US2935265A

US2935265A - Jet-aerator spray shower-head

Info

Publication number: US2935265A
Application number: US788152A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert M Richter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-21
Filing date: 1959-01-21
Publication date: 1960-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1977-05-03

Description

May 3, 1960 H. M. RICHTER JET-AERATOR SPRAY SHOWER-HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 fm enfiow May 3, 1960 H. M. RICHTER JET-AERATOR SPRAY SHOWER-HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 alllllllll lllllllll 2,935,265 JET-AERATOR SPRAY SHOWER-HEAD Herbert M. Richter, Paramus, NJ. Application January 21, 1959, Serial No. 788,152 12 Claims. (Cl. 239-107) This invention relates to improvements in water flow control devices, such as shower heads, having particular reference to a fiow control assembly adapted selectively to provide a diversified flow range between a needle spray and an aerated spray, and the provision of such a device is a principal object of the invention.

Generally, it is also an object of the invention to provide a shower head that is economical of manufacture, simple, yet sturdy and durable of construction, and which will operate with relative freedom from wear and tear or other mechanical difficulties, especially when changing between the range of jet and aerated sprays.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a device having a flow control assembly comprising a retainer member adapted to be coupled to a water pipe with flow guide means seated therein and a flow control casing rotatably mounted thereon to surround the flow guide means in spaced relation thereto to provide inner and outer flow passages; and a spray converter rotatably mounted with respect to the fiow guide means and cooperatively associated with the casing to rotate therewith and reciprocate the converter selectively to provide a diversified flow range between a needle and aerated spray.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein, by means of manual manipulation of the converter, flow can be caused to take place in the same direction through the inner and outer passages to provide simultaneous inner and outer jet sprays, or, alternatively, a single aerated spray can be caused to take place from the inner passage by a reverse suction flow of air through the outer passage by bringing the outer into communication with the inner passage.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide such a device that will provide a flood spray intermediate the jet and aerating sprays, while at the same time providing a flushing or self-cleaning flow therethrough.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an assembled view, with parts broken away and partly in section, illustrating the relative position of the parts of the device when the same is adjusted to provide a jet spray;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the rela- 2,935,265 Patented May 3, 1960 tive position of the parts of the device when the same is adjusted to provide an aerated spray; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 a flow control assembly for a shower head adapted selectively to provide a diversified fiow range between a needle spray and an aerated spray adapted to be connected to the end of a screw-threaded water pipe 11.

The assembly comprises a flow head retainer member 12 that preferably is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded coupling ring 13 in order that the entire assembly may be swivelly connected to a ball memher 14 having an internally threaded portion 15 for attachment to the pipe 11, the ball member having a bore 16 therethrough for the passage of water from the water pipe 11 to which it is fixedly connected. In order to enhance the swivelling action of the assembly and to keep the retainer member 12 in spaced relation from the ball member, there is provided a sealing ring seat or sleeve 17 located Within the retainer member. This ring preferably is made of a suitable plastic and abuts the ball at one end and holds a central flow guide means, indicated generally at 18, in seated position on a ledge 19 on the downstream end of the retainer member 12 and coaxially thereof and of the line of flow of water coming from the pipe 11, through the ball 14 and in substantially spaced relation of the latter.

The flow guide means comprises a sleeve 20 having a peripheral lip 21 provided with peripherally spaced openings 22 therearound, which lip is seated on the ledge 13 in a manner such that the openings 20 will permit either the downstream passage of water therethrough, or the upstream reverse fiow of air, as will more fully be described hereinafter. This sleeve 20 projects a substantial distance from the retainer member 12.

Another portion of the fiow guide means comprises an inverted jet and air reversing member, indicated generally at 23. This unit consists of a cup portion 24 having peripherally spaced openings 25 around its bottom edge diagonally directed inwardly for the passage of water under pressure in a plurality of fine streams. Extending from the edge of the cup is a circular portion 26 having a downwardly directed flange 27 which rests on the peripheral lip 21 of the sleeve 20. The sealing ring or sleeve 17 bears against the ring portion 26 to hold the same in position. Coaxially extending through the cup is a rivet 28 which is headed over as at 29 on top of the cup 23. The rivet portion underneath the cup has a bulge or diversion member 30 whereby the streams of water passing through the opening 25 are impinged to deflect the fiow. The bottom shank portion of the rivet is up-set to carry a spray plate 31 preferably made of plastic material and the edge of this plate is peripherally notched, as at 32, with the edges 33 slightly tapered outwardly of the flow line axis to provide a first female peripheral spray control seat.

A flow control casing 34 is rotatably mounted on the downstream end of the retainer member 12 where it is held in position by a locking ring 35 and in sealed engagement therewith by a rubber O-ring 36. The casing 34 surrounds the flow guide means and terminates in a second female peripheral spray control seat 37 adjacent but in substantially spaced position with respect to the first female seat of the spray plate 31.

