Patent Publication Number: US-7913934-B2

Title: Shower head with air introduction

Description:
The invention relates to a shower head having a housing and a surface where jets exit the housing. The surface has numerous exit apertures. Various forms of shower heads of that type have long been known and inherently have numerous modes of operation. 
     The problem addressed by the invention is creating a shower head of the aforementioned type having modes of operation that are unknown under the state of the art and, in particular, have beneficial uses. 
     That problem is solved by a shower head having those features stated under claim  1 . Beneficial embodiments of the invention are covered by the other claims, and shall be discussed in detail below. The wordings of the claims and the abstract are herewith made part of the content of this description by way of expressed reference thereto. 
     The shower head contains a housing whose end is closed off by a disk from which jets exit. This disk contains numerous apertures from which jets exit that may be specially configured by means of certain arrangements. In particular, the shower head contains a large, flat housing. The air intake may, for example, be configured such that it introduces air into the housing through the disk from which jets exit, for example, directly at the center of the, preferably planar, disk from which jets exit. 
     In order to arrive at a particularly judicious distribution of the aerated water within the housing, and thus a particularly judicious distribution of the aerated jets outside the housing, according to the invention, under an elaboration thereon, the shower head may contain means for forming several, discrete jets inside the housing. These discrete water jets will thus be formed within the housing, rather than after they exit the housing, which will allow undertaking certain procedures related to the water jets while they are still within the housing. 
     In elaborating on the invention, the aerator may be configured such that it aerates water upstream from the means for forming jets, in which case, the means for forming jets will serve to form, from an aerated jet, discrete, aerated jets that may then be distributed within the shower head&#39;s housing, for example, over a surface having a diameter that is larger, for example, roughly ten to twenty times larger, than that of the water inlet. 
     However, the means for forming jets and/or the aerator may also be, and it is preferred by the invention that it/they be, configured such that discrete jets that have previously been formed will be jointly and/or severally aerated, which will allow avoiding need for having to allow for their later aeration when forming the water jets. 
     In further elaborating on the invention, the shower head may have guides in order to guide the aerated water jets to the exit apertures over the full extent of the jet disk, preferably in a uniform manner, or in a nonuniform manner, if desired. 
     The guides may be arranged at various locations on, or within, the shower head, for example, in the distribution chamber, which is configured immediately upstream from the jet disk. However, the guides may also be arranged where the formed jets are aerated, or where the aerated jets are formed. 
     For example, in elaborating thereon, the guides and/or the aerator may be configured such that they generate turbulence in the aerated jets, which, if it occurs, will, among other things, represent suitable means for extending jets&#39; dwell times within the shower head&#39;s housing in order to therewith obtain longer and/or closer contact with the devices present in the shower head&#39;s housing. 
     In elaborating on the invention, the aerator may be configured such that it generates an air stream that is incident on the water stream at a right angle thereto, where, as has been mentioned, the former may be incident on discrete water jets that have previously been formed. 
     However, the aerator may also be, and the invention covers the case where the aerator is, configured such that it generates discrete air jets or air streams, each of which will then be separately incident on the water stream. 
     In particular, it may be provided that every air jet is coordinated to a water jet on which it is incident. A full, or merely partial, segregation of air streams and water streams may be conducted within the housing, which will allow aerating the discrete water jets to differing degrees, or aerating them at a different location. 
     In order to generate the discrete water jets, the means for forming jets may, for example, have a perforated disk that is arranged at a right angle to the water stream. Every perforation will then generate a water jet. As has been mentioned, these water jets may be either totally, or merely partially, isolated from one another in order that various, discrete, narrow streams will form within a shared, common volume of water. 
     The aerator may have a central collar, or hub, through whose interior ambient air enters the interior of the housing. The base of the hub may, for example, have a smooth surface that, together with an associated mating surface, forms a flat, annular chamber that directs the air stream at the water. However, the base of the hub may be, and the invention covers the case where the base of the hub is, also configured such that it has radial air guides, for example, grooves, that lead to a segregation of the air stream. 
     The ends of the radial air guides, for example, the grooves or channels, are aligned on the apertures in the perforated disk. That alignment may, for example, be such that the centerlines of the grooves are aligned on the centers of the apertures. However, it will also be feasible to provide a tangential alignment such that the centerlines of the grooves range from off-center with respect to, to tangential to, the apertures in the perforated disk. 
