AU2391699A - Water supply unit - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 456622

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFIWlON FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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C C C. C Name and Address r~f Ann 1 4 Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: 201 Nishikashiwabarashinden Fuji-shi Shizuoka-ken 417

JAPAN

Yoshi taka Mon naka Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Water Supply Unit The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845

SPECIFICATION

WATER SUPPLY UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention: SThe present invention relates to a water supply unit that is fixed to a high velocity current producing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as high velocity current producing apparatus) for switching the discharge amount of high velocity water current (hereinafter referred to as high velocity current).

2. Description of the Prior Art: S \10 When water current (hereinafter referred to as current) having 1 I lapp UJpUllt pi e LtLu e is applu eU a 1LI uof a uailer duriUg DbauLhing, stimulus caused by the pressure or shock of water against the skin and friction between the current and the skin can be applied to the skin, and hence it has been expected to have an effect which is the same as or beyond the effect of the finger treatment. It is well known that bathing, and massage during bathing as well as a bathing effect caused by soaking bather's body in hot water are effective for recovering from fatigue, and so forth. If the massage S'"i during bathing is added to the pressure of shock of water against the skin and friction between the current and the skin, the effect of recovery from the ^o fatigue and the promotion of health can be expected. Such a massaging apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2502192 entitled "beauty promotion apparatus in a bath" or in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-178028 entitled "liquid jet massaging apparatus".

These apparatuses employ a water supply unit for guiding a high velocity current to a given position. Such a water supply unit is preferably I I I easily handled and light in weight for guiding the high velocity current to a bather's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a water supply unit S which is light in weight and simple in construction and capable of switching a current.

According to the present invention, a high velocity current is guided from a source of water supply (hereinafter referred to as water supply source) to first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 and the width of the high o velocity current is changed by switching over a current switching means to the first discharge port 50 or to the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 by a valve body 12.

The water supply unit comprises a nozzle body 6 connected with a water supply hose (hereinafter to as a hose) for receiving a current from a I water supply source, a first discharge port 50 for discharging the current received by the nozzle body 6, a plurality of second discharge ports 52 disposed adjacent to the first discharge port 50 and a current switching means (the valve body 12) disposed in the nozzle body 6 for selecting the first discharge port 50 or the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 through g j, which the current passes when operated.

With the construction set forth above, the current received from the water supply source through the hose is guided to the first and second discharge ports. The current switching means selects the first discharge port or the first and second discharge ports through which the current passes.

For example, the second discharge ports comprise a plurality of ports compared with a single first discharge port, and the second discharge ports are added to the first discharge port when selected by the current switching means. Accordingly, when the first discharge port alone is selected by the current switching means, the current discharged from the first discharge port is small in diameter and highly pressurized while when the first and second discharge ports are selected, the discharge area increases and the current discharged from the first and second discharge ports is wide or large in diameter depending on the position of the discharge ports, and hence it is low pressurized.

In the water supply unit of the present invention, the first and second discharge ports are characterized in being formed in a discharge cover part attached to the nozzle body. That is, the first and second discharge ports 1o are formed in the single discharge cover part attached to the nozzle body, thereby simplifying the construction.

In the water supply unit according to the present invention, the current switching means is characterized in comprising a water passage part formed in a nozzle body 6 and communicating with the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 and a valve body 12 for closing the second discharge ports 52. That is, the water passage part 60 is a space formed between the nozzle body and the discharge cover part. The valve body is provided in this space and the valve body and this space constitute the current switching means. The valve body is means for selectively shutting a off the water passage part and the second discharge ports, and the first o• discharge port 50 or the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 are selected when operated.

In the water supply unit, the current switching means includes a valve seat part 54 for separating current flowing through the first discharge port and that flowing through the second discharge ports 52 from each other, and the valve body 12 for allowing the first discharge port 50 to bring into contact with or to move away from the second discharge port, wherein the current switching means allows the second discharge ports 52 to open or close relative to the water passage part 60 communicating with the first and second discharge ports by the valve body. That is, the valve seat part 54 is provided as means for separating the current flowing through the first discharge port 50 and that flowing through the second discharge ports 52 from each other, and the valve body which brings into contact with or moves Saway from the valve seat part is provided on the valve seat part, wherein the second discharge ports and the water passage part are selectively switched by the movement of the valve body to a water flowing state or a water shut off state.

