US3373942A - Plastic shower head plungers - Google Patents

Plastic shower head plungers Download PDF

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Publication number
US3373942A
US3373942A US493063A US49306365A US3373942A US 3373942 A US3373942 A US 3373942A US 493063 A US493063 A US 493063A US 49306365 A US49306365 A US 49306365A US 3373942 A US3373942 A US 3373942A
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Prior art keywords
shower head
plungers
plunger
opening
body portion
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Expired - Lifetime
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US493063A
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Edward A Roman
Fiorentino Arthur Anthony
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Speakman Co
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Speakman Co
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Priority to US493063A priority Critical patent/US3373942A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/30—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
    • B05B1/3033—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head
    • B05B1/3086—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the control being effected by relative coaxial longitudinal movement of the controlling element and the spray head the controlling element being a grooved body, which is movable in the outlet orifice

Definitions

  • a shower head plunger made from a material having toughness, anti-liming, low water absorptivity and good dimensional stability characteristics is the subject of the instant invention.
  • One of the following resins is used: polycarbonate, phenoxy resin or polyphenylene oxide.
  • the general object of the present invention is to provide an improved shower head of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,534,549, issued Dec. 19, 1950. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a shower head of the above mentioned type which possesses the desirable operating characteristics of a shower head disclosed and made under the above mentioned patent, but which is capable of withstanding the deposition of mineral matter from hard water.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the shower head assembled with its plungers in place.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the plungers.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the stem portion of the plunger.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view in section of the body portion of the plunger.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a view in section of la modification of the plunger shown in FIG. 2.
  • the improved shower head shown in the drawings comprises a hollow body or shell 10 of bell form, provided at its upper end with a connecting means 11 of conventional form for attaching to a source of water (not shown).
  • This connecting means is of the usual ball and socket type and is connected to the body 10 by means of the packing nut 13 and a water tight joint formed by packing 12. This allows the adjustment of the body 10 with respect to the connecting means 11, so as to direct a stream of water delivered by the shower head.
  • the connecting means has a port 15 in the bottom thereof which discharges water into the central body portion 16 of the shower head.
  • a face plate 17 is fitted across the open bell end of the body portion 10 and is held in watertight engagement therewith by means of the O-ring 18.
  • This face plate is held in position by means of the screw bolt 19, which is received in and held by the lower threaded portion 20 of the depending open sleeve 21.
  • the tubular element 22 Around the outer circumference of the sleeve 21 is mounted the tubular element 22 having the spider 23 integrally formed on the lower end thereof. This spider has open slots 24 thereon. Directly below each of these slots in the face plate 17 is an opening 25.
  • the tubular element 22 is adjustable on the sleeve 21 by means of the shaft 29 having the eccentric pin 30 on the end thereof. This pin is received in and holds the tubular element 22 with its connected spider in spaced relationship to the face plate 17.
  • the handle portion 31 is connected to the shaft 29 and rotates the shaft when the handle is rotated and thereby adjusts the relationship between the face plate and the spider.
  • the plastic plunger 28 is composed of the body portion 32 and the shaft portion 33.
  • the body portion 32 has a central opening 34 therethrough. This opening has a ledge portion 35 near the bottom end thereof and has the grooves 36 in the sides thereof.
  • the shaft portion 33 has a small collar 37 on the bottom end thereof and has the plate 38 on the upper end thereof with the plate 39 therebelow, and the intermediate shaft portion 40 therebetween. Below the plate 39 is the boss 41 on the shaft 33.
  • the diameter of the boss portion 41 is exactly the diameter of the opening 34 in the body portion.
  • the collar 37 is of the same diameter as the boss portion 41.
  • the shaft portion 33 When assembling the plungers the shaft portion 33 is inserted into the central opening 34 of the body portion 32 and forced therein so that the collar '37 is forced beyond the ledge portion 35, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby holding the body portion 32 and the shaft portion 33 as one assembled unit.
  • the plungers 28 are held On the spider 23 by means of the open slots 24 therein, which slots receive the portion .40 of each plunger and the portions 38 and 39 ride over and below the spider, thereby controlling the position within the face plate of the plunger, in accordance with the position of the spider in the body portion 10 of the shower head.
  • FIG. 7 A modification of the plunger is shown in FIG. 7, wherein the shaft portion 45 is like the shaft portion 33.
  • the body portion 46 has the central opening 47 therethrough. This opening is made without a ledge portion therein.
  • the plungers 28 are molded from a thermoplastic polycarbonate. This material is non-corrosive and solves the long standing problem of metallic corrosion where either brass or chrome plated brass plungers contact the face plate, as well as the area between the spider and the plungers themselves. The outstanding and unexpected resistance of these plungers to the deposition of mineral deposits commonly found in certain sections of this country, where limestone water causes such deposits, particularly in the flow from hot water heaters, overcomes this difiiculty.
  • the thermoplastic polycarbonate has dimensional stability that permits its molding and its retention of the molded shape when immersed in water. Other materials that could be used besides the polycarbonate referred to above, are phenoxy resins and polyphenylene oxide.
  • Nylon has a high water absorption, which results in dimensional changes and is not suitable for use in these plungers.
  • Acetal has a high and indefinite mold shrinkage which makes it difficult to consistently mold accurate parts.
  • Polyethylene and polypropylene have low tensile strength which limits their ability to withstand the forces imposed by high water pressure.
  • a plunger variably positioned in the opening comprising:

