EP2016232B1 - Hand-held sanitary shower - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held sanitary shower (10) comprising a shower head (14) supported by a handle (12), said shower head having a plurality of water exit openings (32, 34, 36), and at least one lighting device (50). Said lighting device (50) can be supplied with power by at least one accumulator (52). Said accumulator (52) is accommodated in an accumulator unit (52) which is detachably held in an accommodating unit (70) in a manner accessible for a user of the hand-held shower (10) from the exterior, and has connections (62, 64) for connection to a charging set. The user can easily remove the accumulator (52) from the hand-held shower head (10) and place it in an external charging set where it can be charged.

Description

The invention relates to a sanitary hand shower according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a sanitary hand shower is in the US 6021960 described. WO 2005118967 discloses a sanitary hand shower with a) a connectable to a shower hose handle; b) a handle supported by the shower head, which comprises a plurality of water outlet openings; c) at least one lamp arranged in the shower head; and d) at least one accumulator, by means of which the luminous means can be supplied with energy. Under accumulator is basically any rechargeable battery to understand, which may optionally be housed in a separate housing. To charge the battery is in the WO 2005/118967 A1 the hand shower is inserted into a charging station mounted in the area of use of the hand shower, which usually forms at the same time the normal holder for the hand shower. The accumulator is arranged inaccessible to the user from the outside in the interior of the hand shower and can not be removed from the hand shower, without the hand shower would have to be at least partially disassembled.

The accumulator can therefore be charged by the user only by this brings the hand shower in the charging station, which, however, is located in the wet area of the bathroom. The idea that in the wet area of his bathroom electricity, namely the charging current for charging the battery, flows, is unpleasant for some users and is perceived as a source of danger. US 2003 0125842 describes a hand shower that has a multifunction water control module. The module is powered by batteries.

In the hand shower of WO 2005/118967 A1 In addition, the case may occur that the accumulator is completely emptied during operation and the user is then unable to come to enjoy the perceived as pleasant lighting of the bulbs. Therefore, the accumulator need only be recharged, the hand-held shower can not be used simultaneously when the accumulator is charged.

The object of the invention is to provide a hand shower of the type mentioned, which takes into account these problems.

This object is achieved in a sanitary hand shower of the type mentioned in that the accumulator unit has connections for connection to a charger.

Thus, the accumulator unit with the accumulator can be easily removed by the user from the sanitary hand shower and an external charging station, which need not be located in the wet area of the bathroom, are supplied. In addition, there is the possibility of a simply emptied accumulator unit to replace a charged accumulator unit, so that the hand shower is always fully operational, even while the empty accumulator unit is charged.

Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

It is particularly useful when the receiving device is provided in the handle. A handle with conventional dimensions provides enough space to provide a receiving device in which a battery unit is releasably held.

In order to ensure a secure attachment of the accumulator unit to the hand shower, it is advantageous if the receiving device comprises a locking device with which the accumulator unit is releasably held in the receiving device. It is particularly advantageous if the locking device comprises a movable between a locking position in which the accumulator is secured against being removed or falling out, and a release position in which the accumulator can be removed from the receiving device, movable holding means which under bias in the Accumulator unit engages. Due to the bias of the holding means prevents the accumulator accidentally falls out of the hand shower.

A technically simple holding device is present when the holding means is designed as a holding pin, which engages in a recess provided on the accumulator unit holding bushing. A retaining bush has a hollow cylinder as an inner channel, in which a retaining pin can intervene well with complementary cross-section. As a result, a Verrriegelung is achieved perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retaining sleeve.

A bias of the holding means is achieved in a simple manner, if a spring is used for this purpose.

For the user, it is particularly pleasant if, for moving the holding means into its release position, a manually operable actuating means is provided. In other words, no further tools are required for releasing the accumulator unit from the hand-held shower, so that the accumulator unit can be removed from the hand-held shower quickly and easily if required. A both technically favorable as well as a user-perceived as pleasant type of actuation enabling configuration is achieved when the actuating means is designed as a push button, which has a pressure surface over which by pressing the push button on a counter surface of the retaining pin a force is exercised, so that the retaining pin is moved to its release position.

