Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Combining of separately supplied fluids – Liquid flow induces atmospheric air
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-08-07
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Combining of separately supplied fluids
Liquid flow induces atmospheric air
C239S601000, C239S553000, C004S615000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270022
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a device for the aeration of a multiple jet shower that can be a fixed showerhead or a hand-held small showerhead.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
It is sometimes desired that the jet of a shower be aerated because, the shower produces a more pleasing sensation. Furthermore, the shower is rendered more efficient so that it becomes possible to perform a satisfactory operation with less water consumption.
Aeration devices are provided for this purpose. They are inserted up-stream from the showerhead and comprise a neck intended to speed up the flow of water that is piped to the shower and a chamber with an air intake that surrounds the water flow. The outside ambient air is thus aspirated into the shower by virtue of the Venturi effect from the accelerated flow and is incorporated in the water that is piped to the shower. The efficiency of these devices is high when the aerated jet thus obtained is used directly as flow for the shower, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,639. However, when the aerated device is inserted up-stream from the perforated plate that produces the jets of a multiple jet shower, the shower's efficiency is reduced because of the resistance that the plate puts up against the flow of water. Moreover, when an aeration device is inserted upstream of the plate, lime deposits are soon formed on the plate.
It is desired, therefore, to provide a device that is easily and economically manufactured on an industrial scale and that aerates a multiple jet shower with a great degree of efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to the invention, a shower includes a water chamber having a connection to supply pressurized water and having a first perforated plate that forms a wall of the water chamber and that is provided with a plurality of holes. Each hole of the first plate is positioned to project a single jet of water. The multiple jets are aerated by an aeration device that comprises a second perforated plate arranged down-stream from the first plate to produce an air chamber between the two plates. The second plate has a plurality of holes, each of which is aligned with the direction of projection of a respective water jet of a corresponding hole of the first plate. An air intake is arranged between the air chamber and the outside ambient environment.
Each individual jet that emanates in an accelerated fashion from a hole of the first plate then penetrates a corresponding hole of the second plate. By virtue of the Venturi effect the jet aspirates air from the air chamber that is present between the two plates and incorporates it, coming out thus aerated from the corresponding hole of the second plate. The air aspirated from the air chamber is replenished from the outside ambient environment through an air intake. The device according to the invention, thus makes it possible to individually aerate, also by virtue of the Venturi effect, each jet of the multiple jet shower in an economical and easily manufactured construction. Since this aeration takes place at the outlet of the shower, the aerated jets no longer encounter any resistance after they have been formed, and this makes the device highly efficient. Furthermore, because the aeration of the jets takes place downstream of the first plate, the formation of lime deposits is greatly reduced or avoided.
A device, according to the invention, can be permanently built into a shower head or it can be in the form of an accessory, intended to be attached or mounted to an existing shower. Furthermore, the device can be installed in a permanent manner so that the shower head must form aerated jets, or the device can be mounted in a removable manner, thus enabling the user to employ or not employ the device, depending on whether he wants to use the shower with aerated or nonaerated jets.
The device, according to the invention, furthermore, can be constructed to aerate all of the individual jets coming from the holes of the first plate, or only a portion of them. For example, it can aerate only the peripheral jets, leaving the central jets unchanged, or vice versa. In another pattern, alternate jets may be aerated.
The air intake for the air chamber, positioned between the two plates can be formed by apertures situated on the peripheral side of the air chamber and extending perpendicularly to the general direction of projection of the water jets. Alternatively, the intake can be formed by apertures situated about the peripheral portion of the air chamber and extending parallel to the general direction of projection of the water jets. In a different embodiment, the intake can be made up of apertures made in the second plate that corresponds to regions in which no holes of the first plate are aligned or where the corresponding jets are not intended to be aerated.
The holes of the first plate or the holes of the second plate or the holes of both plates together can be shaped to promote aeration. In particular, the holes of the first plate can be flared along all or part of their length, becoming wider in the direction of flow, and they can cooperate with holes of the second plate that are also flared or parallel and that have a plate that is greater than the maximum diameter of the holes of the first plate. In another embodiment, the holes of the first plate can be narrowed, for example, close to their outlet, and they can cooperate with holes of the second plate that have a considerably larger diameter. In this last case, the holes of the first plate can have a neck crest at their outlet or in some other suitable position that causes the outgoing water flow to be widened.
Moreover, if desired, the apertures may be designed and sized in both plates to produce multiple jets that form discontinuous streams of separate drops commonly referred to as “rain jets” rather than a continuous jet.
The device, according to the invention, can be made in any of the shapes in which a shower can be made and, hence, in particular, in an elongated linear or substantially circular form, and the shower, equipped with the device, according to the invention, can be a fixed showerhead or a hand-held showerhead. The plates need not be flat but can be contoured to accommodate any shower design.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2670942 (1954-03-01), Aghnides
patent: 2962224 (1960-11-01), Aghnides
patent: 2998928 (1961-09-01), Aghnides
patent: 2998933 (1961-09-01), Aghnides
patent: 4135670 (1979-01-01), Sugimoto
patent: 5054688 (1991-10-01), Grindley
patent: 5111994 (1992-05-01), Gonzalez
patent: 5172862 (1992-12-01), Heimann et al.
patent: 5467929 (1995-11-01), Bosio
Kim Christopher S.
Masco Corporation
Reising Ethington Barnes Kisselle Learman & McCulloch PC
Scherbel David A.
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