shower head

Abstract

This showerhead provides a design in which resin blocks, which can be precisely positioned at designated locations within the internal cavity, are placed to reduce the volume of water remaining in the cavity. [Solution] The shower head 1 comprises a main body 2 having a first cavity 13 and a second cavity 14 connecting a third opening 14f and a first opening 13c, a spray plate 4 attached to the first opening 13c, and a solid resin block body 20 fixedly positioned inside the first cavity 13 and the second cavity 14 on the inside of the spray plate 4. The block body 20 is formed by fitting two identical parts 21 together.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a shower head having a cavity inside and discharging water supplied into the cavity through a water distribution plate disposed at a water discharge port is known. The conventional shower head disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a relatively large internal cavity. As a result, when the water supply is stopped after use, a fairly large amount of water remains in the internal cavity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above prior art, after use, the water remaining in the internal cavity slowly drips from the water distribution plate of the shower head hung on a hanger or the like over a long time and the water drainage is poor. Therefore, it is conceivable to reduce the volume of the retained water by reducing the internal cavity. However, if the external shape of the shower head is reduced to reduce the internal cavity, it is necessary to provide a cavity of a considerable volume due to the need for a space for removing the core for injection molding the shower head, and there is a limit to reducing the size. On the other hand, if a water-resistant resin block is arranged in the internal cavity to reduce the volume of the portion where the water in the cavity remains, there is a problem that it is difficult to mold a block that can be accurately arranged at a determined position with few sink marks or the like.

[0005] In view of these problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a shower head that reduces the volume of the portion in which water remains within the cavity by arranging resin blocks that can be precisely positioned at predetermined locations within the internal cavity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a shower head comprising a main body having an internal space connecting a water inlet and a water outlet, a spray plate attached to the water outlet, and a solid resin block body fixedly positioned inside the internal space on the inside of the spray plate, wherein the block body is formed by fitting two identical parts together.

[0007] According to the first invention, by fixing the block body within the internal space of the shower head, the volume of the area where water remains can be reduced, thereby suppressing the slow dripping of residual water over a long period of time. Furthermore, since the block body is formed by fitting two identical parts together, the thickness of the parts can be reduced, thereby suppressing deformation such as sink marks during molding, allowing for precise placement at a predetermined position within the internal space, and also allowing for the use of only one molding die.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the component has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged vertically at equal intervals from a planar body.

[0009] According to the second invention, the planar body and plate-shaped ribs can be made relatively thin, which suppresses deformation such as sink marks during molding and improves the accuracy of the block body's external shape. This makes it easier to fix and position the block body in a predetermined location within the internal space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view of a showerhead, which is one embodiment of this design. [Figure 2]This is an exploded perspective view of the shower head in the above embodiment. The spray plate is omitted. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 1. Only the main body is shown. [Figure 5] This is an exploded perspective view of the block body in the above embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the block body in the above embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of arrow VII-VII in Figure 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The configuration of a shower head 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The shower head 1 is used in a bathroom either by being held by the user or by being attached to a fastener fixed to a wall or the like.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the shower head 1 comprises a resin body 2, a block body 20 disposed inside the body 2, and a spray plate 4 attached to the body 2. In each figure, the direction in which water is discharged from the spray plate 4 is indicated by an arrow labeled "OUT". The "OUT" direction is also considered the forward direction, and the front, back, left, right, up, and down directions are indicated and used in explanations as needed.

