Multi-Spherical Shower Joint for 3D Spray Direction Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower apparatuses have limited adjustability in shower water direction due to fixed spherical joints, which restrict the bending angle and multi-directional adjustment, making it difficult to target specific areas, especially when the user's position changes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a multi-spherical bendable joint pipe with adjustable frictional force and a flexible hose to allow for increased bending angles and three-dimensional adjustment of the shower head, enabling wider direction changes without water leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spherical joint is used to change the direction of the shower head, then the direction of shower water can be adjusted, but the bending angle is limited and the passage area is reduced when largely tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The shower hose is divided into multiple segments with individual bending sections, allowing each segment to contribute to the overall bending angle. This segmentation enables the shower head to achieve a larger cumulative bending angle while maintaining adequate water passage area in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-axis spherical joint to multi-axis bending capability, adding dimensional freedom to the direction adjustment. The shower head can now bend in multiple directions sequentially, achieving three-dimensional positioning rather than being constrained to a single rotation axis.
2Ease of operation
If a spherical joint is used to adjust the jet direction, then some direction control is achieved, but multi-directional adjustment is prevented and downward jetting is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The shower hose incorporates dynamic bending sections that can be flexed and positioned in multiple directions, replacing the static single-axis spherical joint. This dynamic structure allows the user to adjust the shower head to various angles including downward direction, providing superior adaptability while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the head is largely tilted to increase bending angle, then more direction options are available, but the water passage is closed or reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the hose into multiple bending segments, each segment maintains a reasonable tilt angle that preserves adequate water passage area, while the cumulative effect of multiple segments achieves the desired large overall bending angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible hose construction that allows bending without collapsing the water passage. The flexible material and structural design enable the hose to maintain its internal passage area even when bent at various angles, preventing water flow restriction.
Data Source
AI summary
A shower apparatus comprises a head, a base end portion, and a multi-spherical bendable joint pipe disposed between the head and the base end portion, the pipe comprising a plurality of spherical joints provided consecutively. Each joint has a male or female spherical surface for rotationally fitting with adjacent joints each other. The spraying direction of shower water is freely changeable by adjusting the direction of the head through a flection of the multi-spherical bendable joint pipe. The shower apparatus allows a jet direction of shower water to be changed widely three-dimensionally compared with a conventional shower apparatus, and thus the present invention provides a user-friendly shower apparatus.