Shower head

Abstract

To provide a shower head capable of appropriately performing water spray with a feeling of pulsation, regardless of the size of a spray plate.SOLUTION: A shower head 1 has: a body plate 2 having a connection port B1 that serves as a hot / cold water supply port; a spray plate 3 having a plurality of spray holes E2 for spraying hot / cold water which is supplied to a head internal space S between the spray plate and the body plate 2, to the outside; and a rotor 4 rotatably mounted about a head shaft at a central portion facing the connection port B1 of the spray plate 3. The rotor 4 has a recessed discharge channel 4G that takes in hot water supplied from the connection port B1 in a part of a rotational direction and discharges it to the outside in a head radial direction. The rotor 4 also has: a pressure-receiving surface G3 that acts to rotate the rotor 4 by reaction force generated upon contact with the hot water supplied from the connection port B1; and a discharge port G2 that directs the direction of discharging the hot water toward the rotational direction so as to rotate the rotor 4 by reaction force generated during discharging of the hot water taken in the discharge channel 4G.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a shower head that sprays hot and cold water supplied from a shower water passage to the outside.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a so-called overhead shower device that is attached to a bathroom wall or ceiling and sprays shower water onto a user from above the head. This shower device includes an impeller that imparts a pulsating feeling by periodically varying the intensity of the shower water spray. The impeller is provided so as to cover a water spray plate having a plurality of water spray holes inside the head of the shower head. The impeller has a closed region that covers each water spray hole from the upstream side and an open region that opens without covering each water spray hole at a plurality of locations in the rotational direction.

[0003] The impeller rotates when hot and cold water supplied from the upstream side to the shower head hits it. Along with this rotation, the impeller allows hot and cold water to pass through each water spray hole from the open region while preventing hot and cold water from passing through each water spray hole from the closed region. As a result, the area where shower water is sprayed from each water spray hole of the shower head gradually changes as the impeller rotates, and pulsating water spray can be performed on the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the impeller has a large-diameter structure that covers each water spray hole of the water spray plate from the upstream side. Therefore, if the impeller increases in size according to the size of the shower head, there is a risk that it may not be able to rotate properly due to the increase in such weight and resistance. Thus, the present invention provides a shower head capable of appropriately performing pulsating water spraying regardless of the size of the water spray plate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the shower head of the present invention takes the following means.

[0007] That is, the first invention of the present invention is a shower head that sprays hot water supplied from a shower water passage to the outside, and includes a main body plate having a connection port connected in the head axis direction to the shower water passage, a water spray plate having a plurality of water spray holes for spraying hot water supplied to the head inner space between the main body plate to the outside, and a rotor assembled to be rotatable around the head axis at a port facing portion of the water spray plate facing the connection port, and the rotor takes in hot water supplied from the connection port in the head axis direction in a part of the rotation direction and discharges it to the outside in the head diameter direction, a pressure receiving surface that acts to rotate the rotor by a reaction force accompanying the collision with the hot water supplied from the connection port, and / or a deflection discharge port that directs the discharge direction of the hot water to the rotation direction so as to rotate the rotor by a reaction force accompanying the discharge of the hot water taken into the discharge flow path.

[0008] According to the first invention, when hot water is supplied from the connection port to the head inner space, the hot water is discharged to the outside in the head diameter direction from the discharge flow path formed in a part of the rotation direction of the rotor, and the rotor rotates. Thereby, a large amount of hot water is supplied to a part of the region in the rotation direction of the head inner space, and the region (the region where a large amount of hot water is supplied) gradually changes in the rotation direction as the rotor rotates. As a result, regardless of the size of the water spray plate, pulsating water spraying can be appropriately performed.

[0009] The second invention of the present invention is a shower head in the first invention, wherein the pressure receiving surface is formed by an inclined surface that inclines the inner surface, which is one end surface in the rotational direction of the discharge flow path, obliquely upward in the head axis direction.

[0010] According to the second invention, by making the inner surface, which is one end surface in the rotational direction of the discharge flow path, an inclined surface, the pressure receiving surface can be formed so as to function reasonably and appropriately.