With regard to the usually elongated configuration of a handle of a hand shower, it is advantageous if the direction of movement of the push button extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the retaining pin. For example, the push button can be mounted in the outer circumferential surface of the handle and moved radially to the longitudinal axis, whereas the locking of the accumulator unit can then take place in the longitudinal direction of the handle.

As far as the bulb in the shower head, it is favorable from a technical point of view, if this by at least a light-emitting diode is formed. Light-emitting diodes are characterized on the one hand by their small size and on the other hand by their low energy requirement.

Figur 1

eine isometrische Darstellung einer sanitären Handbrause mit einer auswechselbaren Akkumula- toreinheit;

Figur 2

eine isometrische Darstellung der Handbrause von Figur 1 aus einer anderen Blickrichtung;

Figur 3

eine isometrische Darstellung der Handbrause von Figur 1 aus einer dritten Blickrichtung, wobei die auswechselbare Akkumulatoreinheit herausgenommen ist;

Figuren 4A bis 4D

isometrische Darstellungen der auswechselbaren Akkumulatoreinheit von Figur 1 aus verschie- denen Blickrichtungen;

Figur 5

einen Schnitt durch die Handbrause von Figur 2 entlang der dortigen Schnittlinie V-V; und

Figur 6

einen in größerem Maßstab dargestellten Axial- schnitt eines Abschnitts des Handgriffs der Handbrause von Figur 2.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing; in this show:

FIG. 1

an isometric view of a sanitary hand shower with a replaceable accumulator unit;

FIG. 2

an isometric illustration of the hand shower of FIG. 1 from another perspective;

FIG. 3

an isometric illustration of the hand shower of FIG. 1 from a third viewing direction, the interchangeable accumulator unit being taken out;

FIGS. 4A to 4D

Isometric representations of the replaceable accumulator unit of FIG. 1 from different perspectives;

FIG. 5

a section through the hand shower of FIG. 2 along the local section line VV; and

FIG. 6

a larger scale shown axial section of a portion of the handle of the hand shower of FIG. 2 ,

FIG. 1 shows a sanitary hand shower 10, which comprises a handle 12 and a removable, releasably connected to the handle 12 shower head 14.

At the opposite end of the shower head 14 of the handle 12, a connection nipple 16 is provided, to which a shower hose can be attached. The nipple 16 of the handle 12 surrounds an end portion of an in FIG. 5 to be recognized water inlet chamber 18, which merges in the direction of the connection nipple 16 away in a water-bearing channel 20. From this, water can be routed via a changeover device 22, which is not of further interest to the user, from the outside to one of three connection channels 24, which are each formed by a branch channel 24a and a channel 24b inclined thereto and of which FIG. 5 one can see it on average. Each of the three connecting channels 24 is in communication with one of three inner waterways 26, 28, 30 in the shower head 14, which in turn lead to functionally different, serving as water outlet openings nozzles 32, 34, 36.

The nozzles 32, 34, 36 are provided in a known manner as a nozzle plate 38 side of a two-part housing 40 of the shower head 14. The nozzles 32, 34, 36 form in the illustrated embodiment, three groups of nozzles, each on circles of different radius around the center of the approximately circular in plan view shower head 14 (see, eg FIG. 2 ) are arranged. On the circle with the smallest radius are three nozzles 32, which can produce relatively hard, usually a massage effect reaching water jets. These nozzles 32 are surrounded by an arcuate slot nozzle 34 which extends over approximately an arc of 270 °. This slit nozzle 34 can be a surge-like water jet remove. The slot nozzle 34 in turn is in an annular region which is close to the peripheral edge of the housing 40th of the shower head 14, surrounded by a plurality of nozzles 36 which lie on three concentric circles. From these nozzles 36 occurs during operation of the hand shower a variety of relatively soft, perceived as particularly pleasant effervescent jets.