The sleeve 26 of the flow guide means 18 thus provides an inner fiow passage, indicated generally at 38, and an outer flow passage, indicated generally at 39, between itself and the casing 34.

The sleeve 20 is also provided with at least one, and preferably two, cam members 40 on its outer surface intermediate its ends about which sleeve is rotatably and reciprocably mounted a spray converter, indicated generally at 41, about to be described.

The spray "converter comprises a sleeve 42 having one or preferably two internal spiral cam-ways 43 which receive the cam members 40. The sleeve portion 42 of the converter 41 fits fairly snugly around the sleeve 20 and {the cam members are such that they can be outwardly pressed properly to seat in the spiral grooves or earn-ways '43. The sleeve of the converter is provided with an annular ring 44, the bottom portion of which provides an outer male peripheral spray control seat 45 adapted to be engaged with the outer female seat 37 of thecasing 34; and an inner peripheral spray control seat '46 adapted to seat against the inner female seat 33 of 'the spray plate 31. Adjacent the outside of the sleeve '42ofth'e converter 41, and through the annular ring 44 are a plurality 'of spaced longitudinal passages 47 and it 'will be observed from Fig. 3 that they'are also tapered outwardly of the flow axis, as at 43.

In:order to rotate the converter 41 on the sleeve 20, and to reciprocate the same, that is, to bring the male seats 46 and '45 into and out of engagement with the

seats

33 and 37, there is provided a longitudinal slot 49 on the converter 41 to receive the stud end 50 of a handle member 51 screw-threaded into the casing 34, whereby upon rotation of the casing to a right or left postion, the converter will be caused to rotate with the casing as well as with respect to the sleeve 20 and at the same time to be reciprocated into and out of position through a flow range terminating at one end in a jet spray and at another end in an aerated spray, as is respectively illustrated by the positions of th e'relative parts in Figs. 3 through 6, andfiow directions'shown by thearrows.

Briefly; the operation of the device isas follows:

Assume that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is to say, that the casing 34 has been rotated, preferably through the handle 51, to a positionsuch that the converter 41 is rotated around and cammed downwardly of the sleeve 20 so that the male seats 45 and 46 of the converter are respectively seated aaginst the outer female seat 37 of the casing 34 and the inner female seat 33 of the spray plate 31. The only outlets for the water will be through the outwardly tapered notches 32of the spray plate 31 and the outwardly tapered-passages 47 of :the annular ring-44, both of which'are respectively in'communication with the inner and outer flow chambers or passages 3% and 39. Thus, with the parts in such position, with the water turned on, the same will flow through the ball 14 into'the space provided between the retainer member 12 and the unit 23. The resulting pressure built up therein will diagonally direct inwardly peripheral streamsof water through the openings 25 of the cup 24 to impinge against the diversion plug 3% and thence'on'downwardly in part through the inner chamber or passage 39 and through the notches 32 of the spray plate 31 to provide aninner jetspray assuming the configurationof a truncated cone. Because of the-pressure built up in the inner chamber 38, a substantially equal-amount of water is caused to flow through the peripheral notches 2 2 of the lip 21 on the sleeve 20, thereby entering the chamber '39 to'find access therefrom only through the downwardly tapered passages 47 of the converter 41 andthus providing asecond jet spray that appears to be frusto-conical in configuration, so that there are pro vided inner and outerconcentric jet sprays coming from the assembly."

When the parts are moved to the relative positions illustrated in Fig. upon rotation of the casing 34 in the opposite direction, it will be observed that the only How of water than can take place will be a downward'fiow fromthe inner chamber '38 and an upward fiow or suction of air in the reverse direction in the outer'chamber 39 "be'cau'se the"inner andouter' 'maleseats '45 and' 46of the converter 41 have been disengaged from the inner be intermingled with the flow of water therethrough to produce an'aerated spray coming fromthe assembly.

It might be pointed out that a judicious positioning of the converter '21 between the extremes of the .double jet and aeration spray, whereby neither are produced, brings about a flood or flushing spray which at the same time creates a self-leaning flow which will substantially dislodge any foreign matter, thus providing a self-cleaning device.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and 'difierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended'that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of 'the'invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In a shower head having'coupling means to secure the same to a water flow'pipe,'which comprises a water flow assembly adapted to be connected to said coupling means and which will selectively provide adiversified flow range therefrom between a needle spray and an aerated spray, said assembly comprising a retainer member for said -assembly adapted" to be connected to said coupling in selected fixed position; a fluid flow casing rotatably mounted on the end of said member; flow means mounted inthe'end of said member and-extending coaxially of said member and'said'casing in spaced relation toand adjacent'the end of said casing ina manner such as to provide an inner and outer fluid flow chamber; and spray converter means reciprocably mounted with'respect 'tosaid flow means and casing within the latter, whereby said fiow pattern selectively can be blended between a needle spray emanating from both chambers as the converter moves "downstream, and a single aerated spray from the inner chamber asthe co verter moves upstream to convert the outer chamber to an air suction passage to supply air to said inner chamber.

