GB2549971A

GB2549971A - Spray heads

Info

Publication number: GB2549971A
Application number: GB1607824.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Browning Simon; Kington Gary
Original assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Mira Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-04
Filing date: 2016-05-04
Publication date: 2017-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-04
Also published as: CN108778519A; EP3452226A1; GB2549971B; US10898908B2; US20190126295A1; EP3452226B1; GB201607824D0; WO2017191427A1

Abstract

A spray head 110b for a shower comprises a spray plate 124 having an apertured portion 124a, comprising apertures 126, and an actuator portion 124b. Actuator portion 124b is configured to be actuated by a user to change a spray pattern provided by apertures 126. Preferably, a spray control mechanism is provided comprising a flow plate 130 and a switch 132 pivotally connected to flow plate 130, where spray plate 124 overlies flow plate 130 and switch 132, so that depression of actuator portion 124b operates the spray control mechanism via switch 132. Flow plate 130 may be rigid and may have a plurality of holes 134 aligning with apertures 126 of spray plate 124; while spray plate 124 may comprise a flexible material. Flow plate 130 and spray plate 124 may be arranged to confine fluid flow through apertures 124 and prevent fluid leaking between flow plate 130 and spray plate 124.

Description

SWBt&Y HEADS

This hiyenpon relates to spray head and «tore especially to adjustable?spray beads?:for use id a SbSWef.

Prior art adjustable spray heads often have an aperture spray plate rotatable oil Sody of the spray head to change the spray pattern of water flowing from the apertures in the spray plate. These spray heads can be difficult to use, especially fed elderly of disabled users wilts reduced manual dexterity and/or eyesight.

There is therefore" a need for a spray head, which provides improved ease of adjustiheat·

According to one aspect the present invention provides a spray head for a shower comprising a spray plate having an apertured portion and an actuator portion, the apertured portion haying apertures therein and the actuator portion being configured to be depressed by a user to change a spray pattern provided by the apertures of the apertured portion.

The:?spfay: head may be part of a shower handset, Gf ihay'be a fixed ceiling-1 or wall-mounted shower head.

It may be that the actuator portion is configured ·ο operate a spray control mechanism located behind the spray plate to control thud flow' to the apertured portion for changing the spray pattern.

It may he that the spray control mechanism includes a flow plate located behind the Spray plate and having holes therein aligned with 'the apertures in the apertured portion of the spray plate.

It may be that the spray control mechanism is configured to be activated by depression of the actuator portion of the spray plate.

It may be that the spray control mechanism includes a diXerter operable in response to depression of the actuator portion of the Spray plate to change the spay pattern.

It may be that the actuator portion is integral with the: apertured portion of the spray plate.

It may be that the spray plate is made of a flexible material. it may fee that the actuator portion is arranged to allow switching of the spray pattern each time the actuador portion is depressed.

According to another aspect, the i»$S8j$on provides a method of adjusting the spray pattern of fluid from a spray head comprising a spray plate having an apertured portion and a depress ible actuator portion, the method comprising depressing the: depressible actuator portion of the Spray plate.

There now follows hy way of example Only a detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference toS the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a from: view Of a shower handset according:to; an embodiment;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the shower handset Of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the shower handset of Figures 1 mid 1*

Referring to the drawings, a Shower handset 100 is shown. The shower handset 100 comprises a hollow body 110 having a grip portion 110a and a head portion 11Gh and a spray assembly 120. In this embodiment, the spray assembly 120 has a Stem portion 120a and a spray portion 120b.,: The stem portion 12(1 is received within the grip portion 110a of the body 110 and lias a; connector 122 at a first end that extends from the grip portion 110a and has a thread 122a for attaching a water supply such as: a flexible hose (not shown). The Spray portion 12|b is provided at a: second end of the stem portion 120a and is located ip the head portion 11 Oh of the body 110, The stem portion 120a delivers water to the spray portion 12Gb. In oilier embodiments (not shown), the stem portion 12Ga may be omitted and the grip portion 110a may be connected to the water supply and deliver water to the spray portion 120b.

The spray portion 120b includes a Spay plate; 1:24 having ah apertured portion 124a and an actuator portion 124fe::,: The apertured portion 124a has a plurality of apertures 126 which define at least two spray patterns.

The Spray portion 120b further includes a spray control mechanism 128 located behind the spray plate 124 and operable by the actuator portion 1241) to control selectively the supply of water to the apertures 126 in the spray pate: 124.

The spray control mechanism 3 28 includes a flow plate 130 and a switch member 132. The switch member 132 is pivotally connected to the flow plate 130. The spray plate 124: overlies and conceals the flow pate 130 and switch member 132.

