Patent Publication Number: US-2021189704-A1

Title: Device for adding fluid medium to shower system, and shower system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to the technical field of shower system, and more particularly, to a device for adding a fluid medium to a shower system, and a shower system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The existing shower system generally includes a water heater, a shower and a water mixing valve. An inlet of the water mixing valve is connected with an outlet of the water heater, the other inlet of the water mixing valve is connected with a cold water pipe, and an outlet of the water mixing valve is connected with the shower. Hot water in the water heater is mixed with cold water in the cold water pipe in the water mixing valve, and then is transported to the shower. Modern people habitually use water from the shower system for spraying or washing, and apply shower gel or soap on the skin during the shower to help personal hygiene. For a long time, people take shower gel through directly squeezing the bottle containing the shower gel by hand, and then apply it to the skin so that it can be mixed with water from the shower system or can be used for washing, which is tedious and troublesome. 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     The present application aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. As such, the present application proposes a device for adding a fluid medium to a shower system. The device for adding the fluid medium to the shower system is simple in structure, and enables a user to control the supply of the fluid medium easily and conveniently while showering. 
     Technical Solution 
     Embodiments of the present application provide a device for adding a fluid medium to a shower system. The device includes: 
     a water pipe assembly including a water pipe that has a water inlet and a water outlet, and the water inlet and the water outlet are configured to connect with the shower system; 
     a fluid medium pipe assembly including a suction pipe that has a fluid medium inlet and a fluid medium outlet, and the fluid medium outlet is connected with the water pipe assembly; and 
     a valve body assembly including a one-way valve for preventing back flow of the liquid medium and a water jet pump, the one-way valve is provided between the fluid medium inlet and the fluid medium outlet, the water jet pump includes a three-way valve pipe, a water inlet pipe of the three-way valve pipe is in communication with the water inlet, a water return pipe of the three-way valve pipe is in communication with the fluid medium outlet, and a water mixing pipe of the three-way valve pipe is in communication with the water outlet. 
     To this end, when the device for adding a fluid medium to a shower system according to the embodiments of the present application is used by a user, a negative pressure is generated in the water inlet pipe of the water jet pump, thereby controlling the fluid medium to be sucked from the fluid medium inlet of the suction pipe and flow into the water return pipe of the water jet pump. The fluid medium is mixed with the water flowing into the water inlet pipe of the water jet pump in the water mixing pipe of the water jet pump, and then flows into the shower system via the water outlet to supply the fluid medium for the user. In the above operations, the fluid medium can be brought into contact with the skin of the user without directly squeezing the bottle containing the fluid medium by hand. 
     In some embodiments, the three-way valve pipe includes a venturi nozzle. The water inlet pipe, the water return pipe and the water mixing pipe meet at a center, and the venturi nozzle is provided between the water inlet pipe and the center. 
     In some embodiments, the three-way valve pipe is a venturi three-way valve pipe. 
     In some embodiments, the fluid medium pipe assembly includes a venturi switch. The venturi switch is provided between the fluid medium inlet and the water return pipe. 
     In some embodiments, the water pipe assembly includes a bypass pipe. A water inlet end of the bypass pipe is in communication with the water inlet and the water inlet pipe respectively, and a water outlet end of the bypass pipe is in communication with the water outlet and the water mixing pipe respectively. 
     In some embodiments, the water pipe assembly includes a flow regulator. The flow regulator is provided between the water inlet end of the bypass pipe and the water outlet end of the bypass pipe. 
     In some embodiments, the device includes a box body in which the fluid medium pipe assembly and the valve body assembly are disposed. 
     In some embodiments, a bottom of the box body is provided with a reservoir for storing the fluid medium. The suction pipe extends into the reservoir. The box body is detachably connected to the reservoir. 
     In some embodiments, the bottom of the box body is provided with a through hole, and the reservoir is provided with a protrusion that is plug-fitted with the through hole. 
     In some embodiments, the fluid medium pipe assembly includes a venturi switch. The venturi switch is connected between the fluid medium inlet and the water return pipe. The device includes a fixing plate having a first groove portion. The venturi switch includes a first activation element, and the first activation element is disposed in the first groove portion and faces a left side face or a right side face of the box body. 
     In some embodiments, the device further includes a bottom plate. The bottom plate is provided with a second groove portion and a third groove portion. The water pipe is disposed in the second groove portion, and the water jet pump is disposed in the third groove portion. 
     In some embodiments, the fluid medium includes one or more fragrance media. Or the suction pipe is a flexible pipe. 
     Embodiments of the present application provide a shower system. The shower system includes a showerhead and a water source connector for introducing a water. A water inlet of the showerhead is in communication with a water outlet of the water source connector. The shower system further includes the device for adding a fluid medium to the shower system as described above. The water outlet of the water source connector is further in communication with the water inlet, and the water inlet of the showerhead is further in communication with the water outlet. 
