Title of Invention	A SHOWER HEAD
Abstract	The invention relates to a shower head (11) comprising a housing (12) a jet disc (29) with a front face (27) having a plurality of apertures (30) from which jets exits; a water inlet (33) in the housing (12); an aerator means for aerating water flowing through the shower head (11); and means (60) for forming several water jets within the housing. Comprising guide means for radically diverting aerated water jets within a flat distribution chamber (36, 55) for distribution therein and for guiding the water jets to the apertures (30) of the entire spray disc (29).

Title of Invention

A SHOWER HEAD

Abstract

The invention relates to a shower head (11) comprising a housing (12) a jet disc (29) with a front face (27) having a plurality of apertures (30) from which jets exits; a water inlet (33) in the housing (12); an aerator means for aerating water flowing through the shower head (11); and means (60) for forming several water jets within the housing. Comprising guide means for radically diverting aerated water jets within a flat distribution chamber (36, 55) for distribution therein and for guiding the water jets to the apertures (30) of the entire spray disc (29).

Full Text	The invention relates to a shower head having a housing and a surface where jets exit the housing. The surface has numerous exit apertures. Various forms of shower heads of that type have long been known and inherently have numerous modes of operation. The problem addressed by the invention is creating a shower head of the aforementioned type having modes of operation that are unknown under the state of the art and, in particular, have beneficial uses. That problem is solved by a shower head having the features of the invention. Beneficial embodiments of the invention are covered by the description discussed in detail below. The shower head contains a housing whose end is closed off by a disk from which jets exit. This disk contains numerous apertures from which jets exit that may be specially configured by means of certain arrangements. In particular, the shower head contains a large, flat housing. The air intake may, for example, be configured such that it introduces air into the housing through the disk from which jets exit, for example, directly at the center of the, preferably planar, disk from which jets exit. In order to arrive at a particularly judicious distribution of the located water within the housing, and thus a particularly judicious distribution of the aerated jets outside the housing, according to the invention, under an elaboration thereon, the shower head may contain means for forming several, discrete jets inside the housing. These discrete water jets will thus be formed within the housing, rather than after......................................................................................... they exit the housing, which will allow undertaking certain procedures related to the water jets while they are still within the housing. In elaborating on the invention, the aerator may be configured such that it aerates water upstream from the means for forming jets, in which case, the means for forming jets will serve to form, from an aerated jet, discrete, aerated jets that may then be distributed within the shower head's housing, for example, over a surface having a diameter that is larger, for example, roughly ten to twenty times larger, than that of the water inlet. However, the means for forming jets and/or the aerator may also be, and it is preferred by the invention that it/they be, configured such that discrete jets that have previously been formed will be jointly and/or severally aerated, which will allow avoiding need for having to allow for their later aeration when forming the water jets. In further elaborating on the invention, the shower head may have guides in order to guide the aerated water jets to the exit apertures over the full extent of the jet disk, preferably in a uniform manner, or in a nonuniform manner, if desired. The guides may be arranged at various locations on, or within, the shower head, for example, in the distribution chamber, which is configured immediately upstream from the jet disk. However, the guides may also be arranged where the formed jets are aerated, or where the aerated jets are formed. For example, in elaborating thereon, the guides and/or the aerator may be configured such that they generate turbulence in the aerated jets, which, if it occurs, will, among other things, represent suitable means for extending jets' dwell times within the shower head's housing in order to therewith obtain longer and/or closer contact with the devices present in the shower head's housing. In elaborating on the invention, the aerator may be configured such that it generates an air stream that is incident on the water stream at a right angle thereto, where, as has been mentioned, the former may be incident on discrete water jets that have previously been formed. However, the aerator may also be, and the invention covers the case where the aerator is, configured such that it generates discrete air jets or air streams, each of which will then be separately incident on the water stream. In particular, it may be provided that every air jet is coordinated to a water jet on which it is incident. A full, or merely partial, segregation of air streams and water streams may be conducted within the housing, which will allow aerating the discrete water jets to differing degrees, or aerating them at a different location. In order to generate the discrete water jets, the means for forming jets may, for example, have a perforated disk that is arranged at a right angle to the water stream. Every perforation will then generate a water jet. As has been mentioned, these water jets may be either totally, or merely partially, isolated from one another in order that various, discrete, narrow streams will form within a shared, common volume of water. The aerator may have a central collar, or hub, through whose interior ambient air enters the interior of the housing. The base of the hub may, for example, have a smooth surface that, together with an associated mating surface, forms a flat, annular chamber that directs the air stream at the water. However, the base of the hub may be, and the invention covers the case where the base of the hub is, also configured such that it has radial air guides, for example, grooves, that lead to a segregation of the air stream. The ends of the radial air guides, for example, the grooves or channels, are aligned on the apertures in the perforated disk. That alignment may, for example, be such that the centerlines of the grooves are aligned on the centers of the apertures. However, it will also be feasible to provide a tangential alignment such that the centerlines of the grooves range from off-center with respect to, to tangential to. the apertures in the perforated disk. The air guides may be precisely radial or slightly inclined. The hub, on whose inner end air flows essentially radially along a plane orthogonal to its longitudinal axis, may also contain guides for the aerated jets on its lateral surface, which is cylindrical. These guides might be the grooves that are aligned on the apertures in the perforated disk. These guides serve to keep the aerated jets discrete within the shower head's housing, that is, to delay, or hinder, their recombination. The grooves may primarily follow the axial direction, but may also be slightly inclined, for example, resemble an extra-coarse thread. A deflection by a corresponding, conical surface formed on the lateral surface of the hub may take place at the base of the hub, that is, at that location where the water stream is to be diverted radially outward, and into the interior of the shower head's housing. That deflection may also take place gradually by, for example, providing that the hub's lateral surface blends into a curved surface terminating ir. a radial plane. That curved surface, gradual transition, or deflection may also be present, or take place, regardless of whether axial water guides are present. The deflectors may, if the application in mind demands, also have discrete channels that, if present, may be either straight and orthogonal to the hut's longitudinal axis, straight and inclined, or curved. Guides that may be aligned on the deflectors' deflection axes may be arranged within the shower head's housing, that is, upstream from the jet disk, which is intended to yield an even distribution of the aerated water jets over the entire surface of the jet disk. The guides may be situated on, for example, the housing's inner wall or on an insert that is present within the housing. In elaborating thereon, the shower head may, in addition to a housing, a surface from which jets exit that has exit apertures, and a segregation into at least two zones, have a selector. That selector is capable of switching the water intake between a first zone and a second zone. A water inlet that channels water into the shower head is also provided. An air intake is provided for the purpose of aerating water jets exiting the shower head. The air intake aerates water that enters the shower head, and does so at a location between the water inlet and the surface from which jets exit. The air intake is activatable and deactivatable, i.e., may be switched between its activated state and deactivated state. According to the invention, the selector and the air intake are intercoupled such that the air intake will be switched from the activated state to the deactivated state, or from the deactivated state to the activated state, when the selector is actuated. The air intake will thus change its activation state whenever it is switched from the first zone to the second zone. In other words, according to the invention, a dual function applies whenever the selector is actuated, which also makes it clear that the selector might operate the other way around, i.e., switch from one zone to the other whenever operation of the air intake is activated or deactivated. That approach yields a beneficial dual function. Actuating a single control triggers two operations. In particular, operation