GB2416120A

GB2416120A - Holder device for shower head and nozzle

Info

Publication number: GB2416120A
Application number: GB0512056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pi Kuang Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2005-06-14
Publication date: 2006-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-14
Also published as: GB0512056D0; GB2416120B

Abstract

A holder device 1 may be attached to a water outlet tube 90 which is extended from a wall, without drilling holes in the wall, and includes a housing 10 having an inlet 11 attached to the water outlet tube 90, and two or more outlet ports 16, 17 for attaching a shower head 20 and a sprayer nozzle 22 simultaneously. The housing 10 includes an attaching device 24 for attaching the sprayer nozzle 22 to the housing 10. A controlling device 92 controls the water to flow out through the outlet ports 16, 17. The housing includes a casing (14, fig 4) having a chamber (15, fig 4) to receive a valve stem (40, fig 4) of the controlling device. The valve stem (40, fig 4) includes a passage for communicating the inlet with either or both of the outlet ports 16,17 of the housing.

Description

l 2416120 p

HOLDER DEVICE FOR SHOWER HEAD AND NOZZLE

The invention relates to a holder device and/or a control device for supporting shower heads and shower nozzles, and for controlling the water to flow out through either or both of the shower heads and the nozzles.

Typical holder devices for supporting shower nozzles or other appliances comprise a bracket attached or secured to upper portions of supporting surfaces or walls or the like with fasteners. One or more holes should be drilled into the supporting surfaces or walls or the like with drilling machines or tools, for allowing the fasteners to be threaded into the supporting surfaces or walls or the like.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,461,439 to Rose discloses one of the typical appliance holders including a wall mounted bracket which is required to be attached or secured to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like with fasteners, and one or more holes should also be drilled into the supporting surfaces or walls or the like for threading the fasteners.

However, many families have no drilling machines or tools, and may not easily culling the holes into the supporting surfaces or walls or the like by themselves, such that the typical appliance holders may not be easily mounted by the users themselves.

U.S. Patent No. 2,216,149 to Weiss discloses another typical appliance holder including a bracket attached or secured to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like with a suction cup, without drilling holes into the supporting surfaces or walls. However, the suction cups may easily move or slide relative to the supporting surfaces or walls due to the weight of the appliances or the shower ! nozzles or the like.

U.S. Patent No. 6,446,278 to Lin discloses a further typical appliance holder including a bracket attached or secured to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like with a stronger sucker member, without drilling holes into the supporting surfaces or walls.

However, similarly, after long terns of using, the suction cups may also move or slide relative to the supporting surfaces or walls due to the weight of the appliances or the shower nozzles or the like, and due to the frequent attaching or disengaging of the shower nozzles to and from the bracket of the typical appliance holder.

In the typical appliance holders, a wall mounted bracket is further required to be provided and attached or secured to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like with fasteners or sucker members. The typical appliance holders may not be directly attached to the water outlet tube that is provided and extended from the supporting surfaces or walls.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a holder device directly attached to the water outlet tube that is provided and extended from the supporting surfaces or walls, for supporting shower heads and/or shower nozzles and the like, without drilling holes in the supporting surfaces or walls or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a holder device for attaching to a water outlet tube which is typically extended from a wall and coupled to a water reservoir, the holder device comprislng: a housing including an inlet for attaching to the water outlet tube, and for receiving water from the water reservoir, the housing including a first outlet port and at least one second outlet port, and a controlling device for controlling the water to selectively flow out through either or both of the outlet ports.

s 13RIF,F DESCRIPrlION OF T1:IR DRAWINGS F IG. 1 is a side plan view of a holder device; FlG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder device; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the holder device, FIG 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the holder device, 0 taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the holder device, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG 2; and FIGS. 6, 7 are partial cross sectional views similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the operation of the holder device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a holder device l comprises a housing including an inlet 11 for attaching or securing to a water outlet tube 90 with one or more fasteners 12 and gaskets 13 or the like, and the water outlet tube 90 is normally or typically attached onto or extended from a wall or a supporting surface 91, and coupled to the typical or conventional water reservoirs for receiving water from the water reservoirs, and thus for supplying the water to the housing 10.

