Showerhead
09839923 · 2017-12-12
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B05B15/5225
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
E03C2201/70
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
B05B15/52
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B1/3006
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B1/185
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B15/525
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
The showerhead has a hollow body (10) provided with an inlet nozzle (11) and with a sieve (C) perforated by holes (13) and a cleaning device (40) carrying a plurality of lower pins (41) and displaceable, in the interior of the hollow body (10), between an inoperative position, with the pins (41) spaced from the sieve (C), and an operative position, with each pin (41) introduced into one hole (13) of the sieve (C) and defining at least one water outlet with the hole (13). A driving element (50) is associated with the inlet nozzle (11) and is affixed to the cleaning device (40), in order to maintain it in the inoperative position, while the hydraulic pressure in the inlet nozzle (11) is less than a reference value and displacing the cleaning device (40) to the operative position, when the hydraulic pressure reaches the reference value. A biasing element (60) displaces the driving element (50) and the cleaning means (40) to the inoperative position, when the hydraulic pressure is lower than the reference value.
Claims
1. A shower head, comprising a hollow body (10) having an inlet nozzle (11) connectable with a water supply pipe, and a lower wall (12) defined by a sieve (C) perforated by a plurality of holes (13); cleaning means (40) mounted in an interior of the hollow body (10), carrying a plurality of downwardly projecting pins (41) and displaceable between an inoperative position in which the plurality of pins (41) are spaced from the plurality of holes (13) in the sieve (C), and an operative position in which each of the plurality of pins (41) is introduced in a respective hole (13) of the plurality of holes in the sieve (C) and defines at least one outlet (S) with the respective hole (13); a conical seat (70) provided in the interior of the hollow body (10) and having an outer end (71) maintained in a constant fluid communication with the inlet nozzle (11), and an inner end (72) open to the interior of the hollow body (10), driving means (50) having a piston (51) provided with a base end (51a) affixed to the cleaning means (40) and a top end (51b) cooperating with the inner end (72) of the conical seat (70) in the inoperative position of the cleaning means (40) retaining the cleaning means (40) in the inoperative position thereof when a hydraulic pressure in an interior of the inlet nozzle (11) and the conical seat (70) upstream of the piston (51) is less than a reference value, and displacing the cleaning means (40) to the operative position thereof when the hydraulic pressure reaches the reference value; and biasing means (60) mounted in the interior of the hollow body (10) displacing the driving means (50), together with the cleaning means (40), to the inoperative position of the cleaning means (40) when the hydraulic pressure is less than the reference value.
2. The showerhead according to claim 1, wherein the conical seat (70) and the piston (51) allow a restricted fluid communication between the inlet nozzle (11) and the interior of the hollow body (10) when the cleaning means (40) is in the inoperative position, and a full fluid communication between the inlet nozzle (11) and the interior of the hollow body (10), when the cleaning means (40) is displaced to the operative position.
3. The showerhead according to claim 2, wherein the conical seat (70) is provided with a plurality of inner axial recesses (75), extended to the inner end (72) of the conical seat (70) and partially open to respective lower radial recesses (76), which are also provided in the inner end (72) of the conical seat (70), defining the restricted communication between the inlet nozzle (11) and the interior of the hollow body (10), upon start of the showerhead operation.
4. The showerhead according to claim 1, wherein the conical seat (70) and the piston (51) eliminate any fluid communication between the inlet nozzle (11) and the interior of the hollow body (10) when the cleaning means (40) is in the inoperative position, and provide a partial fluid communication between the inlet nozzle (11) and the interior of the hollow body (10), when the cleaning means (40) is initially displaced downwardly, as a function of the supply hydraulic pressure, and a full fluid communication between the inlet nozzle (11) and the interior of the hollow body (10), when the cleaning means (40) is displaced to the operative position, with the pins (41) introduced into the respective holes (13) of the sieve (C).
5. The showerhead according to claim 2, wherein the biasing means (60) comprises a helical spring (61) having one end seated on the sieve (C) and an opposite end seated against one of parts defined by the piston (51) and by the cleaning means (40).
6. The showerhead according to claim 5, wherein the piston (51) has a tubular shape with its base end (51a) open and turned to the sieve (C).
7. The showerhead according to claim 6, wherein the opposite end of the helical spring (61) is fit ted in the interior of the piston (51) and is seated 10 under the top end (51b) of the piston.
8. The showerhead according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body (10) has a lateral wall (14), having a lower edge (14a), against which is seated and affixed a peripheral region of the sieve (C), and an upper edge (14b) incorporating a peripheral region of an upper wall (15), the conical seat (70) being defined by a central projection descending from the upper wall (15).
