Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a hand-held sprayer attached to a tip end of a water supply means (a flexible tube) in a shower unit in a bathroom. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Conventionally, a sprayer for turning a bathroom into a low-temperature sauna is configured so that a spray faucet is formed in an upper portion of a box unit main body installed into the bathroom and so that fine water particles are ejected from the spray faucet. 
   However, the conventional sprayer has disadvantages. For example, since an installation space is required at a corner of the bathroom, the already narrow bathroom of an ordinary house is made narrower. 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been achieved to solve the conventional disadvantages. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand-held sprayer characterized by forming a flow passage in a casing, connecting a spray nozzle to a tip end of the flow passage, and protruding a tip end of the spray nozzle from the upper front surface of the casing. By attaching the hand-held sprayer thus configured to water supply means, i.e., a tip end of a flexible tube of an existing shower unit, a bathroom can be filled with fine water particles without installing the other units into the bathroom. 
   Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a hand-held sprayer characterized in that a flow passage is formed in a casing, and at least one water-passing hole is provided to penetrate into a front surface of a tip end of the casing; a plurality of bottomed cylindrical cases each having a front opening are formed, front cases are coupled to adjacent rear cases by fitting bottoms of the front cases into front openings of the adjacent rear cases, respectively, a rearmost case is rotatably attached to the front surface of the tip end of said casing; a plurality of water-passing regions are provided to penetrate into the rearmost case, and a direct flow passage that connects all the water-passing regions except for at least one water-passing region to all the remaining cases is provided; a spray nozzle is connected to at least one of the cases, and various water discharge means are provided in the remaining cases; and a casing-side water-passing hole and a rearmost case-side water-passing region are formed so as not to simultaneously supply water to the different water discharge means. By attaching the hand-held sprayer thus configured to water supply means (a tip end of a flexible tube) of an existing shower unit and rotatably operating the rearmost case to thereby appropriately select a water discharge means, the hand-held sprayer includes functions other than a spray function. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a multifunctional hand-held sprayer; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view that depicts a state in which the hand-held sprayer is used as a spray nozzle; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along X—X of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view that depicts a spray nozzle installation state; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a nozzle main body of the spray nozzle; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view that depicts a state in which the hand-held sprayer is used as an intermittent shower; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along Y—Y of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a front view that depicts a state in which the hand-held sprayer is used as a shower; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along Z—Z of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10(   a ) is an exploded view that depicts positional relationships among a pan and first to third cases if the hand-held sprayer is used as the spray nozzle; 
       FIG. 10(   b ) is an exploded view that depicts positional relationships among a pan and first to third cases if the hand-held sprayer is used as the intermitten shower; 
       FIG. 10(   c ) is an exploded view that depicts positional relationships among a pan and first to third cases if the hand-held sprayer is used as the shower; 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of the hand-held sprayer that includes only the spray nozzle; 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of important parts taken along A—A of  FIG. 11 ; and 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view that depicts a usage state of the hand-held sprayer for generating a jet stream in a bathroom. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a side view of a multifunctional hand-held sprayer of the present invention;  FIG. 2  is a front view that depicts a state in which the hand-held sprayer is used as a spray nozzle;  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along X—X of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view that depicts a spray nozzle installation state;  FIG. 5  is a front view of a nozzle main body of the spray nozzle;  FIG. 6  is a front view that depicts a state in which the hand-held sprayer is used as an intermittent shower;  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along Y—Y of  FIG. 6 ;  FIG. 8  is a front view of important parts that depicts a state in which the hand-held sprayer is used as a shower;  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along Z—Z of  FIG. 8 ;  FIGS. 10(   a )– 10 ( c ) are exploded views thats depict positional relationships among a pan and first to third cases if the hand-held sprayer is used as the spray nozzle, the intermittent shower, or the shower, respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the hand-held sprayer according to the present invention is configured so that a switching portion  2  provided with various water discharge means is rotatably attached to a front surface of an upper end of a casing  1  which is attached to the tip end of flexible tube T of a shower unit S. 
   A proximal end of a casing  1  serves as a grip  1   a  and a tip end thereof serves as a head  1   b , and the switching portion  2  is provided on a front surface of the head  1   b.    
