WO2007049316A1

WO2007049316A1 - Shower head

Info

Publication number: WO2007049316A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard Nikles; Francesco Beschi
Original assignee: Nikles Tec Italia SRL
Current assignee: Nikles Tec Italia SRL
Priority date: 2005-10-28
Filing date: 2006-07-27
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-28
Also published as: ITBS20050128A1

Abstract

A shower head comprises a body (10) defining a chamber (11) therein, hydraulically connected to a water feeding pipe by an inlet duct (12) and having a bottom (13) carrying a plurality of dispensing nozzles (16) . A wall or partition (17) extends from the water inlet duct (12) protruding inside said chamber (11) and suitable for dividing and diverting the inlet water flow (F) into a plurality of jets (F') radially directed towards the periphery of said chamber.

Description

DESCRIPTION "Shower head"

[0001] The object of the present invention is a shower head of the type with flat structure, that is, having a water dispensing surface considerably larger than the height thereof .

[0002] Shower heads of this type at present are greatly appreciated and requested for their aesthetic shape and because they allow dispensing a bundle of water jets of very large diameter.

[0003] However, these flat shaped shower heads have the disadvantage that, at low water pressures, and especially when they are inclined, the water flow in inlet to the head does not distribute evenly on the entire dispensing surface anymore but concentrates only on few dispensing nozzles substantially producing a single jet. In the practice, the main feature of this type of heads, that is, that of producing a plurality of little jets like a rain, fades . [0004] The object of the present invention is to obviate such disadvantage.

[0005] Such object is achieved with a shower head according to claim 1. [0006] Further details and advantages of the shower head according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of a preferred embodiment, made by way of an indicative non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: [0007] - figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the shower head according to the invention;

[0008] - figure 2 shows an axial section of the assembled shower head;

[0009] - figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the circled portion of figure 2; [0010] - figure 4 shows a perspective view of the circled portion of figure 2 ;

[0011] - figure 5 shows a perspective bottom view of an element of the shower head; and [0012] - figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the shower head according to an embodiment variation.

[0013] In a general embodiment, the shower head according to the present invention comprises a body 10 defining a chamber 11 therein. Chamber 11 is hydraulically connected to a water feeding pipe - not shown - by an inlet duct 12. [0014] Chamber 11 comprises a bottom 13, a top wall 14, and a side wall 15 that connects said bottom to said top wall . In a preferred embodiment, the water inlet duct 12 leads into chamber 11 through an inlet 12' obtained in the top wall 14. Said inlet 12' however may also be obtained in side wall 15. [0015] A plurality of dispensing nozzles 16 is obtained in bottom 13. The dispensing nozzles are distributed, for example evenly, on the entire surface of bottom 13 of chamber 11. [0016] Bottom 13 of chamber 11

a surface considerably larger than the side surface 15. Chamber 11 therefore exhibits a flat shape. Preferably, bottom 13 of chamber 11 is flat. [0017] Advantageously, chamber 11 extends about a symmetry axis X perpendicular to bottom 13. Preferably, chamber 11 exhibits a substantially parallelepipedal shape, with bases 13, 14 perpendicular to axis X considerably larger than the side surface 15 parallel to said axis X. [0018] In accordance with the invention, a wall or partition 17 for diverting the inlet water flow extends from inlet 12' of the water inlet duct 12 which protrudes inside chamber 11 and which comprises a closed front portion 18, substantially orthogonal to the direction of the inlet water flow, and a side portion 19, which connects said closed front portion 18 to inlet 12' of the inlet duct 12.

[0019] The side portion 19 carries a plurality of openings 20 evenly distributed on the entire surface thereof. Said openings 20 are suitable for dividing the inlet water flow (schematically indicated with arrow F in figures 3 and 4) into a plurality of jets F' directed into chamber 11 in radial direction.

[0020] In other words, the inlet water flow leading from duct 12 is intercepted along the inlet direction F thereof by the front wall 18 and is divided by openings 20 into a plurality of jets F' diverted in a direction that exhibits at least one component parallel to bottom 13 of chamber 11. [0021] In this way, even at low operating pressures, for example 0.1 bar, and even with inclined shower head, the water flow in inlet to the shower head, divided into rays in a plurality of jets, reaches all the dispensing nozzles 16, including those provided in peripheral position. [0022] All jets F' coming out of openings 20 are substantially equal to each other. The shower head is therefore capable of dispensing an even jet from all the dispensing nozzles 16. [0023] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the wall or diverting partition 17 has a truncated-cone or truncated-pyramid shape or a spherical cap shape. In particular, the side portion 19 is inclined so that jets F' coming out of openings 20 are directed, besides radially towards the periphery of chamber 20, also towards bottom 13. [0024] In accordance with a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the side wall 15 and the top wall 14 of body 10 are made in a single element 21 to which bottom 13 is applied. [0025] Advantageously, the latter comprises a hollow disc 22 and a seal 23, for example of silicone material, shaped as a mat which overlaps on said hollow disc 22. Seal 23 comprises a plurality of dispensing nozzles 16 which insert snap-wise into the holes of the hollow disc 22.

[0026] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, a plurality of pins 24 extends from hollow disc 22 suitable for abutting on the top wall 14 for being attached thereto, thus obtaining the attachment of disc 22 to element 21, for example by ultrasound welding.

