Water Outlet Structure

The application is a continuation application of the International Application No. PCT/CN2023/134264, filed on Nov. 27, 2023, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310065441.9, filed on Jan. 13, 2023. The disclosures of the above-mentioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The present disclosure relates to the field of sanitary ware, and in particular, to a water outlet structure.

Existing sanitary fittings such as multifunctional aerators, faucet pull-out heads, and shower heads are often provided with structures such as a rotating shell, a push-pull valve core, or a press button to switch the communication relationship between a water flow pathway inside the bathroom products and different outlets in a water passing panel, allowing the above water flow pathway to communicate independently or simultaneously with the different outlets in the water passing panel, thereby producing different water spray patterns.

The above sanitary fittings typically require a relatively complex internal structure, or a large number of components to achieve the desired water outlet effects, resulting in a complicated sanitary product structure and high manufacturing cost.

The present disclosure provides a water outlet structure. The product structure is simplified to achieve the switching of different water outlet states of sanitary fittings.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a water outlet structure includes a water spray shaper and a water outlet end. The water spray shaper is rotatably arranged at the water outlet end and includes a first water passing surface, a second water passing surface, and a water flow passage. The first water passing surface and the second water passing surface are in communication through the water flow passage. The second water passing surface is located on a water inlet side when the first water passing surface is located on a water outlet side, or, the first water passing surface is located on the water inlet side when the second water passing surface is located on the water outlet side. The water outlet structure produces different water spray patterns respectively when the first water passing surface is located on the water outlet side and when the second water passing surface is located on the water outlet side.

According to the above embodiments of the present disclosure, the rotatable water spray shaper is arranged at the water outlet end of the water outlet structure. By applying a force to the water spray shaper, the water spray shaper can be flipped, causing its different water passing surfaces to switch their positions between the water inlet side and the water outlet side, thereby changing the water spray patterns. Compared with the existing products that can achieve the same function, this solution greatly simplifies the structure. Moreover, since the positions of the water inlet side and the water outlet side of two water passing surfaces can be repeatedly swapped, this solution also features a self-cleaning function. Specifically, when either of the water passing surface is rotated from the water inlet side to the water outlet side, the water flow will wash away any impurities originally located on the water passing surface on the water inlet side, causing them to fall off the water passing surface and preventing water outlet channels from being clogged by the impurities, which could otherwise lead to poor water flow or distorted spray patterns.

Referring to, a water outlet structureincludes a water spray shaperand a water outlet end. The water spray shaperis rotatably arranged at the water outlet endand includes a first water passing surface, a second water passing surface, and a water flow passage. The first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surfaceare in communication through the water flow passage.

As shown in, the second water passing surfaceis located on a water inlet sidewhen the first water passing surfaceis located on a water outlet side. As shown in, the first water passing surfaceis located on the water inlet sidewhen the second water passing surfaceis located on the water outlet side.

As shown in, the water outlet structurecan produce a diffused water spray pattern that disperses outward when the first water passing surfaceis located on the water outlet side. This pattern has more scattered water beams and a softer water flow. As shown in, a concentrated water spray pattern that converges toward the center can be produced when the second water passing surfaceis located on the water outlet side. This pattern has more concentrated water beams and a stronger impact.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the rotatable water spray shaper is arranged at the water outlet end of the water outlet structure. By applying a force to the water spray shaper, the water spray shaper can be flipped, causing its different water passing surfaces to switch their positions between the water inlet sideand the water outlet side, thereby changing the water spray patterns.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, compared with the existing products that can achieve the same function, the structure is greatly simplified. Moreover, since the positions of the water inlet sideand the water outlet sideof two water passing surfaces can be repeatedly swapped, this solution also features a self-cleaning function. Specifically, when either of the water passing surface is rotated from the water inlet sideto the water outlet side, the water flow will wash away the impurities originally located on the water passing surface on the water inlet side, causing them to fall off the water passing surface, preventing the water outlet channels from being clogged by the impurities, which could otherwise lead to poor water flow or distorted spray patterns.

