GB2177621A

GB2177621A - Shower heads

Info

Publication number: GB2177621A
Application number: GB08518365A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Alfred James Homer
Original assignee: AQUATRON
Current assignee: AQUATRON
Priority date: 1985-07-20
Filing date: 1985-07-20
Publication date: 1987-01-28
Also published as: GB8518365D0; GB2177621B

Abstract

A shower head comprises a plurality of concentric rings (11,12,13,14) and gaps (32,33) between adjacent rings to provide a plurality of small apertures (17,18; 22,23), at least some of the rings being held resiliently in an in-use position and manually operable means (26) operable to permit of displacement of at least some of the rings from each other to enable dirt or other foreign matter to be removed from the apertures by an increase in water flow or by any other suitable cleaning means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to spray forming members The present invention relates to a new or improved spray forming member for liquids and is primarily, but not exclusively, concerned with a "shower head", that is an article into which water enters along a pipe for example and exits from the head in the form of a spray.

Whereas many different designs of shower heads are commonly available they can be divided into two separate types, one of which comprises a perforated membrane, the membrane being made from plastics or metal for example, and the other type which comprises two or more members arranged in at least partial surface contact with each other, the arrangement being such that a plurality of small gaps are provided between connecting surfaces through which liquid may pass to form the spray.

The latter type of shower head has been found particularly effective to produce a fine and well regulated spray. However the performance of such a shower head may be adversely affected by particles of dirt or other matter suspended in the water which may gradually block up the apertures between adjacent surfaces.

It is necessary therefore with such shower heads to regularly dismantle the shower head to clean the apertures to ensure that the water passes properly therethrough.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved spray forming member that overcomes or minimises the problems mentioned above.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a spray forming member comprising a first member having a first surface, a second member having a first member abutment surface, the configuration of said abutment surface and/or said first surface being such that when adjacent to each other a plurality of gaps are present between said surfaces and wherein means are provided to bias said surfaces into contact with each other and wherein operable means are provided which when operated causes separation of said surfaces against said bias.

Preferably said biasing means is resilient.

The provision of resilient biasing means to urge said surfaces into contact with each other ensures the proper assembled relationship of the two members and the operable means enables separation of the surfaces whereby the gaps existing between the surfaces are increased to allow an increased water flow so as to clean any dirt or other matter existing between the gaps therefrom and, if further cleaning is necessary, separation of the surfaces enables easy cleaning with a brush or other suitable implement.

Said spray forming member may comprise more than two members and may comprise two or more pairs of surfaces between which gaps exist when in assembled relationship, wherein said biasing means maintains said members in an assembled relationship and said operable means enables separation of said pairs of surfaces against said biasing means.

Preferably, said operable means not only enables separation of said surfaces but also causes separation of said surfaces and wherein more than one pair of abutting surfaces are provided, said operable means may cause separation of one pair of surfaces before another.

Preferably said surfaces are circular and gaps are provided by providing serrations, undulations, casteilations or the like in one of said pair of surfaces.

Preferably said members may comprise a plurality of concentric rings and conveniently two or more of said rings are provided with said serrations, undulations, castellations or the like.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an underside view of a shower head; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through a shower head in an operative position; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the same shower head with the spray causing members in a displaced position.

The shower head illustrated in the drawings comprises a body part 10, an outer ring 11, intermediate rings 12 and 13 and an inner ring 14.

The outer ring 11 abuts an annular surface 15 provided on the body part 10 and the outer surface 16 of the outer ring 11 is of castellated form providing a plurality of apertures, shown at 17 and 18, through which water may pass.

The inner ring 14 is provided with an outer surface 20 also of castellated form, which surface abuts in part with the inner surface 21 of intermediate member 13. Once again a plurality of apertures are provided, such as those shown at 22 and 23, through which water may pass.

The rings 11 to 14 areformed as separate members and are secured in place relative to the body member 10 by a threaded member 24 which engages a spigot part 25 of operable member 26.

The operable member 26 includes a head part 27 on the underside of which bears a spring 28, the other end of the spring bearing on an annular surface 29 provided on the body part 10.

The manually operable part 26 is therefore biased in an upwards direction and by virtue of contact between the inner ring 14 and the threaded member 24 which in turn is engaged in spigot 25 and the tapering abutting surfaces of the ring members are urged into the position as shown in Figure 2 by the helical spring 28.

The spigot 25 is provided with an annular groove 30 into which is secured an O-ring 31, for example of neoprene, to provide a watertight seal between the body part 10 and the manually operable member 26.

In use of the shower head, water enters through entry passage 32 into the annular region 33 and under pressure is forced through the two rings of apertures formed respectively between the body part 10 and the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 14 and intermediate ring 13.