     According to the shower system of the embodiments of the present application, a user can control the supply of the fluid medium easily and conveniently while showering. 
     In some embodiments, the system further includes a four-way valve pipe having a first water inlet, a first water outlet, a second water inlet and a second water outlet. The first water inlet is in communication with the water outlet of the water source connector, the first water outlet is in communication with the water inlet, the second water inlet is in communication with the water outlet, and the second water outlet is in communication with the water inlet of the showerhead. 
     Beneficial Effect 
     The additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be partly given in the following description, and some of the additional aspects and advantages will become obvious from the following description, or be understood through the practice of the present application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to illustrate technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present application or in the prior art more clearly, the disclosure will be further elaborated with the drawings for illustrating the embodiments or the prior art. It is apparent that the drawings in the following descriptions only show some embodiments of the present application. Other drawings may further be obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art according to these drawings without creative work. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device for adding a fluid medium to a shower system according to an embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  from another perspective; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connection of the pipe assembly and the valve body assembly of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the bottom plate and the fixing plate of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the assembly of the bottom plate, the pipe assembly and the valve body assembly of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system, 
     water pipe assembly  10 , 
     water pipe  11 , water inlet  11   a , water outlet  11   b,    
     bypass pipe  12 , water inlet end  12   a , water outlet end  12   b,    
     flow regulator  13 , second activation element  13   a , second rotary knob  13   b,    
     fluid medium pipe assembly  20 , suction pipe  21 , fluid medium inlet  21   a , fluid medium outlet  21   b , venturi switch  22 , first activation element  22   a , first rotary knob  22   b,    
     valve body assembly  30 , water jet pump  31 , water inlet pipe  31   a , water return pipe  31   b , water mixing pipe  31   c , one-way valve  32 , 
     box body  40 , box cover  41 , through hole  41   a , box bottom  42 , 
     reservoir  50 , protrusion  51 , 
     fixing plate  60 , first groove portion  61 , 
     bottom plate  70 , second groove portion  71 , third groove portion  72 . 
     The implementations of the purposes, functional characteristics, and advantages of the present application will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings in which the same or similar reference symbols represent the same or similar elements or elements with the same or similar functions. It is to be understood that the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are exemplary, and are merely intended to illustrate the present application, but are not be intended to limit the present application. 
     The following description provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the present application. In order to simplify the disclosure of the present application, the components and arrangements of the specific examples are described below. Of course, they are only exemplary and are not intended to limit the present application. In addition, reference symbols and/or letters may be repeated in the various examples of the present application. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or arrangements discussed. Furthermore, various specific processes and materials are provided in the present application, but it is known for those of ordinary skill in the art that other processes and/or other materials may be used. 
     A device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system according to an embodiment of the present application will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     The device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system according to the embodiment of the present application includes: a water pipe assembly  10  which includes a water pipe  11  having a water inlet  11   a  and a water outlet  11   b , the water inlet  11   a  and the water outlet  11   b  are configured to connect with the shower system; a fluid medium pipe assembly  20  which includes a suction pipe  21  having a fluid medium inlet  21   a  and a fluid medium outlet  21   b , the fluid medium outlet  21   b  is connected with the water pipe assembly  10 ; and a valve body assembly  30  which includes a one-way valve  32  for preventing back flow of the liquid medium and a water jet pump  31 , the one-way valve  32  is provided between the fluid medium inlet  21   a  and the fluid medium outlet  21   b , The water jet pump  31  includes a three-way valve pipe. A water inlet pipe  31   a  of the three-way valve pipe is in communication with the water inlet  11   a , a water return pipe  31   b  of the three-way valve pipe is in communication with the fluid medium outlet  21   b , and a water mixing pipe  31   c  of the three-way valve pipe is in communication with the water outlet  11   b.    
     Thereby, when the device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system according to the embodiment of the present application is used by a user, a negative pressure is generated in the water inlet pipe  31   a  of the water jet pump  31  of the device of the present application, so as to control a fluid medium to be sucked from a fluid medium inlet  21   a  of the suction pipe  21  and flow into a water return pipe  31   b  of the water jet pump  31 . The fluid medium is mixed with the water flowing into the water inlet pipe  31   a  of the water jet pump  31  in the water mixing pipe  31   c  of the water jet pump  31 , and then flows into the shower system via the water outlet  11   b  to supply the fluid medium for the user. In the above operations, the fluid medium can be brought into contact the skin of the user without directly squeezing the bottle containing the fluid medium by hand. 
