EP2838663B1

EP2838663B1 - Shower head

Info

Publication number: EP2838663B1
Application number: EP13725792.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Veronica Righini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-16
Filing date: 2013-04-16
Publication date: 2016-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-16
Also published as: WO2013156921A1; CN104254401A; ITBO20120204A1; EP2838663A1; CN104254401B

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a shower head.
More in particular, the invention concerns a shower head that makes it possible to dispense liquid products such as soaps, shower gels, shampoos, creams, perfumes, deodorants, scented oils, essential oils, and the like.

PRIOR ART

Some types of modern shower heads are known that make it possible to dispense products such as soaps, shower gels, shampoos, creams, perfumes, deodorants, scented oils, essential oils, and the like together with water. In other words, in these types of shower heads, running water is made to pass through a certain path, foreseen inside the head, along which a tank or a container for a certain liquid product selected by the user is foreseen; the product can also possibly be in in the form of powder or granules that are soluble in water. Along this path inside the head, therefore, water mixes with the aforementioned product, and is then dispensed outside, i.e. on the body of the user, together with a certain amount of product itself.
In such a way, therefore, the user can use water that is already mixed, for example, with the shower gel for washing the body, or with another selected product, for example a perfume or a deodorant to be deposited on the body itself.
One big limitation, that the applicant has found, of aforementioned types of shower heads consists of the fact that it is not possible to control, with an acceptable degree of precision, the amount of product dispensed together with the running water.
Indeed, for obvious requirements of keeping the bulk small, the tanks or the containers of the product, which are incorporated in the shower head, cannot have dimensions that are greater than a certain limit, and thus usually have a rather small capacity, or rather a few cubic centimetres of product.
As a consequence of this, the product contained in the shower head, and dispensed together with running water, usually runs out very quickly, forcing the user to continuously carry out refilling operations.
Moreover, since the product runs out quickly, the effects of the latter are not those hoped by the user: for example, the shower gel is not sufficient to complete washing the body, or when using perfume or oils, these are hardly perceived.
How long the product lasts of course depends on the type of product used, i.e. it essentially depends upon its solubility.
Another limitation of this type of shower head consists of the fact that the contained product cannot be used on its own, i.e. without the simultaneous use of running water. Documents of this kind are for example FR 2 832 651 , FR 2 899 134 and EP 2 351 888 .

PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION

The technical task of the present invention is to improve the state of the art.
In such a technical task, one purpose of the present invention is to devise a shower head that allows the user to have one or more liquid products available while having a shower that can be dispensed in a controlled and independent manner with respect to the dispensing of water.
Such a task and such purposes are however achieved with the shower head according to the attached claim 1.
The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

These and further advantages shall become clearer by any man skilled in the art from the following description and by the attached drawings, given as a non-limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of the shower head according to the present invention;
figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shower head;
figure 3 is a diametrical section view of a detail of the shower head according to the invention;
figure 4 is a diametrical section view of another embodiment of the shower head;
figure 5 is a diametrical section view of a detail of yet another embodiment of the shower head;
figure 6 is a diametrical section view of a detail of a further embodiment of the shower head according to the present invention;
figure 7 is a diametrical section view of a detail of yet another embodiment of the shower head according to the present invention;
figure 8 is a diametrical section view of a detail of another embodiment of the shower head according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

