WO2022224165A1

WO2022224165A1 - A dual dispensing showerhead device

Info

Publication number: WO2022224165A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/053699
Authority: WO
Inventors: Riad OSTA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-04-20
Filing date: 2022-04-20
Publication date: 2022-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-20

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device with a spray trigger for ejecting water and liquid fluid separately or simultaneously and independently, from a shower head or mixer. The said device may be easily linked to a water main supply without the need for additional accessories. The invention further discloses that the device is provided with elements to conduct the liquid fluid and the water already at the desired temperature for washing purposes. The disclosed device essentially comprises two built-in or external main supplies of water and liquid fluid, elements to conduct separately the flow of water and liquid fluid from said main supplies, an element to prevent mixing of water and liquid fluid and elements to measure a predetermined amount of the water and/or the liquid fluid before these are ejected from the shower head or the mixer separately.

Description

A DUAL DISPENSING SHOWERHEAD DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower head or mixer, and more particularly to a system which includes therein one integrated structure, as means for spraying water and/or liquid fluid separately, simultaneously or independently one from the other, from the shower head or mixer.

[0002] The prior art, as best known to the instant inventor is reflected in a number of disclosures, the most relevant of which will be presented herein.

[0003] US3764074 discloses a shower head valving device for inducing liquid soap or other liquid agent into a water stream for a shower head in which the liquid mixture passes through a restricted opening prior to emission from the shower head whereas when water alone is emitted, it passes through a larger opening prior to the shower head. It is to be noted that in the different embodiments disclosed in '074, the system results in either water being sprayed alone or a water with a soap liquid being sprayed as a mixture but not independently.

[0004] US4121773 discloses a positive displacement system for introducing a fluid, such as a bath oil, shampoo, soap or other into a shower line just upstream of the shower head. '773 benefits from the use if the venturi effect to draw the fluid to mix with the passing water prior to being dispensed. This disclosure aims at avoiding clogging of the lines and providing a consistent performance regardless of changing water pressure.

[0005] US7661607 is a further related prior art which discloses a controller assembly that controls the flow of water from a water source and solutes from an easily removable and attachable reservoir that is regulated by going through a controller assembly controlled easily by hand positioning of the mixing controller disk, regulating both the flow of water and the solutes passing through apertures in the disk. This is considered for controlling what will be the spraying characteristics of the shower that is activated contemporaneously as it is being adjusted. [0006] A number of other prior art related to this subject may be identifed, just to list a few such as US4193520, US4218013 and US6926212. However, these address the problem using a similar approach of either using negative pressure generated by a venturi effect and/or a result wherein water is dispensed alone, or a mixture of water and a cleansing or other liquid is dispensed, but not independently or separately.

[0007] There have been numerous attempts to provide a greater range of functions for showers by for example developing controller assemblies that would satisfy the requirements of this field of art. Some of the following desirable features in showerheads or showerhead systems that are needed are to be able to flush out and clean with water the inner mechanism, or to be able to shut off the liquid flow at either upper and lower controls, run water alone or with the shower and to be able to extend the capabilities of a range of useful mixtures being dispensed.

[0008] The present invention may, therefore, be viewed as response to the long felt need in the field of shower heads or mixer designs to provide a shower head or mixer systems having integrated liquid fluid ejections means which provide for an effective and adjustable hygienic effect thereof, with or without water injection flows. More particularly as a response to such need pertaining to the bidet shower head system.

[0009] The present invention may be used for toilet bidet, bath showers, wash basin mixers, kitchen mixers and several domestic indoor use. The system could also be plugged in outdoor hoses water supply for different hygienic purposes such as pets, vehicles and gardens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00010] The present invention discloses a water inlet with a plurality of injections, at least one for water and at least one for liquid fluid leading through one integrated structure to one outlet ejecting said water and/or said liquid fluid separately, simultaneously or independently. [00011] Water and liquid fluid circulate in two separate tubes covered by a fixed or flexible hose. Said hose may be composed of stainless steel, corrugated steel or any other material with similar properties and functionality. The water tube may support a wide range of temperatures, hot and cold, which may be supplied from any type of water supply without any additional accessories beyond those commonly available for such fixtures. The liquid fluid tube is reinforced and is embedded within the water tube. The said liquid fluid tube is supplied with the liquid fluid from a refillable container wherein said contained may be built in the wall or externally. The container is also reinforced to support varying pressure and temperatures of the water.

