Abstract:
A rotating and vibrating massage shower nozzle comprised of a first transmission shaft and a flexible transmission cable. The first transmission shaft rotates a drive gear, a driven gear, and a second transmission shaft. The second transmission shaft has a drive ring gear installed on it that impels a bevel gear train or an eccentric cylinder, with the said bevel gear train controlling the revolution of a rotary output coupling such that a bathing accessory mounted on it is spun and the said imbalanced action of the eccentric cylinder effectively generates vibrations for massage applications.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1) Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention herein relates to handheld shower nozzles utilized for bathing, specifically a rotating and vibrating massage shower nozzle equipped with an interchangeable brush head, massage head, or other accessory attachment and that is capable of being switched between rotation and vibration modes.  
           [0003]    2) Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Conventional shower nozzles are typically capable of only converting tap water into a cascading drizzle, with the user turning a control on the shower nozzle to adjust the flow intensity as required. Many manufacturers have equipped such shower nozzles with massage capability, but it is commonly known that there are limits as to how much massage performance is achievable and, furthermore, water is wasted in the process.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide a rotating and vibrating massage shower nozzle in which a bathing accessory (such as a brush or massage head) can be interchangeably attached to the shower nozzle and, furthermore, the shower nozzle is capable of controlling the rotation or vibration of the said bathing accessory to effectively achieve cleaning, massaging, and the promotion of blood circulation.  
           [0006]    To achieve the said objective, the technology applied includes:  
           [0007]    A first transmission shaft and a flexible transmission cable; the said first transmission shaft sequentially rotates a drive gear, a driven gear, and a second transmission shaft; the said second transmission shaft has a drive ring gear installed on it that impels a bevel gear train or an eccentric cylinder, with the said bevel gear train controlling the revolution of a rotary output coupling such that the bathing accessory mounted on it is spun and the said imbalanced action of the eccentric cylinder effectively generates vibrations for massage applications. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of the invention herein.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is an exploded drawing of the invention herein.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional drawing of the internal structure of the invention herein.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of the rotating shower nozzle structure.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a magnified cross-sectional drawing of FIG. 4 as viewed from the perspective of line  5 - 5 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein during rotation and vibration.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is magnified, partial cross-sectional drawing of FIG. 6 as viewed from the perspective of line  7 - 7 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is partial cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein depicting the shower nozzle spray power. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the invention herein is comprised of:  
         [0017]    A first and a second case half  10  and  10 ′ that are assembled together to form a hollow containment space.  
         [0018]    A first transmission shaft  20  situated in the said containment space has two bearings  21  and  21 ′ for balanced rotation, with the said two bearings  21  and  21 ′ respectively seated in bearing mounts  13  and  13 ′.  
         [0019]    A drive gear  22 , one end of which is tightly sleeved onto the said first transmission shaft  20 , with the other end consisting of a toothed surface  221 .  
         [0020]    A driven gear  23  having a stepped stem  231 , with a toothed surface  232  at one end that is enmeshed with the toothed surface  221  of the said transmission shaft  20 ; and the said driven gear  23  has a rectangular hole  233  formed in its other end.  
         [0021]    A first locating ring  24  consisting of a hollow annular structure having a plurality of projecting blocks  24  along its outer surface and that is fitted into a first ring mount  14 , with the stem  231  of the said driven gear  23  inserted into the said first locating ring  24 .  
         [0022]    An eccentric cylinder  25  having a counterweight lobe  251  disposed on its outer surface as well as a first sleeve section  252  and a second sleeve section  253  at it two ends; the said first sleeve section  252  is inserted into the said first locating ring  24 ; and internal splines  254  are formed lengthwise along its interior.  
         [0023]    A packing spring  26  having one end inserted into the stem  231  of the said driven gear  23  and the other end placed against the first sleeve section  252  of the said eccentric cylinder  25 , and which is situated inside the said first locating ring  24 .  
         [0024]    A second locating ring  27  consisting of a hollow annular structure, one end of which accommodates the insertion of the second sleeve section  253  of the said eccentric cylinder  25 , having a plurality of projecting blocks  271  along its outer surface that provides for fitting into a second ring mount  14 ′ of the case.  
         [0025]    A bevel gear train  28  consisting of a first gear  282  and a second gear  283 ; one end of the first gear  282  is inserted into the said second locating ring  27  and internal splines  281  are formed lengthwise along its interior; and the second gear  283  is enmeshed to the first gear  282 .  
         [0026]    A second transmission shaft  30 , one end of which is inserted through the said first gear  282 , second locating ring  27 , eccentric cylinder  25 , and first locating ring  24  and then snugged into the rectangular hole  233  of the said driven gear  23 , with the said rectangular hole  233  having an appropriate depth that provides for the linear travel of the said second transmission shaft  30 ; the said second transmission shaft  30  is inserted into a drive ring gear  31  and the said drive ring gear  31  is enmeshed with the internal splines  281  inside a minimum of one said first gear  282 ; and the said second transmission shaft  30  has a stop collar  32  that mounts it to the end section of the said first gear  282 .  
         [0027]    A spring-loaded shifting mechanism  40  consisting of a spring  401 , a transmission column  41 , and a plunger column  45 ; the said spring  401  is situated such that it is against the said stop collar  32  and its other end is against a C-shaped clip ring  33  on the second transmission shaft  30 .  