The spigot 25 is formed integrally with or is connected to a displacement member, generally indicated at 35, which displacement member carries three radially projecting parts 36, 37 and 38 which in the position shown in Figure 2 is positioned just out of contact with the outer ring member 11 to 14.

If it is required to clean the apertures, such as the apertures 17, 18, 22, 23 etc., the head 27 of the manually operable part 26 is depressed as shown by arrow A, compressing the helical spring 28 and immediately moving in a downwards direction the inner ring 14. The intermediate rings 12 and 13 and the inner ring 14 tend to remain in a position as shown in Figure 2 in view of frictional engagement between the respective contacting surfaces until the inner ring 14 is displaced from the adjacent intermediate ring. Assuming that there is a supply of water connected to the shower head, a considerably increased flow through the shower head will occur which tends to displace any dirt in the apertures, and if necessary should the water pressure be insufficient to displace any dirt, a small brush may be used to clean the surface 20.

Further depression of the manually operable member 26 in a direction shown by arrow A will cause the three radial members 36, 37 and 38 of the displacement member 35 to come into contact with the outer ring member 11 thus displacing the ring member from contact with the annular surface 15 provided on the body part 10. Once again an increase in water flow will occur thus cleaning dirt from the apertures such as the apertures 17 and 18 and once again if necessary the surface 16 may be cleaned with a small brush.

After cleaning, the operable member 26 is released and the ring members 11 to 15 will return to the position as shown in Figure 2 under the biasing means provided by the helical spring 28.

The securing of the inner ring 14 to the spigot part 25 by a threaded fastener 24 ensures that the shower head may be separated into its component parts without difficulty to enabie replacement of a faulty part, for example, or for any other reason.

The shower head, the subject of the present invention, enables the apertures providing the spray to be cleaned in a simple manner and permits automatic re-assembiy of the elements the shower head in a correct position without any re-assembly or adjustment having to be carried out by the person effecting cleaning thereof.

Whereas the spray forming member the subject of the present invention has been described specifically in relation to a shower head, it will be appreciated that it may be used in any apparatus where it is required to produce a spray from a water supply, for example in water sprinklers or fire extinguishing or irrigation purposes, in a watering can hose or any other apparatus where a spray of liquid is required.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A spray forming member comprising a first member having a first surface, a second member having a first member abutment surface, the configuration of said abutment surface and/or said first surface being such that when adjacent to each other a plurality of gaps are present between said surfaces and wherein means are provided to bias said surfaces into contact with each other and wherein operable means are provided which when operated causes separation of said surfaces against said bias.

2. A spray forming member according to Claim 1 wherein said biasing means is resilient.

3. A spray forming member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said first and second members are arranged concentrically with each other.

4. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second members are of annular configuration.

5. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein more than two members are provided and wherein said members provide two or more pairs of surfaces between which gaps exist when in assembled relationship and wherein said biasing means maintains said members in an assembled relationship.

6. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first member and/or said second member are provided with serrations, undulations, castellations or the like so as to provide said gaps.

7. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first member and/or said second member are provided with serrations, undulations, castellations or the like so as to provide said gaps.

7. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said operable means comprises a movable manually operable member, said manually operable member being movable against said biasing means to cause relative displacement between said first and second members.

8. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of members are provided affording two or more pairs of surfaces between which gaps exist when in assembled relationship and wherein said operable member is movable against said biasing means to separate said pairs of surfaces.

9. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring.

10. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said member comprises a shower head.

11. A spray forming member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A spray forming member including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments of the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1-7 above have been deleted.

(b) Amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A spray forming member comprising a first member having a first surface, a second member having a first member abutment surface, the configuration of said abutment surface and/or said first surface being such that when adjacent to each other a plurality of gaps are present between said surfaces and wherein means are provided to bias said surfaces into contact with each other and wherein operable means are provided which when operated causes movement of said first and/or said second member in a direction to enable separation of said surfaces against said bias and to permit of access to said surfaces.

2. A spray forming member according to Claim 1 wherein said operable means comprises a movable manually operable member, said manually operable member being movable against said biasing means to cause relative displacement between said first and second members, and wherein said manually operable member is positioned remote from said spray forming surfaces in a position on said member not subjected to said spray during use of said spray forming member.

3. A spray forming member according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said biasing means is resilient.

4. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second members are arranged concentrically with each other.

5. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second members are of annular configuration.

6. A spray forming member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein more than two members are provided and wherein said members provide two or more pairs of surfaces between which gaps exist when in assembled relationship and wherein said biasing means maintains said members in an assembled relationship.