Patent Publication Number: US-9427749-B2

Title: Button switching shower and its switching method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shower, more particularly to a button switching shower and its switching method. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are three kinds of shower switching structure in the market: button switching, rotary switching and swing switching. Among there, a positioning mechanism is arranged in all the three kinds of switching structure and used for maintaining the switching status. Because of the arrangement of the positioning mechanism, a plurality of defects is present: 1 the structure of the shower is complex with great processing difficulty and cost; 2 the assembly is complicated with low efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to offer a button switching shower and its switching method, which overcomes the complex structure and complicated assembly of the switching structure at the prior art. 
     One of the technical proposals to solve the technical matter in the present invention is: 
     Button switching shower, which comprises a fixed unit and a switching mechanism and at least two outlet functions are arranged in the fixed unit, 
     The switching mechanism comprises a button that is slidingly connected to the fixed unit; 
     A pawl that is rotationally connected to the fixed unit, is provided with a linking seat and a control end, and a transmission connection relationship is formed by the linking seat and the button, so that the button can act on the linking seat for driving the pawl rotate; 
     A ratchet wheel that is rotationally connected to the fixed unit, is connected to the control end of the pawl, so that the control end of the pawl can act on the ratchet wheel for driving the ratchet wheel rotate; 
     A water diversion disc that is rotationally arranged in the fixed unit, a synchronous rotation connection relationship is formed by the water diversion disc and the ratchet wheel, so that the ratchet wheel can drive the water diversion disc rotate, and the switching of the outlet functions is achieved by the relative rotation of the water diversion disc to the fixed unit. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pawl is also provided with a stopping claw of which the end is against the ratch of the ratchet wheel. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pawl is also provided with an elastic claw that is clamped between the two limited posts that are arranged in the fixed unit for resetting the pawl. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the button is provided with an outer end that is extended outside for the user&#39;s pressing and an inner end that is in the fixed unit; a transmission mechanism is arranged between the button and the linking seat of the pawl, the transmission mechanism comprises: 
     A deviator that is pivotally arranged in the fixed unit, is provided with a pivot joint part, and a pushing groove and an ejector rod are arranged at the two sides of the pivot joint part, and the ejector rod is adaptive to the inner end of the button, so that the inner end of the button can act on the ejector rod for driving the deviator rotate; 
     A connecting rod, two end of the connecting rod are against the pushing groove of the deviator and the linking seat of the pawl respectively, and the movement of the pushing groove can be transmitted to the movement of the linking seat through the connecting rod. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the fixed unit comprises a body, a water diversion body and a outlet terminal, the outlet terminal is fixedly connected below the body with a plurality of outlet functions, the water diversion body is connected to the clearance between the body and the outlet terminal, and a cylindrical inlet cavity that is communicated with the water resource is formed by the water diversion body and the body; 
     The water diversion holes one-to-one corresponding to the outlet functions are arranged in the part of the water diversion body corresponding to the cylindrical inlet cavity, and an outlet hole is arranged on the water diversion disc; 
     The water diversion disc is rotationally mounted in the cylindrical inlet cavity, the water diversion disc and the water diversion body can be hermetically connected to each other and rotate relatively, one of several groups of the water diversion holes and the inlet cavity are communicated with the outlet hole through the rotation of the water diversion disc. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a synchronizing shaft is convexly arranged on the water diversion disc, and the synchronizing shaft passes through the body hermetically; the ratchet wheel is connected to the synchronizing shaft to form a synchronous rotation connection relationship between the ratchet wheel and the water diversion disc. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the fixed unit also comprises a top cover that covers and connects to the body. 
     Another technical proposal to solve the technical matter in the present invention is: 
     The switching method of the button switching shower, it comprises: 
     Step 1, the button that is slidingly connected to the shower is pressed, and then the button slides relatively; 
     Step 2, the button acts on the linking seat of the pawl for driving the pawl rotate; 
     Step 3, the rotation of the pawl drives the ratchet wheel rotate through the control end of the pawl, and the shape of the elastic claw of the pawl is changed for restoring energy at the same time; 
     Step 4, the rotation of the ratchet wheel drives the water diversion disc rotate, and then the water diversion disc is in place, and then the switching of the outlet functions is achieved by the water diversion disc, the stopping claw of the pawl is against the ratch of the ratchet wheel for stopping the inversion of the ratchet wheel at the same time; 
     Step 5, the pressing is loosened for resetting the button, and the elastic energy of the elastic claw is released for resetting the pawl. 
