EP2012934A1

EP2012934A1 - Multifunctional hand-held shower

Info

Publication number: EP2012934A1
Application number: EP07724668A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gunter Veigel
Original assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG
Current assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG
Priority date: 2006-05-03
Filing date: 2007-04-27
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-27
Also published as: DE102006020765A1; EP2012934B1; WO2007124925A1; DE502007006603D1; ATE499997T1

Abstract

Disclosed is a multifunctional hand-held shower (10) comprising a handle section (12) which allows a user to hold the hand-held shower (10) and inside which a water duct (38, 40) is provided, and a head section (14) that encompasses several water ducts (72, 74, 76) extending to a plurality of water outlets (22, 24, 26). Manually actuated switching means (36, 46, 50) are provided which allow the mode of operation of the multifunctional hand-held shower (10) to be adjusted. The switching means (36, 46, 50) are arranged in the handle section (12) and are fitted with a switching member (50) which can be moved into different positions from outside the handle section (12). The switching member (50) is equipped with a continuous bore (54) via which water can be conducted from the duct (38, 40) in the handle section (12) into one respective water duct (72, 74, 76) in the head section (14) according to the position of the switching member (50).

Description

Multi-function hand shower

The invention relates to a multi-function hand shower for selectively operating in at least two mutually different modes in which different types of effervescent jets are generated with

a) a hand area, which serves for holding the multi - function hand shower by a user and in which a water - carrying channel is provided;

b) a head portion comprising a plurality of water-carrying channels leading to a plurality of water outlet openings;

and

c) manually operable changeover means by means of which the operating mode of the multi-function hand shower is adjustable,

in which

d) the switching means are arranged in the hand area and comprise a movable from outside of the hand area in different positions Umstellorgan.

The different types of effervescent jets which can be produced by means of such conventional multi-function hand-held sprayers include, for example, conventional standard effervescent jets, but also massage effervescent jets which have an elevated effervescence compared to standard effervescent jets Pressure escape, as well as, for example, effervescent jets that leave the multi-function hand shower as a flood of water in the form of a largely contiguous curtain of water. It is also possible to produce spray mist, rain-like droplet sequences or combinations of different types of effervescent jets with such multi-function handheld showerheads.

Due to the possibility for the user to be able to adjust the type of effervescent jets depending on his condition and needs, multi-functional handheld jets are very popular. A multi-function hand shower, in which the manually operable changeover means comprise a changeover member and are arranged in the hand area, is known, for example, from DE 100 17 044 A1. The switching means are provided there in the form of a relatively complicated multi-way valve. The Umstellorgan for this comprises a plurality of closing elements, which can each close a water-carrying channel. Each of the closing elements has an O-ring and is in turn connected to a tilting element, which is mounted on a pin and can be actuated by means of push buttons.

The actuation of the changeover means may alternatively be effected in a manner known per se also by a housing part of the head region, which is rotatable relative to another housing part in the head region. By actuating the switching means while the mode is changed by the water deflected in the interior of the head area and, for example, to another type of

Water outlet is passed. In this variant too, however, the internal structure of the changeover means as a whole is rather complicated.

Known switching means are often, such as in the DE 100 17 044 Al described from a variety of items and are therefore mechanically quite vulnerable. Also, maintenance and / or cleaning is complicated by the complicated structure.

The object of the invention is to provide a multi-function hand shower of the type mentioned, in which the switching means are constructed mechanically simpler.

This object is achieved in that in a multi-function hand shower of the type mentioned

e) the Umstellorgan a water-bearing through hole, comprises, via which depending on the position of the Umstellorgans water from the channel in the hand area in each case one of the water-carrying channels in the head area is steerable.

This Umstellorgan serves as a kind of switch for the flow of water inside the hand shower. In particular, it is possible that the Umstellorgan is a single component and not constructed of many interconnected items, as is the case in the prior art.

It is advantageous if the switching means comprise a pivot on which the Umstellorgan in

Inside the hand area is rotatably mounted. In this way, a rotary switch can be realized, which is often perceived as a more pleasant operation than, for example, the operation of a slider.

Good handling is achieved when the pivot extends substantially perpendicular to a lying in the region of the pivot cross-sectional area of the hand area. In the case of a straight hand area, the pivot pin thus lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handpiece. area and the Umstellorgan is rotated transversely to this longitudinal axis.