of the air intake may be activated or deactivated by choosing to combine the zones or making its operation contingent upon combining them. In elaborating on the invention, the first zone might be configured in the form of a section of the surface from which jets exit, where the former might, for example. Be a central section thereof. In this conjunction, the second zone might be the entire surface from which jets exit. For example, operation of the air intake might be activated whenever the selector is set to the second zone or to the entire surface from which jets exit, which has the advantage that the introduction of air, or the aeration of the water jets, will allow creating streams of water exiting the shower head that appear voluminous, which, in view of the greater number of exit apertures, will be of benefit if a large area is involved. The selector is beneficially manually actuatable. Either a knob, a slide, or similar may be depressed in order to actuate it. It will be beneficial if an entire and, in particular, large housing component, may be moved relative to another housing component or the remainder of the housing. Both zones, or all zones, may be connected to the water inlet via a distribution chamber that supplies them with water. The distribution chamber may beneficially cover the full areas of all zones or the full area of the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit, which will guarantee a good supply of water to all zones and all exit apertures on the surface from which jets exit. The selector may be configured such that it is arranged, and acts, in the distribution chamber. When set to the first zone, it might restrict the coverage of the distribution chamber to that area corresponding to the first zone. When set to another zone, or the second zone, the restriction of the coverage of the distribution chamber might be adjusted to suit the area of the other zone involved. When set to provide coverage of the entire surface from which jets exit, the restriction of the distribution chambers coverage might be eliminated in order that it will cover the full extent of the surface from which jets exit. The selector may have a cap that may particularly preferentially be configured such that it will be capable of restricting the coverage of the distribution chamber. Restricting the coverage of the distribution chamber may be readily accomplished by providing that the cap may abut against the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit. That system is preferably sealed. Restriction of the distribution chamber's coverage is preferably accomplished by employing a wall as cap. The area on that wall to be involved should preferably form that part of the distribution chamber that corresponds to the selected area on the surface from which jets exit. In order to improve the sealing of the system, a formed seal may be provided. For example, a lip seal will be suitable for that purpose. It may abut against a seat that faces upstream and merges into the restricted distribution chamber, in which case, rising water pressure will contribute to its sealing action. One opportunity for fabricating a surface from which jets exit is choosing an elastic material, for example, an elastomer, which might be a rubbery elastomer, for that purpose. A wall or a cap might be emplaceable on the upstream side of such a jet disk in order to effect a sealing action. An aforementioned, protruding seal may beneficially be formed onto the upstream side of the jet disk, which will obviate need for employing a separate seal. Water is beneficially inducted into the shower head centrally, in any event, in a vicinity that is situated a short distance upstream from the distribution chamber, which will allow achieving the most uniform distribution over the surface from which jets exit. A central aerator that inducts air into the shower head, or directs air onto the surface from which jets exit, will also be beneficial. Induction of water may beneficially be from the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit, or the top of the shower head. An aerator may transit a central aperture in the surface from which jets exit, i.e., protrude into the shower head's housing from that side thereof from which water exits. A channel for inducting air that may both transit the surface from which jets exit and even be joined thereto, or attached in the vicinity thereof, may be provided. The selector may also be connected to the water inlet, or attached thereto. In the case of one embodiment of the invention, the surface from which jets exit may be moved relative to the water inlet in order to switch and activate the shower head, in which case, a shutter on the water inlet may then be employed to shut or open the channel for inducting air and, for example, a wall on the selector, would simultaneously restrict the distribution chamber's coverage. Although, as has been mentioned, air may be inducted through that side of the shower head from which water exits, i.e., through the surface from which jets exit, it will be beneficial if air exits the aeration channel in a direction orthogonal to the water intake or water inlet. Air is inducted under exploitation of the Venturi effect, and a turbulent mixing of air in the water will occur. Air may also be distributed throughout the inducted water using that approach. In the case of one embodiment of the invention, the water intake may have numerous apertures that may be annularly distributed about a centerline, where the apertures may beneficially be elongated slots in order to, among other things, accelerate the discrete water jets. Air from the air intake may enter immediately upstream of the apertures due to, for example, the aforementioned Venturi effect, which will allow attaining a thorough mixing of air and water. Turbulence-generating devices situated upstream, referenced to the direction of water flow, from the location where air enters may also be provided. The mixture of water and entrained air will strike those turbulence-generating devices, which, for example, might be in the form of multistage cascades, and will become even more turbulent and admixed. Such turbulence-generating devices are beneficially distributed about a centerline of the shower head's housing, or about a channel for inducting air. For example, they might be formed on the outer walls of the channel, which will be particularly indicated if the channel for inducting air is tubular, in which case, it might be attached to the exit end of the shower head. In addition to their turbulence-generation function, the turbulence-generating devices may be configured for providing that inducted water will be distributed over the full extent of the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit enclosed within the distribution chamber, or deflecting and distributing inducted water. It //ill be beneficial if an approximately uniform distribution of the inducted water entering the distribution chamber occurs. The shower head proposed by the invention may, in particular, also find application as a side-mounting shower head. Due to the admixing with air, the water jets acquire a longer range, which, in the case of a vertically oriented surface from which jets exit, also has the benefit that the water jets will strike a standing body situated at a certain distance from the shower head over an extended area and at the desired height. Since air induction occurs through the surface from which jets exit from that side thereof from which water exits, configuring, arranging, and installing a side-mounting shower head from a coming generation of shower heads will be neither complicated nor more difficult than in the case of known side- mounting shower heads that lack air admixing. Those and other features of the invention will be evident from the claims, this description, and the figures, where the respective individual features involved may represent themselves alone or several such in the form of subcombinations thereof implemented in an embodiment of the invention and in other areas, and beneficial and inherently patentable versions, for which patent protection is herewith claimed. Brief Descriptions of the Accompanying drawings A sample embodiment of the invention is depicted in the figures and will be described in detail below. The figures depict: Fig. 1 a sectioned view of a shower head according to the invention having a water exit confined to a first central area and lacking air introduction, and Fig. 2 the shower head shown in Fig. 1, equipped with air introduction and switching covering the entire surface from which jets exit. Fig. 3 A view, corresponding to that of Fig. 1, of another embodiment; Fig. 4 a sectioned view, corresponding to that of Fig. 3, of another embodiment; Fig. 5 a sectioned view of the jet disk of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 a sectioned view of the edge of the housing of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 7 a sectioned view of the central section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8 a top view of the perforated disk of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a side view of the aeration hub of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 7; Fig. 10 an axially sectioned view of an aeration hub that has been modified relative to that shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 a top view of the aeration hub shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 a deconvolution of the side view of the aeration hub shown in Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 13a view, corresponding to that of Fig. 11, of a modified embodiment: Fig. 14 a deconvolution of the side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 13. Detailed Description of the Sample Embodiment Figs. 1 and 2 depict a shower head 11 according to the invention. The shower head 11 consists of a housing shell 12 that rests on a base 13 or is guided onto the latter. The shower head 11 is connected to a water fitting 14 having a known ball- head configuration by means of a cap nut 15. The water fitting 14 resides on, for example, a ceiling. The housing shell 12 is essentially