Patent Publication Number: US-2020276596-A1

Title: Shower head

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/055,482, filed Aug. 6, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the technical field of sanitary products and more particularly, to a shower head. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With gradually increasing of people&#39;s living standards, people have also increasingly focused on quality of life. In terms of showers alone, people have begun to focus on the overall flow of water sprayed from the shower structure and the water-saving performance during showering. However, in addition to the poor spray water tactile sensation of conventional shower heads available on the market, the water-saving efficiency is greatly reduced due to the splashing of ejected water. 
     China Patent CN106269323A discloses a shower head entitled: “bundled fine water shower structure”, which comprises a housing ( 1 ), a jet faceplate ( 2 ), and a switching device  4 ) mounted on the housing ( 1 ) for controlling the water spray pattern of the jet faceplate ( 2 ). This design is characterized in that the jet faceplate (s  2 ) comprises a plurality of distributed water outlet units ( 24 ) each water outlet unit ( 24 ) comprising an equal number of jet holes ( 241 ) in circular, oval, pentagonal, triangular or crescent shape, or any other regular or irregular shape, that is, the shape of each outlet unit ( 24 ) is surrounded by the same jet holes ( 241 ) into a regular or irregular shape and distributed over the jet faceplate ( 2 ). In summary, as described above, the “bundled fine water shower structure” achieves the effect of soft touch of jetted water that is not easy to splash as well as the effects of water-saving and applicability in low pressure environment. 
     However, this design of “bundled fine water shower structure” is not suitable for removing dirt. Under a low-pressure application environment, it cannot concentrate the water line to effectively focus the water line on the dirt. Therefore, the effect of cleaning dirt of this design of shower head is not obvious. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present to provide a shower head, which is aimed to solve the technical problems of the prior art in which the water-saving effect of the shower head is not good. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a shower head comprises a housing, a jet faceplate and a switching device. The housing has one end thereof configured for the connection of a shower tube or a water outlet of a water faucet. The jet faceplate is mounted to an opposite end of the housing, comprising an imaginary center, two imaginary radii extended from the imaginary center point to the periphery thereof for allowing the jet faceplate to be divided into a first fan-shaped region and a second fan-shaped region, a first water jetting area composed of a plurality of subunits, and a second water jetting area. Each subunit comprises a plurality of first jet holes. The second water jetting area comprises a second jet hole. The subunits of the first water jetting area are in the first fan-shaped region. The second water jetting area is in the second fan-shaped region. The switching device is mounted on the housing and operable to switch the water jetting mode of the switching device for causing the original water flowing out from the first water jetting area to be switched to flow out from the second water jetting area. 
     Preferably, the included angle of the first fan-shaped region formed using said imaginary center and the two imaginary radii is between 90° and 270°; the center of the second jet hole of the second water jetting area is located at the center of gravity of the second fan-shaped region of the jet faceplate. 
     Preferably, the first jet holes of each subunit are arranged in a radial arrangement or in a line; the aperture of the first jet holes is between 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     By means of arranging the subunits in a fan-shaped region of the jet faceplate to present arc-shaped distribution, the water line of the ejected water can be concentrated and fan-shaped, effectively improving the water saving effect of the shower head and the effect of cleaning the dirt. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like elements, components, objects, structures, systems, architectures, means, flows, methods or steps. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic elevational view of a shower head in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the shower head in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic applied view of a part of the shower head in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is another schematic applied view of a part of the shower head in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is still another schematic applied view of a part of the shower head in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is still another schematic applied view of a part of the shower head in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic front view of a part of the shower head in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is schematic elevational view of a shower head in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the shower head in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the jet faceplate of the shower head in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of the jet faceplate of the shower head in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear elevational view of the insert of the shower head in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic elevational view of the shower head in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the insert replaced. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic elevational view of a shower head in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the shower head in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a rear elevational view of the jet faceplate of the shower head in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic rear side view of the jet faceplate of the shower head in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic front view of the locating ring of the shower head in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic elevational view of the third embodiment of the present invention, showing the jet faceplate angularly adjusted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the description of the present invention with reference to the annexed drawings of  FIGS. 1-7 , it should be understood that the orientational or positional terms “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer” and other indications are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is merely for convenience of description of the present invention and simplifying the description rather than indicating or implying that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation or a construction and operation in a particular orientation, it cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the invention. 
     In the present invention, the terms “mounting,” “connecting,” “fixing,” etc. shall be understood in a broad sense unless specifically defined or limited. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integration; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium and may be an internal connection or interaction between two components. For a person of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific conditions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a shower head  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The shower head  10  comprises a housing  20 , a jet faceplate  30 , and a switching device  40 . The jet faceplate  30  is mounted to one end of the housing  20 . The switching device  40  is mounted on the periphery of the housing  20 . The housing  20  is the main body of the shower head with the opposite end thereof configured for the connection of a shower tube (not shown) or a water outlet of a water faucet (not shown). The switching device  40  is pressable to control the water jetting mode of the jet faceplate  30 . 
     The jet faceplate  30  is divided into a first water jetting area  31  and a second water jetting area  33 . The first water jetting area  31  is composed of multiple subunits  311 . Each subunit  311  is formed by a plurality of distributed first jet holes  313 . Preferably, the aperture of the equal and plurally distributed first jet holes  313  is between 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     The second water jetting area  33  is provided with a second jet hole  333 . When the user presses the switching device  40 , the original water flowing out from the first water jetting area  31  is switched to flow out from the second water jetting area  31 . 
     It is worth mentioning that, as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , based on the fact that the jet faceplate  30  is a circle and based on the unit area thereof, an imaginary center P is set. The imaginary center point P of the jet faceplate  30  is a reference point and each extends to the periphery of the jet faceplate  30  to form two imaginary radii R, thereby allowing the jet faceplate  30  to be divided into two fan-shaped regions, namely, the first fan-shaped region A 1  and the second fan-shaped region A 2 . The subunits  311  of the first water jetting area  31  are arranged in the first fan-shaped region A 1  of the jet faceplate  30  to present an arc-shaped distribution. Preferably, the included angle θ of the first fan-shaped region A 1  formed using the imaginary center P of the jet faceplate  30  as a reference point and the two imaginary radii R is between 90° and 270°. The second water jetting area  33  is located in the second fan-shaped region A 2  of the jet faceplate  30 . Preferably, the center of the second jet hole  333  of the second water jetting area  33  is located at the center of gravity of the second fan-shaped region A 2  of the jet faceplate  30 . 
     It is worth mentioning that, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the jet faceplate  30  can also be an ellipse or a polygon; the plurality of first jet holes  313  of any of the subunits  311  may be arranged in a radial arrangement or in a straight line; the second water jetting area  33  can be configured to provide a plurality of distributed second jet holes  333 . 
     According to the shower head  10  disclosed in the preceding embodiments of the present invention, the desired effects are as follows:
         1. Since the equal and complexly distributed subunits  311  of the jet faceplate  30  of the shower head  10  are in one of the fan-shaped areas divided by the jet faceplate  30  to form the first water jetting area  31  of the jet faceplate  30 , when pressing the switching device  40  to switch to the first water jetting area  31 , the water line of the ejected water can be concentrated and fan-shaped. In this case, if compared to the “bundled fine water shower structure” in the China Patent Publication No. CN106269323 A, the water line with a fan shape in accordance with the present invention can be more prominently displayed for effectively removing dirt.   2. Since the subunits  311  of the first water jetting area  31  are arranged in the first fan-shaped region A 1  of the jet faceplate  30  to present an arc-shaped distribution and the included angle θ of the first fan-shaped region A 1  formed using the imaginary center P of the jet faceplate  30  as a reference point and the two imaginary radii R is between 90° and 270°, the user can easily prevent splashes when using the shower head  10 . It is worth mentioning that the best included angle θ of the first fan-shaped region A 1  is 1200.       