2. In a showerJhead, a flow control assembly adapted selectively to provide ardiversified flow range between a needle spray and an aerated spray, compn'singa flow head'retainer memberadapted'to'be coupled at its upstream end 1 to a water-pipe; flow means fixedly seated within the downstream end ofsaid member and coaxially projecting therefrom; a flow control casing rotatably mounted onthe downstream-end of said member and surrounding said how means in spaced relation thereto to 'providerinner zand v.outer fiow passages; and a spray converter rotatably:rnounted on; said jflow means :and cooperatively connected with saidjcasing to rotate therewith' in order to-rnove saidconverter outwardly of; said casing to constrict the outlet opening thereof to provide a needle spray emanating from both chambers, and-rinwardly thereofatotenlarge thecoutletaopening of said-casing to convert said outerchamber to anrair suction passage communicating with said inner'chamber to provide an aerated spray emanating from said inner chamber.

3. In a shower head, a flow. control assembly adapted selectivelyto'providea diversifiedflow range between a needle spray and an aerated spray, comprisingaflow head retainer "member havingcoupling means adapted to be coupled at its upstream end to a water pipe; a central flow guide means fixedly seated within the downstream end of said member and projecting therefrom with a coaxial portion thereof terminating in a first female peripheral spray control seat; a flow control casing rotatably mounted on the downstream end of said memher to surround said guide means and terminating in a second female peripheral spray control seat adjacent said first seat, said guide means and casing providing inner and outer fiow passages; and a spray control converter mounted between said guide means and casing with cooperating connecting means therebetween, which converter rotates when said casing is rotated and is simultaneously reciprocable coaxially of said casing and guide means, said converter terminating in inner and outer male peripheral spray control seats; whereby water flows through both chambers to provide a needle spray when said male and female seats are engaged and, when disengaged, air is sucked in a reverse direction through said outer chamber to intermingle with water flowing in the opposite direction to provide an aerated spray.

4. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that said coupling means comprises a swivel connection including a ball member having a bore therethrough for the passage of water fixedly to be connected to said pipe, and a sealing ring seat for said ball to hold said fiow guide means within said flow head retainer member in swivelable spaced relation from said ball.

5. In a shower head as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said flow guide means includes a sleeve having a circular lip provided with peripherally spaced openings therearound seated within said retainer member, whereby to provide a divided flow of water through said inner and outer passages to supply said jet spray, and to supply an aerated spray only through said inner passage by means of air passing in a reverse direction thereto through said openings as said casing is rotated to reciprocate said spray control converter into and out of contact with said seats.

6. In a shower head as set forth in claim 5, and wherein said sleeve is provided with at least one cam member on its outer surface intermediate its ends and said spray control converter member is provided with a cam-way for said cam and rotatably mounted on said sleeve to be reciprocated with respect thereto as said casing is rotated.

7. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that said first female seat includes a spray plate having peripherally spaced longitudinal notches therearound to provide a first jet spray when the inner male seat of said spray converter is engaged therewith.

8. In a shower head as set forth in claim 7, and wherein said notches have tapered portions directed outwardly of the longitudinal axis of flow, whereby said jet spray is projected into the configuration of a truncated cone.

9. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that said outer male seat includes an outer annular ring intermediate the ends of said converter, which ring is provided with a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal passages therearound to provide a second jet spray when the outer male seat of said spray converter is engaged with said second female on said casing.

10. In a shower head as set forth in claim 9, and wherein said passages have tapered portions directed outwardly of the longitudinal axis of flow, whereby said jet spray is projected into the configuration of a truncated cone.

11. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that said first female seat includes a spray plate having peripherally spaced longitudinal notches therearound having tapered portions directed outwardly of the longitudinal axis of flow, and said outer male seat includes an outer annular ring intermediate the ends of said converter, which ring is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart, longitudinal passages therearound having tapered portions likewise directed outwardly of said axis of flow, whereby to provide inner and outer concentric conical jet sprays.

12. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that said connecting means includes a longitudinal slot in said converter and a manual control member extending outwardly of said casing and inwardly thereof into said slot, which member and slot are relatively reciprocable as said casing is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,548 Block June 14, 1932 1,996,545 Knowlton Apr. 2, 1935 2,285,831 Pennypacker June 9, 1942 2,795,462 Bletcher et a1. June 11, 1957 2,816,746 Botnick Dec. 17, 1957