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the main body 2 has a main body 10 through which water passes, a front cover 5 that covers the front side (OUT direction side) of the main body 10, and a rear cover 6 that covers the rear side (opposite direction to the OUT direction) of the main body 10.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the main body 10 has a cup-shaped cup portion 11 that opens forward and a pipe-shaped supply pipe portion 12 that supplies water to the cup portion 11. It has a thin disc-shaped first cavity portion 13 that opens forward and a second cavity portion 14 that extends rearward from the left-right center of the first cavity portion 13. The first cavity portion 13 is surrounded by a substantially circular bottom portion 13a when viewed from the front and a side portion 13b that extends forward from the outer peripheral end of the bottom portion 13a, and has a first opening 13c which is the front end of the side portion 13b. A male threaded portion for attaching the water spray plate 4 is formed at the outer diameter end of the side portion 13b. The second cavity 14 has a roughly rectangular second opening 14e, as viewed from the front, formed in the center of the left-right direction of the bottom surface 13a and extending vertically. It is surrounded by a bottom wall 14a that curves along the outer shape of the main body 10, a pair of left and right side walls 14b, an upper side wall 14c, and a lower side wall 14d. The pair of left and right side walls 14b, the upper side wall 14c, and the lower side wall 14d extend rearward from the second opening 14e toward the bottom wall 14a. On the side of the supply pipe 12 in the lower side wall 14d, a third opening 14f is provided that connects the inner diameter portion 12a of the supply pipe 12 to the second cavity 14. A block body 20, which will be described later, is inserted and arranged inside the second cavity 14. The bottom wall portion 14a has a stepped portion 14g formed thereon that engages with the stepped portion 22c of the block body 20 when the block body 20 is inserted, thereby preventing the block body 20 from moving downward. In addition, the left and right side wall portions 14b are erected close to each other, with engaging plate portions 14h that engage with the notch portion 22d of the block body 20 when the block body 20 is inserted, thereby preventing the block body 20 from moving upward. Here, the first cavity portion 13 and the second cavity portion 14 correspond to the "internal space" in the claims. Also, the first opening 13c and the third opening 14f correspond to the "discharge port" and "inlet port" in the claims, respectively.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the supply pipe section 12 is substantially cylindrical with a curved central axis, and its inner diameter section 12a forms a water passage. The upper end of the supply pipe section 12 is connected to the third opening 14f of the cup section 11 in a watertight state via an opening / closing mechanism section 12b that opens and closes the inner diameter section 12a. The opening / closing mechanism section 12b has a first cap 12b1 on the front side and a second cap 12b2 on the rear side. The configuration allows the inner diameter section 12a to be closed and the water to stop by pressing the first cap 12b1 in the rear direction, and the inner diameter section 12a to be opened and the water to flow by pressing the second cap 12b2 in the front direction. The lower end of the supply pipe section 12 has an enlarged diameter section 12c formed thereon. The enlarged diameter section 12c is the part to which the other end of a hose (not shown), one end of which is connected to a faucet (not shown), is connected while maintaining a watertight state. The opening provided in the enlarged diameter section 12c is the fourth opening 12c1, from which water is supplied to the inner diameter section 12a. As a result, water whose temperature and flow rate have been adjusted by the faucet is supplied to the inner diameter section 12a.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the front cover portion 5 is a member shaped to open in the rearward direction and cover the front side of the main body portion 10, and has a circular opening 5a that exposes the first opening 13c when attached to the main body portion 10, and a round hole 5b through which the first cap 12b1 passes in a loosely fitted state. The rear cover portion 6 is a member shaped to open in the frontward direction and cover the rear side of the main body portion 2, and has a round hole 6a through which the second cap 12b2 passes in a loosely fitted state when attached to the main body portion 10. When the main body portion 10 is placed inside and the openings of the front cover portion 5 and the rear cover portion 6 are aligned and attached by tightening screws or the like, the main body portion 10 is covered, with only the first opening 13c and the enlarged diameter portion 12c exposed to the outside.