     Referring to  FIGS. 8-13 , a shower head  10  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The shower head  10  comprises a housing  20 , a jet faceplate  30 , and a switching device  40 . The difference from the aforesaid first embodiment is that the jet faceplate  30  has a fan-shaped recess  32  located in the first water jetting area  31 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , and an insert  34 , corresponding to the shape of the fan-shaped recess  32  is mounted in the fan-shaped recess  32 . The insert  34  has a plurality of subunits  311  of the first water jetting area  31 . The back of the insert  34  is provided with a plurality of convex hook portions  341 , and the inner edge wall surface of the fan-shaped recess  32  is provided with a plurality of convex ribs  321 . As shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , in this way, the convex hook portions  341  of the insert  34  can be engaged with the convex ribs  321 , so that the insert  34  can be fixed with the jet faceplate  30  and can be easily and quickly detached. With the structure of this second embodiment, the user can easily and quickly change the outlet water pattern of the first water jetting area  31  according to his/her own needs. The design of the subunits  311  and the first jet holes  313  with different shapes on the insert  34  provides the user with different choices and feelings in use, as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14-18 , a shower head  10  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The shower head  10  comprises a housing  20 , a jet faceplate  30 , and a switching device  40 . The difference from the aforesaid first embodiment is that the housing  20  is mounted with a locating ring  50 . The locating ring  50  comprises a circular recess  51 , a first through hole  52  located at the center of the circular recess  51 , and a plurality of second through holes  53  provided in the circular recess  51  and distributed within the first fan-shaped region A 1  in a fan shape with the first through hole  52  as the center. The locating ring  50  further comprises at least one latching protrusion  54  provided on the circular recess  51  and disposed in the second fan-shaped region A 2  opposite to the first fan-shaped region A 1 . In this embodiment, two latching protrusions  54  are provided on the circular recess  51 , but not limited to this. 
     The jet faceplate  30  is mounted in the circular recess  51  of the locating ring  50  and rotatable relative to the locating ring  50 . Similarly, the jet faceplate  30  defines a first water jetting area  31  and a second water jetting area  33 . The second water jetting area  33  corresponds to the first through hole  52 . The first water jetting area  31  comprises a plurality of subunits  311 . The number of the subunits  311  corresponds to the number of the second through holes  53 . As shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , the jet faceplate  30  has a plurality of convex ribs  36  provided at the back surface thereof corresponding to the latching protrusions  54 . The convex ribs  36  are arranged radially with the center of the jet faceplate  30  as the center and distributed in a fan shape. 
     With the structure of the third embodiment of the present invention, the jet faceplate  30  can rotate relative to the locating ring  50  and can be locked by engagement between the latching protrusions  54  on the locating ring  50  and the convex ribs  36  on the back of the jet faceplate  30  after turning. The subunits  311  were originally corresponded to the second through holes  53  in one-to-one correspondence, but due to the rotation of the jet faceplate  30 , the subunits  311  are partially blocked, as shown in  FIG. 19 . In the aspect listed in this embodiment, the first water jetting area originally has 5 subunits. The user can make all 5 subunits correspond to the second through holes, so that all 5 subunits can emit water. Or turn the jet faceplate so that one of the subunits does not correspond to one respective second through-hole, and only 4 subunits can discharge water. In this way, the user can adjust the water output state of the first water jetting area  31  according to the usage requirements of each person to provide more different use options. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.