Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6497374
-
Patent Number
6,497,374
-
Date Filed
Monday, July 16, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 24, 200222 years ago
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 239 548
- 239 552
- 239 504
- 239 567
- 239 5871
- 239 5873
- 239 5874
- 239 600
- 239 DIG 4
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International Classifications
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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)