DE202020105816U1 - Function carrier for sanitary rooms with integrated light sources - Google Patents

Abstract

Function carrier for sanitary rooms comprising at least one shower bar (10), suitable for holding a hand shower and also comprising a lighting device with at least one lamp, this at least one lamp being arranged inside the shower bar (10), characterized in that the function carrier has at least one comprises approximately horizontal storage platform (13, 14) which is connected to the shower rod (10).

Description

TECHNICAL PART

The present invention relates to a function carrier for sanitary rooms comprising at least one shower rail, suitable for holding a hand shower and also comprising a lighting device with at least one lamp, this at least one lamp being arranged inside the shower rail.

The lighting and lighting of pools, tubs and rooms has long been the subject of research and development. So reveals the U.S. 4,535,489 A as early as 1985 basic measures and devices with which a bathtub can be illuminated. The U.S. 4,875,958 A consistently develops these further using transparent plastic materials and glasses. The WO 98/10219 A discloses technically established measures and available features for LED light strips.

Various documents from the prior art describe possibilities for integrating lighting into an established object in the sanitary area. That's how she beats EP 0 446 365 A proposed integrating LED lighting in a shower head. It beats in the same direction U.S. 5,276,595 A proposed equipping a toilet lid with an LED lighting device. Meaningful principles, measures and features for power supply, regulation, control and sensor control are disclosed in this document. The DE 44 00 071 A suggests equipping pneumatic lines with light sources.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

More recent innovations in the same direction are in the EP 1 038 434 A2 , the EP 1 075 815 A2 , the DE 10 2004 004 217 B4 and the EP 1 910 738 B1 disclosed.

From the EP 0 555 641 A1 a multifunctional column for sanitary rooms is known which has a lighting device in its interior. The multifunctional column can be part of a shower cubicle. In the column, a reflector and a deflection device are arranged, which can consist of a transparent material, for example polyacrylic, so that the light can be deflected laterally out of the column via the deflection device. Glass fibers can also be used for deflection. The multifunctional column has a comparatively large diameter and the light only emerges from it at certain points where the deflection device is led out of the column to the outside.

From the JP H0885986 A a suspension device for a hand shower is known in which a light source is arranged in the interior of a hollow body of the suspension device, the light of which emerges from the suspension device via a transparent surface. Here the light emerges only in the area of the transparent surface, so that not the entire housing of the suspension device is designed to be luminous.

In the EP 1 022 396 B1 describes a shower combination with a front, on which at least one shower function unit is arranged, the front being partially translucent and having at least one light passage and the front being formed by a front shield made of translucent glass. A lighting device with several light sources is arranged behind the front, whereby light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used as light sources. The shower combination also includes a vertically extending support rod to which a hand shower can be attached. The shower rod runs at a distance in front of the front that can be illuminated, although the shower rod itself cannot be illuminated.

The US 2016/0143486 A1 describes shower curtains of various types. In one of the embodiments described, the shower curtain is attached to an upper horizontal rod and it is mentioned that individual light sources can also be attached to this rod. In another variant, at the lower end of the shower curtain, on a rod belonging to the curtain, there is a light strip which runs in the horizontal direction and which is attached to the shower curtain. Individual LEDs can also be attached to the rod at a distance from one another. However, this rod is not a shower rod in the sense of the present invention, in which a hand shower is attached to the shower rod. Rather, the lower rod is part of the shower curtain, has no load-bearing function and is not attached to a wall.

From the DE 20 2017 102 164 U1 a strut for a partition wall is known which is connected to lighting means so that it emits light in order to illuminate a shower area. This strut runs horizontally in the shower area between a wall and a transparent partition wall that is parallel and spaced apart from this wall. The strut is not a shower rod that is used to hold a hand shower.

An illuminated shower rod that can be used in the functional carrier according to the invention for sanitary rooms is particularly shown in the WO 2019/096352 A1 , the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

A disadvantage of the generic, established objects, among other things, is that they do not provide for an easy retrofitting of an existing shower room or sanitary room; the established devices and facilities always provide for specific, local integration or the complete replacement of entire sanitary facilities.

The object of the present invention was therefore to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a module which, despite integrated lighting, allows simple retrofitting of a sanitary area and, in addition to the lighting function, enables objects that are required in the sanitary area to be placed.

