Removable spread head

A movable spread head comprises a tubular member, a watering member, a valve core, a housing, a front cover, a control member, and a first and a second watering elements. The valve core is axially installed on a front end of the tubular member, the control member is located on a top end of the housing and includes a first and a second press portions to be selectively pressed to generate a levering action, such that the valve core is actuated to move axially to engage with the tubular member or the watering member tightly, so that water flow from an outlet of the tubular member is guided to one of first and second water orifices to flow outward from one of the first and the second watering elements, thereby decreasing related components and size, simplifying structure, and operating the movable spread head easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a movable spread head that can decrease related components and size, simplify structure, and be operates easily.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional pulled spread head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,713 includes a control member to be pressed to push a watering element of a shaft to engage with one of two sealing surfaces so that water flow in a body is guided to a central hole or peripheral bores to generate centrally or peripherally jetted water flow.

However, such a spread head is made in large size, limited to flow water and operated difficultly.

In addition, another conventional spread head disclosed in CA Pat. No. 2448878 is used to flow water from a central water filter or a peripheral jetted loop, however such a spread head is made in large size, limited to flow water and operated difficultly as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a movable spread head which is capable of overcoming the shortcomings of the conventional spread head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a movable spread head which can decrease related components and size, simplify structure, and operate the movable spread head easily.

A movable spread head in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises:

a tubular member including a channel, an inlet and an outlet, both of which are disposed on two ends of the channel respectively; the inlet coupled with a soft pipe in a water tap, the channel including a large diameter first passageway and a small diameter second passageway, and on an outer side of the first passageway being formed the inlet, on an outer side of the second passageway being formed the outlet; the tubular member also including an insulation rim extending on a peripheral wall of the outlet, the second passageway defined between a lower side of the insulation rim and the peripheral wall; the tubular member including an opening mounted on the peripheral wall above an upper side of the insulation rim so that a receiving groove is defined between the opening and the upper side of the insulation rim, and between the upper side of the insulation rim and the peripheral wall being also fixed a hole and an inner chamber, and the hole communicating with the receiving groove; the inner chamber including a first sealing surface arranged on a predetermined position of an outer side thereof; the tubular member further including a first closing portion and a second closing portion secured on an outer surface of the peripheral rim, and including at least one cutout disposed between the first and the second closing portions and to communicate with the inner chamber;

a watering member including a first cavity and a second cavity communicating with each other, a first water orifice and a second water orifice spaced apart from each other; the first water orifice being in communication with the first cavity and the second water orifice communicating with the second cavity, and a periphery of the first cavity engaged with the first and second closing portions of the tubular member, and a bottom wall of the first cavity keeping a certain distance away from the tubular member so that the first cavity communicates with the outlet, and the water orifice communicates with the inner chamber through the cutout, and a second sealing surface formed in the second cavity;

a valve core formed in a post shape and inserting to the inner chamber and the hole of the tubular member axially, the valve core including a third closing portion attached on a central section thereof to retain the hole, and including a fourth closing portion arranged on an outer surface thereof, and a connecting portion disposed on an inner end thereof, such that the connecting portion is forced to actuate the valve core to move along the hole axially; as the fixing portion moves inward, the fourth closing portion abuts against the first sealing surface of the inner chamber so that the outlet of the tubular member communicates with the second water orifice via the first cavity and second cavity in order; as the fixing portion moves outward, the fourth closing portion abuts against the second sealing surface of the first cavity so that the outlet of the tubular member communicates with the second water orifice via the first cavity and second cavity in turn;

an elastic element to push the valve core outward so that the fourth closing portion engages with the second sealing surface of the watering member;

a housing including an internal room to receive the tubular member and the watering member; the internal room communicating with a side pore and a lower vacancy, the tubular member extending out of the side pore, the housing further including an installing space to couple with the tubular member and the watering member, and the installing space including a rotary shaft;

a front cover installed in the vacancy of the housing and coupled to the watering member to be proximate to a first compartment and a second compartment to communicate with the first and the second water orifices respectively;

a first watering element installed in the first compartment of the front cover, such that water flowing from the first water orifice forms a first mode of water flow;

a second watering element installed in the second compartment of the front cover, such that the water flowing from the second water orifice forms a second mode of water flow;

a control member including a coupling section disposed on a central portion thereof and an actuating portion formed on a front side thereof individually, and including a first press portion and a second press portion mounted on a top of a rear side and the front side thereof individually; the coupling section axially connected with the rotary shaft of the installing space of the housing to form a fulcrum to rotate the housing frontward and rearward; the actuating section passing through the installing space of the housing to connect with and actuate the connecting portion of the valve core.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, a movable spread head according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a tubular member10, a watering member20, a valve core30, a housing40, a front cover50, a first watering element60, a second watering element70, a control member80, and a sleeve90.

