GB2485571A

GB2485571A - A shower head with a flow stop-valve at the inlet

Info

Publication number: GB2485571A
Application number: GB1019560.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Middleton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-19
Filing date: 2010-11-19
Publication date: 2012-05-23
Also published as: GB201019560D0

Abstract

A shower head comprises a water inlet 106, a stop-valve 100 which controls the flow of water from the water inlet and a water outlet 107. Preferably, the flow stop-valve takes the form of a lift-valve operated by a button 101. The button lift-valve is envisaged extending from the front face to the back face (lower face to the upper face in picture) of the shower head. The user may depress the button valve on one side to start the flow and press the button on the opposite side to stop the flow. The shower head is preferably connected to a supply of hot and cold water and is ideally connected to a double mixer tap. The flow control valve may be able to variably adjust the flow of water. The stop-valve is preferably located on the handle of the showerhead.

Description

Patent Application of John Middleton for Showerheaci Stop Valve

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to a stop valve showerhead.

[2] Showerheads with stop valves and other flow water flow controls are known in the art. For example, US4273289 to Jette discloses a showerhead capable of controlling water flow, spray direction and spray texture by the manual operation of a single control rod at a distance from the showerhead. The showerhead comprises a housing and a flow passage with an inlet that is pivotally connected to a water supply line such that the housing is capable of pivoting movement within predetermined limits to permit and terminate water flow through the passage. An elongate control rod is attached to the housing, with the longitudinal axes of the control rod diverging outwardly from the showerhead.

Manual actuation of the control rod at its free distal end by a user permits pivoting the main housing about its connection to the water supply line to control water flow and spray direction through the passage. Furthermore, a spray control means is connected to the outlet end of the flow passage for varying spray texture and is operated upon rotation of the control rod about its longitudinal axis.

[3] Furthermore, US44847ll to Constantinescu et. al. discloses a showerhead which uses the connections between a knob, a spring, a valve, and a U-shaped seal ring to control the water flow. When the knob is pulled, the spring tightens and brings the valve and the U-shaped seal ring into contact with a shank component within the showerhead, blocking the opening for the water flow. The pressure of the water itself keeps the valve in place and the opening blocked. When the knob is pushed, the spring relaxes, allowing the valve and the U-shaped seal ring to move back into place so that the water can once again flow through the opening.

[4] Furthermore, GB2lS59lO to Torr et. al. discloses a showerhead comprising a stop valve operated by a spring loaded lever on the neck of the unit. The spring creates a bias towards the valve in a closed position. To open the valve and start the water flow, the lever must be manually pushed towards the spray head of the unit. A trigger on the side of the valve enables the lever to be locked into place if the user desires a continuous water flow. Otherwise, the water flow ceases when the user lets go of the lever, since the spring returns the valve to a closed position when released.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[5] It can be seen from the forgoing that there is a prevalent use of showerheads that enable a user to stop and start a water flow from the showerhead without having to adjust the temperature set by the tap system. It can further be seen that a need has arisen to provide a showerhead of this type that may be operated with little physical effort. It would be further advantageous if the mechanism used to operate the showerhead was small and unobtrusive. It would be still further advantageous if the showerhead was inexpensive, lightweight and easy to grip when wet.

[6] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a user-friendly showerhead that enables the user to stop and start a water flow from the showerhead without having to adjust the temperature set by the tap system, having the abovementioned advantages.

[7] To this end, a showerhead is disclosed, comprising: a water inlet for receiving a hot water supply and a cold water supply, wherein said hot and cold supplies each have variable water flow rates; a stop valve capable of allowing and blocking a water flow from said water inlet; wherein said flow rates remain fixed regardless of whether said water flow is allowed or blocked; a control means operating said stop valve; and at least one water outlet.

[8] An advantage of the present invention is that the user can operate the showerhead in a simple manoeuvre from the same hand position used to hold the showerhead during the shower.

Furthermore, a button component is used to control the stop valve, requiring little physical effort from the user. A yet further advantage is that the showerhead is inexpensive to produce and made from lightweight materials. A still further advantage is that the showerhead has a non-slip grip surface.

[9] The invention is especially convenient for showers that use a tap system whereby it is difficult to obtain a particular water temperature, for example a mixer tap system comprising two separate taps sharing a single spout. The invention enables the user of such a tap system to turn the shower on and off from the showerhead without losing the desired temperature setting. This aids water conservation by allowing the user to easily stop the water flow when it is not needed, for example when applying soap or shampoo.