[0011] The third invention of the present invention is a shower head in the first or second invention, wherein the rotor further has a through hole that penetrates so as to allow the hot water supplied from the connection port to pass through in the head axis direction.

[0012] According to the third invention, the force applied to the rotor by the hot water supplied from the connection port can be reduced. As a result, the rotor can be rotated more smoothly.

[0013] The fourth invention of the present invention is a shower head in the third invention, wherein the through hole is located inside in the head diameter direction than the outermost peripheral side water spraying holes formed in the water spraying plate.

[0014] According to the fourth invention, the hot water passing through the through hole is not directly sprayed from the water spraying holes. As a result, it is possible to perform more appropriate water spraying with a pulsating feeling.

[0015] The fifth invention of the present invention is a shower head in the first or second invention, wherein the discharge flow path is formed so as to form a discharge port that opens at an obtuse angle in the rotational direction toward the outside in the head diameter direction at only one location in the rotational direction of the rotor.

[0016] According to the fifth invention, since the region for discharging the hot water from the rotor to the outside in the head diameter direction is narrowed so as to have an appropriate opening width at only one location in the rotational direction, it is possible to perform more appropriate water spraying with a pulsating feeling.

[0017] The sixth invention of the present invention is the shower head according to the first or second invention, wherein the rotor is not supported by the main body plate, and a gap capable of passing the hot and cold water supplied from the connection port to the outside in the head diameter direction is provided throughout the entire rotation direction between the rotor and the main body plate.

[0018] According to the sixth invention, since the rotor is in contact only with the water sprinkling plate, the rotor can be rotated more smoothly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] <<First Embodiment>> (Schematic Configuration of Shower Head 1) First, the configuration of the shower head 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. In the following description, when indicating directions such as front, back, top, bottom, left, and right, the respective directions shown in each figure shall be referred to.

[0022] The directions shown in each figure are respectively the directions as seen from a user standing facing forward directly below the shower head 1. In the following description, when no specific reference figure is shown, or when there is no reference numeral corresponding to the reference figure, any one of FIGS. 1 to 13 shall be appropriately referred to.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the shower head 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a so-called overhead shower attached to the wall surface of the bathroom. Specifically, the shower head 1 is attached to the tip of a shower arm SA extending from the wall surface of the bathroom. The shower head 1 is configured to spray the hot and cold water supplied from an upstream mixing faucet (not shown) through the shower arm SA upward above the user's head. Here, the shower arm SA corresponds to the "shower water passage" of the present invention.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the shower head 1 is configured by being assembled in a form in which a main body plate 2 forming its top plate portion and a water spraying plate 3 forming its bottom plate portion are in a hollow disc shape. In the shower head 1, a cylindrical connecting pipe 2B protruding upward from the central portion of the main body plate 2 is fluidly connected to the tip of the shower arm SA described above in FIG. 1.

[0025] Accordingly, the shower head 1 is configured to receive the supply of hot and cold water from the shower arm SA into the head interior (the head inner space S) through the connection pipe 2B. When hot and cold water is supplied to the interior of the shower head 1, the shower head 1 sprays the hot and cold water as shower water to the outside through a plurality of water spray holes E2 (see FIG. 2) formed in the disk portion 3E of the water spray plate 3.

[0026] The shower head 1 includes a rotor 4 at the central portion inside the head, which can impart a pulsating feeling by periodically varying the intensity of the water spray from each water spray hole E2. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotor 4 is provided at a position directly below the connection pipe 2B described above, that is, at the central portion that becomes the port facing portion facing the connection port B1 of the water spray plate 3 in the pipe axis direction.

