Shower head having an overpressure valve

A shower head, illustratively for a sanitary shower, including a shower head housing, a fluid inlet into the shower head housing, a shower jet outlet out of the shower head housing, a fluid duct within the shower head housing from the fluid inlet to the shower jet outlet, and an overpressure valve pressure-coupled to the fluid duct, including a movable valve body which, in case of an overpressure in the fluid duct, moves from a normal position to an overpressure position. The valve body is illustratively configured to be self-retaining in the overpressure position and returnable to the normal position by user operation, and/or the valve body acts position-dependent on a passage cross-section of the fluid duct, wherein the valve body reduces the passage cross-section in the overpressure position relative to the normal position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2018 201 109.5, filed on Jan. 24, 2018, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a shower head, comprising a shower head housing, a fluid inlet into the shower head housing, a shower jet outlet out of the shower head housing, a fluid duct within the shower head housing from the fluid inlet to the shower jet outlet, and an overpressure valve pressure-coupled to the fluid duct, including a movable valve body which, in case of an overpressure within the fluid duct, moves from a normal position to an overpressure position.

It is a known fact with shower heads of this kind that, after a certain operating time, the fluid pressure in the shower head housing can rise in an unwanted manner beyond a normal fluid operating pressure range, i.e. an overpressure state occurs, owing to dirt particles and/or lime scale deposits, which, especially at the shower jet outlet, can lead to cross-sectional constrictions or even blockages of jet outlet openings. This problem occurs to a greater extent, for example, on shower heads which have jet outlet openings of relatively small diameter at the shower jet outlet and/or which are used with relatively hard water in sanitary showers. In the present case, overpressure refers to a pressure which is above a normal pressure range in which the fluid pressure in the fluid duct lies in normal operation during correct use of the shower head and fault-free operation thereof, taking into account normal pressure fluctuations, e.g. in an upstream fluid supply.

These shower heads therefore have an overpressure valve which responds in the event of an overpressure in the fluid duct in the fluid head housing in order to avoid prolonged operation of the shower head in such an overpressure state. For this purpose, the overpressure valve is pressure-coupled to the fluid duct, i.e. coupled in terms of pressure, with the result that the overpressure in the fluid duct acts on the overpressure valve and moves the movable valve body thereof into the overpressure position. As long as the fluid pressure in the fluid duct is in the normal pressure range and an overpressure has not yet occurred, the valve body occupies its normal position, i.e. its position intended for normal showering operation of the shower head.

In a shower head of this kind disclosed in Patent Publication AT 252 826, an overpressure safety feature is provided by exposing an additional outlet cross-section by the expansion of an elastic closure. More specifically, for this purpose a ring provided with an annular groove and preferably of substantially V shaped cross-section is provided in an annular gap left free between a jet disk on the outlet side, which is normally provided with a plurality of jet outlet openings, and an adjoining part of the shower head housing, wherein the additional outlet cross-section is in the form of openings, which are arranged on the bottom of the annular groove and which are closed off by an elastic seal ring, such as an O-ring, which expands elastically when there is an overpressure in the fluid duct in the shower head housing and thereby exposes the otherwise closed openings. When there is no longer an overpressure in the fluid duct, the seal ring returns automatically once again, by virtue of its elasticity, to the state in which it closes the overpressure openings.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shower head of the type stated at the outset which offers improvements over the abovementioned prior art, especially as regards functionality in respect of the overpressure behavior.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention achieves this and other objects by providing a shower head comprising a shower head housing, a fluid inlet into the shower head housing, a shower jet outlet out of the shower head housing, a fluid duct within the shower head housing from the fluid inlet to the shower jet outlet, and an overpressure valve pressure-coupled to the fluid duct. The overpressure valve illustratively includes a movable valve body which, in case of an overpressure within the fluid duct, moves from a normal position to an overpressure position, wherein the valve body is configured to be self-retaining in the overpressure position and returnable to the normal position by user operation, and/or the valve body acts position-dependent on a passage cross-section of the fluid duct, wherein the valve body reduces the passage cross-section in the overpressure position relative to the normal position.

In this shower head, according to one aspect of the invention, the valve body is configured to be self-retaining in the overpressure position and returnable to the normal position by user operation. In the present case, the term “self-retaining” refers to the characteristic of the valve body that, when it has moved into its overpressure position due to an overpressure in the fluid duct, it also remains in this position when the overpressure is no longer present in the fluid duct. The return movement of the valve body from its overpressure position to its normal position is accomplished by user actuation and therefore not automatically. This gives the user the opportunity first of all to clarify the cause of the overpressure and, if appropriate, to clean the shower head, in particular the shower jet outlet, if the overpressure is caused by dirt particles and/or lime scale deposits of the kind which can often occur, especially at the shower jet outlet. The user can then move the valve body back from its overpressure position to its normal position, ensuring that the shower head is once again in its normal operating state.