This object is achieved by a function carrier for sanitary rooms with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments result from the dependent claims and the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the function carrier comprises at least one approximately horizontal storage platform which is connected to the shower rail. Furthermore, the at least one lamp is arranged inside the shower rail. In contrast to the prior art mentioned above, the shower rod itself can thus be designed to be luminous according to the present invention, that is to say the shower rod itself appears as an approximately tubular body which is luminous in its entirety. This creates a particularly aesthetically pleasing visual effect. The at least one storage platform of the function carrier can in this way be illuminated by the shower rail.

The shower rod according to the present invention is preferably mounted in a vertical or possibly also in a horizontal arrangement as a holding rod on a wall in the shower area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES

Shower rails of the type described in the present application have been known for some time. So they reveal DE 7207925 U , the DE 30 48 047 A1 or also the DE 83 25 385 U typical construction methods. The shower rod proposed here thus comprises established designs and forms such as curtain rods, handle rods and rods for attaching and / or aligning shower heads; the corresponding uses can be provided individually or in combination in the components of the rod. Mounting options depending on the corresponding tensile load are also established and are, for example, in the DE 23 31 467 A1 illustrated.

Despite years of use of such shower rails as an add-on or retrofit kit, there is a lack of a sensible combination of such a shower rail with an integrated light source on the market. The presently developed object therefore covers a long-standing and as yet unrecognized need: the shower bar, which is equipped with integrated light sources, allows both a simple retrofitting of a sanitary area and / or shower room and sensible lighting in the sanitary area that does not require any additional space.

The illuminant advantageously comprises LEDs as illuminants, particularly preferably identical, inexpensive LEDs with a set primary color such as warm white, cold white, evening red, forest green or morning blue.

Multicolored LEDs can particularly advantageously be set and / or adjusted to specific colors, matching the individual, user-side room design, and therefore to color tones. For this purpose, the shower bar is advantageously designed in such a way that the illuminant comprises at least one LED illuminant assembly that can be adjusted to different light colors. Basic tones that can be selected by the user particularly preferably allow certain room areas to be additionally brightened and / or decorative highlights to be set.

The shower rod preferably comprises at least one power source, which is advantageously also integrated. The at least one power source is selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic cell, accumulator, capacitor, hydrodynamic generator, battery, thermal element, dynamo, manually operable dynamo, contactless excitation coil with a field generator that can be applied, and a separate power source. A combination of power storage, power generator and power source is particularly advantageous, whereby emergency lighting is always guaranteed via the power storage in the event of a power failure.

The shower rod preferably comprises a one-piece, transparent, tubular housing. A housing of this type allows light from a lighting means arranged on the inside to exit almost undamped to the outside and allows complete, independent illumination of a shower cubicle or a sanitary area.

The housing of the shower rod is preferably made of waterproof, heat-resistant plastic with a scratch-resistant and water-repellent seal on the outside. A scratch-resistant seal with a hydrophobic outer surface increases the service life of the product and, whether the hydrophobic finish, offers reliably available light radiation over the long term, which is not impaired by limescale or water stains.

A strip, which extends essentially over the entire length of the transparent housing and has LED lighting means evenly distributed thereon, is preferably arranged in the housing of the shower rod. This allows a uniform and full-surface emission of light and can completely replace an established light source such as a warm-light neon tube. The energy-saving LEDs make this possible with significantly lower power consumption and can even provide a constant and reliable lighting function for the usual usage time in the sanitary area via relatively small power storage devices.

The integrated light sources are preferably controllable and / or regulatable, particularly preferably switchable between at least two emission areas, the emission areas comprising emission areas from the group consisting of warm light, cold light, UV blue light indicating contamination, cold white, evening red, forest green, morning blue.

The shower bar preferably has an assembly for wireless control, preferably wireless control and regulation. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, an associated and encrypted remote control, alternatively a remote control that can be activated via a mobile phone and application program via a password, allows the lighting means to be programmed and / or controlled. The control and / or regulation is particularly preferably carried out with the integration of a motion sensor, as is already established in the technical field for different bathroom applications.