[0027] Preferably, the wall or partition 17 is integral with element 21. For example, said wall or partition 17 is attached by welding to element 21, or is obtained integrally with said element . [0028] It should be noted that the closed front portion 18 of the wall or partition 17 may directly consist of a portion of bottom 13 facing inlet 12' of the inlet duct 12 upon the shower head assembly. [0029] Moreover, it should be noted that the configuration of the side portion 19, the number and the shape of openings 20 of the wall or partition 17 may be selected on the basis of the shape and width of chamber 11 of the shower head.

[0030] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, body 10 of the shower head is connected to the water feeding pipe by an articulated joint. Said articulated joint comprises a spherical joint 24 which screws to said pipe and which is partly seated in a seat 25 obtained in the top wall 14 of the shower head body. Said seat 25 exhibits a threaded neck 26 to which a locking ring nut 27 fitted on the spherical joint 24 is screwed. In this case, the water inlet duct 12 is obtained in the spherical joint 24 and in seat 25. The latter further exhibits an annular step for supporting a sealing element 28 for the spherical joint 24.

[0031] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the threaded neck 26 at the top engages with a non-unscrewing ring 29 locked on the spherical joint 24 by the ring nut 27. Said ring is provided with at least one tooth 30 engaging in a respective slot 31 obtained in the threaded neck 26.

[0032] The non-unscrewing ring £9 prevents body 10 of the shower head from unscrewing from the locking ring nut 27 over time if it is moved, for example for orientating it to a desired position. [0033] It is clear that a man skilled in the art may make several changes and adjustments to the shower head according to the present invention in order to meet specific and incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A shower head comprising a body (10) defining a chamber (11) therein hydraulically connected to a water feeding pipe by an inlet duct (12) and having a bottom (13) carrying a plurality of dispensing nozzles (16) , characterised in that a wall or partition (17) extends from said water inlet duct (12) , said wall or partition (17) protruding inside said chamber (11) and comprising a closed front portion (18) substantially orthogonal to the direction of the inlet water flow and a side portion (19) connecting said closed front portion (18) to said inlet duct (12) , said side portion (19) carrying a plurality of openings (20) suitable for dividing the inlet water flow

(F) in a plurality of jets (F') radially directed towards the periphery of said chamber (11) .

2. A shower head according to claim 1 , wherein said openings (20) are evenly distributed on the entire surface of said side portion (19) .

3. A shower head according to claim 2 , wherein the direction taken by each of said jets (F') exhibits at least one component parallel to the bottom (13) of the chamber (11) .

4. A shower head according^ to claim 3 , wherein said wall or diverting partition (17) has a truncated-cone or truncated-pyramid shape .

5. A shower head according to claim 3 , wherein said wall or diverting partition (17) has a spherical cap shape .

6. A shower head according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said side portion (19) is inclined so that the jets (F') coming out of the openings (20) are directed, besides radially towards the periphery of the chamber (20) , also towards the bottom (13) . \

7. A shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said bottom (13) exhibits a much greater extension than the height of the body (10) .

8. A shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said body (10) comprises a top wall (14) and a side wall (15) that connects said bottom to said top wall .

9. A shower head according to claim 8, wherein the water inlet duct (12) leads into the chamber (11) through an inlet (12') obtained in said top wall (14) .

10. A shower head according to claim 8, wherein the water inlet duct (12) leads into the chamber (11) through an inlet (12') obtained in said side wall (15).

11. A shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the bottom (13) of the chamber (11) is flat.

12. A shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the chamber (11) extends about a symmetry axis (X) perpendicular to the bottom (13) .

13. A shower head according to claim 12 , wherein the chamber (11) exhibits a substantially parallelepipedal shape .

14. A shower head according to any one of claims 8 to 13 , wherein the side wall (15) and the top wall (14) of the body (10) are made in a single element (21) to which the bottom (13) is applied.

15. A shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the bottom (13) comprises a hollow disc (22) and a seal (23) shaped as a mat which overlaps on said hollow disc (22) .

16. A shower head according \ to claim 15, wherein the dispensing nozzles (16) extend from said seal (23) and are inserted snap-wise into the holes of the hollow disc (22) .

17. A shower head according to claim 15 or 16, wherein a plurality of pins (24) extends from the hollow disc (22) suitable for abutting on the top wall (14) for being fixed thereto, obtaining the attachment of the disc (22) to the element (21) defining the top wall and the side wall of the body (10) .

18. A shower head according to claim 17, wherein pins (24) are attached to said element (21) by ultrasound welding .

19. A shower head according to any one of claims 8 to 18, wherein said wall or partition (17) is integral to the top wall (14) .

20. A shower head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the closed front portion (18) of the wall or partition (17) consists of a portion of the bottom (13) facing the inlet duct (12) .

21. A shower head according H:o any one of the previous claims, wherein the body (10) is connected to the water feeding pipe by an articulated joint comprising a spherical joint (24) which connects to said pipe and which is partly seated in a seat (25) obtained in the top wall (14) of said body.

22. A shower head according to claim 21, wherein said seat (25) exhibits a threaded neck (26) to which a locking ring nut (27) fitted on the spherical joint (24) is screwed.

23. A shower head according, to claim 22, wherein the threaded neck (26) at the top engages with a non- unscrewing ring (29) locked on the spherical joint (24) by the ring nut (27) .

24. A shower head according to claim 23, wherein said ring is provided with at least one tooth (30) engaging in a respective slot (31) obtained in the threaded neck (26) .