US2573904A

US2573904A - Shower head

Info

Publication number: US2573904A
Application number: US136786A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard M Grossman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-01-04
Filing date: 1950-01-04
Publication date: 1951-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1968-11-06

Description

Nov. 6, 1951 R M, R SM N 2,573,904

' SHOWER HEAD Filed Jan. 4, 1950 INVENTOR. ELc/zard fitras'smam drilled or otherwise formed therein, and is sufficiently large at its inner end substantially to encompass the aperture in the ball l2 in any angular position of adjustment of the spray head on the ball. The inner end wall of this recess is bevelled or chamfered, as at 18, to fit against the ball 12 and is preferably provided with an annular recess to receive a suitable packing material and which may take the form of a washer is to ensure a watertight engagement of the core member .M with'the ball l2 in. anyand all positions of adjustment of the core member on the ball during its change of position.

The core member 14 is thus secured to the ball 15 I2 by a suitable socket collar 20 having anin wardly extending annular flange or lip 2l having an opening of a size to pass over the outer end of coupling H but too small to pass over the ball l2 thereof, as indicated in Figs..; 1 and 2,

and therefore engaging the same. The collar 20 is internally threaded in its outer end portion and isadapted to thread onto the inner end of the core member M, as indicated, and thus to clamp the two together. The outer surface of collar 20 is preferably roughened or knurled, asby the longitudinal small grooves 22 shown in Fig. 1 which gives it a good finger grip for suitably tightening and loosening the same, without the use of tools, to cause the core member efficiently to be pressed against and connected with the ball to provide a watertight connection and yet permit the head to be moved and adjusted angularly on the ball, the frictional contact between the core and ball permitting such movement and maintaining the core and head in any adjusted position. V

The outer surface of the coupling H is also preferably knurled by longitudinal grooves similar to lines or grooves 22 of the collar.

, The core member is thus directly connected with the ball joint., The core member is provided with apertures 23 in any desired number, preferably four, which may be drilled or formed through the'wall between the bottom of recess l1 and the space in advance of the end'section I5 aroundthe portion lfiand forming a. passage for water therethrough.

.The end section [5 or head of the core member l4, rigidly attached thereto and preferably integral therewith, is cylindrical, somewhat less in diameter than the exterior of the. .apertured portion of the member, has a relatively .wide and generally smooth peripheral .edge. 24 forming a cylindrical surface longitudinally parallel to the alxis of the memberandto the exterior of the said recessed portion of said member. This peripheral edge 24 of. the end section is provided with a plurality of tapered spray-stream-forming groovesor passages 25 extending longitudinally thereacross and spaced apart preferably equally, as indicated, all around the said edge. Said grooves may be triangular incross section, as indicated, or of other form, such as round, square or the like; arepreferably deepest and widest at their inner ends, that is, larger in cross section, and gradually taper and diminish in cross section to their outer ends, where, at the outer face of said section I5, they are relatively very small, preferablypin-point in size, as indicated in Fig. 6. Thus, needle-like spray streams may be produced if desired. As will be understood, the water to form the shower spray is ejected through these grooves 25, and .in order to complete the same, and to con- .fine the water theretoithe core member [4 is provided with an adjustable sleeve or collar '26 having an internally threaded portion 21 at its inner end adapted to thread on the outer externally threaded end of the core member l4, said collar 26 having an inturned, cylindrical, flat, ring-like flange or end sleeve portion 28 of substantial width and smooth-surfaced and of a size closely to fit the said peripheral cylindrical edge 24 of the spaced end section E5 of the core member Hi. -The. fit of "the ring; 28"00 the said peripheral edge '24 is such as to be substantially watertight but to be rotatable thereon and slid- "able longitudinally thereof in the rotation of the. threaded collar 26 by the hand. The collar also preferably grooved and smoothed outwardly on the inside, as at 29, and of slightly larger diameter than the threaded portion 21 and of thestream-adjusting ring, sleeve or collar 28, fora freer movement of the water. The outer end of the adjusting collar 26 is provided with a slight forwardlyprojecting ring portion 3| serving as a splash guard in case a jet or jets tend to spurt transversely due to small bits of dirt in the grooves or other temporary causes.