     The air guides may be precisely radial or slightly inclined. 
     The hub, on whose inner end air flows essentially radially along a plane orthogonal to its longitudinal axis, may also contain guides for the aerated jets on its lateral surface, which is cylindrical. These guides might be the grooves that are aligned on the apertures in the perforated disk. These guides serve to keep the aerated jets discrete within the shower head&#39;s housing, that is, to delay, or hinder, their recombination. 
     The grooves may primarily follow the axial direction, but may also be slightly inclined, for example, resemble an extra-coarse thread. 
     A deflection by a corresponding, conical surface formed on the lateral surface of the hub may take place at the base of the hub, that is, at that location where the water stream is to be diverted radially outward, and into the interior of the shower head&#39;s housing. That deflection may also take place gradually by, for example, providing that the hub&#39;s lateral surface blends into a curved surface terminating in a radial plane. That curved surface, gradual transition, or deflection may also be present, or take place, regardless of whether axial water guides are present. 
     The deflectors may, if the application in mind demands, also have discrete channels that, if present, may be either straight and orthogonal to the hub&#39;s longitudinal axis, straight and inclined, or curved. 
     Guides that may be aligned on the deflectors&#39; deflection axes may be arranged within the shower head&#39;s housing, that is, upstream from the jet disk, which is intended to yield an even distribution of the aerated water jets over the entire surface of the jet disk. The guides may be situated on, for example, the housing&#39;s inner wall or on an insert that is present within the housing. 
     In elaborating thereon, the shower head may, in addition to a housing, a surface from which jets exit that has exit apertures, and a segregation into at least two zones, have a selector. That selector is capable of switching the water intake between a first zone and a second zone. A water inlet that channels water into the shower head is also provided. An air intake is provided for the purpose of aerating water jets exiting the shower head. The air intake aerates water that enters the shower head, and does so at a location between the water inlet and the surface from which jets exit. The air intake is activatable and deactivatable, i.e., may be switched between its activated state and deactivated state. According to the invention, the selector and the air intake are intercoupled such that the air intake will be switched from the activated state to the deactivated state, or from the deactivated state to the activated state, when the selector is actuated. The air intake will thus change its activation state whenever it is switched from the first zone to the second zone. In other words, according to the invention, a dual function applies whenever the selector is actuated, which also makes it clear that the selector might operate the other way around, i.e., switch from one zone to the other whenever operation of the air intake is activated or deactivated. 
     That approach yields a beneficial dual function. Actuating a single control triggers two operations. In particular, operation of the air intake may be activated or deactivated by choosing to combine the zones or making its operation contingent upon combining them. 
     In elaborating on the invention, the first zone might be configured in the form of a section of the surface from which jets exit, where the former might, for example, be a central section thereof. In this conjunction, the second zone might be the entire surface from which jets exit. For example, operation of the air intake might be activated whenever the selector is set to the second zone or to the entire surface from which jets exit, which has the advantage that the introduction of air, or the aeration of the water jets, will allow creating streams of water exiting the shower head that appear voluminous, which, in view of the greater number of exit apertures, will be of benefit if a large area is involved. 
     The selector is beneficially manually actuatable. Either a knob, a slide, or similar may be depressed in order to actuate it. It will be beneficial if an entire and, in particular, large housing component, may be moved relative to another housing component or the remainder of the housing. 
     Both zones, or all zones, may be connected to the water inlet via a distribution chamber that supplies them with water. The distribution chamber may beneficially cover the full areas of all zones or the full area of the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit, which will guarantee a good supply of water to all zones and all exit apertures on the surface from which jets exit. The selector may be configured such that it is arranged, and acts, in the distribution chamber. When set to the first zone, it might restrict the coverage of the distribution chamber to that area corresponding to the first zone. When set to another zone, or the second zone, the restriction of the coverage of the distribution chamber might be adjusted to suit the area of the other zone involved. When set to provide coverage of the entire surface from which jets exit, the restriction of the distribution chamber&#39;s coverage might be eliminated in order that it will cover the full extent of the surface from which jets exit. 
