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  Emergency shower systemRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Means For Spraying UserThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060162064. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/777,924, filed Feb. 11, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. ______ , the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an emergency shower system and more particularly, to an emergency shower system that is easy to operate and to safely integrate into an appropriate environment, such as a laboratory, a school or a municipal, commercial or industrial facility. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Emergency showers are often used in industry, laboratory and academic environments where researchers, students and workers may be exposed to hazardous materials and/or conditions. [0006] It is important that such emergency showers be easily operated in an emergency situation, where for example, a user may not have use of his/her eyes. The showers must also operate effectively once activated even though they may be seldom used. Further, the shower mechanism must be designed with safety in mind so that there is little likelihood that the structural components of the shower will cause injury at any time and, particularly, during usage. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,721 illustrates an example of an existing emergency shower. The patent discloses an emergency shower installed in a recessed area in a wall behind which water pipes are located. A valve mounted to the water pipes is operated by a pivoting handle. The installation covers most but not all of the wall recess into which the shower control mechanism is mounted. The handle is required to move along a path and this necessitates a slot. This slot provides an opening into the recess where the handle mechanism operates and through which water may enter. This water may collect in the recess and behind the wall so that, over a period of time, the collected water may cause damage to the fascia and other structural components of the shower installation and, also, presents a potential for mildew and/or mold problems. [0008] Furthermore, the slot disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,721 presents an opening in the front face of the device described there which invites the intentional or unintentional deposit of debris, particularly when the shower device is located in an open environment, such as those presented in a laboratory, a school or a municipal, commercial or industrial facility and the like. Thus, over time, sufficient debris or extraneous objects may be introduced into the recess through the slot opening to prevent complete rotation of the operating handle and, thus, block effective operation of the emergency shower valve during an emergency situation. [0009] Another drawback of a pivoting handle as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,721 is that by its nature the handle moves in an arc which is contrary to current safety practices. Furthermore this arced motion varies the distance that the handle extends outwardly from the adjacent wall. This outward movement may interfere with operation of the handle should a stressed or panicked user not recognize that the handle will first move toward him/her and then away when the handle is rotated from a shower-off to a shower-on position. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The difficulties encountered with previous devices have been overcome by the present invention. What is described here is an emergency shower system which is operable with a fluid delivery apparatus, a shower dispenser connected to the fluid delivery apparatus, a valve connected to the fluid delivery apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid through the fluid delivery apparatus, the system including frame, a panel connected to the frame, the panel having an opening therein, a plate slidably mounted behind the panel for closing the opening in the panel, a handle connected to the plate for moving the plate relative to the covering panel, and a linkage connecting the plate to the valve for operating the shower, the plate and panel covering the linkage and valve. [0011] In a preferred embodiment, the control valve is positioned behind a wall and is accessible through an opening in the wall; the plate is mounted for slidable movement in a substantially linear plane essentially parallel to the wall. [0012] There are a number of advantages, features and objects achieved with the present invention which are believed not to be available in earlier related devices. For example, an object of the present invention is to provide an emergency shower system that is advantageously easy to operate and is safe in its environment after installation. Another object of the present invention is to provide an emergency shower system with an operating handle that extends a minimal distance from an adjoining wall. A further advantage of the present invention is that the emergency shower system has no front facing opening or slot into which water can be introduced that could cause a potential for mildew formation over time. [0013] Another advantage derived from the elimination of the front facing opening or slot in the emergency shower system of the present invention is that no debris can be introduced though the covering panel which could cause interference with movement of the operating handle. In other words, the system mechanism is fully enclosed. [0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention include the provision of an emergency shower system which is simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive. [0015] A complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, advantages and features thereof will be gained from a consideration of the present specification which provides a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using the invention, set forth in such full, clear concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph). Furthermore, the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings provided herein represents examples of the invention in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph), but the invention itself is defined only by the attached claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of an installed emergency shower system illustrating the positions of an operating handle in both "on" and "off" orientations. [0017] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevation view of a portion of the emergency shower system illustrated in FIG. 1 as it would appear to potential shower users. [0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, partially broken-away isometric view of the emergency shower system illustrating the shower system's operating mechanism. [0019] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation view of the operating handle on a plate of the emergency shower system shown in FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the locations of the handle in a shower-off position (broken line) and in a shower-on position (solid line). [0020] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic elevation view of a linkage alignment when the emergency shower system is in the shower-off position. Continue reading... Full patent description for Emergency shower system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Emergency shower system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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