EP2596869A1

EP2596869A1 - Showerhead

Info

Publication number: EP2596869A1
Application number: EP12165939.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franco Sargiani
Original assignee: ARCHEDES Srl
Current assignee: ARCHEDES Srl
Priority date: 2011-11-24
Filing date: 2012-04-27
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Also published as: ITMI20112140A1

Abstract

A shower head (1) comprises a box-shaped body (2) within which a water chamber (4) is defined dividing into at least two secondary chambers (4a, 4b)that are side by side and coplanar to each other through at least an inner partition (3), each of the aforementioned secondary chambers (4a, 4b) is equipped with respective water inlet (5, 9) and water outlet openings (8, 12).

Description

The present invention refers to an accessory for supplying water in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, particularly a shower head.
In the rest of the present description we shall consider, in a non-limiting manner, a shower head as the accessory for supplying water having a plurality of supply nozzles at a lower wall thereof.
Shower heads generally have a plurality of holes, each of which is equipped with its own nozzle, through which water is supplied.
With reference to shower heads it should be noted that they can have a great variety of configurations, particularly in terms of the arrangement of the water supply holes. Such a variety of shower heads is a result of the desire to satisfy increasingly varied requirements, such as, for example, the requirement of increasing the efficiency of the shower head for the same water consumption, as well as the requirement of having a shower head that is capable of satisfying different water supply requirements of the users.
In order to satisfy the aforementioned requirements shower heads have been proposed having a very large water supply surface that is capable of sprinkling a corresponding wide area below it, just as shower heads have been made equipped with different pluralities of supply nozzles that can be selectively controlled to supply water in a central area of the lower wall rather than at an annular and/or peripheral portion thereof, such a last feature being particularly found in shower units.
It is worth underlining that, particularly for bigger shower heads, a very common requirement of the users is to have different operating modes of the shower head according to the specific use. In particular, it is worth underlining that whereas in an initial step the user has the requirement of wetting his body with a "rain of water" that is wide and thin, during the rinsing step the requirement is that of being hit by a greater amount of water from a greater number of water jets, without for this reason decreasing the surface area from which the water jets are supplied.
The requirement to be satisfied is therefore that of making a shower head for supplying water that is able to vary the number of water jets supplied for the same surface.
The problem at the basis of the present invention is that of devising an accessory for supplying water which has structural and functional features such as to satisfy the aforementioned requirements, while at the same time avoiding the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior art.
Such a problem is solved with an accessory for supplying water in accordance with the features of claim 1.
Further features and advantages of the accessory for supplying water according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given as an indication and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

figure 1 represents a perspective view of an accessory according to the invention, specifically a shower head;
figures 2, 3 and 4 represent partially exploded perspective views of the shower head of figure 1 according to different angles;
figure 5 represents a cross section plan view of the shower head of figure 1;
figure 6 represents a perspective view of a second shower head according to the invention according to a different embodiment and
figures 7, 8 and 9 represent partially exploded perspective views of the shower head of figure 6 according to different angles.

With reference to the attached figures, reference numeral 1 wholly indicates an accessory for supplying water according to the invention which, in the illustrated example is made up of a shower head.
The shower head 1 comprises a box-shaped body within which a water chamber 4 is defined.
The box-shaped body 2 comprises:

first through openings 7, 11 that define openings for letting water inside the chamber 4 and
second through openings 8, 12 that define openings for letting water out from the chamber 4.

Associated to the box-shaped body 2 there are

water feeding means 5, 9 for feeding water to the aforementioned water inlet openings 7, 11 and
means for supplying water 6, 10 that are associated to the respective water outlet openings 8, 12 of the box-shaped body 2.

In the example, the aforementioned water feeding means 5, 9 are schematised as an example in the figures as end portions of respective tubular ducts (in the example two of them) sealingly engaged at the respective inlet opening. In particular, the tubular duct 5 engages the first inlet opening 7, whereas the tubular duct 9 engages the inlet opening 11.
In the example the aforementioned means for supplying water 6, 10 comprise respective supply nozzles associated to the water outlet openings 8 and 12 respectively. Preferably, the aforementioned nozzles 6 and 10 are made from a synthetic material that is suitable for preventing the formation of limescale.
Preferably, the water outlet openings 8 and 12 have dimensions such as to allow one end portion of the nozzles 6, 10 to be inserted inside them.
Advantageously the water chamber 4 is divided into at least a first chamber 4a and a second chamber 4b by an inner partition 3.
It is worth underlining that the aforementioned at least two chambers 4a and 4b are completely separate from each other, independent from one another and not communicating with each other, moreover being equipped with respective and separate water outlet openings and with separate water inlet openings for feeding water from outside and in an independent and selective way in each of the two chambers 4a and 4b. In particular as can be seen from the figures:

the first water chamber 4a foresees the water inlet opening 7 and the water outlet openings 8, to which the water feeding means 5 and the supplying means 6, respectively, are associated, whereas
the second water chamber 4b foresees the water inlet opening 11 and the water outlet openings 12, to which the water feeding means 9 and the supplying means 10, respectively, are associated.

