CN111036437A

CN111036437A - Spray assembly

Info

Publication number: CN111036437A
Application number: CN201910964022.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗朗西斯科·费雷尔-达尔毛·涅托
Original assignee: Spain Laous Co ltd
Current assignee: Spain Laous Co ltd; Industrias Ramon Soler SA
Priority date: 2018-10-11
Filing date: 2019-10-11
Publication date: 2020-04-21
Also published as: ES1225190U; CN211613129U; ES1225190Y

Abstract

The invention relates to a spray assembly comprising: a hand-held shower head; a support defining a housing for a handle of a handheld showerhead; and the water distribution body comprises a water inlet opening, a water outlet opening and a safety closing device for closing the water inlet opening. The safety closure device comprises a valve comprising: an actuation shaft (E) axially movable within the water dispensing body for closing the water inlet opening with a first, second or third closing force with the first end, wherein the third closing force is greater than the second closing force and the second closing force is greater than the first closing force; an anti-return mechanism that axially moves the actuating shaft by applying a first closing force to close the water inlet opening with the first end when no water is passing through the water inlet opening; and an actuation head engaged with or integral with the second end of the actuation shaft, constructed and arranged to be accessible through a through hole communicating the water dispensing body with the housing.

Description

Spray assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a spray assembly comprising a safety closure comprising a valve providing a triple effect in particular associated with the closure of a water inlet opening.

Background

There are known spray assemblies which include the following features, namely:

-a hand-held shower head;

-a support defining a housing for at least a portion of a handle of a hand held shower head; and

-a water distribution body comprising at least one water inlet opening, at least one water outlet opening and a safety closure constructed and arranged to close said water inlet opening.

The safety closures of such known sprinkler assemblies are clearly susceptible to improvement, since they generally provide a single closing force, the most common being safety closures comprising a cylindrical body with a radial sealing gasket with which the water inlet opening of the water distribution body of the assembly is closed.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an alternative to the prior art, to remedy the leaks found in the prior art, and to provide a spray assembly comprising an advanced safety closure over known safety closures, which provides improved performance in terms of closing the water inlet opening of the water dispensing body.

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, the invention relates to a spray assembly comprising:

-a hand-held shower head;

In contrast to the spray assemblies known from the prior art, in the spray assembly proposed by the invention, the safety closure device comprises a valve, which in turn comprises:

-an actuating shaft axially movable within the water dispensing body for closing the water inlet opening with a first closing force, a second closing force or a third closing force with a first end of the actuating shaft, wherein the third closing force is greater than the second closing force and the second closing force is greater than the first closing force;

-an anti-return mechanism constructed and arranged to: moving the actuating shaft axially by applying the first closing force to close the water inlet opening with the first end when no water is passing through the water inlet opening; and

-an actuation head engaged or integral with the second end of the actuation shaft, the actuation head being constructed and arranged to be accessible through a through hole communicating the water dispensing body with the housing, so as to:

-when the first part of the handle of the hand shower head is housed in said housing, the actuating head is pushed by the push of said second closing force by the surface of a region of the outer contour of the first part;

and alternatively:

-when the second part of the handle of the hand shower head is housed in the housing, the actuating head is pushed by the surface of a region of the outer contour of the second part, said second part having a cross section greater than the cross section of the first part, pushed by said third closing force.

Thus, a triple effect, in particular in connection with closing the water inlet opening, may be provided by the valve of the assembly of the invention.

For example embodiments, the aforementioned second portion of the handle of the handheld showerhead comprises a magnet and the actuation head comprises a ferromagnetic material, or the second portion of the handle of the handheld showerhead comprises a ferromagnetic material and the actuation head comprises a magnet, the second portion and the actuation head being constructed and arranged to magnetically attract one another to at least cooperatively displace the handle of the handheld showerhead until the second portion is received in the housing and to retain the second portion received in the housing.

Preferably, the actuation head has a diameter or transverse dimension at least twice as large as the diameter or transverse dimension of the first end of the actuation shaft.

In particular, according to some embodiments, the actuation head has a diameter or transverse dimension with a value in the range 15 to 25mm, and the first end of the actuation shaft has a diameter or transverse dimension with a value in the range 6 to 12 mm.

According to an embodiment, the first end of the actuation shaft comprises: a first portion including a tip thereof; and a second portion spaced from the first portion by an O-ring, the second portion having a diameter or transverse dimension greater than a diameter or transverse dimension of the first portion of the first end of the actuation shaft.