The water supply unit comprises a rotary ring 8 that is freely engaged in a rotary supporting part (a small diameter part 16 and a large diameter part 18) formed in the nozzle body, a cover part 10 attached to the rotary ring 8 and having first and second discharge ports, a valve seat part 54 for separating the current flowing through the first discharge port 50 and that flowing through the second discharge ports 52 from each other, the valve body 12 that is slidably supported by the nozzle body in a non-turning state, and current switching means for allowing the second discharge ports to open or close relative to a water passage part when the valve seat part 54 is brought into contact with or moved away from the valve body 12, wherein a o0o C screw part 68 formed in the outer peripheral part of the valve body of the current switching means is engaged into a screw part 56 of the discharge cover, so that the valve body is slidable when the discharge cover part is turned relative to the nozzle body.

With the construction set forth above, the rotary supporting part is formed in the nozzle body and the rotary ring is freely engaged in the rotary supporting part, whereby the rotary ring is supported by the rotary supporting part and arbitrarily turnable. The discharge cover part is attached to the rotary ring and the discharge cover is turnably supported by the nozzle body.

The current switching means includes the valve seat part and the valve body wherein when the valve body is moved to open and close the second discharge ports, the current flowing through the first discharge port and that flowing through the second discharge ports 52 are separated from each other.

The valve body has the screw part at the periphery thereof and this screw part is engaged with the inner screw part of the discharge cover part.

The valve body is slidably supported by the nozzle body in a non-turning state.

That is, when the discharge cover part is turned, the turning force is 'o changed into a driving force for sliding the valve body in the forward or backward direction owing to the threading relation between the inner screw part of the discharge cover part and the screw part of the valve body. As a result, the valve body is slid forward and backward in accordance with the *right and left turning of the discharge cover part, whereby the second discharge ports and the water passage part are in a water shut off state when the end surface of the valve body is brought into contact with the valve seat part so that a current is obtained from the first discharge port alone, while the second discharge ports and the water passage part are in a water flowing state when the end surface of the valve body is moved away from the valve seat part so that the current is obtained from both the first and second discharge ports.

The water supply unit according to the present invention is characterized in that the nozzle body has a hose connection part connecting with the hose, wherein a rear cover part 14 and the nozzle body are g% integrated with each other when the rear cover part for fixing the hose connected with the hose connection part is fixed by the screw part. With such a construction, the hose and the nozzle body can be firmly connected with each other, so that it is possible to avoid such an inconvenience that the 9 nozzle body comes off from the water supply unit even if the nozzle body receives a high velocity current.

The water supply unit of the present invention further comprises a discharge cover part attached to the nozzle body and having the first and Ssecond discharge ports, a valve body disposed inside the discharge cover part for switching the current, and a rear cover part attached to the nozzle body for fixing the hose to the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle body, the discharge cover part, the valve body and the cover part are respectively formed of a synthetic resin. With such a construction, the water supply unit can be tc made light in weight by the synthetic resin.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are made more clear with reference to the following embodiments, detailed g explanation and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the water supply unit; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the assembled water supply unit; Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the water supply operation in the Q "water supply unit; and Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the water supply unit according to the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A water supply unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 are respectively show the water supply unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig.

1 is an exploded perspective view, Fig. 2 is an exploded sectional view and Fig.

3 is a sectional view showing the assembly of the water supply unit.

The water supply unit includes a hose 2 for guiding a high velocity current from a water supply source and a nozzle 4 attached to the hose 2.

The hose 2 is formed of a flexible member made of a synthetic resin and so forth and it is connected with a water tap faucet of waterworks if the water supply source is a service water and to a port for circulating water therethrough and so forth if the water supply source is a bathtub. There is a case where a pump and so forth as pressurizing means is provided on the to midway of the hose 2.

A nozzle 4 is formedby integrating respective members each made of a synthetic resin such as a nozzle body 6, a rotary ring 8, a discharge cover part 10, a valve body 12, a rear cover part 14 and so forth.

.j The nozzle body 6 is a hollow cylindrical body and has stepped parts at \N the outer peripheral surface thereof respectively forming a small diameter part 16 and a large diameter part 18, wherein the small diameter part 16 has a front groove 20 and a rear groove 22 at the middle portion and a pair of sliding grooves 24 on the circumferential surface at the tip end side with an angular interval of 1800. Each sliding groove 24 has a circular-arc surface 26 that is concentric with the small diameter part 16. There are formed a screw part 28 on the inner side of the small diameter part 16 of the nozzle body 6 and a screw part 29 on the inside of the large diameter part 18 wherein a screw part 32 of a hose connection tube 30 is screwed into the nozzle body 6 from the rear portion thereof so that the hose connection tube 30 is integrally attached to the nozzle body 6. The front tip end of the hose connection tube 30 is brought into contact with an inner edge of a collar part 34 formed inside the small diameter part 16 of the nozzle body 6. The hose connection tube 30 has a collar part 36 on the outer periphery at the middle portion thereof and the collar part 36 is engaged in a recess 38 formed inside the nozzle body 6. There is formed a hose retaining part 40 on the outer periphery of the hose connection tube 30 at the rear portion thereof and the hose retaining part 40 is formed of a small diameter part and a large diameter part respectively having a saw shape in cross section.

