SHOWER HEAD INSERT

Abstract

A shower head insert comprises at least two water nozzle cartridges, each having at least two nozzles configured to produce water jets that impact to atomise the liquid producing droplets of water, and an injection moulded water distribution system to supply liquid to the at least two water nozzle cartridges. The water distribution system comprises at least two sockets for receiving the water nozzle cartridges, a central water inlet conduit in liquid communication with the first socket, and a narrow bore conduit providing high pressure liquid communication between the first and second sockets. The narrow bore conduit is configured to allow removal of conduit inner mould needles from the conduit after injection moulding through an open end of the sockets and in one embodiment comprises an upwardly depending section and downwardly depending sections. A shower head or shower head assembly comprising the shower head insert, and a water nozzle cartridge for the shower head insert, are also provided.

Claims

1. A shower head insert (1) of the type comprising: at least two water nozzle cartridges (5), each having at least two nozzles (30) configured to produce water jets that impact to atomise the liquid producing droplets of water; and an injection moulded one-piece water distribution system (4) to supply liquid to the at least two water nozzle cartridges, the water distribution system comprising: at least two sockets (12A, 12B, 12C) for receiving the water nozzle cartridges (5), a central water inlet conduit (11) in liquid communication with the first socket (12A), and a narrow bore conduit (14) providing high pressure liquid communication between the first and second sockets, wherein the narrow bore conduit is angled to allow removal of conduit inner mould needles from the conduit through the at least one open end of the sockets after injection moulding.

2. A shower head insert according to claim 1, in which the narrow bore conduit is angled and comprises an upwardly depending section (17) and a downwardly section (18).

3. A shower head insert according to claim 2, in which the narrow bore conduit comprises a proximal upwardly depending section (17) and one or more distal downwardly depending sections (18).

4. A shower head insert according to claim 3, in which the water distribution system (14) comprises at least three sockets (12A, 12B, 12C)) for receipt of water nozzle cartridges (5), wherein the narrow bore conduit (14) comprises a proximal upwardly depending section (17) and at least two distal downwardly depending sections (18A, 18B).

5. A shower head insert according to any proceeding Claim, in which each water nozzle cartridge (5) is configured to fit within the socket in a fluidically tight manner and comprises a waist section (27) that defines a channel for water around the water nozzle cartridge when the cartridge is fitted in the socket.

6. A shower head insert according to claim 5, in which the inlets (31) for each of the two nozzles (30) of each water nozzle cartridge are disposed in the waist section (27) of the water nozzle cartridge.

7. A shower head insert according to claim 5 or 6, in which the cartridge comprises sealing means to fluidically seal the channel when the cartridge is fitted in the socket.

8. A shower head insert according to claim 7, in which the sealing means comprise one or resiliently deformable annular sealing rings (41) and corresponding annular sockets (40) to seat the one or more annular sealings rings.

9. A shower head insert according to any preceding Claim in which the water nozzle cartridge (5) is configured to snap-fit into the socket.

10. A shower head insert according to claim 9 in which the water nozzle cartridge (5) comprises upwardly depending arms (35) configured to engage a top (36) of the socket.

11. A shower head insert according to any proceeding Claim, in which the water nozzle cartridges are injection moulded.

12. A shower head comprising a shower head insert (1) according to any preceding Claim disposed within a shower head body.

13. A shower head according to claim 12, wherein the shower head body comprises an upper part (2) and a lower part (3) that clip together to enclose the shower head insert.

14. A shower head according to claim 12, wherein the shower head body is overmoulded around the shower head insert.

15. A shower head according to any proceeding Claim, including a base fitting (6) configured to lock the shower head inert, shower head body and water distribution system together.

16. A kit for assembling a shower head insert according to any of claims 1 to 11 or a shower head according to claim 12.

17. A water nozzle cartridge for use in a shower head and having a body configured to fit in a socket of the shower head in a fluidically tight manner and comprising at least two nozzles (30) configured to produce water jets that impact to atomise the liquid producing droplets of water, the body having an upper section (25) with an open top, a hollow lower section (26) with an open bottom, a waist section (27) disposed between the upper and hollow lower sections that in use defines a channel for water around the water nozzle cartridge when the cartridge is fitted in a socket of the shower head, wherein each nozzle comprises an inlet (31) disposed on an outer surface of the waist section, and an outlet (32) configured to direct the water jet into the hollow lower section such that the water jets impact within the hollow lower section.

