阅读说明：本技术 带消毒剂的自封式淋浴头 (Self-sealing shower head with disinfectant ) 是由 L·扎巴瑞 于 2017-11-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：淋浴头,包括：多个出口喷嘴,每个出口喷嘴包括阀门；以及消毒剂装置；其中,当加压水流入头部时阀门打开,当没有加压水流入时阀门关闭,使得通过关闭的阀门将残留水保持在头内以暴露于消毒剂装置。(A showerhead, comprising: a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; and a disinfectant means; wherein the valve is open when pressurized water is flowing into the head and closed when no pressurized water is flowing such that residual water is retained within the head by the closed valve for exposure to the disinfectant device.)

1. A showerhead, comprising:

a. a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; and

b. a disinfectant device;

wherein the valve opens when pressurized water is flowing into the head and closes when no pressurized water is flowing such that the closed valve retains residual water within the head for exposure to the disinfectant device, wherein the disinfectant device comprises a chamber, and wherein the chamber comprises: an inner bore; a door; a disinfectant material within the chamber; wherein the door closes the aperture when pressurized water is flowing through the head and opens the aperture when no pressurized water is flowing to expose the residual water to the disinfectant material.

2. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the valve is a check valve.

3. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the valve is a duckbill valve.

4. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the valve is an umbrella valve.

5. A showerhead as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the disinfectant material is selected from the group comprising:

a. a liquid disinfectant material;

b. a solid disinfectant material;

c. ozone;

d. bromine;

e. chlorine;

f. hypochlorite;

g. an ultraviolet lamp; and

h. a microfilter.

6. A showerhead according to any preceding claim wherein the chamber further comprises an outer aperture and an outer door.

7. A showerhead according to any preceding claim further comprising:

a. a connecting tube connected at its distal end to the inlet of the head and at its proximal end to a tap; and

b. an inner tube located within said connecting tube and connected at its distal end to said disinfectant means and open at its proximal end, said proximal end being adjacent to said tap;

wherein the disinfectant means comprises a pump; wherein the pump pumps residual water through the disinfectant device, circulating through the inner tube, through the connecting tube, back into the interior volume of the head for disinfecting the water.

8. A showerhead according to any preceding claim wherein the valve prevents air from entering the showerhead whilst allowing pressurised water to exit.

9. A showerhead, comprising:

a. a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; wherein each of said valves is open when pressurized water is flowing into said head and closed when no pressurized water is flowing such that residual water remains within said head;

b. a disinfectant means in fluid communication with the residual water; and

c. means for preventing the disinfectant means from being in fluid communication with the pressurized water.

10. The showerhead of claim 9, wherein the sanitizing means is selected from the group consisting of:

a. an ultraviolet lamp;

b. a microfilter;

c. a liquid disinfectant material;

d. a solid disinfectant material;

e. ozone;

f. bromine;

g. chlorine;

h. hypochlorite; and

i. combinations of the above.

11. The showerhead of any of claims 9 or 10, wherein each of the valves is selected from the group consisting of:

a. a check valve;

b. a reflux valve;

c. a duckbill valve;

d. an umbrella valve; and

e. combinations of the above.

12. The showerhead of any of claims 9-11, further comprising:

a. a connecting tube connected at its distal end to the inlet of the head and at its proximal end to a tap; and

b. an inner tube located within said connecting tube and connected at its distal end to said disinfectant means and open at its proximal end, said proximal end being adjacent to said tap;

wherein the disinfectant means comprises a pump; wherein the pump pumps residual water through the disinfectant device, through the inner tube, and back through the connecting tube into the interior volume of the head for disinfecting the residual water.

13. The showerhead of any of claims 9-12, wherein the valve prevents air from entering the showerhead while allowing pressurized water to exit.

14. A showerhead, comprising:

a. a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; and

b. a disinfectant module;

wherein the valve opens when pressurized water is flowing into the head and closes when no pressurized water is flowing such that the closed valve retains residual water within the head for exposure to the sanitizer module, wherein the module comprises an outer bore and an outer door.

15. The showerhead of claim 14, wherein the sanitizer module comprises at least one of:

a. an ultraviolet lamp;

b. a microfilter;

c. a liquid disinfectant material;

d. a solid disinfectant material;

e. ozone;

f. bromine;

g. chlorine; or

h. Hypochlorite.

