Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02682588 2009-10-08
MULTI-FUNCTION SHOWER HEAD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-function shower head that provides
three water flower levels in response to three watering modes to obtain low-
flow and
strong water flower, hence a water saving and strong flowing purpose of the
shower
head is achieved.
Description of the Prior Art
Conventional multi-function shower heads, such as a wall type shower head,
include a spherical knob to be connected to a water feeding pipe so that a
user can
adjust a watering angle based on requirement.
The above-mentioned shower head has level adjusting function so that
water flows through different level of an inlet, an external passageway,
chambers,
and outlets to generate water flowers in different watering modes, such as
jetted,
massaged, sprayed, and fogged water flowers.
The conventional multi-function shower heads includes a standard flow
controlling valve installed in the spherical knob to control the flow amount
at
2.5GPM/min, however such a sole standard flow amount can not satisfy
environmental friendly purpose.
As the flow amount of the standard flow controlling valve is less then
1.5GPM/min, the sprayed water flower is too small to generate strong water
flower.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
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afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-function
shower head which obtains low-flow and strong water flower. Thereby, a water
saving and strong flowing purpose of the shower head is achieved.
A multi-function shower head according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention comprises
a holder including an inflow end disposed on an upper end thereof, an
outflow end mounted on a lower end thereof, and a passage located between the
inflow and the outflow ends and having at least one cavity arranged on the
outflow
end;
at least one plug installed in the cavity of the holder and pushed downward
and including a through bore to flow water;
a distributing set. rotably installed to the outflow end of the holder and
including an upper disc, a middle disc, and a lower cover, all of which are
connected
with each other; between the upper disc and the middle disc being defined an
upper
first chamber and an upper second chamber; between the middle disc and the
lower
cover being defined a lower first chamber at a central portion therebetween
and a
lower second chamber under the lower first chamber to communicate with the
upper
first chamber and the upper second chamber respectively; the upper disc
including a
first inlet and a second inlet disposed on a top surface thereof to
communicate with
the upper first chamber and the upper second chamber individually; the lower
cover
including at least two first outlets and a plurality of second outlets to
communicate
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with the lower first chamber and the lower second chamber;
a low-flow controlling valve installed in the first inlet of the upper disc of
the distributing set to lower water at a standard flow amount to a lower flow
amount;
a water flower generator installed in the lower first chamber of the
distributing set and including an inflow tunnel extending downward therefrom,
at
least two outflow tunnels extending from a peripheral side of the inflow
tunnel, and
al least two path extending along a tangent of the inflow tunnel and the
outflow
tunnel; the inflow tunnel including an entrance disposed on a top end thereof
and
communicating with the upper first chamber of the distributing set, and the
outflow
tunnel including a vent mounted on a bottom end thereof to communicate with an
external environment through the first outlet of the distributing set; wherein
after the water flow flows from the lower first chamber of the distributing
set to the inflow tunnel of the water flower, a centrifugal force forms in the
path and
then passes through the outflow tunnel to spray water from the vents,
obtaining
low-flow and strong water flower;
a rotary positioning means fixed between the holder and the distributing set
so that the distributing set is positioned between a first rotating position
and a second
rotating position;
when the distributing set is located at the first rotating position, water
from
the plug of the holder is controlled to become a low-flow water, and then
flows
through the upper first chamber and the water flower generator of the lower
first
chamber to generate a jetted water flower; when the distributing set is
located at the
second rotating position, water from the plug of the holder is controlled to
become
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another water flower via the second inlet, the upper second chamber, and the
lower
second chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a multi-function
shower head in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 3 is another perspective view showing the exploded components of the
multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the multi-function
shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a holder of the
multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the holder of the
multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of an upper
disc of the multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred
embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the upper disc of the
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multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view showing the cross section. of the upper
disc and a middle disc of the multi-function shower head in accordance with
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of the
middle disc and a water flower generator of the multi-function shower head in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the middle disc of the
multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the middle disc
and the water flower generator of the multi-function shower head in accordance
with
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a partial perspective view showing the cross section of the water
flower generator of the multi-function shower head in accordance with the
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a top plan view showing the assembly of the water flower
generator of the multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a perspective showing the exploded components of a vane and a
spraying member of the multi-function shower head in accordance with the
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
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Fig. 16 is another perspective showing the exploded components of the vane
and the spraying member of the multi-function shower head in accordance with
the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a top plan view showing the assembly of a lower cover of the
multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a fixing member of
the multi-function shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the
present invention;
Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view showing the operation of the multi-function
shower head in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be clearer from the following description when
viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of
illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
Referring to Fig. 1, a multi-function shower head in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is used in a wall type of shower
head,
wherein the shower head provides three water flower levels in response to
three
watering modes, such as a low-flow jetted water flower flowing from a central
zone
of the shower head, a low-flow massaged water flower flowing from- a
peripheral
side of the jetted water flower, and a sprayed water flower watering from a
peripheral side of the jetted water flower.
