Compact Shower Distributor with Flush Pushbutton Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower distributor arrangements lack a compact design with high operating convenience, particularly in shower systems that require multiple fluid connections for overhead and handheld showers, often resulting in bulky installations that occupy valuable space.
Innovation Solution
A shower distributor arrangement featuring a pushbutton-operated switching valve with a compact design, where the depth distance between the control element and the fluid connections is minimized, allowing for a flush or nearly flush installation, and the fluid connections are arranged to optimize space usage, enabling a smaller overall depth and improved user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotary handle is used as the control element, then the user can grip the handle by hand around the circumference for operation, but the depth distance between the control element and the fluid connections increases, resulting in a bulkier installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional rotary mechanical handle with a pushbutton control that actuates a switching valve. This substitution eliminates the need for a protruding rotary mechanism, allowing the control element to have minimal depth while still providing intuitive operation. The pushbutton directly actuates the valve switching mechanism, achieving both compact dimensions and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a rotary motion control that requires circumferential space and protrusion, the patent inverts the control mechanism to use linear pushbutton actuation. This inversion allows the control element to be positioned flush with or close to the front face of the housing, dramatically reducing the depth distance while maintaining operational simplicity through the natural pushing motion.
2Ease of operation
If the control element protrudes several fingers forward from the distributor housing body, then the user can easily grip and operate it, but the overall depth of the distributor housing body increases, occupying more space in the shower cubicle
Solution Approach 1:
The pushbutton control mechanism is nested within the distributor housing body, with the button positioned flush with or close to the front face. The internal valve switching mechanism is contained within the housing, allowing the control element to access the user without requiring significant protrusion, thus minimizing the overall depth while maintaining operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional protruding rotary handle to a minimal-depth pushbutton interface. By changing the control dimension from circumferential rotation to linear push motion, the control element achieves accessibility through minimal depth, effectively utilizing the available space in the shower cubicle installation environment.
3Length of stationary object
If a pushbutton is used as the operating element, then the depth distance can be minimized for compact design, but the intuitive actuation mechanism must be simplified compared to a rotary handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex rotary valve actuation mechanism with a simpler pushbutton-actuated switching valve. The pushbutton directly actuates the valve switching mechanism through linear motion, eliminating the need for rotary gears, cam mechanisms, or other complex mechanical components that would be required in a traditional rotary handle system. This substitution simplifies the internal valve actuation mechanism while achieving compact dimensions.
4Area of stationary object
If the fluid connections are arranged on the circumference of the cylindrical distributor housing body, then the space usage is optimized, but the alignment and installation precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standardized threaded fluid connections that can be universally configured on the cylindrical housing body. The circumferential arrangement of the fluid connections utilizes standard threading patterns that accommodate various pipe orientations and positions, reducing the precision requirements while maintaining efficient space usage. The universal connection design allows for flexible installation configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a shower distributor assembly (1) comprising a distributor housing body (4) with a mounting rear (6), an operating front (12), and three fluid connections between the mounting rear and the operating front. The three fluid connections include a first and a second fluid outlet connection (2, 3) for connection to a respective shower supply line (17, 18) and a fluid inlet connection (16), and a diverter valve (5) for selectively connecting the fluid inlet connection to the first and/or the second fluid outlet connection. The diverter valve has a user-operated control element (14) located on the operating front. In a shower distributor assembly according to the invention, the control element (14) is a push button operable from the front on the operating front (12).A depth distance (25) between a control element front (13) and a front (26) of one of the foremost of the three fluid connections (2, 3, 16) is less than 50 mm and/or less than one-third of the total depth (20) of the manifold body (4) with the diverter valve (5) and/or less than a smallest diameter (27) of the manifold body perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (7) of the manifold body extending in the direction of connection between the control element front and the mounting rear and/or less than a smallest diameter (28) of the three fluid connections. Use, for example, to provide two fluid outlet connections for a shower head and a hand shower in bathtubs.