Shower head

Abstract

To reduce a water drop amount from a shower head.SOLUTION: A shower head includes a shower face 60, and a plate-like flow straightening member 40 disposed in an upstream side of the shower face 60. The flow straightening member 40 has a storage chamber R on a plate surface in an upstream side of the flow straightening member 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower head.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a shower head. As shown in FIG. 9, a water discharge head 70 as a shower head is used in a water discharge device (not shown). The water discharge head 70 includes an outer cover 71, a head base 72, a nozzle member 73, a pressure adjustment member 74, and a screen member 75. The head base 72 and the nozzle member 73 are housed in the outer cover 71 in a connected state. The nozzle member 73 has a storage space K. Further, the screen member 75 is attached to the tip of the nozzle member 73. The pressure adjustment member 74 is disposed between the storage space K and the screen member 75.

[0003] The pressure adjustment member 74 has a bottom surface portion 74a, a side surface portion 74b, a flow rectifying protrusion 74c, and a water supply hole (not shown) provided in the bottom surface portion 74a. The hot and cold water flowing through the water supply passage 72a of the head base 72 flows into the storage space K of the nozzle member 73. Further, the hot and cold water is diffused from the water discharge holes 75a of the screen member 75 after passing through the water supply hole of the pressure adjustment member 74. When passing through the pressure adjustment member 74, the flow rate of the hot and cold water is adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the water discharge head 70 of Patent Document 1, by operating a valve mechanism (not shown) provided in the water discharge device, it is possible to switch the on / off state of the hot water sprayed from the water discharge holes 75a of the screen member 75. When the valve mechanism is operated to switch the hot water in the water discharge state to the water stop state, dripping occurs because the hot water accumulated in the storage space K is discharged from the water discharge holes 75a. In the water discharge head 70 of Patent Document 1, since most of the hot water in the storage space K becomes dripping, the amount of dripping tends to increase.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The shower head of Aspect 1 is a shower head including a shower face and a plate-shaped rectifying member disposed on the upstream side of the shower face, and the rectifying member has a storage chamber on the plate surface on the upstream side of the rectifying member.

[0007] According to this configuration, by having a storage chamber on the plate surface on the upstream side of the rectifying member, when the shower head switches from the water discharge state to the water stop state, the hot water can continue to be stored in the storage chamber. Therefore, the amount of dripping from the shower head can be reduced.

[0008] Aspect 2 is the shower head of Aspect 1, wherein a plurality of the storage chambers are formed by lattice-shaped ribs. According to this configuration, since a plurality of storage chambers are formed by lattice-shaped ribs, the amount of hot water that can be stored in the storage chambers can be relatively increased. Therefore, the amount of dripping from the shower head can be further reduced. In addition, since the rectifying member can be reinforced by the lattice-shaped ribs, the strength of the rectifying member can be made suitable while forming the storage chamber.

[0009] Aspect 3 is such that in the shower head of Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, when the shower head is locked to a locking jig provided on a wall surface, a plurality of the storage chambers are provided along the vertical direction. According to this configuration, in the plurality of storage chambers along the vertical direction, more hot and cold water can be stored. Therefore, the amount of dripping water from the shower head can be made less.

[0010] Aspect 4 is such that in the shower head according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, the flow rectifying member does not have a through hole penetrating the flow rectifying member in the thickness direction. According to this configuration, the ratio of the storage chamber can be increased by the amount of not having a through hole, and more hot and cold water can be stored. Therefore, the amount of dripping water from the shower head can be made less.

[0011] Aspect 5 is such that in the shower head according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, the flow rectifying member has a constricted portion recessed from the outer peripheral side toward the inner side. According to this configuration, the hot and cold water can be rectified by the hot and cold water passing through the constricted portion.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the shower head of the present invention, the amount of dripping water from the shower head can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An embodiment of the shower head will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shower head 10 includes a head case 11, a water passage member 14, a cover member 15, and a discharge unit 20. Generally, the shower head 10 is held by hand and used in a bathroom.