in the form of a tubular extension 17 that extends downward and blends into the broad extension 18. The base 13, which also broadens downward, forming an extension 24, is similarly configured. Rubber rings 20 are inserted into the upper section of the base 13. Protrusions 22 also extend outward from the latter. The rubber rings 20 provide for a sealed joint with the tubular extension 17 of the housing shell 12. The tubular extension 17 also has inclined grooves 19 that resemble a thread. The protrusions 22 engage those grooves. The housing shell 12 thus glides relative to the base 13 when rotated, as will be clearly evident from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2. Pressing, and thus gliding, of the housing shell 12 relative to the base 13 directly along the centerline in order to adjust it might also employ short grooves and protrusions, instead of such an embodiment resembling a thread. The extension 24 of the base 13 has a circumferential, annular ridge 25 extending downward from its outer rim. The latter's precise shape may be seen in Fig. 2. The annular ridge 25 merges into a narrow profile resembling a "V." In the position shown in Fig. 1, the latter provides a sealing action that will be described in greater detail below. The shower head 11 also has a front face 27 that is joined to the housing shell 12 in the vicinity of its outer edge. The front face 27 carries the jet disk 29 on its rear face when the latter is inserted. The jet disk 29 is fabricated from an elastomer in a known manner and has molded-on nozzles for forming the exit apertures 30. From Fig. 1. and particularly from Fig. 2, it may be seen that the rear face 21 of the jet disk 29 is essentially planar. The circumferential lip 32 is the sole feature formed on the rear face 31, and may abut against the annular ridge 25, as will be evident from Fig. 1. A water inlet 33 extends through the water fitting 14 and into the shower head 11. Water exits the ball-head on the water fitting 14 through apertures 34 that are distributed around a centerline, and enters the upper section of the distribution chamber 36, which is situated within the tubular extension 17. As is evident from Fifl. 1. due to the sealing abutment of the extension 24 against the mating annular ridge 24 on the rear face 31 of the jet disk 29, water can reach only those exit apertures 30 that lie within that zone. No other water flow paths exist. In particular, the outer zone, i.e., Zone B, exclusive of Zone A, is blocked. If the housing shell 12, together with its extension 18, is translated downward relative to the base 13, then the extension 24, together with its annular ridge 25, will jolt away from the rear face 31 of the jet disk 29. The distribution chamber 36 will be open all the way, and will then include the zone extending from the apertures 34 on the water inlet 33 to the full extent of the rear face of the jet disk 29. Water will then be able to exit through all exit apertures 30 on the jet disk 29. Furthermore, how, in this case, the cap 42 is slid off the upper aperture in the air channel 38 will be evident from a comparison of Fig. 2 to Fig. 1. The air intake 40 will thus be open, form the front face of the jet disk 29, or the front face 27 of the shower head 11, into the shower head, or into the distribution chamber 36. As may be seen, air exiting the upper aperture on the air channel 38 is incident on the water shooting downward through the apertures 34 and into the distribution chamber 36 at roughly a right angle thereto. Due to the Venturi effect, the entering water will entrain the air. A certain admixing of water and air will have already simultaneously commenced. That water-air mixture is incident on a turbulence-generating extension 46 that is formed on the lower section of the outer wall of the air channel 38. As may be seen from the chamfering of the turbulence-generating extension 46, water incident thereon from above will be deflected sideward, i.e., into the side-arm of the distribution chamber 36. Turbulence in, or admixing, of the water-air mixture will also occur. Further, similar extensions, or necks, might be added at this location. The turbulence-generating extension is preferably configured in the form of a multistage cascade. The envelope of the cascaded stages may match the chamfering. As may be seen from the figures, the profile of the extension 24 of the base 13 matches the profile of the extension 18 of the housing shell 12. The step in the extension 18 provides space for the extension 24 to enter the step. It also restricts the coverage of the outer, annular section of the distribution chamber 36 such that the water supply to all exit apertures 30 will be approximately equal in the position shown in Fig. 2, i.e., when water is supplied to the full extent of the jet disk 29. As will be evident from Fig. 2, in addition to a more or less discontinuous switching between the first zone A and the second zone B, as well as between aerated and nonaerated, it will, under some circumstances, also be feasible to configure at least one of the functions such that it may be continuously controlled. In particular, the aerator may be employed for that purpose. The shapes of the lower section of the cap 42 and the associated aperture in the upper section of the air channel 38 might be configured such that the motion of the housing shell 12 relative to the base 13 will yield a continuous opening of the air intake 40 via the air paths 44 over its full travel, where that opening may transpire more rapidly than will be the case when the distribution chamber 36 is opened. Fig. 3 depicts a shower head similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that it lacks a selector. An insertable plate 50 that has bores 51 corresponding to the exit apertures 30 on the jet disk 29 is arranged upstream from the jet disk 29. The insertable plate is fabricated from a harder plastic than that employed in fabricating the jet disk 29. Among other things, the former's purpose is retaining the elastomer jet disk 29 on the 1ront face 27 thereof and on the base 52 of the housing, which is intended to prevent the inclination angles of individual nozzles from changing during installation, or during operation. The insertable plate 50 has discrete ribs 53 on its upstream side that subdivide the space between the jet disk and the housing's rear wall 52. That subdivision is intended to guide and direct the individual, aerated jets within the housing. Further details, in particular, details related to the supply of air and water, shall be discussed below. Fig. 4 depicts another embodiment of a shower head that, in this case, is particularly simply configured. The shower head's housing contains a rear wall 52 and a very simple jet disk 54, between which a rather flat, disk-shaped, distribution chamber 55 is formed. Sealing thereof takes place in the vicinity of its edge, and employs a seal present in a groove 56 on its rear wall 52 that abuts against the upstream side 56 of the jet disk 54 (cf. Fig. 6). In this case, the entire jet disk 54 is fabricated from a relatively hard plastic in order that the inclinations and shapes of the apertures 57, from which jets exit, will remain constant. As may be seen from Fig. 5, which depicts a view of the housing shown in Fig. 4, drawn on an enlarged scale, the apertures 57, from which jets exit, are inclined and conical. Since the fitting connecting the housing of the shower head shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to the water line corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1, these details need no further explanation. In the case of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, water entering through the inlet will now be incident on a perforated disk 60 orthogonal to the direction of water flow (cf. the enlarged-scale depiction appearing in Fig. 7). The perforated disk 60 is circular and planar, and has a circumferential ridge 61 extending downstream. The diameter of the orifice 62 in the inlet is much smaller than that of the perforated disk 60. The circular apertures 63 arranged on the perforated disk 60 are arranged around its circumference. Water thus must first be deflected outward, away from the aperture 62, if it is to reach the apertures 63. The apertures 63 in the perforated disk 60 segregate incoming water into discrete water jets. The aeration hub 64, which is present in both the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 and the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, is arranged immediately downstream from the central section of the perforated disk 60. Fig, 7 depicts the embodiment shown in Fig.3 drawn on an enlarged scale. The upstream end of the aeration hub 64 is in the form of a planar terminal surface 65 situated a short distance on one or the other side of the perforated disk 60. Air inducted through the central aperture 40 in the aeration hub 64 is directed at the water jets, which have previously been segregated, in the form of a very narrow, flat stream. A Venturi effect that inducts the air stream at the intersections thereof arises due to the high flow rates of the water jets downstream from the apertures 63. The aerated jets then travel along the cylindrical lateral surface 66 of the aeration hub 64 to the base 67 of the hub, where the lateral surface thereof expands, forming a truncated cone having a half angle of, for example, about 45°. That conical extension 67 abuts against the insertable plate 50, on which water then flows radially outward along a plane. The angle of the deflecting surface 68 might fall within the range 10° - 80°. A gradually curved transition is also feasible. That deflecting device deflects the aerated water jets radially outward, and into the distribution chamber arranged upstream from the jet disk. Fig.8 depirtc a highly schematized top view of the perforated disk 60, which has eight apertures 63. In the case of an actual embodiment, the number of apertures 63 will be greater than that in order to generate the greatest possible number of water jets. All of the apertures 63 lie on a circle near the perimeter of the perforated disk 60. Fig.9 depicts a side