Shower Jet Disk Switch Cover for Modular Base Compatibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower jet discs and shower heads are not compatible with different base bodies, limiting the flexibility of using the same shower head with various jet discs and preventing the integration of an inactive switch unit.

Innovation Solution

A shower jet disc with a switch cover that can be mounted on a shower head base body to cover the switch unit, allowing for either active or inactive switch functionality, and a changeover unit that can be moved into a self-retaining parking position to fully release water supply paths, along with a safety lock to secure the disc in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the shower spray disc is specifically designed to fit a particular shower head base body, then the connection reliability is improved, but the adaptability to different base bodies deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different base bodies
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shower head is divided into separate modular components: a base body with integrated changeover switch unit and a spray disc with switch cover. This segmentation allows the spray disc to be detached and replaced while maintaining compatible connections, resolving the contradiction between reliable connection and adaptability to different base bodies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spray disc is designed with universal mounting features that allow it to be used with different shower head base body types. The switch cover on the spray disc provides both sealing functionality and compatibility across multiple base body designs, enabling one spray disc to serve multiple base body types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the changeover switch unit is integrated into the shower head base body, then the functionality is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the switch unit should remain inactive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitch functionalityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The switch cover on the spray disc can be removed or detached to expose the changeover switch unit in the base body. When the spray disc is detached, the switch unit remains accessible but cannot be activated, effectively making it inactive. This allows the switch functionality to be integrated while maintaining ease of operation by simply detaching the spray disc.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the switch unit inactive by hiding it, the invention makes it inactive by removing the spray disc that would normally activate it. The switch unit remains physically present and accessible, but without the spray disc attachment, it cannot perform its switching function, effectively inverting the approach to achieving inactivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the spray disc is securely mounted on the base body, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates when disc replacement is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidease of disc replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The spray disc and base body are designed as separable modules with standardized connection interfaces. This segmentation allows the spray disc to be easily detached and replaced without affecting the base body, maintaining secure mounting through reliable connection features while enabling simple replacement for repair or maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3074138B1Shower jet disk and shower head
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3074138B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3074138B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3074138B1 patent drawingFigure 6~11

AI summary

The invention relates to a shower jet disk (1), comprising a jet disk body (2), which contains a fluid outlet region (3), which has one or more jet outlet openings (4). The invention further relates to a shower head, comprising: a main body, which has a fluid inlet and a plurality of separated water-conducting paths; a changeover switch assembly integrated in the main body, which changeover switch assembly is designed for the manually actuated, selective shut-off or opening of a fluid connection from the fluid inlet to the particular water-conducting path; an operating-element receptacle formed on the main body for accommodating an operating element for actuating the changeover switch assembly; and a fluid-outlet-side shower jet disk mounted on the main body. Such shower jet disks and shower heads are used, for example, for sanitary showers, such as hand showers and overhead showers. A shower jet disk according to the invention has a changeover switch cover (5) outside of the fluid outlet region, which changeover switch cover is part of the jet disk body or is rigidly connected to the jet disk body and has a changeover switch seal on an inner face. A shower head according to the invention has such a shower jet disk and/or a changeover switch assembly having an operating pin that can be moved into a self-retaining parking position, in which the fluid connection to all water-conducting paths is maximally opened, and/or has a locking mechanism that protects against removal. The invention further relates to the use thereof, for example, for sanitary hand showers and overhead showers.