With respect to the water inlet opening, for an embodiment it comprises a tubular cavity having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the O-ring for inserting a first portion of the first end of the actuation shaft inside the tubular cavity and inserting at least a portion of the O-ring against the inner contour of the tubular cavity.

For the implementation of said embodiment, at least the tubular cavity and the actuation shaft mentioned (and the remaining elements of the safety closure in general) are configured, dimensioned and arranged so that: in the case of the above-mentioned pushing with the third closing force, the actuating shaft is moved axially to a position farther from the housing of the support than in the case of pushing with the second closing force, and wherein the portions of the O-ring that enter the tubular cavity and the portions of the actuating shaft that enter the tubular cavity surrounded by the O-ring are both more numerous than those portions that enter the tubular cavity in the case of pushing with the second closing force, in order to ensure better water tightness.

According to an embodiment, the surface of the outer contour of at least the first portion of the handle of the handheld showerhead is a frustoconical surface such that it facilitates insertion of the handle of the handheld showerhead into the housing defined by the support.

For an embodiment, the outer surface of the actuation head closest to the housing has a curved convex shape in the direction towards the housing, so that as the handle of the hand shower head moves through the housing, pressure is applied to the various regions of the outer surface of the actuation head by the handle of the hand shower head progressively coming into contact with them and pushing them, thereby progressively closing the water inlet opening by means of a corresponding progressive axial displacement of the actuation shaft.

Advantageously, the housing defined by the support is constructed and arranged to move a handle of the handheld showerhead in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the actuation shaft.

In general, the lateral direction is a vertical or substantially vertical direction and the displacement of the actuation axis is in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction.

Drawings

The above and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments, which is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a spray assembly as set forth in one embodiment of the present invention, showing only a portion of a hand-held showerhead.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the assembly of fig. 1, for a showerhead handle located outside of a housing of a support of the assembly.

Figure 3 is a section similar to figure 2 but for the case where the lower portion of the showerhead handle has begun to enter the housing of the support of the assembly, at which point it has begun to be placed in the support, but is not at its lowest position.

Fig. 4 is also a section of a portion of the assembly of fig. 1, but for the case where the handle of the showerhead is already at its lowest position relative to the housing, and is therefore fully supported by the support.

Detailed Description

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the spray assembly of the present invention comprises:

a hand-held shower head C, only part of which is shown in fig. 1;

-a support S defining a housing H for at least a portion of a handle Cm of the hand shower head C; and

-a water distribution body D comprising at least one water inlet opening Ae, at least one water outlet opening As and a safety closure device constructed and arranged to close said water inlet opening Ae.

In particular, the safety closure comprises a valve V, which in turn comprises an actuation shaft E, which is axially movable within the water dispensing body D for closing the water inlet opening Ae with a first, second or third closing force with a first end E1 of the actuation shaft, wherein the third closing force is greater than the second closing force and the second closing force is greater than the first closing force.

The valve V also comprises an anti-return mechanism M, which is constructed and arranged to axially move the actuation shaft E by applying a first closing force to close the water inlet opening Ae with the first end E1 when no water is passing through it. For the embodiment shown, the anti-return mechanism is a compression spring M arranged around the actuation axis E between two opposite inner walls of the dispensing body, as shown in fig. 2, 3 and 4.

Fig. 2 shows the open position of the water inlet Ae, due to the fact that: there is inflow of water through the water inlet, not shown, which pushes the actuation shaft E axially in the opposite direction with a force greater than the force exerted by the compression spring M. Once this water flow is no longer present or substantially reduced, the compression spring M pushes the actuation shaft E towards the inlet opening Ae to close it with the above-mentioned first closing force.

However, this first closing force may not be sufficient to maintain watertightness, in particular in the case of partial wear of the assembly during use and/or in the case of excessive construction tolerances.

Thus, as mentioned above, the present invention is able to provide two main levels of closing force, namely what is referred to above as the second and third closing forces.

To this end, as shown in the accompanying drawings, the valve V also comprises an actuating head B connected to or integral with the second end E2 of the actuating shaft E, the actuating head being constructed and arranged to be accessible through a through hole Ho providing communication between the water dispensing body D and the housing H, to be pushed by the handle Cm of the hand-held shower head C.

For the illustrated embodiment, the housing H defined by the support S is constructed and arranged such that the handle Cm of the handheld showerhead C moves along the housing in a direction transverse, particularly substantially orthogonal, to the longitudinal axis of the actuation shaft E.

