Abstract:
The present invention provides a combination showerhead with push button switching comprising fixing holder, two showerheads and switching mechanism. The first showerhead is mounted to fixing holder; fixing holder comprises inlet passage connected to supporting arm and two diversion passages connected to two showerheads respectively; switching mechanism comprises diversion plate, valve core, push button and elastomer. Diversion plate is connected to fixing holder movably and cooperated with inlet and diversion passages to switching waterway by predetermined angle rotating. Valve core is slidably connected to fixing holder and connected to diversion plate in transmission way to drive diversion plate to rotate by back-and-forth sliding. Push button is movably connected to fixing holder and connected to valve core in transmission way to drive valve core to slide by user&#39;s pushing. The combination showerhead is novel and convenient for one-handed operation with reasonable layout and compact structure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to combination showerhead, and especially to a combination showerhead with push button switching. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The existing combination showerhead, as Chinese patent No. 103521369A disclosed, is a shower system comprising a top-spray showerhead with at least two spray types and a handle showerhead, and the top-spray showerhead is disposed with an inlet passage for water supply and first diversion passages corresponding to spray types; the top-spray showerhead is disposed with a second diversion passage connected to the handle showerhead by a hose; a switching mechanism disposed on the top-spray showerhead is capable of switching waterway by cooperating with the inlet, first passages and second passages, thereby any of the diversion passage could be selected to connect with the inlet, however, the structure is not compact enough and needs further improvement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The objective of present invention is to provide combination showerhead with push button switching, which overcome the disadvantages of the existing technology. 
         [0004]    The technical proposal of the present invention is that: 
         [0005]    A combination showerhead with push button switching comprising: a fixing holder ( 10 ) mounted to supporting arm, a first showerhead ( 20 ) mounted to the fixing holder, a second showerhead ( 30 ) and a switching mechanism ( 40 ), the fixing holder ( 10 ) comprises a inlet passage ( 11 ) connected to the supporting arm and at least two diversion passages ( 12 ) of which one is connected to the second showerhead ( 30 ) and others are connected to the first showerhead ( 20 ); 
         [0006]    wherein the switching mechanism ( 40 ) comprises: 
         [0007]    a diversion plate ( 41 ), which is capable of being movably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ) and cooperated with the inlet passage ( 11 ) and the diversion passages ( 12 ) to switching waterway by predetermined angle rotating; 
         [0008]    a valve core ( 42 ), which is capable of being slidably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ) and connected to the diversion plate ( 41 ) in transmission way to drive the diversion plate ( 41 ) to rotate in predetermined angle by back-and-forth sliding; 
         [0009]    a push button ( 43 ), which is capable of being movably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ) and connected to the valve core ( 42 ) in transmission way to drive the valve core ( 42 ) to slide by user&#39;s pushing; and 
         [0010]    an elastomer ( 44 ), which is capable of resetting the valve core ( 42 ). 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment, the switching mechanism ( 40 ) further comprises a shaft ( 45 ) capable of fixing to the diversion plate ( 41 ), and the end of the valve core ( 42 ), the end of the shaft ( 45 ) and the fixing holder ( 10 ) are disposed with ratchets; the diversion plate ( 41 ) is rotatable and movable along rotation axis relative to the fixing holder ( 10 ); the elastomer ( 44 ) abuts against between the diversion plate ( 41 ) and the fixing holder ( 10 ); the ratchets disposed on the end of the valve core ( 42 ), the shaft ( 45 ) and the fixing holder ( 10 ) work in co-ordination to form pencil lead mechanism, and back-and-forth sliding of the valve core ( 42 ) drives the shaft ( 45 ) along with diversion plate ( 41 ) to rotate in predetermined angle. 
         [0012]    In another preferred embodiment, the push button ( 43 ) is slidably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ), the push button ( 43 ) comprises a fixing plate ( 431 ) and a forking part ( 432 ) is formed on the end of the fixing plate ( 431 ), the valve core ( 42 ) is concavely disposed with a connecting groove ( 421 ); the forking part ( 432 ) inserts into the connecting groove ( 421 ) and the push button ( 43 ) drives the valve core ( 42 ) to slide. 
         [0013]    In another preferred embodiment, the back of the fixing holder ( 10 ) is convexly disposed with a assembly portion ( 13 ) and the switching mechanism ( 40 ) is disposed inside the assembly portion ( 13 ), the push button ( 43 ) is movably connected to the assembly portion ( 13 ) with at least part locates outside for pushing. 
         [0014]    In another preferred embodiment, the second showerhead ( 30 ) is handle showerhead; the outlet of the diversion passages ( 12 ) connected to the second showerhead ( 30 ) is disposed on the sidewall of the assembly portion ( 13 ), and the handle showerhead connects with corresponding outlet through a flexible hose ( 50 ), front lower part of the fixing holder ( 10 ) is disposed with a connecting portion ( 14 ) for handle showerhead positioning. 