9. The showerhead according to claim 8, wherein the lower edge (14a) of the lateral wall (14) has a thread (14c) to which a ring (30) for fixation of the sieve (C) is threaded.
10. The showerhead according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means (40) comprises a grid (42) guided in the interior of the hollow body (10) of the showerhead and carrying the -downwardly projecting plurality of pins (41).
11. The showerhead according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water outlet (S), defined in each of the plurality of holes (13) of the sieve (C), when the cleaning means (40) is in the operative position, has a cross section area sufficient for the formation of a desired water flow to be released by the showerhead.
12. The showerhead, according to claim 1, wherein the lower wall (12) of the hollow body (10) incorporates a central tubular nozzle (16), having an outer end (16a) provided with a stop means (B) and an inner end (16b) against which is seated the driving means (50) when the cleaning means (40) is taken to its operative position, an interior of the central tubular nozzle (16) being slidingly mounted to a plunger (80), manually displaceable to an inactive position, in which the plunger is seated, by actuation of the biasing means (60), against the stop means (B), to an active position, with the plunger (80) seated against the driving means (50) and axially displacing the cleaning means (40) upwards and towards its inoperative position, against the action of the impelling means (60) and of the hydraulic pressure in the inlet nozzle (11).
13. The showerhead, according to claim 12, wherein the stop means (B), provided in the outer end (16a) of the tubular nozzle (16), is defined by an annular flange (17).
14. The showerhead, according to claim 12, wherein the plunger (80) is in form of a cup (81) comprising a lateral wall (82), telescopically sliding in the interior of the central tubular nozzle (16), and a lower end wall (83) against which is seated an adjacent end of the biasing means (60).
15. The showerhead, according to claim 14, wherein the inner end (16b) of the central tubular nozzle (16) projects, to the interior of the hollow body (10) of the showerhead, through a tubular wall (16c), the lateral wall (82) of the cup (81) being provided with at least one peripheral groove (84) in which is housed a sealing ring (90), which is radially and slidingly pressed against the tubular wall (16c).
16. The showerhead, according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pines (41) are loosely introduced in the plurality of holes (13) of the sieve (C), defining the at least one water outlet (S), of annular shape, in a gap defined between the pin (41) and an inner wall of the respective hole (13).
17. The showerhead, according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes (13) of the sieve (C) present an inverted frusto-conical shape, each pin (41) presenting a body (41a) with a corresponding frusto-conical shape to be fitted, with no gap, in an interior of a respective hole (13) of the sieve (C), said body (41a) carrying an upper neck (41b), to be mounted to the cleaning means (40), the body (41a) being provided with a plurality of outer axial grooves (41c), which define, each one, with an inner wall of the respective hole (13) of the sieve (C), the at least one water outlet (S).
18. The showerhead, according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of pins (41) has the upper neck (41b) thereof fitted, with a gap, through a respective window (42a) provided in a grid (42) and incorporating an end widening (41d) to be seated on the cleaning means (40), each pin (41) being manually and individually upwardly displaceable, in order to completely release the respective hole (13) of the sieve (C).
19. The showerhead, according to claim 1, wherein each pin (41) incorporates at least one lower guide means (41e) in the form of least one lower axial projection of the body (41a) of the pin (41) and having an axial length sufficient to remain partially fitted in the interior of the respective hole (13) of the sieve (C) when the pin (41) is found in the inoperative position of the cleaning means (40).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be described below, with reference being made to the appended drawings, given by way of example of a possible embodiment of the invention and in which:
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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(14) As already mentioned and illustrated in the appended drawings, the present showerhead comprises a hollow body 10 formed of any adequate material and provided with an inlet nozzle 11, to be coupled to a water supply pipe (not illustrated), and with a lower wall 12, defined by a sieve C perforated by a plurality of holes 13.
(15) According to the two illustrated constructions, the hollow body 10 presents a lateral wall 14, generally cylindrical, but which may be square, rectangular, oval, etc., having a lower edge 14a, whose sealing, in relation to a peripheral region of the lower wall 12, is effected by an O′ring 20, and an upper edge 14b incorporating a peripheral region of an upper wall 15, wherefrom the inlet nozzle 11 projects outwards.
(16) The inlet nozzle 11 may have the form of a tubular sleeve which is internally or externally threaded, so as to receive the end of the supply pipe (not illustrated), defining a rigid connection between the latter and the hollow body 10 of the showerhead.
(17) In the illustrated constructions, the inlet nozzle 11 defines, internally, the housing for a spherical inner end 18a of a tubular connector 18, whose outer end 18b is configured to be threaded to the supply pipe.