For the situation shown in fig. 3, in which the handle Cm is partially supported by the support S, when the first portion Cm1 of the handle Cm is housed in the housing H, the pushing of the actuation head B and therefore of the actuation shaft E is performed by a surface F1 of a region of the outer contour of the first portion, as shown in fig. 3. This urging is applied with the second closing force described above, which ensures a better closure than that provided by the spring M alone.

For the embodiment shown, the first portion Cm has a truncated-cone shape to facilitate its insertion into the housing H.

However, a better sealing may also be obtained which fully ensures water tightness, i.e. involving a third closing force. This is achieved when the situation shown in fig. 4 occurs, in which the handle Cm has been fully supported by the support S when it has reached its lowest position relative to the housing H.

In this case, as shown in fig. 4, when the second portion Cm2 of the handle Cm is housed in the housing H, the pushing of the actuation head B and therefore of the actuation shaft E is performed by a surface F2 of a region of the outer contour of this second portion, as shown in fig. 4. This pushing is applied with the third closing force described above, which is greater than the second closing force, because the second portion Cm2 has a larger cross-section than the first portion Cm1, as seen in the figures.

For the embodiment shown, the stroke of lowering of the handle Cm from the position of fig. 3 to the position of fig. 4, in particular to its lowest position, is not only caused by the effect of gravity, but also benefits from the arrangement of a magnet in the second portion Cm2 of the handle Cm of the hand shower head C and the fact that: the fact that the actuating head B is made of ferromagnetic material, such as soft iron, and they are constructed and arranged to magnetically attract each other to cooperatively displace the lever Cm until the second portion Cm2 is received in the housing H, so that the surface F2 faces the actuating head B and applies the aforementioned third closing force thereto.

The magnetic attraction between the magnet I and the actuation head B not only helps to insert the handle Cm into the housing H, but also keeps the handle Cm in the position shown in fig. 4, i.e. supported by the support S, until the user exerts a sufficient extraction force to move it away from this position.

As shown in the figures, the actuating head B has a diameter or transverse dimension at least twice as large as the diameter or transverse dimension of the first end E1 of the actuating shaft E. This serves two purposes: providing a greater amount of ferromagnetic material, and therefore a greater magnetic attraction force; and providing a larger contact surface for the handle Cm to make the closure more gradual.

The latter object is also served by the fact that the shape of the actuating head B closest to the outer surface of the housing H has a curved convex shape in the direction of the housing H, so that, as the handle Cm of the hand shower head C is moved downwards through the housing H, pressure is applied to them by the handle Cm of the hand shower head C gradually coming into contact with and pushing against different regions of the outer surface of the actuating head B, whereby the water inlet openings Ae are gradually closed by means of a corresponding gradual axial displacement of the actuating shaft E.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 2 to 4, the first end E1 of the actuation shaft E comprises: a first portion E1a, the first portion including its tip; and a second portion E1b spaced from the first portion by O-ring T, the second portion having a diameter or transverse dimension greater than the diameter or transverse dimension of first portion E1a of first end E1 of actuation axis E.

The water inlet opening Ae comprises a tubular cavity Aet having an internal diameter smaller than the external diameter of the O-ring T for inserting inside it the first portion E1a of the first end E1 of the actuation shaft E and inserting at least part of the O-ring T against the internal profile of said tubular cavity Aet. This situation is shown in fig. 3 and is associated with closing with a second closing force.

The tubular cavity Aet and the actuating shaft E are configured, dimensioned and arranged such that, in case of pushing with the third closing force, the actuating shaft E is axially moved to a position farther from the housing H of the support S than in case of pushing with the second closing force, and wherein the portion of the O-ring entering into said tubular cavity and the portion of the actuating shaft surrounded by the O-ring entering into said tubular cavity are both more than those portions entering into said tubular cavity Aet in case of pushing with the second closing force, to ensure better water tightness. This situation is shown in fig. 4.

Arranging the first portion E1a of the first end E1 of the actuating shaft E to have a smaller diameter or transverse dimension than the second portion E1b also serves to provide a greater passage for the incoming water flow, i.e. a greater flow rate, when the water inlet Ae is not closed, avoiding the risks of interference that may occur if this first portion E1a has a larger diameter or transverse dimension.

It should be noted that some of the components shown are not described, since they are of conventional type (mixing drum, hot and cold water inlet pipes, various sealing gaskets, etc.), in order not to obscure the disclosure of the invention.