[00012] The spray hand-held shower head or mixer may be composed of stainless steel, plastic or any other material with similar properties and functionality. The said shower head comprises a plurality of triggers. One of said plurality of triggers activates the release of water from the shower head spout. Another one of said plurality of triggers activates the release of the liquid fluid from the nozzle located in the center of the shower head spout.

[00013] In an embodiment of said invention, when the at least two triggers described in the previous section are pushed at the same time, this activates the release of water and liquid fluid simultaneously, resulting in a smooth mixed flow, without any dilution of the quality and density of the liquid fluid.

[00014] In a further embodiment, the various components of the disclosed invention, such as the spout, the hand-held, the hose, the T-shape and the liquid fluid container may be disassembled for cleaning, technical purposes or other reasons.

[00015] When the system is in a non-use state, the water remains inside a chamber without mixing with the liquid fluid. And also, the liquid fluid resides inside the tube embedded within the water tube as described above, also without mixing with the water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00016] FIG. 1 is a representation of the vertical axonometric section of the showerhead, showing the liquid fluid system.

[00017] FIG. 2 is a representation of the outside axonometric view of the showerhead showing outside mixing of water and the liquid fluid.

[00018] FIG. 3 is a representation of a vertical view of the inside section in the embodiment where the device is a built-in system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00019] Water and liquid fluid circulate in two embedded separate tubes (102, 103) covered by a fix or corrugated flexible hose, connected to the top to the hand held shower head (101), and to the bottom to the T-shape (301), which is in turn connected to the water main supply (302) and to the liquid fluid container (303). The water tube (102) may withstand hot or cold temperatures of water which may be received from any type of water supply without the need for any additional accessories. The liquid fluid reinforced tube (103) is embedded within the water tube (102). The liquid fluid is extracted from a refillable container (303), which container may be built in the wall adjacent to the system or is an external container. It is reinforced to handle the pressure as well as the high temperature of the water.

[00020] The mechanism design of the liquid fluid system structure and details of the trigger, the reinforced tube and the container with its T-shape doesn't need to change regardless of the purpose of the device, be it for a shower bidet, bath shower, wash basin, kitchen mixer and any other such use for the device. This is also applicable even if the water trigger system doesn't exist.

[00021] The handheld shower head (101) comprises a plurality of chambers and a spout (104). Once of said plurality of champers is a void chamber (105) located between the spout (104) and the inner section (106) of the shower head (101). Another one of said plurality of chambers is a water chamber (107) adjacent to the void chamber (105). Another one of said plurality of chambers is a water trigger chamber (108) and yet another one of said plurality of chambers is a liquid fluid trigger chamber (109), connected to the liquid fluid reinforced tube. On the top of the shower head, there is one outlet called the spout (104) which has preferably a circular shape. Located on its exterior side, is a liquid fluid nozzle (201) in the center, and the water holes (202) all around the liquid fluid nozzle.

[00022] The handheld shower head, comprises an inlet (110) as its bottom connector, which is the fixed or corrugated flexible hose.

[00023] The hose comprises inside it a plurality of integrated tubes. One of said plurality of tubes is for the water, and another of said plurality of tubes is for the liquid fluid. On the top of the hose, there is a cone-shaped element (111) connected to the shower head, and at its bottom is a hex (not shown) connected to the T-shape (301) which is then connected to the dual main supplies.

[00024] The dual water and liquid fluid main supplies are connected to the T-shape adaptor inside of which is the liquid fluid reinforced tube embedded in the water stop valve as shown in FUG. 3. An indicator liquid fluid level (304) is located on the exterior periphery of the container (303).

[00025] The spray hand-held shower head or mixer is preferably composed of stainless steel, plastic or any other material with similar properties and functionality. It also comprises a plurality of triggers. One of said plurality of triggers (203) is for triggering the liquid fluid whereas another of said plurality of triggers (204) is for triggering the water. The water spray trigger, when pushed releases the water through the dedicated holes located on the spout. The liquid fluid spray trigger, when pushed, releases the liquid fluid from the dedicated nozzle located on the spout. The two spray press triggers, when pushed simultaneously, release the water and the liquid fluid at the same time, leading to a mixed flow in a smooth way without any dilution of the quality and density of the liquid fluid.

[00026] The head chamber holds inside it the water spring trigger mechanism, which comprises a water nozzle on an embedded plate plane surface, an O-ring seal, a spring, a tube around the spring and a pin accessory (not shown). All these elements are covered by the external periphery of the showerhead and by an internal periphery, making the water trigger chamber completely tight proof to prevent any internal mixing between water and liquid fluid.