As shown in FIG 1, a control device 92 is typically provided and also attached onto the wall or the supporting surface 91, and disposed below the water outlet tube 90, for controlling hot water and/or cold water to flow out through the water outlet tube 90. The above-described water outlet tube 90 and the control device 91 for attaching and controlling the holder device l are typical and will not be described in further details.

The housing 10 includes a casing 14 disposed therein and having a chamber 15 formed or provided therein and communicating with the inlet 11 thereof, for receiving the water from the water reservoirs, and further includes two or more outlet ports 16, 17 communicating with the chamber l 5 of the casing 14, for allowing the water to flow out through either or both of the two outlet ports lo 16, 17 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 4-7).

A typical or conventional shower head 20 may further be provided and attached or secured to one of the two outlet ports 16, 17, such as the outlet port 16 of the housing 10 with one or more fasteners 21 and gaskets (not shown) or the like, as shown in FIG. 1, for allowing the water to selectively flow out through the typical or conventional shower head 20 via the outlet port 16 of the housing 10.

The other outlet port 17 of the housing 10 may be coupled or se 'area to a sprayer nozzle 22 via a hose 23 (FIG. 1), for example, for allowing the water to selectively flow out through the sprayer nozzle 22 via the other outlet port 17 of the housing 10. The holder device 1 further includes an attaching device 24 attached or secured to one side portion 18 of the housing 10, and having an engaging opening 25 formed therein for hooking or attaching the sprayer nozzle 22 thereto, also best shown in FIG. 1.

It is to be noted that the sprayer nozzle 22 may thus be easily and readily attached to the attaching device 24 which is attached or s secured to one side portion 18 of the housing 10, and the housing 10 is directly attached or secured onto the water outlet tube 90, such that no holes are required to be drilled within the wall or the supporting surface 91, and thus no wall mounted brackets are s required to be attached or secured to the supporting surfaces or walls or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a partition 26 may be secured to the one side portion 18 of the housing 10 with one or more fasteners 27 and includes a bore 28 formed therein. A follower 30 is rotatably 0 engaged or received within the bore 28 of the partition 26, and includes an enlarged head 31 extended therefrom, for engaging with the partition 26, and for rotatably anchoring the follower 30 to the partition 26, and thus for preventing the follower 30 from sliding laterally or longitudinally relative to the partition 26.

The follower 30 further includes one or more keys or ribs 32 extended from an outer end 33 thereof, for keying or engaging or securing to the attaching device 24, and thus for securing the attaching device 24 to the follower 30, and thus to allow the attach.r.g device 24 to be rotated in concert with the follower 30.

One or more fasteners 34 may further be provided and engaged with the attaching device 24, and secured to the outer end 33 of the follower 30, to further solidly secure the follower 30 to the attaching device 24. An end cap 35 may be attached onto the fastener 34, to enclose or to shield the fastener 34.

The holder device 1 further includes a valve stem 40 rotatably attached or received within the chamber 15 of the casing 14, or directly attached or received within the housing 10, and one or more sealing rings 41 attached or engaged onto the valve stem 40 and engaged with the casing 14 or the housing 10, and thus for making a water tight seal between the valve stem 40 and the casing 14 or the housing 10.

The valve stem 40 includes a passage 42 formed therein, for communicating the inlet 1 1 of tile housing 10 with either or both of the outlet ports 16, 17 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 5-7), to allow the water to selectively flow out through either or both of the two outlet ports 16, 17 of the housing 10. The valve stem 40 includes a compartment 43 formed therein, for receiving a valve member 44 and a spring member 45 which may bias the valve member 44 to engage with either of two valve seats 46, 47 that are formed in the casing 14 or the housing 10, and that are communicating with the outlet ports 16, 17 of the housing 10 respectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the spring member 45 may bias the valve member 44 to engage with the valve seat 46, and thus to block the outlet port 16 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the shower head 20 that is attached to the outlet port 16 ofthe housing 10, and arranged to allow to water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 22 via the other outlet port 17 ofthe housing 10.

As shown in FIG 6, the spring member 45 may also selectively bias the valve member 44 to engage with the other valve seat 47, and thus to block the other outlet port 17 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 22 that is attached to the other outlet port 17 of the housing 10, and arranged to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 20 via the outlet port 16 of the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, alternatively, the valve member 44 may also be arranged to be disengaged from the valve seats 46, 47 of the casing 14 or of the housing 10, and thus to open the outlet ports 16, l 7 of the housing 10, and thus to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 20 via the outlet port 16 of the housing 10 and to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 22 via the outlet port 17 of the housing 10. The valve stem 40 includes one end portion 48 (FIG. 3) for attaching or securing to a handgrip or knob 50 which lo may be used to rotate or to operate the valve stem 40 relative to the casing 14 or the housing 10.