Alterations and modifications may be effected to the described embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A spray assembly comprising:

-a hand-held shower head (C);

-a support (S) defining a housing (H) for at least a portion of a handle (Cm) of the hand shower head (C); and

-a water distribution body (D) comprising at least one water inlet opening (Ae), at least one water outlet opening (As) and a safety closure, constructed and arranged to close the water inlet opening (Ae);

characterized in that said safety closure device comprises a valve (V) which in turn comprises:

-an actuating shaft (E) axially movable within the water dispensing body (D) for closing the water inlet opening (Ae) with a first end (E1) thereof with a first, second or third closing force, wherein the third closing force is greater than the second closing force and the second closing force is greater than the first closing force;

-an anti-return mechanism (M) constructed and arranged to: -axially moving said actuating shaft (E) by applying said first closing force to close said water inlet opening (Ae) with said first end (E1) when no water is passing through said water inlet opening (Ae); and

-an actuation head (B) engaged or integral with a second end (E2) of the actuation shaft (E), the actuation head being constructed and arranged to be accessible through a through hole (Ho) communicating the water dispensing body (D) with the housing (H) so as to:

-pushing the actuating head by means of pushing with the second closing force, through a surface (F1) of an area of the outer contour of the first part, when the first part (Cm1) of the handle (Cm) of the hand shower head (C) is housed in the housing (H); or

-when a second portion (Cm2) of the handle (Cm) of the hand shower head (C) is housed in the housing (H), the actuating head is pushed by means of pushing with the third closing force through a surface (F2) of a region of the outer contour of the second portion, the second portion (Cm2) having a cross section greater than the cross section of the first portion (Cm 1).

2. The spray assembly of claim 1, wherein said second portion (Cm2) of the handle (Cm) of said hand held spray head (C) includes a magnet (I) and said actuator head (B) contains a ferromagnetic material, or said second portion of the handle of said hand held spray head contains a ferromagnetic material and said actuator head includes a magnet, said second portion and said actuator head being constructed and arranged to be magnetically attracted to each other to cooperatively move at least the handle (Cm) of said hand held spray head (C) until said second portion (Cm2) is received in said housing (H) and retains said second portion received therein.

3. The spray assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuating head (B) has a diameter or transverse dimension at least twice as large as said first end (E1) of said actuating shaft (E).

4. The spray assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the diameter or transverse dimension of the actuating head (B) has a value in the range of 15 to 25mm and the diameter or transverse dimension of the first end (E1) of the actuating shaft (E) has a value in the range of 6 to 12 mm.

5. The spray assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first end (E1) of said actuating shaft (E) comprises: a first portion (E1a) including a tip thereof; and a second portion (E1b) spaced apart from the first portion by an O-ring (T), the second portion having a diameter or transverse dimension greater than that of the first portion (E1a) of the first end (E1) of the actuation shaft (E).

6. The spray assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said water inlet opening (Ae) comprises a tubular cavity (Aet) having an internal diameter smaller than the external diameter of said O-ring (T) for inserting said first portion (E1a) of said first end (E1) of said actuating shaft (E) inside said tubular cavity and inserting at least a portion of said O-ring (T) against the internal profile of said tubular cavity (Aet).

7. The spray assembly of claim 6, wherein at least said tubular cavity (Aet) and said actuation axis (E) are configured, dimensioned and arranged such that: -in case of said pushing with said third closing force, said actuation shaft (E) moves axially to a position farther from said housing (H) of said support (S) than in case of pushing with said second closing force, and wherein the portion of said O-ring (T) entering said tubular cavity (Aet) and the portion of said actuation shaft (E) surrounded by said O-ring entering said tubular cavity are both more than those portions entering said tubular cavity in case of pushing with said second closing force, to ensure better water tightness.

8. Spray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the outer contour of at least the first portion (Cm1) of the handle (Cm) of the hand shower head (C) is a frustoconical surface.

9. The spray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of the actuating head (B) closest to the housing (H) has a curved convex shape towards the direction of the housing, so as to exert pressure on the different regions of the outer surface of the actuating head (B) by progressive contact and pushing of the handle (Cm) of the hand-held spray head (C) with them, as the handle (Cm) of the hand-held spray head (C) moves through the housing (H), thereby progressively closing the water inlet opening (Ae) by means of a corresponding progressive axial displacement of the actuating shaft (E).

10. The spray assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing (H) defined by said support (S) is constructed and arranged to move said handle (Cm) of said hand held spray head (C) through said housing in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said actuation shaft (E).