Shower head

Abstract

 A shower head (1) comprises a casing and a suction pipe (12) for the suction of air in the distribution chamber (2). The shower head allows to evacuate residual water from the distribution chamber after use of the shower.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower head suitable for evacuating the residual water from the distribution chamber after using the shower.

[0002] Recently, a number of shower heads of considerable size and with clean lines have become considerably popular. Such shower heads are made from circular, square or rectangular plates coupled so as to form a distribution chamber, supplied with water; the lower plate is provided with openings, for example defined by flexible nozzles, for dispensing the jets.

[0003] Given the size of such shower heads, after use a considerable amount of water remains in the distribution chamber in an unstable condition which does not come out of the openings.

[0004] Due to misalignment in assembling the shower head, which is often not perfectly horizontal, or as a result of vibrations transmitted to the shower head from the pipes in the household distribution system, the residual water tends to drip out for a long time before completely emptying.

[0005] In the quiet of the night such dripping is often heard by the user, disturbing him/her, who associates it with malfunctioning of the shower, for example a leak.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to make a shower head suitable for overcoming the drawbacks mentioned and specifically suitable for evacuating the residual water from the distribution chamber after using the shower.

[0007] Such purpose is achieved by a shower head made according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe further embodiments.

[0008] The features and advantages of the shower head according to the present invention will be clear from the description below, made as a non-limiting example, according to the attached figures, wherein:

• figure 1 shows a cross-section view of a shower head according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
• figures 2a and 2b show two perspective views of some shower head components; and
• figures 3a to 5b show embodiments of a vortex-making element of the shower head according to the present invention.

[0009] According to the attached figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a shower head.

[0010] The shower head 1 comprises a casing inside which a distribution chamber 2 is defined.

[0011] The casing comprises a lower wall 4 provided with through openings 6 for dispensing jets of water. For example, the shower head 1 comprises a plurality of flexible nozzles 10, which cross the lower wall and define the dispenser openings 6.

[0012] The casing further comprises an upper wall 8 connectable to the water supply system for the entry of the water. The distribution chamber 2 is defined between the coupled lower wall and upper wall.

[0013] For example, the lower wall 4 and the upper wall 8 are flat and parallel plates.

[0014] The shower head 1 further comprises suction means for the entry of air into the distribution chamber. Said suction means comprise a suction pipe 12, which preferably extends in an axial direction X perpendicular to the lower plate.

[0015] The suction pipe 12 crosses the upper wall 8 of the casing and at a first extremity is connected to the outside environment through a suction opening 14 protruding above the upper wall 8.

[0016] In addition, the suction pipe 12 crosses the distribution chamber 2 and comes out on the outside at a second extremity, through the lower wall 4.

[0017] The suction pipe 12 has an internal section 16 which crosses the distribution chamber 2 in the direction of the height of the latter (axial direction X), and an external section 18, continuation of the internal section, protruding above the upper wall 8 of the casing.

[0018] Preferably, the ratio between the length of the external section 18 and the length of the internal section 16 is between 1 and 5, preferably 2 to 4, preferably equal to 3,5.

[0019] Preferably, the suction pipe 12, at the second extremity, comprises an attachment head 20 abutting on the outer surface of the lower plate 4. For example, the head 20 is threaded on the outside, for connection with the lower plate.

[0020] Preferably, in addition, the attachment head 20 comprises an annular seat 22 to house a sealing 0-ring, compressed against the outer surface of the lower plate 4.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the shower head 1 comprises a tubular attachment flange 24 having a supply opening 26 for the entry of the water. The suction pipe 12 is inside the attachment flange 24, for example concentric to the flange in relation to the axial direction X.

[0022] Preferably, the flange 24 comprises an axial body 27 having an axial extension, protruding from the upper plate, and a crown 28, projecting radially from the axial body 27; the outer upper surface of the crown 28 abuts with the inner surface of the upper plate 8.

[0023] The flange 24 has internally, in an axial direction and in the transit direction of the water, a cylindrical surface 30 and a flaring 32 which widens towards the distribution chamber 2.

[0024] Preferably, furthermore, the shower head 1 comprises an attachment ring nut 34, internally threaded, for screwing to the flange 24, and in particular to the axial body 27 of the same, above the upper wall 8, so as to block it to the upper wall.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the shower head 1 comprises deviator means at the suction opening 14 of the suction pipe 12, suitable for deviating the incoming water so as to pass externally to the suction pipe 12.

[0026] . The deviator means comprise a vortex-making element 40 suitable for making the water passing externally to the suction pipe 12 rotate in a vortex.