The valve stem 40 may thus be used and acted as a controlling means or device for controlling the water to flow out through either or both of the shower head 20 and the sprayer nozzle 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 10 may further include a peripheral stop 49 extended therein, such as extended into the chamber 15 of the casing 14, for engaging with the valve stem 40, and for rotatably anchoring the valve stem 40 to the casing 14 or the housing 10, and thus for preventing the valve stem 40 from sliding laterally or longitudinally relative to the casing 14 or the housing 10.

The knob 50 includes a barrel 51 extended therefrom and having a cavity 52 formed therein, for receiving the end portion 48 of the valve stem 40, which may further be solidly secured to the knob 50 with one or more fasteners 53, to solidly secure the valve stem 40 to the knob 50. It is preferable that the cavity 52 of the barrel 51 and the end portion 48 of the valve stem 40 each includes a non-circular cross section, to prevent the valve stem 40 from being rotated relative to the knob 50.

The knob 50 may further include one or more ribs 54 extended therein and coupled to the barrel 5 l, for reinforcing the barrel 51, and includes one or more, such as three depressions 55 formed therein, and includes one or more flaps 56 extended outwardly therefrom, for allowing the knob 50 and thus of the valve stem 4() to be easily rotated relative to the casing 14 or the housing 10 with the knob 50. A lid 57 may further be provided and attached onto the knob 50, to enclose or to shield the fastener 53.

lo The casing 14 or the housing 10 may further include a stud 58 extended therefrom, such as extended toward the knob 50, for receiving a projection 60 and a spring member 61 therein, in which the spring member 61 may bias the projection 60 to engage into either of the depressions 55 of the knob 50, to anchor or to position the knob 50 to the casing 14 or to the housing 10 at selected angular positions.

For example, when the projection 60 is biased by the spring member 61 to engage into one of the depressions 55 of the knob 50, the valve member 44 may be positioned and maintained in engagement with the valve seat 46 (FIG S), to block the outlet port 16 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the shower head 20, and to allow the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 22.

When the projection 60 is biased by the spring member 61 to engage into the other depression SS of the knob SO, the valve member 44 may be positioned and maintained in engagement with the other valve seat 47 (FIG 6), to block the other outlet port 17 of the housing 10, and to prevent the water to flow out through the sprayer nozzle 22, and to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 20.

When the projection 60 is biased by the spring member 61 to engage into the further depression 55 of the knob 50, the valve member 44 may be positioned and maintained in disengaging from the valve seats 46, 47 of the casing 14 or of the housing 10, to open the outlet ports 16, 17 of the housing 10, and to allow the water to flow out through the shower head 20 and the sprayer nozzle 22 via l 0 the outlet ports 16, 17 of the housing 10.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, the valve stem 40 may be easily rotated relative to the casing 14 or the housing 10 with the knob 50, in order to control the water to flow out through either or both of the shower head 20 and the sprayer nozzle 22 via either or both of the outlet ports 16, 17 of the housing 10. In addition, both the shower head 20 and the sprayer nozzle 22 may be attached to the housing 10 that may be directly attached or secured to the water outlet tube 90, without drilling holes in the wall or the supporting surface 91. The attaching device 24 may optionally or selectively provided and attached or secured to the housing 10, for optionally or selectively hooking or attaching the sprayer nozzle 22 to the housing 10.