(18) The inlet nozzle 11 further presents an inner groove 11a in the interior of which is housed an O′ring 19, made of elastomer, in order to guarantee the sealing between the spherical inner end 18a and the inlet nozzle 11.
(19) The particular way by which O′ring 19 is maintained in position in the interior of the inlet nozzle 11, will be described hereinafter.
(20) The lower edge 14a of the lateral wall 14 presents a thread 14c, preferably (but not necessarily) external, in which is threaded a ring 30 for fixation of the sieve C in the hollow body 10.
(21) According to the invention, the showerhead further comprises a cleaning means 40 mounted in the interior of the hollow body 10, carrying a plurality of downwardly projecting pins 41, the cleaning means 40 being displaceable between an inoperative position (
(22) One of the parts defined by the lower face of the cleaning means 40 and the upper face of sieve C may further incorporate a plurality of small eccentric axial projections 44 (see
(23) The showerhead further comprises a driving means 50, operatively associated with the inlet nozzle 11 and affixed to the cleaning means 40, maintaining the latter in said inoperative position, while the hydraulic pressure in the interior of inlet nozzle 11 is inferior to a reference value, and displacing said cleaning means to the operative position, when said hydraulic pressure reaches the reference value.
(24) An impelling means 60 is mounted in the interior of the hollow body 10, for displacing the driving means 50 and the cleaning means 40 to the inoperative position, when the hydraulic pressure in the interior of inlet nozzle 11 is inferior to said reference value.
(25) In the constructive illustrated forms, the hollow body 10 is provided, in the interior of the inlet nozzle 11, with a conical seat 70, of tubular shape and preferably threaded in the interior of the inlet nozzle 11, and which projects downwardly from the upper wall 15 of the hollow body 10 and is also axially aligned with the inlet nozzle 11.
(26) The conical seat 70 presents an outer end 71 open to the interior of the inlet nozzle 11, and an inner end 72 open to the interior of the hollow body 10. The outer end 71 of the conical seat 70 has the function of defining the lower axial retention of the O′ring 19, maintaining the latter pressed between the inlet nozzle 11 and the spherical inner end 18a of the tubular connector 18. In the embodiment illustrated in
(27) In the embodiment illustrated in
(28) The driving means 50 comprises a piston 51 having a base end 51a affixed to the cleaning means 40 and a top end 51b presenting a median recess 51c which may present a inverted slightly conical recess, as illustrated in
(29) The piston 51 is axially displaced, in the interior of the hollow body 10, to displace the cleaning means 40 between its inoperative and operative positions, as a function of the hydraulic pressure in the interior of the inlet nozzle 11, that is, in the interior of the conical seat 70, upstream the piston 51.
(30) In the embodiment illustrated in
(31) In the embodiment illustrated in
(32) Thus, in both embodiments, upon start of the turn-on operation of the showerhead, the pressurization of the inlet nozzle 11 and of the conical seat 70 is made in a progressive way, remaining in values inferior to the reference value and which are insufficient to provoke displacement of the piston 51 and of the cleaning means 40 to the operative position of the latter, but allowing the water to be supplied to the holes 13 of the sieve C while the pressure in the inlet nozzle 11 remains inferior to the reference value.
(33) During the time the cleaning means 40 remains in its inoperative position, with the impelling means 60 exerting, against the piston 51, a force superior to the opposite force produced by the hydraulic pressure in the interior of the conical seat 70, the water flow entering in the hollow body 10 will pass between the piston 51 and the inner end 72 of the conical seat 70, more precisely through the inner axial recesses 75 and lower radial recesses 76 of the conical seat 70, in the embodiment of
(34) In order to make said first cleaning phase be a washing phase for the holes 13 of the sieve C, said holes present a cross section area, generally (but not necessarily) circular, larger than that required in the project, for each water outlet of the sieve C with the normal operation of the showerhead.
(35) Thus, when the pins 41 are introduced into the holes 13, the free cross section area of the latter becomes sufficient and adequate to form the desired water flow to be released by the showerhead. The debris, if existing in the water flow admitted in the hollow body 10, are removed by the initial washing flow and drained through the holes 13 of the sieve C, which holes are dimensioned with a diameter much larger than that usually employed, minimizing the retention of particulate material in said holes 13.
(36) With the continuous turning-on of the showerhead, the hydraulic pressure in the interior of the inlet nozzle 11 and of the conical seat 70 is elevated, until reaching the reference value, from which the force exerted by the impelling means 60 is overcome, allowing the piston 51 to be displaced toward the sieve C, dragging the cleaning means 40 to the operative position, in which the pins 41 are introduced in the respective holes 13, diminishing the free cross section of the latter to an area dimensioned so as to allow the adequate water discharge from the sieve C.
