Whirlpool tup and faucet/handheld shower combination

Abstract

A whirlpool tub and faucet/handheld shower combination which may be carried out in a variety of different embodiments. One embodiment includes a whirlpool tub, and a handheld shower mounted to flow water into the whirlpool tub, and with the proviso that the handheld shower is not connected to a diverter for diverting water from the handheld shower to another spout, shower device or faucet for flowing water into the whirlpool tub. Another embodiment includes a handheld shower assembly including at least two pieces. A first piece is an elongated member having a bore form there through. The first piece is mounted to a deck of a whirlpool tub having a through hole form therein and so that the bore and the through hole are aligned. A flexible hose is connected to a second piece of the handheld shower assembly and so that a portion of the flexible hose extends through the bore in the first piece and through the through hole formed in the whirlpool tub deck. The second piece includes a showerhead for flowing water into the whirlpool tub.

1 . A combination comprising: 
 a tub comprising a whirlpool tub comprising at least one deck, the deck having a through hole form therein;    a handheld shower assembly positioned to flow water into the tub and having a portion constructed to be received in the through hole formed in the deck;    a flexible hose connected to the handheld shower assembly and operatively connected to a hot water conduit and to a cold water conduit to supply hot water and cold water to the handheld shower assembly and with the proviso that the handheld shower assembly is not connected to a diverter for diverting water from the handheld shower assembly to another spout, shower device or faucet for flowing water into the whirlpool tub.    
   
   
       2 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the handheld shower assembly comprises a first piece and a second piece, the first piece comprising an elongated portion having a bore formed therethrough and comprising a portion constructed and arranged to be received in the through hole formed in the deck, the flexible hose extending through the bore formed in the first piece, and the flexible hose including a first end connected to the second piece of a handheld shower assembly.  
   
   
       3 . A combination as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second piece of a handheld shower assembly comprises at least one bore formed therethrough and a head having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and communicating with the bore formed in a second piece to provide a water passage through the second piece.  
   
   
       4 . A combination as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the second piece further comprises an aerator constructed and arranged to aerate water passing through the passage.  
   
   
       5 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the handheld shower assembly comprises an elongated portion having a passage therethrough and an extension constructed and arranged to be recieved in a through hole formed in the deck, the elongated portion including a decorative portion extending above the deck at least one inch, and wherein the flexible hose comprises one end connected to the extension extending through the through hole in the deck.  
   
   
       6 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , and further comprising a first valve and a first valve handle operatively connected to the first valve to open and close the same, a second valve and a second valve handle operatively connected to the second valve for opening and closing the same, the first valve connected to the hot water conduit, the second valve connected to the cold water conduit, and a T-shaped conduit having the first nipple, a second nipple, and a third nipple, the first nipple connected to the hot water conduit downstream of the first valve, the second nipple connected to the cold water conduit downstream of the second valve, the third nipple connected to the flexible hose to supply hot and cold water to the handheld shower assembly.  
   
   
       7 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a valve, the hot water conduit connected to the valve to flow hot water into the valve, the cold water conduit connected to the valve for flowing cold water into the valve, the flexible hose connected to the valve to low water out of the valve to the handheld shower assembly.  
   
   
       8 . A combination as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a single controller connected to the valve for controlling the amount of hot water and cold water flowing into the flexible hose from the valve.  
   
   
       9 . A combination as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the single controller comprises a single handle for controlling both the amount of hot water and cold water flowing into the flexible hose from the valve.  
   
   
       10 . A combination as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the single controller comprises a single handle moveable in a linear direction and a rotatable knob connected to the single handle, the rotatable knob operatively connected to the valve to control the amount of hot water and cold water flowing into the flexible hose.  
   
   
       11 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the whirlpool tub further comprises of at least one inside wall extending from the deck and a floor connected to the inside wall, and floor defining at least, in part, a bathing area sufficient to hold an adult human, and further comprising an outside wall extending downward from the deck, and the outside wall being spaced a distance from any building wall.  
   
   
       12 . A combination as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the outside wall is spaced a distance one foot from any building wall.  
   
   
       13 . A combination as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the through hole is formed in the deck at a location adjacent to the outside wall of the whirlpool tub that is spaced a distance of at least one foot from any building wall.  
   
   
       14 . A combination as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the space between the inside wall and the outside wall of the whirlpool tub immediately under the deck rail is less than six inches.  
   
   
       15 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an inside wall extending downward from the deck and a floor connected to the inside wall, and wherein the deck abuts a building wall and the distance immediately underneath the deck rail between the inside wall of the whirlpool tub and the building wall is less than six inches, and a through hole is formed in the deck at the location adjacent to the building wall.  
   
   
       16 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the whirlpool tub further comprises water jet units.  
   
   
       17 . A combination as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising a handheld shower holder for mounting at least a portion of the assembly in an elevated position with respect to the whirlpool tub.  
   