Brief Descriion of the Several Views ofl_th_e Drawing [10] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [11] Figure 1 is an exterior view of the invention when the stop valve is closed.

[12] Figure 2 is an interior view of the invention when the stop valve is open.

Detailed Descrifl.ion of the Invention [1] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which like numerals refer to like components, a showerhead is disclosed, comprising: a water inlet 106 for receiving a hot water supply and a cold water supply, wherein said hot and cold supplies each have variable water flow rates; a stop valve 100 capable of allowing and blocking a water flow from said water inlet; wherein said flow rates remain fixed regardless of whether said water flow is allowed or blocked; a control means 101 operating said stop valve; and at least one water outlet 107.

[2] The showerhead preferably further comprises a casing 103 preferably having an upper face 108 and a lower face 109. An advantage of using two parts for the casing is that they may be assembled and taken apart without difficulty. However, the casing may be formed from a single part or from more than two parts.

[3] The term variable water flow rateT is used herein to mean a flow comprising a changeable volume of water. I-Jot and cold water supplies sharing the same spout and having variable water flow rates are capable of supplying a flow comprising a changeable volume of water and a changeable temperature.

[4] The water inlet is any passageway allowing the flow of water therethrough. The water inlet is fed by the hot and/or cold water supplies and feeds this water through the shower head to the water outlet. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the water inlet of the showerhead is removably attachable to a hose that provides the hot and cold water supplies from a tap system. An advantage of the showerhead being removably attachable is that users can replace their existing showerheads with the present invention without having to replace any other shower equipment. The means for removably attaching the showerhead to the water source may comprise an internal screw thread on the water inlet for cooperation with an external screw thread on a hot and/or cold water supply, or may be any other means known in the art.

[5] Furthermore the apparatus may comprise means for permanently attaching the showerhead to the water source, which may comprise snap-fits, screws, bolts, or any means known in the art.

[6] In alternate embodiments, the invention may include as one of its components a hose to which it is either permanently or removably attached. The invention may further include as one of its components a tap system to which the hose is either permanently or removably attached. The invention may still further include as one of its components a bathtub to which the tap system is either permanently or removably attached.

Alternatively, the tap system may be permanently or removably attached to a wash basin such as those for use in a hair salon.

[7] The word tap' is used herein to mean a handle operating at least one water-releasing valve to control a water supply. The phrase single mixer tap' is used to refer to a tap system comprising one tap operating water-releasing valves for both a hot water supply and a cold water supply, whereby both hot and cold water supplies are discharged through a single spout.

S

The phrase double mixer tap' is used to refer to a tap system comprising a hot water tap operating a water-releasing valve for a hot water supply and a cold water tap operating a water-releasing valve for a cold water supply, whereby both hot and cold water supplies are discharged through a single spout.

[8] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hot and cold water supplies are controlled by a double mixer tap. The invention is of the greatest use to this type of tap system because it allows the flow of water from the spout to be temporarily stopped and started without the user having to turn off both taps and lose the desired water temperature setting.

[9] In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the hot and cold water supplies are controlled by a single mixer tap.

This type of tap system is capable of maintaining the desired water temperature setting when turned off. However, an advantage of the invention that endures in such a case nonetheless is that the user can temporarily stop and start the shower while holding the showerhead. This is particularly beneficial if the tap system is located just above a bathtub because the user does not need to bend down from a standing position in order to adjust it.

Alternatively, the invention may use any type of tap system capable of supplying hot and cold water to a hose.

[10] In the preferred embodiment, the control means operating the stop valve comprises a button component. An advantage of this is that the button component requires little physical exertion to operate. Furthermore, a button component is small and unobtrusive. However, the control means may be a different means for operating a stop valve, for example a spring loaded lever, a turning knob, or any means known in the art.

[11] The stop valve is preferably a water shut-off valve, since this type of valve is designed for opening and closing a water flow. However, any valve able to perform the same function -that of allowing and blocking a water flow from said water inlet -may be used.

[12] The button component is preferably as described below although other buttons known in the art may be used. Preferably the button component fits partially within the stop valve and extends partially out of the stop valve. It comprises a thicker portion and a thinner portion. The user changes the position of the button component within the stop valve by pushing or pulling on the part of it that extends out of the stop valve. When the thinner portion is contained within the stop valve, the water flows freely and the stop valve is open. When the thicker portion is contained within the stop valve, the water flow is blocked and the stop valve is closed.