         [0015]    In another preferred embodiment, the second showerhead ( 30 ) is fixed showerhead fixed on the front lower part of the fixing holder ( 10 ). 
         [0016]    In another preferred embodiment, the fixing holder ( 10 ) has a common portion ( 15 ) and two forking portion ( 16 ) forking extend from the common portion ( 15 ), the first showerhead ( 20 ) is rotatably connected between the two forking portion ( 16 ); a hose piece ( 21 ) disposed along the rotation axis of the first showerhead ( 20 ) is connected to the first showerhead ( 20 ), and part of other diversion passages ( 12 ) are disposed along the hose piece ( 21 ). 
         [0017]    In another preferred embodiment, the assembly portion ( 13 ) is disposed on the back of the common portion ( 15 ). 
         [0018]    In another preferred embodiment, the first showerhead ( 20 ) is capable of rotatably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ), and a damping mechanism ( 60 ) is disposed between the fixing holder ( 10 ) and the first showerhead ( 20 ). 
         [0019]    In another preferred embodiment, the damping mechanism ( 60 ) comprises a locating holder ( 61 ), a turning block ( 62 ) and a cam ( 63 ), at least two dangling pieces ( 64 ) disposed separately in circumferential direction on the locating holder ( 61 ) form a rotary sleeve-like structure with at least part of the inner wall being of radii changing, the cam ( 63 ) is disposed in the rotary sleeve to match the radii changing part, the turning block ( 62 ) is sleeved on the rotary sleeve, friction force of the dangling pieces ( 64 ) and the turning block ( 62 ) changes with rotation of the cam ( 63 ) relative to the radii changing part and thereby the damping changes. 
         [0020]    In another preferred embodiment, the fixing holder ( 10 ) has a common portion ( 15 ) and the first showerhead ( 20 ) is rotatably connected to the common portion ( 15 ); at least a hose piece ( 21 ) disposed along the rotation axis of the first showerhead ( 20 ) is connected to the first showerhead ( 20 ), and part of other diversion passages ( 12 ) are disposed along the hose piece ( 21 ). 
         [0021]    Comparing to the existing technology, the present invention has advantages as follows: 
         [0022]    1. The switching mechanism is disposed on fixing holder; the first showerhead could be new design or existing one; the push button drives the valve core to slide and the valve core drives the diversion plate to rotate, thereby the switching is realized; The switching with push button driving is novel and convenient for one-handed operation, moreover, the position of push button and valve core could be disposed according to the requirement of the fixing holder, which is of reasonable layout and compact structure. 
         [0023]    2. All the valve core, shaft and fixing holder are disposed with ratchets, the ratchets works in co-ordination to form pencil lead mechanism, push of valve core drives shaft to slide upward and rotate positively in 1/2 predetermined angle, and reset of valve core drives shaft to slide downward and rotate positively in 1/2 predetermined angle again, thereby back-and-forth sliding of the valve core drives the shaft along with diversion plate to rotate in predetermined angle, which is of reasonable layout, simple structure, dependable switching stability and easy operation. 
         [0024]    3. The push button is slidably connected to the fixing holder, the push button comprises a fixing plate and a forking part is formed on the end of the fixing plate, the valve core is concavely disposed with a connecting groove; the forking part inserts into the connecting groove, which is easy assembly with simple and compact structure. 
         [0025]    4. Back of the fixing holder is convexly disposed with a assembly portion and the switching mechanism is disposed inside the assembly portion, the push button is movably connected to the assembly portion with at least part locates outside for pushing, which is of reasonable layout, compact structure, good-looking apperance and easy operation. 
         [0026]    5. A connecting portion for handle showerhead positioning is disposed on the front lower part of the fixing holder, which facilitate the users to take down or lay up with good-looking appearance. 
         [0027]    6. The fixing holder has common portion and forking portions, the first showerhead is rotatably connected between the two forking portions; since the first showerhead is rotatable, users can adjust the angle of water flowing according to needs, which is convenient. 
         [0028]    7. Damping mechanism is disposed between the fixing holder and the first showerhead so that the first showerhead could be positioned in a certain angle. 
         [0029]    8. With rotation of the cam relative to the radii changing part, friction force of the dangling pieces and the turning block changes and thereby the damping changes, which is of simple and compact structure and easy to use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    The present invention will be further described with the drawings and the embodiments. 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment under condition that water flows from the first showerhead. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates a B-B cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a local enlarged schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates a C-C cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of  FIG. 2  under condition of the first function. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a C-C cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of  FIG. 2  under condition of the second function. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment under condition that water flows from both of the first showerhead and second showerhead. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment under condition that water flows from the second showerhead. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of the damping mechanism of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the damping mechanism of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  illustrates an A-A cross-section schematic diagram of the damping mechanism of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of another preferred embodiment. 