To connect the inner waterways 26, 28, 30 in the shower head 14 with the connecting channels 24 in the handle 12 open the waterways 26, 28, 30 respectively in external connecting pieces, of which in FIG. 5 one to recognize and provided with the reference numeral 42. With each of these connecting pieces 42 of the shower head 14 sits in each case a complementary receptacle in the handle 12, of which in FIG. 5 also only one can be seen; this bears the reference numeral 44.

The two-part housing 40 of the shower head 14 comprises a trained as the aforementioned nozzle plate 38 shell 44 and an opposite shell 46, which are subsequently glued together tightly or welded. In both shells 44, 46 are not visible here, the waterways 26, 28, 30 formed in the shower head 14, be it already in a molding injection process or only later by milling and / or drilling. On the case of composite housing 40 abutting sides of the shells 44, 46 of the shower head housing 40, these have on a circle which lies between the slit-shaped nozzle 34 and the nozzle group 36, each having a circular arc-shaped groove in the assembled shells 44, 46th a narrow, circular arc-shaped receiving space 48 result, which in section in FIG. 5 can be seen. This receiving space 48 extends like the slot nozzle 34 over an angle of about 270 ° and serves to receive a light-emitting diode arrangement. The latter comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes 50, of those in FIG. 5 one is recognizable. The light-emitting diodes 50 preferably sit on a ribbon cable which has the same radius as the receiving space 48.

The LEDs 50 are aligned so that they emit their light mainly radially outward, so that this radiates the radially outer edge region of the housing 40. For this purpose, the two shells 44, 46 are made of a transparent material, for which preferably polycarbonates (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) come into consideration.

The light-emitting diode arrangement 50 is supplied with energy by a rechargeable accumulator which is not recognizable in the figures and which is accommodated in an accumulator unit 52. The accumulator unit 52 has, as in particular in the FIGS. 4A to 4D can be seen, a shape in the manner of a half-cylinder with a curved outer surface 54, a flat support surface 56 and two opposite, relative to the flat support surface 56 inclined end faces 58 and 60. The two end faces 58 and 60 each form a kind chamfer of Semi-cylinder and extend from the outside in the direction of the support surface 56 at an angle to each other. On the end face 58, two contacts 62, 64 are provided, one of which is connected to the positive pole and the other to the negative pole of the accumulator 52 housed in the accumulator. The contacts 62, 64 are flush with the end face 58 and lie on both sides of a protruding over the end face 58 locking sleeve 66. The longitudinal axis of the locking sleeve 66 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the accumulator 52nd

On the end face 58 opposite end face 60 of the accumulator 52, a detent 68 is provided. The contacts 62, 64 and the locking sleeve 66 are each arranged approximately centrally relative to the extension of the accumulator unit 52 perpendicular to its support surface 56, whereas the detent 68 is provided at a great distance from the support surface 56 and closely adjacent to the curved outer surface 54.

The handle 12 has, in an end region adjacent to the connecting nipple 16, a material recess which corresponds to that region of the outer contour of the accumulator unit 52 which is formed by its bearing surface 56 and its end faces 58 and 60. This material recess forms a receptacle 70 with a bottom surface 72 whose dimensions correspond to those of the support surface 56 of the accumulator unit 52. In the longitudinal direction of the handle 12 go from the bottom surface 72 each in the direction of the outer surface of the handle 12 away from each other, from the bottom surface 72 inclined surfaces 74, 76 whose inclination angle relative to the bottom surface 72 to the inclination angle of the end faces 58, 60 of the accumulator 52 related on the support surface 56 is complementary.