As thus constructed, the adjustment of the ring 28 longitudinally along the peripheral edge of end section [5 of the core member determines the size and character of the spray stream issu ing from the grooves 25. Thus, when the collar is out even with the outer face of the. end section I5, as indicated in dotted lines 3% in Fig. 2, the streams issue in a fine, needle-like spray. When the collar is farther back, for example as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the individual streams are larger and the spray softer; When the collaris still farther back, the spray may become a generous soaking spray. In all positions of the collar the, issuing spray streamis comparatively of small diameter due to the axial parallelism of the contacting cylindrical surfaces 28 of the collar 26 and the periphery 2'4 of the section l5; and if the spray grooves extend across the head or section l5 parallel with the axis, of the shower head, the jets issue practically parallel thereto, though spreading outwardly somewhat as the jets try to escape from the uncovered portions of the grooves to form a slightly larger spray stream as a Whole.

It'is preferred, however, to provide a more divergent spray stream while still keeping it within suitable confines, such as the limits: of the bathtub and away from walls, window sills, bath;- room floors, and they like, and at the same time maintaining control of the individual streams or jets of thespray throughout their range of adjustment from fine to coarse and economizing in the amount of water used.

To accomplishthis, the spray grooves or pas: sages 25 extend across the peripheral edge 24 of the heador end section 15, each at a slight angle laterally to a longitudinal line there through parallel to the axis of the core member. Thus, in-Fig. 7, the line 35 may represent the medial longitudinal line through the groove 25 and parallel to the axis of the core, and the line 36 the medial line or axis of the'circumfera entially ofiset groove, 25, The angle 37 represents the lateral divergencereferred to of the groove -from a longitudinal line therethrough parallel to the axis of thev core. The extent of this angle 31 depends upon the divergence of the spray stream desired under the conditions prevailing. shower purposes and with substantially the'pro portions shown, with about 20 grooves provided For ordinary bath ire-the:heed na under tramarwcenuamnsean afigle' 33 "oi -2 to i5 de 'ees' hasbeen tEoundsafii's faetory to prdddce' a spray stream fl to winches iri'diafneter at 'fiveo'r si'x fet away f-romthe new zle; but other angles, greater or less, may be'iused if-desired and m'or e "o'r "less grooves; The gfiea'ter the' angle the largerthe crosssection ortne -spray stream away from the nozzle.

This location 'of the grooves, which may be appropriately and accurately 'referredto as askew or helical to the axis of the eer e, l-ike the rifling grooves-of a gun barrehdifiers, of cour se-irom thatwhere the grooves run straight across :"the edge of the head, parallel to the axis o fthe 'core; Where no 1 substantial divergence of-the spray stream-is secured, and also fromtipped upor expandinggrooves in -radial planes "of the cor e wherein a wide, bell-like or expanded-spray is obtained or control of the individual streams the spray is lost in attemptingto regulate or increase the size of the individual streams:

Such control of r the individual divergent streams is due to the relative longitudinal lmove ment of the co-operating' grooved and" cover members, with the grooves askew, as-explained, tothe'axis or movement, since the cover're'ma ins inwatertight contact with the surfaces at-the sides of or between thevgroovesand-confines the streams to the grooves whatever the relative longitudinal adjustment of the" two members may be. For this purpose the grooves maybe located in either member and the othermem berbe smooth, either member maybe relatively stationary and the other member longitudinally movable with respect thereto, andthe'relative longitudinal movement may be the result of the rotation of either member with respect to the other on a suitable threaded or likesupport' o"r' by the longitudinal sliding of either memberon or with respect-to the other without rota'tionv In all, however, the grooves ei'c tend at a-late'ral angle to thesaid longitudinal movement. Alsop-the nozzle parts may be -otherthan-circular in cross section-if a difierent pattern' of spray stream-"bedesired.