It is expedient for the changeover element to be designed as a rotary wheel, the peripheral surface of which serves at least in regions as an actuating surface and projects outwardly at least in regions through an opening in the hand region. So the Umstellorgan is easily accessible to the user. This also means that no further operating devices must be provided to move the changeover member. That is, by this measure, an overall advantageous mechanically very simple construction is guaranteed.

It is especially convenient for the user when the

Opening is provided in a lying on the side of the water outlet openings area of the hand area.

A technically advantageous solution is achieved if the switching means comprise a cooperating with the Umstellorgan distributor element which has a through hole with a Umstellorgan facing distributor opening, via which the water-carrying through hole of the Umstellorgans in all functional positions of the Umstellorgans water is supplied. It is preferred if the distributor opening of the distributor element is semicircular and the water-conducting through hole of the Umstellorgans by a rotational movement of the Umstellorgans along the semicircular distributor opening is movable. In this way, it is ensured in a simple manner that the water-conducting through hole of the Umstellorgans is always supplied with the hand shower water supplied.

The maintenance and / or cleaning of the hand shower will open easy way easier when the hand area as a separate handpiece and the head area are designed as a separate head piece, which are releasably connected to each other. The hand shower is then in two parts and there is the possibility to disassemble the hand shower for maintenance and / or cleaning purposes. In this way, moreover different head pieces can be combined with one and the same handpiece. The head pieces can be different both in design and in their function. What different

Functions, different head pieces, for example, each have different water-bearing channels leading to different water outlet openings, so that different shower spray variants can be produced with different headers.

The user can then decide which combination of selectable effervescent jets he prefers and use a corresponding headpiece together with the same handpiece.

It is particularly advantageous if the head piece has external connection pieces, each of which is connected to one of the water-carrying channels of the head piece, and if the hand piece has complementary connections to the connection piece of the head piece.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing; show it:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a multi-function hand shower from a first viewing direction;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the multi-function hand shower according to FIG. 1 from a second one Sight;

FIG. 3 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 2, of the hand-held area of the multi-function hand-held shower designed as a separate handpiece;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of the formed as a separate headpiece head portion of the multi-function hand shower;

5 shows a section through the multi-function hand shower along the section line V-V in Figure 6;

6 shows a section through the multi-function hand shower along the section line VI-VI in Figure 5;

7 shows a section through the multi-function hand shower along the section line VII-VII in Figure 5;

8 shows a section through the multi-function hand shower along the section line VIII-VIII in Figure 5;

9 shows a section through the multi-function hand shower along the section line IX-IX in Figure 5; and

10 shows a section through the multi-function hand shower along the section line X-X in FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 shows a multi-function hand-held shower, which is designated overall by the reference numeral 10 and which comprises a hand region 12 and a head region 14. As in particular with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 can be seen, the hand area 12 are formed as a separate handpiece 16 and the head portion 14 as a separate head piece 18. This will be discussed further below.

The head piece 18 comprises a shower base 20 (see Figure 2), which has a plurality of water outlet openings 22, 24, 26. There are three radially inner water outlet openings 22 are provided, through which effervescent jets emerge with a relatively high water pressure, whereby the function of massage jets is realized. The three massage jet openings 22 are radially outwardly partially surrounded by a circular arc water outlet slot 24. Through this, the water emerges as a largely coherent water curtain, whereby the function of a surge shower is realized. Finally, a relatively large number of water outlet openings 26 are provided radially outwardly in the shower base 20, through which water emerges as a soft jet in the form of a rain-like droplet sequence. Of the soft jet water outlet openings 26 only one is provided with a reference numeral in the figures.

At the opposite end of the head portion 14 of the handpiece 16, a connecting nipple 28 is provided, on which an external thread 30 is located. About the latter, the multi-function hand shower 10 can be connected in a manner known per se with a not further interest shower hose.

The handpiece 16 of the multi-function hand shower 10 comprises a control portion 32 adjacent to the head portion 14 and an adjoining handle portion 34 which carries the nipple 28. The handle portion 34 is as a substantially solid part with elliptical External cross-section formed and has such an outer periphery that the multi-function hand shower 10 in the handle portion 34 can be conveniently held in the usual manner by a user with one hand.