[0027] Specifically, the rotor 4 is set in a state where it can rotate around the support protrusion E1 by being fitted onto the tapered cylindrical support protrusion E1 protruding upward from the central portion of the water spray plate 3 from above. Thereby, the rotor 4 is assembled to the water spray plate 3 so as to be rotatable around the head axis that is the central axis of the shower head 1.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 7, the rotor 4 has a concave discharge flow path 4G in a part of its rotation direction, which is provided with a discharge port G2 capable of taking in the hot and cold water supplied from the connection pipe 2B into the interior and discharging it to the outside in the head radial direction. Further, the rotor 4 is configured such that an inclined pressure receiving surface G3 is formed in a part of the discharge flow path 4G, which acts to rotate the rotor 4 around the head axis by the reaction force accompanying the impact with the hot and cold water supplied from the connection pipe 2B.

[0029] With such a configuration, when hot and cold water is supplied from the connection pipe 2B into the head interior, the rotor 4 takes in a part of it into the discharge flow path 4G and discharges it to the outside in the head radial direction. Further, the rotor 4 rotates around the head axis with respect to the water spray plate 3 due to the reaction force accompanying the hot and cold water being applied to the inclined pressure receiving surface G3 thereof (see FIG. 8).

[0030] As a result, when a large amount of hot water is supplied from the rotor 4 to a partial area in the rotation direction inside the head, the area (the area where a large amount of hot water is supplied) gradually changes in the rotation direction as the rotor 4 rotates. As a result, it is possible to perform shower water spraying with a pulsating feeling with periodic intensity variations from each water spraying hole E2 of the water spraying plate 3. Hereinafter, the structure of the rotor 4 that imparts this pulsating feeling will be described in detail in conjunction with the basic structure of the shower head 1.

[0031] (Each component structure) As shown in FIGS. 4 to 5, the shower head 1 includes a disk-shaped main body plate 2 that forms the top plate portion thereof, and a disk-shaped water spraying plate 3 that forms the bottom plate portion. Further, the shower head 1 further includes a cylindrical rotor 4 that is rotatably assembled at the central portion of the water spraying plate 3. The main body plate 2, the water spraying plate 3, and the rotor 4 are each made of an injection-molded resin member.

[0032] (Main body plate 2) As shown in FIG. 4, the main body plate 2 has a disk portion 2A that forms the disk main body thereof, and a connection pipe 2B that protrudes cylindrically upward from the upper center of the disk portion 2A. A circular hole-shaped connection port B1 that penetrates in the pipe axis direction is formed in the pipe of the connection pipe 2B.

[0033] Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body plate 2 has an outer cylinder portion 2C that protrudes downward in a cylindrical shape along the outer peripheral edge from the outer peripheral edge of the disk portion 2A, and an inner cylinder portion 2D that protrudes downward in a cylindrical shape from the outer peripheral portion of the disk portion 2A so as to form a concentric cylindrical shape that is one size smaller than the outer cylinder portion 2C. A central opening A1 that is recessed upward in a frustum shape is formed on the lower central surface of the disk portion 2A.

[0034] Further, fitting cylinders A4 that protrude downward in a cylindrical shape are formed at eight positions in the circumferential direction of the head on the lower surface of the disk portion 2A. As shown in FIG. 4, these fitting cylinders A4 are respectively formed at positions directly above each fastening cylinder E4 formed on the water spraying plate 3. The inside of each fitting cylinder A4 penetrates in a circular hole shape in the plate thickness direction.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 6, the connection port B1 formed inside the connecting pipe 2B communicates with the central opening A1 of the disc portion 2A described above. The connection port B1 and the central opening A1 form an intake port capable of taking in the hot water supplied from the upstream shower arm SA (see Fig. 1) into the head interior.

[0036] (Water-dispensing plate 3) As shown in Fig. 4, the water-dispensing plate 3 has a disc portion 3E forming the disc main body thereof, and a fitting cylinder 3F protruding upward in a cylindrical shape along the outer peripheral edge from the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 3E. A support protrusion E1 protruding upward in a tapered cylindrical shape is formed at the center of the disc portion 3E.

[0037] Also, as shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of water-dispensing holes E2 forming small holes for water-dispensing are formed at various locations in the in-plane direction of the disc portion 3E. Each water-dispensing hole E2 is formed such that a plurality of them are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the head so as to draw six concentric circles at six positions in the head diameter direction centered on the support protrusion E1 (see Fig. 4) of the disc portion 3E.