According to an additional or alternative aspect of the invention, the valve body acts in a position-dependent manner on a passage cross-section of the fluid duct, wherein the valve body reduces the passage cross-section in the overpressure position relative to the normal position. According to this aspect of the invention, the overpressure valve does not ensure that an additional overpressure opening is exposed or that there is a corresponding increase in the overall fluid outlet cross-section of the shower head in the case of overpressure, as compared with normal operation, but ensures a reduction in the passage cross-section of the fluid duct from the fluid inlet to the shower jet outlet. This reduces the volume flow of fluid passed through the shower head. The volume flow reduction may be so great, for example, that the fluid only drips in individual droplets from the shower head. This encourages the user to intervene or to service the shower head.

Thus, in each of its stated aspects, the invention reliably and advantageously avoids a situation where the shower head is operated for a prolonged time with excessive pressure in the shower head housing.

In a development of the invention, the shower jet outlet comprises a plurality of j et outlet openings, and the fluid duct comprises a manifold chamber upstream of the jet outlet openings. The valve body acts on the passage cross-section of the fluid duct between the fluid inlet and the manifold chamber. As a result, the valve body can reduce the passage cross-section of the fluid duct at this point when an overpressure occurs in the fluid duct, thereby making it possible to reduce the volume flow of fluid into the manifold chamber. As a result, the overpressure in the manifold chamber can be dissipated via the jet outlet openings and an indication can be given to the user by the reduced volume flow that there is a case of overpressure.

In a development of the invention, the valve body is cylindrical and movable within the shower head housing in axial direction and comprises a radially protruding annular collar including at least one valve passage opening. The fluid duct comprises a valve chamber in which the valve body with its annular flange is guided for axial movement, as well as at least one valve inlet opening leading into the valve chamber, and at least one valve outlet opening leading out of the valve chamber. The valve body with its annular collar reduces a passage cross-section of the at least one valve outlet opening in the overpressure position relative to the normal position. In this embodiment, the annular collar thus serves as a kind of movable valve closing body which exposes the at least one valve outlet opening when the valve body is in its normal position and blocks or closes the valve outlet opening at least partially, i.e. completely or partially, when the valve body is in the overpressure position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one valve inlet opening extends axially, as does the at least one valve passage opening. In the normal position of the valve body, the valve passage opening is in alignment with the valve inlet opening. This represents an implementation of the fluid duct in this region which is advantageous in terms of design and flow engineering.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shower head in the shower head housing comprises a hollow cylindrical valve seat body on which the valve body is held for guided movement and in which the valve chamber is located. The at least one valve outlet opening extends with a radial directional component outwards through a cylinder surface section of the valve seat body, optionally additionally with an axial directional component. This design measure is also advantageous for the overpressure valve in terms of flow engineering and operation.

In a development of the invention, the shower head comprises a jet disk forming the shower jet outlet, and the valve body is located on a same side of the shower head housing as the jet disk. Since the jet disk side of a shower head is generally the side of the shower head which faces the user during operation or which he can at any rate easily see and is easily accessible to him, this measure has the advantage that the user can readily identify the valve body and its respective instantaneous position and can easily handle it when required, e.g. to move it back from its overpressure position to its normal position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the valve body in the overpressure position projects beyond the exterior side of the jet disk, whereas, in the normal position, it does not project beyond the exterior side of the jet disk, i.e. is flush therewith or, alternatively, is set back relative thereto. As a result, the user can detect very easily from the position of the valve body relative to the jet disk whether or not there is a case of overpressure.