   
       18 . A combination as set forth in  claim 16 , with the proviso that no other spout is mounted to the building wall adjacent to the whirlpool tub for flowing water into  
   
   
       19 . A combination comprising a whirlpool tub and a handheld shower assembly, the whirlpool tub comprising a tub sidewall and a plurality of jet units mounted in the sidewall, and a deck connected to the sidewall, the deck having a through hole formed therein, the handheld shower assembly comprising of first piece comprising an elongated element extending above deck at least one inch and having a bore form there through, the first piece mounted to the deck so that the bore formed in the first piece communicates with the through hole to provide a continuous passage through the deck and the first piece of the handheld shower assembly, the handheld shower assembly further comprising a second piece including a showerhead having a plurality of holes formed therethrough and a connector, and a bore extending from the connector of a second piece through tile holes in the head of the second piece, and a flexible hose connected to the connector of the second piece and wherein a portion of the flexible hose extends through the bore in the first piece of the handheld shower assembly and through the through hole formed in the deck.  
   
   
       20 . A combination as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising a wall extending upwards from the deck and a holder mounted on the wall at least three feet above the deck, the holder being constructed and arranged to removably hold the handheld shower in a elevated position above the deck.  
   
   
       21 . A combination as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the holder comprises a first piece and a second piece and a pin, the first piece comprising a body and a pair of spaced apart projections extending from the body, and the second piece comprising a pair of spaced apart arms and a tail extending from the arms, the projections extending from the body and the tail each having a through hole formed therethrough and a pin received in the through hole defined in each of the projections and the tail to hold the first and second piece of the holder together and to allow the second piece to rotate with respect to the first piece, and wherein the space between the arms is sufficient to allow the flexible hole to pass between the arms and so that at least a portion of the handheld shower assembly is supported by the arms.  
   
   
       22 . A combination as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the wall extending upward from the wall is a portion of the whirlpool tub.  
   
   
       23 . A combination as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the wall extending upward from the deck is a part of a building.  
   
   
       24 . A combination comprising a whirlpool tub and a handheld shower assembly, the handheld shower assembly comprising of first piece comprising an elongated portion extending at least once inch, and having a bore therethrough, and a second piece having a head having a plurality of holes formed therein and a connector, and a bore formed in the second piece from the connector to the holes in the head, and further comprising a flexible hose connected to the connector of the second piece and the first piece being constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the flexible hose through the bore formed therein, and further comprising a holder for selectively holding the second piece of a handheld shower assembly in an elevated position above the whirlpool tub.  
   
   
       25 . A combination comprising: 
 a tub;    a handheld shower positioned to flow water into the tub, and with the proviso that no diverter is present that diverts water from a spout, another shower device or a faucet to the handheld shower.    
   
   
       26 . A combination as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the handheld shower is retractably mounted to the tub.  
   
   
       27 . A combination as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the tub further comprising a deck rail, and wherein the handheld shower is retractably mounted to the rail.  
   
   
       28 . A combination comprising: 
 a whirlpool tub having a deck, and deck having a through hole formed therein:    a handheld shower assembly comprising of at least a first piece and a second piece, and wherein the first piece comprises an elongated portion having a bore formed therein and the first piece mounted to the deck, the elongated portion extending at least one inch above the deck, and the bore formed in the elongated portion aligned with the through hole formed in the deck;    the second piece comprising in the head having a plurality of holes formed therein, and the second piece further comprising an connector, and a bore extending through the connector to the holes formed in the head;    a flexible hose connected to the connector of the second piece, and a portion of the flexible hose extending through the bore in the first piece and through the through hole formed in the deck.    
   
   
       29 . A combination as set forth in  claim 28 , with the proviso that no diverter is present to divert water from the second piece to another shower device or spout for flow water into the whirlpool tub.  
   
   
       30 . A combination comprising: 
 a tub, a handheld shower positioned to flow water into the tub, a flexible hose having a first end connected to the handheld shower and a water passage defined through the flexible hose and handheld shower;    the tub having a rail, and a through hole formed in the rail, and a portion of the flexible hose extending through the through hole; and with the proviso that no diverter is present to divert water from the handheld shower to another shower device or spout for flowing water into the tub.    
   
   
       31 . A combination as set forth in  claim 30 , further comprising an anti-backflow check valve connected to at least one of the handheld shower and the flexible hose.  
   
   
       32 . A combination as set forth in  claim 30 , further comprising an aerator position in the handheld shower to aerate water flowing out of the handheld shower.  
   
   
       33 . A combination as set forth in  claim 30  further comprising a cold water conduit and a hot water conduit each connected to the handheld shower and an anti-backflow check valve connected to at least one of the handheld shower, cold water conduit and hot water conduit.  
   
   
       34 . A combination as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an anti-backflow check valve positioned in at least one of: upstream of the handheld shower assembly, and in the handheld shower assembly.