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the surface of the shower face 60 of the discharge unit 20 described later, the front side toward the shower face 60 is defined as the front in the front-rear direction, and the back side is defined as the rear in the front-rear direction. Also, the right side is defined as the right in the left-right direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the left in the left-right direction. Further, the upper side is defined as the upper in the up-down direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the lower in the up-down direction.

[0016] Hereinafter, each member constituting the shower head 10 will be described. <Head Case> As shown in FIG. 2, the head case 11 includes a main body case 12 and a front case 13. The main body case 12 is attached to the water passage member 14 and the discharge unit 20 from the rear side, and houses the water passage member 14 and the discharge unit 20 therein. The front case 13 is attached to the water passage member 14 from the front side and covers the front side of the water passage member 14. The front case 13 has an opening 13a, and the front case 13 is attached to the water passage member 14 with the switching button 14a of the water passage member 14 inserted through the opening 13a.

[0017] In the head case 11, the lower side than the location where the shower face 60 is accommodated functions as a gripping part that the user grips. When viewed toward the shower face 60, the longitudinal direction of the gripping part is along the longitudinal direction of the shower face 60.

[0018] <Water passage member> As shown in FIG. 2, the water passage member 14 is configured in a cylindrical shape and has a water passage inside. The discharge unit 20 is connected to the upper end of the water passage member 14. Also, a hose (not shown) is connected to the lower end of the water passage member 14. The water passage member 14 circulates the hot and cold water supplied from the hose to the discharge unit 20.

[0019] The water passage member 14 has a switching button 14a on the front surface. By operating this switching button 14a, the open state and the closed state of the water passage of the water passage member 14 can be switched. That is, by operating the switching button 14a, the on-off of the water discharge from the shower head 10 can be switched.

[0020] The water passage member 14 may be composed of a single cylindrical member, or may be composed of a state in which a plurality of cylindrical members are connected. <Cover member> As shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 15 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction. The cover member 15 has a rectangular opening 15a that is long in the vertical direction and has a frame shape.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the cover member 15 is attached to the shower face 60 so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the front surface of the shower face 60. <Discharge unit> As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge unit 20 includes an inner cup 30, a rectifying member 40, a mist flow path forming member 50, and a shower face 60.

[0022] (Inner cup) As shown in FIG. 3, the inner cup 30 has a plate-shaped main body portion 31. The main body portion 31 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction, and at both longitudinal ends, both outer sides in the longitudinal direction are curved to be convex. The main body portion 31 has a through hole 31a that penetrates the main body portion 31 in the thickness direction at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction.

[0023] The inner cup 30 has a peripheral wall 32 that protrudes forward along the thickness direction of the main body portion 31 from the outer periphery of the main body portion 31. The inner cup 30 has nut accommodating portions 33 at the four corners of the main body portion 31. The nut accommodating portions 33 are integrated with the peripheral wall 32 and protrude to the outer peripheral side of the peripheral wall 32. The nut accommodating portions 33 have insertion holes 33a for inserting the screw 16 on the front side. With a nut (not shown) accommodated in the nut accommodating portion 33, the screw 16 inserted through the insertion hole 60a of the shower face 60 described later is inserted through the insertion hole 33a of the nut accommodating portion 33. Further, by screwing this screw 16 into the nut in the nut accommodating portion 33, the shower face 60 and the inner cup 30 are connected.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the inner cup 30 has a cylindrical portion 34 on the rear side of the main body portion 31. The cylindrical portion 34 is integrated with the main body portion 31 and extends along the vertical direction of the main body portion 31. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 34 extends to a position substantially the same as the lower end of the main body portion 31. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 34 is open and is connected to the upper end portion of the water passing member 14.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of the cylindrical portion 34 is located at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the main body portion 31. The cylindrical portion 34 has a top wall 34a that seals the upper end. The upper end portion inside the cylindrical portion 34 communicates with the through hole 31a of the main body portion 31. The hot and cold water flowing through the water passing member 14 flows through the inside of the cylindrical portion 34 from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 34. Further, it flows from the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 34 through the through hole 31a to the front side of the main body portion 31. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 34 of the inner cup 30 functions as a water passage.