An O-ring 42 formed of a flexible material such as rubber and so forth is engaged in the front groove 20 of the small diameter part 16 of the nozzle body 6 and the rotary ring 8 is turnably freely engaged in the small diameter part 16 and the large diameter part 18 from the small diameter part 16 side.

That is, the nozzle body 6 and the rotary ring 8 are kept watertight via the 0- Co ring 42. A C-ring 44 as a stopper is engaged in the front groove 20 to prevent the rotary ring 8 from being come off from the nozzle body 6. A screw part 46 is formed on the periphery of a small diameter part 45 formed on the front side of the rotary ring 8.

The discharge cover part 10 is cylindrical and it has a hanging bell shape in cross section. The discharge cover part 10 has a first discharge port 50 provided forward on the center of a closing face part 48 at the tip end thereof and a plurality of second discharge ports 52 radially opened around the first discharge port A cylindrical valve seat part 54 for surrounding the first discharge port Q L 50 is formed on the inner surface of the closing face part 48. The discharge .i cover part 10 has a screw part 56 at an intermediate inner wall and another screw part 58 at the rear opened inner wall.

The screw part 46 of the rotary ring 8 is screwed into the screw part 58 of the discharge cover part 10, and when the screw part 46 and the screw part 58 are threaded, the rotary ring 8 and the discharge cover part 10 are integrated with each other to form a water passage part 60 serving as a closed space (Fig. 3) inside the discharge cover part The valve body 12 is current switching means formed of a flat cylindrical body and has a pair of slide supporting parts 62 at the rear portion thereof for retaining the sliding groove 24. Each slide supporting part 62 has a circular arc surface that is slightly greater than the circular-arc surface 26.

The valve body 12 has a water passage part 64 at the center thereof and a closing face part 66 at the periphery thereof that can be brought into close contact with the valve seat part 54. A screw part 68 is formed on the outer periphery of the valve body 12 and it is retained by the screw part 56 of the discharge cover part 10. That is, the valve body 12 is engaged with the discharge cover part 10 when the screw part 56 and the screw part 46 are threaded and is slidably supported by the nozzle body 6 in a non-turning state.

~o Accordingly, when the discharge cover part 10 is turned, the turning force of ".the discharge cover part 10 is changed into a forward and backward sliding see* force, and this sliding force is transmitted to the valve body 12.

The rear cover part 14 is means for firmly fixingthe hose 2 engaged in the hose connection tube 30 to the hose connection tube 30 and it has a hollow cylindrical body. The rear cover part 14 has an outer shape matching with the outer periphery of the rotary ring 8. The rear cover part 14 has a screw part 70 on the small diameter part at the tip end side thereof and the water passage part 70 is screwedinto the screw part 29 of the large diameter part 18 of the nozzle body 6 so that the rear cover part 14 is integrated with the nozzle body 6. A throughhole 72 of the rear cover part 14 has a diameter to permit the hose 2 connected therewith to pass therethrough.

The diameter of the throughhole 72 determines the fastening force between the hose 2 andthe hose connection tube 30 when the rear cover part 14 is fastened relative to the nozzle body 6.

Next, the operation of the water supply unit is explained.

Fig. 3 shows a state where the valve body 12 is retracted That is, both the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 communicate with the water passage part 60, and high velocity current Wi supplied from the hose 2 passes through the hose connection tube 30, andreaches the water passage part 60 through the water passage part 64, then it is branched into currents W1 and W2 and discharged from the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52.

In this case, the discharge port area formed of the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 is large, and the current becomes wide owing to the presence of the second discharge ports 52, and it becomes low in discharge pressure.

Further, a turning force createdby turning the discharge cover part is changed into a sliding force and this sliding force acts on the valve body 12 i< for allowing the closing face part 66 to contact the valve seat part 54, thereby shutting down the water passage part 60 from the second discharge ports 52. Fig. 4 shows a water shut off state of the second discharge ports es..

52 by the valve body 12.

That is, the high velocity current Wi supplied from the hose 2 passes through the hose connection tube 30 and reaches the water passage part o through the water passage part 64 of the valve body 12 and it is discharged 0..

from the first discharge port 50 alone as the current W1. In this case, the discharge port area is small because it is formed of the first discharge port 0SO@ alone, the current W1 does not become wide and it is high in discharge Q' pressure.