[0038] Also, as shown in Fig. 4, on the upper surface of the disc portion 3E of the water-dispensing plate 3, a plurality of dike portions E3 protruding upward in a cylindrical shape are formed so as to individually surround the formation locations of the respective water-dispensing holes E2. These dike portions E3 function to block the residual water inside the head from leaking to the outside through the respective water-dispensing holes E2 when the shower head 1 is shut off. The protruding height of each dike portion E3 is larger than the plate thickness dimension of the disc portion 3E.

[0039] Fastening cylinders E4 protruding upward in a cylindrical shape are formed at eight positions in the circumferential direction of the head on the upper surface of the disc portion 3E. These fastening cylinders E4 are formed so as to be arranged at equal intervals at positions on the same circumference.

[0040] Also, an annular groove F1 recessed annularly along the outer peripheral surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting cylinder 3F protruding from the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 3E. An O-ring (not shown) serving as a sealing member is mounted in this annular groove F1.

[0041] The water-draining plate 3 is set to be fitted into the cylinder of the main body plate 2 from below as follows. First, the fitting cylinder 3F of the water-draining plate 3 is set to be fitted into the space between the outer cylinder part 2C and the inner cylinder part 2D of the main body plate 2 shown in FIG. 5 from below. Thereby, an O-ring (not shown) mounted in the annular groove F1 of the fitting cylinder 3F of the water-draining plate 3 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part 2C of the main body plate 2, and the space between the fitting cylinder 3F and the outer cylinder part 2C is sealed.

[0042] Also, along with the above fitting, each fastening cylinder E4 of the water-draining plate 3 shown in FIG. 4 is fitted into the corresponding fitting cylinder A4 protruding from the lower surface of the disc part 2A of the main body plate 2 shown in FIG. 5 from below. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, screws B are inserted from above into the round holes above each fitting cylinder A4 of the main body plate 2 and fastened to the corresponding fastening cylinders E4 of the water-draining plate 3. Thereby, the water-draining plate 3 and the main body plate 2 are assembled in a state where a hollow head inner space S is formed between them (see FIG. 3).

[0043] (Rotor 4) As shown in FIG. 9, the rotor 4 is composed of a resin member having a bottomed cylindrical shape. On the upper surface of the rotor 4, a discharge flow path 4G recessed in the cylinder axis direction and a recess 4H are formed side by side in the rotation direction. The discharge flow path 4G and the recess 4H are partitioned from each other in the rotation direction by two upright partition walls 4J and 4K in the shape of plates arranged in the rotation direction.

[0044] By each partition wall 4J and 4K, the discharge flow path 4G is partitioned in a shape that expands at an obtuse angle in the rotation direction. Also, the recess 4H is partitioned in a shape that expands at an acute angle in the rotation direction. The discharge flow path 4G has an inlet G1 that opens above the rotor 4 and an outlet G2 that opens to the outside in the head diameter direction from the cylinder wall of the rotor 4. Here, the outlet G2 corresponds to the "outlet" and "deflecting outlet" of the present invention.

[0045] Also, the recess 4H is shaped to be recessed in a stepped shape in the cylinder axis direction from the upper surface of the rotor 4. On the bottom surface of the recessed tip of the recess 4H, through holes H1 penetrating in a round hole shape in the cylinder axis direction are formed at three positions in the rotation direction (see FIGS. 10 to 12).