[0026] (Rectifying member) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rectifying member 40 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction, and at both longitudinal ends, both outer sides in the longitudinal direction are curved to be convex. The rectifying member 40 is disposed on the rear side of a shower face 60 described later. In other words, the rectifying member 40 is disposed on the upstream side of the shower face 60. And the rectifying member 40 is housed inside the first peripheral wall 61a of the shower face 60.

[0027] The rectifying member 40 has a plurality of constricted portions 40a that are recessed from both outer sides in the short direction toward the inner side at a plurality of positions at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. The rectifying member 40 has a recess 40b that is recessed rearward on the front side. This recess 40b extends along the vertical direction. A mist flow path forming member 50 described later and the second peripheral wall 61b of the shower face 60 are housed in this recess 40b. Although the rectifying member 40 has the constricted portions 40a and the recess 40b, it does not have a through hole that penetrates the rectifying member 40 in the thickness direction.

[0028] As described later, the rectifying member 40 is disposed in a storage portion S (see FIG. 5) as a space formed by the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60, and is used to make the flow of hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S uniform.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the rectifying member 40 has a plurality of lattice-shaped ribs 41 on the upstream plate surface that is the rear surface. The lattice-shaped ribs 41 extend along the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The rectifying member 40 has a plurality of recesses formed by the plurality of lattice-shaped ribs 41. The plurality of recesses are recessed from the rear side toward the front side along the thickness direction of the rectifying member 40. The plurality of recesses function as a storage chamber R for storing hot and cold water in the storage portion S. Also, the lattice-shaped ribs 41 also have a function of reinforcing the rectifying member 40.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of storage chambers R are formed in the horizontal direction of the rectifying member 40 and also in the vertical direction of the rectifying member 40. (Mist flow path forming member) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mist flow path forming member 50 is configured as an elongated plate having an elongated shape. The mist flow path forming member 50 is housed in a second peripheral wall 61b on the back surface of a shower face 60 described later. The mist flow path forming member 50 has an insertion hole 50a through which a screw 17 is inserted. By screwing the screw 17 inserted through the insertion hole 50a into a screw hole 64 on the back surface of the shower face 60, the mist flow path forming member 50 is attached to the back surface of the shower face 60.

[0031] The mist flow path forming member 50 has a flow path 51 that communicates from the back side to the front side. When the mist flow path forming member 50 is attached to the back surface of the shower face 60, the flow path 51 is positioned to overlap with the mist discharge holes 63. As a result, a mist discharge flow path reaching the mist discharge holes 63 is formed from the back side of the mist flow path forming member 50. In the mist discharge flow path, a swirling flow is generated, and the swirling flow is ejected from the mist discharge holes 63, thereby discharging mist.

[0032] (Shower face) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shower face 60 is configured as a rectangular plate that is long in the vertical direction. The shower face 60 has insertion holes 60a through which screws 16 are inserted at the four corners. The shower face 60 has a peripheral wall 61 (hereinafter also referred to as "first peripheral wall 61a") that protrudes rearward along the thickness direction of the shower face 60 on the back surface on the inner peripheral side of the insertion holes 60a at the four corners. Further, the shower face 60 has a peripheral wall 61 (hereinafter also referred to as "second peripheral wall 61b") that protrudes rearward along the thickness direction of the shower face 60 at a position on the inner peripheral side of the first peripheral wall 61a.