view of the aeration hub 64 shown in Fig. 7. It is clearly evident that the deflecting surface 68 extends all around the perimeter thereof. In the case of the embodiment depicted there, the lateral surface 66 thereof is smooth, as is its terminal surface 65. Figs. 10-12 depict an embodiment of an aeration hub 164 that is a modification of the aeration hub 64. Several radial channels 70 that extend from the interior 40 of the hub 164 to its lateral surface are configured on its terminal surface 165. Axial channels 71 that are formed by grooves are present on its lateral surface, at the same locations as the radial channels 70. Every radial channel 70 merges into an axial channel 71. Further channels 72 that extend the other channels 70, 71, and whose depth decreases toward the bottom end of the deflecting surface 68 (cf. Fig. 10), are formed on the deflecting surface 68. This approach will provide that discrete air jets that will then be incident on the water jets formed by the apertures 63 at the locations where they are formed will originate on the terminal surface 165 of the aeration hub 164. In the top view of Fig. 11, the channels 72 in the deflecting surface 68 are still straight and radially oriented. However, Figs. 13 and 14 depict the corresponding views in the case of another aeration hub, where the channels 172 in the deflecting surface 168 are arched, or curved, which will give the aerated jets an inclination that they will retain upon exiting the aeration hub. That approach will generate turbulence in the aerated jets within the distribution chamber of the shower head's housing. In the case of the embodiment shown in Fig,. 14. which depicts a deconvolution of a side view of an aerating hub, the channels 171 are inclined with respect to its longitudinal axis and resemble an extra-coarse thread, rather than straight and parallel to its longitudinal axis, as in the case of the embodiment shown in fig. 12. which will initiate generation of vortices in the aerated jets earlier. The aeration jet 164 shown in Fig. 10 may, for example, be arranged such that the lands between the channels 70 that lie in the plane of its terminal surface 165 will contact the underside of the perforated disk 60, which will then result in totally isolated air jets being generated. However, a certain spacing might also remain in order that a preferred flow field may be generated at the locations of the channels 70. What has been said about the guides, based on the aeration hubs, may also be carried forward into the distribution chamber. For example, the apertures from which jets exit might be arranged in the form of straight extensions of projections of the channels 72, 172. However, not all channels 72/172 will need to have the same curvature or the same direction. It may be provided that aerated water jets that are to be deflected further outward, into the distribution chamber, exit the base of the aeration hub along straight paths, while those to be deflected to apertures from which jets exit that are closer in are given more turbulence. Due to the simplified representations employed, the embodiments shown in Figs. 3-14 exhibit no switching device for switching between various zones of the surface from which jets exit. They also exhibit no device for switching the aerator on and off. Nevertheless, the measures for generating and maintaining discrete, aerated jets involved are, of course, also possible, and sensible, in the case of shower heads that have such switching devices. The invention expressly proposes precisely that. WE CLAIM 1. A shower head (11) comprising: 1.1 a housing (12). 1.2 a jet disc (29) with a front face (27) having a plurality of apertures (30) from which jets exits; 1.3 a water inlet (33) in the housing (12); 1.4 an aerator means for aerating water flowing through the shower head (11); and means (60) for forming several water jets within the housing; characterized by comprising guide means for radically diverting acrated water jets within a flat distribution chamber (36, 55) for distribution therein and for guiding the water jets to the apertures (30) of the entire spray disc (29). 2. A shower head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aerator means is configured such that it aerates the water in the flow direction upstream of the jet formation means (27). 3. A shower head as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for forming jets and/or the aerator means is configured such that individual water jets are aerated joinly and/or separately. 4. A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the guide means and/or the aerator means are configured such that they generate turbulence in the aerated jets. 5. A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the aerator means is configured such that it generates individually aerated jets. 6. A shower head as claimed in claim 5, wherein each aeration jet is assigned to a water jet. 7. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for forming jets comprises a perforated disk (60). 8. A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the aerator means comprises a hub (64) that has at least one radial air conduit in the vicinity of its end within the housing. 9. A shower head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the aeration hub comprises on its exterior essentially axially running guides (71, 171) for the individually aerated jets. 10. A shower head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the jet guides (171) run at an angle on the exterior of the aeration hub (168). 11. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 3-10, wherein the guide means comprises deflectors arranged on the base of the aeration hub (64). 12. A shower head as claimed in claim 11, wherein the deflectors are angularly offset from the radial direction, optionally, curved in the plane of the jet disc (27). 13.A shower head as claimed in any of claims 3-12, comprising guide means on the rear face of the jet disc and/or the front face of the rear wall of the distribution chamber of the shower housing. 14.A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the aerator means is activatable and deactivatable. 15.A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a spray outlet surface (29) having at least two zones (A, B) and a selector switch (24) for switching between a water supply to the first zone (A), or to the second zone (B), whereby the selector switch (24) and the aerator means or air intake means are intercoupled such that the air intake means is switched off from the activated state to the deactivated state or switched on from the deactivated state to the activated state, or changes its activation state, in correspondence with the actuation of the selector switch (24). 16. A shower head as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first zone (A) is a part of the spray outlet surface (29) and the second zone (B) comprises entire spray outlet surface, including the first zone, whereby the first zone is centrally arranged on the spray outlet surface. 17. A shower head as claimed in claim 15, or claim 16, wherein operation of the air intake means (38, 40) is activated when the selector switch (24) is set to the second zone (B). 18. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 15 - 17, wherein the selector switch (24) is manually actuatable, preferably through movement of one of the components (12, 18) of the housing, with the spray outlet surface (29) relative to a housing component (13, 24) with the water inlet (33). 19.A shower head as claimed in any of claims 15 - 18, wherein the zones (A, B) are connected via a distribution chamber (36) with the water intake (14) or water inlet (33), in particular, via the surface areas of both the zones (A, B), whereby the selector switch (24), when changing-over to the first zone (A), preferably delimits the coverage of the distribution chamber (36) to the first zone (A), and when changing-over to the second zone (B), the delimitation of the distribution chamber (36) is disabled. 20.A shower head as claimed in claims 15-19, wherein the selector switch comprises a cap that can be disposed on the rear face (31) of the spray outlet surface (29) for changing-over and delimiting the coverage of the distribution chamber (36) whereby the system is preferably sealing and, in particular, abutying against the rear face of a wall (24) on the selector switch. 21. A shower head as claimed in claim 20, comprising a seal, preferably a lip seal (32) on a sealing seat in the direction of water flow. 22. A shower head as claimed in claim 15-21, wherein the spray outlet surface of the jet disc (29) comprises an elastic material, preferably an elastomer, particularly, with a seal (32) formed on the rear face (31) of the jet disc (29). 23. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 15-22, wherein the water intake (14) occurs centrally on the shower head (11) including the air intake means (38, 40), and wherein the air intake preferably passes through a central aperture (40) in the spray outlet surface. 24.A shower head as claimed in claim 23, comprising an air intake means that is connected to the spray outlet surface (29) via a channel (38), wherein the selector switch (24) is connected to the water inlet (33), and wherein the spray outlet surface is movable with respect to the water inlet for selection and activation to cause a shutter (42) on the water inlet to open or shut the channel (38). 25.A shower head as claimed in claim 24, wherein air from the channel (38) enters crosswise to the direction of the water supply (14), or the water entry (33). The invention relates to a shower head (11) comprising a housing (12) a jet disc (29) with a front face (27) having a plurality of apertures (30) from which jets exits; a water inlet (33) in the housing (12); an aerator means for aerating water flowing through the shower head (11); and means (60) for forming several water jets within the housing. Comprising guide means for radically diverting aerated water jets within a flat distribution chamber (36, 55) for distribution therein and for guiding the water jets to the apertures (30) of the entire spray disc (29).

