Abstract:
A device for use in a shower head that discharges a fluid, such as water, has a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle having an opening for discharging the fluid and a plurality of apertures spaced away from the opening having a bore through which the fluid flows, and a face through which the opening extends. The nozzles each create droplets that are large enough to retain heat and moving slowly enough to minimize irritation to a user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to showerheads in general and venturi showerheads in particular 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Numerous showerheads assemblies are known in the prior art that operate in multi-functional modes. These assemblies provide fixed spray patterns in combination with massaging action generated by either pulsating or whirling the water through the showerhead. 
         [0003]    A system may include a selector disk that is rotatably mounted inside the selector housing. The disk selector has an inlet end facing the inlet end of the selector housing, and an outlet end opposite the inlet end of the disk selector. The showerhead includes a selector face mounted inside the selector housing and a diffuser plate mounted inside the selector housing. 
         [0004]    Other systems may have a showerhead assembly enabling the selection of various forms of output streams, including a set of streams having a large diameter, rich in bubbles when the water pressure is high, a set of streams having a smaller diameter full of bubbles when the water pressure is low, or a spray instead of the bubbly stream. 
         [0005]    Still other systems may use a patterned chip to produce various patterns. And some showers mix in air with the water to make a user feel that, in this “save water” world that he or she is experiencing a higher volume of water when in the shower environment. Another system includes a source of hot water that produces steam. A selectively controlled diverter is disposed within the conduit and diverts the water arriving from the source away from the showerhead and through the outlet in the form of a mist. The showerhead includes a nozzle-driven turbine. Apertures in a flow director plate, governed by a control plate, feed nozzles predetermined to vary the force of water delivered. The water force varies with the number of nozzles that are open. 
         [0006]    Some systems are simple however, like the “navy” shower that utilized a single nozzle having a single venturi-like opening feeding water into the nozzle. Some, like the shower head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,040 entitled “Adjustable Aerating Shower Head” to Smith, utilize a single nozzle with multiple openings that vary a pattern by lengthening the nozzle itself. In both of these cases the nozzle must be large to create the proper coverage for a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An exemplary embodiment includes a device for use in a shower head that discharges a fluid has a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle having an opening for discharging the fluid and a plurality of apertures spaced away from the opening having a bore through which the fluid flows, and a face through which the opening extends. The nozzles each create droplets that are large enough to retain heat and moving slowly enough to minimize completeness to a user. 
         [0008]    A further exemplary method for providing a user a comfortable shower from a shower head includes the steps of providing water through a first nozzle of the shower head, the nozzle having an outlet, a bore and a plurality of apertures through which the water flows and providing water through a second nozzle of the shower head and having an outlet, a bore and a plurality of apertures through which the water flows. The nozzles each create droplets that are large enough to retain heat and moving slowly enough to minimize discomfort to a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a handheld showerhead. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of the handheld showerhead of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic, cut-away view of the handheld showerhead of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic, cut-away view of the handheld showerhead of  FIG. 3  taken along the line  4 - 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a hand-held showerhead  10  is shown. The showerhead  10  has a handle  15  by which the user holds the showerhead, an inlet tube  20 , a face  25  and a selector lever  30 . The face  25  has a plurality of openings  35  through which various functions, as known in the art, are directed therethrough. The showerhead  10  also has shown six nozzles  40 , each nozzle having four openings  50  as will be described herein. Though a hand held shower is shown, the teachings herein are applicable to fixed or permanently mounted showerheads as well. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a nozzle  40  of  FIG. 1  is shown. Each nozzle has a plate  45  in which four apertures  50  are disposed. Each nozzle has a flared portion (at a 15° angle—see  FIG. 4 ) through which water is directed and an outer boss  60  having decorative purposes. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the lever  30  rotates the face  25  about a screw  65 . By rotating the showerhead about the axis, different functions within the showerhead are activated and deactivated. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a fluid such as water enters the inlet tube  20  and passes through the handle  15  through channel  70 . The water then passes through a channel  75  that passes through a support plate  80 , an engine  85 , plate  45 , apertures  50  and then the nozzle  45 . As water passes through channel  75 , it encounters a restriction  90  and then expands in diameter  95  to equal that of the bore  100  of the nozzle. The restriction  90  caused the water to accelerate therethrough to offset a reduction of speed caused by the larger diameter  95  encountered at the plate  45 . 
         [0018]    The plate  45  is fixedly disposed between the engine  85  and the nozzle  40 . The apertures  50  direct the water to the nozzle  100  towards the exterior of the bore to give the water escaping from the apertures its shape. By speeding the flow of water through the apertures  50  and along the edges of the nozzle a user feels that more water is being directed to that user&#39;s body to give a more enjoyable shower. The nozzle has a flared opening  55  disposed at about a 15° angle to further enhance the pattern and spread of the water flowing from the nozzle. The length L of the nozzle is about 9.6 mm and the width W is 6.0 mm, creating width to length ratio of about 1.6:1. 
         [0019]    By using a plurality of smaller nozzles  40  and plates  45  (compared to a single nozzle having 12 apertures of the prior art) and more apertures  50  (e.g., 6 nozzles having four apertures each or a total of 24 apertures), an “aeration” or “atomized” effect produces bigger droplet sizes and less of a mist effect. This is desirable because it produces a better feeling shower spray for a user. Larger nozzles of the prior art create a high “degree of atomization” or very small droplets. This is translated in layman terms as a “misting” spray. This is often considered undesirable because it is colder and stings the skin. It is colder because larger droplets of water retain heat longer, as they exit the showerhead and travel to the skin. Also with a single larger nozzle with fewer apertures, there is more pressure that causes higher spray velocities that causes the spray to sting the user&#39;s skin. 
         [0020]    The embodiments shown provide the following advantages: individual nozzles can be smaller to minimize misting spray; different arrays can be designed to meet coverage requirements; more orifice holes (4×6=24 instead of 12) lower the velocity without decreasing the droplet size to improve the feel of the shower water; and a balance between “degree of atomization”, velocity and coverage can be maximized to create a more comfortable spray. Though 6 nozzles are shown, 4 and 5 nozzle configurations are also acceptable given the 1.6:1 ratio of the nozzle. Other configurations with different ratios are contemplated herein. 
         [0021]    Though these enhancements are shown with the nozzle this embodiment contemplates that each nozzle housing and orifice plate might have different or same shapes to create an ideal bathing experience for a user. 
         [0022]    Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments. 
         [0023]    The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.