Showerhead

• US 6,776,357 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Easy Keyboards Limited
• Original Assignee: Easy Keyboards Limited
• Inventors: Naito, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US09/807,919
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 239/106, 239/107, 239/315, 239/317, 239/533.13, 239/533.14, 239/552, 239/558, 239/559, 239/562, 239/567, 239/553, 239/553.3, 239/548, 239/602, 239/DIG.12, 239/546
• US Class Current: 239/533.14
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/323 the valve member being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/12 Flexible outlets

Abstract

A showerhead which automatically adjusts the outlet pressure of the water in accordance with changes in water pressure, and eliminates the operation of a faucet, thus enabling showers to be taken comfortably. The showerhead (1) spurts the water, which is flowing from a water source to the specified pipes, through the outlet holes (H) of the shower nozzle (5). The shower nozzle (5) comprises waterproof elastic materials such as silicon rubber or the like. The elastic surface of the shower nozzle (5) incorporates outlet holes (H) which can be enlarged and reduced in accordance with changes in water pressure inside the showerhead (1).

Claims

1. A showerhead connected to a hose flowing water from a water source, comprising:

a shower nozzle having a flexible surface and is made of elastic and waterproof materials, the shower nozzle including outlet holes sizes of which can be enlarged and reduced in accordance with changes in water pressure in the showerhead;

a grip for holding the showerhead, where one end of the grip is connected to the hose and another end of the grip is structured to attach the shower nozzle thereto;

a ring stopper for firmly attaching the shower nozzle to said another end of the grip; and

a protective plate provided in a waterway of the showerhead to support the flexible surface of the shower nozzle from inside the showerhead;

wherein an outer edge of the shower nozzle is enlarged in thickness and a channel is formed on said another end of the grip and/or the ring stopper to receive the outer edge of the shower nozzle therein, thereby securely attaching the shower nozzle to the grip.

2. A showerhead as defined in claim 1, wherein the shower nozzle is made of silicon rubber.

3. A showerhead as defined in claim 1, wherein a diameter (D) of the outlet holes is set between 0.1 mm and 0.9 mm when no water pressure is applied to the shower nozzle.

4. A showerhead as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible surface of the shower nozzle is provided with convex and concave portions and wherein the outlet holes are optionally provided ether in the convex or concave portion.

5. A showerhead as defined in claim 1, wherein a diameter of the outlet holes decreases from inside to outside of the shower nozzle.

6. A showerhead as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said outlet holes is provided with a tapered edge at an inner surface of the shower nozzle.

7. A showerhead connected to a hose flowing water from a water source, comprising:

a shower nozzle having a flexible surface and is made of elastic and waterproof materials, the shower nozzle including outlet holes sizes of which can be enlarged and reduced in accordance with changes in water pressure in the showerhead;

a grip for holding the showerhead, where one end of the grip is connected to the hose and another end of the grip is structured to attach the shower nozzle thereto;

a water quality enhancer provided in a waterway of the showerhead;

a nozzle cap for firmly attaching the shower nozzle and the water quality enhancer to said another end of the grip; and

a fixer provided between the shower nozzle and the water quality enhancer for fixing the shower nozzle on an inner edge of the nozzle cap, said fixer having a plurality of radial ribs extending from a center to an outer ring thereof;

wherein an outer edge of the shower nozzle is enlarged in thickness and a channel is formed on said another end of the grip and/or the nozzle cap to receive the outer edge of the shower nozzle therein, thereby securely attaching the shower nozzle to the grip.

8. A showerhead connected to a hose flowing water from a water source, comprising:

a shower nozzle having a flexible surface and is made of elastic and waterproof materials, the shower nozzle including outlet holes sizes of which can be enlarged and reduced in accordance with changes in water pressure in the showerhead;

a grip for holding the showerhead, where one end of the grip is connected to the hose and another end of the grip is structured to attach the shower nozzle thereto; and

a ring stopper for firmly attaching the shower nozzle to said another end of the grip;

wherein an outer edge of the shower nozzle is enlarged in thickness and a channel is formed on said another end of the grip and/or the ring stopper to receive the outer edge of the shower nozzle therein, thereby securely attaching the shower nozzle to the grip; and

wherein the shower nozzle is supported between plates with holes where each hole having a diameter larger than that of the outlet holes on the shower nozzle, and wherein the outlet holes are connected with the holes on the plates.

9. A showerhead connected to a pipe flowing water from a water source, comprising:

a showerhead bag which entirely covers a normal showerhead where an opening edge of the showerhead bag has a tightening structure to tightly mount the showerhead bag on the normal shower head in a manner to prevent water leakage; and

a shower nozzle formed on a nozzle mat of the showerhead bag, the shower nozzle having a plurality of outlet holes for producing a spray of water;

wherein the shower nozzle is made of elastic and waterproof material thereby enabling to enlarge or reduce sizes of the outlet holes in accordance with changes in water pressure in the showerhead bag.

10. A showerhead as defined in claim 9, wherein the shower nozzle is made of silicon rubber.

11. A showerhead as defined in claim 9, wherein said nozzle mat on the showerhead bag has a higher elasticity than that of other part of the showerhead bag.

12. A showerhead as defined in claim 9, wherein a diameter (D) of the outlet holes is set between 0.1 mm and 0.9 mm when no water pressure is applied to the shower nozzle.