Description

Filed Oct. 5, 1965 E. A. ROMAN ETAL PLASTIC SHOWER HEAD PLUNGERS INVENTORS Edward A.Roman a ArihurAmhony Fioreniino dike/KL 0m 3W FE G,
ATTORNEYS FiG.7.
March 19, 1968 FIGB.
FIG.4.'
United States Patent Ofifice 3,373,942 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shower head plunger made from a material having toughness, anti-liming, low water absorptivity and good dimensional stability characteristics is the subject of the instant invention. One of the following resins is used: polycarbonate, phenoxy resin or polyphenylene oxide.
The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved shower head of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,534,549, issued Dec. 19, 1950. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a shower head of the above mentioned type which possesses the desirable operating characteristics of a shower head disclosed and made under the above mentioned patent, but which is capable of withstanding the deposition of mineral matter from hard water.
It is specifically an object of the present invention to provide a shower head having plungers operating through a face plate in such a manner as to control the type of discharge from the shower head.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a shower head wherein the plungers are so made as to resist the deposition of mineral matter from water containing the same.
For a better understanding of the invention, however, its objects and advantages obtained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which have been illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the shower head assembled with its plungers in place.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the plungers.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the stem portion of the plunger.
FIG. 4 is a side view in section of the body portion of the plunger.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a view in section of la modification of the plunger shown in FIG. 2.
The improved shower head shown in the drawings comprises a hollow body or shell 10 of bell form, provided at its upper end with a connecting means 11 of conventional form for attaching to a source of water (not shown). This connecting means is of the usual ball and socket type and is connected to the body 10 by means of the packing nut 13 and a water tight joint formed by packing 12. This allows the adjustment of the body 10 with respect to the connecting means 11, so as to direct a stream of water delivered by the shower head. The connecting means has a port 15 in the bottom thereof which discharges water into the central body portion 16 of the shower head. A face plate 17 is fitted across the open bell end of the body portion 10 and is held in watertight engagement therewith by means of the O-ring 18. This face plate is held in position by means of the screw bolt 19, which is received in and held by the lower threaded portion 20 of the depending open sleeve 21. Around the outer circumference of the sleeve 21 is mounted the tubular element 22 having the spider 23 integrally formed on the lower end thereof. This spider has open slots 24 thereon. Directly below each of these slots in the face plate 17 is an opening 25. Mounted on the spider 23 and received in the slot 24 and protruding through the opening 25 are plungers 28. The tubular element 22 is adjustable on the sleeve 21 by means of the shaft 29 having the eccentric pin 30 on the end thereof. This pin is received in and holds the tubular element 22 with its connected spider in spaced relationship to the face plate 17. The handle portion 31 is connected to the shaft 29 and rotates the shaft when the handle is rotated and thereby adjusts the relationship between the face plate and the spider.
The plastic plunger 28 is composed of the body portion 32 and the shaft portion 33.
The body portion 32 has a central opening 34 therethrough. This opening has a ledge portion 35 near the bottom end thereof and has the grooves 36 in the sides thereof.
The shaft portion 33 has a small collar 37 on the bottom end thereof and has the plate 38 on the upper end thereof with the plate 39 therebelow, and the intermediate shaft portion 40 therebetween. Below the plate 39 is the boss 41 on the shaft 33. The diameter of the boss portion 41 is exactly the diameter of the opening 34 in the body portion. The collar 37 is of the same diameter as the boss portion 41.