     In addition, the device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system according to the embodiment of the present application can achieve at least some of the following effects. 
     Reliability is good. The device according to the embodiment of the present application is provided with a one-way valve  32  between the fluid medium inlet  21   a  and the fluid medium outlet  21   b . Therefore, such device of the present application can prevent the fluid medium from flowing back and prevent water from flowing out of the fluid medium inlet  21   a  and in turn contaminating the fluid medium. 
     The versatility is good. The device according to the embodiment of the present application can be directly installed in the existing shower system, which can easily and quickly solve the cumbersome cleaning work of the user. 
     It is understood for those skilled in the art that the fluid medium used by people when showering includes perfume, soapy water, shampoo, shower gel or other skin care products in form of fluid. 
     The device according to the embodiment of the present application can be used in any shower system, such as a shower system with a shower room, a shower at a floor level, a large-capacity shower, or the like. The device according to the embodiment of the present application can also be integrated into a bathtub. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the three-way valve pipe includes a venturi nozzle. The water inlet pipe  31   a , the water return pipe  31   b  and the water mixing pipe  31   c  meet at a center (not shown), and the venturi nozzle is provided between the water inlet pipe  31   a  and the center. The venturi nozzle has a continuously reduced cross-sectional area of a flow channel, which can form a low pressure in the water inlet pipe  31   a , thereby sucking the fluid medium transported and mixing it with water in the water mixing pipe  31   c . The device according to the embodiments of the present application has a strong self-suction capability and can reliably suck the fluid medium into the water pipe  11 . 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the three-way valve pipe is a venturi three-way valve pipe. The venturi three-way valve pipe has a venturi nozzle that continuously reduces a cross-sectional area of a flow channel and a venturi diffusion chamber that continuously increases the cross-sectional area of the flow channel (the venturi diffusion chamber is located between the center and the water outlet  11   b ). Therefore, the device according to the embodiments of the present application has a better self-suction capability. In addition, the venturi diffusion chamber is relatively insensitive to the impurities, and thus is especially suitable as a discharge pipe for the mixed liquid after the fluid medium is mixed with water. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the fluid medium pipe assembly  20  includes a venturi switch  22 , and the venturi switch  22  is provided between the fluid medium inlet  21   a  and the water return pipe  31   b . The venturi switch  22  may be used to control the opening and closing of the valve body assembly  30 , thereby meeting the needs of a user to start or stop using the mixed liquid after the fluid medium is mixed with water. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the device includes a box body  40 . The fluid medium pipe assembly  20  and the valve body assembly  30  are disposed in the box body  40 . The box body  40  is designed to protect the fluid medium pipe assembly and the valve body assembly  30  from being damaged by external forces and also for aesthetics. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the device includes the box body  40  and a fixing plate  60 . The fixing plate  60  has a first groove portion  61 . The venturi switch  22  includes a first activation element  22   a , and the first activation element  22   a  is disposed in the first groove portion  61  and faces a left side face or a right side face of the box body  40 . When the device according to the embodiments of the present application is hung on a wall with a height of about 1.5 meters from the ground, the activation element of the venturi switch  22  is arranged on the side face of the box body  40 , conforming to human mechanics. 
     Those skilled in the art can understand that when the device according to the embodiments of the present application is hung on a wall with a height of about 0.5 meters from the ground, the activation element of the venturi switch  22  is arranged on the top face of the box body  40 , conforming to human mechanics 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the venturi switch  22  further includes a first switching element (not shown) and a first rotary knob  22   b . The first rotary knob  22   b  is connected to the first activation element  22   a , and the first rotary knob  22   b  protrudes from the box body  40  to facilitate the user operation. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the water pipe assembly  10  includes a bypass pipe  12 . A water inlet end  12   a  of the bypass pipe  12  is in communication with the water inlet  11   a  and the water inlet pipe  31   a  respectively, and a water outlet end  12   b  of the bypass pipe  12  is in communication with the water outlet  11   b  and the water mixing pipe  31   c  respectively. The design of the bypass pipe  12  can enhance the injection effect of the water jet pump  31 . The device of the embodiments of the present application can stably and reliably provide the fluid medium to the user. 