Full Text

The invention relates to a shower head having a housing and a surface where
jets exit the housing. The surface has numerous exit apertures. Various forms of
shower heads of that type have long been known and inherently have numerous
modes of operation.
The problem addressed by the invention is creating a shower head of the
aforementioned type having modes of operation that are unknown under the
state of the art and, in particular, have beneficial uses.
That problem is solved by a shower head having the features of the invention.
Beneficial embodiments of the invention are covered by the description discussed
in detail below.
The shower head contains a housing whose end is closed off by a disk from
which jets exit. This disk contains numerous apertures from which jets exit that
may be specially configured by means of certain arrangements. In particular, the
shower head contains a large, flat housing. The air intake may, for example, be
configured such that it introduces air into the housing through the disk from
which jets exit, for example, directly at the center of the, preferably planar, disk
from which jets exit.
In order to arrive at a particularly judicious distribution of the located water
within the housing, and thus a particularly judicious distribution of the aerated
jets outside the housing, according to the invention, under an elaboration
thereon, the shower head may contain means for forming several, discrete jets
inside the housing. These discrete water jets will thus be formed within the
housing, rather than after.........................................................................................
they exit the housing, which will allow undertaking certain procedures related to the
water jets while they are still within the housing.
In elaborating on the invention, the aerator may be configured such that it aerates
water upstream from the means for forming jets, in which case, the means for
forming jets will serve to form, from an aerated jet, discrete, aerated jets that may
then be distributed within the shower head's housing, for example, over a surface
having a diameter that is larger, for example, roughly ten to twenty times larger,
than that of the water inlet.
However, the means for forming jets and/or the aerator may also be, and it is
preferred by the invention that it/they be, configured such that discrete jets that
have previously been formed will be jointly and/or severally aerated, which will
allow avoiding need for having to allow for their later aeration when forming the
water jets.
In further elaborating on the invention, the shower head may have guides in order
to guide the aerated water jets to the exit apertures over the full extent of the jet
disk, preferably in a uniform manner, or in a nonuniform manner, if desired.
The guides may be arranged at various locations on, or within, the shower head,
for example, in the distribution chamber, which is configured immediately upstream

from the jet disk. However, the guides may also be arranged where the formed jets
are aerated, or where the aerated jets are formed.
For example, in elaborating thereon, the guides and/or the aerator may be
configured such that they generate turbulence in the aerated jets, which, if it
occurs, will, among other things, represent suitable means for extending jets' dwell
times within the shower head's housing in order to therewith obtain longer and/or
closer contact with the devices present in the shower head's housing.
In elaborating on the invention, the aerator may be configured such that it
generates an air stream that is incident on the water stream at a right angle
thereto, where, as has been mentioned, the former may be incident on discrete
water jets that have previously been formed.
However, the aerator may also be, and the invention covers the case where the
aerator is, configured such that it generates discrete air jets or air streams, each of
which will then be separately incident on the water stream.
In particular, it may be provided that every air jet is coordinated to a water jet on
which it is incident. A full, or merely partial, segregation of air streams and water
streams may be conducted within the housing, which will allow aerating the
discrete water jets to differing degrees, or aerating them at a different location.
In order to generate the discrete water jets, the means for forming jets may, for
example, have a perforated disk that is arranged at a right angle to the water
stream. Every perforation will then generate a water jet. As has been mentioned,
these water jets may be either totally, or merely partially, isolated from one another
in order that various, discrete, narrow streams will form within a shared, common
volume of water.
The aerator may have a central collar, or hub, through whose interior ambient air
enters the interior of the housing. The base of the hub may, for example, have a
smooth surface that, together with an associated mating surface, forms a flat,
annular chamber that directs the air stream at the water. However, the base of the
hub may be, and the invention covers the case where the base of the hub is, also
configured such that it has radial air guides, for example, grooves, that lead to a
segregation of the air stream.
The ends of the radial air guides, for example, the grooves or channels, are aligned
on the apertures in the perforated disk. That alignment may, for example, be such
that the centerlines of the grooves are aligned on the centers of the apertures.
However, it will also be feasible to provide a tangential alignment such that the
centerlines of the grooves range from off-center with respect to, to tangential to.
the apertures in the perforated disk.
The air guides may be precisely radial or slightly inclined.
The hub, on whose inner end air flows essentially radially along a plane orthogonal
to its longitudinal axis, may also contain guides for the aerated jets on its lateral
surface, which is cylindrical. These guides might be the grooves that are aligned on
the apertures in the perforated disk. These guides serve to keep the aerated jets
discrete within the shower head's housing, that is, to delay, or hinder, their
recombination.
The grooves may primarily follow the axial direction, but may also be slightly
inclined, for example, resemble an extra-coarse thread.
A deflection by a corresponding, conical surface formed on the lateral surface of
the hub may take place at the base of the hub, that is, at that location where the
water stream is to be diverted radially outward, and into the interior of the shower
head's housing. That deflection may also take place gradually by, for example,
providing that the hub's lateral surface blends into a curved surface terminating ir. a
radial plane. That curved surface, gradual transition, or deflection may also be
present, or take place, regardless of whether axial water guides are present.
The deflectors may, if the application in mind demands, also have discrete
channels that, if present, may be either straight and orthogonal to the hut's
longitudinal axis, straight and inclined, or curved.
Guides that may be aligned on the deflectors' deflection axes may be arranged
within the shower head's housing, that is, upstream from the jet disk, which is
intended to yield an even distribution of the aerated water jets over the entire
surface of the jet disk. The guides may be situated on, for example, the housing's
inner wall or on an insert that is present within the housing.
In elaborating thereon, the shower head may, in addition to a housing, a surface
from which jets exit that has exit apertures, and a segregation into at least two
zones, have a selector. That selector is capable of switching the water intake
between a first zone and a second zone. A water inlet that channels water into the
shower head is also provided. An air intake is provided for the purpose of aerating
water jets exiting the shower head. The air intake aerates water that enters the
shower head, and does so at a location between the water inlet and the surface
from which jets exit. The air intake is activatable and deactivatable, i.e., may be
switched between its activated state and deactivated state. According to the
invention, the selector and the air intake are intercoupled such that the air intake
will be switched from the activated state to the deactivated state, or from the
deactivated state to the activated state, when the selector is actuated. The air
intake will thus change its activation state whenever it is switched from the first
zone to the second zone. In other words, according to the invention, a dual function
applies whenever the selector is actuated, which also makes it clear that the
selector might operate the other way around, i.e., switch from one zone to the other
whenever operation of the air intake is activated or deactivated.
That approach yields a beneficial dual function. Actuating a single control triggers
two operations. In particular, operation of the air intake may be activated or
deactivated by choosing to combine the zones or making its operation contingent
upon combining them.
In elaborating on the invention, the first zone might be configured in the form of a
section of the surface from which jets exit, where the former might, for example. Be
a central section thereof. In this conjunction, the second zone might be the entire
surface from which jets exit. For example, operation of the air intake might be
activated whenever the selector is set to the second zone or to the entire surface
from which jets exit, which has the advantage that the introduction of air, or the
aeration of the water jets, will allow creating streams of water exiting the shower
head that appear voluminous, which, in view of the greater number of exit
apertures, will be of benefit if a large area is involved.
The selector is beneficially manually actuatable. Either a knob, a slide, or similar
may be depressed in order to actuate it. It will be beneficial if an entire and, in
particular, large housing component, may be moved relative to another housing
component or the remainder of the housing.
Both zones, or all zones, may be connected to the water inlet via a distribution
chamber that supplies them with water. The distribution chamber may beneficially
cover the full areas of all zones or the full area of the upstream side of the surface
from which jets exit, which will guarantee a good supply of water to all zones and
all exit apertures on the surface from which jets exit. The selector may be
configured such that it is arranged, and acts, in the distribution chamber. When set
to the first zone, it might restrict the coverage of the distribution chamber to that
area corresponding to the first zone. When set to another zone, or the second
zone, the restriction of the coverage of the distribution chamber might be adjusted
to suit the area of the other zone involved. When set to provide coverage of the
entire surface from which jets exit, the restriction of the distribution chambers
coverage might be eliminated in order that it will cover the full extent of the surface
from which jets exit.
The selector may have a cap that may particularly preferentially be configured such
that it will be capable of restricting the coverage of the distribution chamber.
Restricting the coverage of the distribution chamber may be readily accomplished
by providing that the cap may abut against the upstream side of the surface from
which jets exit. That system is preferably sealed. Restriction of the distribution
chamber's coverage is preferably accomplished by employing a wall as cap. The
area on that wall to be involved should preferably form that part of the distribution
chamber that corresponds to the selected area on the surface from which jets exit.
In order to improve the sealing of the system, a formed seal may be provided. For
example, a lip seal will be suitable for that purpose. It may abut against a seat that
faces upstream and merges into the restricted distribution chamber, in which case,
rising water pressure will contribute to its sealing action.
One opportunity for fabricating a surface from which jets exit is choosing an elastic
material, for example, an elastomer, which might be a rubbery elastomer, for that
purpose. A wall or a cap might be emplaceable on the upstream side of such a jet
disk in order to effect a sealing action. An aforementioned, protruding seal may
beneficially be formed onto the upstream side of the jet disk, which will obviate
need for employing a separate seal.
Water is beneficially inducted into the shower head centrally, in any event, in a
vicinity that is situated a short distance upstream from the distribution chamber,
which will allow achieving the most uniform distribution over the surface from which
jets exit. A central aerator that inducts air into the shower head, or directs air onto
the surface from which jets exit, will also be beneficial. Induction of water may
beneficially be from the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit, or the top
of the shower head. An aerator may transit a central aperture in the surface from
which jets exit, i.e., protrude into the shower head's housing from that side thereof
from which water exits.
A channel for inducting air that may both transit the surface from which jets exit
and even be joined thereto, or attached in the vicinity thereof, may be provided.
The selector may also be connected to the water inlet, or attached thereto. In the
case of one embodiment of the invention, the surface from which jets exit may be
moved relative to the water inlet in order to switch and activate the shower head, in
which case, a shutter on the water inlet may then be employed to shut or open the
channel for inducting air and, for example, a wall on the selector, would
simultaneously restrict the distribution chamber's coverage.
Although, as has been mentioned, air may be inducted through that side of the
shower head from which water exits, i.e., through the surface from which jets exit, it
will be beneficial if air exits the aeration channel in a direction orthogonal to the
water intake or water inlet. Air is inducted under exploitation of the Venturi effect,
and a turbulent mixing of air in the water will occur. Air may also be distributed
throughout the inducted water using that approach.
In the case of one embodiment of the invention, the water intake may have
numerous apertures that may be annularly distributed about a centerline, where
the apertures may beneficially be elongated slots in order to, among other things,
accelerate the discrete water jets. Air from the air intake may enter immediately
upstream of the apertures due to, for example, the aforementioned Venturi effect,
which will allow attaining a thorough mixing of air and water.
Turbulence-generating devices situated upstream, referenced to the direction of
water flow, from the location where air enters may also be provided. The mixture of
water and entrained air will strike those turbulence-generating devices, which, for
example, might be in the form of multistage cascades, and will become even more
turbulent and admixed. Such turbulence-generating devices are beneficially
distributed about a centerline of the shower head's housing, or about a channel for
inducting air. For example, they might be formed on the outer walls of the channel,
which will be particularly indicated if the channel for inducting air is tubular, in
which case, it might be attached to the exit end of the shower head.
In addition to their turbulence-generation function, the turbulence-generating
devices may be configured for providing that inducted water will be distributed over
the full extent of the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit enclosed
within the distribution chamber, or deflecting and distributing inducted water. It //ill
be beneficial if an approximately uniform distribution of the inducted water entering
the distribution chamber occurs.
The shower head proposed by the invention may, in particular, also find application
as a side-mounting shower head. Due to the admixing with air, the water jets
acquire a longer range, which, in the case of a vertically oriented surface from
which jets exit, also has the benefit that the water jets will strike a standing body
situated at a certain distance from the shower head over an extended area and at
the desired height. Since air induction occurs through the surface from which jets
exit from that side thereof from which water exits, configuring, arranging, and
installing a side-mounting shower head from a coming generation of shower heads
will be neither complicated nor more difficult than in the case of known side-
mounting shower heads that lack air admixing.
Those and other features of the invention will be evident from the claims, this
description, and the figures, where the respective individual features involved may
represent themselves alone or several such in the form of subcombinations thereof
implemented in an embodiment of the invention and in other areas, and beneficial
and inherently patentable versions, for which patent protection is herewith claimed.
Brief Descriptions of the Accompanying drawings