Shower -heads-are stibjec't'to -moreor 1ess-c1oggi-ng due to grit or-particlesin the water-or other conditions which may cause condsierable tram Me and expense to clean" the sameand may cause replacements to-be mader I n-the present invention, the-adjusting collar maybe tur'ned'to afiforwa'rd position substantially-asshownin Fig-i 3,- 'wh'ere-the ring sleeve portion-280i the-"collar it'is forward oftheendoi section +51 whereby a -fiushing passage is formed for water all aIQldIl'd said end section and the grooves; which sufiiee's' in-mos-t instancesto flush and clean out the clog-- ging matter. The shower head is thus self clean mg. If, however, this does not prove sui-fic-ient; the collar 2-6 may be further turneda'nd taken off-entirely from the core member fora thorough cleaning of the parts. The shower head ie-"there forecapable of'being cleaned under any circumstances with very little trouble.

The 'adjustingco'llar 26 may be readily" turned by the fingers without the use of toolsan'd' with out getting 'the'hand, wrist or rorearm intotne spraystream. The collar ispreferablysiriodthon tlrieexterior, as shown, though it may be knurled desired. It is preferably made to engage the eiidedge or the banana atits iniierend, asindi- (faitd in Fig. 2- by 'thedo'tted 1ines'"32; 'uerore'tiie inner edge of the ring 28 reaches the ou'tefe'n'd ofthe threaded portion of the core member'when serewing theco'llarrearwartlly overtire end of saie memter'as ser es/at 'wil-l gog and' -this will be before 'the rfr ig 28 -passes' inwardly off the pe ripheral oved iedge Oi 'said seetion I 5:

raagement and relationship;'=the ad= justing collar 26" is not so liable to be turned in:- warm: to 'a bindin'g stop; tending to'stick and dfifieult to' release; sinoetheengagement between the tw collars outside and plainlyivisiblez whereas the edge 'iof-the ringeizt and end 0f the threaded portion 0f core 14-" are inside; out of sight, and w-ith an advantage of'leverage; so that a bindingistopiwould bemore apt to be made thereby 'than by: the two collars outside.

Inopera-tiorr, the water flows through the aperturedi balL the recess 1 I 1 in the-core'member -l 4, :th 'roughthe .apertures 23; and into the space before theendse'ctioh l5; From there it shoots out-through the-*groo'Ves-25 to iormthe spray stream," :as 'desc'ri'bed.

The ith-rea'ded -=connecdon of r the "adj ustingr' colla-r with the 'core'member 'I 4 is of accurately well fittedthreads iandis' relied on to prevent leakage of .water at that' point. However, if desired,..a Wi'atertight' ring or a friction washer. may beyadded to'the'zend edge off-the adjusting. collar 26 which would'clingto the threads of core member" l4.

As show'n, the more member l4 is preferably threaded externally from'end to end:save for the end'section I5 and preferably. of the-same size and' type threads,:and'the' collars "and .25 are internallyr threaded accordingly. This one common-thread toconnect or join all .partswto' getlierdn a successful operating manner makes for convenience and reduced =-costs.

As thus-constructed, the showerheadis- 'madeup of but four metal partsandtafiber washer; as shown in' Fig. 4:. The-metal parts may be of solidbra's'sscrew ma'chined products or of stain less ste'el or other alloys: These parts, .with the usual ball; constitute? the mechanism for the-iball and-socket pipe joint and the mechanism for fad justi-ng the water spray gradually: from a rather enerous seak :-spray to a fine needle spray'a B-y turning "the spr adjusting part still further; the shower' he'ad m be "fiushed. This is so simple sueh flushing and self cleaning be'comes a habit a d-part -df the usual adjusting operation.- If need es; aiurther turnremoves the collar and the 'parts m'ay besc'rubb'ed clean.- No tools are required in these-operations; The-handsarekept out or 'th'e'- spra'y*streain, and water is saved and not wasted'bathe-walls, floors, and'the like, or byfailure to' preserveflthe individual streams in the "positions" of adjustment for the coarser streams.