[0033] The shower face 60 has a plurality of shower discharge holes 62 at a position on the inner peripheral side of the first peripheral wall 61a. Further, the shower face 60 has a plurality of mist discharge holes 63 and a screw hole 64 at a position on the inner peripheral side of the second peripheral wall 61b.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 4, the first peripheral wall 61a and the second peripheral wall 61b extend long along the vertical direction, and at both longitudinal ends, they are curved such that both outer sides in the longitudinal direction are convex. The first peripheral wall 61a has a shape that is slightly smaller than the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30 so as to be accommodated inside the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30. The second peripheral wall 61b has a shape that is slightly larger than the mist flow path forming member 50 so as to be able to accommodate the mist flow path forming member 50.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 4, a packing 18 is attached to the outer periphery of the first peripheral wall 61a. By this packing 18, the space between the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30 and the outer periphery of the first peripheral wall 61a of the shower face 60 is sealed in a watertight state.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5, by sealing the space between the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30 and the outer periphery of the first peripheral wall 61a of the shower face 60 in a watertight state, a storage portion S for storing hot and cold water is formed between the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60. This storage portion S is a space where the hot and cold water supplied from the cylindrical portion 34 of the inner cup 30 as a water passage is temporarily stored until it is discharged from the plurality of shower water discharge holes 62 and the plurality of mist discharge holes 63. By arranging the rectifying member 40 in this storage portion S, the flow of the hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S becomes uniform. By making the flow of the hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S uniform, it becomes possible to flow the hot and cold water at a substantially uniform water pressure to the plurality of shower water discharge holes 62 and the plurality of mist discharge holes 63.

[0037] The shower head 10 is constituted by the above-described respective members. The material of each member constituting the shower head 10 is not particularly limited. For example, the material of each member can be made of resin, metal, etc. A metal plating may be formed on the surface of the resin.

[0038] <Water Discharge Mechanism of Shower Head> As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the hot and cold water supplied from a hose (not shown) to the lower end of the water passage member 14 flows from the upper end of the water passage member 14 into the cylindrical portion 34 of the inner cup 30 serving as a water passage. Further, it flows from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 34 through the through hole 31a to the storage portion S located on the front side of the main body portion 31 of the inner cup 30.

[0039] The hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S is rectified while passing through the constricted portion 40a (see FIG. 3) of the rectifying member 40, so that the hot and cold water can flow to the plurality of first shower water discharge holes 62a, the second shower water discharge holes 62b, and the mist water discharge holes 63 with substantially uniform water pressure. Then, shower water is discharged from the plurality of first shower water discharge holes 62a and the plurality of second shower water discharge holes 62b, and mist water is simultaneously discharged from the plurality of mist water discharge holes 63.

[0040] <Reservoir mechanism in the rectifying member> As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the shower head 10 is locked to a locking jig (not shown) provided on the wall surface, the vertical direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the shower face 60, is along the vertical direction. Specifically, the upper side of the vertical direction of the shower face 60 is inclined slightly forward with respect to the vertical direction. When the shower face 60 is viewed from the front side, the longitudinal direction of the shower face 60 is along the vertical direction.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, when the shower face 60 is viewed from the front side and the longitudinal direction of the shower face 60 is along the vertical direction, the longitudinal direction of the rectifying member 40 is also along the vertical direction in the same manner. In this state, a plurality of storage chambers R provided in the rectifying member 40 are also arranged along the vertical direction. Note that the storage chambers R being arranged along the vertical direction does not mean only the mode in which the plurality of storage chambers R are completely along the vertical direction, but also includes a mode slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 6, since the rectifying member 40 has a plurality of storage chambers R on the upstream plate surface, when the shower head 10 switches from the water discharging state to the water stopping state, a part of the hot water W in the storage portion S (see Fig. 5) can continue to be stored in the storage chamber R.

[0043] In addition, since a plurality of storage chambers R are provided along the vertical direction, more hot water W can be stored. In particular, since the rectifying member 40 is configured in a vertically long rectangular plate shape, more storage chambers R can be provided along the vertical direction. Therefore, it becomes possible to store even more hot water W.

[0044] <Function and Effect> The function and effect of the present embodiment will be described. (1) The rectifying member 40 has a storage chamber R on the upstream plate surface of the rectifying member 40.

[0045] When the shower head 10 switches from the water discharging state to the water stopping state, hot water can continue to be stored in the storage chamber R. Therefore, the amount of dripping water from the shower head 10 can be reduced.