     Before the inventors designed a water pipe assembly  10  provided by the embodiments of the present application to include a bypass pipe  12 , the device provided the embodiments of the present application is difficult to reliably supply the fluid medium to the user when the water jet pump  31  is damaged or the user&#39;s home water pressure is insufficient. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the inventors herein have designed a device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system including a bypass pipe  12  in an embodiment of the present application. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the water pipe assembly  10  includes a flow regulator  13 , and the flow regulator  13  is provided between the water inlet end  12   a  of the bypass pipe  12  and the water outlet end  12   b  of the bypass pipe  12 . The flow regulator  13  is designed to control the strength of the injection effect of the water jet pump  31 , so that the device of the embodiment of the present application can stably and reliably supply the fluid medium for the user. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the flow regulator  13  further includes a second activation element  13   a , a second switching element (not shown), and a second rotary knob  13   b . The second activation element  13   a  is connected to the second rotary knob  13   b , and the second rotary knob  13   b  protrudes from the box body  40  to facilitate the user operation. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the second rotary knob  13   b  is provided on the front of the box body  40 , conforming to human mechanics. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the bottom of the box body  40  is provided with a reservoir  50  for storing the fluid medium. The suction pipe  21  is extends into the reservoir  50 . When the user uses the device according to the embodiment of the present application, the negative pressure is generated in the water inlet pipe  31   a  of the water jet pump  31 , thereby sucking the fluid medium in the reservoir  50  via the fluid medium inlet  21   a  of the suction pipe  21 . 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the box body  40  is detachably connected with the reservoir  50 . This design is convenient for the user to place the fluid medium in the reservoir  50 . 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the bottom of the box body  40  is provided with a through hole  41   a , and the reservoir  50  is provided with a protrusion  51  that is plug-fitted with the through hole  41   a . The installation and removal of the box body  40  and the reservoir  50  may be achieved by pulling and pushing. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the suction pipe  21  is a flexible pipe. This design facilitates the installation and removal of the box body  40  and the reservoir  50 . 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the device includes a bottom plate  70 . The bottom plate  70  is provided with a second groove portion  71  and a third groove portion  72 , the water pipe  11  is disposed in the second groove portion  71 , and the water jet pump  31  is disposed in the third groove portion  72 . The design of the second groove portion  71  and the third groove portion  72  on the bottom plate  70  facilitates the installation and fixing of the water pipe  11  and the water jet pump  31 , and the device according to the embodiments of the present application will not scatter during the transportation and use. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the box body  40  includes a box cover  41  and a box bottom  42 . The box cover  41  and the box bottom  42  are connected by a screw and/or a buckle. The bottom face of the box bottom  42  has a through hole for hanging on the wall. The bottom plate  70  is fixedly connected to the box bottom  42 . The fixing plate  60  is provided on the bottom plate  70 . 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the device includes a connecting plate  80  fixedly connected to the bottom plate  70 . The connecting plate  80  is provided with a screw hole for connection with a screw of the box cover  41 . 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the fluid medium includes one or more fragrance media. Those skilled in the art can understand that the fluid medium used by people when showering includes perfume, soapy water, shampoo, shower gel or other skin care products in form of fluid. 
     A shower system according to an embodiment of the present application, includes a showerhead (not shown) and a water source connector for introducing water. A water inter (not shown) of the showerhead is in communication with a water outlet (not shown) of the water source connector. The shower system further includes the device  100  for adding a fluid medium to the shower system as described above. The water outlet of the water source connector is further in communication with the water inlet  11   a , and the water inter of the showerhead is further in communication with the water outlet  11   b.    
     The shower system according to the embodiment of the present application enables the user to control the supply of the fluid medium easily while showering. In addition, the shower system according to the embodiment of the present application has other advantages as described for the above device  100  for adding a fluid medium to a shower system, which will not be repeated here. 
     In some specific examples of the present application, the system further includes a four-way valve pipe (not shown) having a first water inlet, a first water outlet, a second water inlet and a second water outlet. The first water inlet is in communication with the water outlet of the water source connector, the first water outlet is in communication with the water inlet  11   a , the second water inlet is in communication with the water outlet  11   b , and the second water outlet is in communication with the water inlet of the showerhead. When the user does not need the fluid medium, water reaches the user in two branches in which the first branch of water flows through the first water inlet and the second water outlet, and the second branch of water flows through the first water inlet, the first water outlet, the second water inlet and the second water outlet. As such, the supply of the fluid medium is stopped through controlling the venturi switch  22  by the user. When the user needs the fluid medium, water reaches the user through the first water inlet and the second water outlet, and the mixture of the liquid medium and water reaches the user through the second water inlet and the second water outlet. 
     In the description of the present application, it is should be understood that terms “first”, “second”, and “third” are only used for the purpose of description, but are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or implicitly indicate the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined by “first”, “second” and “third” may explicitly or implicitly includes one or more such features. In the description of the present application, the term “a plurality of” indicates two and more, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     In the description of the present application, reference to “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an example”, “specific examples” or “some examples” herein means that the specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments or examples may be included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this description, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the described specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine the different embodiments or examples and the features of the different embodiments or examples described in this specification when they are not mutually contradict. 
     Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art may understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present application. The scope of the present application is defined by the claims and their equivalents.