[0017] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the resin block body 20 is formed by combining and integrating two parts 21.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the component 21 is formed by injection molding of resin. The component 21 includes a planar body 22 having an outer surface portion 22a along the front surface (inner surface) of the bottom wall portion 14a of the second cavity portion 14 in the main body portion 10, and a plurality of ribs 23 erected on the inner surface portion 22b which is the surface opposite to the outer surface portion 22a of the planar body 22. The thicknesses of the planar body 22 and each rib 23 are set to be equal. A step portion 22c is formed between the upper and lower portions of the outer surface portion 22a of the planar body 22. Further, notch portions 22d are formed at both the left and right ends of the upper portion of the outer surface portion 22a of the planar body 22. The step portion 22c and the notch portions 22d are provided to prevent the block body 20 from moving in the vertical direction when the block body 20 is disposed in the second cavity portion 14 of the main body portion 10. Four ribs 23 are arranged to extend parallel from the inner surface portion 22b of the planar body 22 at equal intervals. The interval between adjacent ribs 23 is set to be equal to the thickness of each rib 23. And the end portions of each rib 23 on the side opposite to the planar body 22 are formed in a shape along the inner surface portion 22b of the planar body 22. Thus, when two components 21 are combined and integrated such that each rib 23 of the other is inserted between each rib 23 of one, the end portions of each rib 23 of one on the side opposite to the planar body 22 abut against the inner surface portion 22b of the planar body 22 of the other without a gap, and the end portions of each rib 23 of the other on the side opposite to the planar body 22 abut against the inner surface portion 22b of the planar body 22 of one without a gap. And the block body 20 formed by combining and integrating two components 21 becomes solid. When two components 21 are combined and integrated, convex portions 23a having a triangular cross section are arranged to extend in the front-rear direction one by one at the upper and lower portions on the outer side surfaces in the left-right direction of the ribs 23 at the left and right ends. Each convex portion 23a is provided to abut against the left and right side wall portions 14b in an interfering state when the block body 20 is disposed in the second cavity portion 14 of the main body portion 10 so as not to move in the left-right direction and the front direction.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the watering plate 4 has a disc-shaped thin plate portion 4a and an outer ring portion 4b. The thin plate portion 4a is a stainless steel disc with a thickness of about 0.5 mm, on which several hundred watering holes 4a1 with a diameter of about 0.5 mm are formed in a certain pattern. An outer ring portion 4b, which is an annular member made of resin, is disposed on the outer periphery of the thin plate portion 4a. Specifically, the outer ring portion 4b has an outer portion 4b1 with a radial cross-section that is an inverted triangle with its vertex pointing forward, and a cylindrical inner portion 4b2 with a radial cross-section that is roughly rectangular and extends backward from the outer portion 4b1. A female thread portion is formed on the radial inner surface of the inner portion 4b2, which can be screwed into the male thread portion of the main body portion 10. The thin plate portion 4a is positioned so that its outer edge contacts the inner stepped surface of the outer ring portion 4b from the inside in a forward direction, thereby constituting the watering plate 4.

[0020] The assembly method of the shower head 1 will be explained based on Figures 2 and 3. First, the block body 20 is inserted and positioned inside the second cavity 14 of the main body 10. One outer surface portion 22a of the block body 20 is brought into contact with the front surface (inner surface) of the bottom wall portion 14a of the second cavity 14, engaging the stepped portion 22c with the stepped portion 14g and engaging the notched portion 22d with the engaging plate portion 14h. At this time, each protrusion 23a of the block body 20 is in contact with the left and right side walls 14b of the second cavity 14 in an interfering state. As a result, the block body 20 is positioned inside the second cavity 14 so that it cannot move in the front, back, left, right, up, or down directions relative to the main body 10. In this state, a gap 14k is formed between the lower end of the block body 20 and the lower side wall portion 14d of the second cavity portion 14, and water supplied from the inner diameter portion 12a of the supply pipe portion 12 flows through the gap 14k to the first cavity portion 13. Next, the main body portion 10 is placed inside, and the opening of the front cover portion 5 and the opening of the rear cover portion 6 are aligned and attached by tightening screws or the like, and the water spray plate 4 is attached so as to close the first opening 13c of the main body portion 10.

[0021] The present embodiment configured as described above has the following effects. By fixedly arranging the block body 20 in the second cavity 14 of the shower head 1, the volume of the portion where water remains in the shower head 1 can be reduced, and it is possible to suppress the slow dripping of the remaining water from the water dispersion plate 4 over a long period of time. Further, since the block body 20 is formed by fitting two identical components 21 together, the wall thickness of the component 21 can be reduced, thereby suppressing deformation such as sink marks during molding and accurately arranging it at a determined position in the second cavity 14, and it is possible to use one mold.

[0022] Further, in the component 21, four ribs 23 extend in parallel from the inner side surface 22b of the planar body 22 at equal intervals. Thereby, the planar body 22 and each rib 23 can be made relatively thin, so that deformation such as sink marks due to molding can be suppressed, and the accuracy of the outer shape of the block body 20 can be improved. And it becomes easy to fixedly arrange it at a determined position in the second cavity 14.

[0023] <s The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above embodiment but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0024] 1 Shower head, 2 Main body part, 4 Water dispersion plate, 5 Front cover part, 6 Rear cover part, 10 Main body part, 13 First cavity (internal space), 13c First opening (water discharge port), 14 Second cavity (internal space), 14f Third opening (water supply port), 20 Block body, <s000021> Component, 22 Planar body, 23 Rib

Claims

1. It is a shower head, It comprises a main body having an internal space connecting the water inlet and the water outlet, a spray plate attached to the water outlet, and a solid resin block fixedly positioned inside the internal space on the inside of the spray plate. The block body is a shower head formed by fitting two identical parts together.

2. In claim 1, The aforementioned component is a shower head in which multiple plate-like ribs are arranged vertically at equal intervals from a planar body.

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