Patent Publication Number: US-7721979-B2

Title: Shower spray device

Description:
The present invention concerns a shower spray device, also known as “shower head”, and in particular a shower spray device which is connected to a rigid supply pipe located in a raised position inside a shower. 
     The shower spray devices of the known type generally comprise a water distribution chamber in fluid communication with at least one inlet and with a plurality of outlet nozzles for the delivery of water. Some embodiments are also provided with intakes to allow the suction of a certain quantity of air into the distribution chamber and allow a certain aeration of the delivered water. 
     According to the latest trends, spray devices for showers are currently being studied in terms of appearance and the type of jet requested. For example, spray devices having a design with simple clean-cut lines are generally popular, as well as spray devices that produce a “rain” type jet, with or without aeration of the water delivered. 
     The search for particularly attractive forms, for example with large dimension but particularly fine section can, however, involve construction difficulties in obtaining water distribution with substantially uniform jets delivered by the nozzles. Said construction difficulties inevitably reflect on the production costs of the spray devices. 
     The object of the present invention is to propose a shower spray device which has a particularly simple construction and which can therefore be produced at limited costs. 
     Another object of the present invention is to propose a shower spray device which can be constructed with a particularly small section. 
     These objects are achieved by the present invention thanks to a shower spray device having at least one water distribution chamber in fluid communication with at least one inlet for the water and with a plurality of water outlet nozzles, characterised in that at least the side wall of said distribution chamber consists wholly or partly of a sealing element. 
     The sealing element consists preferably of an elastic sealing element, for example an O-ring or the like. 
     The distribution chamber can for example be formed by a lower plate, in which the outlet nozzles are mounted, and at least one upper plate in which the inlet is obtained for the supply of water to the distribution chamber. The plates are superimposed on each other to retain the sealing element between them. 
     According to a possible embodiment, the plates consist of flat plates having shape and dimensions substantially similar, or with similar shape and dimensions slightly different. 
     In at least one of the plates a groove is preferably made which houses at least partially the sealing element. On the opposite plate a machined inner surface portion can also be provided if necessary, positioned in correspondence to the resting area of the sealing element. 
     A spray device according to the present invention can therefore be produced using particularly simple construction elements, such as plates for coupling to each other, and elements that can be easily found on sale, for example elastic rings like O-rings. The machining on the plates to obtain the groove for housing the sealing element and, if required, the surface portion machined for abutment of the sealing element on the opposite plate can also be produced simply and with limited costs. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be described, as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a section view of a possible embodiment of a shower spray device according to the present invention with two different types of nozzles; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a detail of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are section views of the connection element and the tightening means for the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view that illustrates another possible embodiment for the water supply connection; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are section views of the connection element and tightening means for the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a shower spray device which comprises, according to the present invention, a distribution chamber  10  for the water in fluid communication with an inlet  11  and with a plurality of outlet nozzles  13  and  14 . The latter, generally made of rubber or elastomeric material, are shown according to two possible different types, but it is understood that a device can also comprise only nozzles of the type indicated by  13 , or only nozzles of the type indicated by  14 , or both with a different distribution with respect to the one shown. 
     The chamber  10  is defined by a lower plate  20  which houses the outlet nozzles  13  and/or  14  and an upper plate  30  in which the inlet  11  is obtained. The plates  20  and/or  30  can be made for example of metallic materials, for example brass or stainless steel, or in other materials having characteristics suitable for this type of products, for example plastic, ceramic materials or the like. 
     According to the invention, the distribution chamber  10  is defined by a side wall consisting of a sealing element  40 , in particular an elastic sealing element such as a rubber ring like an O-ring. The plates  20  and  30  are therefore mounted superimposed to constitute the lower wall and the upper wall respectively of the chamber  10  and retain between them the sealing element  40  constituting the side wall. 
     In the embodiment herein illustrated the plates  20  and  30  are flat plates having a similar shape and slightly different dimensions, or both plates can have the same dimensions. The shape in plan view of the plates  20  and  30  can be of any type, for example the traditional circular type or also quadrangular (therefore square or rectangular). 
     Referring now also to the enlarged view of  FIG. 2 , it can be noted that the sealing element  40  is housed in a groove  15  obtained in the plate  20  and having a depth such as to leave protruding, in section, a portion of the sealing element sufficient to keep the plates  20  and  30  spaced in order to form the chamber  10  also when the sealing element  40  is compressed between the plates. The groove  15  can for example have a depth slightly lesser or greater than the radius of the section of the sealing element to be housed. 
     The opposite plate  30  can in turn have a machined surface portion (not shown), for example slightly knurled, herringbone patterned or the like, corresponding to the area where the sealing element  40  rests in order to help the grip of plate  30  on the sealing element. It is obvious, however, that the groove  15  can be alternatively obtained on the plate  30  while the plate  20  can have a machined surface portion if necessary. 
     As an example, the view of  FIG. 2  shows the plate  20  with a seat  21  without a respective nozzle  13  in order to illustrate its shape. Each of the nozzles  13  (or  14 ) is provided at the end with a perimeter flange  22  shaped so that it can be housed in the seat  21  obtained inside the lower plate  20 . 
     The nozzles  13  (or  14 ) can be retained in position for example by means of a washer  25 , for example a washer made of elastically or plastically deformable material which is press-fitted into the upper part of the seat  21  above the flange  22  of the respective nozzle. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show respectively a connection element  50  and a tightening means  60  which are screw-coupled to retain the plates  20  and  30  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, openings  61  are provided in the tightening means  60  for fluid communication of the connection  50  with the distribution chamber  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     An alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A and  5 B, provides for connection openings  71  obtained in the connection element  70  ( FIG. 5A ). The tightening means  80  ( FIG. 5B ) is coupled via its threaded portion  81  to a nut  75  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the plates  20  and  30  do not necessarily have to be both flat, or in any case can have similar or different curvatures. If necessary channels hollowed out in one or in both the plates  20  and  30  can also be provided to vary the distribution of the water in the chamber  10  and/or the configuration of the jets delivered by the nozzles  13  or  14 .