With reference to the box-shaped body 2 it should be noted that in it it is possible to identify:

a bottom 13,
side walls 14 projecting from said bottom 13 to a free end at which they define a mouthpiece and
a cover 15 closingly associated with the mouthpiece so as to ensure the closure.

The aforementioned inner partition 3 extends into the box-shaped body 2 so as to project from the bottom 13 towards the aforementioned mouthpiece.
Moreover, the aforementioned inner partition 3 is:

fluid-sealingly connected for the whole extension thereof to the bottom 13 and
fluid-sealingly connected for the whole extension thereof to the cover 15 when said cover 15 is applied to close the mouthpiece.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment (cf. figure 5), the inner partition 3 is obtained in a single piece with the bottom 13, although in any case it is possible to foresee embodiments in which the inner partition 3 is identified by an element that is not a unit with the bottom 13 and coupled with the bottom 13 so as to ensure the fluid seal with such a bottom 13 for the whole extension thereof.
Therefore, the first chamber 4a and the second chamber 4b, although being parts of the shower head 1, are completely independent from one another, since the two chambers are arranged so as to be side by side and coplanar to each other with respect to the water outlet openings 8, 12, that is to say with respect to the bottom 13 of the box-shaped body 2 of the shower head 1 where the water outlet openings 8, 12 are arranged.
Preferably, the cover 15 and the inner partition 3 are sealingly coupled to each other through a male-female engagement between corresponding matching portions. In the example of the figures this is achieved thanks to the fact that the cover 15, at its side facing towards inside the water chamber 4, defines a groove, in the example U-shaped, which is suitable for receiving in sealing engagement and forcefully an end portion of the longitudinal edge of the partition 3 projecting from the bottom 13.
In the illustrated example (cf. figure 5), the aforementioned matching portions of the cover 15 that form the U-shaped groove are defined by tabs 16 projecting from the inner side of the cover 15 towards the bottom 13.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiment (cf. figure 5), the tabs 16 are obtained in a single piece with the cover 15, although in any case it is possible to foresee embodiments in which the tabs 16 are defined by components which do not form a unit with the cover 15 and that are coupled to the cover 15 so as to ensure the fluid sealing with such a cover 15 for their entire extension.
Preferably, in order to ensure an optimal seal, the inner side of the cover 15 and the inner partition 3 are sealingly coupled to each other by interposing gasket means (not illustrated).
It is worth highlighting that the seal coupling between the inner partition and inner side of the cover can be also obtained by just placing the aforementioned parts in abutment against one another, particularly in the case in which gasket means are foreseen.
The gasket means can advantageously be housed in the aforementioned U-shaped groove or in the U-shaped grooves in the case in which many inner partitions are foreseen, being it moreover possible to use a cover the inner side of which, that is to say the side facing the water chamber, is covered by a layer of rubber or other material for gaskets.
The water outlet openings 8, 12 are preferably obtained in a first wall 13 of the box-shaped body 2 selected between the bottom 13 and the cover 15, whereas the water inlet openings 7, 11 are obtained in the other wall selected between the bottom 13 and the cover 15.
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the water outlet openings 8, 12 are foreseen in the bottom 13 of the box-shaped body 2, whereas the water inlet openings 7, 11 are foreseen in the cover 15.
Preferably, the mutual arrangement of the two chambers 4a and 4b and of the respective water outlet openings 8 and 12 is such that the water outlet openings 12 of the second chamber 4b alternate at least partly between the water outlet openings 8 of the second chamber 4b. Even more preferably the water outlet openings 12 of the second chamber 4b and the water outlet openings 8 of the second chamber 4b alternate so as to have in at least a portion of a wall of the box-shaped body 2, in the example in the bottom 13, in order: a sequence of water outlet openings 8 of the first chamber 4a, a sequence of water outlet openings 12 of the second chamber 4b, a sequence of water outlet openings 8 of the first chamber 4a and a sequence of water outlet openings 12 of the second chamber 4b.
Preferably the first water outlet openings 8 are aligned in parallel rows and the second water outlet openings 12 are aligned according to parallel rows alternating in a comb-like pattern with the rows of the first water outlet openings 8.
This arrangement makes it possible to also have, at the surface portion of the bottom 13 where there are the first water outlet openings 8, interposed second water outlet openings 12, so as to have a denser distribution of the water supply openings when needed and advantageously increase the supply from the same surface of the shower head 1.
Such a result can also be achieved with an arrangement of the water outlet openings different from the linear one alternating in a comb-like fashion as described above. Therefore, for example, it is possible to arrange the first water outlet openings 8 arranged along concentric circumferences and the second water outlet openings 12 arranged according to one or more circumferences interposed in a concentric manner between the circumferences defined by the first water outlet openings 8. As further non-limiting examples not represented in the figures, it is possible to foresee an arrangement of the second water outlet openings 12 with a lobular arrangement positioned between the first water outlet openings 8, as well as other creative or established arrangements not related to specific geometrical figures.
It should be highlighted that, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the first chamber 4a and the second chamber 4b are arranged side by side and coplanar to each other.
As can be appreciated from what has been described, the shower head for supplying water according to the present invention makes it possible to satisfy the aforementioned requirements and to simultaneously overcome the drawbacks we referred to in the introduction of the present description with reference to the prior art. Indeed, the accessory according to the invention, during normal use, makes it possible to vary the number of water jets supplied for the same supply surface of the shower head. Indeed, the arrangement of the water outlet openings of the second chamber interposed and alternated with the water outlet openings of the first chamber makes it possible to obtain, from the same circumscribed surface portion of the shower head, a lighter water supply or, respectively, heavier as a consequence of the fact that the water supply from the shower head occurs:

