GB2388332A

GB2388332A - Dual function showerhead for steam and water

Info

Publication number: GB2388332A
Application number: GB0210312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Scott Ouyoung
Original assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp
Current assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp
Priority date: 2002-05-07
Filing date: 2002-05-07
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-07
Also published as: GB2388332B; GB0210312D0

Abstract

A showerhead comprises a handle 10, and a casing 20, said casing enclosing a diversion unit 30 and a spray nozzle unit 70 which are locked within the casing by a locking ring 80. The spray nozzle unit comprises a hard front cover 71 and a soft back cover 78, the front cover has an accommodation trough (72, fig 2A) situated at its upstream side associated with conical atomizing holes (74, fig 2B) for egress of steam, the holes include an upstream flow resistance puck (75, fig 2B) with circumferential dents (76, fig 2B) for allowing passage of water, the front cover also has an outer annulus with pores (77, fig 2A) for the egress of water. The back cover is annular and has nozzles 79 configured to engage with the pores of the front cover and allow water to pass therethrough. A diversion unit is configured such that it has an inlet head 40 with one hole 42 therethrough which passes water to one of two holes (52, 53, fig 2D) in the diversion head 50. The diversion head can be rotated such that in a first orientation water can be transferred to the outer pores for egress of water whilst in the second orientation water is transferred to the accommodation for the generation of steam.

Description

] TITLE: SHOWER HEAD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an improved structure of a 5 showerhead, and more particularly to one that delivers steam and water without deflection.

(b) Descr ption of the Prier Art: Taking a shower or a bath is another way to overcome the fatigue mentally and physically for anyone caught in the hustling modem life. To 10 achieve the propose, bathing and showering facilities such as massage bathtub and multi-sectional adjustable showerhead essentially by taking advantage of water flow to improve human circulation for providing additional enjoyment for the consumer.

Showerheads generally available in He market are mostly developed in 15 the orientation of spray pattern and strength as desired by an individual user.

However, no matter how the water is delivered by the showerhead, the best it could provide is to deliver water in different coverage. When comes to winter time, skin moisture and care become particularly important, if steam can be provided at the same time the water spray to provide full nutrition to 20 one's face or other part of the body, so that while taking a shower, one cleans

( his/her body and maintain proper water containment of his/her skin. Art improved structure of a showerhead on its water delivery part, as taught in a patented "Steam Spray Nozzle of a Showerhead" (Attachment 1) though gives atomized spray, it fails to provide the water delivery for general purpose.

5 Therefore, how to provide both options atomized spray and water spray on the same showerhead is indeed demanded by the market.

( SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a showerhead that delivers water and steam for showering and sauna purpose so to offer another option for shower user.

5 The secondary purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a showerhead designed with a spray head unit comprised of a hard front cover to prevent deflection of water delivered.

The foregoing object and sump provide only a brief introduction to

the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the 10 present invention as wet! as the invention itself, all of which =:11 become apparent to those skilled in the art' the following detailed description of the

invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference

numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

15 Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon malting reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a

preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

( BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a blowout view of the preferred embodiment of the present 5 invention.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing another side of a front cover of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2B is a sectional view ofthe front cover ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention.

10 Fig. 2C is a perspective view showing another side of a soft cushion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2D is a sectional view of the soft cushion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an operation of a diversion unit of the 15 prefeacd embodiment ofthe present invention.

Fig. 3A is a front view taken from Fig. 3 showing only relative locations of way of flow with the diversion head omitted.

Fig. 4 is another sectional view showing the operation of the diversion head of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

20 Fig. 4A is a front view taken from Fig. 4 showing only relative locations

( of way of flow with the diversion head omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM13ODIMEN1

The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and

5 are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the

invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a

convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing ! 0 from. the scope of the invention as set forth m. the appended claims.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 4, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is essentially comprised of a handle 10, a casing 20, a diversion unit 30, a spray noble unit 70, a locking ring 80 and a plurality of washers 90.