18. A water nozzle cartridge according to claim 17, in which the upper and skirt sections of the cartridge comprise sealing means to fluidically seal the channel when the cartridge is fitted in the socket.

19. A water nozzle cartridge according to claim 18, in which the sealing means comprise one or resiliently deformable annular sealing rings (41) and corresponding annular sockets (40) to seat the one or more annular sealings rings.

20. A water nozzle cartridge according to claim 19, in which the lower section of the cartridge comprises two or more sealing rings (1) of different diameter.

21. A water nozzle cartridge according to any of claims 17 to 20, in which the water nozzle cartridge is configured to snap-fit into the socket.

22. A water nozzle cartridge according to claim 21, in which the water nozzle cartridge comprises upwardly depending arms (35) configured to engage a top of the socket.

23. A shower head insert (1) of the type comprising: at least two water nozzle cartridges (5), each having at least two nozzles (30) configured to produce water jets that impact to atomise the liquid producing droplets of water; and an injection moulded water distribution system (4) to supply liquid to the at least two water nozzle cartridges and comprising at least two sockets (12A, 12B, 12C) for receiving the water nozzle cartridges (5) in a fluidically tight manner, a central water inlet conduit (11) in liquid communication with the first socket (12A), and a narrow bore conduit (14) providing high pressure liquid communication between the first and second sockets, wherein the narrow bore conduit is angled to allow removal of conduit inner mould needles from the conduit through the at least one open end of the sockets after injection moulding, wherein each water nozzle cartridge comprises a body having an upper section (25) with an open top, a hollow lower section (26) with an open bottom, and a waist section (27) disposed between the upper and hollow lower sections that in use defines a channel for water around the water nozzle cartridge when the cartridge is fitted in a socket of the shower head, wherein each nozzle comprises an inlet (31) disposed on an outer surface of the waist section, and an outlet (32) configured to direct the water jet into the hollow lower section such that the water jets impact within the hollow lower section.

24. A shower head insert (1) comprising three water nozzle cartridges (5), wherein the water distribution system (4) comprises three sockets (12A, 12B, 12C) for receiving the water nozzle cartridges (5) in a fluidically tight manner.

25. A shower head insert (1) according to claim 23 or 24, in which the upper and hollow lower sections of the cartridge comprise sealing means to fluidically seal the channel when the cartridge is fitted in the socket.

26. A shower head insert (1) according to claim 25, in which the sealing means comprise one or resiliently deformable annular sealing rings (41) and corresponding annular sockets (40) to seat the one or more annular sealings rings.

27. A shower head comprising a shower head insert (1) of any of claims 23 to 26 disposed within a shower head body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower head according to the invention, shown from above;

[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shower head according to the invention, shown from below, and showing the three water nozzle cartridges;

[0050] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a part of FIG. 2 showing one of the water nozzle cartridges;

[0051] FIGS. 4A and 4B (comparative) are views of a water nozzle cartridge of the prior art;

[0052] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views of a water nozzle cartridge of the invention and forming part of the insert of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the shower head of FIG. 1 showing the two-part shower head body, the water distribution system, three water nozzle cartridges, and the base fitting;

[0054] FIG. 7A is a perspective view from above of the shower head insert of the invention clipped into place in the bottom part of the shower head body;

[0055] FIG. 7B is a perspective view with a cutaway of the water distribution system with a cut-away showing the inside of two of the sockets and part of the narrow bore conduit;

[0056] FIG. 8A is a perspective view from above of the water distribution system of the invention;

[0057] FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken along the lines I-I of FIG. 8A; and

[0058] FIG. 8C is a top plan view of a section of the water distribution system taken at a mid-height of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] All publications, patents, patent applications and other references mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes as if each individual publication, patent or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and the content thereof recited in full.

[0060] Definitions and General Preferences

[0061] Where used herein and unless specifically indicated otherwise, the following terms are intended to have the following meanings in addition to any broader (or narrower) meanings the terms might enjoy in the art:

[0062] Unless otherwise required by context, the use herein of the singular is to be read to include the plural and vice versa. The term “a” or “an” used in relation to an entity is to be read to refer to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” are used interchangeably herein.

[0063] As used herein, the term “comprise,” or variations thereof such as “comprises” or “comprising,” are to be read to indicate the inclusion of any recited integer (e.g. a feature, element, characteristic, property, method/process step or limitation) or group of integers (e.g. features, element, characteristics, properties, method/process steps or limitations) but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Thus, as used herein the term “comprising” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited integers or method/process steps.