With reference to figure 1, a shower head according to the invention is wholly indicated with reference numeral 1.
The shower head comprises, in a per se known manner, a handle 2 that is substantially cylindrical and ends with a threaded tang 3 for being connected, for example, to a flexible tube for supplying water that is hooked up to the water mains, or to any other equivalent means for supplying water. The flexible tube, or other supply means, is not represented in the figures for the sake of simplicity, since it is completely of the known and conventional type.
The handle 2 of the head 1 defines, inside it, at least one water supply channel 4, as illustrated in figure 1 with a broken line.
The shower head 1 can be made, for example, from metal material, or from material of the plastic type, or again from any other suitable material.
The shower head, at the front, comprises a water dispensing surface 5, for example circular-shaped: of course, in other embodiments the dispensing surface 5 can have any other shape, without any limitation.
The dispensing surface 5 is provided, in a per se known manner, with small nozzles 6 from which water comes out.
Of course, there can be any number and any shape of nozzles 6, in relation to the specific application requirements.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the shower head 1 comprises at least one tank for a liquid product, which is wholly indicated with reference numeral 7.
The liquid product contained in the tank 7 can be made up, for example, of a soap, a shower gel, a shampoo, a cream, a perfume, a deodorant, a scented oil, an essential oil, and the like, without any limitation. Moreover, the shower head 1 comprises at least one liquid product roll-on distributor, wholly indicated with reference numeral 8, which is associated with the tank 7.
The tank 7 and the roll-on distributor 8 are foreseen on the dispensing surface 5 of the shower head 1.
In such a way, the user can distribute the liquid product contained in the tank 7 directly on the body by using the roll-on distributor 8, in a completely independent manner with respect to the dispensing of water, as shall become clearer in the rest of the description.
In the embodiment represented in the figures 1-3 the liquid product tank 7 comprises a plurality of roll-on distributors 8, for example four distributors arranged in the shape of a cross, or according to any other arrangement.
Of course, the number and the arrangement of the roll-on distributors 8 - indeed in the case in which there are more than one - can be any, in relation to the specific application requirements.
In the embodiment represented, the tank 7 has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape, but it could of course have any other suitable shape.
The tank 7 is housed in a respective recessed seat 9 foreseen at the dispensing surface 5.
For example, the seat 9 is foreseen at the centre of the dispensing surface 5, but it could also be foreseen in any other position in relation to the specific application.
More in detail, the tank 7 comprises a tubular portion 10 that is provided with means, which are wholly indicated with reference numerals 11, for removably coupling with the seat 9.
The tubular portion 10 extends at the rear part of the tank 7.
In the embodiment represented in the figures 1-3, the tubular portion 10 has a shorter diameter than that of the remaining portion of the tank 7, or rather the front portion.
The tubular portion 10 defines an inner chamber 12 for containing the liquid product.
The inner chamber 12 forms moreover a widened section 13 that communicates directly with the area in which the roll-on distributors 8 are foreseen, i.e. the front area of the tank 7.
In the embodiment represented, the tubular portion 10 is open at the base 14 facing the seat 9.
However, in other not shown embodiments, the tubular portion 10 could be closed at said base 14, through a special wall, as shall be made clearer in the rest of the description.
The solution of foreseeing the tubular portion 10 open makes it possible to fill the tank 7 by pouring the liquid directly into the latter or also, if it is more convenient for the user, into the seat 9, then closing everything and inserting the tank 7 inside the seat 9 itself.
The removable means 11 for coupling the tubular portion 10 to the seat 9 comprise, more in particular, a screw 15 foreseen in the tubular portion 10, and a female screw 16 foreseen in the seat 9.
The removable coupling means 11 could be however of another equivalent type, for example of the bayonet coupling type, of the press-fitting type, or the like. Each roll-on distributor 8 comprises, more in detail, a substantially tubular support 17 that defines a housing 18 in which, for example with pressure, a ball 19 is inserted, which is kept in position but is free to rotate.
Between the ball 19 and the housing 18 a gap is created through which the liquid can leak out due to the rotation of the ball 19 itself, thus coming out to the outside. The product can thus be applied onto the body of the user through rolling of the ball 19 itself on the interested part.
This type of distributor, of the per se known type, is usually used in the field of cosmetics, in the pharmaceutical field, and the like, and shall not be described in further detail in its structural characteristics.
Each roll-on distributor 8 is coupled with the tank 7 through removable connection means 20.
The removable coupling means 20 of each roll-on distributor 8 comprise, more in detail, a threaded portion 21 of the support 17 that can be coupled with a corresponding threaded collar 22 foreseen in the tank 7; the threaded collar 22 defines a respective circular opening 23 that communicates with the widened section 18.
Of course, the removable connection means 20 can also be of another equivalent type, for example of the press-fitting type, of the bayonet coupling type, or the like.
The possibility of removing each roll-on distributor 8 makes it possible to fill the tank 7 also through the corresponding opening 23, therefore without the need of removing the entire tank 7.
Moreover each roll-on distributor 8, in such a way, can be replaced with other ones, or can be removed so as to be cleaned, etcetera.
On the tank 7, or rather more in detail on its surface facing outwards, other elements can be foreseen, such as, for example, massaging balls 24. The massaging balls 24 are inserted locked, or free to rotate, in respective seats foreseen on the front surface of the tank 7.
On the tank 7 it can also be foreseen for there to be other accessory elements such as sponges or the like, that facilitate the user in the cleaning operations.
The shower head 1 moreover comprises, according to another aspect of the present invention, a capsule 25 for closing the roll-on distributors 8.
The capsule 25, which can in reality be optional, can cover all the roll-on distributors 8, so that they do not get wet or become dirty when not used, or even only some of them, at the discretion of the user.
In the practical usage of the shower head 1 according to the invention the user can, in any moment, apply the product contained in the tank 7 on his body through the roll-on distributors 8, by rolling the respective balls 19 on the interested part.
Moreover, the user can also distribute the product on his hands, to then apply it onto the body.
In such a way the product is distributed in a much more controlled manner and in the right quantity desired by the user. This makes it possible to obtain, amongst other things, a considerable saving of the product. Moreover, the distribution of the product occurs in an absolutely independent manner with respect to the dispensing of running water.
In other words the user can, if desired, distribute the product in the same moment in which the dispensing of water occurs, or also in a moment in which there is no dispensing of water.
Once the product has run out, the tank 7 can be filled again in a practical and rapid manner through simple pouring. This can be carried out according to the modality preferred by the user, i.e. removing one of the roll-on distributors 8 or removing the entire tank 7.
In any case, since the distribution of product occurs in a very precise manner and in a way that can be very controlled by the user, the filling operations are not as frequent as in other known types of shower heads.