A sample embodiment of the invention is depicted in the figures and will be
described in detail below. The figures depict:
Fig. 1 a sectioned view of a shower head according to the invention having a
water exit confined to a first central area and lacking air introduction, and
Fig. 2 the shower head shown in Fig. 1, equipped with air introduction and
switching covering the entire surface from which jets exit.
Fig. 3 A view, corresponding to that of Fig. 1, of another embodiment;
Fig. 4 a sectioned view, corresponding to that of Fig. 3, of another embodiment;
Fig. 5 a sectioned view of the jet disk of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, drawn
on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 6 a sectioned view of the edge of the housing of the embodiment shown in
Fig. 4, drawn on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 7 a sectioned view of the central section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4,
drawn on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 8 a top view of the perforated disk of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 a side view of the aeration hub of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 7;
Fig. 10 an axially sectioned view of an aeration hub that has been modified
relative to that shown in Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 a top view of the aeration hub shown in Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 a deconvolution of the side view of the aeration hub shown in Figs. 10 and
11;
Fig. 13a view, corresponding to that of Fig. 11, of a modified embodiment:
Fig. 14 a deconvolution of the side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 13.
Detailed Description of the Sample Embodiment
Figs. 1 and 2 depict a shower head 11 according to the invention. The shower
head 11 consists of a housing shell 12 that rests on a base 13 or is guided onto the
latter. The shower head 11 is connected to a water fitting 14 having a known ball-
head configuration by means of a cap nut 15. The water fitting 14 resides on, for
example, a ceiling.
The housing shell 12 is essentially in the form of a tubular extension 17 that
extends downward and blends into the broad extension 18. The base 13, which
also broadens downward, forming an extension 24, is similarly configured.
Rubber rings 20 are inserted into the upper section of the base 13. Protrusions 22
also extend outward from the latter. The rubber rings 20 provide for a sealed joint
with the tubular extension 17 of the housing shell 12. The tubular extension 17 also
has inclined grooves 19 that resemble a thread. The protrusions 22 engage those
grooves. The housing shell 12 thus glides relative to the base 13 when rotated, as
will be clearly evident from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2. Pressing, and thus
gliding, of the housing shell 12 relative to the base 13 directly along the centerline
in order to adjust it might also employ short grooves and protrusions, instead of
such an embodiment resembling a thread.
The extension 24 of the base 13 has a circumferential, annular ridge 25 extending
downward from its outer rim. The latter's precise shape may be seen in Fig. 2. The
annular ridge 25 merges into a narrow profile resembling a "V." In the position
shown in Fig. 1, the latter provides a sealing action that will be described in greater
detail below.
The shower head 11 also has a front face 27 that is joined to the housing shell 12
in the vicinity of its outer edge. The front face 27 carries the jet disk 29 on its rear
face when the latter is inserted. The jet disk 29 is fabricated from an elastomer in a
known manner and has molded-on nozzles for forming the exit apertures 30. From
Fig. 1. and particularly from Fig. 2, it may be seen that the rear face 21 of the jet
disk 29 is essentially planar. The circumferential lip 32 is the sole feature formed
on the rear face 31, and may abut against the annular ridge 25, as will be evident
from Fig. 1.
A water inlet 33 extends through the water fitting 14 and into the shower head 11.
Water exits the ball-head on the water fitting 14 through apertures 34 that are
distributed around a centerline, and enters the upper section of the distribution
chamber 36, which is situated within the tubular extension 17. As is evident from
Fifl. 1. due to the sealing abutment of the extension 24 against the mating annular
ridge 24 on the rear face 31 of the jet disk 29, water can reach only those exit
apertures 30 that lie within that zone. No other water flow paths exist. In particular,
the outer zone, i.e., Zone B, exclusive of Zone A, is blocked.
If the housing shell 12, together with its extension 18, is translated downward
relative to the base 13, then the extension 24, together with its annular ridge 25,
will jolt away from the rear face 31 of the jet disk 29. The distribution chamber 36
will be open all the way, and will then include the zone extending from the
apertures 34 on the water inlet 33 to the full extent of the rear face of the jet disk
29. Water will then be able to exit through all exit apertures 30 on the jet disk 29.
Furthermore, how, in this case, the cap 42 is slid off the upper aperture in the air
channel 38 will be evident from a comparison of Fig. 2 to Fig. 1. The air intake 40
will thus be open, form the front face of the jet disk 29, or the front face 27 of the
shower head 11, into the shower head, or into the distribution chamber 36. As may
be seen, air exiting the upper aperture on the air channel 38 is incident on the
water shooting downward through the apertures 34 and into the distribution
chamber 36 at roughly a right angle thereto. Due to the Venturi effect, the entering
water will entrain the air. A certain admixing of water and air will have already
simultaneously commenced.
That water-air mixture is incident on a turbulence-generating extension 46 that is
formed on the lower section of the outer wall of the air channel 38. As may be seen
from the chamfering of the turbulence-generating extension 46, water incident
thereon from above will be deflected sideward, i.e., into the side-arm of the
distribution chamber 36. Turbulence in, or admixing, of the water-air mixture will
also occur. Further, similar extensions, or necks, might be added at this location.
The turbulence-generating extension is preferably configured in the form of a
multistage cascade. The envelope of the cascaded stages may match the
chamfering.
As may be seen from the figures, the profile of the extension 24 of the base 13
matches the profile of the extension 18 of the housing shell 12. The step in the
extension 18 provides space for the extension 24 to enter the step. It also restricts
the coverage of the outer, annular section of the distribution chamber 36 such that
the water supply to all exit apertures 30 will be approximately equal in the position
shown in Fig. 2, i.e., when water is supplied to the full extent of the jet disk 29.
As will be evident from Fig. 2, in addition to a more or less discontinuous switching
between the first zone A and the second zone B, as well as between aerated and
nonaerated, it will, under some circumstances, also be feasible to configure at least
one of the functions such that it may be continuously controlled. In particular, the
aerator may be employed for that purpose. The shapes of the lower section of the
cap 42 and the associated aperture in the upper section of the air channel 38 might
be configured such that the motion of the housing shell 12 relative to the base 13
will yield a continuous opening of the air intake 40 via the air paths 44 over its full
travel, where that opening may transpire more rapidly than will be the case when
the distribution chamber 36 is opened.
Fig. 3 depicts a shower head similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
except that it lacks a selector. An insertable plate 50 that has bores 51
corresponding to the exit apertures 30 on the jet disk 29 is arranged upstream from
the jet disk 29. The insertable plate is fabricated from a harder plastic than that
employed in fabricating the jet disk 29. Among other things, the former's purpose is
retaining the elastomer jet disk 29 on the 1ront face 27 thereof and on the base 52
of the housing, which is intended to prevent the inclination angles of individual
nozzles from changing during installation, or during operation.
The insertable plate 50 has discrete ribs 53 on its upstream side that subdivide the
space between the jet disk and the housing's rear wall 52. That subdivision is
intended to guide and direct the individual, aerated jets within the housing.
Further details, in particular, details related to the supply of air and water, shall be
discussed below.
Fig. 4 depicts another embodiment of a shower head that, in this case, is
particularly simply configured. The shower head's housing contains a rear wall 52
and a very simple jet disk 54, between which a rather flat, disk-shaped, distribution
chamber 55 is formed. Sealing thereof takes place in the vicinity of its edge, and
employs a seal present in a groove 56 on its rear wall 52 that abuts against the
upstream side 56 of the jet disk 54 (cf. Fig. 6). In this case, the entire jet disk 54 is
fabricated from a relatively hard plastic in order that the inclinations and shapes of
the apertures 57, from which jets exit, will remain constant. As may be seen from
Fig. 5, which depicts a view of the housing shown in Fig. 4, drawn on an enlarged
scale, the apertures 57, from which jets exit, are inclined and conical.
Since the fitting connecting the housing of the shower head shown in Figs. 3 and 4
to the water line corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1, these details need no further
explanation. In the case of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, water entering
through the inlet will now be incident on a perforated disk 60 orthogonal to the
direction of water flow (cf. the enlarged-scale depiction appearing in Fig. 7). The
perforated disk 60 is circular and planar, and has a circumferential ridge 61
extending downstream. The diameter of the orifice 62 in the inlet is much smaller
than that of the perforated disk 60. The circular apertures 63 arranged on the
perforated disk 60 are arranged around its circumference. Water thus must first be
deflected outward, away from the aperture 62, if it is to reach the apertures 63.
The apertures 63 in the perforated disk 60 segregate incoming water into discrete
water jets. The aeration hub 64, which is present in both the embodiment shown in
Fig. 3 and the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, is arranged immediately downstream
from the central section of the perforated disk 60. Fig, 7 depicts the embodiment
shown in Fig.3 drawn on an enlarged scale. The upstream end of the aeration
hub 64 is in the form of a planar terminal surface 65 situated a short distance on
one or the other side of the perforated disk 60. Air inducted through the central