At the opposite end of the nipple 28 of the handle portion 34, a manifold 36 is held with a circular cross section (see Figure 6). The through hole of the connecting nipple 28 is in the direction of this manifold 36 in a longitudinal axis 37 of the handle portion 34, which corresponds to the section line VI-VI in Figure 5, coaxial circular cylindrical water inlet chamber 38 via. This is connected via an obliquely to the longitudinal axis 37 guided water-bearing passageway 40 in the handle portion 34 with a distributor neck 36 eccentrically penetrating water-bearing through hole 42 in combination (see Figure 7). The through-bore 42 of the distributor piece 36 has, on its side adjacent to the through-passage 40, a circular cross-section substantially corresponding to the passageway 40. On the opposite side of the passageway 40 of the manifold 36 extends its water-bearing through hole 42, however, to a semicircular opening 44 which extends from the portion of the through hole 42 having a circular cross-section symmetrically in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, in particular can be seen in Figure 7.

Over the free end face of the manifold 36 protruding a pivot pin 46 is provided, whose longitudinal axis is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the manifold 36 and which is rigidly connected thereto. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, the pivot pin 46 penetrates the distributor piece 36 in the direction of _Q_

the handle portion 34 and protrudes with an end portion in the latter. With respect to the longitudinal axis 37 of the handle portion 34 of the handpiece 16, the longitudinal axis of the pivot 46 and the longitudinal axis of the distributor piece 36 in FIG. 5 are slightly offset downwards. The pivot pin 46 thus lies axially parallel to the longitudinal axis 37 of the handle portion 34 of the handpiece 16. In other words, the pivot pin 46 is perpendicular to a cross-sectional area of the handpiece 16, which lies in the region of the pivot 46.

On the over the distributor piece 36 in the direction of the head piece 18 projecting end portion 48 of the pivot pin 46 a Umstellorgan in the form of a rotary wheel 50 is rotatably held. For this purpose, the rotary wheel 50 has a through hole 52 which is complementary to the cross section of the pivot 46 and with which it is slid onto the end area 48 of the guide pin 46 (see also FIG. Radially spaced from the through hole 52 of the rotary wheel 50, this has a water-bearing through hole 54. This is radially spaced so far from the through hole 52 that it comes to rest over the semicircular opening 44 of the distributor extension 36 when the rotary wheel 50 is pushed onto the pivot pin 46. The diameter of the water-carrying through-bore 54 of the rotary wheel 50 substantially corresponds to the radial width of the semicircular-shaped opening 44 of the distributor piece 36. This can be clearly seen in particular in FIG.

Both the distributor piece 36 and the rotary wheel 50 are seated in a recess 56 in the end face of the control section 32 of the handpiece 16 adjacent to the grip section 32. The recess 56 has an elliptical cross section and has a depth which corresponds to the common longitudinal extent of the distributor piece 36 and of Turning wheel 50 corresponds. The bottom 58 of the recess 56 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16 thus abuts against the adjacent end face of the rotary wheel 50.

Starting from the bottom 58 of the recess 56, three water-conducting connection channels 60, 62, 64 extend axially parallel to the longitudinal axis 37 of the handle section 34 of the handpiece 16 respectively to further channels 66, 68 and 70. The connection channels 60, 62 and 64 are at the same radial distance arranged to the longitudinal axis of the guide pin 46, as can be seen from Figure 9. Further, the connecting channels 60, 62 and 64 are equidistant from each other over the semicircular opening 44 of the manifold 36, but are separated therefrom by the rotary wheel 50. The cross-section of the connecting channels 60, 62 and 64 substantially corresponds to the cross section of the water-carrying through-hole 54 in the rotary wheel 50. The continuing channels 66, 68 and 70 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16 extend obliquely to the longitudinal axis 37 of the handle portion 34 and are each provided with one of in Figure 10 to be recognized water-bearing supply channels 72, 74 and 76 in the head piece 18 in conjunction. Of these, the channel 72 leads to the outlet slot 24, the channel 74 leads to the massage water outlet openings 22 and the channel 76 leads to the soft jet water outlet openings 26th