Meanwhile, the valve body 12 may be kept in halfway, namely, a midway portion corresponding to the turning of the discharge cover part wherein the amount of water passing through the water passage part 60 to second discharge ports 52 can be restricted.

In such a manner, a desired amount of current can be obtained by selectively switching to the first discharge port 50 or to the first and second discharge ports 50 and 52 by turning the discharge cover part Next, Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the embodiment of the water supply unit of the present invention. That is, hot water W that is supplied from service water through a water heating and additional heating unit, not shown, is stored in a bathtub 100. A connection unit 104 is provided for connecting the bathtub 100 and the water heating and additional heating unit.

A high velocity current producing unit 106 is means for producing high velocity current using the hot water W in the bathtub 100, pipes 108 and 110 are connected between the connection unit 104 and high velocity current producing unit 106, thereby forming a circulation passage. The pipe 110 and the hose 2 are connected with the connection unit 104, and the nozzle 4 is connected with the tip end of the hose 2, thereby forming the water supply o unit. Although the high velocity current is produced by the hot water W in the bathtub 100 in the second embodiment, pressurized water produced by directly supplying the service water 102 to the nozzle 4 or by supplying the o* 5° service water 102 to the high velocity current producing unit 106 may be supplied to the nozzle 4.

With such a construction, the discharge amount of the high velocity current can be changedby turning the discharge cover part 10 of the nozzle 4, o• 5 thereby obtaining a desired discharge pressure.

As mentioned above, the present invention has the following affects.

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a The current can be switched with a light and simple construction, 1 thereby obtaining a desired high velocity current.

b Since the current can be switched by a simple turning operation, the water supply unit can contribute to the body massage, etc.

c Since the number of parts are small, a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

d Since the water supply unit is formed of a synthetic resin, the light and high reliable water supply unit can be provided.

Although the present invention is described in construction, function and effects using the embodiments set forth above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these working examples and embodiments. In other words, the present invention includes all the construction expected by a person skilled in the art such as construction and modifications that are conjectured from the disclosure of the specification beyond the objects and the embodiments of the present invention.

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Claims (6)

1. A water supply unit comprises: a nozzle body connected with a water supply hose for receiving a water current from a water supply source; a first discharge port for discharging the water current received by the nozzle body; a plurality of second discharge ports disposed adjacent to the first discharge port; and a water current switching means disposed in the nozzle body for selecting the first discharge port or the first and second discharge ports through which the water current passes when operated. oo,•

2. The water supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second discharge ports are formed in a discharge cover part attached to the nozzle body.

3. The water supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the water 0 current switching means comprises a water passage part formed in the nozzle body and communicating with the first and second discharge ports and a valve body for closing the second discharge ports.

4. The water supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the water current switching means includes a valve seat part for separating the water current flowing through the first discharge port and that flowing through the second discharge ports from each other, and a valve body that brings into contact with or moves away from the valve seat part, for allowing the first discharge port to bring into contact with or to move away from the second discharge ports, wherein the water current switching means allows the second discharge ports to open or close relative to the water passage part communicating with the first and second discharge ports by the valve body. M M t The water supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising; a rotary ring that is freely engaged in a rotary supporting part formed in the nozzle body; a cover part attached to the rotary ring and having first and second discharge ports; a valve seat part for separating the water current flowing through the first discharge port and that flowing through the second discharge ports from each other; a valve that is slidably supported by the nozzle body in a non-turning state; and water current switching means for allowing the second discharge ports to open or close relative to a water passage part when the valve seat part is 0000 brought into contact with or moved away from the valve body; 0 wherein a screw part formed in the outer peripheral part of the valve body of the water current switching means is engaged into a screw part of the 2 discharge cover, so that the valve body is slidable when the discharge cover 0. part is turned relative to the nozzle body. The water supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle 6 oo* body has a water supply hose connection part connecting with the water supply hose, and wherein a rear cover part and the nozzle body are integrated with each other when the cover part for fixing the water supply hose connected with the water supply hose connection part is fixed by the screw part.

7. The water supply unit according to claim 1, further comprising; a discharge cover part attached to the nozzle body and having the first and second discharge ports; a valve body disposed inside the discharge cover part for switching the water current; and A a rear cover part attached to the nozzle body for fixing the water supply hose to the nozzle body, characterized in that the nozzle body; wherein the nozzle body, the discharge cover part, the valve body and the rear cover part are respectively formed of a synthetic resin.

8. A water supply unit, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 6 April, 1999 Takagi Industrial Co., Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 1 0S 0 S 0o [R:\LIBLL]07542.doc:TCW