Plumbing System for a Shower

Abstract

A prefabricated plumbing system or wall system for a shower includes a support frame, a plumbing system carried by the support frame and an enclosure member for enclosing the plumbing system within the support frame. The plumbing system includes a piping configuration for carrying a plurality of body spray mountings and includes a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, water mixing valve arrangement and a control valve arrangement. Each body spray mounting supports a body spray unit and forms a jet array consisting of spray units. Control valves control the volume of water supplied to the body spray units and the water volume supplied to the water delivering devices. The prefabricated system is adapted to be manufactured as a unit and then shipped for installation in a shower as a unit. A steam seat arrangement for converting a shower into a steam bath is also provided.

1 . A prefabricated plumbing system for a shower, comprising:
 a support frame,   a plumbing system including a piping configuration and carried by the support frame, and   a protective enclosure member for enclosing the plumbing system within the support frame, and   wherein the prefabricated plumbing system is adapted to form an enclosure for its positioning behind a wall of the shower.   
   
   
       2 . The prefabricated plumbing system of  claim 1  wherein the piping configuration includes a plurality of body spray mountings for supporting a plurality of body spray units. 
   
   
       3 . The prefabricated plumbing system of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of control valves for controlling the water being delivered to the plurality of body spray units. 
   
   
       4 . The prefabricated plumbing system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of body spray mountings includes at least four body spray mountings. 
   
   
       5 . The prefabricated plumbing system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of body spray mountings includes at least six body spray mountings. 
   
   
       6 . The prefabricated plumbing system of  claim 1  wherein the piping configuration is adapted to carry a plurality of body spray mountings, and further includes a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, water mixing valve arrangement and a control valve arrangement. 
   
   
       7 . A wall system for a shower, comprising:
 a support frame,   a plumbing system including a piping configuration and carried by the support frame, and   a protective enclosure member for enclosing the plumbing system within the support frame, and   wherein the prefabricated plumbing system is adapted to form an enclosure for its positioning behind a wall of the shower.   
   
   
       8 . The wall system of  claim 7  wherein the piping configuration includes a plurality of body spray mountings for supporting a plurality of body spray units. 
   
   
       9 . The wall system of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of control valves for controlling the water being delivered to the plurality of body spray units. 
   
   
       10 . The wall system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of body spray mountings includes at least four body spray mountings. 
   
   
       11 . The wall system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of body spray mountings includes at least six body spray mountings. 
   
   
       12 . The wall system of  claim 7  wherein the piping configuration is adapted to carry a plurality of body spray mountings, and further includes a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, water mixing valve arrangement and a control valve arrangement. 
   
   
       13 . A pre-plumbed steam seat arrangement for a shower enclosure, comprising:
 a support frame,   a seat on the support frame,   a steam generator housed in the support frame for generating steam,   a power supply line for the steam generator,   a water supply line for supplying water to the steam generator,   a control and temperature sensor, and   a timer for setting the control to supply steam into the shower enclosure at predetermined times.   
   
   
       14 . A method for manufacturing a shower, the steps comprising:
 a) providing a prefabricated plumbing system comprising a support frame, a plumbing system including a piping configuration and carried by the support frame, and a protective enclosure member for enclosing the plumbing system within the support frame, and wherein the prefabricated plumbing system is adapted to form an enclosure for its positioning behind a wall of the shower,   b) attaching the support frame to a support,   c) connecting the piping configuration to a hot water supply line and to a cold water supply line, and   d) connecting a plurality of shower fixtures and a plurality of control knobs to the piping configuration.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , the steps further including:
 prior to performing at least step d), installing a wall over the prefabricated plumbing system.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  the steps further including manufacturing the prefabricated plumbing system at a plant site and then shipping it to an installation site for installation in the shower. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  the steps further including providing the plurality of shower fixtures with a plurality of body spray units; and providing the piping configuration with a plurality of body spray mountings for supporting the plurality of body spray units. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  the steps further including providing the plurality of body spray mountings with at least four body spray mountings. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  the steps further including providing the plurality of body spray mountings with at least six body spray mountings. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  the steps further including providing the piping configuration with at least one control valve arrangement for controlling the water being delivered to the plurality of shower fixtures and for supporting the plurality of control knobs.