It should then be observed that the repeated rolling of the balls 19 of the distributors 8 on the body of the user - irrespective of whether there is a distribution of product or not - also makes it possible to exert a certain massaging action on the interested part, with more or less strength, helped also by the massaging balls 24 with smaller diameter.
It has thus been seen how the invention achieves the proposed purposes.
Another embodiment of the shower head according to the invention is illustrated in the section view of figure 4.
In this embodiment, the shower head is completely identical to that of the embodiment of figures 1-3, and differs due to the fact that it comprises a removable cover 26 for closing the tubular portion 10.
The cover 26 can be for example inserted with pressure at the opening of the tubular portion 10, or it can be kept in position through other equivalent fixing means, for example press-fitting means, bayonet coupling means, or the like.
The cover 10 makes it possible- differently from the previous embodiment - to hermetically close the tank 7 once it has been filled, so that when it is removed from the seat 9, or inserted in it, there is no risk of the liquid product accidentally coming out.
The cover 26 can also be locked in position without the user being able to remove it any more: in this case, the filling of the tank 7 is carried out through an opening 23 of one of the roll-on distributors 8.
Yet another embodiment of the shower head according to the present invention is illustrated in figure 5.
In this embodiment, the tubular portion 10 has the same diameter as the front part of the tank 7, but it could also have a different diameter.
The tubular portion 10 is closed by a wall 27 that is foreseen at the base 14 facing the seat 9 of the dispensing surface 5.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the tank 7 comprises a plurality of inner chambers 12 for a respective plurality of products to be distributed.
The inner chambers 12 do not communicate with one another.
The various inner chambers 12 are associated with respective roll-on distributors 8.
There can obviously be any number of inner chambers 12, comprised in the tank 7, compatible with the available surface.
The wall 27 comprises a plurality of holes 28 for filling the inner chambers 12, which are closed by respective plugs 29.
It should be noted however that the plugs 29 could be arranged in other areas of the tank 7, in relation to the specific application requirements.
Thanks to this solution, the user can have, in the same shower head, many products to be distributed on the body simultaneously, for example a shower gel, a cream, a perfume, etcetera, as desired.
The various products can be dispensed, independently from one another, by the respective roll-on distributors 8.
In the embodiment represented a single capsule 25 is foreseen for covering the roll-on distributors 8.
Of course, alternatively, many capsules 25 can be foreseen, with smaller dimensions, each associated with a respective roll-on distributor 8, so as to be able to use the desired distributor 8 without having to also open the others, which remain closed and thus protected.
In another embodiment of the invention, the tank 7 can comprise a single inner chamber 12 defined by a wall that closes the tubular portion 10, the wall having a single hole 28 for a respective closing plug 29.
The presence of a small plug 29 instead of a big cover, for example like that of figure 4, can make the filling operation of the tank 7 more simple and safer, since the risk of liquid possibly still contained in the tank 7 itself coming out, is reduced.
A further embodiment of the shower head according to the present invention is illustrated in figure 6.
In this embodiment, the shower head comprises a plurality of recessed seats 9 foreseen at the dispensing surface 5.
For example, the different seats 9 can be arranged along a circumference, or according to another arrangement.
The nozzles 6 for dispensing water can thus be arranged in the central area of the dispensing surface 5, or in the peripheral area, or in both the areas.
In the seats 9 respective single tanks 7 are housed for respective liquid products, which are associated with respective roll-on distributors 8.
Removable means 11 for coupling the single tanks 7 to the respective seats 9 of the type already described for the previous embodiments are foreseen.
Also in this embodiment, therefore, the advantage is that of being able to have various liquid products that are different from one another and that can be used independently from one another with the respective roll-on distributors 8.
Also in this embodiment each tank 7 comprises a tubular portion 10 that is closed by a wall 27, at which there is a hole 28 with a respective closing plug 29.
Also here, the closing plug 29 could be foreseen in other areas of the tank 7.
This embodiment is also particularly convenient in terms of its use, since refilling a single product can be carried out by only removing the corresponding tank 7, leaving all the others where they are.
The single roll-on distributors 8 are associated with respective single closing capsules 25.
Another embodiment of the shower head 1 according to the present invention is illustrated in the diametrical section view of a detail of figure 7.
In this embodiment the shower head 1 is completely identical to that of the embodiment of figures 1-3, and differs exclusively for the fact that the seat 9 is open at the back with respect to the dispensing surface 5.
An outer closing plug 30 is applied at the rear opening of the seat 9.
The outer plug 30 is applied for example through pressure, or it can be provided with a thread for engaging with a respective female screw foreseen in the rear opening of the seat 9; alternatively, other equivalent types of removable connection means between the outer plug 30 and the rear opening of the seat 9, can be used, in relation to the specific usage requirements.
In this embodiment, the tank 7 can be easily refilled, from the rear part of the shower head 1, by simply removing the outer plug 30, and therefore without the need of removing the tank 7 itself from the seat 9. This modality of refilling the tank 7 is thus particularly convenient, practical and quick.
The tank 7, in this embodiment, can also be identical to the one illustrated in the embodiment of figure 5. Moreover, in yet another embodiment not illustrated in the figures, a plurality of tanks 7 for single products can be foreseen, in an analogous manner to what is illustrated in the embodiment of figure 6, housed in seats 9 that are open at the back. The seats 9 are then provided with respective outer closing plugs.
Yet another embodiment of the shower head 1 according to the present invention is illustrated in the diametrical section of the detail of figure 8.
In this embodiment, the seat 9 for the tank 7 is foreseen at the back with respect to the dispensing surface 5, and not at the front like in the other embodiments.
The seat 9 can have a blind bottom, or it can also be open at the front, and at its opening - which is thus in the dispensing surface 5 - an outer plug can be foreseen, in a completely analogous manner to that illustrated for the embodiment of figure 7.
In this embodiment, the tank 7 is completely identical to that of the embodiment of figures 1-3, but it could also be identical to one of those illustrated in the embodiments of figures 4-6, without any limitation.
In this embodiment, therefore, the water dispensing function and the liquid products distribution function are kept clearly separated so that, indeed, the roll-on distributors 8 do not interfere with the dispensing of water.
The shower head according to all the embodiments described could also be equipped with a vibrating device, for example with an electric battery actuation or also of another kind, which facilitates the user in massaging the skin.
It should be noted that another advantage that can be achieved with the present invention is that there is no need of having various packs and bottles of products available while having a shower, since all the products are directly comprised in the shower head.
Moreover, there is a considerable saving of product with respect to the use of bottles, jars and the like, since the dispensing thereof occurs in a much more precise and controlled manner in terms of quantity.
The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be conceived without for this reason departing from the scope of protection offered by the following claims.