Having thusidescribed the invention, what" is claimed-and desired tobe secured by Letters- Patent is:

1. A'showe'r head comprising "a'relatively short unitary core-member'havinga rigid outerend sectiom said'member having a water'supply conriectiori 'atits inner and a threaded exterior", an adjusting sle'eve=like' collar threadedpn the member and having its outer end 'portion closely engaging the'iperipheral edge of said end section of the o'o're member; a=water passage in said mem-- her from the saideorinectio'nto said'end'section; and spaced taperingspray grooves in an'd'faround one of the engaging surfaces of said adjusting collarandfsaidend section and covered bjy the" other surface, whereby "the size of the individual spray-streams i'issuiiig through said grooves" may bevaried' by"rota3tiVely adjusting saidadjusting:

v collar.

' *2: Esnower fnead comprising'a; relatively-short unitary cylindrical core member having a fixed spray grooved section at its outer end, said member havin a socket at its inner end and a threaded exterior, said core member having a passage for water from said socket to the said section, said section having spaced spray grooves formed across the peripheral edge thereof and around the same, and a collar threaded on said member and having a portion closely fitting said edge'of said section and confining emitted water from the head to said grooves to form a spray.

3. A shower head comprising a cylindrical core member having a fixed section at its outer end, said member havin a socket at its inner end to receive the ball of a ball-and-socket joint in a water supply pipe and its exterior threaded to receive the socket collar of said joint to secure the core to the ball and pipe, said core having a passage for water from said socket to the said section, said section having spaced tapered spray grooves formed across the peripheral edge thereof and around the same, and an adjusting collar threaded on said member from the outer end thereof and having its outer end portion closely fitting said edge of said section with a substantially watertight engagement, said adjusting collar being adjustable lengthwise of said member by rotation thereon to cover more or less of the length of said grooves to vary the size of the water discharge openings thereof, said collar confining the emitted water from the head to said grooves whereby to form fine or coarser individual spray streams according to its said adjustment, said core member being relatively short and its threaded exterior limited in length substantially to that required for said collars.

4. A shower head comprising a single unitary cylindrical core member having a threaded exterior and spaced outer end section of slightly less diameter rigid therewith, the inner end of said member being adapted to connect with a supply pipe connection and having a water passage therethrough to said section, said end section of the core having a relatively wide peripheral edge having outwardly pointed tapering grooves across the face thereof and spaced apart around said edge, and a spray-adjusting sleevelike collar threaded on the core from the outer end thereof and having a smooth portion closely engaging said peripheral edge of the section and covering said grooves, said collar being adjustable alon the core by rotation on its threaded connection to vary the size of the individual streams issuing from said grooves to form the spray.

5. A shower head comprising a core member having a spaced fixed outer end section, said core member being externally threaded from end to end save for said section and the latter having a broad smooth peripheral edge surface slightly less in diameter than the threaded portion of the core member, the inner end of said member being adapted to engage the apertured ball of a balland-socket connection and a water passage therethrough to said end section, a socket collar to engage the ball and threading onto the said inner end of the core member to clamp the ball and core together in watertight and angularly adjustable relation, said peripheral edge of the end section having outwardly pointed tapering grooves across the face thereof and spaced apart around said edge, and a spray-adjusting sleeve threaded onto the core from the outer end thereof and having a smooth portion closely engaging said peripheral edge of the section and covering said grooves, said sleeve being adjustable alon the core member by turning on its threaded connection to vary the size of the streams issuing from said grooves to form the spray.

6. A shower head comprising a cylindrical core member having a spaced outer end section, said member having a water passage therethrough and being externally threaded from end to end except for said section and the latter having a broad smooth peripheral edge surface slightly less in diameter than the threaded portion of the core member, the inner end of said member being recessed and adapted to engage the apertured ball of a ball-and-socket connection, a socket collar to engage the ball and threading onto the said inner end of the core member to clamp the ball and member together in watertight and in frictional angular adjustable relation, said'peripheral edge of said end section having outwardly pointed tapering grooves across the face thereof and spaced apart around said edge, and a sprayadjusting cylindrical sleeve having its inner end internally threaded to screw on the outer end of said core member, the outer end of said sprayadjusting sleeve having an internal smooth cylindrical portion engaging said peripheral edge of said end section with substantially watertight contact and rotatably and longitudinally movable thereon, the inner wall of said sleeve between the said threaded portion and the said outer smooth portion being outwardly recessed, the said sleeve being adjusted by rotation on said member to vary the size of the individual streams of water emitted through the said grooves orto position the forward edge of the said recess beyond the end of said section to enable a flushing continuous cylindrical stream of water to be emitted around the section.