The flow plate 130 lias a plurality of holes 134 aligned with the apertures 126 in the spray pate 124. The spray plate 1:24 and flow plate 130 are configured to confine fluid flow through each hole 134 to the aligned aperture 126 and prevent fluid leaking between the spray plate 124 and flow plate 130. for example, the spray plate 124 and flow plate 130 may be configured to seal around each hole 134 and aligned aperture:: 126. in this embodiment, the apertures 126 in the spray plate 124 and holes 134 in the flow plate IfQ include a central aperture I26a/hole 1:34a to provide a first spray pattern, an inner array of apertures 126b/hoiesl34b surrounding: the central aperture 126a/hole 13:4a to provide a second spray pattern, an intermediate array of apertures l2be/holes 114c surrounding the mner array to provide a third Spray pattern, and an outer array of apOrtafes 126d/hoIcs 134d sursouuding the infesnediale array to provide a fourth spray pattern. The central hole 134a in the flow plate 130 may be provided with a mesh to produce a fine spray: pattern.

The number, s|app and configuration of the apertures 126/holes 1:34 may be changed to provide any number and/or combination of spray patterns in other embodiments. Different spray patterns may use entirely separate sets of apertures 126/b.oles 134. Alterpativdy, the same apertures 3 26/holes 134 may be used: for more than ope spray pattern. For example, in some embodiments, fluid flow through the central aperture 126a/i34a may he present in all spray patterns, and/or one spray pattern may: use all apertures 126/holes 134.

The actuator portion 124b is located on the circumference of the spray plate 124 aid forms a Curved protrusion therefrom. The actuator portion 124b may: bi aligned With the grip portion 110a of the body 110:. This may facilitate location of the actuator portion 124b by a user with impaired vision. Alternatively or additionally, the surface of the spray plate 124 may have a different texture in the region of the actuator portion 124b to facilitate its location by a user,

The actuator portion: 124b overlies the switch member 132 and is configured to project from the body 116 in its inactive position as best shown in Figure 2. In use the actuator portion 124b is depressiMe % a user from its inactive position to an active position to operate the spray control mechanism via the switch member 111 to change the spray pattern. The switch member .132 may besbiased by a spring (hot shown) td return the actuator portion 124b to its inactive position when released by the User. Each depression of the actuator portion 124b changes the spray pattern.

The· flow plate 130 may comprise channels (not shown) between the back Of the flow plate ||0 and the head portion 110b of the body 110 that direct flow of water to the holes 134 iii the Sow plate 130 and the spray control mechanism may comprise a diverter (not shown) operable by the switch member 132 to control the water Sow to the channels to change the selected spray: pattern or spray patterns in; response to activation of the actnatdf portion 124b.

The spray plate 124 may be flexible. The spray plate 124 may comprise a unitary component. The apertured portion 124a and actuator portion 124b may be integral. The spray plate 124 may be configured to allow the actuator portion 124b to be moved relative: tp the apertured portion 124a. The actuator portion 124b may fee connected to the aperture portion 124a by an integral binge portion 124c of the spray plate 124.

The flow plate 130 inay be rigid. The flow plate 130 may be fixed relative to the head portion 110b of the body 110. The apertured portion 124a of the spray plate 124 may he supported by the flow plate 130. The apertured portion 124a may be fixed relative to the head portion 110b of the body 110.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described The spray control mechanism responsive to depression of the actuator portion may be of any suitable construction. The spray plate may be provided with more than one actuator portion.

Claims

1. A spray head for a shower comprising a spray plate basing an apertured portion and an actuator portion, the apertured portion having apertures therein and the actuator portion being configured to be depressed by a user to change a spray parterr* provided by the apertures of the apertured portion.

2. The spray head of claim I, wherein the actuator portion is configured to operate a spray control mechanism located behind the spray plate to control fluid flow to the apertured portion for changing the spray pattern.

3. The spray head of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the spray control mechanism includes a flow plate located behind the spray plate and haying holes therein aligned with the apertures in the apertured portion of the spray plate.

4. The spray head of any preceding claim, wherein the spray control mechanism is configured to he activated By depression of the actuator portion Of the spray plate.

5. The spiay head of claim 4. wherein the spray control mechanism includes a diverter operable in response |o: depression Of the actuator portion of the spray plate to change the spay pattern.

6. The spray head of any preceding claim wherein the actuator portion is integral with the apertured portion of the spray plate.

7. The spray head of claim 6 wherein the spray plate is made of a flexible material.

8. The spray head of any preceding claim, wherein the actuator portion & arranged to allow switching: of the spray pattern each time the actuator portion is depressed,

9. A spray head foe a shower substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanyrag drawings.

10, A method of adjusting the spray pattern of fluid from a spray head comprising & spray plate having an apcnured portico and a doprsssihie actuator portion, the method comprising depressing the depressibie actuator portion, of die spray plate. 1.1. The method of adjusting the spray pattern from a spray head substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.