According to some embodiments, a plurality of openingsare formed in both the first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surface, and an angle formed between a normal direction of an end face of each openingand a direction of incoming water is not 0°.

Adopting such a solution can allow the water spray patterns produced by the different water passing surfaces to be more visually distinct.

According to some embodiments, the angle formed between the normal direction of the end faces of the plurality of openingsand the direction of incoming water flow is between 1° and 10°.

Although a larger angle can create a greater difference in the water spray patterns, the processing difficulty is also higher. Therefore, adopting such a solution can balance the complexity of molding different outlet ends simultaneously, the degree of distinction between different resulting spray patterns, and the practicality of the water spray.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, at least part of the first water passing surfaceand/or the second water passing surfaceof the water spray shaperis a curved surface.

Designing the water passing surfaces as curved surfaces can make it easier for the first water passing surface and the second water passing surface to produce different water spray patterns.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surfaceare located on two opposite end faces of the same water passing panel, and the water flow passage is a through holelocated in the water passing panel for communicating the first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surface.

Adopting the design of a single water passing panel, which offers the simplest structure.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the first water passing surfaceis located on a first water passing panel, and the second water passing surfaceis located on a second water passing panel. The water flow passage includes a through holelocated in the first water passing paneland a through holelocated in the second water passing panel.

By adopting the design of double water passing panels, the two water passing panels can be provided with completely different shapes of through holes as needed, allowing the first water passing surface and the second water passing surface to produce distinct water spray patterns more effectively.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the water flow passage further includes a water passing cavitylocated between the first water passing paneland the second water passing panel.

The water passing cavity can provide a spacing between the two water passing panels, giving the water flowing through it a certain expansion space, thereby allowing the water flow to be better prepared, by streamlining, for a transformation in the spray patters as the water flow enters and passes through the water passing panel on the opposite side.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, a flow conditioning insertis provided in the water passing cavity.

Providing the flow conditioning insert can help to process the water flow by cutting, slowing down, pressurizing, noise-reducing, mixing air into the flow, thereby allowing the water flow to be better prepared, by streamlining, for a transformation in the spray patterns as the water flow enters and passes through the water passing panel on the opposite side.

According to some embodiments, a convex columnextends from the first water passing surfaceand/or the second water passing surfacein a direction away from the water spray shaper.

The convex column can be provided to reduce the flipping force required to rotate the water spray shaper by using the principle of leverage. The longer the convex column, the less force is required to flip. However, the the length of the convex column must be shorter than the radius of the water outlet end face, otherwise the water spray shaper will not be able to switch between the two water passing surfaces.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the convex columnis located at the center of the first water passing surfaceand/or the second water passing surface.

Arranging the convex column at the center allows a user to flip the water spray shaper more easily, regardless of the direction in which the force is applied. Moreover, only when the convex column is arranged at the center can it extend to a length that is closest to the radius of the water outlet end face.

On the contrary, if the convex column is arranged eccentrically, force needs to be applied in a specific direction to flip the water spray shaper with ease, and the maximum length that the convex column can extend to is also less than that when arranged at the center.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, an outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaperis in a partial spherical shape. As shown in, an inner side surfaceof the water outlet endis a spherical socket surface for mounting the water spray shaper.

Designing the contact surface between the water spray shaper and the water outlet end as a spherical-to-socket mating surface can achieve the lightest rotation feel and allow rotation in any direction, significantly improving the user's switching experience.

In other embodiments, the water spray shaper and the water outlet end can also complete the process of flipping and switching in a specific direction by using other aspherical surfaces (such as elliptical surfaces and conical surfaces).

According to some embodiments, as shown in, a plurality of groovesare formed in the spherical socket surface.

The grooves can be provided to reduce the contact area between the outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaper and the spherical socket surface, thereby reducing the friction between the two during relative movement, ultimately reducing the flipping force required for during switching, and further improving the user's switching experience.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the water outlet structure further includes a sealing member, which is elastic and is arranged between the water spray shaperand the water outlet end.

The sealing member can prevent water leakage between the water spray shaper and the water outlet end during water flowing.

