Portable shower system

Abstract

A portable shower has an enclosure formed from non-transparent material to afford privacy to the user. A showerhead is connected to a water container mounted above the showerhead. Water in the water container is heated by solar panels that capture solar energy. The solar energy also powers a re-circulation pump, which re-circulating bathing water between a water collection chamber mounted below the shower enclosure and the water container.

1 . A portable shower system comprising:
 a main enclosure having a base plate, sidewalls supported by the base plate, a floor panel mounted above the base plate, and a roof panel;   an inner chamber defined by the sidewalls, the floor panel and the roof panel, said enclosure being provided with a showerhead;   a base enclosure formed between the base plate and the floor panel, said base enclosure being mounted in fluid communication with the inner chamber;   a water container mounted above the shower head; and   a means for re-circulating water positioned in the base enclosure in fluid communication with the water container.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the roof panel is provided with solar energy capturing panels configured for heating water in the water container. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said means for re-circulating water comprises a pump and a power unit operating the pump, said power unit being configured for receiving recharging energy from the solar energy capturing panels. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said floor panel is provided with a drain positioned in fluid communication with the bottom enclosure and configured for receiving water from the inner chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the base enclosure comprises a first water collection chamber mounted below the drain, a second water retaining chamber in fluid communication with the first water collection chamber, and a third water filtration chamber mounted downstream of the second chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said means for re-circulating water comprises a powered pump and a filtration assembly mounted in the third water filtration chamber between the powered pump and the water container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said powered pump has a suction inlet fluidly connected to the second water retaining chamber and an outlet connected to the filtration assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said powered pump is provided with a pressure switch configured to activate the powered pump in response to a drop of pressure in the second water collection chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said filtration assembly is configured for removal of contaminants from re-circulated water. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the filtration assembly comprises a chlorinator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said first water collection chamber is provided with a sump drain secured to the base plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first partition wall is positioned between the first water collection chamber and the second water retaining chamber, and a second partition wall is positioned between the second water retaining chamber and the third filtration chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said first partition wall is provided with an opening at a predetermined height above the base plate to allow water transfer between the first water collection chamber and the second water retaining chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein an opening is formed in the second partition wall, said opening in the second partition wall being connected to a suction conduit of the powered pump. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said main enclosure is provided with an access door. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulation layer coupled to the water container. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls are formed from a non-transparent material. 
     
     
         18 . A portable shower system comprising:
 a main housing having a base plate, upright sidewalls supported by the base plate, a floor panel mounted above the base plate, and a roof panel;   an inner chamber defined by the sidewalls, the floor panel and the roof panel, said enclosure being provided with a showerhead;   a base enclosure formed between the base plate and the floor panel, said base enclosure being mounted in fluid communication with the inner chamber;   a water container mounted above the shower head; and   a means for re-circulating water positioned in the base enclosure in fluid communication with the water container, said means for re-circulating water comprising a powered water pump configured for pumping used shower water from the base enclosure and delivering the shower water, through a filtration assembly, to the water container.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the roof panel is provided with solar energy capturing panels configured for heating water in the water container and powering said powered water pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said floor panel is provided with a drain positioned in fluid communication with the bottom enclosure and configured for receiving water from the inner chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the base enclosure comprises a first water collection chamber mounted below the drain, a second water retaining chamber in fluid communication with the first water collection chamber, and a third water filtration chamber mounted downstream of the second chamber, and wherein said powered water pump is mounted in said third water filtration chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said means for re-circulating water further comprises a filtration assembly mounted in the third water filtration chamber between the powered water pump and the water container. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said powered water pump is provided with a pressure switch configured to activate the powered pump in response to a drop of pressure in the second water collection chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a first partition wall is positioned between the first water collection chamber and the second water retaining chamber, and a second partition wall is positioned between the second water retaining chamber and the third filtration chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said first water collection chamber is provided with a sump drain secured to the base plate. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said first partition wall is provided with an opening at a predetermined height above the base plate to allow water transfer between the first water collection chamber and the second water retaining chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein an opening is formed in the second partition wall, said opening in the second partition wall being connected to a suction conduit of the powered pump 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said powered water pump has a suction inlet fluidly connected to the second water retaining chamber and an outlet connected to the filtration assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said filtration assembly is configured for removal of contaminants from re-circulated water. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the filtration assembly comprises a chlorinator. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said main enclosure is provided with an access door. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an insulation layer coupled to the water container. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said sidewalls are formed from a non-transparent material.