Optical scattering structures and / or translucent areas are preferably arranged on the shower bar, at least on the housing that closes off the outside, which are designed to couple out the light of the integrated lighting means in a diffuse area. Diffuse planar outcoupling surfaces create a uniform and almost shadow-free lighting. In addition, a glare effect, which can often occur with bright to very bright point LEDs, is safely avoided.

The integrated lighting means are preferably arranged in a splash-proof manner in at least one section of the shower rail. An arrangement in sections advantageously allows certain areas to be illuminated, such as the foot area when using the shower rod as a vertical handle in a shower cubicle.

In the case of the present function carrier for sanitary rooms, the shower rod can preferably consist of plastic. The LED strip with the light sources can be attached to the inside of the shower rod and pushed into a groove. The power unit for the power supply can in particular comprise Li-ion batteries and can be screwed onto the shower rail in the lower area, for example.

Alternatively, a shower rod made of metal, which contains a diffuser, or a shower rod, which consists of a material mix (composite material), for example of stainless steel and plastic, is also possible.

For actuation of the lighting function, the shower rod can optionally include, for example, a motion detector with or without a remote control. The motion detector detects the movement of a person and the shower rail lights go on and stay on as long as movement is detected. If no more movement is detected, the lighting goes out after a defined period of time, for example after one minute.

According to the present invention, the functional support for sanitary rooms comprises at least one approximately horizontal storage platform which is connected to the shower rail. This enables objects that are required in the sanitary area to be placed on such a storage platform, it being particularly advantageous that the objects placed there are illuminated by the light emitted by the luminous shower rod and are therefore easier to see for the user.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the shower rod extends through the at least one storage platform. In this variant, the storage platform thus has a hole or a recess through which the shower rod is passed. The storage platform can be attached to the shower rail, for example.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the function carrier comprises at least two approximately parallel and approximately horizontal storage platforms which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction. In this variant, the possibility is created to place even more objects on these storage platforms, with the further advantage that these are arranged at different heights and thus also a platform for people of different sizes can always be easily reached.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, at least one storage platform has an approximately triangular or circular sector-shaped, in particular quarter-circle sector-shaped, outline. These outline shapes are particularly suitable for attaching the storage platform in such a way that they are located in a corner area that is formed by two adjacent walls of a shower area.

According to a preferred development of the invention, at least one storage platform is shell-shaped and has a circumferential, upwardly directed edge. This shell shape and the circumferential edge prevent objects placed on the tray from falling down.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the shower rod is fixed in at least one wall bracket, which is attached to the wall by adhesive fastening or screw fastening. The preferred adhesive fastening has the advantage that it can be attached easily without tools and it is not necessary to drill into the tile area.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the at least one storage platform is attached to the shower rod, in particular it is attached exclusively to the shower rod. The holding forces are transferred to the shower rail, which in turn is attached to the wall. An additional wall mounting of the storage platform is then unnecessary, which is particularly convenient for the user. Of course, it is also possible as an alternative to (also) fasten the holder itself to the wall if this is deemed necessary for reasons of stability.

Further advantages result from the exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that the above-described preferred features, advantages and the following exemplary embodiments are not to be interpreted as restrictive. Advantageous or preferred, additional features and additional feature combinations, as they are explained in the description and explained and also established in the technical field by quotation, can be implemented individually or in combination in the context of the independent claims in the claimed subject matter without affecting the area the invention would leave.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION ON THE BASIS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In an advantageous embodiment, the shower rod has integrated lighting means. The shower rod can optionally be mounted as a curtain holder, but preferably as a holding rod in the usual manner known from the area of shower cubicle rods and can be used as a handle and / or as a horizontal curtain holder. The integrated light sources combine this sensibly with a lighting function. The illuminant comprises at least one LED illuminant assembly that can be adjusted to different light colors. At least one power source supplies the LED lamp assembly with electricity via a control and / or regulating module. The power source is selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic cell, accumulator, capacitor, hydrodynamic generator, battery, thermo element, dynamo, manually operated dynamo, contactless excitation coil with a field generator that can be applied and a separate power source. In a preferred variant, such a light source for the sanitary area comprises power storage, particularly preferably modular accumulators, in combination with a device for inductive charging, the power storage being exchangeable and / or removable; Such an energy system can particularly advantageously be used in a group of corresponding devices and / or in a house technology system with smart home applications and IOT applications. The power source is preferably a combination of power source and memory, with the memory supplying emergency lighting in the event of a dry-up or failure of the power source, which on the one hand indicates the emergency power supply but on the other hand ensures emergency lighting which provides the respective user with sufficient illumination of the surroundings guaranteed. The shower stall rod comprises a one-piece, clear, tubular housing which is made of clear plastic. The waterproof, heat-resistant plastic is equipped on the outside with a scratch-resistant and water-repellent seal based on siloxane. Arranged in the housing is a strip which extends essentially over the entire length of the rod and has LED lamps evenly distributed thereon. The strip preferably consists of a multi-sided metal profile which can be rotated against gentle resistance by magnets and / or levers in the housing and aligned with areas to be illuminated. The integrated lighting means are additionally controllable and / or regulatable and can particularly preferably be switched between at least three emission areas, comprising warm light, cold light and UV blue light indicating contamination. The shower cubicle rod advantageously includes an assembly for wireless control, prefers wireless control and regulation in a smart home network. In addition, the housing that closes off on the outside can have optical scattering structures and / or translucent areas, at least in the directly visible sections, which are arranged to couple out the light of the integrated lighting means in a diffuse area.