     Compared with the technical proposal at the prior art, the pawl is driven to rotate by pressing the button, the rotation of the ratchet wheel is controlled by the rotation of the pawl, the ratchet wheel drives the water diversion disc rotate, and then the switch of the outlet functions is achieved by the rotation between the water diversion disc and the fixed unit. It overcomes the defects at the prior art and has the following advantages: 1 unilateral rotating is achieved by the ratchet wheel for automatic positioning; 2 the switching status can be maintained by the cooperation of the stopping claw; 3 different from the traditional face cover swivel switching method, the switching of the outlet functions is conveniently achieved by just pressing button lightly; 4 the structure is stable, the switching force is low, and the switching feeling is good; 5 the resetting of the pawl is achieved by the cooperation of the elastic claw and the limited posts; 6 the sliding of the button is transmitted to the rotating of the pawl through the cooperation of the deviator and the connecting rod with simple transmission structure, small space occupation and low pressing force; 7 the axis accuracy of the rotation of the water diversion disc is guaranteed by the water diversion disc that is rotationally arranged in the circular assembly slot of the water diversion body; 8 the tightness is guaranteed by the inlet cavity that is formed by the circular assembly slot and the body together; 9 the top cover covers the body for containing the pawl and the ratchet wheel with good sealing property and outline. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the front view of the shower in the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the upward view of the shower in the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows one of the exploded views of the shower in the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows another exploded view of the shower in the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the partial solid semi-sectional view of the shower in the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the abridged general view of the shower in the present invention without top cover, water comes out of the first outlet function of the shower. 
         FIG. 7  shows the cutaway view of  FIG. 8  B-B. 
         FIG. 8  shows the cutaway view of  FIG. 7  A-A. 
         FIG. 9  shows the abridged general view of the shower in the present invention without top cover, water comes out of the second outlet function of the shower, and the pawl is still not reset. 
         FIG. 10  shows the cutaway view of  FIG. 11  D-D. 
         FIG. 11  shows the cutaway view of  FIG. 10  C-C. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE SIGN 
     
         
         Fixed unit  100 , switching mechanism  200 , body  110 , outlet terminal  120 , water diversion body  130 , a button seat  140 , top cover  150 , handle  111 , sealing plate  112 , upper surrounding wall  113 , lower surrounding wall  114 , hollow hole  1111 , boss  115 , limited post  116 , cylindrical surrounding wall  117 , communicating channel  118 , connector  119 , mounting hole  1112 , face cover  121 , water diversion welding cover  122 , impeller  123 , cylindrical set  131 , water diversion hole  132 , bottom plate  141 , sliding hole  142 , encircling wall  143 , bearing  144 , button  210 , transmission mechanism  220 , pawl  230 , ratchet wheel  240 , water diversion disc  250 , outlet hole  251 , synchronizing shaft  252 , pivot hole  231 , elastic claw  232 , stopping claw  233 , controlling claw  234 , linking seat  235 , deviator  221 , connecting rod  222 , pushing groove  2211 , ejector rod  2212 . 
       
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With the following description of the drawings and specific embodiments, the invention would be further described in details. 
     The button switching shower according to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , it comprises a fixed unit  100  and a switching mechanism  200 , and at least two outlet functions are arranged in the fixed unit  100 . 
     According to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , the fixed unit  100  comprises a body  110 , an outlet terminal  120 , a water diversion body  130 , a button seat  140  and a top cover  150 . 
     A handle  111 , a sealing plate  112  that is fixed to the front of the handle  111 , an upper surrounding wall  113  that is upward extended from the periphery of the sealing plate  112 , and a lower surrounding wall  114  that is downward extended from the periphery of the sealing plate  112  are provided witch the body  110 ; the handle  110  is hollow with a hollow hole  1111  communicated with the water resource (water flow input); a boss and two interval limited posts  116  are convexly arranged above the sealing plate  112 ; a cylindrical surrounding wall  117  and a communicating channel  118  are convexly arranged below the sealing plate  112 , one of the end of the communicating channel  118  is communicated with the hollow hole  1111  of the handle  111 , another end of the communicating channel  118  is arranged on the internal revolution surface of the cylindrical surrounding wall  117 , so that the water of water resource flows into the cylindrical surrounding wall  117 . A mounting hole  112  is opened up below the handle  111  of the body  110 . The handle  111  is connected to the water resource through the connector  119 . 