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Referring to Figs. 2-4, a multi-function shower head in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder 10, two plugs
20a,
20b, a distributing set 30, a low-flow controlling valve 40, a water flower
generator
50, a rotary positioning means 60, a rotating vane 70a, a spraying member 70b,
a
fixing member 80a, a retaining member 80b, a connecting knob 90a, and a
housing
90b, wherein
the holder 10, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, includes an inflow end 101
disposed on an upper end thereof and an outflow end 102 mounted on a lower end
thereof, and includes a first outer rim 11, a second outer rim 12. extending
upward
from the first outer rim 11, and a third outer rim 13 extending from the
second outer
rim 12; the third outer rim 13 includes a receiving room 131 fixed on a top
end of an
interior thereof; the first outer rim 11 includes a circular groove 111 formed
therein;
the second outer rim 12 includes a spaced wall 121 arranged therein, and a
bottom
surface of the spaced wall 121 flushes with a top surface of the circular
groove 111,
the spaced wall 121 includes two symmetrical cavities 122 and a slot 123, all
of
which are mounted therein.
The holder 10 includes a passage 14 defined between the receiving room
131 and the spaced wall 121, and the passage 14 includes two guiding holes 141
fixed therein to communicate with the cavities 122 respectively. In addition,
the
spaced wall 121 includes a recessed portion formed at a center thereof and a
shaft
124 extending downward from the recessed portion thereof.
The first outer rim 11 includes a limiting tab 112 extending outward from a
bottom end thereof and an engaging projection 113 extending from an external
side
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thereof to connect with the limiting tab 112.
The plugs 20a, 20b, as illustrated in Fig. 7, are installed in the cavities
122
of the holder 10, and each includes a notch 21 formed at a top end thereof to
receive
a compression spring 22 so as to push the plugs 20a, 20b and includes a
through bore
23 disposed on a bottom end thereof to communicate with the notch 21, thus
flowing
water from the guiding holes 141.
The distributing set 30 is rotably installed to the outflow end 102 of the
holder 10 and includes an upper disc 31, a middle disc 32, and a lower cover
33,
wherein
the upper disc 31 as shown in Figs. 7-9 includes a lower fringe 31 a, an
upper fringe 31b extending upward from the lower fringe 31a, and a top surface
31c
formed on the upper fringe 31b; the upper fringe 31b includes a locking recess
311
to retain a seal pad 312 as illustrated in Figs. 2-4. The top surface 31 c
includes an
axial opening 313 mounted at a center thereof to connect with the shaft 124 of
the
holder 10 so as to form a rotating fulcrum between the upper disc 31 and the
holder
10; the axial opening 313 includes a plurality of inlets spaced a
predetermined angle
apart from each other, and the inlets are a first inlet 3 14a, a second inlet
3 14b, and a
third inlet 314c to communicate with one of the plugs 20a, 20b; the axial
opening
313 includes a number of fixing apertures spaced a predetermined angle apart
from
each other, and the fixing apertures are a first fixing aperture 315a, a
second fixing
aperture 315b, and a third fixing aperture 315c.
The upper disc 31 includes a positioning gap 316 disposed around a top end
of the first inlet 314a, and the lower fringe 31a includes a lock protrusion
317
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extending outward thereform.
The top surface 31c of the upper disc 31 includes a first face 318 and a
second face 319 between which a connecting section is defined, the first face
318
includes a first recessed zone 318a, and the second face 319 includes a second
recessed zone 319a, and between the first face 318, the second face 319, and
the
lower fringe 31 a is define a third recessed zone 3 19b.