In the inclined surface 74 of the receptacle 70 to the contacts 62, 64 of the accumulator unit 52 matching Kontake 78, 80 are provided (see. FIG. 3 ). These are in turn via lines and connections not shown here with the light-emitting diode arrangement 50 or its flat cable in the shower head 14 in conjunction. The contacts 78, 80 in the handle 12 are arranged so that they contact the contacts 62, 64 of the accumulator unit 52 conductive when it is inserted into the receptacle 70, as shown in the FIGS. 1 . 2 . 5 and 6 is shown. As can also be seen from these figures, the curved outer surface 54 of the accumulator unit 52 forms in the handle 12 inserted accumulator unit 52 is a continuation of the outer circumferential surface of the handle 12th

For locking the Akkumulatoreiriheit 52 in the handle 12, the inclined surface 76 of the receptacle 70 has a latching nose 68 of the accumulator 52 complementary recess 82. For the same purpose, the opposite inclined surface 74 in the handle 12 has a in, in Figures 5 and 6 to be recognized, radial cut triangular recess 84, so that the locking sleeve 66 of the accumulator unit 52 can be inserted radially into the recess 84 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12.

In this recess 84 opens a parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12 extending guide channel 86 in which a retaining pin 88 is slidably mounted. The retaining pin 88 has a first end portion 90 with a cross section corresponding to that of the inner channel of the locking sleeve 66 of the accumulator unit 52. The cross section of the second end portion 92 of the retaining pin 88 opposite the first end portion 90 is greater than that of the first end portion 90 and in turn corresponds to the cross section of the guide channel 86. The transition region 94 between the first and second end portions 90,92 of the retaining pin 88 is conical , The retaining pin 88 is acted on on the end face of the second end portion 92 with a coil spring 96 and is thus always pressed in the direction of the receptacle 84 and inserted accumulator unit 52 in the inner channel of its locking sleeve 66. As a result, the accumulator unit 52 inserted into the handle 12 is secured against being removed or dropped.

In order to be able to remove the accumulator unit 52 from the receptacle 70 in the handle 12, a device for unlocking the accumulator unit 52 in the form of a push button 98 is provided. The push button 98 has a plunger 100, which is guided in a perpendicular to the guide channel 86 extending plunger channel 102 (see. FIG. 6 ). The plunger 100 has a circular cross-section and a free end on which a chamfer 104 is provided. This chamfer 104 has the same inclination as the conical region 94 of the retaining pin 88.

The coil spring 96 is seated in a chamber 106 which is provided at the opposite end of the recess 84 of the guide channel 86 and extends coaxially thereto. The chamber 106 has a slightly larger diameter than the guide channel 86 and has a longitudinal extent which is less than the longitudinal extent of the coil spring 96 in the relaxed state. That is, the coil spring 96 abuts against a step formed at the junction between the chamber 106 and the guide channel 86, and is thereby prevented from being fully expanded.

The plunger channel 102 is arranged such that when inserted into the channel 102 plunger 100 whose bevel 104 sits on the conical portion 94 of the retaining pin 88 when the retaining pin 88 is positioned in the guide channel 86, that the end face of its second end portion 92 with the the chamber 106 adjacent end of the guide channel 86 is flush, as in FIG. 6 is shown. It remains between the free end face of the plunger 100 and the outer circumferential surface of the first end portion 90 of the retaining pin 88 a distance.

At its end opposite the chamfer 104, the plunger 100 is perpendicular to its end Longitudinal axis extending pressure plate 108 integrally formed. Towards the outer circumferential surface of the handle 12, the plunger channel 102 widens to a recess 110 which surrounds and receives the pressure plate 108. The latter closes in its illustrated basic position flush with the outer surface of the handle 12.

Now, if the push button 98 is actuated from the outside and pressed the pressure plate 108 with the plunger 100 with respect to the axis of the handle 12 radially inward, the retaining pin 88 by the superimposed inclined surfaces of the chamfer 104 of the plunger 100 and the conical portion 94th of the retaining pin 88 in FIG. 6 forced to the left in the direction of the chamber 106 and partially moved into this. During this movement of the retaining pin 88, its first end region 90 moves out of the inner channel of the locking bushing 66 of the accumulator unit 52 and can be removed from the recess 70 in the handle 12.