     The outlet terminal  120  comprises a face cover  121 , a water diversion welding cover  122  and a impeller  123 , three rounding sealing walls are fixedly arranged on the face cover  121 , the water diversion welding cover  122  is welded above the face cover  121 , so that three independent cavities are formed between the three rounding sealing walls and the surrounding wall of the face cover  121 , the impeller  123  is arranged in the cavity that is formed between the first and the second rounding sealing wall, when water collides the impeller  123 , water comes out of the outlet hole in the cavity intervally so that the massage effect is achieved; different water outlets are arranged respectively in the face cover  121  corresponding to the three dependent cavities, so that different outlet functions are achieved under the cooperation of the independent cavities and water outlets. In the present embodiment, the outlet terminal  120  is provided with three outlet functions, but without limitation, other ways such as two or four outlet functions is also applied to the present embodiment. 
     The outlet terminal  120  is fixedly arranged below the body  110  and is hermetically connected to the lower surrounding wall  114  of the body  110 . 
     The water diversion body  130  is hermetically fixed between the body  110  and the outlet terminal  120 . A cylindrical set  131  is convexly arranged on the water diversion body  130 , and the water diversion holes  132  with the same amount of the outlet functions are opened up on the water diversion body  130 . In the present embodiment, three groups of water diversion holes  132  are present with two water diversion holes in each group. The inlet of the water diversion holes  132  is configurationally and circularly arranged on the top surface of the cylindrical set  131 , and the outlets of the water diversion holes  132  are communicated with the cavities of the outlet terminal  120  respectively. The cylindrical set  131  of the water diversion body  130  is adaptive and hermetically connected to the internal revolution surface of the cylindrical surrounding wall  117 , so that a cylindrical inlet cavity that is communicated with the water resource through the hollow hole  1111  of the handle  111  and the communicating channel  118  is formed under the cooperation of the sealing plate  112 , the water dive diversion body  130  and the cylindrical surrounding wall  117 . 
     The button seat  140  is hermetically fixed to the mounting hole  1112  of the handle  111  and the body  110 , the button seat  140  comprises a bottom plate  141 , a sliding hole  142  opened up in the bottom plate  141 , and a encircling wall  143  extended upward from the periphery of the bottom plate  141 . Two bearings  144  are fixedly arranged in the button seat  140 , and the two bearings  144  are parallel to each other and are connected through the pivot. 
     The top cover  150  is hermetically connected to the upper surrounding will  113  of the body  110  for containing the connecting rod  222  of the transmission mechanism  200 , the pawl  230  and the ratchet wheel  240 . 
     According to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 11 , the switching mechanism  200  comprises a button  210 , a transmission mechanism  220 , a pawl  230 , a ratchet wheel  240  and a water diversion disc  250 . 
     The water diversion disc  250  is adaptive to and rotationally mounted in the cylindrical surrounding wall  117  of the body  110 , and the water diversion disc  250  is hermetically connected to and can rotate relative to the top surface and bottom surface of the cylindrical set  131  of the water diversion body  130 , namely is adaptive to and rotationally mounted between the body  110  and the water diversion body  130 , and namely is adaptive to and rotationally mounted in the cylindrical inlet cavity. A group of outlet holes  251  are opened up on the water diversion disc  250 , the outlet holes  251  are communicated with the inlet cavity, and one of the three groups of water diversion holes  132  through the relative rotation of the water diversion disc  250  and water diversion body  130 . A synchronizing shaft  252  is fixedly arranged on the water diversion disc  250 , which comprises a lower cylindrical segment and an upper non-circular segment. The synchronizing shaft  252  is passed through the sealing plate  112  of the body  110 , wherein, the cylindrical segment is adaptive to the sealing plate so that the synchronizing shaft  252  can rotate relative to the sealing plate  112 , the non-circular segment is extended upwards from the sealing plate  112  of the body  110 . 
     The ratchet wheel  240  is arranged above the sealing plate  112  and is adaptively connected to the non-circular segment of the synchronizing shaft  252  of the water diversion disc  250 , so that a synchronous rotation connection relationship is formed by the ratchet wheel  240  and the water diversion disc  250 . As needed, a fixed connection relationship or a one piece relationship can also be formed by the ratchet wheel  240  and the water diversion disc  250 . 
     The pawl is provided with a pivot hole  231 , a elastic claw that is fixedly arranged in the pivot hole  231 , a stopping claw  233  that is fixedly arranged in the pivot hole  231 , a impending segment that is fixedly arranged in the pivot hole  231 , a controlling claw  234  that is fixedly arranged at the end of the impending segment, and a linking seat  235  that is fixedly arranged at the back of the impending segment. The pivot hole  231  is pivotally connected to the boss  115  of the sealing plate  112  of the body  110 , so that the pawl  230  can rotate relative to the boss  115 . The elastic claw  232  is adaptive to and passes through the clearance between the two limited posts  116  of the sealing plate  112  of the body  110 . Wherein, the end of the controlling claw  234  is against the ratchets of the ratchet wheel  240  for pushing the end of the controlling claw  234 , so that the ratchet wheel can be driven to rotate forward; the end of the stopping claw  233  is against the ratchets of the ratchet wheel  240  for stopping the reversal of the ratchet wheel through the end of the stopping claw  233 ; the elastic claw  232  is clamped between the two limited posts  116  for restoring energy when the pawl  230  rotate forward. 
