Single-functional shower head assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6497374
  • Patent Number
    6,497,374
  • Date Filed
    Monday, July 16, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 24, 2002
    21 years ago
Abstract
A single-functional shower head assembly includes a universal connector having a ball inserted into the top end of a shower head housing, and a fit ring having a slight elasticity fitted on the ball of the universal connector in a forcibly fit manner from the other end of the shower head housing, so that the universal connector is positioned in the shower head housing, and the other parts may then be assembled into the shower head housing, thereby decreasing cost of production and enhancing productivity. In addition, the quality of products can be enhanced.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a single-functional shower head assembly, and more particularly to a single-functional shower head assembly, the quality of products can be enhanced.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional single-functional shower head in accordance with the prior art shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

comprises a universal connector


1




a


serially mounted with a shower head housing


2




a


, a sealing ring


3




a


, a connecting member


4




a


, and a water outlet panel


6




a


. The connecting member is provided with heat melted wires


5




a


, so that the shower head housing


2




a


is combined with the connecting member


4




a


in a heat melted manner.




However, the conventional single-functional shower head has the following disadvantages.




1. The universal connector la made of metal has a greater volume and a heavier weight, thereby increasing cost of material and fabrication.




2. The connecting member


4




a


is provided with heat melted wires


5




a


, so that the shower head housing


2




a


is combined with the connecting member


4




a


in a heat melted manner. However, the heat melted process needs a higher cost. In addition, the two combining parts have to stably contact during the heat melted process for obtaining a better effect. However, the connecting member


4




a


has to force the sealing ring


3




a


to urge the universal connector


1




a


as shown in FIG.


2


. The sealing ring


3




a


made of plastic material has a determined volume and elasticity, whereby the heat melted process is easily affected by the sealing ring


3




a


, so that the combination process is unstable, thereby decreasing the heat melted effect, and so that the sealing ring


3




a


cannot closely abut the ball of the universal connector, thereby greatly influencing the sealing effect. Thus, the defective products easily produce during fabrication.




3. The sealing ring


3




a


is subjected to the high temperature of the heat melted process, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the sealing ring


3




a


and the shower head. In addition, maintenance and replacement are difficult when the sealing ring


3




a


is worn out, so that it is necessary to replace a new shower head.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional single-functional shower head assembly.




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a single-functional shower head assembly including a universal connector having a ball inserted into the top end of a shower head housing, and a fit ring having a slight elasticity fitted on the ball of the universal connector in a forcibly fit manner from the other end of the shower head housing, so that the universal connector is positioned in the shower head housing, and the other parts may then be assembled into the shower head housing, thereby decreasing cost of production and enhancing productivity.




Another objective of the present invention is to provide a single-functional shower head assembly, wherein the quality of products can be enhanced.




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a single-functional shower head assembly, comprising:




a hollow universal connector having a first end formed with a water inlet and a second end formed with a ball;




a shower head housing having a first end formed with a water outlet and a second end formed with a first seat defining a hole, a second seat formed in the shower head housing and located beside the first seat;




a fit ring having a slight elasticity fitted on the ball of the universal connector in a forcibly fit manner, the fit ring being inserted into the first seat of the shower head housing by pressing of the ball of the universal connector;




a substantially cylindrical urging member mounted in the second seat of the shower head housing and having an end face recessed with a ring;




a buffer pad mounted in the second seat of the shower head housing and having a first end formed with a first flange fitted into the ring of the urging member and a second end formed with a second flange; and




a water outlet panel secured on the first end of the shower head housing and including a circular plate secured in the water outlet, and an annular wall mounted on the circular plate and rested on the second flange of the buffer pad.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front plan cross-sectional assembly view of a conventional single-functional shower head in accordance with the prior art;





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the conventional single-functional shower head as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a front plan cross-sectional assembly view of a single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with the present invention; and





FIG. 4

is an exploded perspective view of the single-functional shower head assembly as shown in FIG.


3


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with the present invention primarily comprises a hollow universal connector


10


, a shower head housing


20


, a fit ring


30


, a substantially cylindrical urging member


40


, a buffer pad


50


, and a water outlet panel


60


.




The hollow universal connector


10


has a first end formed with a water inlet


11


and a second end formed with a ball


12


.




The shower head housing


20


has a first end formed with a water outlet


21


and a second end formed with a first seat


22


defining a hole


23


. A second seat


24


is formed in the shower head housing


20


and located beside the first seat


22


. The hole


23


of the first seat


22


of the shower head housing


20


has a diameter slightly greater than that of the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


for allowing passage the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


.




The fit ring


30


having a slight elasticity is fitted on the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


in a forcibly fit manner. The fit ring


30


is expanded by pressing of the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


to be inserted into the first seat


22


of the shower head housing


20


. The fit ring


30


has a tapered inner wall


32


urged on the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


. The diameter at the inlet of the tapered inner wall


32


of the fit ring


30


is slightly smaller than that of the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


. The fit ring


30


has an outer wall having a diameter slightly greater than that of the first seat


22


of the shower head housing


20


.