[00027] Once the water trigger is pressed, the water from main supply is pulled out from the water chamber to the void chamber, then ejected out from the water holes. The mid area of the head of the hand-held shower head and its vertical area form together the water chamber which functions to hold hot or cold water ready to be pulled through, without any interfering with water inside the water trigger chamber.

[00028] The function of the water trigger is to pull out the water resting inside the water chamber and the hot or cold water flowing from the main water supply passing through the T-shape connector, all the way across the water tube. In a preferred embodiment, the said water tube should have a minimum diameter which is three times the diameter of the embedded reinforced liquid fluid tube. This latter should preferably not have a large diameter for optimized liquid fluid circulation. Finally, the water then reaches the hand-held shower head. Once the trigger is pushed, the O-ring seal moves backwards and allows the water to be ejected through the spout, into the void chamber and then through the water holes. The head of the water tube spring is linked to the plate plane surface and appears from the hole in order to allow for air circulation entering from the water holes of the spout and passing into the void chamber.

[00029] The function of the water chamber is to contain water and to make a pressurized area without any interaction or mixing of water with the liquid fluid area, the liquid fluid inside the reinforced tube or the liquid fluid trigger by the use of double male and female water proof connectors.

[00030] When the liquid fluid trigger (203) is pushed, the liquid fluid flows from the liquid fluid container main supply through the liquid fluid reinforced tube travelling throughout the reinforced tube which is embedded inside the hand-held shower head fixed on perforated plates to the liquid fluid trigger to be pulled out from the liquid fluid nozzle.

[00031] The function of the liquid fluid trigger is to pull out the liquid soap, once the trigger is pushed, from its container to the liquid fluid nozzle located on the center of the spout, where it will then be ejected outside the system in a foamy texture. In this preferred embodiment, the soap trigger should help circulating the liquid fluid in any length of tube so the strength that the spring liquid fluid trigger should have is equal to the pressure of the liquid fluid like liquid soap times the section of the reinforced liquid fluid tube, which is embedded inside the water tube.

[00032] The lower chamber holds the liquid fluid trigger. This chamber is located between the inner and outer area of the hand-held shower head in order to allow for air circulation for better spring trigger force efficiency, and which leads to a better quality of soap ejection.

[00033] In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the soap tube shouldn't be large for at least the following reasons:

1. To minimize the consumption of liquid soap;

2. To maximize the section and volume of water inside the water tube for increased water pressure ejection;

3. To allow for a small spring soap trigger; and

4. To have an ergonomic size for the hand-held shower head.

Hence the inner diameter of the reinforced liquid fluid tube should have a minimum size and depends on the use of the system.

[00034] In another preferred embodiment, the force of the liquid fluid spring depends on at least the following parameters:

D: The volumetric mass (Density) of the liquid soap on average should be equal to 1500kg/m3;

A: Gravity acceleration should be equal to 9,8N/kg average lON/Kg;

L: Length of the reinforced tube; P: Pressure of the liquid soap in the tube should preferably be equal to:

P = D*A*L . P=1500Kg/m3*10N/Kg*L=1500N/m3*Lm

Knowing that the force is equal to the pressure of the liquid soap times the diameter of the tube.

[00035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system is designed to be removable and that for at least the following reasons: hygienic cleaning, maintenance and transportation. Accordingly, in this preferred embodiment, the system is divided into a plurality of parts with a plurality of main connections. The technical specifications of these connections are highly important especially the ones relating to the reinforced liquid fluid tube, due to its extension from the bottom of the liquid fluid container to the soap nozzle on the center part of the spout. These connections - if not well fabricated and assembled - could create a weak point for the pressure of the liquid fluid inside the tube due to the penetration of air particles and the water inside it. In order to eliminate the possibility of having air particles inside it, the reinforced connectors of the liquid fluid tube are built-in in the tube and designed in a way where each side is at the same time double screwless male and female connectors.

[00036] In a further embodiment, the first double male and female main connection of the reinforced liquid fluid tube is located between the spout and the head of the shower head. The right part of the connector built-in on the back center of the spout and the left part of the connector built-in with the liquid fluid trigger fixed on the hole in the center of the fixed plate plane surface. So the spout rotation movement is screwless of the male/female connector and the connector is due to the centered location of the nozzle built-in in the connector and embedded in the spout.

