SHOWERHEAD ATTACHMENT AND METHODS OF USE

Abstract

A shower brush system that includes an elongated body and an angularly adjustable showerhead with a combination cleaning surface and water dispersal system. The showerhead can be adjusted to clean the body or the bathing facility. Embodiments of the showerhead may include a removable insert that allows the user to choose from various brush heads or cleaning surfaces designed for different applications. These inserts can be removed, replaced, or disposed of when necessary. The shower brush systems of the present invention provide versatile and customizable cleaning solutions for users of and in a tub or shower.

Claims

1. An adjustable showerhead and brush assembly comprising: a. an adjustable hollow handle having a fluid passageway therethrough, the handle comprising an upper member for connection to a showerhead and a lower member for connection to a fluid source wherein said first and second members are each connected to an intermediate telescoping member that may be extended from or retracted into said upper member; b. a showerhead pivotally attached to said upper handle member, said showerhead comprising a removable brush insert having an outer cleaning surface with at least one water nozzle opening thereon; and c. a locking member on said showerhead and that is operable to secure the showerhead at a fixed angle with respect to the upper handle member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible hose having one end attached to said lower handle member and an opposite end attached to a T junction at a fluid source in a wall of a shower.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said removable brush insert comprises a plurality of nozzle openings adjacent to a plurality of bristles on said cleaning surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said showerhead has an interior cavity, water outlet, and a plurality of wedges.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said removable brush insert includes a plurality of concentric channels around the exterior surface of the removable brush and is operable to align and secure to said showerhead.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said removable brush insert is secured to said showerhead and has a fluid-tight seal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning surface is substantially triangular and includes a rough scrubbing surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning surface comprises a sponge having a plurality of nozzle openings therethrough.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the range of adjustment between said upper handle member and said lower handle member is between about 14 inches and about 30 inches from a base of said lower handle member to a center of said showerhead.

10. A method for switching a shower attachment from a hygienic care configuration to a bathtub or shower cleaning scrubbing configuration, the method comprising: a. providing an adjustable handle having a showerhead pivotally attached at one end, and a hose sealingly attached at an opposite end, wherein the handle has a conduit and a concentric telescopic tube that is operable to extend or retract into said handle; b. attaching a cleaning insert to said showerhead, said insert comprising a rough cleaning surface having a plurality of nozzle openings therein; c. providing water through said hose from a wall pipe to said showerhead; and d. scrubbing surfaces said bathtub or shower using said handle, showerhead and cleaning insert.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said showerhead is pivotally attached to said handle and is operable to be locked at an angle with a locking switch.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a hygienic care configuration positions said concentric telescopic tube in a retracted position and said showerhead is configured substantially parallel to the center line of said handle.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising the further step or removing said cleaning insert and replacing it with a brush insert attachment having a plurality of nozzles and soft bristles for hygiene care.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a tile scrubbing configuration positions said concentric telescopic tube at an extended length and said showerhead is configured at a substantially acute angle with the center line of said handle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said showerhead includes a brush insert attachment with a substantially triangular shape and a highly abrasive material operable to clean tile.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said hose is in communication with a three-way valve that has a crescent-shaped receiver for docking said handle.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said fastening mechanism is threading provided to the exterior of said brush insert and an interior of said showerhead for securing said brush insert to said showerhead.

18. An adjustable showerhead device, the device comprising: a. a handheld brush including a main body that has an extendable and retractable telescopic member and has a lower handle connecting said telescopic member to a hose; b. a showerhead that is angularly adjustable and attached to a top end of said main body; c. a T junction that is operable to route fluid from a main pipe to said telescopic member; and d. a brush insert operable to secure to said showerhead, wherein said brush insert includes at least one nozzle and a scrubbing surface; wherein said brush insert is removable and replaceable and is operable to configure said handheld brush for hygienic cleaning and tile scrubbing.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said brush insert is removable and replaceable with a plurality of different brush inserts for cleaning various surfaces.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said handheld shower brush is extended to a maximum length, said showerhead is angularly adjusted to an acute angle, and said at least one nozzle provides water for cleaning a tile surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 provides an environmental perspective view of an adjustable showerhead attachment incorporated into a fixed showerhead, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of an adjustable showerhead attachment assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an adjustable showerhead attachment in a collapsed configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of an adjustable showerhead attachment in an extended configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5 provides a front view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 6 provides a rear view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 7 provides a first side view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 8 provides a second side view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 9 provides a top view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 10 provides a bottom view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 11 provides an environmental perspective view of an adjustable showerhead attachment in an extended configuration and incorporated into a fixed showerhead, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 12 provides a partially exploded perspective view of an adjustable showerhead attachment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 13 provides a close up perspective view of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 14 provides a front view of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 15 provides a rear view of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 16 provides a side view of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 17 provides a perspective view of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 18 provides a perspective view of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 19 provides a perspective view of T adapter of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 20 provides a side view of T adapter of an adjustable showerhead insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.