In a development of the invention, the overpressure valve comprises a magnet arrangement which retains the valve body in the normal position by a magnetic force, wherein the magnetic force can be overridden by an overpressure in the fluid duct but not by the pressure forces of any normal fluid pressure fluctuations in the fluid duct during normal, fault-free operation of the shower head. In this case, the magnetic force decreases in strength with increasing distance of the valve body from the normal position down to an irrelevance value in the overpressure position. In the present case, the term “irrelevance value” means that the value of the magnetic force in the overpressure position is equal to zero or at any rate so small that the magnetic force is no longer capable of moving the valve body automatically back from its overpressure position to its normal position while overcoming normal frictional forces and any residual fluid pressure forces, even when the case of overpressure is no longer present, i.e. the overpressure in the fluid duct has been dissipated. In other words, the magnetic force has no relevance for the return motion of the valve body from its overpressure position to the normal position. The user can therefore decide for himself when he wants to move the valve body back into its normal position, for which purpose he can actuate it accordingly. In the normal position, the valve body is then once again retained by the action of the magnetic force.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed descriptions of the illustrative embodiment best exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The shower head shown inFIGS. 1 and 2comprises a shower head housing1, a fluid inlet2into the shower head housing1, a shower jet outlet3out of the shower head housing1, a fluid duct4within the shower head housing from the fluid inlet2to the shower jet outlet3, and an overpressure valve5. The overpressure valve5is pressure-coupled to the fluid duct4, i.e. a fluid pressure prevailing in the fluid duct4in a corresponding region, to which the overpressure valve5is operatively coupled, acts on the overpressure valve5. The overpressure valve5installed in the shower head shown inFIGS. 1 and 2is illustrated in greater detail inFIGS. 3 to 7. It is self-evident that this overpressure valve can also be used in other shower heads.

The overpressure valve5includes a movable valve body6which, in case of an overpressure within the fluid duct4, moves from a normal position NS, shown inFIGS. 3 to 5, to an overpressure position US, shown inFIGS. 6 and 7and in the installed state ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

In corresponding embodiments of the invention, the valve body6is configured to be self-retaining in the overpressure position USand returnable to the normal position NSby user operation. This means that, when the valve body5has adopted its overpressure position owing to an overpressure in the fluid duct4, the valve body5remains in the overpressure position USuntil the user moves it back into the normal position NS, even if the overpressure is in the meantime no longer present in the fluid duct4.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the overpressure valve5has a magnet arrangement7for this purpose, the magnet arrangement7retaining the valve body6in the normal position NSby a magnetic force FMoverridable by an overpressure in the fluid duct4, wherein the magnetic force FMdecreases in strength with increasing distance of the valve body6from the normal position NSdown to an irrelevance value in the overpressure position US. In alternative embodiments, the overpressure valve includes some other conventional source of a retaining force instead of a magnet arrangement of this kind, the source subjecting the valve body in the normal position NSto a retaining force that can be overridden by the overpressure in the fluid duct4and that no longer acts on the valve body6in the overpressure position USor, at least, is no longer sufficiently strong to be able to move the valve body6back into the normal position NSitself when the overpressure is no longer present.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the magnet arrangement7is formed by two interacting magnets7a,7b, of which a first magnet7bis arranged in the or on the valve body6and a second magnet7ais arranged in or on a part of the overpressure valve5which remains stationary. The two magnets7a,7bcan be permanent magnets, for example, and can provide the magnetic force FMas a magnetic force of attraction between the two magnets7a,7b, which, as is conventional, decreases rapidly in strength with increasing distance between the two magnets7a,7b. The magnets7a,7bare suitably chosen to ensure that, in the normal position NSof the valve body6, in which they are the shortest distance apart, they provide the magnetic force FMwith the strength required to hold the valve body6in its normal position NS, while, in the overpressure position USof the valve body6, in which the two magnets7a,7bare at the furthest distance apart, the magnetic force FMhas fallen virtually to zero or, at any rate, to an extent sufficient to ensure that it is no longer capable of moving the valve body6back into the normal position NSagainst any frictional forces and any fluid pressure forces that may be present.

In corresponding embodiments of the invention, the valve body6acts in a position-dependent manner on a passage cross-section DQof the fluid duct4, such that it reduces the passage cross-section DQin the overpressure position USrelative to the normal position NS.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the valve body6is cylindrical and movable within the shower head housing1in axial direction AR, wherein, as is conventional, axial direction ARshould be taken to mean the direction parallel to a longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical valve body6, and the direction opposite thereto. The valve body6comprises a radially protruding annular collar8including at least one valve passage opening9. The fluid duct4comprises a valve chamber10in which the valve body6with its annular collar8is guided for axial movement. The fluid duct4furthermore has at least one valve inlet opening11leading into the valve chamber10, and at least one valve outlet opening12leading out of the valve chamber10. The valve body6with its annular collar8reduces the passage cross-section DQof the at least one valve outlet opening12when the valve body6is in the overpressure position USrelative to the operating state when the valve body6is in the normal position NS. In other words, the valve body6reduces the passage cross-section DQof the fluid duct4in the region of the at least one valve outlet opening12in the example shown. In alternative embodiments, the valve body acts at a different point of the fluid duct4on the passage cross-section DQof the latter in such a way as to make it smaller when an overpressure occurs. The reduction in size can consist in that the passage cross-section DQis completely shut off, i.e. reduced to zero, or, alternatively, to some other desired, reduced cross-sectional value between the value zero and a maximum value which the passage cross-section DQhas at the relevant point of the fluid duct4when the valve body6is in the overpressure position US.

