Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With cleaning means – drip collecting – waste disposal or soil... – Nozzle cleaner – flusher or drainer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-04-03
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
With cleaning means, drip collecting, waste disposal or soil...
Nozzle cleaner, flusher or drainer
C239S533130, C239S548000, C239S602000, C239SDIG001, C239SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209799
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF USE AND PRIOR ART
The invention relates to a shower device having a flexible, flat jet or spray disk.
Shower devices with a flat jet disk are very widely used. U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,050 discloses a shower head, which has a flexible jet disk for adjusting the shower jets. The convexity can be varied by means of a central screw. A similar jet disk is described in DE-OS 2 235 217.
German utility model 79 04 756 discloses a shower having an elastically deformable jet disk. As a result of the deformability of the jet disk, it can be zonally, manually pressed in, permitting the detachment of disturbing lime deposits on its surfaces and in the vicinity of water passage channels formed by holes. As a result of the pressing in of the jet disk, the latter is deformed to such an extent that deposits are detached and can be flushed away.
Besides impairing the optical impression of the shower, lime deposits suffer from the disadvantage of clogging and even blocking the water passage channels, so that in certain circumstances the operation of the shower can be very significantly impaired. In addition, lime and other deposits are not hygienic.
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
The problem of the invention is to provide a shower device in which lime and other deposits can be easily and reliably removed.
This problem is solved by a shower device having a flexible, flat spray or jet disk, in which at least one surface zone of the jet disk is curved outwards and on exceeding a specific pressing in force exerted thereon springs round suddenly with the curvature inwards into an area located behind it and on relieving the force automatically springs back into the starting position.
These springing or jumping processes during a deformation of the jet disk bring about, in addition to the deformation of the latter, both acceleration forces and also a vibration of said jet disk. As a result of the special nature of the invention, three factors aid a detachment of lime or other deposits. In particular, the vibration of the jet disk and the complete shower device brings about a detachment of rigid lime deposits in the vicinity of the jet disk. The jet disk can be given widely differing shapes and in particular contours. As a result of the springing out of the jet disk, it is ensured that it automatically returns in all cases to the starting position.
In order to permit a deliming of the shower device according to the invention without great effort and expenditure for a user, the at least one surface zone can be pressed in with one finger. This can e.g. take place during the use of the shower device, so that detached lime or other deposits are flushed by the shower water out of the shower device. To facilitate the initiation of the deliming process, the surface of the jet disk and in particular the at least one surface zone which can be pressed in, can be larger than a finger tip.
Advantageously, a jet disk has a clearly defined contact surface for the application of a force, e.g. by finger pressure. The contact surface is preferably smaller than the surface zone and in particular has a diameter, which is somewhat less than half the diameter of the surface zone. The contact surface can have a random shape.
In a preferred development of the invention, a jet disk is provided with at least one material weakening, particularly along a substantially closed line. The material weakening can extend over a width roughly located in the vicinity of the average thickness of the jet disk and can be produced in various ways.
Advantageously, the wall thickness of the material weakening, particularly a material thinning, is in a range between 10 and 60% of the average jet disk thickness and is preferably approximately 30%. Such a material weakening permits a clearly defined springing round of the domed jet disk. The material weakening is preferably constructed as a film hinge.
It is also possible to have the material weakening along a line through recesses or holes along said line.As a result of the spacing and diameter of said holes, it is possible to vary the material weakening. As a result of the design possibilities for the material weakening, it is possible to influence the springing round of at least one surface zone of the jet disk both with respect to its surface area and with respect to the springing round process.
The shower device can have a solid component, which is outwardly connected to an outer material weakening, particularly of the jet disk. It preferably frames the jet disk. In order to give the jet disk the necessary strength, said component can be constructed in a particularly torsionally strong manner, e.g. by a wall thickness, which is considerably greater than the average thickness of the jet disk. The construction of the shower device is simplified if the solid component is directly connected to the material weakening. The solid component serves as a type of frame, which contains both the jet disk and material weakening, as well as in particular absorbing the forces occurring during its deformation, especially those occurring roughly radially without giving way thereto.
For a compact and in particular stable construction of the shower device, the jet disk is preferably connectable or connected to the solid component. In particularly advantageous manner both are constructed in one piece as an assembly, which facilitates manufacture, installation and handling.
In a preferred development of the invention, the jet disk is made from plastic, preferably a thermoplastic. As a result the jet disk can be produced by injection moulding. The flexibility of the jet disk is obtained by its construction with a limited wall thickness. Through the use of a plastics material, a construction of the jet disk is obtained with a film hinge in the form of the material weakening, which surrounds at least one inwardly pressable surface zone. The latter is variable along said film or ring hinge in its position relative to the remaining shower device, particularly the solid component.
The solid component can have a cylindrical pipe section, which is preferably connectable to a shower casing. A one-piece construction of the component with the pipe section is considered particularly advantageous. The connection to the shower casing is e.g. possible via a screw thread. The solid component can have a solid flange externally connected to the jet disk and which is preferably connectable to the shower casing. Such a flange improves the stability of the component, particularly with respect to radial forces emanating from the jet disk during the pressing in or back process.
Advantageously, the material weakening is annular. It can have a diameter of approximately 10 to 60 mm, a diameter of approximately 20 to 40 mm being considered particularly favourable.
Advantageously, the jet disk has an average wall thickness of approximately 0.4 to 1 mm, particularly approximately 0.7 mm. Such a material thickness is considered to give adequate flexibility in the case of the preferably used plastics. It gives the jet disk the necessary strength for use in a shower device. Thus, the jet disk can withstand the force exerted by an unknowing or careless user, which is a multiple of the pressing in force preferably used on pressing in.
The material thickness of the material weakening is preferably between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, particularly between 0.2 and 0.3 mm. This allows a clear reduction in the wall thickness of the material, limited to a small width, in the vicinity of the material weakening, compared with the remainder of the jet disk and accompanied by the formation of a film hinge. If, in an alternative construction, the material weakening is in the form of a perforation, the wall thickness in the vicinity of the webs of the surrounding material between the holes, can roughly correspond to the material thickness of the jet disk.
It is considered advantageous for the function and handling of the shower device for the contact surface to be positioned within the material weakening and preferably the surface centres are close to one another or may coinc
Duane Morris & Heckscher LLP
Hansgrohe AG
Morris Lesley D.
LandOfFree
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