When assembling the plungers the shaft portion 33 is inserted into the central opening 34 of the body portion 32 and forced therein so that the collar '37 is forced beyond the ledge portion 35, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby holding the body portion 32 and the shaft portion 33 as one assembled unit.
As pointed out above the plungers 28 are held On the spider 23 by means of the open slots 24 therein, which slots receive the portion .40 of each plunger and the portions 38 and 39 ride over and below the spider, thereby controlling the position within the face plate of the plunger, in accordance with the position of the spider in the body portion 10 of the shower head.
A modification of the plunger is shown in FIG. 7, wherein the shaft portion 45 is like the shaft portion 33. The body portion 46 has the central opening 47 therethrough. This opening is made without a ledge portion therein. After the shaft 45 is assembled into the body portion 46 it is permanently ultrasonically welded at the point of contact 48 so as to hold the body portion and the shaft portion in rigid assembly.
The plungers 28 are molded from a thermoplastic polycarbonate. This material is non-corrosive and solves the long standing problem of metallic corrosion where either brass or chrome plated brass plungers contact the face plate, as well as the area between the spider and the plungers themselves. The outstanding and unexpected resistance of these plungers to the deposition of mineral deposits commonly found in certain sections of this country, where limestone water causes such deposits, particularly in the flow from hot water heaters, overcomes this difiiculty. The thermoplastic polycarbonate has dimensional stability that permits its molding and its retention of the molded shape when immersed in water. Other materials that could be used besides the polycarbonate referred to above, are phenoxy resins and polyphenylene oxide. Materials that have not proven satisfactory are brass plungers with or without nickel or chrome plating, which are corrosion resistant, but which acquire mineral deposits resulting from water flowing therethrough. Nylon has a high water absorption, which results in dimensional changes and is not suitable for use in these plungers. Acetal has a high and indefinite mold shrinkage which makes it difficult to consistently mold accurate parts. Polyethylene and polypropylene have low tensile strength which limits their ability to withstand the forces imposed by high water pressure.
While in accordance with the provision of the statutes there has been described and illustrated the best form of embodiment of this invention, now known, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.
What is claimed is:
1. In a spray head having a hollow body with a face plate at one end thereof with an opening therein, a plunger variably positioned in the opening comprising:
(a) a generally cylindrical shaft portion having an upper end with means for attaching Said shaft pOrtion to a means for adjusting the plunger within the opening, a boss of greater diameter below said means, and a lower end having a collar thereon whose diameter corresponds to that of the bOSs; and (b) a body portion having a cross section different from the cross-section of the opening at a given position to permit fluid to pass thru the opening in a controlled spray pattern and a central bore therethrough with a ledge portion near the bottom thereof whereby the collar of the shaft is retained by the ledge to form an integral, unitary plunger. 2. The spray head as recited in claim 1 wherein the 5 plunger is made of polycarbonate.
3. The spray head as recited in claim 1 wherein the plunger is made of phenoxy resin.
4. The spray head as recited in claim 1 wherein the plunger is made of polyphenylene oxide.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Polycarbonates, by W. F. Christopher and D. W. Fox, pages 6, 7, 8, 9, 52, 53.
25 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.
US493063A 1965-10-05 1965-10-05 Plastic shower head plungers Expired - Lifetime US3373942A (en)