     The transmission mechanism  220  comprises a deviator  221  and a connecting rod  222 . The deviator  221  is provided with a pivot joint part, a pushing groove  2211  and an ejector rod  2212  that are arranged at the two sides of the pivot joint part, and the pivot joint part is drivingly connected to the clearance between the two bearings  144  of the button seat  140 , so that the deviator  211  can rotate relative to the pivot  1441  after external force acting on the deviator. The connecting rod  220  is against between the pushing groove  2211  of the deviator  221  and the linking seat  235  of the pawl  230 , so that the rotation of the deviator  221  can push the connecting rod  222  for driving the movement of the linking seat  235 , and then push the pawl  230  forward; oppositely, the movement of the linking seat  235  can drive the pushing groove  2211  move through the connecting rod  222 , and then drive the deviator  221  rotate. 
     The button  210  is slidingly connected to the sliding hole  142  of the button seat  140  of the fixed unit  140 , and is provided with an outer end that is extended out of the bottom plate  141  of the button seat  140  for the user&#39;s pressing and an inner end that is in the button seat  140 . The inner end of the button  210  and the ejector rod  2212  are against to each other, so that the sliding of the button  210  can drive the deviator rotate through the ejector rod  2212 , and oppositely, the rotation of the deviator  221  can drive the button  210  slide through the ejector rod  2212 . 
     The switching method of the button switching shower, it comprises: 
     Step 0 Water comes out of the first outlet function of the shower, the outlet hole  251  of the water diversion disc  250  is aligned at and communicated with the first water diversion hole  132 , according to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , water flows along the water resource, the hollow hole  1111  of the handle  111 , the communicating channel  118 , inlet cavity, outlet hole  251 , the first water diversion hole  132  and the first cavity in rotate at the moment. 
     Step 1 The button  210  that is slidingly connected to the shower is pressed and then the button  210  slides relatively. 
     Step 2 The inner end of the button  210  is against the ejector rod  2212  of the deviator and push the ejector rod  2212 , and then push the deviator  221  rotate, and then drive the pushing groove  2212  move, and then the linking seat  23  of the pawl  230  is driven through the connecting rod  220 , and then the pawl  230  rotates. 
     Step 3 The pawl  230  rotates and drives the ratchet wheel  240  rotate through the end of the controlling claw  234  of the pawl  230 , and at the same time, the elastic claw  232  of the pawl  240  is out of shape to restore energy owing to the two limited post. 
     Step 4 The ratchet wheel  240  rotates and drives the water diversion disc  250  rotate, and then outlet hole  251  leaves the first water diversion hole  132 , and then the water diversion disc  250  rotates in place, and then is the outlet hole  251  of the water diversion disc  250  is aligned at and communicated with the second water diversion hole  132 , and then water comes out of the second outlet function of the shower, the water diversion disc  250  finishes the switching of the outlet functions, at the same time, the stopping claw  233  of the pawl  230  is against the ratch of the ratchet wheel  240  for stopping the inversion of the ratchet wheel  240 , according to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , water flows along the water resource, the hollow hole  1111  of the handle  111 , the communicating channel  118 , inlet cavity, outlet hole  251 , the second water diversion hole  132  and the second cavity in turn at the moment. 
     Step 5 The button  210  is loosened, and then the button  210  resets, the elastic energy of the elastic claw  232  is released and drive the pawl  230  reset, the stopping claw  233  of the pawl  230  keeps against the ratch of the ratchet wheel  240  at the moment. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments mentioned above; therefore it can&#39;t limit the reference implementation of the invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that structural modification and changes can be carried out without leaving the scope of the claims hereinafter and the description above. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention discloses a button switching shower and its switching method. The pawl is driven to rotate by pressing the button, the rotation of the ratchet wheel is controlled by the rotation of the pawl, the ratchet wheel drives the water diversion disc rotate, and then the switch of the outlet functions is achieved by the rotation between the water diversion disc and the fixed unit. The present invention achieves the automatic positioning with easy switching, stable structure, low force for switching and good switching feeling, because of that, the present invention has good industrial applicability.