GB2081607A - Shower head - Google Patents

Abstract

A shower head which provides a constant and/or a pulsating water spray has a central spray area 16 and a surrounding annular spray area 18 and water can be directed to one or both areas. Behind the central spray area is an impeller 40 which rotates about an axis aligned with the direction of the water spray and which carries means 53 which block a portion of the central spray area, that portion advancing around the spray area as the impeller rotates to give the desired pulsating spray. The water is arranged to enter the impeller chamber 38 in a direction to cause the impeller to rotate and then leave via the central spray area 16. Such a head can be smaller and so lighter because the axis of rotation of the impeller is aligned with the direction of supply of the spray and lighter because the impeller chamber 38 or the chamber 48 for supplying the surrounding annular spray area 18 can be empty when the associated spray area is not in use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to shower or spray heads This invention relates to showers for washing and in pafxicularto a shower or spray head which can provide a cleansing stream of water and/or a pulsating supply of water such as can be used to provide body massage.

Shower heads which give a water spray are well known and it is also known to provide a pulsating supply of water from the head. However conventional shower heads for providing this pulsating supply tend to be relatively large and so heavy.

Therefore, they are not as convenient to use whilst held in the hand as they might be.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a shower or spray head which can be relatively light in weight to hold whilst in use.

According to the invention there is provided a shower head having a spray outlet divided into a central spray area and a surrounding annular spray area, means for directing a supply of water to one or both areas, an impeller behind the central spray area rotatable about an axis aligned with the axis of that area, blocking means carried by the impeller and rotatable therewith to block an annular portion of the central spray area, that portion advancing around the spray area as the impeller rotates, the water for the central spray area being directed to impinge on and rotate the impeller.

According to one embodiment ofthe invention the shower head comprises a spray outlet divided into a central spray area and a surrounding annular spray area, a water inlet to the head, a distributor plate whose angular position controls the flow of water from the inlet to a supply conduit for water to the central spray area and/or to an annular chamber covered by and behind the annular spray area, a central circular chamber covered by and behind the central spray area, an impeller rotatable within that central circular chamber about an axis aligned with the axis of the central spray area, at least one inlet to the central chamber through which water enters from the supply conduit in the form of a jet which impels the impeller into rotation, and rotatable blocking means attached to the impeller and arranged to block an angular portion of the central spray area, that portion advancing around the spray area as a result of rotation of the impeller so as to give a pulsating spray outlet from the central area.

A shower head according to the invention can be relatively compact and light in weight since the cen tral chamber in which the impeller is positioned can be empty of uater whilst an annular spray of water is provided through the annular spray area and equally the annular chamber can be empty of water whilst a pulsating spray of water is supplied through the central spray area. Also by mounting the impeller so that it rotates about an axis aligned with the direction of supply of the spray, the head can be made very compact which can again reduce the weight of the head in use since the volume of the head containing water can be kept to a minimum.

Preferably the distributor plate is joined by means of an axial spigot to a ring member at the front of the shower head and that ring member is rotatable relative the rest of the head so that in this way the type of shower output can be controlled simply by twisting the ring member of the head to rotate the distributor plate and so alter the supply of water from the inlet as between the supply conduit for the central spray area and the annular chamber.

In order to provide a powerful jet of water to drive the impeller the supply conduit for water to the central spray area is preferably in the form of at least one semi-annular passage at one end of which is an outlet leading into the central chamber in the same annular direction as the direction of supply along the semi-annular passage so giving a jet which impinges on the impeller blades and urges them into rotation.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation of one shower head according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the head; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the part of the head; and Figure 6 is an exploded view of an alternate form of shower head according to the invention.

The shower head 10 shown in the drawings comprises a handle and main head portion 12 to the front of which is joined buy a screwthread a spray outlet cover 14. Through the front of this cover is a central spray outlet portion 16 and a surrounding annular spray outlet portion 18. Rotatably mounted in a manner to be described over the cover 14 is a central ring 20.