     The selector may have a cap that may particularly preferentially be configured such that it will be capable of restricting the coverage of the distribution chamber. Restricting the coverage of the distribution chamber may be readily accomplished by providing that the cap may abut against the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit. That system is preferably sealed. Restriction of the distribution chamber&#39;s coverage is preferably accomplished by employing a wall as cap. The area on that wall to be involved should preferably form that part of the distribution chamber that corresponds to the selected area on the surface from which jets exit. 
     In order to improve the sealing of the system, a formed seal may be provided. For example, a lip seal will be suitable for that purpose. It may abut against a seat that faces upstream and merges into the restricted distribution chamber, in which case, rising water pressure will contribute to its sealing action. 
     One opportunity for fabricating a surface from which jets exit is choosing an elastic material, for example, an elastomer, which might be a rubbery elastomer, for that purpose. A wall or a cap might be emplaceable on the upstream side of such a jet disk in order to effect a sealing action. An aforementioned, protruding seal may beneficially be formed onto the upstream side of the jet disk, which will obviate need for employing a separate seal. 
     Water is beneficially inducted into the shower head centrally, in any event, in a vicinity that is situated a short distance upstream from the distribution chamber, which will allow achieving the most uniform distribution over the surface from which jets exit. A central aerator that inducts air into the shower head, or directs air onto the surface from which jets exit, will also be beneficial. Induction of water may beneficially be from the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit, or the top of the shower head. An aerator may transit a central aperture in the surface from which jets exit, i.e., protrude into the shower head&#39;s housing from that side thereof from which water exits. 
     A channel for inducting air that may both transit the surface from which jets exit and even be joined thereto, or attached in the vicinity thereof, may be provided. The selector may also be connected to the water inlet, or attached thereto. In the case of one embodiment of the invention, the surface from which jets exit may be moved relative to the water inlet in order to switch and activate the shower head, in which case, a shutter on the water inlet may then be employed to shut or open the channel for inducting air and, for example, a wall on the selector, would simultaneously restrict the distribution chamber&#39;s coverage. 
     Although, as has been mentioned, air may be inducted through that side of the shower head from which water exits, i.e., through the surface from which jets exit, it will be beneficial if air exits the aeration channel in a direction orthogonal to the water intake or water inlet. Air is inducted under exploitation of the Venturi effect, and a turbulent mixing of air in the water will occur. Air may also be distributed throughout the inducted water using that approach. 
     In the case of one embodiment of the invention, the water intake may have numerous apertures that may be annularly distributed about a centerline, where the apertures may beneficially be elongated slots in order to, among other things, accelerate the discrete water jets. Air from the air intake may enter immediately upstream of the apertures due to, for example, the aforementioned Venturi effect, which will allow attaining a thorough mixing of air and water. 
     Turbulence-generating devices situated upstream, referenced to the direction of water flow, from the location where air enters may also be provided. The mixture of water and entrained air will strike those turbulence-generating devices, which, for example, might be in the form of multistage cascades, and will become even more turbulent and admixed. Such turbulence-generating devices are beneficially distributed about a centerline of the shower head&#39;s housing, or about a channel for inducting air. For example, they might be formed on the outer walls of the channel, which will be particularly indicated if the channel for inducting air is tubular, in which case, it might be attached to the exit end of the shower head. 
     In addition to their turbulence-generation function, the turbulence-generating devices may be configured for providing that inducted water will be distributed over the full extent of the upstream side of the surface from which jets exit enclosed within the distribution chamber, or deflecting and distributing inducted water. It will be beneficial if an approximately uniform distribution of the inducted water entering the distribution chamber occurs. 
     The shower head proposed by the invention may, in particular, also find application as a side-mounting shower head. Due to the admixing with air, the water jets acquire a longer range, which, in the case of a vertically oriented surface from which jets exit, also has the benefit that the water jets will strike a standing body situated at a certain distance from the shower head over an extended area and at the desired height. Since air induction occurs through the surface from which jets exit from that side thereof from which water exits, configuring, arranging, and installing a side-mounting shower head from a coming generation of shower heads will be neither complicated nor more difficult than in the case of known side-mounting shower heads that lack air admixing. 