The valve chamber10, the at least one valve inlet opening11and the at least one valve outlet opening12can all be formed on the overpressure valve5, for example. In the example shown, the valve chamber10is in the form of an annular cylinder but, alternatively, it can have some other form, e.g. the form of a full cylinder. In corresponding embodiments, a plurality of valve inlet openings11and valve passage openings9is provided in each case, the openings being arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction in each case, for example.

In corresponding embodiments, both the at least one valve inlet opening11and the at least one valve passage opening9extend purely axially, i.e. parallel to the axial direction AR, wherein the at least one valve passage opening9extends axially in alignment with the at least one valve inlet opening11when the valve body6is in the normal position NS. In alternative embodiments, the at least one valve inlet opening and/or the at least one valve passage opening extends at least partially obliquely or perpendicularly to the axial direction AR. The flush transition from the respective valve inlet opening11to the respective valve passage opening9enables the fluid to enter the valve chamber10unhindered via the at least one valve inlet opening11, through the at least one valve passage opening9, in the normal position NSof the valve body6.

In the example shown, the respective valve passage opening9of the valve body6lies opposite, with no clearance or at most a small clearance, the respective valve inlet opening11in an associated front end region of the valve chamber10in the normal position NS. In the overpressure state US, the annular collar8of the valve body6is in the other front end region of the valve chamber10and consequently at a significant distance from the valve inlet opening or openings11, and therefore the one or more valve inlet openings11are not shut off by the valve body6, even in the case of overpressure.

In corresponding embodiments, the overpressure valve5comprises a hollow cylindrical valve seat body13on which the valve body6is held guided and in which the valve chamber10is located. In this case, the at least one valve outlet opening12extends with a radial directional component outwards through a cylinder surface section13aof the valve seat body13.

In the example shown, the valve seat body13is manufactured from a plurality of assembled parts while, in alternative embodiments, it is manufactured in one piece. In the example shown, it is provided in one front end region with an external thread14, by means of which it can be screwed into an internal thread of a joint sleeve15of the shower head1, as shown. In the example shown, the valve seat body13furthermore has, in an axially central region, an external thread16, to which a shower outlet part1aof the shower head housing1is screwed. In alternative embodiments, the valve seat body13can be connected to the shower head housing in some other conventional manner.

In the example shown, the shower outlet part1ais manufactured with a flat shower construction, thereby making the shower head inFIGS. 1 and 2suitable particularly as a flat overhead shower of the kind known for use in sanitary shower rooms or shower installations. The shower outlet part1ais coupled in an articulated manner, by means of a ball joint16, to a shower head connection part1b, via which the shower head can be connected to a fluid supply and which forms the fluid inlet2. In alternative embodiments, the shower head is not configured in this flat construction but is of some other conventional design, e.g. a bell-shaped design. As shown, a screen element17is optionally arranged as a dirt/particle screen in the fluid duct section of the shower head connection part1bbetween the fluid inlet2and the at least one valve inlet opening11.

Apart from the overpressure valve5, the shower outlet part1ahas a construction that is known per se, which ends on the fluid outlet side with a jet disk18, which forms the shower jet outlet3and is provided with one or, usually, a multiplicity of jet outlet openings19, which are arranged in a pre-determinable configuration over an outlet surface, e.g. a circular or rectangular surface, of the jet disk18.

In corresponding embodiments, as in the example shown, the fluid duct4comprises a manifold chamber20upstream of the jet outlet openings19, from which manifold chamber the jet outlet openings19lead and into which the at least one valve outlet opening12leads. In this shower head, the valve body6thus acts on the passage cross-section DQof the fluid duct4between the fluid inlet2and the manifold chamber20, in this case specifically between the valve chamber10and the manifold chamber20.

In corresponding embodiments, the valve body6is located on a same side of the shower head housing1as the jet disk18forming the shower jet outlet3. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the valve body6is located specifically in a central region of the jet disk18. In alternative embodiments, the valve body6is arranged eccentrically with respect to the jet disk18.

