Shower Spray Device Sealing Element Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shower spray devices face construction difficulties in achieving uniform water distribution with attractive designs, leading to increased production costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A shower spray device with a water distribution chamber featuring a sealing element, such as an O-ring, as its side wall, composed of superimposed plates with grooves and machined surfaces for easy assembly and cost-effective production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If spray devices are designed with large dimensions but fine sections to achieve attractive appearance and uniform jet distribution, then aesthetic appeal and jet uniformity are improved, but construction difficulty and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appeal and jet uniformityVSAvoidconstruction difficulty and production cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution chamber is segmented into an upper plate and a lower plate that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of each individual plate while achieving the desired complex chamber geometry for uniform jet distribution and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An elastic sealing element (such as an O-ring) is used to form part of the distribution chamber wall and ensure water-tight sealing between the plates. This flexible sealing approach simplifies the construction compared to creating precise rigid seals, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining chamber integrity for proper water distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Manufacturing precision

If complex designs are used to achieve uniform jet distribution and attractive appearance, then product performance and aesthetics are improved, but device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejet distribution uniformityVSAvoidconstruction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution chamber is divided into an upper plate and a lower plate that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of each individual plate while achieving the desired complex chamber geometry for uniform jet distribution and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An elastic sealing element (such as an O-ring) is used to form part of the distribution chamber wall and ensure water-tight sealing between the plates. This flexible sealing approach simplifies the construction compared to creating precise rigid seals, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining chamber integrity for proper water distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for a simple and cost-effective construction of shower spray devices with uniform jet distribution, reducing production costs while maintaining aesthetic appeal.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing element consists preferably of an elastic sealing element, for example an O-ring or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7721979B2Shower spray device

Publication Date: 2010.05.25 ERGON SRL

AI summary

A shower spray device is described in which the side wall of the water distribution chamber consists of a sealing element.