Overall, the multi-function hand shower 10 thus downstream of the rotary wheel 50, a first water-bearing waterway 60, 66, 72, a second water-leading

Waterway 62, 68, 74 and a third water-bearing waterway 64, 70, 76 which extend inside the control portion 32 of the handpiece 16 and inside the head piece 18 of the multi-function hand shower 10. The handpiece 16 and the head piece 18 are, as mentioned above, formed as separate components and releasably connected to each other. For this purpose, the head portion 18 facing end portion 78 of the control portion 32 of the handpiece 16 is fork-shaped in such a way that it engages over the head piece 18 from the outside of the shower base 20 and on this opposite outer surface fit, which is particularly evident in Figures 1 and 2 , The end portion 78 of the control portion 32 of the handpiece 16 is inclined relative to the remaining part of the control portion 32 by an angle of about 30 °, whereby the user the handling of the multi-function hand shower 10 is facilitated.

The water-carrying supply channels 72, 74 and 76 in the head piece 18 each open into a connecting piece 80, 82 and 84 projecting above the head piece 18. These connecting pieces 80, 82, 84 are seated in the head portion 18 inserted into the control portion 32 of the handpiece 16 in corresponding ones Receiving holes 86, 88 and 90 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16, which in turn lead to the continuing channels 66, 68 and 70 in the handpiece 16. The connecting pieces 80, 82 and 84 of the head piece 18 are sealed relative to the inner walls of the receiving bores 86, 88 and 90 in the handpiece 16 via O-rings, of which in Figures 5, 6 and 10 only one with the reference numeral 92nd is provided.

For releasable connection of the head piece 18 with the handpiece 16, a locking device 94 is provided, which can be clearly seen in particular in FIG. This comprises two rockers 96, which sit in respective opposing recesses 98 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16 and therein in each case one standing in Figure 6 perpendicular to the plane of pivot pin 100 are pivotable. At their ends facing the head piece 18, the rockers 96 have a latching nose 102 projecting inwards in the direction of the longitudinal axis 37 of the handpiece 16, which engage in notches 104 which are provided correspondingly in the outer circumferential surface of the outer connecting pieces 80 and 84. The notches 104 are also clearly visible in FIG. So that the latching lugs 102 of the rockers 96 can each engage in a notch 104 when the head piece 18 is inserted, the walls of the outer receiving bores 86 and 90 at the level of the latching lugs 102 are each provided with a corresponding passage 105, which can be clearly seen in FIG ,

As can be seen from FIG. 6, the rockers 96 are pressed by means of spiral springs 106 in the direction of their detent position, in which they engage in the notches 104. For this purpose, the coil springs 106 are each clamped at the opposite end of the latching lug 102 each rocker 96 between this and the parallel to the respective rocker 96 extending bottom of the recess 98 under tension. The

Spiral springs 106 are each provided by a short retaining pin

107 prevented at the respective rocker 96 at a lateral breaking.

For ease of operation by a user, the rockers 96 on their user-accessible outer side in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to be seen finger hollows

108, which are opposite to the coil spring 106, respectively. When a user presses it, the respective rocker 96 pivots against the force of the spiral spring 106 about the corresponding pivot pin 100 and the latching nose 102 is moved out of the notch 104. As a result, the locking of the head piece 18 is released in the handpiece 16 and it can be removed by the user from the handpiece 16. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the rotary wheel 50 protrudes out of the same through a slot 110 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16. In the circumferential direction, the outer circumferential surface of the rotary wheel 50 is executed wavy in regions, in particular along that peripheral region, which can protrude through the slot 110 outwardly at the various possible positions of the rotary wheel 50 therethrough. In this way, an actuating surface 112 of the rotary wheel 50 is formed.

Switching the multi-function hand shower 10 from one mode to another is as follows:

If the rotary wheel 50 assumes the position shown in FIG. 8, water first flows through the semicircular opening 44 in the distributor piece 36 into the water-carrying through-bore 54 in the rotary wheel 50. From there, water enters the connecting channel 62 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16 and further into its secondary channel 68, from where it is conducted into the supply channel 74 in the head piece 18. About this, the water is supplied to the massage jet water outlet openings 22. For example, if the user of the multi-function hand shower 10 wishes to have the function of a

Change shower head, so he must turn the rotary wheel 50 so far in the appropriate direction around the pivot 46 around that the water-bearing through-hole 54 of the rotary wheel 50 comes to lie flush over the connecting channel 60 in the control section 32. Water is then conducted via the connecting channel 60 into the continuing channel 66 in the control section 32 of the handpiece 16 and via this to the feed channel 72 in the head piece 18 and to its outlet slot 24. Accordingly, the user by turning the rotary wheel 50 in the other Direction of the multi-function hand shower set 10 so that water exits the soft jet water outlet openings 26.

The rotation of the rotary wheel 50 takes place, for example, in that the user with the thumb of that hand, which surrounds the multi-function hand shower 10 in the handle portion 34 of the handpiece 16, presses on the actuating surface 112 of the rotary wheel 50 and this rotated by a corresponding thumb movement.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10, the head piece 18 is designed such that three different spray jets, namely massage jets, a water curtain and soft jets, can be produced. Characterized in that the head piece 18 is formed as a separate component, the handpiece 16, however, with functionally different, user-selectable head pieces 18 work together. These mutually different head pieces 18 must of course be designed such that they always have to the receiving holes 86, 88 and 90 of the handpiece 16 complementary connecting pieces 80, 82 and 84 and also coincide in their outer contour. The latter applies at least to that region of each header 18 which is of the

End region 78 of the control section 32 in the manner explained above or overlapped. The water-carrying supply ducts 72, 74 and 76 in the interior of the head pieces 18, however, can be designed differently and / or lead to different water outlet openings, which in turn different spray jets can be generated.

Claims

claims

1. Multi-function hand shower for selectively operating in at least two different operating modes in which different types of effervescent jets are generated with

a) a hand area (12) which serves to hold the multi-function hand shower (10) by a user and in which a water-carrying channel (38, 40) is provided;

b) a head portion (14) including a plurality of water-carrying channels (72, 74, 76) leading to a plurality of water outlet openings (22, 24, 26);

and

c) manually operable changeover means (36, 46, 50) by means of which the operating mode of the multi-function hand shower (10) is adjustable;

in which

d) the switching means (36, 46, 50) in the hand area (12) are arranged, and one from outside the hand area

(12) comprise in different positions movable Umstellorgan (50),

characterized in that

e) the Umstellorgan (50) comprises a water-carrying through hole (54), via which, depending on the position of the Umstellorgans (50) water from the channel (38, 40) in Hand area (12) in each case one of the water-carrying channels (72, 74, 76) in the head region (14) is steerable.

2. Hand shower according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means (36, 46, 50) has a pivot

(46) on which the Umstellorgan (50) is rotatably mounted in the interior of the hand portion (12).

3. Hand shower according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivot (46) extends substantially perpendicular to a in the region of the pivot (46) lying cross-sectional area of the hand area (12).

4. Hand shower according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Umstellorgan (50) as a rotary

(50) is formed, whose peripheral surface at least partially serves as an actuating surface (112) and projects at least partially through an opening (110) in the hand region (12) to the outside.

5. Hand shower according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening (110) in one on the side of the

Water outlet openings (22, 24, 26) lying region of the hand portion (12) is provided.

6. Hand shower according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the switching means (36, 46, 50) with the Umstellorgan (50) cooperating distributor element (36) comprising a through hole (42) with a the Umstellorgan (50 ) facing distributor opening (44), via which the water-carrying through hole (54) of the Umstellorgans (50) in all functional positions of the Umstellorgans (50) water can be supplied.

7. Hand shower according to claim 6, characterized in that the distributor opening (44) of the distributor element

(36) is semicircular and the water-bearing through hole (54) of the Umstellorgans (50) by a rotational movement of the Umstellorgans (50) along the semicircular manifold opening (44) is movable.

8. Hand shower according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the hand area (12) as a separate handpiece (16) and the head portion (14) as a separate head piece (18) are formed, which are releasably connected to each other.

9. ' Hand shower according to claim 8, characterized in that the head piece (18) has external connecting stubs (80, 82, 84), each of which is connected to one of the water-carrying channels (72, 74, 76) of the head piece (18), and in that the handpiece (16) to the connecting stubs (80, 82, 84) of the head piece (18) complementary receptacles (86, 88, 90).