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, a depression 4L that is recessed in a frustum shape in the axial direction of the cylinder is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the rotor 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a cylindrical protrusion 4M that protrudes in a cylindrical shape in the axial direction of the cylinder is formed at the center of the upper surface of the rotor 4. As shown in FIG. 11, the cylindrical protrusion 4M has a bottomed shape in which the inside of the cylinder does not penetrate in the axial direction of the cylinder.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the inner surface of the partition wall 4J that forms one end surface in the rotational direction of the discharge flow path 4G is formed as a pressure receiving surface G3 that is inclined so as to face obliquely upward. The pressure receiving surface G3 is shaped such that the inner corner between the inner surface and the bottom surface of the partition wall 4J, which is the end surface in the clockwise direction of the discharge flow path 4G shown in FIG. 9, is inclined in a concave curved surface shape.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 11, each partition wall 4J, 4K is not formed in a shape that radially extends outward from the center C of the rotor 4 in the head diameter direction, but is formed in a shape that radially extends from an eccentric position (virtual center V) that is deviated from the center C to the opening side of the discharge port G2. Thereby, the discharge flow path 4G is formed in a shape that widely opens the discharge port G2 in the direction (direction of arrow A shown in the figure) of going down the inclination of the pressure receiving surface G3. Further, the partition wall 4K on the side away from the pressure receiving surface G3 is not formed in a shape that extends straight in the head diameter direction, but is formed in a shape that is inclined so as to face obliquely in the rotational direction.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 13, the discharge port G2 is formed in a deflected shape in which the opening widens in the direction (direction of arrow A shown in the figure) of going down the inclination of the pressure receiving surface G3. Specifically, the upper edge of the discharge port G2 is shaped to extend straight in the rotational direction along the upper edge of the cylinder wall of the rotor 4. Further, the lower edge of the discharge port G2 is shaped to extend in the rotational direction along the shape of the bottom surface including the inclined pressure receiving surface G3 of the discharge flow path 4G.

[0050] As a result, the discharge port G2 has a deflected shape in which the opening in the region on one side in the rotational direction where its pressure receiving surface G3 is formed is narrow, and the opening in the region on the opposite side is wide. As shown in FIG. 7, with the above configuration, when hot water flows into the inlet G1 from the connection port B1 directly above it in the discharge flow path 4G, the hot water that has flowed in is discharged from the discharge port G2 to the outside in the head diameter direction.

[0051] And at the same time, in the discharge flow path 4G, a part of the hot water that has flowed in hits the pressure receiving surface G3, so while flowing the hot water in the direction of the slope of the pressure receiving surface G3 (the direction of arrow A in the figure), it receives a force that presses it in the clockwise direction in the figure as a reaction force. At that time, the discharge port G2 for discharging hot water discharges more hot water to the outside in the head diameter direction in the wide region of the opening away from the pressure receiving surface G3 than in the narrow region of the opening close to the pressure receiving surface G3.

[0052] As a result, a flow is generated in which the hot water is discharged from the discharge port G2 in the direction of the slope of the pressure receiving surface G3 (the direction of arrow A in the figure). Also, since the partition wall 4K forming the end face on the wide side of the opening away from the pressure receiving surface G3 of the discharge port G2 is directed to extend obliquely in the rotational direction away from the pressure receiving surface G3, a flow is generated in which the hot water is discharged obliquely from the discharge port G2 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure along this partition wall 4K. As a result, the discharge direction of the hot water along the partition wall 4K is directed in the counterclockwise direction in the figure of the rotor 4.

[0053] As a result, a force that presses the rotor 4 in the clockwise direction in the figure is applied to the rotor 4 as a reaction force when discharging the hot water from the discharge port G2 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. Therefore, by these two reaction forces (the reaction force when the hot water hits the pressure receiving surface G3 and the reaction force when the hot water is discharged in the counterclockwise direction in the figure), the rotor 4 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure while discharging the hot water from the discharge port G2 to the outside in the head diameter direction (see FIG. 8).

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, the rotor 4 is assembled in a state of being rotatably supported at the center of the water sprinkling plate 3 as follows. That is, in the rotor 4, a recess 4L formed at the center of its bottom surface is fitted from above onto a support protrusion E1 protruding from the center of the water sprinkling plate 3. Thereby, the rotor 4 is assembled so as to be rotatable about the support protrusion E1.

[0055] In the recess 4L of the rotor 4, a small protrusion L1 protruding hemispherically in the cylinder axis direction is formed at the center of the inner surface of the recessed tip. The rotor 4 is assembled so that the small protrusion L1 of its recess 4L enters the cylinder of the support protrusion E1, and thus is set in a state of being centered with respect to the support protrusion E1 at the center.