The substantially cylindrical urging member


40


is mounted in the second seat


24


of the shower head housing


20


and has an end face recessed with a ring


42


. The single-functional shower head assembly further comprises a sealing gasket


41


mounted between the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


and the urging member


40


.




The buffer pad


50


is mounted in the second seat


24


of the shower head housing


20


and has a fist end formed with a first flange


51


fitted into the ring


42


of the urging member


40


and a second end formed with a second flange


52


.




The water outlet panel


60


is secured on the first end of the shower head housing


20


and includes a circular plate


61


secured in the water outlet


21


, and an annular wall


65


mounted on the circular plate


61


and rested on the second flange


52


of the buffer pad


50


. The circular plate


61


of the water outlet panel


60


has a water outlet face


63


defining a plurality of water outlet holes


64


located in the annular wall


65


. The annular wall


65


of the water outlet panel


60


defines a plurality of openings


66


.




The single-functional shower head assembly further comprises a sealing ring


62


mounted between the circular plate


61


of the water outlet panel


60


and the water outlet


21


of the shower head housing


20


.




The second seat


24


of the shower head housing


20


has an inner wall formed with an inner thread


25


, and the annular wall


65


of the water outlet panel


60


is formed with an outer thread


67


screwed into the inner thread


25


of the second seat


24


of the shower head housing


20


, so that the annular wall


65


of the water outlet panel


60


is secured in the second seat


24


of the shower head housing


20


.




In assembly, when the annular wall


65


of the water outlet panel


60


is screwed the inner thread


25


of the second seat


24


of the shower head housing


20


into a secure position, the urging member


40


forces the sealing gasket


41


to urge the ball


12


of the universal connector


10


, thereby achieving the effect of stopping passage of water, and thereby positioning the universal connector


10


.




Accordingly, the shower head assembly in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages.




1. The universal connector has a smaller volume and a lighter weight, thereby decreasing cost of material and fabrication.




2. The defective products during production are greatly reduced, thereby enhancing the quality of products and increasing the productivity.




3. The sealing ring is not subjected to an external force, thereby increasing the lifetime thereof. In addition, maintenance and replacement are easy and simple when the sealing ring is worn out, without having to replace a new shower head.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A single-functional shower head assembly, comprising:a hollow universal connector (10) having a first end formed with a water inlet (11) and a second end formed with a ball (12); a shower head housing (20) having a first end formed with a water outlet (21) and a second end formed with a first seat (22) defining a hole (23), a second seat (24) formed in said shower head housing (20) and located beside said first seat (22); a fit ring (30) having a slight elasticity fitted on said ball (12) of said universal connector (10) in a forcibly fit manner, said fit ring (30) being inserted into said first seat (22) of said shower head housing (20) by pressing of said ball (12) of said universal connector (10); a substantially cylindrical urging member (40) mounted in said second seat (24) of said shower head housing (20) and having an end face recessed with a ring (42); a buffer pad (50) mounted in said second seat (24) of said shower head housing (20) and having a first end formed with a first flange (51) fitted into said ring (42) of said urging member (40) and a second end formed with a second flange (52); and a water outlet panel (60) secured on said first end of said shower head housing (20) and including a circular plate (61) secured in said water outlet (21), and an annular wall (65) mounted on said circular plate (61) and rested on said second flange (52) of said buffer pad (50).
  • 2. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hole (23) of said first seat (22) of said shower head housing (20) has a diameter slightly greater than that of said ball (12) of said universal connector (10) for allowing passage said ball (12) of said universal connector (10).
  • 3. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second seat (24) of said shower head housing (20) has an inner wall formed with an inner thread (25), and said annular wall (65) of said water outlet panel (60) is formed with an outer thread (67) screwed into said inner thread (25) of said second seat (24) of said shower head housing (20), so that said annular wall (65) of said water outlet panel (60) is secured in said second seat (24) of said shower head housing (20).
  • 4. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fit ring (30) has a tapered inner wall (32) urged on said ball (12) of said universal connector (10).
  • 5. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fit ring (30) has an outer wall having a diameter slightly greater than that of said first seat (22) of said shower head housing (20).
  • 6. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sealing gasket (41) mounted between said ball (12) of said universal connector (10) and said urging member (40).
  • 7. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sealing ring (62) mounted between said circular plate (61) of said water outlet panel (60) and said water outlet (21) of said shower head housing (20).
  • 8. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said circular plate (61) of said water outlet panel (60) defines a plurality of water outlet holes (64) located in said annular wall (65).
  • 9. The single-functional shower head assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said annular wall (65) of said water outlet panel (60) defines a plurality of openings (66).
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
3887136 Anderson Jun 1975 A
4272022 Evans Jun 1981 A
4275843 Moen Jun 1981 A
4561593 Cammack et al. Dec 1985 A
6076747 Ming-Yuan Jun 2000 A