The main head portion 12 includes an elongated tube-like handle portion 12a through which is a water inlet tube 24. At the lower end of the portion 12a is a screw fitting 26 for attachment to a length of hose, which will normally be flexible hose to allow the shower head to be held in the hand and moved as desired around the body. The portion of the head 12 includes a dome-shaped cavity 28 to which water is fed by the tube 24. At the front of the head is an internal screw-thread 30 by means of which the cover 14 is joined to the portion 12.

The cover 14 as best shown in Figures 2,3 and 4 has through it a number of spray outlet holes 30 arranged in an annular ring to constitute the annular spray outlet portion 18. Also, the cover 14 has further outlet bores 32 arranged in the form of two concentric rings to constitute the central spray outlet portion 16.

Extending real5yardly from the front face of the cover 14 are a central hollow spigot 34 and an annularwall 36 spaced from the spigot to define an impel The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

ler cavity 38 in which an impeller 40 is rotatably positioned. Outside the circumference of the annular wall 36 is a further spaced annular wall 42 which defines with the annular wall 36 inlet passages 44 for waterto pass into the impeller cavity 38 through waterfeed inlets 46 (see Figure 5) from the passages 44. Between the annular wall 42 or, in annular regions where that wall does not exist, between the annular wall 36 and the outside of the cover is defined an annular chamber 48. The bores 30 are in communication with the annular chamber 48 whilst the bores 42 are in communication with the chamber 38.

The cover 14 has a screw-thread 14a which mates with the thread 30 of the head 12.

The impeller 40 has, as best shown in Figure 5, a number of vanes 50 slightly offset from the radial which extend out from a central sleeve 52. The sleeve 52 has an open centre and rotatably fits over the spigot 34. The impeller also has a part-annular blocking ring 53 which will obstruct and close any water outlet bores 32 which it covers. Since the ring 53 is not completely circular, however, at any one instant it cannot cover all the bores 32. Thus some are free to dispense water and some are blocked so that little or no water passes through them from the cavity 38. As the impeller 40 rotates, however, the ring 53 is also rotated and so those bores 32 which are open and those which are blocked change.

As noted above, the water jet inlets 46 allow water to enter the chamber 38 and as best shown in Figure 5, they are shaped so that the water enters in a direction such that it will impinge on the blades 50 and force the impeller 40 into anti-clockwise rotation in the sense viewed in Figure 5.

Between the cover 14 and the head 12 is a stationary plate 60. This plate abuts with and seals against the intermost ends of the spigot 34 and walls 36 and 42. Through the plate are a pair of diametrically opposed slots 62 which provide communication with the chamber 48. Additionally through the plate are a pair of diametrically opposed holes 64 which provide communication to one end of the inlet passages 44.

The plate 60 has a central hole 66 and in addition has upstanding lugs 68 whose function will be described shortly.

Covering the plate 60 is an angularly movable distributor plate 70. This plate includes diametrically opposed slots 72 which, in one angular position of the plate 70, provide communication with the slots 62 and also has a pair of diametrically opposed slots 74 which, in the other limit of the angular position of the plate, provide communication with the holes 64.

Further, annular slots 76 are provided into which the lugs 68 can project and so limit the extent of angular rotation of the plate 70. The relative positions ofthe lug 68 and slots 76, the slots 62 and 72 and holes 64 and slots 74 are such that at one limit of angular movement, the inlet slots 62 and 72 are aligned so that water can pass to the chamber 48 whilst at the other limit the holes 64 and slots 74 are aligned so that water can pass to the chamber 38 via the inlet passages 44. At an intermediate position it is poss ibleforthereto be partial alignment of the inlet slots 62 and 72 and holes 64 and slots 74 so that water can pass to both chambers 38 and 48.

Between the plates 60 and 70 is provided a sealing washer 80 whilst between the plate 70 and the head 12 is provided an annular gasket 82.

Over the front of the cover 14 is the control ring 20.