7. In a shower head, a core member having a body with an outer end section having a relatively broad smooth peripheral edge surface slightly less in diameter than the body of the core, said peripheral edge having outwardly pointed tapering grooves across the face thereof and spaced apart around said edge, and a sprayadjusting sleeve-like collar threaded on the said core member and overlapping said end section, said overlapping portion of the collar having a smooth cylindrical inwardly projecting ring-like strip adapted slidingly to engage said peripheral edge with substantially watertight closeness and confining the emitted streams of water to said grooves, said collar being adjustable by rotation along the core member to adjust the size of the emitted streams through the grooves and similarly adjustable still further outwardly to uncover said grooves to provide a flushing stream passage around'the said section, said collar being entirely removable from the core by further rotation to expose the core end section for thorough cleaning.

8. In a shower head, the combination of a core member having an outer end section, with a spray-adjusting collar threading onto said core member, the peripheral edge surface of said end section having tapered pointed grooves across but angled slightly off the direction of the axis of the core and spaced around the said section of the core, said collar having an internal smooth ring-like portion closely engaging the face of said peripheral edge and confining the emitted water to said grooves, said collar being adjustable longitudinally of the core by turning it on its said threaded connection to cover more or less agavepei ofithe'length er said" grooves --to "vary the streams therefrom 'f-romfine to eoa-rser streams.

-9-.- ina shower -head;-a-single unitary cylindrical core ha in anexternalthread from end to end and asmoothspaced'c'entrally supported :end resection having wpe'riph-eral iitapered :-:and pointed edge grooves running islightlyihelicoidal of the axis-of the; cylindricalvcoreesaid' core having a, recess formed in its inner end and water passagesthrough it into the'space adiacentithe Said section, saidcore being adapted toff-be; sebi rediandjclamped "at its'inneri end to ftlie apertnred- ,ball" of aball' and-sockeifcbnnedtiorr .by. a socket "collar 'engaging'the ball" and threading onto the end of said threaded core, and an adjusting collar threaded on the other end of said core and having a portion closely contacting said peripheral edge of said section to vary the size of the spray streams accordingly.

10. In a shower head, divergent spray-producing means comprising relatively longitudinally movable members in slidable watertight facial contact, and individual tapering spray stream passages in the face of one of said members and covered by the other member, said passages extending at a divergent helicoidal angle to the longitudinal direction of said movement of said members, whereby the cross-sectional size of the divergent streams issuing from the head to form the spray may be controlled by the relative longitudinal adjustment of the members and the individuality of the issuing streams be maintained by said facial contact throughout the range of adjustment.

11. A shower head comprising a cylindrical spray stream diversion member, a sleeve member surrounding the said cylindrical member in relatively slidable watertight facial contact therewith, generally longitudinal tapering spaced spray grooves in one of said members and covered by the other member, said grooves extending at an angle to the axis of said members in general helical relation thereto to produce a divergent spray in which the size of the individual streams thereof may be varied by the longitudinal adjustment of the members and the individuality of the issuing streams be maintained by such facial contact in any such position of adjustment.

12. A shower head comprising a cylindrical spray stream diversion member, a sleeve member surrounding the said cylindrical member in relatively slidable watertight facial contact therewith, generally longitudinal tapering spaced spray grooves in said cylindrical member and covered by the sleeve member, said grooves extending at an angle to the axis of said members in general helical relation thereto, whereby a divergent spray is produced by the head and the size of the individual streams thereof may be adjusted by the relative longitudinal movement of the members and the individuality of the issuing streams be maintained in any such adjustment.