In corresponding embodiments, the valve body6in the overpressure position NSprojects beyond the exterior side of the jet disk18. The shower head is shown in this state inFIGS. 1 and 2. In the normal position NS, the valve body6does not project beyond the exterior side of the jet disk18, i.e. it is positioned set back relative thereto within the shower head housing1or ends substantially flush with the exterior side of the jet disk18. The latter case is implemented in the example shown, i.e. in the normal position NSan exterior side6aof the valve body6is flush with an exterior side13bof the valve seat body13, which, for its part, ends substantially flush with the exterior side of the jet disk18.

As can be seen especially fromFIG. 5, a central pin13cis formed on the valve seat body13in the illustrative embodiment shown, the pin13cdelimiting the annular valve chamber10radially on the inside and being capable of acting as an additional aid for the guidance of the valve body6, for which purpose the valve body6is of correspondingly hollow cylindrical design in an associated section6caxially between its annular collar8on the foot side and a head section6bending with the exterior side6a. A pressure duct21is formed between this hollow cylindrical section6cof the valve body6and the central pin13cof the valve seat body13, the duct21being in fluid communication with the valve chamber10and leading axially forwards as far as an end face22of the valve body head section6b.

In corresponding embodiments, the pressure duct21comprises one or more radial gaps extending axially or with an axial directional component, it being possible, for example, for each of the gaps to be formed by a groove extending axially or with an axial directional component on the outside of the central pin13cand/or on the inside of the hollow cylindrical valve body section6c. As an alternative, an annular gap which is continuous in the circumferential direction can be provided as a pressure duct21, or spacing webs extending axially or with an axial directional component can be provided on at least one of these two opposite surfaces, between which webs the interspaces forming the pressure duct21are then present.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the central pin13cserves simultaneously to retain the second magnet7a, while the first magnet7bis arranged in the head section6bof the valve body6. The magnets7a,7bcan there be fitted into corresponding holes which can, by way of example, be closed by means of a sealing screw23on the part of the central pin13cand by means of a covering cap24defining the exterior side6aof the valve body6on the part of the valve body6. As an alternative, these magnet insertion holes can remain unclosed or can be closed in some other way.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the respective valve outlet opening12leads out of the valve chamber10, in a region of the chamber10which is at the bottom in the figures, and extends radially outwards and axially forwards or outwards, i.e. downwards in the figures, through the relevant cylinder surface section13aof the valve seat body13, which can be of conically tapered configuration in this region, for example, as shown. In the example shown, a plurality of valve outlet openings12is provided in a manner distributed equidistantly in the circumferential direction. The number of valve outlet openings12can correspond to the number of valve passage openings9or differ therefrom.

In the normal state NS, the annular collar8of the valve body6is situated in the inner or rear end region of the valve chamber10, i.e. that at the top in the figures, wherein the respective valve passage opening9is in alignment opposite the associated valve inlet opening11and opens into this region of the pressure duct21. The valve outlet openings12are fully exposed without the valve body6restricting the passage cross-section DQof the fluid duct4, which is determined by the overall configuration of the shower head. Fluid supplied via the fluid inlet2consequently reaches the shower jet outlet3via the fluid duct4in this normal mode of the shower head, and emerges from there as a corresponding shower jet. To be more precise, during this process the fluid flows via the valve inlet openings11and the valve passage openings9into the valve chamber10and, from there, via the valve outlet openings12into the manifold chamber20, from where it is distributed between the jet outlet openings19.

As long as the fluid can flow substantially without hindrance and in a trouble-free manner, no overpressure occurs in the fluid duct4. Since the pressure duct21is not located in the main flow of the fluid duct4, it is not subject to any significant fluid pressure during the normal operation of the shower head and, in all cases, any fluid pressure force thereby possibly exerted on the valve body6, on the end face22of its head section6b, in an outward direction or downwards in the figures remains lower than the opposing attractive magnetic force FMof the two magnets7a,7b. Particularly after a relatively long period of operation of the shower head, relatively small particles and/or lime scale deposits can lead to constriction or blockages in the fluid duct4and particularly in the region of the shower jet outlet3. This applies particularly to shower heads in which the jet outlet openings19have only relatively small passage cross-sections, as is the case, for example, with sanitary showers which release what is referred to as a fine or needle jet as a shower jet. As a result, an overpressure may occur in the fluid duct4, i.e. a raised fluid pressure which is too high, higher than the fluid pressure in the normal shower mode, including normal pressure fluctuations, e.g. those caused by fluctuating pressure conditions in an upstream fluid supply. Such an overpressure is unwanted and can cause damage in the shower head housing1. This is prevented by the overpressure valve5.