The first recessed zone 318a extends from an outer side of the upper disc 31
toward a central portion thereof, and the first inlet 314a is in communication
with the
first recessed zone 318a, the first recessed zone 318a includes a conical
column 318b
extending from a central portion thereof and a conical mouth 318c facing to
the
conical column 318b so that water from the first inlet 314a flows through the
conical
mouth 318c and is guided to one side of the conical column 318b, generating a
spiral
water flow. The second inlet 314b is communication with the second recessed
zone
319a, and the third inlet 314c communicates with the third trench 319b.
The upper disc 31 rotates relative to the holder 10, and when it is rotated to
a first rotating position, the plug 20a communicates with the first inlet 314a
to guide
water from the plug 20a toward the first recessed zone 318a via the first
inlet 314a,
and the plug 20b is closed by the top surface 31c of the upper disc 31.
Likewise, as
the upper disc 31 is rotated to a second rotating position of the holder 10,
the plug
20a communicates with the second inlet 314b and the plug 20b is closed by the
top
surface 31c of the upper disc 31, and when the upper disc 31 is rotated to a
third
rotating position of the holder 10, the plug 20b is communication with the
third inlet
314c and the plug 20a is closed by the top surface 31c of the upper disc 31.
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The seal pad 312 of the upper disc 31 abuts against an inner side of the first
outer rim 11 to prevent waters which leaks from the plugs 20a, 20b from
flowing
outward from the holder 10 and the upper disc 31.
The middle disc 32, as shown in Figs. 10-12, is formed in a flat disk shape
and welded with the lower fringe 3 la of the upper disc 31 so that between the
middle
disc 32, the first, second, and third recessed zones 318a, 319a, and 319b of
the upper
disc 31 are defined an upper first chamber 34a, an upper second chamber 34b,
and
an upper third chamber 34c.
The middle disc 32 includes a first orifice 321 arranged at a center thereof
to communicate with the upper first chamber 34a so that a spiral water flow in
the
conical column 318b of the upper first chamber 34a flows to the first orifice
321.
The first orifice 321 includes a raised block 322 extends therefrom to engage
with
the first recessed zone 318a of the upper disc 31 and having an inclined plane
323
disposed on a top end of the raised block 322 so as to guide a longitudinal
water
flow from the first inlet 314a to the conical column 318b to generate a
lateral water
flow.
The first orifice 321 of the middle disc 32 includes four second orifices 324
spaced a predetermined angle apart from each other to communicate with the
upper
second chamber 34b, and the second orifice 324 includes three third orifices
325
spaced a predetermined angle apart from each other to communicate with the
upper
third chamber 34c.
The middle disc 32 includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth annular
sides 326, 327, 328, and 329 extending longitudinally from an outer rim of the
first
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orifice 321 in order, and includes a retaining edge 329a arranged around the
middle
disc 32.
The lower cover 33, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 17, includes a side portion 331
having a first, a second, and a third sealing cliffs 332, 333, 334 extending
longitudinally in order to be fitted and welded with the first, the second,
and the third
annular sides 326, 327, and 328 of the middle disc 32 such that between the
middle
disc 32 and the first sealing cliff 332 of the lower cover 33 is defined a
lower first
chamber 335a, between the first and the second sealing cliffs 332, 333 is
defined a
lower second chamber 335b, and between the second and the third sealing cliffs
333,
334 is defined a lower third chamber 335c.
The side portion 331 of the lower cover 33 includes three first outlets 336 to
abut against the first sealing cliff 332, and between the first and the second
sealing
cliffs 332, 333 are defined three sets of watering areas, each having a
plurality of
second outlets 337, and between the second and the third sealing cliffs 333,
334 are
arranged a number of three outlets 338. A size of the first outlet 336 is more
than that
of the third outlets 338, and a size of the third outlet 338 is more than that
of the
second outlet 337. It is to be noted that the second outlet 337 is a tiny hole
substantially.
The lower cover 33 includes three levering extensions 339 extending
outward therefrom to be operated by user to stop a rotation of the
distributing set 30
and the holder 10 relative to each other.
The low-flow controlling valve 40, as shown in Fig. 7, is fixed in the first
inlet 314a of the upper disc 31 of the distributing set 30 to lower water
flow.
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In order to flow water from the plug 20a toward the low-flow controlling
valve 40, an abutting plate 41 is disposed to the positioning gap 316 of the
first inlet
314a of the upper disc 31 and includes a partition 411 arranged on a middle
portion
thereof to separate two intakes 412 apart, such that a bottom end of the
abutting plate
41 connects with a top end of the low-flow controlling valve 40 and a top
surface
thereof is biased against the through bore 23 stably.