     Those and other features of the invention will be evident from the claims, this description, and the figures, where the respective individual features involved may represent themselves alone or several such in the form of subcombinations thereof implemented in an embodiment of the invention and in other areas, and beneficial and inherently patentable versions, for which patent protection is herewith claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       A sample embodiment of the invention is depicted in the figures and will be described in detail below. The figures depict: 
         FIG. 1  a sectioned view of a shower head according to the invention having a water exit confined to a first central area and lacking air introduction, and 
         FIG. 2  the shower head shown in  FIG. 1 , equipped with air introduction and switching covering the entire surface from which jets exit. 
         FIG. 3  A view, corresponding to that of  FIG. 1 , of another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  a sectioned view, corresponding to that of  FIG. 3 , of another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  a sectioned view of the jet disk of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , drawn on an enlarged scale; 
         FIG. 6  a sectioned view of the edge of the housing of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , drawn on an enlarged scale; 
         FIG. 7  a sectioned view of the central section of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , drawn on an enlarged scale; 
         FIG. 8  a top view of the perforated disk of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  a side view of the aeration hub of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  an axially sectioned view of an aeration hub that has been modified relative to that shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  a top view of the aeration hub shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  a deconvolution of the side view of the aeration hub shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  a view, corresponding to that of  FIG. 11 , of a modified embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  a deconvolution of the side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SAMPLE EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a shower head  11  according to the invention. The shower head  11  consists of a housing shell  12  that rests on a base  13  or is guided onto the latter. The shower head  11  is connected to a water fitting  14  having a known ball-head configuration by means of a cap nut  15 . The water fitting  14  resides on, for example, a ceiling. 
     The housing shell  12  is essentially in the form of a tubular extension  17  that extends downward and blends into the broad extension  18 . The base  13 , which also broadens downward, forming an extension  24 , is similarly configured. 
     Rubber rings  20  are inserted into the upper section of the base  13 . Protrusions  22  also extend outward from the latter. The rubber rings  20  provide for a sealed joint with the tubular extension  17  of the housing shell  12 . The tubular extension  17  also has inclined grooves  19  that resemble a thread. The protrusions  22  engage those grooves. The housing shell  12  thus glides relative to the base  13  when rotated, as will be clearly evident from a comparison of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Pressing, and thus gliding, of the housing shell  12  relative to the base  13  directly along the centerline in order to adjust it might also employ short grooves and protrusions, instead of such an embodiment resembling a thread. 
     The extension  24  of the base  13  has a circumferential, annular ridge  25  extending downward from its outer rim. The latter&#39;s precise shape may be seen in  FIG. 2 . The annular ridge  25  merges into a narrow profile resembling a “V.” In the position shown in  FIG. 1 , the latter provides a sealing action that will be described in greater detail below. 
     The shower head  11  also has a front face  27  that is joined to the housing shell  12  in the vicinity of its outer edge. The front face  27  carries the jet disk  29  on its rear face when the latter is inserted. The jet disk  29  is fabricated from an elastomer in a known manner and has molded-on nozzles for forming the exit apertures  30 . From  FIG. 1 , and particularly from  FIG. 2 , it may be seen that the rear face  21  of the jet disk  29  is essentially planar. The circumferential lip  32  is the sole feature formed on the rear face  31 , and may abut against the annular ridge  25 , as will be evident from  FIG. 1 . 
     A water inlet  33  extends through the water fitting  14  and into the shower head  11 . Water exits the ball-head on the water fitting  14  through apertures  34  that are distributed around a centerline, and enters the upper section of the distribution chamber  36 , which is situated within the tubular extension  17 . As is evident from  FIG. 1 , due to the sealing abutment of the extension  24  against the mating annular ridge  24  on the rear face  31  of the jet disk  29 , water can reach only those exit apertures  30  that lie within that zone. No other water flow paths exist. In particular, the outer zone, i.e., Zone B, exclusive of Zone A, is blocked. 
     If the housing shell  12 , together with its extension  18 , is translated downward relative to the base  13 , then the extension  24 , together with its annular ridge  25 , will jolt away from the rear face  31  of the jet disk  29 . The distribution chamber  36  will be open all the way, and will then include the zone extending from the apertures  34  on the water inlet  33  to the full extent of the rear face of the jet disk  29 . Water will then be able to exit through all exit apertures  30  on the jet disk  29 . 
