Shower column assembly
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsBrandon H. MILLER, Liam J. MACGILLIVRAY, Jack E. DAVIES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shower column assembly includes a shower rail and a quick-connect system. The quick-connect system includes an arm attachment, an intermediate fitting, and a collar. A first end of the arm attachment is mountable to a fluid conduit. At least a portion of the arm attachment at a second end of the arm attachment is sized to be received within the intermediate fitting and the collar. The collar is configured to slidably engage with the intermediate fitting and press against the intermediate fitting to deform the intermediate fitting over the second end of the arm attachment.
Claims20
A shower column assembly, comprising:
- a shower rail;
- and
- a quick-connect system, comprising:
- an arm attachment comprising a ball fitting;
- an intermediate fitting extending radially away from the shower rail, the intermediate fitting comprising a plurality of fingers;
- and
- a collar configured to couple the intermediate fitting to the ball fitting by pressing the plurality of fingers against the ball fitting when engaging the intermediate fitting.
A shower column assembly, comprising:
- a shower rail;
- and
- an intermediate fitting extending radially away from the shower rail, the intermediate fitting comprising a plurality of arcuate fingers configured to receive a ball fitting therein, the plurality of arcuate fingers curving radially inwardly toward a central axis of the intermediate fitting moving from a proximal end to a distal end thereof.
A method of installing a shower rail of a shower column assembly, the method comprising:
- inserting a ball fitting into an opening defined by a plurality of fingers of an intermediate fitting, the intermediate fitting extending radially away from the shower rail;
- and
- coupling the intermediate fitting to the ball fitting by engaging a collar with the intermediate fitting to press the plurality of fingers against the ball fitting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.