[0038] The present invention concerns a showerhead attachment system that is incorporated into a fixed showerhead. FIGS. 1-20 provide views of an adjustable showerhead attachment 100 incorporated into a fixed showerhead 20 and a wall 10. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the exemplary illustrated showerhead attachment 100 may include a main handle 101 and a lower handle 102 having an internal conduit or passageway 105 therethrough. Lower handle 102 is secured to the base of a telescoping member 104 that has a fluid tight interface with internal conduit of the main handle 101. A swivel 110 may be provided at a top end of the main handle 101 that connects a head 120 to the main handle 101. The head 120 may be operable to receive a plurality of different showerhead inserts 130. An exemplary showerhead insert 130 may have a plurality of water nozzles 132 and a plurality of bristles 131. One end of a hose 140 is attached at the base of the lower handle 102. In some embodiments, the other end of hose 140 may be attached directly to a showerhead output pipe. In other embodiments, hose 140 may be connected to a T junction 150 that is positioned between the shower wall 10 and a fixed showerhead 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The T junction 150 may have a C shaped receiver for securing a tapered surface 115 of the main body 101 to the shower fixed showerhead 120 and T junction interface 150. In some embodiments, the showerhead 120 may be connected to the main handle 101 at a swivel 110 that may be angularly adjusted with a locking switch 111.

[0039] Some embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 3-10, provide various views of the exemplary showerhead attachment 100 without a T-junction 150, fixed showerhead 20, and water hose 140. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 provide a comparison of the showerhead attachment 100 in the retracted configuration (FIG. 3) and the elongated configuration (FIG. 4). In such embodiments, the retracted configuration may have a showerhead 120 with a distance L1 from the base of the lower handle 102 that is operable to extend to a maximum length L2. The lower handle 102 may be fixed to the elongating pipe 104 and the elongating pipe 104 and the interior conduit of the main handle 101 may be fluid tight and have the position of the lower handle and the main handle 101 may be adjustable with and secured with a friction fit between the elongating pipe 104 and the interior conduit 105 of the main handle 101. By way of example and without limitation, the length L1 of a retracted configuration may range from about 14 inches to about 18 inches. By way of example and without limitation, the length L2 of an elongated configuration may range from about 26 inches to about 30 inches.

[0040] In some embodiments, the showerhead inserts 130 may be removable from the showerhead 120 and may be replaced when desired, such as, for example, when the effectiveness of the cleaning surface and bristles 131 have an unpleasant odor, are worn and torn, are unhygienic, etc. In such embodiments, the showerhead inserts 130 may have various brush styles 131, nozzle 137 configurations, and geometries. In some embodiments. It is to be appreciated that in different embodiments of the invention, a multitude of different combinations of these elements (insert sizes, shapes, geometries, brush styles, nozzle configurations, etc.) may be provided, and all are within the scope of the invention.

[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 12, an exemplary showerhead 120 may include a fluid tight concentric seal 123, an interior cavity 124, a water outlet 125, and an alignment wedge 127. The showerhead insert 130 may have a channel 137 operable to interface with the alignment wedge 127 when securing to the showerhead 120. The alignment wedge 127 may have a geometry complementary to the channel 137 and there may be a plurality of wedges 127 positioned concentrically around the interior surface of the cavity 124. There may be a plurality of channels 137 positioned around the exterior of the showerhead insert 130 that is operable to concentrically secure the showerhead insert 130 to the showerhead 120.

[0042] In some embodiments, the showerhead insert 130 may be provided with a plurality of different cleaning surfaces that may be used not only to clean a person using the showerhead, but also to clean the walls and floor of the tub or shower where they are deployed. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary view of the showerhead attachment 100 in an elongated configuration this has a cleaning brush insert 130 that and locked in a position for cleaning the floors 30. FIGS. 13-18 provide views of different types of brush inserts 130. FIGS. 14-16 provide views of a brush insert having a plurality of individual bristles 131 that are operable distributed over the forward surface of the brush insert and includes a plurality of nozzles 132 operable to distribute water, the exterior edge 133 is operable to interface with the fluid tight concentric seal 123 of the showerhead 120. FIG. 17 provides a perspective view of the brush head 130 having a sponge surface 131a that is porous and lightly abrasive for gently cleaning. FIG. 18 provides a perspective view of an alternative cleaning brush insert 130. In this embodiment, the brush insert has a cleaning surface 131b and a fluid nozzle 132 in the center of the brush insert 130. The brush insert may have a substantially triangular exterior geometry that provides various surfaces for hard to reach areas such as the corners of a shower or the floor.

[0043] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the T junction 150 may include a main conduit 153, a showerhead connector 152, a lower hose connector 154, a crescent shaped receiver 151, and a switch 155. The main conduit 153 may be operable to secure to the wall or main pipe and the showerhead connector 152 may be operable to secure to the fixed showerhead to the T junction 150 and the wall 20, the lower hose connector 154 provides a connection for the hose 140 and the lower handle 102. The crescent shaped receiver 151 may have a geometry complementary to the main handle 101 and a groove 115 on the handle to secure the main handle 101 to the T junction 150. The switch 155 may be a valve operable to allow users to disengage and engage the fluid flow through the hose 140 to the showerhead 120.

[0044] It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.