Patent Application
20050035227
The present invention relates to a shower head for use preferably with a wall bar set. More particularly, the shower head improves the pivot ball joint wherein the shower head swivels around the pivot ball for better reliability and stability. The shower head incorporates a flat-faced seal design wherein the pivot ball and the seal are substantially flush along a plane, and the seal is substantially flush with a water chamber. Further, the pivot ball is generally surrounded by a ball holder for better reliability.
A shower head is a common fixture for directing the spray of water. One of the main features of a shower head is its ability to pivot about a point for directional spraying. In other words, a user can configure a shower head according to his or her preferences. After constant use, however, the shower head may be unable to move into any particular direction. It might be stuck in one specific position or be completely incapable of movement and remain limp. Further, the worn-out shower head may leak in the pivot ball joint itself. The joint can suffer from wear-and-tear over time due to use and construction. Thus, one consideration in constructing a shower head is the pivot ball joint itself.
An automatically adjustable shower head is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,843, wherein a body member is shown attached to the lower half of the pivot ball. The pivot ball and the O-ring are not substantially flush, because the pivot ball extends beyond a horizontal plane established by the O-ring. Additionally, the O-ring is circular in its cross-section thereby providing less contact surface, and thus no ability to create a flat seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,364 discloses an adjustable shower head for producing adjustable sprays. Again, the holder covers the lower half of the pivot ball. The housing covers the remaining exposed portions of the pivot ball. The pivot ball is sealed by a ring, but the seal is not flat. Rather, the lower portion of the pivot ball extends beyond the horizontal plane of the seal created by the ring abutted against the pivot ball.
A shower head comprising a backing plate, a diaphragm and a cover plate are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,531 B1. The backing plate acts as a conduit for receiving and sending water, wherein the water is sent through the pivot ball. The pivot ball is attached to the backing plate. However, there is no such disclosure of a seal arrangement with the pivot ball.
The present invention solves the deficiencies stated in the prior art, while providing improvements as stated herein.
Accordingly, the present invention provides for a shower head comprising an outer housing having a top and bottom openings; a face plate enclosing said bottom opening; a nozzle having a top and bottom face, wherein said bottom face is connected to said face plate thereof; a water chamber including at least one channel, centrally disposed, axially throughgoing for flow-through of water; a ball holder fitted in said outer housing and encased by said top opening, wherein said ball holder is connected over said water chamber; a pivot ball connectable to a water supply, wherein said pivot ball includes a tubular portion which contains a screen filter and a spherical ball portion which is substantially surrounded by said ball holder; and a seal disposed in an annular groove of said upper portion, said seal having a relatively rectangular or square cross-section which abuts said pivot ball, and preferably is rendered substantially flush therewith by virtue of an angled cut in the abutting corner of the seal; and said seal is substantially flush with the bottom of said pivot ball and said annular groove along a plane.
A preferred embodiment comprises an outer housing having a top and bottom opening; a face plate enclosing said bottom opening; a nozzle having a top and bottom face, wherein said bottom face is connected to said face plate thereof; a water chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion connected to said top face, wherein the diameter of said upper portion is smaller than said lower portion; the water chamber including at least one channel, centrally disposed, axially throughgoing for flow-through of water, and a plurality of concentric circles defining a plurality of bores, wherein said at least one channel communicates with said bores; a ball holder fitted in said outer housing and encased by said top opening, wherein said ball holder is secured over said upper portion and on top of said lower portion; a pivot ball connectable to a water supply, wherein said pivot ball includes a tubular portion which contains a screen filter and a spherical ball portion which is substantially surrounded by said ball holder; and a seal disposed in an annular groove of said upper portion, said seal having a relatively rectangular or square cross-section which abuts said pivot ball, and preferably is rendered substantially flush therewith by virtue of an angled cut in the abutting corner of the seal; and said seal is flush with the bottom of said pivot ball and annular groove along a plane.
An object of the present invention is a shower head that is more stable as evidenced by the flat seal design created by the pivot ball and the ball holder, wherein the flat seal design prevents the undue leakage of water.
Another object is a shower head that is more reliable, wherein the life cycle of the ball joint is extended upon the ball holder fully encompassing the pivot ball.
These and other objects of the invention are best understood and more apparent when the detailed description and the accompanying drawings are read in conjunction with each other.
An assembled shower head (1) is shown in
Referring to
The ball holder (5) substantially covers the water chamber (4), preferably by a threaded collar or the like located on the water chamber (4), and is preferably fixed to the outer housing (2) by corresponding threads (27, 28) for attachment. The upper region of the ball holder substantially surrounds or covers the pivot ball (10) as shown in
Referring to
The pivot ball (10) is attachable to the water supply and is preferably made of brass. It is generally shaped to have a generally tubular portion (29) and the ball portion (30) in the shape of a sphere truncated at its top and bottom. The tubular portion (29) contains an opening (20) at its top for accommodating a screen filter (9). The shape of the screen filter (9) conforms to the shape of the opening (20). The screen filter (9) is inserted into the opening (20) insofar as resistance is felt as the screen filter (9) passes from the tubular portion (29) towards the ball portion (30) as shown in
The seal (7) is generally annular and is pre-loaded with a tensile force, where the seal (7) sits in the annular groove (12) of the water chamber (4) such that the seal (7) is abutted against the pivot ball (10). The seal (7) is shaped to generally conform to the shape of the annular groove (12), such that the seal (7) is generally contiguous with the lower portion (14) of the water chamber (4). As shown in
The nozzle (8) has a shape and size that corresponds to that of the water chamber (4) and the face plate (2). The nozzle (8) has a top (31) and bottom face (32), wherein the top face (31) is connected to the water chamber (4) and the bottom face (32) is connected to the face plate (2). Specifically, the top face (31) is connected to the lower portion (14) of the water chamber (4). The nozzle (8) is effectively “sandwiched” between the water chamber (4) and the face plate (2), wherein the nozzle (8) is pressed downward onto the face plate by the concentric circles (20 of the water chamber (4). The nozzle (8) includes a plurality of nipples (13) extending outward to regulate the amount of water that it receives from the water chamber (4). The number of nipples (13) should correspond to the number of apertures (17) in the face plate (2), wherein the nipples (13) are aligned with the apertures (17) of the face place (1) such that the nipples (13) can pass through the apertures (17).
