Patent Publication Number: US-8109451-B2

Title: Shower spray device and related delivery nozzles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shower spray device and to a particular type of nozzle for delivering water intended for this spray device. 
     Shower spray devices of known type generally comprise a water distribution chamber in fluid communication with at least one inlet and with a plurality of outlet nozzles for water delivery. Some embodiments are also provided with intakes to allow suction of a certain quantity of air into the distribution chamber and allow a certain aeration of the delivered water. 
     According to latest trends, shower spray devices 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 patent application No. EP-A1-1637231 by the same Applicant proposed a shower spray device formed by a lower plate, in which the water delivery nozzles are mounted, by an upper plate in which the inlet for the supplying water to the distribution chamber is obtained, and by an elastic sealing element, for example an O-ring, interposed between the two plates. The spray device is mounted by means of a central coupling element, also provided with water supply channels, which clamps the two plates together thus exerting pressure on the elastic sealing element interposed therebetween. 
     This solution has proved effective to satisfy the requirements of simple construction and limited costs, also obtaining a slim-line product which is particularly appreciated by the market. 
     However, when the dimensions of the spray device are increased, the problem arises of ensuring even distribution of the water to all the delivery nozzles and optimal peripheral seal, above all in view of the fact that, when the dimensions increase, the elastic sealing rings can have considerable constructional tolerances even within a same production batch, or even a non-uniform modulus of elasticity along various portions of the same ring. 
     For example, considering for simplicity the case of circular spray devices, the solution known from the aforesaid European patent application is effectively adapted to produce spray devices up to 50 cm in diameter, while problems of seal and/or uniform delivery can occur for larger diameters. 
     Moreover when the diameter, or in any case the dimensions of the spray device, is increased, correct positioning of the elastic sealing element prior to clamping of the two plates, performed using the central coupling, becomes increasingly difficult. These constructional difficulties can also influence the production costs of spray devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to propose a shower spray device which can be produced with large surface dimensions, and therefore with a high number of delivery nozzles, ensuring at the same time uniform water distribution to all the nozzles and excellent peripheral seal of the distribution chamber, regardless of the characteristics of the sealing ring used and/or of the dimensions of the spray device. Another object of the present invention is to propose a shower spray device of the aforesaid type which can be produced with a particularly thin section and large surface extension. 
     A further object of the present invention is to propose a shower spray device of the aforesaid type which in any case has a particularly simple construction and therefore which can be produced at limited costs. 
     These objects are achieved by the present invention, which relates to a shower spray device including at least one lower plate, in which a plurality of water delivery nozzles are mounted, at least one upper plate, in which at least one inlet for the water supply is formed, at least one elastic sealing element, interposed between the two plates, to delimit therewith a chamber for distributing water to the nozzles, and screw means for clamping the elastic sealing element between the two plates. 
     According to the present invention, the screw means include a plurality of threaded pins having at least one axial duct with an outlet open towards the outside to allow water delivery and at least one transverse duct to place the distribution chamber in fluid communication with the axial duct for water delivery. 
     In practice, the same threaded pins used to maintain the plates in close contact with the elastic sealing element also perform the function of delivery nozzles. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the threaded pins are inserted in through holes of the lower plate and are provided with a head portion suitable to abut against the outer surface of this plate. The remaining portion of the pins has a threaded outer portion which allows them to engage in internally threaded holes of the upper plate. 
     The pins are preferably installed along a closed perimeter line which surrounds the delivery nozzles in appropriate reciprocal positions according to requirements. 
     In this manner, the plates exert sufficient pressure on the entire elastic sealing element, regardless of its dimensions and of the dimensions of the spray device, thus ensuring correct distribution of delivery and optimal seal along the entire perimeter line of the spray device. 
     Another advantage of the solution proposed with the present invention is to be able to further decrease the thickness of the plates, or at least of the lower plate which supports the nozzles, thereby decreasing the weight of the spray device and consequently the cost of the material required to produced it. 
     The steps to mount the spray device are also particularly facilitated. In fact, after having inserted the threaded pins in the through holes of the lower plate, the elastic sealing element can be positioned correctly using the pins as reference or as a support for this sealing element, regardless of its dimensions and of the shape in plan view of the spray device. 
     The invention also relates to a water delivery nozzle formed by a threaded pin having at least one axial duct with an outlet open towards the outside to allow water delivery, and at least one transverse duct to place the distribution chamber of a shower spray device in fluid communication with the axial duct for water delivery. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention shall now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a spray device in unassembled condition according to a possible embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are section views according to respectively orthogonal planes of a clamping screw having the function of a nozzle such as those shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the head portion of the screw shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of the peripheral portions of a spray device according to a possible embodiment of the present invention in assembled condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The view of  FIG. 1  shows some of the components of a spray device according to a possible embodiment of the present invention. 