The tubular member10includes a channel11, an inlet12and an outlet13, both of which are disposed on two ends of the channel11respectively; the inlet12is coupled with a soft pipe in a water tap, the channel11include a large diameter first passageway11aand a small diameter second passageway11b, and on an outer side of the first passageway11ais formed the inlet12, on an outer side of the second passageway11bis formed the outlet13; the tubular member10also includes an insulation rim15extending on a peripheral wall14of the outlet13, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the second passageway11bis defined between a lower side of the insulation rim15and the peripheral wall14; the tubular member10includes an opening14amounted on the peripheral wall14above an upper side of the insulation rim15so that a receiving groove16is defined between the opening14aand the upper side of the insulation rim15, and between the upper side of the insulation rim15and the peripheral wall14is also fixed a hole17and an inner chamber18, and the hole17communicates with the receiving groove16; the inner chamber18includes a first sealing surface181arranged on a predetermined position of an outer side thereof.

The tubular member10further includes a first closing portion141and a second closing portion142secured on an outer surface of the peripheral rim14, and includes at least one cutout19disposed between the first and the second closing portions141and142to communicate with the inner chamber18. The first and the second closing portions141and142are comprised of two annular loop members. The tubular member10includes a plurality of first upright posts143extending upward from the peripheral wall14of the receiving groove16to position the housing40.

The watering member20includes a first cavity21and a second cavity22communicating with each other, a first water orifice23and a second water orifice24spaced apart from each other as illustrated inFIG. 6; the first water orifice23is in communication with the first cavity21and the second water orifice24communicates with the second cavity22, and a periphery of the first cavity21is engaged with the first and second closing portions141,142of the tubular member10, and a bottom wall of the first cavity21keeps a certain distance away from the tubular member10so that the first cavity21communicates with the outlet13, and the water orifice23communicates with the inner chamber18through the cutout19. A diameter of the first cavity21is larger than that of the second cavity22, and a second sealing surface25is formed in the second cavity22.

The watering member20includes two second upright posts26extending upward from a predetermined position thereof relative to an outer surface of an upper side of the first cavity21to position the housing40.

The watering member20includes a first outer side27extending from a lower side thereof, a second inner side28therein, and first and second annular loops271,281fixed on an outer surface thereof individually.

The valve core30is formed in a post shape and inserts to the inner chamber18and the hole17of the tubular member10axially, the valve core30includes a third closing portion31attached on a central section thereof to retain the hole17as shown inFIG. 7, and includes a fourth closing portion32arranged on an outer surface thereof, and a connecting portion33disposed on an inner end thereof, such that the connecting portion33is forced to actuate the valve core30to move along the hole17axially.

In addition, the valve core30includes a fixing portion34mounted on an inner side of the fourth closing portion32thereof. As the fixing portion34moves inward, the fourth closing portion32abuts against the first sealing surface181of the inner chamber18so that the outlet13of the tubular member10communicates with the second water orifice24via the first cavity21and second cavity22in order.

The third and the fourth closing portions31,32of the valve core30are comprised of two annular loop members fixed on the valve core30.

The connecting portion33of the valve core30is comprised of a smaller diameter positioning segment331on the valve core30and a stop periphery332located on two sides of the positioning segment331.

An elastic element301pushes the valve core30outward so that the fourth closing portion32engages with the second sealing surface25of the watering member20as illustrated inFIG. 7. The elastic element301is a compression spring fitted onto the valve core30and is biased against the fixing portion34of the valve core30by using its two ends and abuts against the inner chamber18of the tubular member10, hence the valve core30is pushed outward by the elastic element301.

The housing40includes an internal room41to receive the tubular member10and the watering member20, the internal room41communicates with a side pore42and a lower vacancy43, the tubular member10extends out of the side pore42, the housing40further includes an installing space44as illustrated inFIGS. 8-9, to couple with the tubular member10and the watering member20, and the installing space44includes a rotary shaft45.

The installing space44includes a bottom surface44aand a side wall44bconnected with the bottom surface44a, and a holding area44cbetween the bottom surface44aand the side wall44b. The bottom surface44aincludes a plurality of reinforcement ribs441arranged on an inner side of the side wall44band spaced apart from each other, and a number of inserting holes442between the reinforcement ribs441and the side wall44b. The installing space44includes two projections443attached on two sides thereof, a base444between the two projections443, and the rotary shaft45between the projections443and the base444. The bottom surface44aincludes a mouth445between the projections443and a slot446arranged on a front side thereof to communicate with the receiving groove16of the tubular member10.

The installing space44includes a pair of first through apertures447and a pair of second through apertures448between two sides of the slot446, wherein the first through apertures447screw with the first upright posts143of the tubular member10by using bolts449to lock the tubular member10in the housing40. And the second through apertures448screw with the second upright posts26of the watering member20via the bolts449so that the watering member20is locked in the housing40and the watering member20connects with the tubular member10securely.

The front cover50is installed in the vacancy43of the housing40and coupled to the watering member20to be proximate to a first compartment51and a second compartment52as illustrated inFIG. 10to communicate with the first and the second water orifices23and24respectively.