If an overpressure occurs in the fluid duct4, e.g. in the manifold chamber20, this leads to a corresponding overpressure in the valve chamber10of the overpressure valve5pressure-coupled to the fluid duct4. The overpressure in the valve chamber10also forces the fluid into the pressure duct21, as a result of which the fluid presses with the corresponding overpressure against the end face22of the valve body6. The magnet arrangement7is configured in such a way that the magnetic force FMprovided by it in the normal position NSof the valve body6is lower than the oppositely acting fluid overpressure force which is exerted by the fluid under overpressure on the valve body6, on the end face22thereof. As a result, the valve body6is released from its normal position NS, counter to the magnetic force FM, and, following the fluid overpressure force, moves axially forwards or outwards, i.e. downwards in the figures, as far as its overpressure position US, which represents the end position of the valve body6opposite to the normal position NS. Given appropriate system design, this extension movement of the valve body6counter to the magnetic force FMand counter to any frictional forces and counter to the ambient pressure acting on the exterior side6aof the valve body6can additionally be supported by an entrainment effect of a residual flow of fluid in the valve chamber10. It is self-evident that the overpressure valve5responds also when the shower head is connected to a fluid supply, the fluid supply pressure of which is higher than that for which the shower head is designed.

In the overpressure position US, the annular collar8of the valve body6blocks the respective valve outlet opening12completely or, alternatively, partially, as can be seen, for example, inFIGS. 2 and 5. In this overpressure position US, the valve body6thereby reduces the passage cross-section DQof the fluid duct4at this point to zero or, at least, to a value lower than the effective passage cross-section of the fluid duct4during normal operation. This has the effect that the volume flow of the fluid at the shower outlet3is greatly reduced in corresponding fashion. For the user, this can be detected easily from the fact that the shower jet stops or that the shower head then only drips at the shower outlet3. Moreover, the user can detect the case of overpressure which has occurred from the fact that the valve body6has moved into its extended overpressure position USand therefore projects forwards or outwards beyond the exterior side of the jet disk18. As an option, the valve body6can be produced in such a way that its color is set off from the surrounding jet disk region, at least in its region projecting beyond the jet disk18. This can make it even easier for the user to detect the fact that the overpressure valve5has responded.

Owing to the at least partial blockage of the valve outlet opening or openings12, the fluid can no longer flow into the manifold chamber20, or can no longer flow into it in a significant quantity, in the overpressure position USof the valve body6, and therefore overpressure which is initially present there can dissipate through the escape of the remaining fluid at the shower outlet3. The user can then take the required measures, e.g. that of cleaning the shower head as a whole or at least at the shower outlet3, i.e. can remove the cause of the case of overpressure which has occurred. During this process, the valve body6initially remains in its overpressure position USsince the two magnets7a,7bare now so far apart that they no longer exert any, or at least no significant, magnetic force on the valve body6, i.e. the magnet arrangement7is not capable of automatically pulling the valve body6back into the normal position NS. Once the user has removed the cause of the fluid overpressure, they push the valve body6back into its normal position NS, e.g. by pressing with one finger against the exterior side6aof the valve body6. In other words, the head section6bof the valve body6in the example shown forms, as it were, a valve pin which the user can push back into the retracted normal position NSfrom the extended overpressure position US.

The magnetic force FMof the magnet arrangement7then once again holds the valve body6in its normal position NS. In the normal position NS, the valve body6once again completely exposes the passage cross-section DQof the fluid duct4, in the example shown by completely exposing the valve outlet openings12. The shower head is thus once again ready for use.

As the illustrative embodiments shown and mentioned above make clear, the invention makes available a shower head with an advantageous overpressure valve function. Damage to the shower head can be avoided by means of the integrated overpressure valve. In corresponding implementations of the shower head, the overpressure valve can ensure a reduction in the fluid volume flow, thus enabling the overpressure to dissipate through the escape of residual fluid from the shower head, preferably via the shower jet outlet, without fluid emerging at the overpressure valve itself. In corresponding implementations of the shower head, the user can easily detect a case of overpressure, remove the causes of the overpressure and then move the valve body back from its overpressure position to its normal position under the user's own control.

It is self-evident that the shower head according to the invention can be used both for any type of sanitary shower and for non-sanitary showers if and to the extent that there is a need to protect the shower head from any fluid overpressure in the fluid duct.