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4117979A (en) * 1977-04-15 1978-10-03 Speakman Company Showerhead
US5172862A (en) * 1989-12-28 1992-12-22 Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft Shower head
US5290486A (en) * 1990-05-08 1994-03-01 Btg Kalle Inventing Ag Desuperheater for controllable injection of cooling water in a steam or gas line
US5918811A (en) * 1997-06-12 1999-07-06 Speakman Company Showerhead with variable spray patterns and internal shutoff valve
US6378790B1 (en) 2000-01-26 2002-04-30 Speakman Company Shower head having a rubber/plastic face plate and a diverter valve using rubber sleeve back pressure activation
US8567700B2 (en) 2011-06-29 2013-10-29 Christopher Miedzius Showerhead with 360 degree rotational spray control
US20140077005A1 (en) * 2012-09-14 2014-03-20 Sunrise Shower Products Co., Ltd. Shower heads
US11192125B2 (en) * 2018-09-11 2021-12-07 Kohler Co. Showerhead with pin plate

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2348776A (en) * 1941-04-25 1944-05-16 Modern Faucet Co Shower head
US2534549A (en) * 1948-08-09 1950-12-19 Speakman Co Adjustable spray shower head
US2936958A (en) * 1958-10-07 1960-05-17 Sidney J Shames Self-cleaning shower head
US3065917A (en) * 1960-11-17 1962-11-27 Speakman Co Shower head with volume control and self-cleaning feature
US3134753A (en) * 1958-06-24 1964-05-26 Gen Electric Oxidation of aryloxy-substituted phenols
US3221080A (en) * 1962-07-11 1965-11-30 Gen Electric Polycarbonate and polyarylene ether resin mixtures
US3268478A (en) * 1962-01-02 1966-08-23 Gen Electric Meta-polyphenoxylene polymers

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2348776A (en) * 1941-04-25 1944-05-16 Modern Faucet Co Shower head
US2534549A (en) * 1948-08-09 1950-12-19 Speakman Co Adjustable spray shower head
US3134753A (en) * 1958-06-24 1964-05-26 Gen Electric Oxidation of aryloxy-substituted phenols
US2936958A (en) * 1958-10-07 1960-05-17 Sidney J Shames Self-cleaning shower head
US3065917A (en) * 1960-11-17 1962-11-27 Speakman Co Shower head with volume control and self-cleaning feature
US3268478A (en) * 1962-01-02 1966-08-23 Gen Electric Meta-polyphenoxylene polymers
US3221080A (en) * 1962-07-11 1965-11-30 Gen Electric Polycarbonate and polyarylene ether resin mixtures

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4117979A (en) * 1977-04-15 1978-10-03 Speakman Company Showerhead
US5172862A (en) * 1989-12-28 1992-12-22 Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft Shower head
US5290486A (en) * 1990-05-08 1994-03-01 Btg Kalle Inventing Ag Desuperheater for controllable injection of cooling water in a steam or gas line
US5918811A (en) * 1997-06-12 1999-07-06 Speakman Company Showerhead with variable spray patterns and internal shutoff valve
US6378790B1 (en) 2000-01-26 2002-04-30 Speakman Company Shower head having a rubber/plastic face plate and a diverter valve using rubber sleeve back pressure activation
US8567700B2 (en) 2011-06-29 2013-10-29 Christopher Miedzius Showerhead with 360 degree rotational spray control
US20140077005A1 (en) * 2012-09-14 2014-03-20 Sunrise Shower Products Co., Ltd. Shower heads
US8770495B2 (en) * 2012-09-14 2014-07-08 Sunrise Shower Products Co. Ltd. Shower heads
US11192125B2 (en) * 2018-09-11 2021-12-07 Kohler Co. Showerhead with pin plate
US11745193B2 (en) 2018-09-11 2023-09-05 Kohler Co. Showerhead with pin plate

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