Shower apparatus

Abstract

 Shower apparatus including a selector plate having at least one aperture, and a platform element having at least one aperture, wherein the selector plate is non-rotatable and the platform element is sealably rotatable with respect to the selector plate and selectably in fluid communication therewith.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to shower apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Shower apparatus are well known devices which direct the flow of water from a water supply to a bather, such that the manner, rate, intensity and direction of flow are controllable by the bather. For example, shower apparatus is known which causes a pulsating flow of water; another causes the water flow to be aerated. Shower apparatus is known which is capable of providing a variety of flows which the user can choose. The apparatus may be rigidly mounted or hand-held.

[0003] In general, prior art mechanisms used to provide a variety of flows have a plurality of moving parts which are prone to several problems. A plurality of moving parts inherently increases manufacturing costs and decreases reliability. In addition, experience has shown that with time, foreign substances tend to increase the friction between the moving parts, thus making it more difficult to change the selection of water flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide improved shower apparatus with a flow selection mechanism which is reliable and not prone to increasing friction problems.

[0005] There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention shower apparatus including a selector plate having at least one aperture, and a platform element having at least one aperture, wherein the selector plate is non-rotatable and the platform element is sealably rotatable with respect to the selector plate and selectably in fluid communication therewith.

[0006] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one packing preform is intermediate the selector plate and the platform element, wherein a pressure of water on the selector plate substantially seals the selector plate with respect to the platform element.

[0007] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a slotted ring downstream of the platform element and in fluid communication therewith, wherein a flow of water through the slotted ring is substantially in the form of a spray.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a turbine downstream of the platform element and in fluid communication therewith, the turbine having at least one exit aperture, wherein a flow of water through the shower apparatus causes rotation of the turbine and exits the at least one exit aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified sectional illustration of a shower apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded sectional illustration of the shower apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3A and 3B are respective top and sectional views of a selector plate used in the shower apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C are respective top, first and second side sectional views of a platform element used in the shower apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the shower apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a simplified sectional illustration of the shower apparatus of Fig. 1 oriented to provide a pulsating flow of water; and

Fig. 7 is a simplified sectional illustration of the shower apparatus of Fig. 1 oriented to provide a spray flow of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Reference is now made to Figs. 1 and 2 which illustrate a shower apparatus 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Shower apparatus 10 may be hand-held or may be provided with a fitting for mounting in a shower stall.

[0011] Shower apparatus 10 includes a shower housing 12 with a water inlet 14 which directs the flow of water from a water supply (not shown) towards a stemmed element 30. Stemmed element 30 is rigidly mounted to shower housing 12, preferably by threaded engagement, and is substantially sealed against shower housing 12 preferably by means of a packing preform 15.

[0012] Mounted centrally inside stemmed element 30 is a flow regulator 20. Water is constricted to flow through an aperture 13 of packing preform 15 to an aperture 26 of stemmed element 30, and on to an aperture 24 of flow regulator 20, as seen in Fig. 1. Flow regulator 20 helps provide a smooth flow of water through stemmed element 30.

[0013] Stemmed element 30 is provided with a central protrusion 32 and a hole 34 offset from protrusion 32.

[0014] Downstream of stemmed element 30 is situated a selector plate 40, which is also shown in detail in Figs. 3A and 3B. Selector plate 40 has a central mounting hole 42 and a protrusion 44. Protrusion 32 of stemmed element 30 loosely fits with hole 42 of selector plate 40. Protrusion 44 of selector plate 40 mates loosely with hole 34 of stemmed element 30.

[0015] Because protrusion 44 of selector plate 40 mates with hole 34 of stemmed element 30, selector plate 40 can not rotate with respect to element 30. Thus, shower housing 12, stemmed element 30 and selector plate 40 form a non-rotating assembly.

[0016] Downstream of selector plate 40 is located a platform element 50 which has a central mounting hole 52 which fits loosely with protrusion 32 of stemmed element 30. Platform element 50 may thus be rotated with respect to stemmed element 30 about protrusion 32. Platform 50 is also shown in detail in Figs. 4A - 4C.

[0017] Platform 50 includes a central protrusion 59 which mates with a hole 92 in a face plate 90. Face plate 90 is rotatably sealed against platform element 50 by means of a packing preform 121, as seen in Fig. 1. Face plate 90 is pressed against packing preform 121 by means of a decorative housing 100. Decorative housing 100 is fixedly attached to a collar element 120, preferably by means of threaded engagement therewith.

[0018] Collar element 120 is rotatably sealed against stemmed element 30 by means of a packing preform 122. A packing preform 60 fixedly seals platform element 50 against both collar element 120 and decorative housing 100. Packing preforms 66 and 68 seal selector plate 40 against platform element 50, as is described further hereinbelow.

[0019] A slotted ring 110, preferably made of rubber, is fitted between face plate 90 and decorative housing 100, as seen in Fig. 1. Ring 110 has slots 112 for passage of water therethrough, as is also seen in Fig. 5.

[0020] Face plate 90, decorative housing 100, ring 110, collar element 120, platform element 50 and packing preforms 60, 66 and 68 are thus fixed with respect to each other. Together they form an assembly which may be rotated with respect to the assembly of shower housing 12, stemmed element 30 and selector plate 40. Packing preform 122 remains stationary and provides rotatable sealing between stemmed element 30 and collar element 120, as described hereinabove.