The front cover50includes a bottom plane53, a second outer side54extended upward around a rim thereof, a second inner side55formed therein so as to define the second compartment52between the second outer side54and the second inner side55, and define the first compartment51on the second inner side55.

The front cover50includes a bottom plane53extending out of the second outer side54.

The second outer side54is screwed with the vacancy43of the housing40, and the second outer side54and the second inner side55engage with the first annular loop271of the first outer side27of the watering member20and the second annular loop281of the second inner side28individually so that the front cover50connects with a lower side of the watering member20tightly.

The front cover50includes internal screws56arranged in the first compartment51and a number of spouts57disposed on a bottom of the second compartment52.

The first watering element60is installed in the first compartment51of the front cover50as shown inFIG. 10, such that water flowing from the first water orifice23is a first mode of water flow. The first watering element60is a water filter and includes external screws61formed on an exterior thereof to screw with the internal screws56of the first compartment51to generate bubbled water flow.

The second watering element70is installed in the second compartment52of the front cover50as illustrated inFIG. 10, such that the water flowing from the second water orifice24is a second mode of water flow. The second watering element70is a jet panel and includes a plate member71received in the second compartment52and a plurality of nozzles72fixed on the plate member71. Each of the nozzles72passes downward from the spout57to form a tunnel721to spray water.

The control member80includes a pressing tab81and a foot82extending form a front side of the pressing tab81as shown inFIG. 7, the foot82includes an actuating portion83formed on a distal end of the foot82to couple with and drive the connecting portion33of the valve core30, and the pressing tab81includes a coupling section84disposed on a central portion thereof. The pressing tab81includes a first press portion85and a second press portion86mounted on a top of a rear side and a front side thereof individually.

The coupling section84is axially connected with the rotary shaft45of the installing space44of the housing40to form a fulcrum to rotate the housing40frontward and rearward.

The actuating section83includes a gap831so that the foot82of the control member80passes through the slot446of the installing space44of the housing40to be inserted to the receiving groove16, thereby engaging with the positioning segment331by using the gap831and being limited on the stop periphery332to movably connect with the valve core30, such that as the first press portion85or the second press portion86of the control member80is pressed to move, the control member80rotates pivotally along the coupling section84to actuate the valve core30to move frontward and rearward.

The sleeve90is fixed in the installing space44of the housing40as illustrated inFIG. 8to cover the control member80, and user can actuate the control member80by pressing the sleeve90. The sleeve90includes a number of retaining blocks91mounted around the installing space44to be retained in the inserting holes442of the installing space44, and an internal top of the sleeve90contacts with the reinforcement ribs441of the installing space44.

When water is not fed to the movable spread head of the present invention, the valve core30is pushed to move frontward by the elastic element301so that the fourth closing portion32abuts against the second sealing surface25of the second cavity22of the watering member20tightly as illustrated inFIG. 3, and the control member80is actuated to make the second press portion86to become upraised, hence when a watering switch is turned on, the water from the inlet12of the tubular member10flows out of the first watering element60to generate bubbled water flow via the outlet13, the first cavity21of the watering member20, the inner chamber18of the tubular member10, the cutouts19, and the first water orifice23of the watering member20, as shown inFIG. 11.

As switching water flow to another level, the sleeve90is pressed to actuate the second press portion86of the control member80as illustrated inFIG. 12so that the control member80rotates downward along the rotary shaft45of the installing space44of the housing40to actuate the valve core30to move rearward, therefore the fourth closing portion32disengages from the second sealing surface25of the watering member20until the first sealing surface181of the inner chamber18of the tubular member10is closed completely, and the elastic element301is compressed, hence the water from the outlet13of the tubular member10flows out of the nozzles72of the second watering element70through the first cavity21, the second cavity22, and the first water orifice24to generate jetted water flow.

After turning off jetted water flow, the valve core30is pushed by the elastic element301to move frontward to return bubbled water flow.

During switching the jetted water flow toward the bubbled water flow, the sleeve90is pressed to actuate the second press portion86of the control member80to drive the valve core30to move frontward so that the fourth closing portion32is biased against the second sealing surface25of the second cavity22of the watering member20again, accordingly the water flow is guided to pass through the first water orifice23of the watering member20and the first watering element60to return bubbled water flow. Therefore, the user can press the first and the second press portions85and86of the control member80to switch the bubbled or jetted water flow freely.

During switching the bubbled water flow toward the jetted water flow, the pressure of the water flow drives the valve core30to push against the elasticity of the elastic element301, thereby the control80keeps in a jetted watering level without being pressed.

The valve core30is installed to the tubular member10in an axial direction to decrease additional components by ways of an internal room of the front end of the tubular member10, simplifying structure and decreasing size. Furthermore, the watering direction is controlled to be perpendicular to a water feeding direction, obtaining easy operation. The second watering element70is arranged to be adjacent to the first watering element60so that the second watering element70sprays out of water via the nozzles72, obtaining different types of water supply.