[13] In addition, the stop valve may be variably adjustable to partially open positions, wherein both the thinner portion and the thicker portion of the button component are contained within the stop valve at varying proportions. In this way, the water pressure of the shower can be adjusted from the showerhead as well as from the tap system.

[14] The invention preferably further comprises two washers 102 disposed within the stop valve, with one washer fitting around each end of the button component at the points where the button component extends out of the stop valve. Each washer is sized to fit around the portion of the button component that it receives. The washers add tightness to the position of the button component and prevent water from leaking out of the stop valve.

The washers may be made from rubber or fiber, or any other suitable waterproof material. Alternatively, there may be no washers.

[15] The button component may extend out of the stop valve to any part of the showerhead from which it can operate the stop valve. In the preferred embodiment, the button component extends from the stop valve to both the upper face and the lower face of the casing. Thus, the button component may be operated preferably by being pushed from the upper face to open the valve, and pushed from the lower face to close the valve. Alternatively, the button component may be arranged such that pushing it from the upper face closes the valve, and pushing it from the lower face opens the valve. Furthermore, the button component may be arranged in any other arrangement that allows the user to open and close the stop valve.

[16] In an alternate embodiment, the button component extends from the stop valve to either the upper face or the lower face of the casing. In this embodiment, the button can be used in a push and click system to operate the stop valve.

[17] In the preferred embodiment, the casing is spoon-shaped, having a narrower neck portion and a wider oval portion.

The neck portion is of a diameter that can be comfortably held by the user's hand. Preferably, the button component and the stop valve are disposed within and extend out of the narrow portion of the casing. An advantage of this is that the control means for operating the showerhead is accessible by a user holding said showerhead during use.

[18] The casing is preferably formed frcm plastic of a strength that can contain the level of water pressure reached in a shower and of a weight that will not make the showerhead uncomfortably heavy to hold. An advantage of using plastic is that it is inexpensive to manufacture. However, a different material such as metal, or any other suitable waterproof material may be used.

[19) In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the casing comprises at least one non-slip grip surface 105, that allows the showerhead to be handled with ease. The grip surface is preferably manufacturable in a variety of colours. This enhances the aesthetic value of the showerheads and allows users to select the colour that best matches the decor of their bathroom. The grip surface preferably comprises rubber, although a different non-slip, waterproof material may be used, for

example silicon.

[20] The at least one water outlet may be any passageway allowing water to flow therethrough and able to conduct water from within the showerhead to the outside of the showerhead. In the preferred embodiment, the lower face of the casing comprises a perforated area on the wider oval portion of the casing, forming a plurality of water outlets. The showerhead preferably further comprises a nozzle insert 104 that is disposed within the casing above the lower case, which extends through the water outlets. The nozzle insert allows water from the showerhead to be dispersed from the water outlets as a spray. The nozzle insert may comprise rubber, silicone or any other material that can facilitate a water spray. Preferably, the nozzle insert is manufacturable in a variety of colours that match the grip surface.

[21] Alternatively, the invention may comprise any shower head, casing, nozzle insert, inlet or outlet known in the art providing it remains capable of enabling a user to stop and start a water flow from the showerhead without having to adjust the temperature set by the tap system.

Claims

Claims 1. A showerhead comprising: a water inlet for receiving a hot water supply and a cold water supply, wherein said hot and cold supplies each have variable water flow rates; a stop valve capable of allowing and blocking a water flow from said water inlet; wherein said flow rates remain fixed regardless of whether said water flow is allowed or blocked; a control means operating said stop valve; and at least one water outlet.
2. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising a casing having an upper face and a lower face, wherein at least one said water outlet is disposed on said lower face.
3. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising means for permanently attaching said showerhead to a water source; the water source comprising a hot water supply and a cold water supply, wherein said hot and cold supplies each have variable water flow rates.
4. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising means for removably attaching said showerhead to a water source; the water source comprising a hot water supply and a cold water supply, wherein said hot and cold supplies each have variable water flow rates.
5. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein said hot and cold water supplies are controlled by a double mixer tap.
6 The showerhead of claim 1, wherein said hot and cold water supplies are controlled by a single mixer tap.
7. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein said control means is accessible by a user holding said showerhead during use.
8. The showerhead of claim 7, wherein said control means is disposed on one selected from the list comprising: upper face; lower face.
9. The showerhead of claim 8, wherein said control means comprises a button component substantially housed within and controlling said stop valve.
10. The showerhead of claim 8, whereby said button component extends at least from said upper face to said lower face, whereby said button can be operated from both said upper and said lower face.
11. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein said stop valve isvariably adjustable.II