only through the water outlet openings of the first chamber,
only through the water outlet openings of the second chamber or
occurs simultaneously from the water outlet openings of both the chambers.

Therefore the accessory according to the invention, in particular the shower head described above, makes it possible to vary the number of water supply points inside the same supply surface, that is to say the density of supply jets per unit surface considered, without influencing the parameters of pressure and speed with which the water is supplied by the respective nozzles.
Another advantage of the shower head for supplying water according to the present invention lies in its structural simplicity.
Of course, a man skilled in the art, with the purpose of satisfying contingent requirements and specifications, may carry out numerous modifications and variants to the shower head for supplying water described above, all moreover covered in the field of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Therefore, for example, the number of independent water chambers with which to separate the chamber identified inside the box-shaped body can also be greater than two, being able for example to foresee accessories, for example shower heads, with three or four independent chambers separate from each other both to receive and supply water.

Claims

Accessory for supplying water comprising:
- a box-shaped body (2) within which a water chamber (4) having water inlet openings (7,11) and water outlet openings (8,12) is defined;

- water feeding means (5,9) for feeding water to the water inlet openings (7,11) of said body (2);

- means for supplying water (6,10) associated to the respective water outlet openings (8,12) of said body (2),
characterised in that:

- at least an inner partition divides said water chamber (4) in at least a first chamber (4a) and in a second chamber (4b) separate from each another, not communicating with each other and provided with respective and independent water outlet openings and water inlet openings;

- said water feeding means comprise first water feeding means (5) and second water feeding means (9) separate from each other for feeding water from outside and in an independent and selective way to the inlet openings (7) of said first chamber (4a) and, respectively, to the inlet openings (11) of said second chamber (4b) and

- said water supplying means comprise first water supplying means (6) associated to the water outlet openings (8) of said first chamber (4a) and second water supplying means (10) associated to the water outlet openings (12) of said second chamber (4b).
Accessory according to claim 1, wherein:
- said box-shaped body (2) comprises a bottom (13), side walls (14) projecting from said bottom (13) up to a free end at which they define a mouthpiece and a cover (15) closingly associated to said mouthpiece for ensuring the closure thereof,

- said at least one inner partition (3) projects from said bottom (13) towards said mouthpiece,

- said at least one inner partition (3) is fluid-sealingly connected for the whole extension thereof to said bottom (13) and

- said at least one inner partition (3) is fluid-sealingly connected for the whole extension thereof to said cover (15) when said cover (15) is applied to close said mouthpiece.
Accessory according to claim 2, wherein said cover (15) and said at least one inner partition (3) are sealingly coupled to each other through a male-female engagement between corresponding matching portions.
Accessory according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said cover (15) and said at least one inner partition (3) are sealingly coupled to each other by interposing gasket means.
Accessory according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said water outlet openings (8,12) are obtained in a first wall (13) of said box-shaped body (2) selected between said bottom (13) and said cover (15).
Accessory according to claim 5, wherein said water inlet openings are obtained in a second wall (15) of said box-shaped body (2) selected between the remaining wall between said bottom (13) and said cover (15).
Accessory according to any one of claims from 1 to 7, wherein the water outlet openings (12) of said second chamber (4b) alternate at least partly with the water outlet openings (8) of said first chamber (4a).
Accessory according to claim 7, wherein the water outlet openings (8) of said first chamber (4a) alternate at least partly with the water outlet openings (12) of said second chamber (4b), so as to obtain in at least a portion of a wall of said box-shaped body (2) a sequence of water outlet openings (8) of said first chamber (4a), a sequence of water outlet openings (12) of said second chamber (4b), a sequence of water outlet openings (8) of said first chamber (4a) and water outlet openings (12) of said second chamber (4b), respectively.
Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first water outlet openings (8) are aligned in parallel rows and said second water outlet openings (12) are aligned according to parallel rows, alternating in a comb-like pattern with the rows of said first outlet openings (8).
Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first water outlet openings (8) are arranged along concentric circumferences and said second water outlet openings (12) are arranged according to one or more circumferences interposed in a concentric manner between the circumferences of said first water outlet openings (8).
Accessory according to any one of claims from 1 to 10, wherein said first chamber (4a) and said second chamber (4b) are arranged side by side and substantially coplanar to each other with respect to said water outlet openings (8,12).