16. A showerhead according to any of claims 14 or 15 wherein each valve is selected from the group comprising:

a. a check valve;

b. a reflux valve;

c. a duckbill valve;

d. an umbrella valve; and

e. combinations of the above.

17. The showerhead of any of claims 14-16, further comprising:

a. a connecting tube connected at its distal end to the inlet of the head and at its proximal end to a tap; and

b. an inner tube located within the connecting tube and connected at its distal end to the sanitizer module and open at its proximal end, the proximal end being proximal to the faucet;

wherein the sanitizer module comprises a pump; wherein the pump pumps residual water through the disinfectant module, circulating through the inner tube, through the connecting tube, back into the interior volume of the head for disinfecting the water.

18. The showerhead of any of claims 14-17, wherein the valve prevents air from entering the showerhead while allowing pressurized water to exit.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to shower heads, and in particular to shower heads that prevent bacterial growth within the shower head.

Background

The start and stop of the water flow through the shower head results in a mixture of air and water. When the flow of water is stopped by the existing shower head and faucet, air fills the space inside the outlet head. When the water flow is renewed, the new flow creates turbulence inside the empty shower head, creating small bubbles. The air, organic material, water and lime/stone environment inside the shower head provides a good environment for legionella to grow. This and other bacteria can pose serious risks to high-risk populations, particularly in hospitals, military camps, hotels, sports centers, and elderly citizens' residences.

The dangers posed by showerheads are in sharp contrast to the sanitary requirements that showers and fresh water should provide, and it is therefore desirable to keep the water system free of pathogens, including legionella.

Water sanitizing chemicals and mechanisms rely on the presence of water and are therefore not effective when there is no water in the shower system, particularly when the flow of water is stopped and water is discharged from the head. Furthermore, these systems function upstream of the shower head and are difficult to maintain.

PCT/NL2000/000412 to Antonius Maria Van Remmen discloses irradiating a liquid with ultraviolet lamp radiation using a converter within a housing. Ultraviolet lamp disinfection does not alter the environment within the outlet portion of the spray head downstream of the lamp. Therefore, this method does not prevent the legionella from multiplying in the shower head.

US20110150700 to LaPorta and US2659627 to Mcconnell disclose shower heads that are complex, block water flow, require maintenance that is more difficult for technicians to perform, and also do not provide disinfection in the actual head.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved showerhead and faucet that is easy to manufacture and maintain, allows for sterilization of the head itself so that it does not become a fertile habitat for legionella and other bacterial growth.

Summary of The Invention

The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the background art by providing a showerhead that prevents the mixing of air and water within the showerhead, and results in a showerhead that is always full of water even when closed, thereby providing for the use of an integrated disinfectant device to disinfect the water remaining within the showerhead.

The nozzles of the showerhead each include a return valve that is forced open when pressurized water flow is provided to the header and closed when pressurized water flow is stopped. The closed valve prevents air from entering the head and the valve closes resulting in residual water-water remaining in the showerhead when pressurized water is removed. This residual water can be disinfected. Such residual water may also prevent air from flowing in when the pressurized water stream is refreshed, and may also prevent turbulence that creates air bubbles. Thus, the valve prevents a water/air mixture-and thus the growth of organisms that rely on such a water/air mixture.

Further, the showerhead includes a disinfectant including a disinfectant material or an Ultraviolet (UV) light or a micro-filter. The disinfectant is provided so as to be active in the residual water when the flow of water is stopped and not active when the water flows through the shower head.

The disinfectant material is disposed in a chamber configured with an opening into the interior region of the showerhead that is closed when water flows through the showerhead and open when water flow ceases, thereby contacting the disinfectant material with the residual water to disinfect the residual water. An opening in the outer wall of the showerhead allows for filling and refilling with disinfectant material.

Another advantage of valves is that they can reduce the water pressure and thus the water consumption of the shower head.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the showerhead comprises: a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; and a disinfectant means; wherein the valve is open when pressurized water is flowing into the head and closed when no pressurized water is flowing such that residual water is retained within the head by the closed valve for exposure to the disinfectant device. Preferably, the valve is a check valve. Preferably, the valve is a duckbill valve. Preferably, the valve is an umbrella valve.