[0021] As described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 1, water is constricted to flow through aperture 13 of packing preform 15 to aperture 26 of stemmed element 30, and on to aperture 24 of flow regulator 20. Selector plate 40 is oriented in Fig. 1 such that water is substantially prevented from flowing further, that is, the water flow is substantially shut off.

[0022] Reference is now further made to Figs. 3A and 3B. It is seen that selector plate 40 is provided with elongated holes 46 and 48, elongated hole 46 being located closer to axial center than elongated hole 48. Referring additionally to Figs. 4A - 4C, it is seen that platform element 50 is provided with holes 56 and 58, hole 56 being located closer to the axial center than hole 58.

[0023] It is appreciated that by suitable rotation of platform element 50, apertures 56 and/or 58 of platform element 50 are aligned or misaligned with apertures 46 and 48 of selector plate 40. It is by rotation of platform element 50, which rotates together with face plate 90, decorative housing 100, ring 110 and collar element 120, that a user chooses the type of water flow exiting shower apparatus 10.

[0024] Reference is now made to Fig. 6. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to align aperture 56 with aperture 46, while simultaneously aperture 58 is completely misaligned with aperture 48, as seen in section in Fig. 6. Packing preform 66 substantially seals platform element 50 with selector plate 40, and water flows in a path designated by arrow 69 to a spreader element 70. Water passes radially inwards through a hole 72 in spreader element 70, enters a turbine 80 and causes rotation thereof. Water revolving in turbine 80 exits shower apparatus 10 by pulses through an at least one exit hole 82 in face plate 90, thereby providing the user with a massage spray.

[0025] It is a particular feature of the present invention, that pressure of water flowing on selector plate 40 is sufficient to substantially seal selector plate 40 against platform element 50 by the action of the water pressing on selector plate 40 which presses against packing preforms 66 and 68. Typically somewhat less than 1 meter of water pressure head is sufficient to substantially seal selector plate 40 against platform element 50.

[0026] Reference is now made to Fig. 7, in which it is seen that platform element 50 may be rotated to fully align aperture 58 with aperture 48 and, simultaneously, to totally misalign aperture 56 with aperture 46. In this configuration, water flows in a path indicated by arrow 94 to slots 112 of ring 110 and exits therefrom, thereby providing the user with a spray of water.

[0027] A decorative end cap 130 may be mounted on face plate 90 to enhance the appearance of the shower apparatus.

[0028] It is thus seen that a variety of types of water flow can be obtained by the apparatus described above. For example, by suitable arrangement of platform element 50 and selector plate 40, one can obtain a light and/or strong pulsating massage flow, as described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 6. Further rotation of platform element 50 with respect to selector plate 40 can provide a mixed pulsation and spray flow. Further rotation of platform element 50 with respect to selector plate 40 can provide pure spray flow, as described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 7. Still further rotation of platform 50 with respect to selector plate 40 can cause complete shut off of water flow, in which no apertures are aligned with each other, as described hereinabove with reference to Fig. 1.

[0029] It is appreciated that other types of water flow, such as an aerated flow, can be obtained with suitable hardware, as is known in the art.

[0030] It is further appreciated that since selector plate 40 does not move, the selection of type of water flow only requires rotation of platform element 50, thus ensuring smooth operation at all times.

[0031] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow:

Claims

1. Shower apparatus comprising:
   a selector plate having at least one aperture; and
   a platform element having at least one aperture;
   wherein said selector plate is non-rotatable and said platform element is sealably rotatable with respect to said selector plate and selectably in fluid communication therewith.

2. Shower apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising at least one packing preform intermediate said selector plate and said platform element, wherein a pressure of water on said selector plate substantially seals said selector plate with said platform element.

3. Shower apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a slotted ring downstream of said platform element and in fluid communication therewith, wherein a flow of water through said slotted ring is substantially in the form of a spray.

4. Shower apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a turbine downstream of said platform element and in fluid communication therewith, said turbine having at least one exit aperture, wherein a flow of water through said shower apparatus causes rotation of said turbine and exits said at least one exit aperture.

5. Shower apparatus comprising:
   a shower housing having an aperture for inlet of water and at least one aperture for outlet of water;
   a stemmed element rigidly mounted inside said shower housing, having an inlet aperture in fluid communication with said inlet aperture of said shower housing and an outlet aperture downstream of said stemmed element inlet aperture;
   a platform element having at least one inlet aperture downstream of said stemmed element outlet aperture, and at least one outlet aperture downstream of said platform element inlet aperture and upstream of said shower housing outlet aperture and in fluid communication therewith; and
   a selector plate intermediate said stemmed element and said platform element, said selector plate having at least one aperture and being in fluid communication with said stemmed element;
   wherein said selector plate is non-rotatable with respect to said stemmed element and said platform element is rotatable with respect to said selector plate and selectably in fluid communication therewith.

6. Shower apparatus according to claim 5 and comprising at least one packing preform intermediate said selector plate and said platform element, wherein a pressure of water on said selector plate substantially seals said selector plate against said platform element.

7. Shower apparatus according to claim 5 and further comprising a slotted ring downstream of said platform element and in fluid communication therewith, wherein a flow of water through said slotted ring is substantially in the form of a spray.

8. Shower apparatus according to claim 5 and further comprising a turbine downstream of said platform element and in fluid communication therewith, said turbine having at least one exit aperture, wherein a flow of water through said shower apparatus causes rotation of said turbine and exits said at least one exit aperture.

Drawing