           [0044]      FIG. 14  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of another preferred embodiment. 
           [0045]      FIG. 15  illustrates an exploded perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of another preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    Combination showerhead with push button switching refers to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12  comprises fixing holder  10 , first showerhead  20 , second showerhead  30  and switching mechanism  40 . Fixing holder  10  could be mounted to supporting arm which could be water supply pipe fixed on the wall and the connection could be permanent connection or universal connection coordinate with spherical structure. The first showerhead  20  could be top spray showerhead or head showerhead mounted to fixing holder  10 . The first showerhead  10  could have one or more function for different water spray types. Fixing holder  10  comprises inlet passage  11  connected to supporting arm and at least two diversion passages  12 . 
         [0047]    One diversion passage  12  is connected to second showerhead  30 ; 
         [0048]    Others are connected to first showerhead  20 , wherein: 
         [0049]    If the first showerhead  20  has one water spray function, the amount of diversion passages  12  is 2. 
         [0050]    If the first showerhead  20  has more than one water spray function, the amount of other diversion passages  12  could be 1, and the switching of first showerhead and second showerhead is realized by switching mechanism  40  while switching of water spray function on the first showerhead  20  is realized by another switching mechanism which is additional; or the amount of other diversion passages  12  could be equal to the amount of function with one to one connection, and switching mechanism  40  is capable of switching the second showerhead  30  and functions of the first showerhead  20 , as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . 
         [0051]    Fixing holder  10  has a common portion  15  and two forking portion  16  forking extend from common portion  15 , and the back of common portion  15  is convexly disposed with assembly portion  13 . In this embodiment, fixing holder  10  comprises front cover  17  and back cover  18 , first cover  17  and back cover  18  are fixed and connected to form common portion and forking portion described above. Through hole is disposed on back cover corresponding to common portion and the edge of through hole extends backwards to form assembly portion  13 . 
         [0052]    Switching mechanism  40  is mounted in assembly portion  13  for switching at least two diversion passages  12  to connect with inlet passage so as to switching the first showerhead and the second showerhead/different functions of the second showerhead. The switching could be between water flows from the first showerhead or second showerhead/any water spray function of second showerhead, or, between water flows from the first showerhead or second showerhead/any water spray function of second showerhead only or both of the first showerhead and second showerhead. Switching mechanism  40  comprises diversion plate  41 , valve core  42 , push button  43 , elastomer  44  and shaft  45 . Diversion plate  41  is connected to fixing holder  10  in a way that it is rotatable and movable along rotation axis relative to the fixing holder and cooperated with inlet passage  11  and diversion passages  12  so as to switch waterway by predetermined angle rotating. For example, diversion plate  41  could have through hole and with alignment or separation of through hole and diversion passages to realize water connection or disconnection, or, diversion plate  41  could be fan-shaped and with completely or incompletely coverage to realize water connection or disconnection. Valve core  42  is slidably connected to the assembly portion  13  and connected to diversion plate  41  in transmission way to drive diversion plate  41  to rotate in predetermined angle by back-and-forth sliding. Push button  43  is slidably connected to fixing holder  10  and connected to valve core  42  in transmission way to drive valve core  42  to slide by user&#39;s pushing. Shaft  45  is fixed on diversion plate  41 . Elastomer  44  is capable of resetting valve core  42 . 
         [0053]    Specifically, assembly portion is disposed with slide through hole and push button is slidably connected in slide hole and at least part locates outside for pushing. Push button  43  comprises fixing plate  431  and forking part  432  is formed on the end of fixing plate  431 . Valve core  42  is concavely disposed with annular connecting groove  421  and forking part  432  inserts into connecting groove  421 , thereby push button  43  can parallel slides together with valve core  42 . Valve core  42  slides along axis of assembly portion drive by push button. The end of valve core  42  and shaft  45  are disposed with ratchets  422  and  451  respectively, and fixing holder  10  is disposed with ratchets also, ratchets works in co-ordination to form pencil lead mechanism. Valve core drives shaft  45  together with diversion plate to slide upward and rotate positively in 1/2 predetermined angle, and reset of valve core drives shaft  45  together with diversion plate to slide downward and rotate positively in 1/2 predetermined angle again. Elastomer  44  abuts against between sides of diversion plate back to shaft and assembly portion, since diversion plate moves upward, elastomer is in pressure, as push button released, elastomer is also released to drive diversion plate slide back, so as to reset valve core. When user push the push button upward, valve core slide upward together with valve core, valve core drive shaft  45  together with diversion plate to slide upward and rotate positively in 1/2 predetermined angle, and elastomer stores energy meanwhile; when release the push button, elastomer is also released and push diversion plate to slide downward and rotate positively in 1/2 predetermined angle together with shaft again, thereby push valve core and push button to reset. 