Preferably, the disinfectant device comprises a chamber, and wherein the chamber comprises: an inner bore; a door; a disinfectant material within the chamber; wherein the door closes the aperture when pressurized water flows through the head and opens the aperture to expose residual water to the disinfectant material when there is no pressurized water flow.

Preferably, the disinfectant material is selected from the group comprising: a liquid disinfectant material; and a solid disinfectant material. Preferably, the disinfectant material is selected from the group comprising: ozone; bromine; chlorine; and hypochlorite.

Preferably, the chamber further comprises an outer aperture and an outer door. Preferably, the disinfectant means is selected from the group comprising: an ultraviolet lamp; a microfilter; and a disinfectant material. Optionally, the showerhead further comprises a connecting tube connected at its distal end to the inlet of the head and at its proximal end to a faucet; and an inner tube located within the connecting tube and connected at its distal end to the disinfectant device and open at its proximal end adjacent the tap; wherein the disinfectant means comprises a pump; wherein the pump pumps the residual water through the disinfectant device, through the inner tube circulation through the connecting tube back to the interior volume of the head for disinfecting the water. Preferably, the valve prevents air from entering the shower head while allowing pressurized water to exit.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the shower head comprises: a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; wherein each valve is opened when pressurized water is flowing into the head and closed when no pressurized water is flowing such that residual water remains within the head; a disinfectant means in fluid communication with the residual water; and means for preventing the disinfectant means from being in fluid communication with the pressurized water. Preferably, the disinfectant means is selected from the group comprising: an ultraviolet lamp; a microfilter; a liquid disinfectant material; a solid disinfectant material; ozone; bromine; chlorine; hypochlorite; and combinations of the foregoing.

Preferably, each valve is selected from the group comprising: a check valve; a reflux valve; a duckbill valve; an umbrella valve; and combinations of the foregoing. Optionally, the shower head comprises a connecting tube connected at its distal end to the inlet of the head and at its proximal end to a tap; an inner tube located within the connecting tube and connected at its distal end to the disinfectant device and open at its proximal end adjacent the tap; wherein the disinfectant means comprises a pump; wherein the pump pumps the residual water through the disinfectant device, through the inner tube circulation through the connecting pipe return to the first interior volume for disinfecting the residual water. Preferably, the valve prevents air from entering the shower head while allowing pressurized water to exit.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the shower head comprises: a plurality of outlet nozzles, each outlet nozzle comprising a valve; and a disinfectant module; wherein the valve is open when pressurized water is flowing into the head and closed when no pressurized water is flowing such that residual water is retained within the head by the closed valve for exposure to the sanitizer module. Preferably, the sanitizer module includes at least one of: an ultraviolet lamp; a microfilter; a liquid disinfectant material; a solid disinfectant material; ozone; bromine; chlorine; or hypochlorite.

Preferably, each valve is selected from the group comprising: a check valve; a reflux valve; a duckbill valve; an umbrella valve; and combinations of the foregoing. Preferably, the module includes an outer aperture and an outer door. Optionally, the showerhead further comprises a connecting tube connected at its distal end to the inlet of the head and at its proximal end to a faucet; an inner tube located within the connecting tube and connected at its distal end to the sanitizer module and opening at a proximal end adjacent the faucet; wherein the sanitizer module includes a pump; wherein the pump pumps the residual water through the disinfectant module, through the inner tube to be circulated back into the interior volume of the head through the connecting tube for disinfecting the water. Preferably, the valve prevents air from entering the shower head while allowing pressurized water to exit.

The term showerhead or head as used herein may refer to any outlet of a water distribution system including a spout, faucet, or faucet. The showerhead as described herein is attached to a pipe or other form of attachment that attaches the showerhead to a water source, as is known in the art. Although the embodiments disclosed herein depict a spherical showerhead, this should not be considered limiting and the present invention may include faucets or showerheads of any shape or size.

The flow of water into the showerhead assumes that the attached water source provides water under pressure to create a flow of water. Similarly, the water source may be stopped or turned off, stopping the supply of pressurized water and the flow into the head. Pressurized water as defined herein has the pressure found in common residential and commercial water supplies and can vary between 30-150 PSI.

Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing certain selected tasks or steps manually, automatically, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and embodiments provided herein are illustrative only and not limiting.