   A flow passage  3  is formed within the casing  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  7 , and  9 , the flow passage  3  is formed by connecting a tip end of a water supply tube  3   a  provided in the grip  1   a  to a large-diameter cylindrical portion  3   b  formed integrally with the water supply tube  3   a  at a center of the head  1   b , and the flexible tube T is connected to a proximal end of the flow passage  3  (water supply tube  3   a ). 
   A pan  4  is provided in front of the cylindrical portion  3   b . The pan  4  is configured so that a fitted body  4   b  fitted into a front opening of the cylindrical portion  3   b  is formed integrally on a rear surface of the circular pan main body  4   a.    
   A pair of water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  are formed in portions other than a center of the pan  4 , and located on a line of a diameter of a concentric circle formed around the center of the pan  4 . 
   An O ring  6  is provided between the fitted body  4   b  of the pan  4  and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion  3   b  so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   A bottom of a bottomed cylindrical first case  7  is rotatably fitted into the pan  4 , whereby an inner bottom of a pan main body  4   a  of the pan  4  is closely attached to the bottom of the first case  7 . 
   An O ring  8  is provided between an outer peripheral surface of the pan  4  and an inner peripheral surface of the first case  7  so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   A plurality of water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. are provided to penetrate into the bottom of the first case  7 . The water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. are classified into three pairs or six water-passing holes  10 ,  10   a ,  11 ,  11   a ,  12 , and  12   a . The water-passing holes  10 ,  10   a ,  11 ,  11   a ,  12 , and  12   a  are arranged on a concentric circle formed around a rotation center of the first case  7 . By rotating the first case  7 , each pair of the water-passing holes  10 ,  10   a ,  11 ,  11   a ,  12 , and  12   a  can communicate with the water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  of the pan  4 . 
   Fitted cylindrical portions  13 ,  13   a ,  14 , and  14   a  are provided to protrude from inner bottom-side outer peripheral portions of the water-passing holes  11 ,  11   a ,  12 , and  12   a  except for the water-passing holes  10  and  10   a.    
   The water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  of the pan  4  are configured as stepped holes each having a large-diameter region on a front side. Cylindrical packings  15  and  15   a  are fitted into the large-diameter regions of the water-passing holes  5  and  5   a , respectively, and compressive springs  16  and  16   a  are interposed between the packings  15  and  15   a  and the stepped regions of the water-passing holes  5  and  5   a . The packings  15  and  15   a  are thereby constantly watertight attached to the bottom of the first case  7 . 
   A bottom of a bottomed cylindrical second case  7   a  is fitted into a front opening of the first case  7 , and a plurality of water-passing regions  17 ,  17   a , etc. are provided to penetrate into the bottom of the second case  7   a . The water-passing regions  17 ,  17   a , etc. are classified into two pairs or four water-passing holes  18 ,  18   a ,  19 , and  19   a . Fitted cylindrical portions  20 ,  20   a ,  21 , and  21   a  are provided to protrude from bottom-side outer peripheral portions of the respective water-passing holes  18 ,  18   a ,  19 , and  19   a . The fitted cylindrical portions  20 ,  20   a ,  21 , and  21   a  are coupled to the fitted cylindrical portions  13 ,  13   a ,  14 , and  14   a  of the first case  7 , respectively. The water-passing holes  12  and  12   a  and fitted cylindrical portions  14  and  14   a  of the first case  7 , and the fitted cylindrical portions  21  and  21   a  and water-passing holes  19  and  19   a  of the second case  7   a  form direct flow passages  22 ,  22  that directly supply water from the water-passing holes  12  and  12   a  to the second case  7   a  without causing the water to flow into the first case  7 . 
