Abstract:
The present invention provides a combination showerhead with rotary button switching comprising fixing holder, two showerheads and switching mechanism. The fixing holder comprises an inlet passage and at least two diversion passages of which one is connected to the second showerhead and others are connected to the first showerhead. The switching mechanism comprises diversion plate, rotary button and transmission mechanism Diversion plate is rotatably connected to fixing holder and cooperated with inlet and diversion passages to switching waterway by rotating. The rotary button is rotatably connected to fixing holder for user&#39;s operation. The transmission mechanism is connected to diversion plate and rotary button in transmission way. The combination showerhead is of reasonable layout, compact structure and easy operation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to combination showerhead, and especially to a combination showerhead with rotary 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 rotary 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 rotary button switching comprises: a fixing holder ( 10 ) mounted to supporting arm, a first showerhead ( 20 ) mounted to the fixing holder ( 10 ), a second showerhead ( 30 ) and a switching mechanism ( 40 ), the fixing holder ( 10 ) comprises an 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 rotatably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ) and cooperated with the inlet passage ( 11 ) and the diversion passages ( 12 ) to switching waterway; 
         [0008]    a rotary button ( 42 ), which is capable of being rotatably connected to the fixing holder ( 10 ) for user&#39;s operation; and 
         [0009]    a transmission mechanism, which is connected between the diversion plate ( 41 ) and the rotary button ( 42 ) in transmission way. 
         [0010]    In one preferred embodiment, the transmission mechanism comprises a first gear ( 43 ) connected to the diversion plate ( 41 ) in transmission way and a second gear ( 44 ) connected to the rotary button ( 42 ) in transmission way, and the first gear ( 43 ) and the second gear ( 44 ) are engaged. 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment, both of the first gear ( 43 ) and the second gear ( 44 ) is bevel gear and rotation axes of the diversion plate ( 41 ) and the rotary button ( 42 ) intersect each other. 
         [0012]    In another preferred embodiment, the the switching mechanism ( 40 ) further comprises an elastomer ( 46 ) abuts against between the diversion plate ( 41 ) and the fixing holder ( 10 ); a shaft ( 45 ) is fixed below the diversion plate ( 41 ), the first gear ( 43 ) is fixed to the shaft ( 45 ); a fixing rod is fixed on the back of the rotary button ( 42 ) and the second gear ( 44 ) is fixed to the fixing rod. 
         [0013]    In another preferred embodiment, front of the diversion plate ( 41 ) is convexly disposed with a connecting column ( 411 ), the rotary button ( 42 ) is convexly disposed with a connecting seat ( 423 ), and the connecting column ( 411 ) and the connecting seat ( 423 ) are in demountable connection. 
         [0014]    In another preferred embodiment, 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 ) with at least part of the rotary button ( 43 ) locates outside for user&#39;s operation. 
         [0015]    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 is connected to 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. 
         [0016]    In another preferred embodiment, the second showerhead ( 30 ) is fixed showerhead fixed on the front lower part of the fixing holder ( 10 ). 
         [0017]    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 ) is disposed along the rotation axis of the first showerhead ( 20 ) and part of the diversion passage ( 12 ) is connected to the first showerhead ( 20 ) along the hose piece ( 21 ). 
         [0018]    In another preferred embodiment, the assembly portion ( 13 ) is disposed on back of the common portion ( 15 ). 
         [0019]    In another preferred embodiment, a damping mechanism ( 60 ) is disposed between one forking portion ( 16 ) of the fixing holder ( 10 ) and the first showerhead ( 20 ). 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    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 ) is disposed along the rotation axis of the first showerhead ( 20 ) and part of the diversion passage ( 12 ) is connected to the first showerhead ( 20 ) along the hose piece ( 21 ). 
         [0022]    Comparing to the existing technology, the present invention has advantages as follows: 
         [0023]    1. The switching mechanism is disposed on fixing holder; the first showerhead could be new design or existing one; the rotation of rotary button drives diversion plate to rotate through gear transmission, thereby the switching is realized; The switching with rotary button driving is novel and convenient for one-handed operation, which is of reasonable layout, compact structure and easy switching. 
         [0024]    2. Gear is applied in waterway switching of showerhead; since the arrangement of the gears&#39; axes is relatively free, position and direction of rotary button and diversion plate could be arranged according to structure requirement of fixing holder, which is of reasonable layout, compact structure and easy operation since rotation angle and force can be adjusted by gears. 
         [0025]    3. Both of the first gear and the second gear are bevel gears and rotation axes of diversion plate and rotary button intersect each other, which is of reasonable layout and compact structure. 
         [0026]    4. Front of diversion plate is convexly disposed with connecting column, rotary button is convexly disposed with connecting seat, and connecting column and connecting seat are in demountable connection, which is east assembly with simple and compact structure. 
         [0027]    5. Back of the fixing holder is convexly disposed with a assembly portion and the switching mechanism is disposed inside the assembly portion, part of rotary button locates outside for user&#39;s operation, which is of reasonable layout, compact structure, good-looking appearance and easy operation. 
         [0028]    6. A connecting portion for handle showerhead positioning is disposed on the front lower part of the fixing holder, which facilitates user to take down or lay up with good-looking appearance. 
         [0029]    7. 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, user can adjust the angle of water flowing according to needs, which is convenient. 
         [0030]    8. Damping mechanism is disposed between forking portion of fixing holder and the first showerhead so that the first showerhead could be positioned in a certain angle. 
         [0031]    9. 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 
         [0032]    The present invention will be further described with the drawings and the embodiments. 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0034]      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. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates a B-B cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates a local enlarged schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  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. 6  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. 7  illustrates an exploded perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of the damping mechanism of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the damping mechanism of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  illustrates an A-A cross-section schematic diagram of the damping mechanism of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of another preferred embodiment. 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exploded perspective schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of another preferred embodiment. 