According to some embodiments, the sealing memberis an annular plastic sealing member, an annular rubber sealing member, or an annular silicone sealing member.

The sealing member can be annular to reduce the contact area between the sealing member and the water spray shaper, reducing the resistance caused by the sealing member during switching.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the sealing memberis arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaper. Alternatively, as shown in, the sealing memberis arranged on the inner side surface of the water outlet end.

The fixed position of the sealing member can be selected according to the actual design of the water outlet structure to maintain a balance between higher sealing performance and better switching experience.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, a gapis reserved at least in part between the outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaperand the inner side surfaceof the water outlet end, and the gapdecreases as the water pressure increases.

When the sealing member is provided to prevent water leakage between the water spray shaper and the water outlet end during water flowing, the gaps are reserved between the water spray shaper and the inner side surface of the water outlet end. Under water pressure in a water flowing state, the entire water spray shaper is pressed in the water outlet direction, causing the gaps between the water spray shaper and the inner side surface of the water outlet end toward the water outlet direction to become smaller and smaller as the water pressure increases. This allows the water spray shaper to press more tightly against the sealing member, effectively eliminating the possibility of water leakage. When no sealing member is provided as shown in, only part of the contact surface between the water spray shaper and the inner side surface of the water outlet end has gaps, while the remaining contact surface needs to fit completely without leaving any gaps in order to achieve sealing. In the water flowing state, the outer peripheral surface of the entire water spray shaper will be pressed, under the action of water pressure, toward the water outlet direction. Therefore, the original positions in which the gaps are expected to be formed between the water spray shaper and the inner side surface of the water outlet end will become smaller and smaller as the water pressure increases, allowing the water spray shaper to press more tightly against the inner side surface of the water outlet end, thereby reducing the possibility of water leakage.

According to some embodiments, as shown in, the water outlet structure further includes a limiting portion, which is arranged in the water outlet structureand located on the water inlet sideof the water spray shaper. An inner diameter of the limiting portionis smaller than an outer diameter of the water spray shaper.

When being flipped, the water splash former may be pushed into the water outlet structure if the user applies excessive force, causing the water spray shaper to shift out of the working position and resulting in overall failure of the water outlet structure. Therefore, in order to avoid this problem, this solution provides the limiting portion in the water outlet structure to restrict the water spray shaper in an axial direction of the water outlet structure.

Referring to, a water outlet structure I can be mounted on a faucet for use as an aerator. As shown in, a water spray shaperis provided in a water outlet endof the water outlet structure. The water spray shaperis rotatably arranged in an inner side surfaceof the water outlet endof the water outlet structure. An outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaperis an outwardly convex arc surface, and the inner side surfaceof the water outlet endis provided as an inwardly concave arc surface that matches the arc outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaper. An annular rubber sealing memberis provided between the outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaperand the inner side surfaceof the water outlet end, and the sealing memberis fixed in a limiting groove in the outer peripheral surface of the water spray shaper. The limiting portionis provided in the water outlet structure. The limiting portionis located at a water inlet sideof the water spray shaper. The inner diameter of the limiting portionis smaller than the outer diameter of the water spray shaper. The limiting portionis configured to limit the water spray shaperin the axial direction of the water outlet structure.

An arc-shaped water passing panel is provided in the water spray shaper. Two opposite end faces of the water passing panel are an outwardly convex arc first water passing surfaceand an inwardly concave arc second water passing surface. A water flow passage is formed in the water passing panel by a plurality of densely distributed through holesthat communicate the first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surface. The angle formed between the normal direction of the end face of openingslocated in both ends of the through holesin the first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surfaceand the direction of incoming water is 1°.

As shown in, the first water passing surfaceis located on a water outlet side, and the second water passing surfaceis located on the water inlet side. At this time, a diffused water spray pattern that disperses outward can be produced in the water flowing state.

As shown in, the water spray shaperrotates after an external force is applied thereto, and the positions of the first water passing surfaceand the second water passing surfaceare gradually switched between the water inlet sideand the water outlet sideduring flipping.