The water flower generator 50, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12-14, includes
a top pillar 50a, three coupling portions 50b extending from the top pillar
50a, and
three bottom pillars 50c extending from the coupling portions 50b so that the
water
flower generator 50 is received in the lower first chamber 335a of the
distributing set
30, and the top pillar 50a is engaged and welded with the first face 318 of
the middle
disc 32,.the bottom pillars 50c are inserted in the first outlets 336 of the
lower cover
33.
The top pillar 50a of the water flower generator 50 includes an inflow
tunnel 51 formed therein and having an entrance 511 arranged on a top end of
the
inflow tunnel 51, and the bottom pillar 50c includes an outflow tunnel 52
formed
therein and having a vent 521 fixed on a bottom end of the outflow tunnel 52;
the
coupling portion 52b includes a path 53 disposed therein, two ends of the path
53
communicate with a bottom end of the inflow tunnel 51 and a top end of the
outflow
tunnel 52, and a width of the path 53 is less than those of the inflow tunnel
51 and
the outflow tunnel 52 and communicates eccentrically with the inflow tunnel 51
and
the outflow tunnel 52. Substantially, the path 53 extends along a tangent of
the
inflow tunnel 51 and the outflow tunnel 52 in the N direction, and the inflow
tunnel
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51 includes three arcuate margins 512 mounted on a bottom end thereof and
connecting with one sides of the paths 53 at tangent points pl-p3 of the paths
53,
such that as spiral water flow passes through the first orifice 321 of the
distributing
set 30 and the water flower generator 50 toward the inflow tunnel 51, the
spiral
water flower enters to the paths 53 so as to strengthen water flow. Also, the
paths 53
extend at tangent points of the outflow tunnel 52 so that the waters in the
paths 53
generate a spiral water flow after flowing into the top end of the outflow
tunnel 52.
The outflow tunnel 52 includes a cone-shaped member 522 extending
downward from a top side thereof so that water in the outflow tunnel 52 is
further
guided to one side of the cone-shaped member 522 to generate a spiral water
flow
stably.
The outflow tunnel 52 further includes a spiral impeller 524 disposed
thereon relative to the path 53 to form a spiral water flow, and one side of
the
outflow tunnel 52 under the spiral impeller 524 is enlarged so that the spiral
water
flow sprays from the outflow tunnel 52 to generate an increased water flower
to
enhance spraying area. For example, circular water-flower areas spraying from
the
three vents 521 overlap with each other to obtain a common spraying area,
wherein a
spraying area keeping away 4ft from the vent 521 generates a 65cm of area more
than a 31cm of area of the shower head.
The path 53 extends along a tangent of the inflow tunnel 51 in N
direction to enter spiral water flow to the path 53, and a rotating direction
of the
tangent is identical to a spiral direction of the spiral water flow in the
inflow tunnel
51 without being limited in a specific direction.
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The rotary positioning means 60, as shown in Fig. 7, includes a levering
pin 61 disposed in the slot 123 of the holder 10, a compression spring 62, and
the
first, the second, and the third fixing apertures 315a, 315b, 315c of the
upper disc 31,
wherein the compression spring 62 is received in a space 611 of the levering
pin 61
so as to push the levering pin 61 downward to retain in one of the first, the
second,
and the third fixing apertures 315a, 315b, 315c. For example, as the
distributing set
30 is operated to rotate relative to the holder 10, the levering pin 61
engages with the
first fixing aperture 315a, and the distributing set 30 is located at the
first rotating
position, the plug 20a is in relation to the first inlet 314; and when the
levering pin
61 engages with the second fixing aperture 315b, the distributing set 30 is
located at
the second rotating position, and the plug 20a is in relation to the second
inlet 314b;
when the levering pin 61 engages with the third fixing aperture 315c, the
distributing
set 30 is located at the third rotating position, and the plug 20b is in
relation to the
third inlet 314c.
The rotating vane 70a, as illustrated in Figs. 15, 16, is installed to the
lower second chamber 335b of the distributing set 30 and impacted by water in
the
lower second chamber 335b to rotate automatically in an annular space of the
lower
second chamber 335b so that the second outlets 337 of the lower cover 33 are
stopped by the rotating vane 70a to generate an intermittent water flow,
obtaining
massaged water flower. Because the vane is well known, further remarks are
omitted.