When the push button 98 is released, the retaining pin 88 is again pushed back by the coil spring 96 until the end face of the second end portion of the retaining pin 88 is flush with the end of the guide channel 86 on the chamber 104 side and the first end portion 90 of the retaining pin 88 partially into the recess 84 in the handle 12 protrudes, as in FIG. 6 is shown. During this return movement of the retaining pin 88 presses its conical portion 94 against the chamfer 104 of the push button 98, whereby it is brought back into its normal position in which its pressure plate 108 is flush with the outer circumferential surface of the handle 12.

If another, optionally recharged battery unit 52 is inserted into the handle 12 of the hand shower 10 be, so must also press button 98 are actuated to move the retaining pin 88 in the direction of the chamber 106. Otherwise, it would be impossible to introduce the locking bush 66 of the accumulator unit 52 into the recess 84 of the accumulator unit receptacle 70, since the accumulator unit 52 would then come to lie with the outer circumferential surface of its locking bush 66 on the end region 90 of the retaining pin 88 protruding into the recess 84 of the handle 12 ,

As can be seen from the above, the accumulator unit 52 of the hand shower 10 is easily removed from the handle 12 or from the receptacle 70, since the receptacle 70 is directly accessible to the user from the outside. A removed accumulator unit 52 can then be supplied to an external charging station placed at an arbitrary location, through which the accumulator of the accumulator unit 52 can be charged. The contacts 62, 64 on the end face 58 of the accumulator 52 then serve as connections for connection to the charger.

Optionally, a second, identical accumulator unit 52 is provided, which can be inserted into the handle 12, while the first accumulator unit 52 is charged.

Claims (10)

1. Sanitary hand-held sprinkler having:

   a handle (12) which can be connected to a sprinkler hose;

   a shower head (14) which is carried by the handle (12) and comprises a plurality of water outlet apertures (32, 34, 36);

   at least one illuminant (50) arranged in the shower head (14);
   and

   at least one battery (52) by which the illuminant (50) can be supplied with power; wherein

   the battery (52) is accommodated in a battery unit (52) which is held in a releasable manner in a receiving device (70) which is accessible to a user of the hand-held sprinkler (10) from outside;
   characterised in that

   the battery unit has connections (62, 64) for connection to a charger.
2. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving device (70) is provided in the handle (12).
3. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the receiving device (70) comprises an interlocking device (88, 96, 98) by means of which the battery unit (52) is held in the receiving device (70) in a releasable manner.
4. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 3, characterised in that the interlocking device (88, 96, 98) comprises a retaining means (88) which can be moved between an interlocking position, in which the battery unit (52) is secured against being taken out or dropping out, and a releasing position, in which the battery unit (52) can be taken out of the receiving device (70), which retaining means (88) engages in the battery unit (52) under pretensioning.
5. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 4, characterised in that the retaining means (88) is constructed as a retaining pin (88) which engages in a retaining bush (66) provided on the battery unit (52).
6. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the pretensioning of the retaining means (88) is brought about by a spring (96).
7. Hand-held sprinkler according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that a manually actuatable actuating means (98) is provided for moving the retaining means (88) into its releasing position.
8. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 7, characterised in that the actuating means (98) is constructed as a push-button (98) which has a pressure surface (104) via which a force can be exerted on a counter-surface (94) of the retaining pin (88) by depressing the push-button (98), so that said retaining pin (88) is moved into its releasing position.
9. Hand-held sprinkler according to claim 8, characterised in that the direction of movement of the push-button (98) extends substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the retaining pin (88).
10. Hand-held sprinkler according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the illuminant (50) is a light-emitting diode (50).

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