   Further, O rings  23 ,  24 ,  24   a ,  25 , and  25   a  are provided between outer peripheral walls of the first and second cases  7  and  7   a , and between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of regions in which the fitted cylindrical portions  13 ,  13   a ,  14 , and  14   a  of the first case  7  are coupled to the fitted cylindrical portions  20 ,  20   a ,  21 , and  21   a  of the second case  7   a  so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   A bottom of a bottomed cylindrical third case  7   b  is fitted into a front opening of the second case  7   a . A plurality of (two in the drawings) water-passing regions  26  and  26   a  are provided to penetrate into the bottom of the third case  7   b . A pair of water-passing holes  26  and  26   a  serve as two water-passing holes  27  and  27   a , respectively, fitted cylindrical portions  29  and  29   a  are provided to protrude from bottom-side outer peripheral portions of the respective water-passing holes  27  and  27   a , and tip ends of the fitted cylindrical portions  29  and  29   a  are coupled to the water-passing holes  18  and  18   a  of the second case  7   a . The water-passing holes  11  and  11   a  and fitted cylindrical portions  13  and  13   a  of the first case  7 , the fitted cylindrical portions  20  and  20   a  and water-passing holes  18  and  18   a  of the second case  7   a , and the fitted cylindrical portions  29  and  29   a  and water-passing holes  27  and  27   a  of the third case  7   b  form direct flow passages  22   a ,  22   a  that directly supply water from the water-passing holes  11  and  11   a  to the third case  7   b  without causing the water to flow into the first and second cases  7  and  7   b.    
   O rings  30  and  30   a  are provided between inner peripheral surfaces of the water-passing holes  18  and  18   a  of the second case  7   a  and outer peripheral surfaces of tip ends of the fitted cylindrical portions  29  and  29   a  of the third case  7   b  so as to keep watertight therebetween, respectively. 
   A center shaft  31  penetrates into centers of the first, second, and third cases  7 ,  7   a , and  7   b . A tip end of the center shaft  31  is provided in a central portion of the cylindrical portion  3   b  of the head  1   b , and screwed into a nut member  32  that penetrates into the central portion of the pan  4 . A plate head body  31   a  is formed integrally with a proximal end of the center shaft  31 , thereby integrating the first, second, and third cases  7 ,  7   a , and  7   b  with one another and closely attaching the inner bottom of the pan main body  4   a  of the pan  4  to the bottom of the first case  7 . 
   Cylindrical members  33 ,  33   a , and  33   b  into which the center shaft  31  penetrates are integrally provided to protrude from regions of the respective first, second, and third cases  7 ,  7   a , and  7   b  into which the center shaft  31  penetrates. O rings  34 ,  34   a , and  34   b  are provided between the cylindrical members  33 ,  33   a , and  33   b  and the center shaft  31 , respectively. 
   Further, an O ring  35  is provided between an inner peripheral surface of a region of the pan  4  into which the nut member  32  penetrates and an outer peripheral surface of the nut member  32 . 
   A plurality of (two in the drawings) attachment ports  36  and  36  are formed in a peripheral wall of the first case  7 , a proximal end of a connection tube  37  bent at right angle is coupled to the attachment ports  36  and  36   a , and a spray nozzle  39  serving as one of water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. is connected to a tip end of the connection tube  37 . 
   The spray nozzle  39  is formed by covering a tip end of a nozzle main body  40  connected to the connection tube  37  with a cap  41 . 
   O rings  42  and  42   a  are provided between inner peripheral surfaces of the attachment ports  36  and  36   a  and an outer peripheral surface of the connection tube  37 , and between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of a connection region in which the nozzle main body  40  is connected to the connection tube  37  so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   A flow passage  43  communicating with the connection tube  37  is formed at a center of the nozzle main body  40 . An ejection hole  44  that penetrates into the flow passage  43  from a side surface of a tip end of the nozzle main body  40  is formed without opening a tip end of the flow passage  43  on a tip end surface of the nozzle main body  40  so that the tip end of the flow passage  43  is opened on the side surface of the tip end of the nozzle main body  40 . 
   A diameter of a tip end-side portion of an inner region of the cap  41  of the nozzle main body  40  is reduced, and a truncated cone-like increased-diameter portion  46  is formed on a tip end of the reduced-diameter portion  45 . In addition, a plurality of grooves  47 ,  47   a , etc. are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the increased-diameter portion  46  so as to be slightly inclined from a bus line direction of the outer peripheral surface of the increased-diameter portion  46 . 
   A spray hole  48  is formed at a center of a tip end surface of the cap  41 , and a depth region of an inner peripheral surface of the cap  41  is formed into a tapered surface  49  tapered in a depth direction. 
