IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,035,547

Granted Patent B1

US 10,035,547 · App. 15/383,651 · Granted Jul 31, 2018

Tractor trailer shower unit

Inventor: Joel Reyes (Dayton, TX)

B62D33/0612 A47K3/28 B05B9/002 A47K3/022 A47K4/00

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,035,547
App. No.: 15/383,651
Granted: Jul 31, 2018
Kind: B1

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Abstract

The present invention describes a tractor trailer shower unit which provides a shower enclosure having shower head and floor drain features. The shower unit also provides water heating and pumping equipment as well as a waste water collection tank, making it particularly suited for use within a tractor trailer rig. The shower unit is powered by the electrical system of the tractor trailer rig.

Claims (77)

1. A shower unit, comprising:

a shower enclosure comprising:

a control means in electrical communication with a power source;

a side panel having a showerhead aperture subjacent a top edge thereof, a water valve aperture vertically subjacent said showerhead aperture and a U-shaped locking feature at a bottom edge thereof; and,

a floor panel defining a bowl having a drain aperture centrally disposed therewithin and an L-shaped locking feature at a first top edge thereof;

wherein said side panel is capable of being secured to an interior first side of a vehicle opposite a front end of said vehicle;

wherein said floor panel is capable of being secured to an interior bottom side of said vehicle; and,

wherein said L-shaped locking feature interlocks with said U-shaped feature;

a water supply system, comprising:

a water supply reservoir defining an interior capable of retaining a volume of water therein;

an intake tube in fluid communication with said water supply reservoir interior;

a pump in fluid communication with said water supply reservoir interior and in fluid communication with a water valve projecting through said water valve aperture;

a showerhead projecting through said showerhead aperture and in fluid communication with said water valve; and,

a heating element in thermoelectric communication with said water supply reservoir interior;

wherein said pump and said heating element are in electrical communication with said control means; and,

wherein said control means is capable of individually activating said pump and said heating element;

a waste water collection tank defining an interior capable of retaining a volume of water therein and in fluid communication with said drain aperture comprising a drain valve in fluid communication with said interior thereof;

wherein actuation of said drain valve in a first direction permits drainage of said waste water collection tank; and,

wherein actuation of said drain valve in a second direction prohibits drainage of said waste water collection tank.

2. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said control means further comprises:

a control box:

a first LED disposed upon a first face of said control box;

a second LED disposed adjacent said first LED;

a first switch disposed upon a first face of said control box; and,

a second switch disposed upon a first face of said control box;

wherein said first switch is in electrical communication with said power source, said first LED and said pump;

wherein said second switch is in electrical communication with said power source, said second LED and said heating element;

wherein activation of said first switch illuminates said first LED and activates said pump;

wherein deactivation of said first switch ceases said illumination of said first LED and deactivates said pump;

wherein activation of said second switch illuminates said second LED and activates said heating element; and,

wherein deactivation of said second switch ceases said illumination of said second LED and deactivates said pump.

3. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein a water tight seal is achieved with an application of a sealant within an interior seem of said U-shaped feature.

4. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said shower enclosure is approximately nine feet in height, three feet in depth, and three feet in width.

5. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said water supply reservoir has a fluid capacity of approximately twelve gallons.

6. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said control means is a control box capable of being mounted within said vehicle.

7. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said water supply reservoir and said waste water collection tank comprise stainless steel.

8. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said water supply reservoir and said waste water collection tank comprise plastic.

9. The shower unit of claim 1 , further comprising thermally insulated polyvinylchloride fluid transfer material.

10. The shower unit of claim 1 , wherein said shower unit further comprises a shower curtain rod having a shower curtain secured upon said rod by a plurality of shower curtain rings.

11. A shower unit, comprising:

a shower enclosure comprising:

a control means in electrical communication with a power source;

a side panel having a showerhead aperture subjacent a top edge thereof, a water valve aperture vertically subjacent said showerhead aperture; and,

a floor panel defining a bowl having a drain aperture centrally disposed therewithin;

wherein said side panel is capable of being secured to an interior first side of a vehicle opposite a front end of said vehicle; and,

wherein said floor panel is capable of being secured to an interior bottom side of said vehicle;