     Furthermore, how, in this case, the cap  42  is slid off the upper aperture in the air channel  38  will be evident from a comparison of  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 1 . The air intake  40  will thus be open, from the front face of the jet disk  29 , or the front face  27  of the shower head  11 , into the shower head, or into the distribution chamber  36 . As may be seen, air exiting the upper aperture on the air channel  38  is incident on the water shooting downward through the apertures  34  and into the distribution chamber  36  at roughly a right angle thereto. Due to the Venturi effect, the entering water will entrain the air. A certain admixing of water and air will have already simultaneously commenced. 
     That water-air mixture is incident on a turbulence-generating extension  46  that is formed on the lower section of the outer wall of the air channel  38 . As may be seen from the chamfering of the turbulence-generating extension  46 , water incident thereon from above will be deflected sideward, i.e., into the side-arm of the distribution chamber  36 . Turbulence in, or admixing, of the water-air mixture will also occur. Further, similar extensions, or necks, might be added at this location. The turbulence-generating extension is preferably configured in the form of a multistage cascade. The envelope of the cascaded stages may match the chamfering. 
     As may be seen from the figures, the profile of the extension  24  of the base  13  matches the profile of the extension  18  of the housing shell  12 . The step in the extension  18  provides space for the extension  24  to enter the step. It also restricts the coverage of the outer, annular-section of the distribution chamber  36  such that the water supply to all exit apertures  30  will be approximately equal in the position shown in  FIG. 2 , i.e., when water is supplied to the full extent of the jet disk  29 . 
     As will be evident from  FIG. 2 , in addition to a more or less discontinuous switching between the first zone A and the second zone B, as well as between aerated and nonaerated, it will, under some circumstances, also be feasible to configure at least one of the functions such that it may be continuously controlled. In particular, the aerator may be employed for that purpose. The shapes of the lower section of the cap  42  and the associated aperture in the upper section of the air channel  38  might be configured such that the motion of the housing shell  12  relative to the base  13  will yield a continuous opening of the air intake  40  via the air paths  44  over its full travel, where that opening may transpire more rapidly than will be the case when the distribution chamber  36  is opened. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a shower head similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , except that it lacks a selector. An insertable plate  50  that has bores  51  corresponding to the exit apertures  30  on the jet disk  29  is arranged upstream from the jet disk  29 . The insertable plate is fabricated from a harder plastic than that employed in fabricating the jet disk  29 . Among other things, the former&#39;s purpose is retaining the elastomer jet disk  29  on the front face  27  thereof and on the base  52  of the housing, which is intended to prevent the inclination angles of individual nozzles from changing during installation, or during operation. 
     The insertable plate  50  has discrete ribs  53  on its upstream side that subdivide the space between the jet disk and the housing&#39;s rear wall  52 . That subdivision is intended to guide and direct the individual, aerated jets within the housing. 
     Further details, in particular, details related to the supply of air and water, shall be discussed below. 
       FIG. 4  depicts another embodiment of a shower head that, in this case, is particularly simply configured. The shower head&#39;s housing contains a rear wall  52  and a very simple jet disk  54 , between which a rather flat, disk-shaped, distribution chamber  55  is formed. Sealing thereof takes place in the vicinity of its edge, and employs a seal present in a groove  56  on its rear wall  52  that abuts against the upstream side  56  of the jet disk  54  (cf.  FIG. 6 ). In this case, the entire jet disk  54  is fabricated from a relatively hard plastic in order that the inclinations and shapes of the apertures  57 , from which jets exit, will remain constant. As may be seen from  FIG. 5 , which depicts a view of the housing shown in  FIG. 4 , drawn on an enlarged scale, the apertures  57 , from which jets exit, are inclined and conical. 
     Since the fitting connecting the housing of the shower head shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to the water line corresponds to that shown in  FIG. 1 , these details need no further explanation. In the case of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , water entering through the inlet will now be incident on a perforated disk  60  orthogonal to the direction of water flow (cf. the enlarged-scale depiction appearing in  FIG. 7 ). The perforated disk  60  is circular and planar, and has a circumferential ridge  61  extending downstream. The diameter of the orifice  62  in the inlet is much smaller than that of the perforated disk  60 . The circular apertures  63  arranged on the perforated disk  60  are arranged around its circumference. Water thus must first be deflected outward, away from the aperture  62 , if it is to reach the apertures  63 . 