   Screw threads and thread grooves are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle main body  40  in rear of the reduced-diameter portion  45  and opening-side regions on the inner peripheral surface of cap  41 . The cap  41  is screwed into and covered on the tip end of the nozzle main body  40 . 
   An O ring  50  is formed between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the nozzle main body  40  and the cap  41  in rear of the screw threads and screw grooves so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   A plurality of water discharge grooves  51 ,  51   a , etc. are formed on an outer peripheral wall surface of the third case  7   b , one of the water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. is formed between the second and third cases  7   a  and  7   b , and the water discharge grooves  51 ,  51   a , etc. are formed to be gradually shallower toward a front side. 
   Further, the water discharge grooves  51 ,  51   a , etc. are formed so as to regularly mix the grooves different in width and depth. 
   A spray portion  60  serving as one of the water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. is fitted into a front opening of the third case  7   b , and vanes  62  are rotatably provided within a casing  61  of the spray portion  60 . In addition, a plurality of water intake holes  63  are provided to penetrate into an outer peripheral surface of the casing  61 , and water discharge holes  64 ,  64   a , etc. are provided to penetrate into a front surface of the casing  61 . 
   The vanes  62  are made rotatable by setting a direction of forming the water intake holes  63  not to be equal to a centripetal direction of the casing  61 . 
   An O ring  65  is formed between a region on the outer peripheral surface of the casing  61  whose region is in front of the water intake holes  63  and the inner peripheral surface of the third case  7   b  so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  7 , and  9 , the second case  7   a  is formed integrally with a front cover  66 , and a rear cover  68  in which a region  67  into which the pan  4  penetrates is formed is fixed to the front cover  66  by screw means or the like. In addition, the spray nozzle  39  is accommodated in the front cover  66  and the rear cover  68 , a tip end of the spray nozzle  39  penetrates into the front cover  66  and thereby protrudes to the front side. 
   A freely back and forth stopper  70  is provided outside the cylindrical portion  3   b  in the head  1   b  of the casing  1 , and engagement portions  71 ,  71   a , etc. of a tip end of the stopper  70  are formed on a rear surface of the rear cover  68 . 
   In this embodiment, the hand-held sprayer is configured by the three cases  7 ,  7   a , and  7   b . However, the number of cases is not limited to three but may be four or more. Namely, it suffices that the hand-held sprayer is configured as follows. 
   The hand-held sprayer may be configured so that a plurality of bottomed cylindrical cases  7 ,  7   a , etc. each having a front opening are formed, front cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. are coupled to adjacent rear cases  7 ,  7   a , etc. by fitting bottoms of the front cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. into front openings of the adjacent rear cases  7 ,  7   a , etc., respectively, a rearmost case  7  is rotatably attached to the front surface of the tip end of the casing  1 ; a plurality of water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. are provided to penetrate into the rearmost case  7  and arranged on a concentric circle formed around a rotation center of the rearmost case  7 , and direct flow passages  22 ,  22   a , etc. that connect all the water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. except for at least one water-passing region to all the remaining cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. are provided; various water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. are provided in all the cases  7 ,  7   a , etc.; and so that casing  1 -side water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  and rearmost case  7 -side water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. are formed so as not to simultaneously supply water to the different water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. 
   Alternatively, a plurality of pairs of water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  may be formed on the casing  1  side without concentrically arranging a plurality of water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. in the rearmost case  7 , and the water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. on the rearmost case  7  side may be formed so as not to simultaneously supply water to the different water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. 
   In the above-stated embodiment, the multifunctional hand-held sprayer has been described. In short, it suffices that the hand-held sprayer is configured so that the front portion of at least one spray nozzle  39  protrudes from the front portion of the casing  1  and so that the proximal end of the spray nozzle  39  is connected to the tip end of the flow passage  3 . 
   Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the spray nozzle  39  is provided in front of the cylindrical portion  3   b  of the casing  1 . A collar-like closing plate  100  is formed integrally with an intermediate portion of the nozzle main body  40  of the spray nozzle  39 . The closing plate  100  closes the front opening of the cylindrical portion  3   b , and an O ring  101  is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion  3   b  and an outer side surface of the closing plate  100  so as to keep watertight therebetween. 
