Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Selectively usable or variable diverse terminal outlets – And valve controlling flow
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-30
2001-11-27
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Selectively usable or variable diverse terminal outlets
And valve controlling flow
C239S578000, C004S605000, C004S623000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322005
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a shower system including a showerhead connected to a water supply channel with a mixer valve for hot and cold water, and selectively operable with adjustable stream types.
2. Description of Related Art
In showerheads, provisions are often made to enable an adjustment of the water stream, for example the adjustment to a wide spray stream, a soft stream, or a hard massage stream. In order to accomplish this adjustment, an adjustment device is provided in the showerhead in which, upon operation, varying jets or opening groups are acted upon with shower water. The operation of the adjustment device always occurs at the showerhead, usually by rotation of an adjustment device in the outlet area of the water stream or by operation of an adjustment lever extending through the showerhead. This type of showerhead with various adjustment devices and operation means are known for example from DE-PS 26 09 557, DE-OS 34 13 552, DE-OS 26 44 765, and DE-OS 25 58 796.
In the known showerheads, it has been found to be a disadvantage, that the user, in order to change the type of stream, in certain cases must reach through the water stream to the showerhead. Further, the user is confronted at this time with multiple separate adjustment devices for the water flow volume and the water temperature at the shower wall and for the adjustment of the type of stream at the showerhead.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention thus is based upon the objective, of providing a shower system, in which the manipulation of the adjustment of the stream type is simplified.
The invention is based above all on the idea, that the adjustment of the type of stream is easier and more reliable to accomplish, when the adjustment device in the showerhead need not be operated directly at the showerhead itself. In accordance with the invention, a device for remote operation of the device for adjustment of the type of stream from the showerhead is provided. In particular, it is envisioned in accordance with the invention to provide an operating means for adjustment of the stream type in the showerhead remote from the showerhead. By the spatial separation of showerhead and operating means for adjustment of the stream type, it is possible to adjust the stream type without having to reach through the water stream. This simplifies the operation and allows the user a simplified achievement of the various stream types during adjustment.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shower system includes a push-pull or rotation type adjustment device provided at the showerhead for adjustment of the stream to the desired type, an operation means, and a final control element operatively connected with the operation means for transmitting control force from the operating means to the adjustment device. The operating means is thereby preferably provided in the area of the water mixture valve in a wall-mounted control housing.
Preferably, the water supply channel is constructed as flexible hose or as tube, in which the final control element is provided in a watertight jacket.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the final control element is formed as a mechanical final control element, preferably as a Bowden control cable in flexible steel conduit, or a push rod, or flexible shaft. Since with Bowden control cables only pull forces can be transmitted, one Bowden control cable is provided for each adjustment direction. In comparison, with a push rod or flexible shaft final control element, both pull as well as push forces can be transmitted.
The adjustment device can include a push mechanism with a push element guided in a push housing, and the final control element can include two Bowden control cables secured to the push element at oppositely lying ends. Preferably the push element includes, for the facilitation of the selection of positions associated with various types of streams, an arresting element which works in cooperation with an index or arrestor provided in the showerhead.
Alternatively the adjustment device can be a rotation mechanism with a rotation element rotatably mounted in the showerhead, and the control device can include two Bowden control cables engaging the rotation element on oppositely lying sides. Also in this case the rotation element includes an index element to facilitate adjustment to defined positions corresponding to the various stream types, preferably working in cooperation with an indentation array provided in the showerhead.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating element is formed as a control lever provided in a wall-mounted control housing and pivotable in its central area about an axle, which on its one end has an adjustment knob, and on its other end is connected to the final control element. The control housing is preferably provided in the area of the mixture valve, so that the user finds the adjustment possibility for the water amount and temperature as well as the stream type conveniently located immediately adjacent to each other. In the case of the transmission of the control force using Bowden cables, there can in the control housing be provided a turn-around or redirection roll for one of the two Bowden cables so that during change in position of the adjustment device of the showerhead the Bowden cables are respectively operable to be pulled in both adjustment directions.
Alternatively to the mechanical control transmission, the final control element can include a hydraulic control force transmission circuit or channel. The adjustment of the type of stream then occurs via water pressure, wherein the necessary water pressure is either provided by the shower water itself or preferably via a separate water connection. The final control element can then, on the side of the showerhead, include two hydraulic pistons, each one respectively in a pressure transmission channel, and connected via a rod element with the adjustment device. On the operation side, the final control element can include two throttle valves in separate pressure conduit, which by means of the operating mechanism selectively open or close the appropriate pressure conduit, so that the control force for producing the various stream types is transmitted to the adjustment device.
A further preferred design of the invention envisions that the control of the type of stream occurs via an electro-motor drive. This can occur via an electro motor drive provided in the control housing whereby the operating means is designed as an electrical switch with a number of selection possibilities corresponding to the number of types of stream. Alternatively a low voltage electro-motor for operation of the adjustment device can be provided in the showerhead. In this case, the final control element is preferably designed as a, preferably in the shower water line guided, electrically insulated low volt circuit and the operating mechanism is an electrical switch with a number of switch positions corresponding to the number of stream types.
The electro-motor can also he operated via a remote control device provided in the control housing. The remote control device can herein include a transmitter for radio, infrared, or ultra-sound signals, and the electro motor can be provided with a corresponding receiver device, which converts the remote control signal into electrical control impulses for the electro-motor.
The operating mechanism in the control housing can be designed as an acoustic sensor, so that the conversion or adjustment of the stream type can be caused by an acoustic input, for example voice control. Alternatively, the operating means can be designed as a movement sensor incorporated in the control housing, preferably using infrared sensors, so that the adjustment of the stream type can be brought about by gesturing.
In accordance with a preferred further development of the invention, a wall-mounted control panel is provided with final control elements for adjustment of the stream type as well as water temperature and flo
Bauer Wilhelm
Frede Andreas
Kern Peter
Schopp Rainer
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung
Morris Lesley D.
Pendorf & Cutliff
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