[0027] Preferably, the vortex-making element 40 is supported by the free extremity of the attachment flange 24 so as to be positioned above the suction opening 14 of the suction pipe 12.

[0028] Preferably, the deviator means, for example the vortex-making element 40, comprise an inner chamber 42 closed at the top, positioned above the suction opening 14 to protect it from the entry of water and preferably an external annular chamber 44, around the inner chamber 42, equipped with passages for the vortical transit of the water. For example the passages are defined by a plurality of inclined blades 46, positioned in the outer annular chamber 44 to produce a vortical movement of the transiting water.

[0029] Further embodiments of the vortex-making element 40 envisage holes 50 with a helical pattern (figures 4a, 4b).

[0030] Advantageously, the vortex-making element gives the incoming water a vortical movement which facilitates and increases the suction of air through the suction pipe 12.

[0031] During normal functioning of the shower head, the incoming water reaches the supply opening 26 of the flange 24 and crosses the vortex-making element 40 acquiring a vortical movement. The water passes inside the flange 24, externally to the suction pipe 12, thanks to the cover formed by the inner chamber 42 closed at the top.

[0032] The passage of the water outside the suction pipe 12, so as to lap the latter, generates a suction of air through the suction pipe itself; the air passes inside the pipe from the opening on the external surface of the lower wall 4, crosses the suction opening and, together with the water itself, is brought into the distribution chamber.

[0033] When the water is turned off, the water remaining in the distribution chamber evacuates quickly through the dispenser openings 6, since the suction of air through the suction pipe allows the remaining water to drain out.

[0034] Some laboratory tests have shown how in one or two minutes all the water contained in the distribution chamber is drained off.

[0035] Innovatively, the shower head according to the present invention makes it possible to rapidly evacuate the remaining water from the distribution chamber after use, preventing annoying and persistent dripping.

[0036] Advantageously, in addition, the shower head makes it possible to combine air with the incoming water to obtain aerated jets during normal functioning.

[0037] It is clear that a person skilled in the art may make changes to the shower head described above so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Shower head (1) comprising a casing comprising:

- a lower wall (4) provided with a plurality of dispenser openings (6) towards the outside for dispensing jets of water;

- an upper wall (8), coupled to the lower wall for defining an internal distribution chamber (2), connectable to a water inlet pipe;

- suction means for the entry of air into the distribution chamber, wherein the suction means comprise a suction pipe (12) which crosses the upper wall of the casing and at a first extremity is connected with the outside environment through a suction opening (14) protruding above the upper wall (8) of the casing;

- deviator means at the suction opening (14) of the suction pipe (12), suitable for deviating the incoming water so as to pass externally to the suction pipe;

said shower head being characterized in that the deviator means comprise an inner chamber (42) closed at the top, positioned above the suction opening to protect it from entry of water.

2. Shower head according to claim 1, wherein the suction pipe crosses the distribution chamber and comes out to the outside, at the second extremity, through the lower wall.

3. Shower head according to claim 2, wherein the suction pipe, at the second extremity, comprises an attachment head (20) abutting on the outer surface of the lower plate, for example threaded, for connection to the lower plate.

4. Shower head according to claim 3, wherein the attachment head comprises an annular seat (22) for the lodging of a sealing 0-ring, in compression on the outer surface of the lower plate.

5. Shower head according to any of the previous claims, wherein the suction pipe has an internal section (16) which traverses the distribution chamber in the direction of the height of the latter, and an outer section (18), continuation of the inner section, protruding above the upper plate of the casing, in which the ratio of the length of the outer section and the length of the inner section is between 1 and 5; preferably between 2 and 4; preferably equal to 3,5.

6. Shower head according to any of the previous claims, comprising an attachment flange (24) having a supply opening (26) for the entry of the water, wherein the suction pipe is inside the attachment flange, for example concentric.

7. Shower head according to any of the previous claims, wherein said deviator means comprise a vortex-making element (40) suitable for making the water passing externally to the suction pipe rotate in a vortex.

8. Shower head according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the vortex-making element is supported by the attachment flange so as to be positioned above the suction opening of the suction pipe.

9. Shower head according to claim 7 or 8 or 9, wherein the vortex-making element comprises said inner chamber (42) and an external annular chamber (44), around the inner chamber, provided with passages for the vortical transit of water.

10. Shower head according to claim 9, wherein the vortex-making element further comprises:

b) a plurality of inclined blades (46), positioned in the outer annular chamber to produce a vortical movement of the passing water.

11. Shower head according to any of the previous claims, comprising a plurality of soft nozzles (10) defining the dispenser openings of the jets.

12. Shower head according to any of the previous claims, wherein the lower wall and the upper wall are flat and parallel plates.

Drawing