The spraying member 70b, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, is installed in the
lower third chamber 335c of the distributing set 30, and, includes a plurality
of
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nozzles 71 to be inserted in the third outlets 338 so that water in the lower
third
chamber 335c are sprayed to form water flower after flowing through the
nozzles 71
of the spraying member 70b.
The fixing member 80a, as illustrated in Fig. 18, includes a plurality of
longitudinal cutouts 81 and a longitudinal indentation 82, the cutout 81 is
used to
expand a lower end of the fixing member 80a flexibly to install related
components
easily.
The fixing member 80a includes an annular dent 83 mounted around a
lower end thereof so that when the upper disc 31 is fitted to the fixing
member 80a,
the lock protrusion 317 is retained to the longitudinal indentation 82, such
that the
upper disc 31 is limited to rotate with the distributing set 30, and the
retaining edge
329a of the middle disc 32 is retained to the dent 83 to connect with the
fixing
member 80a securely.
The fixing member 80a further includes a defining lip 84 fixed around a
top end thereof and having a cut. 841 on the defining lip 84. When the holder
10 is
fitted to the fixing member 80a, the limiting tab 112 is engaged by the
defining lip
84 of the fixing member 80a so that the holder 10 rotates relative to the
fixing
member 80a and the distributing set 30 by using the defining lip 84 and the
limiting
tab 112. It is to be noted that as assembling the holder 10, the engaging
projection
113 is aligned to the cut 841 of the fixing member 80a so that the holder 10
and the
fixing member 80a are limited to rotate in a specific range by the cut 841,
wherein
the specific rotating range is between the first, the second, and the third
fixing
apertures 315a, 315b, 315c of the upper disc 31, hence the levering pin 61
allows to
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move and position between the first, the second, and the third fixing
apertures 315a,
315b, 315c.
The retaining member 80b, as shown in Figs. 2-4, is fitted to a peripheral
side of the fixing member 80a to assemble the fixing member 80a and the
distributing set 30 securely.
The connecting knob 90a, as illustrated in Figs. 2-4, includes an entering
end 91 to be connected with a water feeding pipe, a spherical exiting end 92,
and an
internal passageway 93 communicating with the entering and the exiting ends
91, 92,
and the exiting end 92 couples with the inflow end 101 of the holder 10. In
the
internal passageway 93 of the connecting knob 90a is installed a standard flow
controlling valve to control the water flow at 2.5GPMImin. Because the
standard
flow controlling valve is well known, further remark is omitted.
The housing 90b, as shown in Figs. 1-4, is fitted to the inflow end 101 of
the holder 10 to cover the holder 10 and the distributing set 30.
With reference to Figs. 1-4, in operation of the multi-function shower
head, the levering extension 339 of the lower cover 33 is rotated to control
the
rotation of the distributing set 30 and the holder 10 relative to each other,
and the
levering pin 61 of the holder 10 is inserted to one of the first, the second,
and the
third fixing apertures 315a, 31 Sb, 31 5c. As shown in Fig. 7, one of the
plugs 20a,
20b is in communication with one of the first, the second, and the third
inlets 314a,
314b, 314c to flow water to correspond the chamber and the outlet so as to
generate
water flower in correspondingly watering mode to satisfy different demands.
The multi-function shower head has the following advantages:
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In operation, when the distributing set 30 is rotated to a high-flow
watering mode (e.g., the first rotating position) as shown in Fig. 19, the
levering pin
61 is inserted to the first fixing aperture 315a so that the plug 20a
communicates
with the first inlet 314a, such that after the original water flow passes
through the
low-flow controlling valve 40 of the first inlet 314a, it becomes a low water
flow,
and then the water further flows through the inclined plane 323, the first
face 318,
and the conical column 318b to generate spiral water flow to flow into the
water
flower generator 50. Thereafter, the water flow passes through the path 53
from the
inflow tunnel 51 to result in a centrifugal force, and then passes through the
cone-shaped member 522 of the outflow tunnel 52, the spiral impeller 524, and
an
increased flowing path to spray water from the vents 521, obtaining low-flow
and
strong water flower. Thereby, a water saving and strong flowing purpose of the
shower head is achieved.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance
with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that
further
embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
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