   A cover body  102  is provided in a front portion of the head  1   b  of the casing  1 , and the tip end of the spray nozzle  39  protrudes from a central portion of the cover body  102 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a filter unit  105  may be provided on the proximal end of the flexible tube T so as to remove impurities within running water. 
   Functions of the hand-held sprayer according to the present invention will next be described. 
   In the hand-held sprayer shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , water is caused to directly flow into the flow passage  43  of the nozzle main body  40  from the flow passage  3 , and supplied between the cap  41  and the reduced-diameter portion  45  by the ejection hole  44  on the side surface of the tip end of the nozzle main body  40 . Thereafter, the water is ejected from gaps between the cap  41  and the increased-diameter portion  46  or, if no gaps are present, from outlet sides of the grooves  47 ,  47   a , etc., filled up into a space between the tip end of the nozzle main body  40  and the cap  41 , and sprayed from the spray hole  48  in the form of foggy fine water particles. 
   Since the water flow passage within the spray nozzle  39  is gradually narrower toward the tip end, water pressure is gradually increased and the fine water particles are ejected from the spray hole  48  with high efficiency. 
   By making a restriction amount of the spray nozzle  39  adjustable by fastening or unfastening the cap  41 , diameters of the fine water particles ejected from the spray hole  48  can be adjusted. Specifically, if the cap  41  is fastened, the tapered surface  49  finally abuts on an outer peripheral edge of the increased-diameter portion  46 . In this case, water is discharged only from the outlet sides of the grooves  47 ,  47   a , etc., and ejected from the spray hole  48  with the water pressure quite increased. Due to this, the water is transformed into foggy and very fine water particles. 
   The water is suddenly transformed into fine particles during ejection from the spray hole  48 , surface energy of these fine air particles is changed, and the fine water particles are positively charged, whereby the surrounding air is negatively charged. It is normally believed that hydroxyl ions (OH − +(H 2 O) n ) obtained by bonding OH −  ions with water molecules in the air are mainly generated. 
   If the hydroxyl ions are absorbed into a human body by breathing, most of active oxygen that is generated during breathing and that adversely influences the human body is reduced by excess electrons contained in the negatively-charged air. A residual amount of the active oxygen in the body can be, therefore, minimized. In addition, lactic acid that causes stiffness of the shoulder is decomposed and thereby made harmless, autonomic nerves for metabolism can be stabilized, and potentials of cell membranes are affected. This thereby improves permeability of the cell membranes, smoothes input and output of nutritious substances, waste materials and the like, and thereby favorably influences the human body. 
   By directly pouring the foggy fine water particles onto the human body or filling the bathroom with high-temperature fine water particles produced from hot water, the bathroom is heated or turned into a low-temperature sauna. 
   It is noted that the pressure of warm water supplied to each house differs according to, for example, a performance of a hot water supply system. By adjusting the restriction amount of the spray nozzle  39 , therefore, heating efficiency for heating the bathroom can be improved. 
   The functions of the hand-held sprayer shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9  are as follows. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , during usage of the spray nozzle  39 , if water flows into the flow passage  43  of the nozzle main body  40  through the water-passing holes  5 ,  5   a ,  10 ,  10   a , an interior of the first case  7 , the attachment ports  36  and  36   a , and the connection tube  37 , the fine water particles are ejected from the spray hole  48  with high efficiency by the same functions as those shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
   If the hand-held sprayer is used as “an intermittent shower”, then water is supplied into the third case  7   b  through the water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  and the direct flow passages  22   a ,  22   a  (the water-passing holes  11  and  11   a  and fitted cylindrical portions  13  and  13   a  of the first case  7 , the fitted cylindrical portions  20  and  20   a  and water-passing holes  18  and  18   a  of the second case  7   a , and the fitted cylindrical portions  29  and  29   a  and water-passing holes  27  and  27   a  of the third case  7   b ), and flows into the spray portion  60  from plurality of the water intake holes  63  of the spray portion  60 , whereby the water rotates the vanes  62  and are ejected from the water discharge holes  64 ,  64   a , etc, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
   At that time, the water discharge holes  64 ,  64   a , etc. are intermittently and repeatedly opened or closed by the rotating vanes  62 , so that the water is ejected in the form of an elongated block and “flows with torrential force”. 