[0056] The rotor 4 is arranged at a position directly below the connection port B1 of the main body plate 2 when the water sprinkling plate 3 is assembled to the main body plate 2. Specifically, the rotor 4 is set in a state where a part of the cylinder wall including its cylindrical protrusion 4M enters the opening of the central opening A1 that is recessed in a frustum shape on the main body plate 2.

[0057] However, the rotor 4 is configured not to contact the inner peripheral surface of the central opening A1 and to have a gap T that allows hot and cold water to pass radially outward of the head diameter in the entire rotation direction between it and the inner peripheral surface of the central opening A1. Thereby, while the rotor 4 discharges the hot and cold water flowing into its discharge channel 4G from the discharge port G2 radially outward of the head diameter, it is always configured to flow the hot and cold water radially outward of the head diameter from the gap T between the rotor 4 and the main body plate 2 over the entire rotation direction.

[0058] The minimum dimension of the gap T in the head axis direction is narrower than the fitting depth in the head axis direction in which the recess 4L of the rotor 4 is fitted onto the support protrusion E1. Therefore, the rotor 4 is prevented from coming off the support protrusion E1 in the head inner space S between the water sprinkling plate 3 and the main body plate 2.

[0059] 7, the rotor 4 is specifically made of a small-diameter cylindrical member that fits radially inward of the innermost spray holes E2 of the spray plate 3. The rotor 4 is positioned so that the receiving port G1 and recess 4H of the discharge flow path 4G are located directly below the connection port B1. This allows hot and cold water that flows into the head internal space S from the connection port B1 to be appropriately taken in by the discharge flow path 4G and recess 4H located directly below.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 6, the hot and cold water that flows into the recess 4H is allowed to escape below the rotor 4 through the through holes H1 on the bottom surface of the recess 4H. This allows the hot and cold water that escapes below the rotor 4 to flow radially outward through the narrow gap between the bottom surface of the rotor 4 and the sprinkler plate 3. This reduces the downward force that presses the rotor 4 against the sprinkler plate 3 due to the momentum of the hot and cold water flowing into the rotor 4 from the connection port B1. As a result, the rotor 4 can rotate more smoothly.

[0061] Each through hole H1 is configured such that the spray hole E2 is not located directly below the rotor 4 because the rotor 4 is located radially inward of the spray hole E2 on the innermost periphery of the spray plate 3. Therefore, the hot water that passes through each through hole H1 is not directly sprayed from the spray hole E2. This makes it possible to more efficiently create a flow that sprays hot water from the spray hole E2 via the discharge flow path 4G of the rotor 4, and allows for more appropriate spraying with a pulsating feel.

[0062] To summarize the above, the showerhead 1 according to the first embodiment has the following configuration: Note that the reference characters in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0063] That is, the showerhead (1) is a showerhead (1) that sprays hot and cold water supplied from a shower water passage (SA) to the outside. The showerhead (1) has a main body plate (2), a spray plate (3), and a rotor (4). The main body plate (2) has a connection port (B1) that is connected to the shower water passage (SA) in the head axial direction. The spray plate (3) has a number of spray holes (E2) that spray hot and cold water supplied to the head internal space (S) between the main body plate (2) to the outside. The rotor (4) is assembled to the port-facing portion that faces the connection port (B1) of the spray plate (3) so as to be rotatable around the head axis.

[0064] The rotor (4) has a concave discharge flow passage (4G) that takes in hot water supplied from the connection port (B1) in a part of the rotation direction and discharges it outward in the head radial direction. The rotor (4) also has a pressure-receiving surface (G3) that acts to rotate the rotor (4) by a reaction force caused by contact with the hot water supplied from the connection port (B1). The rotor (4) also has a deflection discharge port (G2) that directs the discharge direction of the hot water to the rotation direction so that the rotor (4) is rotated by a reaction force caused by the discharge of the hot water taken in the discharge flow passage (4G).

