SPRAY HEAD

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a spray head comprising an inlet for receiving fluid and a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein each one of the plurality of nozzles is adapted to produce, when in use, a continuous jet of fluid having an elongate transverse cross-section.

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A spray head comprising: an inlet for receiving fluid; and a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the inlet; wherein each one of the plurality of nozzles is adapted to produce, when in use, a continuous jet of fluid having an elongate transverse cross-section.

23. The spray head of claim 22, wherein each nozzle has an elongate transverse cross-section having a major axis of a first length and a minor axis of a second length, wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

24. The spray head of claim 23, wherein the elongate transverse cross-section is generally in the form of a rhombus.

25. The spray head of claim 22, wherein each nozzle defines a nozzle opening that is outwardly curved with respect to a base of the spray head.

26. The spray head of claim 25, further including a recess disposed about each nozzle opening.

27. The spray head of claim 26, wherein the recess extends into the base of the spray head about the nozzle opening such that the nozzle opening is at least partially inset from the base.

28. The spray head of claim 27, wherein the recess includes a base, a first pair of opposite sides extending from the base, and a second pair of opposite sides extending from the base, and wherein the first pair of opposite sides is generally perpendicular to the major axis, and the second pair of the opposite sides is generally parallel to the major axis.

29. The spray head of claim 28, wherein the first pair of opposite sides diverge outwardly toward the base of the spray head to define a splay angle of the jet of fluid.

30. The spray head of claim 29, wherein the splay angle is between approximately 22° and 46°.

31. The spray head of claim 25, wherein each nozzle is inclined inwardly toward a centre of the base of the spray head at an angle of inclination of between approximately 6.5° to 11°.

32. The spray head of claim 28, wherein each nozzle includes a nozzle wall that extends from the base of the recess toward the nozzle opening, wherein the nozzle wall has a maximum height at a longitudinal and transverse centre of the nozzle opening, and wherein the nozzle wall gradually decreases in height outwardly of the longitudinal and transverse centre.

33. The spray head of claim 32, wherein the nozzle wall defines an edge surrounding the nozzle opening, wherein the edge is configured to reduce or prevent fluid dripping from the nozzle when not in use.

34. The spray head of claim 25, wherein each nozzle has an elongate transverse cross-section and wherein together, the elongate transverse cross-section of the nozzle and the outwardly curved nozzle opening are adapted to produce, when in use, the continuous jet of fluid having the elongate transverse cross-section.

35. The spray head of claim 34, wherein each nozzle is configured such that the continuous jet of fluid does not disintegrate into discrete fluid droplets until approximately 30 mm from the base of the spray head.

36. The spray head of claim 22, further including a plurality of fluid conduits in fluid communication with the inlet, each conduit configured to also be in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles.

37. The spray head of claim 36, wherein each nozzle defines a nozzle opening that is outwardly curved with respect to a base of the spray head, and wherein the spray head further includes a plurality of nozzle bodies, each nozzle body connectable to a respective one of the plurality of fluid conduits, wherein each nozzle body comprises a first conduit section, a second conduit section, and a third conduit section, wherein the first conduit section has a generally constant cross-section, wherein the second conduit section has a converging cross-section which converges toward the third conduit section, and wherein the third conduit section defines the nozzle opening.

38. The spray head of claim 37, wherein the third conduit section has a longitudinal axis that is approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second conduit section.

39. The spray head of claim 37, wherein each nozzle body is removably insertable into a housing of the spray head.

40. The spray head of claim 39, wherein each nozzle body includes a stop on an outer surface thereof to restrict the body from moving with respect to the housing when inserted therein.

41. The spray head of claim 22, wherein the spray head is in the form of a shower head.

42. A nozzle body installable within a spray head, the nozzle body comprising an inlet for receiving fluid, and an outlet, wherein the nozzle body is adapted to produce, when in use, a continuous jet of fluid having an elongate transverse cross-section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a photograph of a spray head in the form of a shower head according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a shower head similar to that shown in FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the shower head of FIG. 2;

[0035] FIG. 4A is a close-up perspective view of a nozzle of the shower head of FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4B is another close-up perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 4A;

[0037] FIG. 4C is another close-up view of the nozzle of FIG. 4A; FIG. 4D is a close-up bottom view of a section of the shower head of FIG. 2;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shower head of FIG. 2;

[0039] FIG. 6A is a partial cross-sectional view of the shower head of FIG. 2;

[0040] FIG. 6B is another partial cross-sectional view of the shower head of FIG. 2;

[0041] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a spray head in the form of a shower head according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 8A is a close-up perspective view of a nozzle of the shower head of FIG. 7; and

[0043] FIG. 8B is another close-up perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0044] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a photograph of a spray head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The spray head is in the form of a shower head 10 for use in a shower, albeit the spray head described herein could alternatively be in the form of a hand shower or other similar spray head.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 2, the shower head 10 includes a generally cylindrical housing 12, a central inlet 14 for receiving fluid, typically water, from a fluid conduit connected to a water supply (not shown), and a plurality of nozzles 18 (FIG. 3) disposed in a base 20 of the housing 12. Each one of the plurality of nozzles 18 is adapted to produce, when in use, a continuous jet of fluid 22 (FIG. 1) having an elongate transverse cross-section. Each jet of fluid 22 is “continuous” in the sense that it is a substantially integral body of fluid.