[00037] In said embodiment, the second double male and female main connection of the reinforced liquid fluid tube is located between the hand-held shower head and the top of the corrugated flexible hose. The higher part of the connector may be at the built-in embedded perforated plate located on the bottom side of the hand-held in the screwless hand-held connector, and the lower part of the connector built-in in another similar embedded perforated plate adaptor located in the middle of the cone connector. So the hand-held rotation movement is screwless of the connector and the connector is due to the centered location of the connector in the center of the circular plates.

[00038] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the third double male and female main connection of the reinforced liquid fluid tube is located between the bottom side of the corrugated flexible hose which is the hex connector and the top of a stainless steel T-shape adaptor connector. The higher part of the connector is located at the built-in embedded perforated plate adaptor located in the middle of the hex connector. The lower part of the connector built-in in another embedded plate plane surface situated inside the T-shape adaptor, below the level of the main water supply. So the T-shape rotation movement screwless of the connector and the connector is due to the centered location of the connector in the middle of the circular plates. The plate plane surface water stop has the role of a fixed water valve. It blocks water from penetrating inside the liquid fluid container.

[00039] Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the reinforced liquid fluid tube passes integrally along the way inside the water tube where both are embedded in the cover corrugated flexible hose. The water tube and the hose end-up - from the top side - on the cone connector. They do not continue inside the shower head. The liquid fluid tube continues its way up by passing through an insert, a strainer and an O-ring seal, to reach the hand-held shower head on its bottom screwless connector, and further inside the hand-held to reach the liquid fluid trigger.

[00040] In the said embodiment, from the bottom side, the water tube and the hose end-up once they reach the hex connector. The liquid fluid tube continues its way down by passing through an insert, a strainer and an O-ring seal, to reach the T-shape connector adaptor on the screwless connector. It continues on to the water stop fix valve, and then to the liquid fluid container, where the liquid fluid tube is free floating, preferably all the way towards the bottom of the said container. The connection between the T-shape and the liquid fluid container is made of a free rotation screwless movement of the container head male and the T-shape back female. In a preferred embodiment, an indicator soap level is provided on the exterior periphery of the container.

[00041] In a preferred embodiment, the water inlet supply may be a double way female hex and an O-ring seal between the screwless connector male of the T- shape adaptor and the opposite screwless connector male of the main water supply.

[00042] The technical solutions of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific technical features of the embodiments and the embodiments of the present invention are only illustrative of the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not limiting. The specific technical features in the embodiments of the present invention and the embodiments may be combined with each other.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

- a handlheld shower head;

- a plurality of triggers;

- a reinforced tube;

- a plurality of seals;

- a plurality of connectors;

- an adaptor, wherein said adaptor may be a T-shape or a Y-shape adaptor;

- a water supply;

- a liquid fluid container, wherein said container may be internal or external to a wall and wherein said container may be re-filled;

- a plurality of perforated plates; and

- a plurality of flexible hoses; wherein said handheld shower head dispenses water and liquid fluid separately or simultaneously and independently from each other.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handheld shower head comprises a plurality of chambers and a spout, wherein said plurality of chambers comprise:

- a void chamber, located between the spout and the inner section of the shower head,

- a water chamber adjacent to the void chamber,

- a water trigger chamber, and

- a liquid fluid chamber.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the water supply is connected to one end of the adaptor which in turn is connected to the handheld shower head by one of said plurality of hoses.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid fluid supply is connected to one end of the adaptor which in turn is connected to the handheld shower head by the reinforced tube, wherein said one end is different than the one end to which the water supply is connected, and wherein said reinforced tube travels inside the one of said plurality of hoses which connects the water supply between the adaptor and the handheld shower head.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the one of said plurality of hoses for connecting the liquid fluid supply between the adaptor and the handheld shower head is reinforced

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor includes a fix valve, wherein said fix valve prevents water and liquid fluid from mixing.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a liquid fluid rubber tube is embedded in a water tube which together form the hose, wherein said liquid fluid rubber tube is connected on the bottom to said water tube by a double male and female connector, and wherein the lower male and female connector pertaining to the top of said liquid fluid rubber tube is embedded in said T-Shape on the fix valve and wherein the upper male and female connector pertaining to the bottom of said water tube is embedded in a hex on a perforated plate, and said T-shape is connected to said hose by said hex, and said hex is embedded in said hose.