           [0045]      FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-section schematic diagram of the combination showerhead of another preferred embodiment. 
           [0046]      FIG. 14  illustrates a C-C cross-section schematic diagram of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 15  illustrates a schematic diagram of the interoperation of rotary button and diversion plate of another preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0048]    Combination showerhead with rotary button switching refers to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 10  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 . 
         [0049]    One diversion passage  12  is connected to second showerhead  30 ; 
         [0050]    Others are connected to first showerhead  20 , wherein: 
         [0051]    If the first showerhead  20  has one water spray function, the amount of diversion passages  12  is 2. 
         [0052]    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 . 
         [0053]    Fixing holder  10  has a common portion  15  and two forking portion  16  forking extend from common portion  15 , and 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 . 
         [0054]    Switching mechanism  40  is mounted in assembly portion  13  for switching any of diversion passages to connect to inlet passage so as to realize switching of each diversion passage, or, switching of diversion passages and close up of all of diversion passages. Switching mechanism  40  comprises diversion plate  41 , rotary button  42  and transmission mechanism. Diversion plate  41  is rotatably connected to fixing holder and cooperated with inlet passage  11  and diversion passages  12  to switching waterway. For example, diversion plate could have through hole and with alignment or separation of through hole and diversion passages to realize water connection or disconnection, or, diversion plate could be fan-shaped and cover diversion hole of diversion passage  12  completely or incompletely to realize water connection or disconnection. Rotary button  42  is rotatably connected to fixing holder  10  and rotation axis of rotary button  42  is perpendicular to rotation axis of diversion plate  41 . Transmission mechanism comprises a first gear  43  connected to diversion plate  41  in transmission way and a second gear  44  connected to rotary button  42  in transmission way, and the first gear  43  and the second gear  44  are engaged. 
         [0055]    Specifically, the assembly portion is disposed with through hole, front of rotary button  42  is convexly disposed with handle  421 , back of rotary button  42  is fixedly disposed with fixing rod  422 . Rotary button  42  is rotatably connected on through hole of fixing holder  10  so that handle  421  locates out of assembly portion  13  for user&#39;s poking. A shaft  45  is fixed below diversion plate. Both of the first gear  43  and the second gear  44  is bevel gear, the first gear  43  is fixed on lower end of shaft  45 , the second gear  44  is fixed on inner end of fixing rod  422 , and the first gear  43  and the second gear  44  are engaged. Elastomer  46  abuts against between diversion plate  41  and fixing holder  10  so that front surface of diversion plate  41  closely contacts fitting surface of fixing holder, and waterway switching is realized by relative rotation between diversion plate  41  and fitting surface of fixing holder. Fitting surface of fixing holder is disposed with diversion holes corresponding to diversion passages  12 , diversion holes are switched with rotation of diversion plate and thereby switching of diversion passages is realized. There could be gasket disposed on fixing holder according to needs and gasket is disposed with through holes one to one corresponding to diversion holes, in this case, gasket forms the fitting surface. 
         [0056]    In this embodiment, fixing holder further comprises fixing seat  131 , diversion body  132  and connecting seat  133  disposed in assembly portion. Diversion cavity is formed between connecting seat  133  and fixing seat  131  which form part of inlet passage  11 . Diversion plate  41  is rotatably connected on fixing seat  131 , and the surface of fixing seat  131  corresponding to diversion cavity is supposed to be the fitting surface. Elastomer  46 , such as spring, is configured between diversion plate and connecting seat  133  so that diversion plate  41  abuts against the fitting surface 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 realized, 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 assembly hole  135 , sides of assembly hole extends downward to form column; the diversion cavity is concavely disposed with assembly groove  136  with smaller opening and bigger interior and side face of diversion cavity is further concavely disposed with mouth  137  connected to interior of assembly groove  136 . The column inserts into opening of assembly groove  136  in adaptation. The shaft pass through the assembly hole with end inserts deeply into interior of assembly groove  136 . The first gear is placed into interior of assembly groove  136  through mouth  137 . Shaft and the first gear is configured in interior of assembly groove  136 , and thereby diversion plate is easy to be assembled and disassembled coordinated with elastomer. Connecting seat  133  is mounted to supporting arm via ball joint  134 . 
         [0057]    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 L-shape, and other diversion passages  12  are disposed along hose piece  21  and tube  22  to connect to the first showerhead. If there is only one diversion passage  12 , then hose piece  21  and tube  22  could be part of diversion passage. 
         [0058]    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. 
         [0059]    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  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 . 
         [0060]    In another preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 11  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. 
         [0061]    Front face of the diversion plate  41  is convexly disposed with a connecting column  411 , the rotary button  42  is convexly disposed with a connecting seat  423 , and the connecting column  411  and the connecting seat  423  are in demountable connection. Connecting mechanism is disposed to rotate diversion plate  41  to fixing holder and so that rotary button, diversion plate and fixing holder could be connected together and diversion plate together with rotary button could rotate relative to fixing holder. In this embodiment, fixing holder further comprises assembly seat  138  fixed in the assembly portion and mounted to supporting arm via ball joint  134 . The connecting mechanism comprises supporting board connected on back of assembly seat and screw pass through supporting board and screwed on diversion plate. 
         [0062]    Connecting column  411  is disposed with several dangling arms and outer wall of dangling arm is convexly disposed with snap  412 . Connecting seat  423  is a sleeve and disposed with slot  424 . Connecting column  411  inserts into connecting seat  423  and snap  412  inserts into slot  424 , and thereby the two components are capable of connecting together in removable way. 
         [0063]    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.