         [0028]    The said transmission column  41  has a tubular extremity  411  of reduced diameter at one end that provides for insertion into and against the end section of the second transmission shaft  30 , enabling the transmission column  41  to linearly push the said second transmission shaft  30 , but remain capable of free rotation at the shaft end section; the said transmission column  41  has a rod-like tip  412  of a narrowed diameter extending from its other end that is inserted into the said plunger column  45 ; the said transmission column  41  has a plurality of guide slots  413  disposed along its outer periphery, a detent slot  414  of a bevel gear-profiled design situated between each guide slot  413 , a first slanted edge  415 , and a second slanted edge  416 .  
         [0029]    The said plunger column  45  is crowned with a plurality of spurs  451  protruding at intervals that correspond to the end section of the said transmission column  41 , a guide slot  452  is formed between each spur  451 , and an angular slip actuation edge  453  is disposed on its open end; the other end of the plunger column  45  extends outside the said case halves  10  and  10 ′ and is covered with a soft plastic cap  451 .  
         [0030]    The said shower nozzle case halves  10  and  10 ′ have a plurality of internally protruding slide rails  47  that correspond to the guide slots  413  situated in the said spring-loaded shifting mechanism  40 . When assembled, the guide slots  413  and  452  of the said transmission column  41  and plunger column  45  are set onto the said slide rails  47 , at which time the first and second slanted edges  415  and  416  of the said transmission column  41  are respectively positioned against the slip actuation edge  453  of the said plunger column  45 ; the tensile force of the said spring  401  exerted against the second transmission shaft  30  is transferred to the said transmission column  41  and plunger column  45  such that the plunger column  45  end section is pushed out of the case halves  10  and  10 ′.  
         [0031]    A rotary output coupling  50 , one end of which is connected to the second gear  283  of the said bevel gear train  28 , with a bathing accessory (such as a brush head  51  or a massage head  52 ) attached to its other end (as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7).  
         [0032]    A handle  60 , the end portion of which is sleeved in an elastomeric damper grip  61  that minimizes vibration.  
         [0033]    A flexible transmission cable  70  having a soft protective lining on its exterior; one end of the said flexible transmission cable  70  is connected to a motor  71 , while the other end is inserted through the said handle  60  and the said damper grip  61 , and then conjoined to the said first transmission shaft  20 .  
         [0034]    A water hose  80 , one end of which is attached to a water source, with the other end is inserted through the said handle  60  and the said damper grip  61  into the said rotary output coupling  50 ; after the faucet is opened, water immediately flows into the brush head  51  or massage head  52  attachment section and is discharged from the orifices  511  and  521 .  
         [0035]    As indicated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, when the user depresses the said soft plastic cap  451 , the said plunger column  45  is moved inward, the said transmission column  41  pushes the said second transmission shaft  30 , the said second transmission shaft  30  compresses the said spring  401  by means of its C-shaped clip ring  33 , and the guide slots  413  the said transmission column  41  travel along the said slide rails  47 ; the first slanted edge  415 , the second slanted edge  416 , and the slip actuation edge  453  are articulated in a coordinated movement by their angular faces and the rebound tension of the spring  401 , thereby causing the said transmission column  41  to rotate until the said slide rails  47  become engaged in the said detent slots  414  and the said second transmission shaft  30  is pushed inward and positioned such that a section of the drive ring gear  31  on it is enmeshed with the internal splines  281  of the first gear  282  and another section is enmeshed with the internal splines  254  of the eccentric cylinder  25 . In this state, the motor  71  is switched on and the said flexible transmission cable  70  rotates the said first transmission shaft  20 , drive gear  22 , driven gear  23 , and the second transmission shaft  30 , with the drive ring gear  31  then causing the rotation of the said first gear  282  and eccentric cylinder  25 . At the same time, the said first gear  282  rotates the said second gear  283 , rotary output coupling  50 , and the brush head  51  or massage head  52 , thereby enabling the brush head  51  or massage head  52  to spin and be used for cleansing. Due to the effect of the counterweight lobe  251  while the eccentric cylinder  25  is rotating, the shower nozzle structure vibrates to provide for massaging applications.  
         [0036]    By depressing the plunger column  45  once again, the said plunger column  45  is pushed against the said transmission column  41  until the said detent slots  414  are disengaged from the said slide rails  47 , the transmission column  41  rotates to the next guide slot  413  relative to the said slide rails  47 , and the said second transmission shaft  30  pushes the said transmission column  41  along the said slide rails  47  as the said spring  401  is released, thereby enabling the end section of the plunger column  45  to extend outside the said case halves  10  and  10 ′; in this state, since the drive ring gear  31  of the second transmission shaft  30  recedes back and is disengaged from the internal splines  254  of the eccentric cylinder  25 , and is only enmeshed with the first gear  282  and the internal splines  281  of the said bevel gear train  28 , the first gear  282  of the bevel gear train  28  is rotated by the second transmission shaft  30  and the said second gear  283  rotates the said rotary output coupling  50  as well as the brush head  51  or massage head  52  attached to it, which is among the shower nozzle rotation modes of the invention herein.  
         [0037]    As indicated in FIG. 8, invention herein has a spray force maintenance device consisting of the driven gear  23  and the packing spring  26 . When any component behind the drive gear  22  cannot be impelled, the second transmission shaft  30  is incapable of rotation and pressure is transferred to the said driven gear  23 , at which time since the driven gear  23  cannot be smoothly rotated by the drive gear  22 , the interlocking enmeshment causes the linear flexile movement of the driven gear  23  inside the first locating ring  24 , resulting in the production of an impact sound by the said drive gear  22  that prompts the user of the mechanical problem and that utilization should be stopped.