     The upper plate  10  includes an inlet  11  for water supply to the distribution chamber of the spray device and a plurality of threaded holes  13  positioned in proximity to the peripheral portion of the plate  10 . 
     The lower plate  20  is provided with through holes  21  for mounting the delivery nozzles  40  ( FIG. 5 ) and through holes  23  in positions corresponding exactly to the through holes  13  on the plate  10 . 
     The two plates  10  and  20  can be made, for example, of steel or other rigid metal, ceramic or plastic materials suitable for this use. 
     An elastic sealing element  5 , for example a closed O-ring, is interposed between the two plates  10  and  20  to delimit therewith a chamber for water distribution towards the delivery nozzles. 
     To clamp the elastic sealing element  5  between the two plates  10  and  20  screw means  30  are used, not only having the function of clamping, but also that of delivery nozzle. For clarity, the view of  FIG. 1  only shows some of the screw means  30 , but it is evident that in the embodiment represented these must be the same in number as the number of threaded holes  13  on the upper plate. 
     In the section views of  FIGS. 2 and 3  it can be noted that each of the screw means  30  is formed by a pin having a threaded portion  33  on the outer surface thereof and, at the opposite end, a head portion  36  having a greater diameter with respect to the rest to allow it to abut against the outer surface of the lower plate  20 . 
     Inside each pin an axial duct  31  is formed, which terminates in the head portion  36  with an outlet  32  open towards the outside to allow water delivery by the screw/nozzle  30 . 
     The connection in fluid communication between the axial duct  31  and the distribution chamber  50  of the spray device ( FIG. 5 ) is ensured by a transverse duct  34 . 
     A portion of the axial delivery duct  31  has a polygonal section in proximity to the outlet  32  to allow clamping or loosening of the pin by means of a tool. For example, as is highlighted in  FIG. 4 , the axial hole can have a hexagonal section to allow the use of a common “Allen” wrench (or hexagonal key), but other configurations can also be provided according to the tool to be used. 
     The pins can be made of plastic materials with high tensile strength, such as GRILAMID® TR55, or of metal materials such as steel or the like. In the case in which they are made of plastic materials, the pins having the function of screw/nozzle can also be transparent, for example to allow the passage of light which is projected from one or more sources towards the space in which water is delivered from the spray device. 
     To assemble a spray device according to the present invention, the screw means  30  are inserted in the through holes  23  of the lower plate  20 . The elastic sealing ring  5  is then positioned on the plate  20  using as reference, or as support, the pins projecting from the screw means  30  to obtain correct positioning of the sealing ring. The assembly is then completed by positioning the upper plate  10 , on which a supply coupling (not shown) has previously been mounted, to coincide with the hole  11 , above the sealing ring  5  and screwing the screw means  30  into the threaded holes  13  preferably exerting the same tightening torque on each screw/nozzle  30 , and if necessary tightening or loosening the screw if anomalies in water distribution to the nozzles or problems of peripheral seal of the spray device should occur. 
     In assembled condition, the peripheral portions of the spray device appear schematically as those shown in  FIG. 5 , which also shows the nozzles  40  and the distribution chamber  50  delimited by the plates  10 ,  20  and by the sealing ring  5 . The nozzles  40  can be of the type normally used in these products, for example nozzles made of elastomeric material and pressure-inserted in the holes  21 , or maintained in position by appropriate locking means, such as elastic washers or the like. 
     The screws/nozzles  30  are positioned along a closed perimeter line which surrounds all the delivery nozzles  40 , therefore coinciding with the lines along which the holes  13  and  23  are positioned on the respective plates  10  and  20 . 
     It can be noted that the head portions  36  of the screws/nozzles  30  have a shape substantially similar to that of the nozzles  40 , so as to be substantially imperceptible, except after careful observation, to avoid compromising the appearance of the spray device as a whole. However, if it is desirable to make the presence of the peripheral screws/nozzles  30  more evident, the head portions  36  could also have a significantly different shape and/or colour to the nozzles  40 . For example, the head portion  36  could be made with a hexagonal or quadrangular shape to allow loosening or clamping using a common adjustable wrench of standard size. 
     Various modifications can be made to the embodiments shown here without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape of the spray device can be differ from circular, for example quadrangular or other more or less regular fancy shapes. 
     The holes formed in the upper plate  10  can also be smooth holes, and in this case clamping nuts should be provided for the screws  30 . 
     The hexagonal hole of the duct  31  and of the outlet  32  can be positioned axially also in the threaded portion of the screw/nozzle  30 . In the same manner, in place of a hexagonal hole for an “Allen” wrench, other systems can also be provided to allow clamping or loosening, such as slots for screwdrivers positioned at one of the two ends, or polygonal shapes even produced in an extension of the threaded portion.