[0064] It will be appreciated that the water nozzle cartridge and water distribution system of the present invention may be used with liquids other than water, for example aqueous and non-aqueous solutions such as detergent, cosmetic and dermatology compositions.

Exemplification

[0065] The invention will now be described with reference to specific Examples. These are merely exemplary and for illustrative purposes only: they are not intended to be limiting in any way to the scope of the monopoly claimed or to the invention described. These examples constitute the best mode currently contemplated for practicing the invention.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a shower head according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 and comprising a shower body with an upper part 2 and a lower part 3, an injection moulded water distribution system 4, three water nozzle cartridges 5, a base fitting 6, and clamp ring 7.

[0067] Referring also to FIGS. 7 and 8, the water distribution system comprises a central water inlet 11 that feeds into a first socket 12A through a first inlet 13A. A narrow bore conduit 14 provides fluid communication from the first socket 12A via an outlet 15 to the second and third sockets 12B and 12C. The narrow bore conduit 14 is comprises a proximal upwardly depending section 17 that bifurcates into two distal downwardly depending sections 18A and 18B that feed into the second and third sockets 12B, 12C, respectively. As indicated in FIG. 8B, the proximal upwardly depending section 17 is angled to allow an inner mould needle (not shown) be retracted from the conduit section 17 through an open base 20 of the first socket 12A, after injection moulding. Similarly, the distal downwardly depending sections 18A and 18B are angled to allow an inner mould needle (not shown) be retracted from the conduit section 17 through an open base 21 of the second and third sockets 12B, 12C, after injection moulding. Although not illustrated, it would be possible to design the system such that he inner mould needles could be removed through an open top of the sockets, with would involve providing the narrow bore conduit in an inverted form.

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a water nozzle cartridge 5 of the invention is illustrated in more details. The cartridge 5 comprises a body with a hollow upper section 25, hollow lower section 26, and waist section 27 disposed between the upper and lower sections. The purpose of the waist section is to provide an annular water channel around the cartridge when the cartridge is fitted into the socket. Annular seats 40 (FIG. 5B) are provided on the upper and lower sections of the cartridge for receipt of rubber sealing rings 41 (FIG. 5A), that in use fluidically seal the cartridge in the socket and fluidically seal with waist section 27 ensuring that no water escapes from the socket above or below the waist section thereby maintaining operational water pressure. The waist section 27 includes two angled nozzles 30 (shown in broken lines) with inlets 31 disposed on an outer face of the waist section and outlets 32 disposed to project the water jets into the lower section 26 where they impinge inside the hollow lower section and atomise, producing droplets. Locking clips 35 are provided at the top of the cartridge, and in use engage clip on to a top lip 36 of the socket. In comparison, and referring to comparative FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cartridges are squatter and have water inlets at the top A where the pressurised water is supplied, which causes a downward pressure on the cartridge, necessitating that the cartridges have threads B to allow them threadingly engage with the sockets.

[0069] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the lower part 3 of the shower head body comprises a triangular cut-out 40 into which the base fitting 6 (which is attached to the water distribution system) fits. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the underside of the shower head, where the lower end of the cartridges 5 and water outlets 32 visible.

[0070] All of the parts are made by injection moulding. In the embodiment shown, and with reference to FIG. 6, the shower head comprises eight parts, one of which is the water distribution system which can be injection moulded in one piece. The shower head is assembled by first removing the inner mould needles from he conduits (three needles in this embodiment), and then inserting the three cartridges into their respective sockets via the open lower end of the sockets. The base fitting is then attached to the water distribution system, and then both are attached to the lower part of the shower head body. Finally, the upper part of the shower head fitting is clipped to the lower part, and the sealing ring fitted.

[0071] In use, the central water inlet conduit is fitted to a water supply, and the water turned on. High pressure water travels through the inlet conduit and into the annular conduit defined by the waist section of the cartridge and the socket, where high pressure water enters the two nozzles producing two impinging jets of high-pressure water inside the hollow section of the lower section of the cartridge. High pressure water in the annular conduit also enters the narrow bore conduit and travels to the second and third sockets where it enters corresponding annular conduits and enters the nozzles of the second and third conduits, producing two impinging jets of high-pressure water per cartridge. Thus, the shower head produces three pairs of impinging water jets which atomise to produce a shower of atomised water droplets.

Equivalents

[0072] The foregoing description details presently preferred embodiments of the present invention. Numerous modifications and variations in practice thereof are expected to occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of these descriptions. Those modifications and variations are intended to be encompassed within the claims appended hereto.