[0047] As is shown in FIG. 1, each jet of fluid 22 splays outwardly from a respective nozzle 18 and therefore appears generally “bell” shaped in side cross-section. The nozzles 18 of the shower head 10 are configured such that each jet or body of fluid 22 does not disintegrate into discrete water droplets until approximately 30 mm from the base 20 of the spray head. It has been discovered that such a flow pattern produces a satisfying spray, even at low water flow rates.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the shower head 10 showing its generally cylindrical housing 12 and central inlet 14. FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the shower head 10 showing the plurality of nozzles 18, which are circumferentially disposed equidistantly from one another about the base 20 of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the shower head 10 includes fifteen such nozzles 18. A skilled person will appreciate however that the number and arrangement of nozzles could be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 4A is a close-up perspective view of a single nozzle 18 of the plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles 18 is of the same form and dimension. As is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the nozzle 18 has an elongate transverse cross-section 24 generally in the form of a rhombus with curved vertices. The elongate transverse cross-section 24 defines a major (or transverse) axis 26 having a length of approximately 6.5 mm, and a minor axis 28 having a length of approximately 7.5 mm. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that these lengths are merely exemplary and that slight variations of these lengths would merely result in a change in a splay angle of the exiting fluid (described below).

[0050] As is more clearly shown in FIG. 4B, the nozzle 18 defines a nozzle opening 30 that is outwardly curved (or convex) in the major (or transverse) axis 26 with respect to the base 20 of the housing 12. Together, the elongate transverse cross-section 24 of the nozzle 18 and the outwardly curved nozzle opening 30 are adapted to produce, when in use, the continuous jet of fluid 22 having the likewise elongate transverse cross-section that appears generally in the form of a “bell” in side cross-section. As is shown particularly in FIG. 4D, each nozzle 18 is also inclined slightly inwardly toward a centre 32 (FIG. 1) of the base 20 of the shower head 10 at an angle of inclination of approximately 6.5°.

[0051] The shower head 10 further includes a recess 40 disposed about each nozzle opening 30. In the manner described below, the recess 40 is configured to define a splay angle of the jet of fluid 22 exiting the nozzle 18. As is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the recess 40 extends into the base 20 about the outwardly curved nozzle opening 30. The recess 40 includes a base 41, a first pair of opposite sides 42 extending from the base 41, and a second pair of opposite sides 44 extending from the base 41. The first pair of opposite sides 42 is generally perpendicular to the major (or transverse) axis 26 of the nozzle 18 (and generally parallel to the minor axis 28). The second pair of opposite sides 44 is generally parallel to the major (or transverse) axis 26 of the nozzle 18 (and generally perpendicular to the minor axis 28). As is shown particularly in FIG. 4B, the first pair of opposite sides 42 diverge outwardly at a similar angle toward the base of the spay head 20 from a position approximately adjacent opposite longitudinal ends 46 of the nozzle opening 30. The outwardly diverging sides 42 thereby define a splay angle of the jet of fluid 22 emanating from the nozzle opening 30. The splay angle is approximately 46°. In an alternative non-illustrated embodiment of the spray head, the splay angle may be approximately 22°.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shower head 10 showing a plurality of fluid conduits 50 in fluid communication with the inlet 14 via a generally cylindrical inner chamber 52 disposed below the inlet 14 in the housing 12. Each one of the plurality of fluid conduits 50 is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles 18. As such, water entering the inlet 14 via a water supply (not shown) is routed to the nozzles 18 via a respective fluid conduit 50. As is shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of fluid conduits 50 extend generally radially outwardly from the cylindrical inner chamber 52 and are disposed equidistantly from one another. The shower head 10 includes fifteen such fluid conduits 50.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, each one of the fluid conduits 50 includes a first conduit section 60, a second conduit section 62 downstream of the first conduit section 60, and a third conduit section 64 downstream of the second conduit section 62, which third conduit section 64 defines the nozzle 18. In this context, “downstream” refers to a direction of fluid flow from the inlet 14 to a nozzle opening 30.