[0065] According to the above configuration, when hot and cold water is supplied to the head internal space (S) from the connection port (B1), the hot and cold water is discharged radially outward from the discharge flow passage (4G) formed in a portion of the rotational direction of the rotor (4), and the rotor (4) rotates. As a result, hot and cold water is supplied in large quantities to a portion of the rotational direction of the head internal space (S), and the region (the region to which hot and cold water is supplied in large quantities) gradually changes in the rotational direction as the rotor (4) rotates. As a result, water can be appropriately sprayed with a pulsating feel, regardless of the size of the spray plate (3).

[0066] In addition, the pressure-receiving surface (G3) is formed of an inclined surface that inclines the inner surface, which is one end surface in the rotation direction of the discharge flow passage (4G), so as to face obliquely toward the upstream side in the head axial direction. In this way, by making the inner surface, which is one end surface in the rotation direction of the discharge flow passage (4G), an inclined surface, the pressure-receiving surface (G3) can be formed to function rationally and appropriately.

[0067] The rotor (4) further has a through hole (H1) that passes through to allow hot and cold water supplied from the connection port (B1) to pass in the axial direction of the head. With the above configuration, the force with which the hot and cold water supplied from the connection port (B1) hits the rotor (4) can be reduced. As a result, the rotor (4) can rotate more smoothly.

[0068] In addition, the through hole (H1) is located radially inward of the innermost spray hole (E2) formed in the spray plate (3). With the above configuration, hot and cold water passing through the through hole (H1) is not sprayed directly from the spray hole (E2). As a result, water can be sprayed with a more appropriate pulsating feel.

[0069] Further, the discharge flow passage (4G) is formed to form a discharge port (G2) that opens at an obtuse angle in the direction of rotation toward the outside in the radial direction of the head only at one point in the direction of rotation of the rotor (4). According to the above configuration, the area for discharging hot and cold water from the rotor (4) to the outside in the radial direction of the head is narrowed to have an appropriate opening width at one point in the direction of rotation, so that water can be sprayed with a more appropriate pulsating feel.

[0070] In addition, the rotor (4) is not supported by the main body plate (2), and a gap (T) is provided between the rotor (4) and the main body plate (2) over the entire rotational direction, allowing hot and cold water supplied from the connection port (B1) to pass to the outside in the radial direction of the head. According to the above configuration, the rotor (4) is in contact only with the sprinkler plate (3), so that the rotor (4) can rotate more smoothly.

[0071] Other embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various forms as described below in addition to the above embodiment.

[0072] 1. The showerhead of the present invention may be configured as an overhead shower or as a hand shower that is held by the user. The shower water passage may be a shower arm that is exposed to the interior of the bathroom along the wall of the bathroom, or it may be a pipe that is connected to the showerhead via a pipe that runs through the interior (rear) of the bathroom wall or ceiling.

[0073] 2. The main plate and the water spray plate may be disc-shaped, or may be polygonal, triangular, rectangular, or other irregular shapes. The connection port of the main plate may be formed on a connection pipe protruding from the main plate, or may be formed penetrating the main plate itself.

[0074] 3. The rotor does not necessarily have to be located in the center of the showerhead, but may be located eccentrically from the center. Also, the rotor does not have to be supported only by the spray plate, but may also be supported by the main plate.

[0075] Regardless of whether the rotor is supported by the main body plate, the rotor may not have a gap between the main body plate and the rotor that allows hot and cold water supplied from the connection port to pass outside the head radial direction. Also, the rotor may have a gap between the rotor and the main body plate only in a part of the rotation direction, not in the entire rotation direction.

[0076] The rotor may be configured without the recesses (4H) or cylindrical protrusions (4M) shown in the above embodiment. The rotor may also be configured without the through holes (H1). These can be selectively set as appropriate to suit the specifications of the showerhead to be used, for example, to reduce molding defects during resin molding or to reduce the impact of hot and cold water on the rotor.