[0046] (2) A plurality of storage chambers R are formed by lattice-shaped ribs 41. Since a plurality of storage chambers R are formed by the lattice-shaped ribs 41, the amount of hot water that can be stored in the storage chamber R can be relatively increased. Therefore, the amount of dripping water from the shower head 10 can be further reduced. In addition, since the rectifying member 40 can be reinforced by the lattice-shaped ribs 41, the strength of the rectifying member 40 can be made suitable while forming the storage chamber R.

[0047] (3) In a state where the shower head 10 is locked to the locking jig provided on the wall surface, a plurality of storage chambers R are provided along the vertical direction. In the plurality of storage chambers R along the vertical direction, more hot water can be stored. Therefore, the amount of dripping water from the shower head 10 can be further reduced.

[0048] (4) The rectifying member 40 does not have a through hole that penetrates the rectifying member 40 in the thickness direction. Since there is no through hole, the ratio of the storage chamber R can be increased to store more hot and cold water. Therefore, the amount of dripping water from the shower head 10 can be further reduced.

[0049] (5) The rectifying member 40 has a constricted portion 40a that is recessed from the outer peripheral side toward the inner side. Therefore, the rectifying member 40 can rectify the hot and cold water by allowing the hot and cold water to pass through the constricted portion 40a.

[0050] <Modified Example> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non - conflicting range.

[0051] · In this embodiment, the storage chamber R is formed in a plurality by lattice - shaped ribs 41, but it is not limited to this mode. Only one storage chamber R may be formed. Also, the storage chamber R may not be formed by lattice - shaped ribs 41.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 7, for example, a plurality of recesses 42 are formed along the vertical direction without forming lattice - shaped ribs 41 on the plate surface on the upstream side of the rectifying member 40, and these plurality of recesses 42 may function as storage chambers.

[0053] · In this embodiment, when the shower head 10 is locked to the locking jig provided on the wall surface, the vertical direction of the shower face 60 is slightly inclined forward with respect to the vertical direction on the upper side. However, the vertical direction of the shower face 60 may completely follow the vertical direction, or the upper side may be slightly inclined in an arbitrary direction such as slightly backward with respect to the vertical direction or one of the left - right directions. That is, the plurality of storage chambers R of the rectifying member 40 may also completely follow the vertical direction, or the upper side may be slightly inclined in an arbitrary direction such as slightly backward with respect to the vertical direction or one of the left - right directions.

[0054] For example, as shown in FIG. 8, on the plate surface on the upstream side of the rectifying member 40, a plurality of recesses 43 as storage chambers may have a top wall 43a that covers a part of the lower side of the opening. By having the top wall 43a, for example, even when the plurality of recesses 43 of the rectifying member 40 are completely along the vertical direction or slightly inclined in an arbitrary direction, hot water can be stored in the recesses 43.

[0055] · The rectifying member 40 may have a through hole that penetrates the rectifying member 40 in the thickness direction. · The constriction 40a that is recessed from the outer peripheral side toward the inside of the rectifying member 40 may be omitted. For example, the outer periphery of the rectifying member 40 may be configured to be rectified by the passage of hot water.

[0056] · The rectifying member 40 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction, but is not limited to this aspect. The rectifying member 40 may be configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in a direction other than the vertical direction. Or it may be square or circular.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 10… Shower head, 40… Rectifying member, 60… Shower face, R… Storage chamber.

Claims

1. A shower head comprising a shower face and a plate-shaped flow rectifying member disposed upstream of the shower face, wherein the flow rectifying member has a storage chamber on the plate surface on the upstream side of the flow rectifying member. The shower head is characterized by this.

2. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the storage chambers are formed by lattice-shaped ribs.

3. In a state where the shower head is locked to a locking jig provided on a wall surface, the shower head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the storage chambers are provided along the vertical direction.

4. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein the flow rectifying member does not have a through hole penetrating the flow rectifying member in the thickness direction.

5. The shower head according to claim 1, wherein the flow rectifying member has a constricted portion recessed from the outer peripheral side toward the inner side.

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