[0054] The first conduit section 60 has a constant circular cross-section with a diameter of approximately 4 mm and a first conduit length of approximately 41 mm. In an alternative non-illustrated embodiment of the spray head in the form of a hand shower, the first conduit length may be approximately 31 mm. The first conduit section 60 transitions into the second conduit section 62 at a downstream end thereof. The second conduit section 62 has a converging “cone-like” cross-section which converges downstream toward the third conduit section 64 and which is configured to accelerate the flow to the third conduit section 64 or nozzle 18. The second conduit section 62 has a second conduit length of approximately 8 mm. The second conduit section 62 transitions into the third conduit section 64 via a circular aperture 66 disposed at a downstream end thereof. The circular aperture 66 has a diameter of approximately 1 mm. The third conduit section 64 defines a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first and second conduit sections 60, 62.

[0055] The third conduit section 64 includes a curved outer water guide surface 70 which curves outwardly and downwardly from the circular aperture 66 toward the nozzle opening 30, and which is configured to guide water in the third conduit section 64 toward the nozzle opening 30. The nozzle opening 30 terminates the third conduit section 64.

[0056] The construction and arrangement of the first, second, and third fluid conduit sections 60, 62, 64, and in particular, the circular aperture 66 and the curved outer water guide surface 70 thereof, are such that a continuous body or jet of fluid is created at the nozzle opening 30, as opposed to a stream of discrete water droplets, which may occur in other shower heads of the prior art.

[0057] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a spray head according to a second embodiment of the invention. The spray head is in the form of shower head 100, albeit the spray head could alternatively be in the form of a hand shower or other similar spray head.

[0058] The shower head 100 is substantially similar to the shower head 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, and includes substantially all of the features described above in relation to the shower head 10, but for the additional features described below.

[0059] The shower head 100 comprises a housing 112 that defines a plurality of fluid conduits 50 (one of which is shown in FIG. 7) that extend radially outwardly from the central inlet 114, and are disposed equidistantly from one another. The shower head 100 also includes a plurality of nozzle bodies 118, each of which is connectable to a respective one of the plurality of fluid conduits 150 so as to be in fluid communication therewith.

[0060] Each nozzle body 118 comprises a first conduit section 160, a second conduit section 162, and a third conduit section 164. The first conduit section 160 has a constant circular cross-section and is configured to be fluidly connected to the conduit 150. The first conduit section 160 transitions into the second conduit section 162 at a downstream end thereof. The second conduit section 162 has a converging “cone-like” cross-section which converges downstream toward the third conduit section 164, and which is configured to accelerate the flow to third conduit section 164. The third conduit section 164 is terminated by the nozzle opening 130. The third conduit section 164 defines a longitudinal axis that is approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second conduit section 162.

[0061] Each nozzle body 118 is removably insertable into the housing 112 of the spray head 110 by being press-fitted therein. Each nozzle body 118 also includes a stop (not shown) on an outer surface thereof to restrict the body 118 from moving with respect to the housing 112 when the body 118 is inserted therein.

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, it can be seen that the nozzle 118 is similar to the nozzle 18 in many respects, including in that the nozzle opening 130 has an elongate transverse cross-section generally in the form of a rhombus. The nozzle 118, however, includes a nozzle wall 180 that extends from adjacent the base 141 of the recess 140 to define the nozzle opening 130. Similar to the nozzle 18, the nozzle 118 has a nozzle opening 130 that is outwardly curved (or convex) with respect to the base 141 of the recess 140.

[0063] The nozzle wall 180 is configured such that it has a maximum height at a longitudinal and transverse centre of the nozzle opening 130. The nozzle wall 180 gradually decreases in height outwardly of the longitudinal and transverse centre such that the nozzle wall 180 has a minimum height at opposite longitudinal ends 146 of the nozzle opening 130. The nozzle wall 180 defines an edge 182 surrounding the nozzle opening 180. The edge 182 is configured to reduce or prevent fluid dripping from the nozzle 118 when not in use. Similar to the nozzle 18, the nozzle 118 includes first and second pairs 142, 144 of opposite sides that extend from adjacent the base 141 of recess 140, wherein the first pair of opposite sides 142 diverge outwardly toward the base of the spray head 120 to define the splay angle of the jet of fluid.

[0064] The nozzle body 118 also includes two spaced-apart circumferential recesses located about the first conduit section 160, which recesses are dimensioned to respectively receive an O-ring 190. The O-rings 190 are configured to sealingly connect the first conduit section 160 of the nozzle body 118 to the fluid conduit 150 of the spray head. As is explained above, the flow pattern produced by the present shower head 10 and the shower head 100 has been found to be a satisfying alternative to flow patterns produced by other shower heads of the prior art.

[0065] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.