Within, the handle I O contains an inner pipe 1 1 and an enlarged head 12 to 15 engage the casing 20; the casing in a shape of a trumpet bell accommodates in sequence the diversion unit 30 and the spray noble unit 70 before being locked win the locking ring; and the diversion urut 30 includes a water inlet head 40, a diversion head 50 and a water injection disk 60. illustrated in Figs. 2, 2D, 3 and 4A, Me water inlet head 40 is secured to the front of Me 20 enlarged head 12 ofthe handle 10; a hole 41 with a packing 42 is provided by

( the front ofthe water inlet head 40 while another packing 43 is incorporated at where next to the location of the hole 41. At the edge on one side of the hole 41 to the water inlet head 40 is provided svith a protrusion member 44 to limit the rotation of the dis ersion head SO. A channel 51 is provided on the 5 diversion head 50 in relation to the protrusion member 44 and two holes in relation to the hole 41 and the packing 42 of the water inlet head 40 are provided also on the diversion head with one hole directly penetrating a atomized water injection hole 52 in the diversion head 50 to guide the water to flow into an accommodation trough 73 in a front cover 71 of the spray nozzle 10 unit 70 while another hole being provided with a lateral water injection hole 53 to guide water flow into the back side ofthe water injection disk 60. The water injection disk relates to a ring and the spray noble unit 70 is comprised of the hard front cover 71 and a soft cushion 78. An accommodation trough 72 is provided in the center on the backside of the Wont cover 71 to connect 15 the diversion unit 30. A plurality of recesses 73 are provided in the accommodation trough 72 with each recess 73 provided with a penetrating conic atomized hole 74. A flow resistance puck 75 is inserted into the recess 73 and a plurality of dents is provided in the circumference of the flow resistance puck 75. A plurality of pores 77 arranged in rings is provided in 20 the peripheral to the accorurnodation trough 72 of the front cover 71 while the

( soft cushion 78 is provided in a ring shape corresponding to that of the front cover 71. Aplurality of nobles 79 is protruding in relation to those pores 77 in the front cover 71. When all the members described above are pivoted with the casing inserted to the enlarged head 12 of the handle 10, the water 5 inlet head 40 secured to the front of the enlarged head 12 of the handle; Men in sequence the diversion head 50, the water injection disk 60 and the spray nozzle unit 70 being assembled inside the casing 20 and secured in general with the locking ring 80. Now refemng to Figs. 3, 3A and 2, once the water injection hole 53 in the diversion head 50 of the diversion unit 30 is directly 10 aligned to the hole 41 in the water inlet head, the water flow is guided to pass through the water injection disk 60 to reach the inner side of the sod cushion 78, then delivered through the noble 79 through the soft cushion 78 for showering purpose. Meanwhile, the atomized water injection hole 52 in the diversion head 50 is directly aligned to the packing 42 of the water inlet head 15 50, and is closed. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4A, when Me locking ring 80 is rotated to allow the diversion head 50 also turns for 180 degrees, the water inlet hole 53 in the diversion head 50 is directly aligned to the packing 42 of the water inlet head 40, thus is closed. Meanwhile, the atomized water injection hole 52 in the diversion head 50 of the diversion unit 30 is directly 20 aligned at Me hole 41 of the water inlet head 40 so to guide the water flow into

( the accommodation trough 73 in the backside ofthe front cover 71. As limited by the flow resistance puck 75, only a small amount of water flow is injected into the conic atomized hole 74 through those dents 75 on the circumference of the water flow resistance puck 75 to deliver atomized steam 5 for sauna purpose.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and 10 described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

( CLAIMS:

1. An improved structure of a showerhead to deliver both water and steam at the same time while preventing any deflection, essentially comprised of a handle, a casing, a diversion unit, a spray nozle unit, a locking ring and a 5 plurality of washers; within, the handle having an inner pipe and an enlarged head pivoted to the casing; the diversion unit and the spray nozle unit being in sequence provided and tightly incorporated with the locking ring inside the casing, characterized by that: the spray nozle unit being comprised of a hard front cover and a soft cushion; an accommodation trough being disposed in 10 the center of the backside of the Dont cover to connect to the diversion unit; a plurality of recesses being provided in the accommodation trough with each provided with a penetrating conic atomized hole and a flow resistance puck being inserted into the recess; a plurality of dents being provided on the circumference of the flow resistance puck; a plurality of pores arranged in 15 rings being provided in the peripheral to the accommodation trough of the front cover; the soft cushion being in a ring shape corresponding to that of the front cover and provided with a plurality of nozles in relation to the pores in the front cover; water entering into the diversion unit being guided to Me accommodation bough in the backside of the front cover to allow only a small 20 amount flowing through those dents around the flow resistance puck into the

( conic atomized hole to deliver atornzed steam; and the water flow when guided by the diversion unit reaching the soft cushion being delivered through those nowles in the soft cushion for showering purpose.