No holes are required to be drilled into the supporting surfaces or walls 91 or the like, such that the holder device 1 may be easily attached onto the supporting surfaces or walls 91 or the like, and assembled or mounted by the users themselves.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A holder device for attaching to a water outlet tube which is

typically extended from a wall and coupled to a water reservoir, the holder device comprising: a llotasing including an inlet for attaching to the water outlet tube, and for receiving water from the water reservoir, the housing including a first outlet port and at least one second outlet port, and means for controlling the water to flow out through the first outlet port and the second outlet port.

lo
2. A holder device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shower head attached to the first outlet port of the housing.
3. A holder device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a sprayer nozzle attached to the second outlet port of the housing.
4. A holder device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing includes an attaching device attached thereto, for attaching the sprayer nozzle thereto.
5. A holder device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the attaching device includes an opening formed therein for attaching the sprayer nozzle.
6. A holder device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing includes a partition secured thereto, the attaching device is rotatably attached to the partition.
7. A holder device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the partition includes a bore formed therein, a follower rotatably engaged in the 2s bore of the partition secured to the attaching device.
8. A holder device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the follower includes at least one key extended therefrom for keying and securing to the attaching device, and includes an enlarged head extended therefrom, for engaging with the partition, and for rotatably anchoring the follower to the partition, and for preventing the follower from sliding relative to the partition.
9. A holder device as claimed in claim I, wherein the seat housing includes a casing received therein and having a chamber formed therein and communicating with the inlet and the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing.
l O. A holder device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lo controlling means includes a valve stem rotatably attached in the chamber of the casing, and having a passage formed therein, for communicating the inlet of the housing with the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing, to allow the water to selectively flow out through the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing.
11. A holder device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing includes two valve seats formed in the casing and communicating with the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing respectively, the valve stem includes a compartment formed therein, and a spring-biased valve member received in the compartment of the valve stem, to engage with either of the valve seats of the housing, and to control the water to flow out through the first outlet port and the second outlet port of the housing.
12. A holder device as claimed in claim lO further comprising a knob secured to the valve stem, to rotate the valve stem relative to the casing and the housing.
13. A holder device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the housing includes a spring-biased projection disposed therein, and engageable with the knob, to position the knob to the housing at selected position.
14. A holder device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A holder device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the knob includes a barrel extended therefrom and attached to the valve stem, and at least one rib extended therein and coupled to the barrel, for reinforcing the barrel.

15. A holder device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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CLAIMS:- Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A holder device for attachment to a water outlet tube that extends from a wall and is coupled to a water reservoir, the holder device comprising: a housing having an inlet for attachment to the water outlet tube, and for receiving water from the water reservoir, the housing including a first outlet port and a second outlet port, the housing having a casing received therein and the casing To having a chamber formed therein, the chamber communicating with the inlet and with the first and second outlet ports, and means for controlling the flow of water out through the first outlet port and the second outlet port, the control means comprising a valve stem that is contained Is within the chamber and is rotatable relative thereto..

2. A holder device as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a shower head attached to the first outlet port of the housing.

3. A holder device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising a sprayer nozzle attached to the second outlet port of the housing.

4. A holder device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the housing has an attaching device attached thereto, for attaching the sprayer nozzle thereto.

5. A holder device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the ( r r rFr r r r (r ( ( F r < r r ( I '' I t |L| r i ( ( ( I ' ( r attaching device has an opening formed therein for receiving the sprayer nozzle.

6. A holder device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the housing includes a partition and in which the attaching device is rotatably attached to the partition.

7. A holder device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the partition has a bore formed therein, and a follower rotatably to engaged in the bore of the partition is secured to the attaching device.

8. A holder device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the follower includes at least one key extending therefrom for keying and Is securing to the attaching device, the follower also including an enlarged head extending therefrom for engaging with the partition, and for rotatably anchoring the follower to the partition so as to prevent the follower from sliding relative to the partition.

9. A holder device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve stem has a passage formed therein, to provide communication between the inlet of the housing and the first and second outlet ports to allow the water to flow out selectively through the first and second outlet ports.

10. A holder device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing includes two valve seats that are formed in the casing ( t rr r;(rem ( r C r r I ( 1 C irI ( r r r C.I I r r ( r I I _, ('" ( and communicate with the first and second outlet ports, the valve stem has a compartment formed therein, and a spring-biased valve member is received in the compartment of the valve stem, to engage with either of the valve seats of the housing, and to control the flow of water out through the first and second outlet ports.

11. A holder device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, further comprising a knob secured to the valve stem, to rotate the valve in stem relative to the casing and the housing.

12. A holder device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the housing includes a spring-biased projection disposed therein, the projection being engageable with the knob, to position the knob relative to the housing at a selected position.

13. A holder device as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the knob includes a barrel extending therefrom and attached to the valve stem, and at least one rib coupled to the barrel, for reinforcing the barrel.