aperture 40 in the aeration hub 64 is directed at the water jets, which have
previously been segregated, in the form of a very narrow, flat stream. A Venturi
effect that inducts the air stream at the intersections thereof arises due to the high
flow rates of the water jets downstream from the apertures 63.
The aerated jets then travel along the cylindrical lateral surface 66 of the aeration
hub 64 to the base 67 of the hub, where the lateral surface thereof expands,
forming a truncated cone having a half angle of, for example, about 45°. That
conical extension 67 abuts against the insertable plate 50, on which water then
flows radially outward along a plane. The angle of the deflecting surface 68 might
fall within the range 10° - 80°. A gradually curved transition is also feasible. That
deflecting device deflects the aerated water jets radially outward, and into the
distribution chamber arranged upstream from the jet disk.
Fig.8 depirtc a highly schematized top view of the perforated disk 60, which has
eight apertures 63. In the case of an actual embodiment, the number of apertures
63 will be greater than that in order to generate the greatest possible number of
water jets. All of the apertures 63 lie on a circle near the perimeter of the perforated
disk 60.
Fig.9 depicts a side view of the aeration hub 64 shown in Fig. 7. It is clearly
evident that the deflecting surface 68 extends all around the perimeter thereof. In
the case of the embodiment depicted there, the lateral surface 66 thereof is
smooth, as is its terminal surface 65.
Figs. 10-12 depict an embodiment of an aeration hub 164 that is a modification of
the aeration hub 64. Several radial channels 70 that extend from the interior 40 of
the hub 164 to its lateral surface are configured on its terminal surface 165. Axial
channels 71 that are formed by grooves are present on its lateral surface, at the
same locations as the radial channels 70. Every radial channel 70 merges into an
axial channel 71. Further channels 72 that extend the other channels 70, 71, and
whose depth decreases toward the bottom end of the deflecting surface 68 (cf.
Fig. 10), are formed on the deflecting surface 68. This approach will provide that
discrete air jets that will then be incident on the water jets formed by the apertures
63 at the locations where they are formed will originate on the terminal surface 165
of the aeration hub 164.
In the top view of Fig. 11, the channels 72 in the deflecting surface 68 are still
straight and radially oriented. However, Figs. 13 and 14 depict the corresponding
views in the case of another aeration hub, where the channels 172 in the deflecting
surface 168 are arched, or curved, which will give the aerated jets an inclination
that they will retain upon exiting the aeration hub. That approach will generate
turbulence in the aerated jets within the distribution chamber of the shower head's
housing.
In the case of the embodiment shown in Fig,. 14. which depicts a deconvolution of a
side view of an aerating hub, the channels 171 are inclined with respect to its
longitudinal axis and resemble an extra-coarse thread, rather than straight and
parallel to its longitudinal axis, as in the case of the embodiment shown in fig. 12.
which will initiate generation of vortices in the aerated jets earlier.
The aeration jet 164 shown in Fig. 10 may, for example, be arranged such that the
lands between the channels 70 that lie in the plane of its terminal surface 165 will
contact the underside of the perforated disk 60, which will then result in totally
isolated air jets being generated. However, a certain spacing might also remain in
order that a preferred flow field may be generated at the locations of the channels
70.
What has been said about the guides, based on the aeration hubs, may also be
carried forward into the distribution chamber. For example, the apertures from
which jets exit might be arranged in the form of straight extensions of projections of
the channels 72, 172. However, not all channels 72/172 will need to have the same
curvature or the same direction. It may be provided that aerated water jets that are
to be deflected further outward, into the distribution chamber, exit the base of the
aeration hub along straight paths, while those to be deflected to apertures from
which jets exit that are closer in are given more turbulence.
Due to the simplified representations employed, the embodiments shown in
Figs. 3-14 exhibit no switching device for switching between various zones of the
surface from which jets exit. They also exhibit no device for switching the aerator
on and off. Nevertheless, the measures for generating and maintaining discrete,
aerated jets involved are, of course, also possible, and sensible, in the case of
shower heads that have such switching devices. The invention expressly proposes
precisely that.
WE CLAIM
1. A shower head (11) comprising:
1.1 a housing (12).
1.2 a jet disc (29) with a front face (27) having a plurality of apertures
(30) from which jets exits;
1.3 a water inlet (33) in the housing (12);
1.4 an aerator means for aerating water flowing through the shower
head (11); and
means (60) for forming several water jets within the housing;
characterized by comprising guide means for radically diverting
acrated water jets within a flat distribution chamber (36, 55) for
distribution therein and for guiding the water jets to the apertures
(30) of the entire spray disc (29).
2. A shower head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aerator means is
configured such that it aerates the water in the flow direction upstream of
the jet formation means (27).
3. A shower head as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for
forming jets and/or the aerator means is configured such that individual
water jets are aerated joinly and/or separately.
4. A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the
guide means and/or the aerator means are configured such that they
generate turbulence in the aerated jets.
5. A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the
aerator means is configured such that it generates individually aerated
jets.
6. A shower head as claimed in claim 5, wherein each aeration jet is
assigned to a water jet.
7. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for
forming jets comprises a perforated disk (60).
8. A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the
aerator means comprises a hub (64) that has at least one radial air
conduit in the vicinity of its end within the housing.
9. A shower head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the aeration hub comprises
on its exterior essentially axially running guides (71, 171) for the
individually aerated jets.
10. A shower head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the jet guides (171) run at
an angle on the exterior of the aeration hub (168).
11. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 3-10, wherein the guide means
comprises deflectors arranged on the base of the aeration hub (64).
12. A shower head as claimed in claim 11, wherein the deflectors are
angularly offset from the radial direction, optionally, curved in the plane of
the jet disc (27).
13.A shower head as claimed in any of claims 3-12, comprising guide means
on the rear face of the jet disc and/or the front face of the rear wall of the
distribution chamber of the shower housing.
14.A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the
aerator means is activatable and deactivatable.
15.A shower head as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a
spray outlet surface (29) having at least two zones (A, B) and a selector
switch (24) for switching between a water supply to the first zone (A), or
to the second zone (B), whereby the selector switch (24) and the aerator
means or air intake means are intercoupled such that the air intake means
is switched off from the activated state to the deactivated state or
switched on from the deactivated state to the activated state, or changes
its activation state, in correspondence with the actuation of the selector
switch (24).
16. A shower head as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first zone (A) is a part
of the spray outlet surface (29) and the second zone (B) comprises entire
spray outlet surface, including the first zone, whereby the first zone is
centrally arranged on the spray outlet surface.
17. A shower head as claimed in claim 15, or claim 16, wherein operation of
the air intake means (38, 40) is activated when the selector switch (24) is
set to the second zone (B).
18. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 15 - 17, wherein the selector
switch (24) is manually actuatable, preferably through movement of one
of the components (12, 18) of the housing, with the spray outlet surface
(29) relative to a housing component (13, 24) with the water inlet (33).
19.A shower head as claimed in any of claims 15 - 18, wherein the zones (A,
B) are connected via a distribution chamber (36) with the water intake
(14) or water inlet (33), in particular, via the surface areas of both the
zones (A, B), whereby the selector switch (24), when changing-over to
the first zone (A), preferably delimits the coverage of the distribution
chamber (36) to the first zone (A), and when changing-over to the second
zone (B), the delimitation of the distribution chamber (36) is disabled.
20.A shower head as claimed in claims 15-19, wherein the selector switch
comprises a cap that can be disposed on the rear face (31) of the spray
outlet surface (29) for changing-over and delimiting the coverage of the
distribution chamber (36) whereby the system is preferably sealing and, in
particular, abutying against the rear face of a wall (24) on the selector
switch.
21. A shower head as claimed in claim 20, comprising a seal, preferably a lip
seal (32) on a sealing seat in the direction of water flow.
22. A shower head as claimed in claim 15-21, wherein the spray outlet surface
of the jet disc (29) comprises an elastic material, preferably an elastomer,
particularly, with a seal (32) formed on the rear face (31) of the jet disc
(29).
23. A shower head as claimed in any of claims 15-22, wherein the water
intake (14) occurs centrally on the shower head (11) including the air
intake means (38, 40), and wherein the air intake preferably passes
through a central aperture (40) in the spray outlet surface.
24.A shower head as claimed in claim 23, comprising an air intake means
that is connected to the spray outlet surface (29) via a channel (38),
wherein the selector switch (24) is connected to the water inlet (33), and
wherein the spray outlet surface is movable with respect to the water inlet
for selection and activation to cause a shutter (42) on the water inlet to
open or shut the channel (38).
25.A shower head as claimed in claim 24, wherein air from the channel (38)
enters crosswise to the direction of the water supply (14), or the water
entry (33).