         [0054]    In this embodiment, fixing holder further comprises fixing seat  131 , diversion body  132  and connecting seat  133  disposed in assembly portion; connecting seat  133  is mounted to supporting arm via ball joint  134 . Diversion cavity is formed between connecting seat  133  and fixing seat  131  which form part of inlet passage  11 . Elastomer  44 , such as spring, is configured between diversion plate and connecting seat  133  so that diversion plate  41  is connected on the bottom of fixing seat  131  and sealed. Fixing seat  131  is disposed with at least two diversion holes to form part of diversion passages  12  respectively, and with rotating of diversion plate, different diversion holes connecting to diversion cavity is switched, so that switching of different diversion passages connecting to inlet passage  11  is realized. Diversion body  132  is mounted to fixing seat  131  and comprises at least two water passages which connecting to diversion holes respectively and form part of diversion passages  12 . Fixing seat  131  is disposed with through-hole, shaft pass through through-hole rotatably while valve core is slidably connected in through-hole, and ratchets of fixing holder is disposed on through-hole; diversion body  132  is concavely disposed with fixing groove and fixing plate of push button is connecting in connecting groove  421  of valve core passing through fixing groove. 
         [0055]    The first showerhead  20  is rotatably connected between two forking portion  16 . A hose piece  21  disposed along the rotation axis of the first showerhead  20  is connected to the first showerhead  20  and a tube  22  is disposed on the other end. The hose piece  21  and tube  22  forms a L-shape, and other diversion passages  12  are disposed along hose piece  21  and tube  22 . If there is only one diversion passage  12 , then hose piece  21  and tube  22  could be part of diversion passage. 
         [0056]    A damping mechanism  60  is disposed between forking portion  16  of fixing holder  10  and the first showerhead  20 , which comprises locating holder  61 , turning block  62  and cam  63 . Locating holder  61  comprises a base and two dangling pieces  64  disposed separately in circumferential direction of locating holder  61  which forms a rotary sleeve-like structure as lancing forms between two dangling pieces  64 . Outer wall of rotary sleeve-like structure is rotative surface, while inner wall is radii changing and forms radii changing part, cam  63  is disposed in the rotary sleeve to match the radii changing part; turning block  62  is sleeved on the rotary sleeve, friction force of dangling pieces  64  and turning block  62  changes with rotation of the cam  63  relative to the radii changing part and thereby the damping changes. In a preferred situation, the base is perforative so that one end surface of cam  63  is exposed and disposed with matching groove  631  for driving cam to rotate by users. Locating holder  61  and turning block  62  are connecting on components with relative rotation respectively, such as forking portion and the first showerhead. 
         [0057]    In one embodiment, the second showerhead  30  is handle showerhead. Front lower part of common portion  15  is disposed with a connecting portion  14  for handle showerhead positioning. Connecting portion could, but not limited, be a plug base or magnetic structure. The diversion passage  12  connected to the second showerhead  30  is further comprises a connector  46  to connect one water passage of the diversion body, and end opening of connector  46  forms water outlet. The connector could pass through assembly portion  13 , and the handle showerhead is connected to outlet of corresponding diversion passage  12  via a hose  50 . 
         [0058]    In another preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 13  to  FIG. 15 , the different comparing to above embodiment is that: the second showerhead  30  is fixed showerhead fixed on the front lower part of the common portion of fixing holder  10 , and water passage of the diversion body connects to fixed showerhead directly. The common portion is convexly disposed with a convex part  19 , and the first showerhead is convexly disposed with two convex lugs  23 . Convex part  19  is configured between two convex lugs and the first showerhead is connected to convex part via pivot. The pivot is hollow for the other diversion passages passing through to connect to the first showerhead. The damping mechanism is configured between the convex part and the convex lugs, which comprises a connecting part  66  disposed on convex part  19 . There could be one connecting part  66  having cylindrical surface, or more than one connecting parts  66  arrange in circumferential direction separately with each one has cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface is convexly disposed with damping teeth  661 . Convex lug  23  is concavely disposed with groove  24  which sleeve-connecting to the connecting part. Inner wall of groove  24  is also convexly disposed with damping teeth  221  separately mating damping teeth  661  to realize damping. 
         [0059]    In another preferred embodiment, the diversion plate is rotatably connected to the fixing holder  10  without ratchets. Sliding of the diversion plate is limited, and with co-ordination of ratchets in the valve core and shaft, the valve core drives shaft together with diversion plate to rotate in predetermined angle directly. 
         [0060]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof for carrying out the patent for invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the patent for invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.