In an advantageous embodiment, the shower rod comprises a plastic housing which consists of a transparent, stable plastic that is water-repellent on the outside. A metallic, longitudinally extending tubular profile with at least one groove is inserted into the housing as an endoskeleton for stabilization. In the at least one groove, LED lamps are arranged at a uniform distance. The LED lamps can be powered by an integrated power source, preferably replaceable batteries. The energization is preferably switched via an optical proximity sensor, preferably a proximity sensor with a coupled timer, which energizes the LEDs from the signal for the duration of a shower, for example for 10, 15 or 30 minutes. The remote control particularly preferably allows the control and / or regulation of RGB-capable LED assemblies. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shower cubicle rod can thus serve as a time indicator, which at least in one section slowly and steadily switches from green to red in order to indicate an ecological and / or pre-paid period of use.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer beleuchtbaren Duschstange gemäß der Erfindung mit zwei schalenförmigen Ablageplattformen. Der erfindungsgemäße Funktionsträger für Sanitärräume umfasst eine beleuchtbare Duschstange 10, in deren Innerem Leuchtmittel, insbesondere eine Anzahl von LEDs angeordnet sind. Das Material der röhrenförmigen zylindrischen Duschstange 10 besteht beispielsweise aus einem lichtdurchlässigen Kunststoff, so dass die Leuchtmittel im Inneren ihr Licht durch das Gehäuse hindurch nach außen hin abstrahlen können. Dabei wirkt der Kunststoff des Gehäuses der Duschstange 10 Licht streuend und aufgrund einer größeren Anzahl von LEDs im Inneren des Gehäuses wird eine gleichmäßige Lichtabstrahlung erzielt, so dass von außen keine punktförmigen Lichtquellen mehr erkennbar sind, sondern vielmehr das röhrenförmige Gehäuse über seine gesamte Länge und seinen Umfang weitgehend gleichmäßig Licht abgibt und somit als ringsum leuchtende Röhre erscheint.

The present invention is explained in more detail below using a specific exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

• 1 a perspective view of an illuminable shower bar according to the invention with two bowl-shaped storage platforms. The function carrier according to the invention for sanitary rooms comprises an illuminable shower rail 10 , in the interior of which lighting means, in particular a number of LEDs, are arranged. The material of the tubular cylindrical shower rod 10 consists for example of a translucent plastic, so that the illuminants inside can radiate their light through the housing to the outside. The plastic of the housing of the shower rod acts here 10 Scattering light and due to a larger number of LEDs inside the housing, a uniform light emission is achieved, so that no point light sources can be seen from the outside, but rather the tubular housing emits light largely evenly over its entire length and circumference and thus all around glowing tube appears.