This is connected to a central spigot 84 which extends forwardly through the spigot 34 and hole 66 from the plate 70. The ring 20 is secured to the spigot by means of a screw 86. Therefore rotation of the ring 20 causes rotation of the plate 70 relative the head. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the spigot 84 could be provided as part of the ring 20 and so extend rearwardly from the ring to be attached to the plate 70.

The cover 20a includes narrow radial fins 88 which connect its surrounding annular portion 9Qto the spigot 84. That portion 90 is ribbed to assist gripping the ring 20 to rotate it. The front of the ring 2t also includes an intermediate ring 92 which forms a division between the areas 16 and 18.

It is believed that the operation of the shower head should be largely clear from the description given.

Water enters the shower head through the tube 24 and reaches the chamber 28. There it is directed by the distributor plate 30 to the chamber 48, to the passages 44, or to both the chamber 48 and the passages 44. Water entering the chamber 48 passes out through the bores 30 in the form of a constant annular spray. Water entering the passages 44 is forced out through the inlets 42 to drive the impeller round.

Water leaves the chamber 38 through the bores 30 in a pulsating fashion since as the impeller rotates, the ring 53 alternately blocks an unblocks bores 32 to give a spray which pulsates in an angularfashion.

An important advantage of the invention is that when only one or other spray portion 16 or 18 is in use, the corresponding chamber 38 and 48 respectively can be empty so that the head 10 is relatively light in weight for the user who does not have to support unnecessary quantities of water. Also the axis of the impeller 40 is aligned with the direction of supply of the water spray and so the head can be of relatively small dimension in that axial direction, again reducing the volume and so weight of the head. The head is however simple and effective inlets operation and provides a robut design; in particular the impeller 40 is not subject to excess wear by rofation when a pulsating supply is not required.

The modified head 100 shown in Figure 6 has identical working parts to the head 10 and so they will not be described but have been given the same reference numerals for convenience. The head 100 is designed to be attached to a fixed supply tube (not shown) to give a stationary shower head. Accordingly, the main head portion 112 has at its rear a water inlet fitting 114 by which it is attached to the supply tube (not shown).

Claims (7)

1. A shower head having a spray outlet divided into a central spray area and a surrounding annular spray area, means for directing a supply of water to one or both areas, an impeller behind the central spray area rotatable about an axis aligned with the axis of that area, blocking means carried by the impeller and rotatable therewith to block an annular portion of the central spray area, that portion advancing around the spray area as the impeller rotates, the waterforthe central spray area being directed to impinge on and rotate the impeller.

2. A shower head as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising an impeller chamber behind the central spray area within which the impeller rotates and at least one water inlet to the chamber directed so that a jet of water is provided to impinge on and drive the impeller.

3. A shower head as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising a distributor plate whose angu lar position controls the flow of water from a water inlet to the central spray area or the surrounding r annular spray area.

4. A shower head comprises a spray outlet divided into a central spray area and a surrounding annular spray area, a water inlet to the head, a dis tributor plate whose angular position controls the flow of water from the inlet to a supply conduit for water to the central spray area and/or to an annular chamber covered by and behind the annular spray area, a central circular chamber covered by and behind the central spray area, an impeller rotat able within that central circular chamber about an axis aligned with the axis of the central spray area, at least one in iet to the central chamber through which water enters from the supply conduit in the form of a jet which impels the impeller into rotation, and rotatable blocking means attached to the impeller and arranged to block an angular portion of the cen tral spray area, that portion advancing around the spray area as a result of rotation of the impeller so as to give a pulsating spray outlet from the central area.

5. A shower head as claimed in Claim 4 in which the supply conduit is in the shape of at least one semi-annular passage at one end of which is an out let to the central chamber to provide a jet which will impinge on the impeller blades and urge them into rotation.

6. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 in which the distributor plate is joined by an axial spigot to a ring member at the front of the shower head, that ring member being rotatable relative the rest of the head, so that twisting that ring member alters the supply of water between the central pulsat ing spray area and the surrounding annular spray area.

7. A shower head substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, orto Fig ure 6, of the accompanying drawings.