   If the hand-held sprayer is used as “a shower”, then water is supplied into the second case  7   a  through the water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  and the direct flow passages  22 ,  22  (the water-passing holes  12  and  12   a  and fitted cylindrical portions  14  and  14   a  of the first case  7 , and the fitted cylindrical portions  21  and  21   a  and water-passing holes  19  and  19   a  of the second case  7   a ), transformed into a plurality of water strips by water the discharge grooves  51 ,  51   a , etc., and ejected therefrom, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , if the water is ejected while fixing the head  1   b  of the hand-held sprayer to an inner wall of a bathtub, a jet stream is generated in the bathtub. 
   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
   In summary, according to the present invention, the flow passage  3  is formed in the casing  1 , the spray nozzle  39  is connected to the tip end of the flow passage  3 , and the tip end of the spray nozzle  39  protrudes from the casing  1 . Therefore, if the flexible tube T of the existing shower unit S is connected to the proximal end of the flow passage  3  of the casing  1 , it can be ensured that fine water particles are ejected from the spray nozzle  39 . Due to this, it is possible to generate the negatively-charged air by the Lenard effect to cause the air to act on the human body, and warm the bathroom or turn the bathroom into the low-temperature sauna. The existing shower unit S can be used without additionally installing water supply and hot water supply systems for the spray nozzle  39 . 
   The flow passage  3  is formed in the casing  1 , and at least one water-passing hole  5  or  5   a  is provided to penetrate into the front surface of the tip end of the casing  1 . Therefore, if the flexible tube T of the existing shower unit S is connected to the proximal end of the flow passage  3  of the casing  1 , it can be ensured that water is supplied from the water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  to the various water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. 
   A plurality of bottomed cylindrical cases  7 ,  7   a , etc. each having the front opening are formed, front cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. are coupled to adjacent rear cases  7 ,  7   a , etc. by fitting the bottoms of the front cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. into front openings of the adjacent rear cases  7 ,  7   a , etc., respectively, and the rearmost case  7  is rotatably attached to the front surface of the tip end of the casing  1 . Therefore, only by rotatably operating the rearmost case  7 , it is possible to switch over to any one of the water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. A usage according to a purpose can be thereby easily selected. 
   A plurality of water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. are provided to penetrate into the rearmost case  7 , and the direct flow passages  22 ,  22   a , etc. that connect all the water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. except for at least one water-passing region to all the remaining cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. are provided. Therefore, it is possible to ensure that water is supplied from the casing  1  to the respective cases  7 ,  7   a , etc. 
   The spray nozzle  39  is connected to at least one case  7 , and the various water discharge means  38   a ,  38   b , etc. are provided in the remaining cases  7   a ,  7   b , etc. The existing shower unit S can be, therefore, used for multipurposes. 
   The casing  1 -side water-passing holes  5  and  5   a  and the rearmost case  7 -side water-passing regions  9 ,  9   a , etc. are formed so as not to simultaneously supply water to the different water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. It is, therefore, possible to ensure that only desired water discharge means  38 ,  38   a , etc. are used. 
   Since the restriction amount of the spray nozzle  39  is made adjustable, forces of the fine water particles discharged from the spray nozzle  39  can be adjusted. Due to this, magnitudes and forces of the fine water particles can be suited to every individual&#39;s taste irrespectively of the pressure of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply system, which pressure differs according to a machine type, a manufacturer, a service period or the like. 
   If the hot water supply system of the shower unit S is a fuel heater using gas or kerosene and only one spray nozzle  39  is connected while the warm water is used, the hot water system is excessively heavily burdened. As a result, the hot water supply system may possibly be stopped. Besides, since a water discharge amount is small, a negatively charging ratio is low and efficiency for heating the bathroom by spraying the warm water is deteriorated. However, by connecting a plurality of spray nozzles  39 , the hand-held sprayer greatly exhibits practical advantages including solving these disadvantages.

Technology Category: e