The luminous shower rod 10 preferably runs essentially vertically here and, like a conventional shower rod, can be installed in two places using appropriate brackets 11 on the wall 12th be attached. This fastening can advantageously take place without screws, via an adhesive connection, so that assembly is possible without tools. Furthermore, the device comprises two bowl-shaped storage platforms that are spaced apart from one another in the height direction 13 , 14th each having the basic shape of a quarter circle sector seen in plan view, these on the shower rail 10 are mounted so that the right-angled corner of the storage platform 13 , 14th each in the corner area of two walls that meet at right angles 12th , 15th of the shower area. The curved line of the quarter circle sector thus points towards the room and connects the two right-angled legs starting from the corner with one another.

The two storage platforms 13 , 14th each have an upwardly directed circumferential edge in their radially outer area 16 , which limits the storage area to the outside, so that the user can place objects on the storage platform and these cannot fall down. This creates the two storage platforms 13 , 14th cup-shaped.

The two storage platforms 13 , 14th can be of the same size or of different sizes, whereby they are preferably geometrically similar, as in the embodiment of FIG 1 shown. They are spaced from one another and are therefore at different heights on the illuminated shower rail. The storage platforms 13 , 14th are arranged on the shower rod in such a way that the latter extends through the floor at approximately a right angle 17th of the storage platform therethrough, wherein the shower rail extends the floor near the corner area of the storage platform 13 , 14th interspersed, so that there is sufficient space for placing objects on the platform.

List of reference symbols

10

luminous shower rod

11

Mounts

12

wall

13

Storage platform

14th

Storage platform

15th

wall

16

edge

17th

ground

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 4535489 A [0002]
• US 4875958 A [0002]
• WO 98/10219 A [0002]
• EP 0446365 A [0003]
• US 5276595 A [0003]
• DE 4400071 A [0003]
• EP 1038434 A2 [0004]
• EP 1075815 A2 [0004]
• DE 102004004217 B4 [0004]
• EP 1910738 B1 [0004]
• EP 0555641 A1 [0005]
• JP H0885986 A [0006]
• EP 1022396 B1 [0007]
• US 2016/0143486 A1 [0008]
• DE 202017102164 U1 [0009]
• WO 2019/096352 A1 [0010]
• DE 7207925 U [0016]
• DE 3048047 A1 [0016]
• DE 8325385 U [0016]
• DE 2331467 A1 [0016]

Claims (16)

Function carrier for sanitary rooms comprising at least one shower bar (10), suitable for holding a hand shower and also comprising a lighting device with at least one lamp, this at least one lamp being arranged inside the shower bar (10), characterized in that the function carrier has at least one comprises approximately horizontal storage platform (13, 14) which is connected to the shower rod (10). Functionaries for sanitary rooms Claim 1 , characterized in that the shower rod (10) is oriented approximately vertically and is fixed to a wall of a sanitary room via at least one bracket (11), preferably via two spaced brackets (11). Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the shower rod (10) extends through the at least one storage platform (13, 14). Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that it comprises at least two approximately parallel and approximately horizontal storage platforms (13, 14) which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that at least one storage platform (13, 14) has an approximately triangular or circular sector-shaped, in particular quarter-circle sector-shaped, outline. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that at least one storage platform (13, 14) is shell-shaped and has a circumferential, upwardly directed edge (16). Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the shower rod (10) is fixed in at least one wall bracket (11) which is attached to the wall (12) by adhesive fastening or screw fastening. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , characterized in that the at least one storage platform (13, 14) is attached to the shower rod (10), in particular is attached exclusively to the shower rod (10). Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the illuminant comprises at least one LED illuminant assembly which can be adjusted to different light colors. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shower rod (10) comprises a one-piece, transparent, tubular housing. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the housing is made of waterproof, heat-resistant plastic with a scratch-resistant and water-repellent seal on the outside. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that a strip extending essentially over the entire length of the housing with LED lighting means evenly distributed thereon is arranged in the housing. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the Claims 10 to 12th , characterized in that the integrated lighting means can be controlled and / or regulated, preferably switched between at least two emission areas, the emission areas comprising emission areas from the group consisting of warm light, cold light, UV blue light indicating soiling, cold white, sunset red, forest green , Morning blue. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shower rod (10) has an assembly for wireless control, preferably wireless control and regulation. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one externally closing housing of the shower rod (10) has optical scatter structures and / or translucent areas which are arranged to couple out the light of the integrated lighting means in a diffuse area. Function carrier for sanitary rooms according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the integrated lighting means are arranged in a splash-proof manner in at least one section of the shower rail (10).

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