully controlled by means of an adjustable thermostat 56 that is disposed within the enclosure which is responsive to changes in temperature therein caused by the passage of the steam produced by the boiler 40. For safety reasons, this thermostat 56 is provided with a handle 55 on the outside of the enclosure so that the temperature may be adjusted before entering the interior of the enclosure.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 7 of the drawing, the wiring and plumbing diagram is shown wherein the thermostat 56 is connected in series with the heating coils 39 of the boiler 40 that are connected across the main power supply line 58. A manually operated switch 59 on the control panel is operative to completely energize or deenergize the boiler Whenever desired. The sunlamp 33 is energized by a branch line 60 which is connected across the main power supply line 58 and a timer switch 61. Thus, by setting the timer switch before use, the sunlamp will automatically be deenergized at the end of the predetermined period of time, thus preventing excess exposure to the burning rays. A switch 64 mounted upon the control panel is operative to energize or deenergize the'illuminating lamp 31 and blower 47 simultaneously, which are connected across the main power line 58 by leads 63.

With reference now to FIGURE 8 of the drawing, a modified form of construction 70 is shown wherein enclosure panels are supported upon a conventional bathtub 71, thus converting such bathtub into a complete shower, bath, and steam bath unit. The door 72 provides access to the interior of the unit which is also provided with a retractible bench 76 that is supported upon one wall by means of hinges 77. Flexible cables 78 normally maintain the bench 76 in the seating position, but a hook 79 carried by the bench is also engageable with an eye 80 supported upon the wall for securing the bench in a retracted vertical storage position. Because of the larger volume of this type of enclosure, an additional steam supply line 74 extends downwardly through the side panel 75 into the interior of the unit on the side opposite the grill 82, whereby a sufiicient quantity of steam may be available at all times. Other than for this change in arrangement, the construction and mode of operation of the bathtub unit 70 is substantially the same as the stall shower unit 10 hereinbefore described.

While this invention has been described with particular 4. reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A steam bath and shower assembly comprising, in combination, an enclosure having an access door providing access to the interior of said enclosure, a spray nozzle supported within said enclosure for directing a stream of water therewithin, means for generating a quantity of steam, adjustable temperature responsive means controlling the generation of said steam, duct means entering into the interior of said enclosure controlling the flow of said generated steam into said enclosure, means illuminating the interior of said enclosure, valve means controlling the flow of water through said spray nozzle independently of said steam generating means, said steam generating means comprising a boiler, a water supply line communicating with the interior of said boiler, electrically energized heating means heating water supplied to the interior of said boiler, said duct means comprising a steam outlet duct adjacent to the bottom of said enclosure, and air inlet duct means communicating with the interior of said enclosure, a blower carried by said enclosure for directing air from said inlet duct to the upper portions of said enclosure, said adjustable temperature responsive means comprising an adjustable thermostat supported within said enclosure connected in circuit with said electrically energized water heating means, and a control knob for adjusting said thermostat, said control knob being supported upon the exterior side of said enclosure.

2. A steam bath and shower unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a stall shower.

3. A steam bath and shower unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a bathtub and a plurality of panels supported upon said bathtub defining a single enclosure therewithin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,035,002 Guioness Aug. 6, 1912 1,578,654 Gerdes Mar. 30, 1926 1,773,450 Dorment Aug. 19, 1930 2,070,492 Roberts Feb. 9, 1937 2,492,913 Bailey Dec. 27, 1949 2,902,580 Lowe et al. Sept. 1, 1959

Images