13. A shower head comprising a cylindrical spray stream diversion member, a sleeve member surrounding the said cylindrical member in relatively slidable watertight facial contact therewith, a threaded connection between said members to cause said longitudinal movement by the relative rotation of said members, generally longitudinal tapering spaced spray grooves in one of said members and covered by the other member, said grooves extending at an angle to the axis of said members in general helical relation thereto, whereby a divergent spray is produced by the head and the size of the individual streams thereii) of adjusted bytherelativerotation of the'-'mem- ,bers and the individuality of -the'st-reams'-=main- "tained by: the facial-contact in any such adjustment.

-14. Ashower-head comprising a core having a non-rotatablecylindrical aspray *streamdiversion mem-b'en -a' sleeve'member -threaded on the-core and surrounding; the said' cylindricalimember in slidable watertightfacial contact therewith-generally longitudinal"tapering-spaced spray grooves fin-*-sa id-*diversion:member and covered byfithe sleeve;-said: rooves extending -at' an angle to the axis of said members inaskew relation'thereto; whereby" a divergent gspray' is produced'byi the head-and the'sizeof theindividualstreams thereof may be adjusted by the rotation and longitudinal movement of the sleeve and the individual!- ty of the streams be maintained in any such adjustment.

15. A shower head comprising a core member having an external cylindrical surface divided by generally parallel and generally axially-extending fluid passages circumferentially spaced about the axis of said surface, and a cylindrical sleeve having an internal cylindrical surface surrounding and having relative axial movement and fluid-tight engagement with respect to the cylindrical surface of the core member and covering the said passages therein, the medial point of the exit end of each passage being circumferentially offset in general helical relation with respect to the medial point of the entrance end to the passage, the circumferential ofiset of the exit and entrance of the passages being in the same circumferential direction.

16. A shower head having a core member with an external cylindrical surface divided by generally parallel and generally axially-extending fluid passages circumferentially spaced about the axis of said surface, and a cylindrical sleeve having an internal cylindrical surface surrounding and havin relative axial movement and fluidtight engagement with respect to the cylindrical surface of the core and covering the said passages therein, the axial plane through the medial point of the exit end of each passage being angularly offset with respect to the axial plane through the medial point of the entrance end to the passage, the angular offset displacement of the exit and entrance of the passages being in the same circumferential direction, said passages being generally helical.

1'7. A shower head core having an external cylindrical surface, and a cylindrical sleeve having an internal cylindrical surface surrounding and having relative axial movement and fluidtight engagement with respect to the cylindrical surface of the core, one of said cylindrical surfaces being divided by generally parallel and generally axially-extending fluid passages circumferentially spaced about the axis of said core, said passages being generally helical.

18. A shower head core having an external cylindrical surface, and a cylindrical sleeve having an internal cylindrical surface surrounding and have relative axial movement and fluidtight engagement with respect to the cylindrical surface of the core, one of said cylindrical surfaces being divided by generally parallel and generally axially-extending fluid passages circumferentially spaced about the axis of said core, the medial point of the exit end of each passage being circumferentially offset with respect to the medial point of the entrance end to the passage, the circumferential offset of the exit and entrance of the passages being in the same circumferential direction.

4 19. A valve head having an external cylindrical surface, a cylindrical valve sleeve having an internal cylindrical surface surrounding and having relative axial movement and fluid-tight en- .gagement with respect to the cylindrical surface of the-valve head, one of said cylindrical surfaces being divided by generally parallel and generally axially-extending fluid passages circumferentiallyspaced about the axis of said head, the axial ,plane throughthe medial point of the exit end of each passage being angularly offset with re- ,spect to the axial plane through the medial point sofrjtheentrance end to the passage, the angular 15 12 offset of the exit and entrance of the passages being in the same circumferential direction.

RICHARD M. GROSSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,758,119 Moon -1 May 13, 1930 2,049,141 Schneider July 28, 1936 2,085,854 Hathaway July 6, 193'! 2,118,943

Price May 31, 1938