Patent US3657746A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3657746A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Portable shower unit
Assignee: SUITCASE SHOWER Ltd
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Filing: 1970-11-12
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1990-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A portable shower unit for campers includes a water-collecting tray and a curtain-supporting frame carried at the upper ends of collapsible corner posts. The posts are urged into extended elevated positions by spring means such as spiral springs or elastic bands associated with pivots interconnecting individual linkages forming the extendable corner posts. The unit is held in its collapsed configuration by a pliable wrapper which usefully also served to contain a collapsible water-supply container and a collapsible waste water-receiving bladder.
Inventors
- 👤 Mackenzie A Downey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:53
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K3/00; A47K3/28; A47K3/30; A47K3/32; A47K3/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A portable shower unit which comprises a base including a waste water-collecting tray, a water-discharge opening in said waste water-collecting tray, a curtain-supporting frame, a plurality of collapsible arms each interconnecting and extending between said base and said curtain-supporting frame and being movable between a collapsed position in which said curtainsupporting frame is disposed generally adjacent said base and an extended self-supporting position in which said curtainsupporting frame is disposed in an operative position elevated above said base, each of said arms comprising a plurality of linkages pivotally interconnected together, means at each pivotal interconnection adapted to releasably retain said linkages in a substantially linear relation with one another in said extended self-supporting position of each said arm and said means permitting automatic collapse of said linkages into a stacked relation with one another between said frame and said base in said collapsed position of said arms upon the application of pressure to said frame in a direction normal to and towards said base, a pliable curtain secured to said curtain-supporting frame and depending downwardly therefrom to define a shower enclosure when said curtain supporting frame is disposed in said operative position, a shower head for disposition above said shower enclosure, a water pump, a flexible hose interconnecting said water pump and said shower head for the supply of water to said shower head, a water supply means for the supply of water to said water pump, and a manually controllable pump-actuating means for controlling operation of said water pump.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A portable shower unit which comprises a base including a waste water-collecting tray, a water-discharge opening in said waste water-collecting tray, a curtain-supporting frame, a plurality of collapsible arms each interconnecting and extending between said base and said curtain-supporting frame and being movable between a collapsed position in which said curtainsupporting frame is disposed generally adjacent said base and an extended self-supporting position in which said curtainsupporting frame is disposed in an operative position elevated above said base, each of said arms comprising a plurality of linkages pivotally interconnected together, means at each pivotal interconnection adapted to releasably retain said linkages in a substantially linear relation with one another in said extended self-supporting position of each said arm and said means permitting automatic collapse of said linkages into a stacked relation with one another between said frame and said base in said collapsed position of said arms upon the application of pressure to said frame in a direction normal to and towards said base, a pliable curtain secured to said curtain-supporting frame and depending downwardly therefrom to define a shower enclosure when said curtain supporting frame is disposed in said operative position, a shower head for disposition above said shower enclosure, a water pump, a flexible hose interconnecting said water pump and said shower head for the supply of water to said shower head, a water supply means for the supply of water to said water pump, and a manually controllable pump-actuating means for controlling operation of said water pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 1 which unit additionally comprises a water supply container and a flexible water supply hose extending between said water supply container and said water pump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 2 in which said water supply container has a collapsible structure and a capacity of less than about 2 gallons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 1 in which said water pump is electrically operated and which unit additionally comprises electrical connecting means adapted to supply electrical energy to said pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 4 in which said water pump is adapted to be operated from an automobile electrical system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 1 in which said manually controllable pump-actuating means is disposed on said waste water-collecting tray for foot actuation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for releasably retaining said collapsible arms in their extended positions comprises resiliently deformable members associated with said linkages of said collapsible arms for urging said arms into said extended positions, and in which means are provided for releasably retaining said collapsible arms in their collapsed positions comprising a cover adapted to be secured to said base to hold said curtain-supporting frame thereagainst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 7 in which each said resiliently deformable member comprises a spring member operatively associated with a respective one of said pivot pins for engaging adjacent ones of said linkages to urge a respective one of said collapsible arms into its extended posiTion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 7 in which each said resiliently deformable member interconnects adjacent linkages of one of said collapsible arms and is adapted resiliently to be stretched when said linkages are moved into the collapsed position of said arm so as to urge said linkages to move said arm into its extended position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 9 in which each said resiliently deformable member comprises an elongated elastomeric member terminally adapted detachably to be retained within openings provided in adjacent ones of said linkages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 1 which unit additionally includes a collapsible bladder adapted to be disposed below said base in fluid communication with said water-discharge opening for receiving waste water from said waste water-collecting tray, and a water supply container, said collapsible bladder and said water supply container being adapted to be stored on said base within said curtain-supporting frame when said collapsible arms are disposed in their collapsed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable shower unit as claimed in claim 1 in which said pliable curtain is secured to said base peripherally therearound.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |