EP3586974B1 - Sanitary shower head - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sanitary shower head, which comprises a shower head housing with a fluid inlet, a fluid chamber in the shower head housing that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, and a jet disc that has at least one jet outlet opening, which is arranged on a shower jet outlet side of the shower head housing and is held peripherally on the shower head housing and which The fluid chamber is limited on the outlet side, the jet disc being formed as an elastic disc which can be elastically deformed from an initial contour into an end contour by a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber.

The disclosure document DE 29 01 013 A1 discloses such a sanitary shower head of the type mentioned at the outset, the shower head there having a jet disc which is flat in the initial state without pressure and which retains its flat shape even at low water pressure and then generates a parallel shower jet. When the water pressure is higher, the flat jet disc bulges and creates a diverging shower jet. A spoke-shaped support limits the buckling of the flat jet disc.

Various sanitary shower heads with a deformable jet disk have also been proposed, which are not deformed by the fluid pressure acting on them, but rather by user-actuated adjustment means. This is what the disclosure document reveals DE 2 235 217 A a sanitary shower head with a deformable jet disc which is planar in an initial state and which does not deform due to the water pressure during operation, but which can be deformed by a user-actuated, mechanical adjustment means, taking on a concave or a convex deflection as required. A converging shower jet can be generated with the concave deflection and a diverging shower jet can be generated with the convex deflection.

The patent specification U.S. 6,223,998 B1 discloses a sanitary shower head which contains a jet disc which is flat in the initial state without pressure and has a plurality of jet outlet openings, the elastic jet disc being centrally located on a housing-side Support post and is fixed peripherally to a holding plate arranged axially movably on the shower head housing. By moving the retaining plate back axially, the user can bring the jet disc from its flat initial state, in which the longitudinal axes of the jet outlet openings are parallel to one another, into a concave state in which the longitudinal axes of the jet outlet openings diverge.

Similarly, the patent discloses US Re. 26,889 a sanitary shower head with a deformable spray disc, which can be adjusted by the user via a central screw bolt or via a peripheral screw ring between two different outwardly curved courses or between a flat and an outwardly curved course by turning the jet disc provided with the screw bolt or by turning the peripheral screw ring can be adjusted in shape in order to set different shower jet profiles accordingly.

The patent specification EP 1 613 814 B1 discloses a sanitary shower head with a spray disk that can be deformed like a spring as a function of temperature and that moves from a functional position to a cleaning position when a temperature limit value of a fluid flowing through is exceeded. In the cleaning position, for example, lime can be removed with little effort. If the temperature falls below the limit value, the spring-like spray disc springs back into the functional position.

The patent specification EP 0 894 536 B1 discloses a sanitary shower head with a spring-like, flexible jet disc which is curved outwards in an initial position and can be pressed in by a user exerting a pressing force in the direction of the interior of the shower head housing. When the force is released, the flexible spray disc springs back to its original position by itself. Limescale and other deposits on the jet disc should be blasted off by such jumping processes of the flexible jet disc.

Another such shower head with a spray disc that can be pressed in like a spring is in the utility model DE 79 04 756 U1 disclosed.

The disclosure document DE 43 00 322 A1 discloses a shower head for a shower and massage device, which is equipped with a permanently elastic brush plate that carries hollow bristles and has a central outlet opening, on the inside of which a peg that is provided with an angled inlet connection and is held hollow between the inlet connection opening and the outlet opening is arranged, which is attached to an in the end pointing towards the inside of the shower head has an external thread which is connected to a threaded part of a single-leaf, stop-limited actuator which is countersunk axially thereto on the outside of the shower head. By rotating the actuator, the user can selectively adjust the brush plate from a flat central position to a curved position with a concave or convex shape.

The disclosure document EP 3 305 412 A1 discloses a shower jet generation device for a sanitary shower head, which has a multi-part jet disk, which includes a metal plate on the outlet side with jet disk openings and an elastomer plate lying against the metal plate on the inside. Formed on the elastomer plate are elastomer annular membranes and fluid outlet elements surrounded and movably supported by them, which extend through the jet disk openings and each have a movable valve body with a fluid outlet opening emerging from an upstream fluid chamber. The fluid outlet opening is released or blocked depending on a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber, for which purpose the movable valve body interacts with a stationary valve seat which is formed on a plate body which delimits the fluid chamber on a side opposite the elastomer plate.

The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a sanitary shower head of the type mentioned at the outset that is improved over the prior art explained above and in particular reduces unwanted dripping after shutting off a water supply, is relatively easy to manufacture and is functionally reliable.

The invention solves this problem by providing a sanitary shower head with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred configurations of the invention are the subject matter of the further claims, the wording of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the description in its entirety.

A fluid, in particular water, can be supplied to the sanitary shower head via the fluid inlet, which then enters the fluid chamber and from there to the jet outlet opening(s) and emerges from this or these while forming a corresponding shower jet. Depending on the fluid pressure prevailing in the fluid chamber, the elastically deformable jet disc assumes the initial contour or the final contour. As a result of the deformation of the jet disc, for example, a position of a cylinder axis of the jet outlet opening can change. Such a change in position of this cylinder axis can result in the propagation angle of a shower jet generated by the sanitary shower head also being dependent on the fluid pressure. Depending on the system design and fluid pressure, a diverging, converging or parallel shower jet can therefore be generated with such an arrangement if required. In the case of a diverging shower jet, its diameter increases as the axial spread of the shower jet progresses, in the case of a parallel shower jet, the shower jet diameter is practically constant as the spread progresses, and in the case of a converging or focusing shower jet, the shower jet diameter decreases directly after the jet exit opening as the spread progresses.

The spray disk can be held on the circumference of the shower head housing, for example, in a positive or non-positive manner. Held on the circumference is to be understood in the present case as meaning that the jet disc is held on its disc edge surface and/or a circumferential, annular holding surface covers or encompasses a front, i.e. outlet-side, end face of the jet disc, in particular a holding surface formed on the shower head housing.

The jet disc can consist of an elastic rubber, metal or plastic material or a mix of such materials. The at least one jet outlet opening can be designed, for example, as a nozzle and/or as a circular-cylindrical hole. The at least one jet outlet opening preferably has a geometry that is dimensionally stable independently of the fluid pressure. The jet disk can have any number of jet outlet openings, in particular for example between ten and two hundred jet exit openings. Depending on requirements, the sanitary shower head can have a single spray disk or, alternatively, a plurality of spray disks.

The jet disc is elastically deformed by the fluid pressure from the initial contour in the direction of the final contour as soon as the fluid pressure is greater than a previously defined limit pressure. The previously defined limit pressure can be between 0.2 bar and 0.5 bar, for example. The elastic deformation of the jet disc from the initial contour to the final contour preferably takes place in the direction of a main propagation direction of a shower jet generated by the sanitary shower head. As long as the limit pressure is not reached or exceeded, the jet disc remains in its original contour. The jet disc is preferably designed to automatically return to the initial contour when it is in its final contour and the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber drops, for example below the limit pressure mentioned.

In particular, depending on the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber, the jet disk can assume a plurality of different end contours as soon as the fluid pressure is greater than a predeterminable limit pressure assigned to the respective end contour. The highest predetermined limit pressure can be, for example, a maximum fluid pressure that occurs during normal shower operation of the shower head, which is, for example, between 1 bar and 3 bar. In other words, the final contour itself can be dependent on the fluid pressure, i.e. depending on the instantaneous fluid pressure in the fluid chamber, the jet disc then assumes its initial contour, a maximum final contour or an intermediate final contour or intermediate contour between the initial contour and the maximum final contour.

According to one aspect of the invention, in the sanitary shower head according to the invention, the fluid chamber is delimited on a side opposite the jet disk by a boundary surface which, at least in a partial surface area, conforms to the initial contour of the jet disk.

The fluid chamber has an initial volume when the jet disk assumes its initial contour and a deformation volume when the jet disk assumes its final contour takes. Typically, the initial volume is smaller than the deformation volume, e.g. at least 50% smaller, whereby the initial volume can also be approximately zero in corresponding designs, e.g. by the jet disk with its initial contour against an opposite wall delimiting the fluid chamber axially inwards, i.e. to the rear of the shower head housing. If the jet disk now conforms to the boundary surface in the partial surface area, eg parallel and offset, or rests against it, a distance between the jet disk and the boundary surface can be kept very small in the partial surface area if necessary. As a result, the fluid chamber can have a particularly small initial volume. Since the fluid in the fluid chamber is primarily responsible for undesired dripping, a small initial volume counteracts undesired dripping after the water supply has been shut off. A further advantage is that the jet disk, when it automatically returns to its initial contour, partially or almost completely presses the fluid in the fluid chamber out of the fluid chamber.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the initial contour is curved inwards in the direction of the fluid chamber, i.e. curved concavely. Such a curvature of the initial contour can be particularly advantageous for generating a converging shower jet at low fluid pressure, which does not yet cause any deformation movement of the jet disk out of its initial contour, especially if there are a large number of jet outlet openings whose cylinder axis is a normal to the jet disk, ie is perpendicular to the jet disc surface at this point.

In one embodiment of the invention, the end contour of the jet disk is curved outwards. In other words, the end contour of the jet disk is convexly curved. This course makes it possible to generate a diverging shower jet, for example when the cylinder axis of the respective jet outlet opening is a normal to the jet disc.

In one embodiment of the invention, the initial contour and/or the final contour is a metastable contour of the jet disk. In other words, small changes of the Fluid pressure, such as changes in fluid pressure of, for example, less than 0.2 bar or 0.25 bar, do not lead to a change in the initial or final contour in this case. Larger changes in fluid pressure, such as fluid pressure changes greater than or equal to 0.25 bar, result in a change in contour. Optionally, the spray disc can be designed as a so-called spring or clicker element.

In alternative configurations of the invention, the jet disc is made in one piece from a single material or from a combination of several materials or assembled from several components which can be made of the same material or different materials, in particular rubber, plastic and/or metal .

In one embodiment of the invention, the jet disc provides a first shower jet in its initial contour and a second shower jet in its final contour, with the first and second shower jets differing in their propagation angle. For example, the propagation angle of the second shower jet can be larger than the propagation angle of the first shower jet. The first shower jet can preferably be a converging or a parallel shower jet and the second shower jet can be a parallel or diverging shower jet.

In one embodiment of the invention, the jet disk is supported with its initial contour against the boundary surface at least in a supporting surface area. For example, the supporting surface area can be part of the partial surface area, or the partial surface area can form the supporting surface area identically.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one jet outlet opening contains a number of first jet outlet openings and a number of second jet outlet openings, and the jet disk is supported with its initial contour on the boundary surface in such a way that the boundary surface closes the number of second jet outlet openings. As a result, no fluid exits from the second jet outlet openings as long as the jet disc is in its initial contour. The number of first jet exit openings and the number of second jet exit openings can each be any desired number, for example between five and one hundred jet exit openings.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one jet outlet opening includes a number of first jet outlet openings and a number of second jet outlet openings, the number of first jet outlet openings corresponding to a first fluid chamber subarea and the number of second jet outlet openings corresponding to a second fluid chamber subarea. The first fluid chamber portion is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet both when the jet disc assumes its initial contour and when the jet disc assumes its final contour. The second fluid chamber portion is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet when the jet disk assumes its final contour and is completely or partially blocked by a seal from the fluid inlet when the jet disk assumes its initial contour. The seal can be arranged on the jet disc and/or on the boundary surface. The seal can be a ring seal, for example, in particular an O-ring.

In one embodiment of the invention, the boundary surface has at least one mandrel that protrudes into the at least one jet outlet opening when the jet disc assumes its initial contour. If desired, the mandrel can protrude or protrude forward out of the at least one jet outlet opening when the jet disc assumes its initial contour. When the jet disc assumes its final contour, the mandrel can still protrude into the at least one jet outlet opening or, alternatively, no longer extend as far as the at least one jet outlet opening, depending on requirements and the application. Such a mandrel can be provided for each or only some of the jet outlet openings, as required. Limescale deposits on the jet outlet opening can be counteracted in an advantageous manner by the mandrel in that the mandrel detaches such deposits from the jet outlet opening when the jet disc assumes its initial or final contour or moves deformingly between these two contours.

Fig. 1

eine Längsschnittansicht eines sanitären Brausekopfs mit verformbarer Strahlscheibe in ihrer Ausgangskontur,

Fig. 2

die Ansicht von Fig. 1 mit der Strahlscheibe in ihrer Endkontur,

Fig. 3

die Ansicht von Fig. 1 für eine Variante mit vollkonformer Fluidkammer-Begrenzungsfläche,

Fig. 4

die Ansicht von Fig. 1 für eine Variante mit teilkonformer Fluidkammer-Begrenzungsfläche,

Fig. 5

die Ansicht von Fig. 2 für die Variante von Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

die Ansicht von Fig. 3 für eine Variante mit Dornen und

Fig. 7

die Ansicht von Fig. 2 für die Variante von Fig. 6.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. These and other embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below. Here show:

1

a longitudinal sectional view of a sanitary shower head with a deformable jet disc in its initial contour,

2

the view of 1 with the jet disc in its final contour,

3

the view of 1 for a variant with a fully conformal fluid chamber boundary surface,

4

the view of 1 for a variant with a partially conformal fluid chamber boundary surface,

figure 5

the view of 2 for the variant of 4 ,

6

the view of 3 for a variant with thorns and

7

the view of 2 for the variant of 6 .

the 1 and 2 show a sanitary shower head 1 with a shower head housing 2, which has a fluid inlet 3. The fluid inlet 3 optionally has a thread 16 which, for the supply of a fluid, can be screwed to a corresponding thread (not shown) of a water hose, a shower hose, a connecting pipe of a domestic water supply or the like.

A fluid chamber 4 located in the shower head housing 2 is in fluid connection with the fluid inlet 3 . The fluid chamber 4 is delimited on the outlet side by a jet disc 6 designed in one piece, alternatively in multiple pieces. The jet disk 6 is arranged on a shower jet exit side 7 of the shower head housing 2 . The spray disc 6 is held on the circumference of the shower head housing 2, e.g. by the shower head housing 2 enclosing the spray disc 6 in an annular end face area RS of the spray disc 6 in a form-fitting manner.

The jet disk 6 is formed as an elastic disk, which consists for example of a rubber, metal and/or plastic material, and can be elastically deformed by a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 4 from an initial contour 8 into an end contour 9 . In corresponding embodiments, the initial contour 8 runs as in 1 shown curved in the direction of the fluid chamber 4 inwards.

As long as there is no fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 4, the jet disk 6 remains in its initial contour 8, as in FIG 1 shown. If the fluid pressure exceeds a certain limit pressure of, for example, 0.25 bar, the jet disc 6 assumes its final contour 9, which is curved outward, for example 2 a. For this purpose, the jet disc 6 is elastically deformed outwards in the direction away from the fluid chamber 4 by the fluid pressure. In corresponding designs, the jet disc 6 deforms in a quasi-binary manner, jumping from the initial contour 8 directly into a single final contour 9, in which it then remains even if the fluid pressure continues to rise. In alternative embodiments, the jet disc 6 deforms with increasing fluid pressure from the initial contour 8 continuously or in stages into a respective fluid-pressure-dependent final contour 9 up to a predefinable maximum final contour.

If the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 4 falls below the specified limit pressure again, the jet disc 6 automatically returns to the initial contour 8 due to its own elasticity or prestressing. During its return to the initial contour 8, the jet disk 6 can at least partially press fluid still in the fluid chamber 4 out of the fluid chamber 4 by using this return movement to reduce the volume of the fluid chamber 4, which had previously been reduced by the deformation of the jet disk 6 into the final contour has enlarged. Undesirable dripping after shutting off a fluid supply can be reduced as a result.

The jet disk 6 has at least one jet outlet opening 5, in the example shown specifically several jet outlet openings 5. Each jet outlet opening 5 can be designed, for example, as a circular-cylindrical hole with a cylinder axis ZA, with the cylinder axis ZA forming a normal of the jet disk 6 at this point on the jet disk surface. The jet outlet openings 5 are in fluid connection with the fluid chamber 4. During operation of the shower head 1, fluid, in particular water, is under pressure in the fluid chamber 4 and from there it reaches the jet outlet openings 5, from which it flows on the shower jet outlet side 7, forming a first shower jet 12 , when the jet disk 6 is in its initial contour 8, or exits to form a second shower jet 13, if the jet disk 6 is in its final contour 9. After emerging from the jet outlet openings 5, the first shower jet 12 or the second shower jet 13 spreads in a typically axially running main direction of propagation AR and at a respective propagation angle off. The propagation angle AW is an angle that results between an edge jet direction RB of the first shower jet 12 or of the second shower jet 13 and the main propagation direction AR or a straight line GE that is parallel and offset to the latter.

1 shows the provision of the first shower jet 12 in the form of a converging shower jet. Since the exit contour 8 curves inwards in the direction of the fluid chamber 4 and the cylinder axes ZA of the spray outlet openings 5 are each a normal of the spray disc 6, the shower spray diameter of the first spray jet 12 increases immediately after it emerges from the spray outlet openings 5 and as the first shower spray continues to spread 12 in the main propagation direction AR. The propagation angle AW of the first shower jet 12 is, for example, between approximately -20° and -3°, in corresponding embodiments more specifically between approximately -12° and -8°.

2 shows the provision of the second shower jet 13 in the form of a diverging shower jet. Since the end contour 9 curves outwards away from the fluid chamber 4 and the cylinder axes ZA of the jet outlet openings 5 are each a normal of the jet disc 6, the shower jet diameter of the second shower jet 13 increases as the second shower jet 13 propagates in the propagation direction AR. The propagation angle AW of the second shower jet 13 is, for example, between approximately +20° and +3°, in corresponding versions more specifically between approximately +12° and +8°. Thus, the second shower jet 13 and the first shower jet 12 differ in their propagation angle AW. Therefore, a converging shower jet or a diverging shower jet can be generated with the sanitary shower head 1 as required by adjusting the fluid pressure.

In 3 is a variant of the sanitary shower head 1 of 1 and 2 shown, with the same reference numerals being used for a better understanding of identical and functionally equivalent elements and in this respect also to the above statements on the embodiment of FIG 1 and 2 can be referred to, so that essentially only the existing differences will be discussed below.

In the variant of 3 the jet outlet openings 5 of the jet disc 6 have a number of first jet outlet openings 5a and a number of second jet outlet openings 5b. Furthermore, the fluid chamber 4 is delimited by a conforming delimitation surface 11 on a side 10 opposite the jet disk 6 . The boundary surface 11 is provided by an inner body 17 of the sanitary shower head 1 which is arranged opposite the spray disc 6 . Compared to in the 1 and 2 shown variant is in the variant of 3 the volume of the fluid chamber 4 is reduced by the inner body 17. The reduced volume of the fluid chamber 4 is advantageous for avoiding undesired dripping after shutting off the fluid or water supply.

The boundary surface 11 runs at least in a partial surface area TB conforming to the initial contour 8. As shown, the partial surface area TB optionally forms a supporting surface area AB, which supports the jet disk 6 with its initial contour 8 inwards. The jet disk 6 is supported with its initial contour 8 against the boundary surface 11 in such a way that the boundary surface 11 closes the second jet outlet openings 5b, while the first jet outlet openings 5a remain open. Therefore, in this embodiment, fluid only emerges from the first jet outlet openings 5a and not also from the second jet outlet openings 5b when the jet disc 6 is in its initial contour 8 . When the jet disk 6 assumes its final contour 9, the second jet outlet openings 5b are released and fluid can escape from the first jet outlet openings 5a and the second jet outlet openings 5b. The jet pattern of the shower jet when the jet disc 6 is in its end contour 9 can be that of the variant according to 2 correspond.

In the embodiment of 3 runs the entire boundary surface 11 conforming to the initial contour 8 of the jet disk 6, wherein the inner body 17 has a central bore which is opposite the fluid inlet 3 and with which the first jet outlet openings 5a correspond. In an alternative embodiment, the first jet outlet openings 5a are missing, ie no jet outlet openings 5 correspond to the bore in the inner body 17 extending the fluid inlet 3. In this case, no shower jet is provided as long as the jet disc 6 is in its initial contour 8.

Furthermore, the initial contour 8 in the example shown is a stable or at least metastable contour of the jet disk 6. Therefore, the jet disk 6 only deforms from its initial contour 8 when the fluid pressure exceeds a limit value, which is, for example, about 0.25 bar and alternatively one can have any other value. As long as the fluid pressure does not exceed the limit value, the contour of the jet disk 6 does not change. This can be determined by correspondingly realizing the jet disc 6 in terms of material and thickness, among other things.

In an alternative variant, the jet disc 6 is supported with its initial contour 8 by the boundary surface 11 in such a way that the latter closes all jet outlet openings 5 of the jet disc 6 . In this case, therefore, fluid can only emerge from the jet outlet openings 5 when the jet disc 6 is deformed from its initial contour 8 into its final contour 9 . In further alternative embodiments, the final contour 9 or only the final contour 9 forms a metastable contour of the jet disc 6 instead of the initial contour 8.

In the 4 and 5 is a variant of the sanitary shower head 1 of 3 shown, with the same reference numerals being used for a better understanding of identical and functionally equivalent elements and in this respect also to the above statements on the embodiment of FIG 3 can be referred to, so that essentially only the existing differences will be discussed below. In this variant, the jet outlet openings 5 of the jet disc 6 have a number of first jet outlet openings 5a and a number of second jet outlet openings 5b, with the first jet outlet openings 5a corresponding to a first fluid chamber section 4a and the second jet outlet openings 5b corresponding to a second fluid chamber section 4b. The first fluid chamber portion 4a is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet 3 both when the jet disk 6 assumes its initial contour 8 and when the jet disk 6 assumes its final contour 9. The second fluid chamber subregion 4b is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet 3 when the jet disk 6 assumes its final contour 9 . When the jet disc 6 assumes its initial contour 8 , the second fluid chamber portion 4b is completely blocked off from the fluid inlet 3 .

Accordingly, in this embodiment, the shower head 1 can have a convergent partial jet as the respective shower jet at a lower fluid pressure 4 and at higher fluid pressure according to a divergent solid jet figure 5 hand over. In a variant, the jet disk 6 moves in a binary deformation movement through fluid pressure from its initial contour 8 according to FIG 4 in accordance with their final contour 9 figure 5 and automatically returns to its initial contour 8 when the fluid pressure is relieved, so that the shower head 1 optionally supplies the two associated shower jets. In an alternative variant, the jet disk 6 moves out of its initial contour 8 in accordance with fluid pressure in a continuous deformation movement 4 out in fluid pressure-dependent continuously changing end contours 9, so that the shower head 1 provides a shower jet, the jet pattern corresponding to continuously between the jet pattern in the output contour 8 of the jet disk 6 according to 4 and according to the jet pattern in the maximum end contour 9 of the jet disc 6 figure 5 changes.

In the example shown, this has the inner body 17 on its opposite side 10 of the jet disk 6 compared to the example of FIG 3 modified form with regard to the boundary surface 11. In particular, the boundary surface 11 only runs in a radially outer partial surface area TB1, which corresponds to the second fluid chamber partial area 4b, conforming to the initial contour 8 of the jet disc 6, while in a central partial surface area TB2, which corresponds to the first fluid chamber partial area 4a corresponds, stepping back. A seal 14 in the form of an O-ring, against which the jet disk 6 is supported in its initial contour 8, blocks the second fluid chamber section 4b in the initial contour 8 of the jet disk 6 from the first fluid chamber section 4a and thus also from that which opens into the first fluid chamber section 4a Fluid inlet 3 off. In this embodiment, the seal 14 consequently forms the support surface area AB, against which the jet disk 6 is supported in its initial contour 8 .

The seal 14 is held on the inner body 17 in the example shown. In alternative embodiments, the seal 14 is held on the jet disc 6, or a first part of the seal is held on the jet disc 6 and a second part on the inner body 17. In further alternative embodiments, the second fluid chamber section 4b is only partially blocked off from the fluid inlet 3 by the seal 14 when the jet disk 6 assumes its initial contour 8 . In this case, this also then fluid from the first fluid chamber portion 4a into the second fluid chamber portion 4b when the jet disk 6 assumes its initial contour 8 .

In the 6 and 7 is another variant of the sanitary shower head 3 shown, with the same reference numerals being used for a better understanding of identical and functionally equivalent elements and in this respect also to the above statements on the exemplary embodiments of FIG 3 can be referred to, so that essentially only the existing differences will be discussed below. In this variant, all the jet outlet openings 5 correspond to the partial surface area TB of the boundary surface 11, which extends conforming to the initial contour 8, and the boundary surface 11 of the inner body 17 has a number of spikes 15 which protrude into the jet outlet openings 5 when the jet disk 6 assumes its initial contour 8 .

In corresponding embodiments, the number of mandrels 15 is equal to the number of jet outlet openings 5, so that each jet outlet opening 5 is assigned a mandrel 15. In alternative embodiments, fewer mandrels 15 than jet outlet openings 5 are provided. In corresponding embodiments, each mandrel 15 protrudes into the respective jet outlet opening 5 in such a way that it protrudes from the jet outlet opening 5 when the jet disk 6 assumes its initial contour 8 . In alternative embodiments, each mandrel 15 protrudes into the jet outlet opening 5, but not out of it. When the jet disc 6 assumes its final contour 9, the mandrel 15 no longer protrudes into the jet outlet opening 5, so that the latter is completely free for the passage of shower jet-forming fluid. Limescale deposits on the jet outlet openings 5 can be avoided or removed by the mandrels 15, specifically by moving them into and out of the jet outlet openings 5.

Deviating from the examples shown, it is possible in an alternative variant of the sanitary shower head according to the invention that the cylinder axis ZA, ie longitudinal axis, of the jet outlet openings 5 is not oriented normal to the jet disc 6 . In particular, the orientation of the cylinder axis ZA can be chosen such that, for example, a parallel shower jet or a diverging shower jet can be generated with the jet disc 6 in its initial contour 8 .

In further variants that are not shown, the number and/or the arrangement of the jet outlet openings 5 of the sanitary shower head 1 according to the invention is different from the examples shown. In particular, the sanitary shower head 1 can have only one jet outlet opening 5 in corresponding designs in order to generate what is known as a surge jet. Alternatively, the shower head can have a large number of jet outlet openings 5, which are evenly distributed in the central area or off-centre or over the entire jet disc surface or arranged in groups, including embodiments in which the jet outlet openings 5 can be used to generate various standard shower jet types, such as a soft jet and a massage jet.

In other variants, the sanitary shower head 1 can be any combination of the variants shown Figures 1 to 7 be. For example, the sanitary shower head 1 can have the seal 14 and additionally the spikes 15 .

As the exemplary embodiments shown and explained above make clear, the invention provides a sanitary shower head which reduces undesired dripping after a water supply has been shut off, is relatively easy to manufacture and is functionally reliable.

Claims (9)

1. Sanitary shower head (1), comprising

   - a shower head housing (2) having a fluid inlet (3),

   - a fluid chamber (4) in fluid communication with the fluid inlet in the shower head housing, and

   - a jet disk (6) including at least one jet discharge opening (5), which disk is arranged on a shower jet discharge side (7) of the shower head housing and is held on a circumferential side on the shower head housing and confines the fluid chamber on a discharge side,

   - wherein the jet disk is an elastic disk which is capable of being elastically deformed by a fluid pressure in the fluid chamber from an initial contour (8) to a final contour (9),

   characterized in that

   - the fluid chamber (4) is confined by a boundary surface (11) on a side (10) located opposite the jet disk (6), which boundary surface extends in conformity with the initial contour (8) of the jet disk at least in a partial surface region (TB, TB1), and/or

   - the initial contour (8) of the jet disk (6) extends inwardly curved in direction towards the fluid chamber (4).
2. Sanitary shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the final contour of the jet disk extends outwardly curved.
3. Sanitary shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the initial contour and/or the final contour are/is a metastable contour of the jet disk.
4. Sanitary shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jet disk is formed in one piece made of one or more materials or a multi-piece part made of one or more materials.
5. Sanitary shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jet disk provides a first shower jet (12) in the initial contour thereof and a second shower jet (13) in the final contour thereof, wherein the first and the second shower jets differ in their propagation angles (AW).
6. Sanitary shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the initial contour of the jet disk is supported against the boundary surface at least in a supporting surface region (AB).
7. Sanitary shower head according to claim 6, characterized in that

   - the at least one jet discharge opening includes a number of first jet discharge openings (5a) and a number of second jet discharge openings (5b), and

   - the initial contour of the jet disk is supported such that the boundary surface closes the number of second jet discharge openings.
8. Sanitary shower head according to claim 6, characterized in that

   - the at least one jet discharge opening includes a number of first jet discharge openings (5a) and a number of second jet discharge openings (5b), and

   - the number of first jet discharge openings correspond with a first fluid chamber partial region (4a) and the number of second jet discharge openings correspond with a second fluid chamber partial region (4b),

   - wherein the first fluid chamber partial region is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet both in the case where the jet disk assumes its initial contour and also in the case where the jet disk assumes its final contour, and

   - wherein the second fluid chamber partial region is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, in the case where the jet disk assumes its final contour, and is completely or partially blocked from the fluid inlet by a seal (14), in the case where the jet disk assumes its initial contour.
9. Sanitary shower head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boundary surface includes at least one bolt (15) projecting into the at least one jet discharge opening, in the case where the jet disk assumes its initial contour.

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