     The apertures  63  in the perforated disk  60  segregate incoming water into discrete water jets. The aeration hub  64 , which is present in both the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  and the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , is arranged immediately downstream from the central section of the perforated disk  60 .  FIG. 7  depicts the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , drawn on an enlarged scale. The upstream end of the aeration hub  64  is in the form of a planar terminal surface  65  situated a short distance on one or the other side of the perforated disk  60 . Air inducted through the central aperture  40  in the aeration hub  64  is directed at the water jets, which have previously been segregated, in the form of a very narrow, flat stream. A Venturi effect that inducts the air stream at the intersections thereof arises due to the high flow rates of the water jets downstream from the apertures  63 . 
     The aerated jets then travel along the cylindrical lateral surface  66  of the aeration hub  64  to the base  67  of the hub, where the lateral surface thereof expands, forming a truncated cone having a half angle of, for example, about 45°. That conical extension  67  abuts against the insertable plate  50 , on which water then flows radially outward along a plane. The angle of the deflecting surface  68  might fall within the range 10°-80°. A gradually curved transition is also feasible. That deflecting device deflects the aerated water jets radially outward, and into the distribution chamber arranged upstream from the jet disk. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a highly schematized top view of the perforated disk  60 , which has eight apertures  63 . In the case of an actual embodiment, the number of apertures  63  will be greater than that in order to generate the greatest possible number of water jets. All of the apertures  63  lie on a circle near the perimeter of the perforated disk  60 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts a side view of the aeration hub  64  shown in  FIG. 7 . It is clearly evident that the deflecting surface  68  extends all around the perimeter thereof. In the case of the embodiment depicted there, the lateral surface  66  thereof is smooth, as is its terminal surface  65 . 
       FIGS. 10-12  depict an embodiment of an aeration hub  164  that is a modification of the aeration hub  64 . Several radial channels  70  that extend from the interior  40  of the hub  164  to its lateral surface are configured on its terminal surface  165 . Axial channels  71  that are formed by grooves are present on its lateral surface, at the same locations as the radial channels  70 . Every radial channel  70  merges into an axial channel  71 . Further channels  72  that extend the other channels  70 ,  71 , and whose depth decreases toward the bottom end of the deflecting surface  68  (cf.  FIG. 10 ), are formed on the deflecting surface  68 . This approach will provide that discrete air jets that will then be incident on the water jets formed by the apertures  63  at the locations where they are formed will originate on the terminal surface  165  of the aeration hub  164 . 
     In the top view of  FIG. 11 , the channels  72  in the deflecting surface  68  are still straight and radially oriented. However,  FIGS. 13 and 14  depict the corresponding views in the case of another aeration hub, where the channels  172  in the deflecting surface  168  are arched, or curved, which will give the aerated jets an inclination that they will retain upon exiting the aeration hub. That approach will generate turbulence in the aerated jets within the distribution chamber of the shower head&#39;s housing. 
     In the case of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , which depicts a deconvolution of a side view of an aerating hub, the channels  171  are inclined with respect to its longitudinal axis and resemble an extra-coarse thread, rather than straight and parallel to its longitudinal axis, as in the case of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , which will initiate generation of vortices in the aerated jets earlier. 
     The aeration jet  164  shown in  FIG. 10  may, for example, be arranged such that the lands between the channels  70  that lie in the plane of its terminal surface  165  will contact the underside of the perforated disk  60 , which will then result in totally isolated air jets being generated. However, a certain spacing might also remain in order that a preferred flow field may be generated at the locations of the channels  70 . 
     What has been said about the guides, based on the aeration hubs, may also be carried forward into the distribution chamber. For example, the apertures from which jets exit might be arranged in the form of straight extensions of projections of the channels  72 ,  172 . However, not all channels  72 / 172  will need to have the same curvature or the same direction. It may be provided that aerated water jets that are to be deflected further outward, into the distribution chamber, exit the base of the aeration hub along straight paths, while those to be deflected to apertures from which jets exit that are closer in are given more turbulence. 
     Due to the simplified representations employed, the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3-14  exhibit no switching device for switching between various zones of the surface from which jets exit. They also exhibit no device for switching the aerator on and off. Nevertheless, the measures for generating and maintaining discrete, aerated jets involved are, of course, also possible, and sensible, in the case of shower heads that have such switching devices. The invention expressly proposes precisely that.