The invention relates to a shower head (11) comprising a housing (12) a jet disc
(29) with a front face (27) having a plurality of apertures (30) from which jets
exits; a water inlet (33) in the housing (12); an aerator means for aerating water
flowing through the shower head (11); and means (60) for forming several water
jets within the housing. Comprising guide means for radically diverting aerated
water jets within a flat distribution chamber (36, 55) for distribution therein and
for guiding the water jets to the apertures (30) of the entire spray disc (29).

Documents:

1324-KOLNP-2005-FORM 27.pdf

1324-KOLNP-2005-FORM-27.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-claims.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-form 18.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-form 2.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-form 26.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-form 5.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-specification.pdf

1324-kolnp-2005-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf

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Patent Number

233854

Indian Patent Application Number

1324/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

16/2009

Publication Date

17-Apr-2009

Grant Date

16-Apr-2009

Date of Filing

11-Jul-2005

Name of Patentee

HANSGROHE AG

Applicant Address

AUESTRASSE 5-9, 77761 SCHILTACH

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	SCHORN, FRANZ	HANSGROHESTRASSE 18, 77761 SCHILTACH

PCT International Classification Number

B05B 1/18

PCT International Application Number

PCT/2003/014101

PCT International Filing date

2003-12-12

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	103 13 823.4	2003-03-24	Germany
2	102 59 255.1	2002-12-12	Germany
3	103 13 822.6	2003-03-24	Germany