(37) In the embodiment of
(38) In the embodiment of
(39) In said second embodiment, the body 41a of the pin 41 is provided with a plurality of outer axial grooves 41c, extended throughout the whole height of the body 41a and which define, each one, with the inner wall of the respective hole 13 of the sieve C, a water outlet S of the sieve C. Thus, after receiving the respective pin 41, each hole 13 of the sieve C is transformed into a plurality of water outlets S, increasing the sensation of abundant water during the bath, with a relatively reduced consumption of water in relation to the conventional solutions and even in relation to the solution defined in the first embodiment of the present invention.
(40) In the referred second embodiment, each pin 41 has its tubular-shaped neck 41b fitted, with a small gap, through a respective window 42a provided in the grid 42 and incorporating a widened end 41d to be seated in a region of the upper face of the grid 42, defined around each window 42a. Thus, each pin 41 can be manually and individually upwardly displaced by the user of the showerhead, during the shower bath, in order to completely liberate the respective hole 13 of the sieve C, promoting a complete washing, not only of the hole 13 itself, but also of all the outer axial grooves 41c of the body 41a of the pin 41.
(41) In order to guarantee that the pins 41 are adequately positioned in the interior of the respective holes 13 of the sieve C, upon displacement of the cleaning means 40 from the inoperative position to the operative position, mainly when the sieve C is positioned in an inclined plane (not horizontal), each pin 41 may incorporate at least one lower guide means which, in the case of the second embodiment illustrated in
(42) At the end of the bath, after the showerhead is turned off, it occurs the depressurization of the conical seat and the displacement of the piston 51 and of the cleaning means 40, by action of the impelling means 60, to the inoperative position in which the holes 13 are freed from the pins 41, being open to receive a new washing when the showerhead is turned on again, or upon a manual displacement, either jointly or individually, of the pins 41 to the inoperative position of the cleaning means 40.
(43) Still according to the illustrated embodiments, the impelling means 60 comprises a helical spring 61 having an end seated on the sieve C and an opposite end seated against one of the parts defined by the piston 51 and by the cleaning means 40. In a preferred way, the piston 51 presents a tubular shape, with its base end 51a open and turned to the sieve C. With this construction, the opposite end of the helical spring 61 is fitted in the interior of the piston 51 and seated under the top end 51b.
(44) In the embodiment illustrated in
(45) In the interior of the central tubular nozzle 16 is slidingly mounted a plunger 80, preferably in the form of a cup 81, having a lateral wall 82, telescopically sliding in the interior of the central tubular nozzle 16, and a lower end wall 83 against which is seated an adjacent end of the impelling means 60 which, in the example illustrated, is defined by the helical spring 61. The lateral wall 82 of the cup 81 is provided with at least one peripheral groove 84, in which is lodged a sealing ring 90 in O′ring form, which is radially and slidingly pressed against the tubular wall 16c of the central tubular nozzle 16.
(46) Such constructive variant allows the user to achieve, during the bath, and intense additional washing of the holes 13 of the sieve C. Therefore, the user only needs to promote a simple axial and ascending manual displacement of the plunger 80, in the interior of the central tubular nozzle 16, from an inactive position, in which it has its lower end wall 83 seated against the small annular flange 17, by actuation of the impelling means 60, to an active position, in which the lateral wall 82 of the plunger 80 is seated against the top end 51b of the piston 51 and displacing axially upwards the cleaning means 40 to its inoperative position, with its lower pins 41 being displaced to the outside of the holes 13 of the sieve C, allowing the pressurized water flow being admitted in the body of the showerhead to carry out an intense washing of said holes 13 of the sieve C, in which said holes 13 are in a full on condition and the showerhead is in a full bath operation.
(47) The user then releases the manual force exerted on the plunger 80, for allowing the water pressure to push the cleaning means back to its operative position and the impelling means 60 to return the plunger 80 to its inactive position.
(48) The user may carry out several operations of pressing and releasing the plunger 80, in order to provide multiple washing operations of the holes 13 of the sieve C during the shower bath.
(49) As mentioned above in the illustrated constructions, the lower wall 12, which defines the sieve C, presents the central tubular nozzle 16 for housing the plunger 80. However, it should be understood that the lower wall 12 may be closed in the region of the central tubular nozzle which, in this case, is suppressed from the showerhead, the same occurring with the plunger 80. In said basic constructive option, the showerhead does not allow the user to carry out the operations of washing the sieve during the bath, that is, during operation of the showerhead.
(50) It should be understood that the construction illustrated in
(51) While only two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated herein, it should be understood that modifications in the form and arrangement of the component parts can be made, without departing from the inventive concept defined in the claims that accompany the present disclosure.