[0077] The pressure receiving surface does not necessarily have to be formed in the exhaust flow passage. For example, the pressure receiving surface may be formed as an inclined surface on the upper surface of the rotor that is separated from the exhaust flow passage. Furthermore, the pressure receiving surface may be inclined in a concave curved surface, or may be inclined linearly, convexly curved, or stepped.

[0078] The rotor may be configured without either the pressure receiving surface or the deflected discharge port. In other words, even if the rotor is configured such that the discharge port that discharges hot water taken into the discharge flow path to the outside in the head radial direction is not a deflected discharge port, that is, the hot water is not discharged in the rotation direction but is discharged straight to the outside in the head radial direction, the pressure receiving surface allows the rotor to rotate due to the reaction force caused by hitting the hot water.

[0079] Furthermore, even if the rotor does not have a pressure-receiving surface, the outlet that discharges hot and cold water taken into the outlet flow passage to the outside in the head radial direction is a deflected outlet that faces the direction of discharge of hot and cold water in the direction of rotation, so that the rotor can rotate due to the reaction force caused by the discharge of hot and cold water. For example, as shown in Fig. 14, by shaping the deflected outlet to open in the direction of rotation from the cylindrical wall of the rotor, the rotor can rotate due to the reaction force caused by the discharge of hot and cold water even without a pressure-receiving surface.

[0080] The rotation direction of the rotor may be set in either direction around the head axis. The pressure receiving surface and / or the deflection discharge port may be set at multiple locations, not limited to one location in the rotation direction of the rotor. Similarly, the discharge flow path may be set at multiple locations, not limited to one location in the rotation direction of the rotor.

[0081] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1...shower head, 2...main body plate, 2A...disk portion, A1...central opening, A4...fitting tube, 2B...connecting pipe, B1...connecting port, 2C...outer tube portion, 2D...inner tube portion, 3...spray plate, 3E...disk portion, E1...support projection, E2...spray hole, E3...bank portion, E4...fastening tube, 3F...fitting tube, F1...annular groove, 4...rotor, 4G...discharge flow path, G1...receiving port, G2...discharge port (discharge port, deflection discharge port), G3...pressure receiving surface, G4...deflection discharge port, 4H...recess, H1...through hole, 4J...partition wall, 4K...partition wall, 4L...dent, L1...small projection, 4M...cylindrical projection, T...gap, B...screw, S...space inside head, SA...shower arm (shower water passage), C...center, V...virtual center, A...arrow

Claims

1. A shower head that sprays hot and cold water supplied from a shower water passage to the outside, comprising: a main body plate having a connection port connected in the head axis direction to the shower water passage; a water spraying plate provided with a plurality of water spraying holes for spraying hot and cold water supplied into the head inner space between the main body plate to the outside; a rotor assembled to be rotatable about the head axis at a port facing portion of the water spraying plate facing the connection port, and having: a concave discharge passage that takes in hot and cold water supplied from the connection port in a part of the rotational direction in the head axis direction and discharges it to the outside in the head radial direction; a pressure receiving surface that acts to rotate the rotor by a reaction force accompanying the collision of the hot and cold water supplied from the connection port; and / or a deflection discharge port that directs the discharge direction of the hot and cold water taken into the discharge passage in the rotational direction so as to rotate the rotor by a reaction force accompanying the discharge of the hot and cold water taken into the discharge passage.

2. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein the pressure receiving surface comprises an inclined surface that inclines the inner surface, which is one end surface in the rotational direction of the discharge passage, obliquely upstream in the head axis direction.

3. The shower head according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rotor further has a through hole that allows the hot and cold water supplied from the connection port to pass through in the head axis direction.

4. The shower head according to claim 3, wherein the through hole is located radially inward of the head diameter with respect to the innermost circumferential side water spraying holes formed in the water spraying plate.

5. The shower head according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the discharge passage is formed to form a discharge port that opens at an obtuse angle in the rotational direction toward the outside in the head radial direction only at one location in the rotational direction of the rotor.

6. The shower head according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rotor is not supported by the main body plate and has a gap that allows the hot and cold water supplied from the connection port to pass to the outside in the head radial direction throughout the rotational direction between the main body plate and the rotor.

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