Central support for shower latch

Abstract

 It is a support for shower latches comprising a body (11, 111) carrying the shower, sliding on a vertical guide rod (13) extending in a hole obtained in said body, a fork member (14, 114) carrying the shower turnably applied to the support body, and a device for locking the support to the guide rod. The locking device is in the shape of a first class lever (15, 116) rotating around a fulcrum (15, 115) integral with the support body, engaging against the rod and manually actuable for allowing the sliding of the support along the rod.

Description

[0001] The present utility model relates in general to shower latches, and in particular it relates to a device for supporting and locking a shower along a guide rod.

[0002] Shower latches normally comprise a central support carrying the shower, sliding and optionally turnable along a guide rod secured to the wall by end brackets or supports. The central support therefore allows the height positioning and the shower orientation on the guide rod, and to the purpose of securing it in the desired position, it is provided with a locking means, normally of the screw or friction type, intended to radially engage with said guide rod.

[0003] However, such adjusting means is often unstable for maintaining the height of the desired position, or with the use they tend to jib, thereby making the adjustment operation more difficult and in any case, less smooth.

[0004] Object of the present finding is that of obviating such disadvantages and proposing a central support for shower latches provided with a safer, easier and smoother to handle and operate locking means, even after a high number of operations.

[0005] Another object of the finding is that of providing a central support for shower latches with a new structure making it especially ergonomic and easy to operate even with a single hand.

[0006] Such objects are achieved with a central support for shower latches comprising a body carrying the shower, sliding on a vertical guide rod that extends into a hole obtained into said body, a fork member carrying the shower applied in a turnable fashion to the support body, and a device for locking the support to the guide rod, where said locking device is in the form of a firs class lever rotating around a fulcrum integral with the support body, engaging against the rod and manually actuable to allow the support sliding along the rod.

[0007] Further details of the finding will appear more clearly from the following description, made with reference to the attached indicative and nonlimiting drawings, wherein:

• Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the members forming a central support for shower latches according to a first embodiment;
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the support of Figure 1 when assembled;
• Figure 3 shows a partial section of the support of the previous Figures;
• Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the members forming a central support for shower latches according to a second embodiment;
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the support of Figure 4 when assembled; and
• Figure 6 shows a partial section of the support of Figures 4 and 5.

[0008] According to a first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1-3, the central support for shower latches under discussion comprises a body 11, for example having a substantially triangular shape, longitudinally crossed by a hole 12 wherein there extends a guide rod 13. At its front vertex relative to rod 13, a fork member 14 is applied to body 11 in a turnable fashion, intended to support the shower - not shown.

[0009] For the purpose of adjusting the height of the central support of the latch along rod 13, body 11 houses a first class lever in the form of a small rod 15, rotating around a horizontal fulcrum 16 integral with or secured to, the body in central position. Said fulcrum 16 is arranged between a top arm 15 and a bottom arm 15" of the lever, said arms optionally being not aligned with one another, as in the example shown. A friction member 17, made for example of rubber or of a plastic material, is attached to the free end of the bottom arm 15", and it carries a smooth or knurled surface facing rod 13 for engaging against its surface. The top arm 15' protrudes from top of body 11 through an aperture 18 and ends with an actuating button 19.

[0010] Normally, the end of the bottom arm 15' is pushed against rod 13 by a helical spring 20 resting on a shoulder 21 obtained in body 11 of the support. By manually pressing button 19, the friction member 17 detaches from the guide rod 13, thereby allowing the sliding of the central support along said rod. Releasing the actuating button immediately locks the support.

[0011] Advantageously, body 11 can be realised starting from a central frame 11' enclosed in a shell consisting of two halves 11", said shell being suitably configured for holding, without the aid of any screws, the fork member 14. In particular, each half of the shell exhibits a seat 22 intended to receive and lock a respective ring 23 having a notched portion 23'; corresponding toothed rims 24 are obtained in the fork member 14 for rotating snap-wise into said rings 23 for allowing the adjustment of the shower inclination.

[0012] In another embodiment, illustrated in Figs. 4-6, the central support comprises body 111, having a substantially oval shape, longitudinally crossed by a hole 112 wherein the guide rod 13 extends. A fork member 114 is turnably applied at a side of body 111 for supporting the shower - not shown.

[0013] To adjust the support height, body 111 is provided with a horizontal fulcrum 115 to which a first class lever in the shape of a button 116 is pivoted. An end of said lever, preferably the bottom one, carries a friction member 117 similar to that described above, facing rod 13 for engaging against its surface. Normally, the button lever 116 is maintained into a support locking position by a spring 118 arranged and compressed between a suitable seat 118' obtained in the body, and the lever itself. Said spring can consist of a harmonic steel blade, as in the example shown, or it can be of the helical type. Pressing the end of the button opposed to that with the friction member causes the removal of the latter from guide 13 and thereby the support locking.

[0014] Also in this case, body 111 can be realised starting from a central frame 111', wherein there are secured or obtained the means for fixing the fork member, the fulcrum and the spring seat, enclosed in a shell consisting of two halves 111".

[0015] In both cases described, the lever configuration of the central support locking device along the guide rod allows releasing and locking the support by a simple and light pressure on a button. This easiness of actuation, along with the particular ergonomic structure of the support, allows the adjustment by easily gripping the supports with a single hand.

Claims

1. Central support for shower latches, comprising a body (11, 111) carrying the shower, sliding on a vertical guide rod (13) extending into a hole obtained in said body, a fork member (14, 114) carrying the shower, turnably applied to the support body, and a device for locking the support to the guide rod, characterised in that said locking device is in the shape of a first class lever (15, 116) rotating around a fulcrum (16, 115) integral with the support body, engaging against the rod and manually actuable to allow the sliding of the support along the rod.

2. Support according to claim 1, wherein the end of the lever arm engaging against the guide rod is provided with a friction member (17, 117) made of rubber, plastic or the like, facing said guide rod, and wherein the lever is stressed by a spring (20, 118) tending to normally maintain said friction member in locking position in close contact with the rod surface, said friction member being removed from said rod following the manual actuation of the lever.

3. Support according to claim 2, wherein the lever consists of a small rod (15) housed into the support body and protruding from one of its sides for being manually actuated, and wherein the spring (20) is arranged and compressed between the end of the lever arm provided with the friction member, and a shoulder (21) obtained in the body.

4. Support according to claim 2, wherein the lever is in the shape of a button (116) having a surface facing the outside of the body for being manually pressed, and wherein the spring (118) is arranged and compressed between the lever power arm and a seat (118') obtained in the body.

5. Support according to claim 4, wherein the spring consists of a harmonic steel blade (118).

6. Support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the lever and the guide rod converge downwards.

7. Support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the body consists of a central frame enclosed in a shell consisting of two halves.

8. Support according to claim 7, wherein each half of the shell exhibits a seat (22) intended to receive and lock a respective ring (23) having a notched portion (23'), in the fork member (14) there being obtained corresponding toothed rims (24) intended to rotate snap-wise into said rings (23) for allowing the adjustment of the shower inclination.

Drawing