Claims

Shower head, comprising at least a water supplying channel (4) and at least a water dispensing surface (5), characterised in that it comprises at least a tank (7) for a liquid product and at least a roll-on dispenser (8) of the liquid product associated with said tank (7).
Head according to claim 1, wherein said tank (7) is housed in a respective recessed seat (9) provided at said dispensing surface (5).
Shower head according to claim 1, wherein said tank (7) is housed in a respective recessed seat (9) provided backwardly with respect to said dispensing surface (5).
Head according to claims 2 or 3, wherein said tank (7) comprises a tubular portion (10) provided with removable means (11) for coupling with said seat (9), said tubular portion (10) defining an inner chamber (12) for containing a liquid product.
Head according to claim 4, wherein said tubular portion (10) is closed at the base (14) facing towards said seat (9).
Head according to claim 4, wherein said tubular portion (10) is opened at the base (14) facing towards said seat (9).
Head according to the previous claim, comprising a removable cover (26) for closing said tubular portion (10).
Head according to claim 5, wherein said tubular portion (10) is closed by a wall (27) at the base (14) facing towards said seat (9), said wall (27) comprising a respective hole (28) for filling said inner chamber (12) closed by a respective plug (29).
Head according to one of the previous claims, comprising a plurality of recessed seats (9), in which respective tanks (7) are housed for respective liquid products, associated with respective roll-on dispensers (8).
Head according to one of claims from 1 to 5, wherein said tank (7) comprises a plurality of inner chambers (12) for a respective plurality of products to be dispensed, associated with respective roll-on dispensers (8).
Head according to the previous claim, wherein said tubular portion (10) is closed by a wall (27) at the base (14) facing towards said seat (9), said wall comprising a plurality of holes (28) for filling said inner chambers (12) closed by respective plugs (29).
Head according to one of claims from 4 to 11, wherein said removable coupling means (11) comprise a screw (15) provided in said tubular portion (10), and a female screw (16) provided in said seat (9).
Head according to one of the previous claims, wherein said roll-on dispenser (8) is coupled with said tank (7) through removable connecting means (20).
Head according to one of the previous claims, comprising a capsule (25) for closing said at least one roll-on dispenser (8).