Control valve for a shower

Abstract

A control valve for a shower has a body having a water inlet defined at a first end of the body, a first water outlet defined at a second end of the body, a second water outlet defined at a middle portion of the body, and a chamber in communication with the water inlet, the first water outlet and the second water outlet. The first water outlet is connected with a fixed shower; and the second water outlet is connected with a hose. A handling rod has an inner end received in the chamber. A valve core is formed at the inner end and threadingly mounted in the chamber. An outer end of the handling rod extends out from the chamber, whereby, the handling rod can be turned to alternatively communicate the water inlet with the first water outlet and the second water outlet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a shower, and more particularly to a control valve for switching water outlets of a shower.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 10, a first conventional control valve has a body (70). A water inlet (72) is defined at a first end of the body (70) and connected with a water supply pipe (720). A first water outlet (73) and second water outlet (74) are separately defined at a second end of the body (70), wherein a fixed shower (730) is connected to the first water outlet (73), and an adjustable shower (not shown) is connected to the second water outlet (74) by a hose (740). A handle (71) is mounted on a top end of the body (70) for switching between the two water outlets (73, 74), and water can alternatively flow out from the fixed shower (730) or the adjustable shower.

However, the control valve is generally installed at a high position, so most people of short stature cannot reach the handle (71) and need a taller person to operate the handle (71) during bathing, which is very inconvenient for the users.

As an improvement for the conventional control valve, another control valve is illustrated in FIG. 11. The control valve has a body (80) with a water inlet (82) and two water outlets (83, 84). A handling rod (81) is mounted between the two water outlets (83, 84) and extends downwards from a bottom of the body (80). A valve core (810) is mounted at a top end of the handling rod (81). A fixed shower (830) is connected with the first water outlet (83) and a hose (840) is connected between the second water outlet (84) and an adjustable shower (not shown). In the status as shown in FIG. 11, water from the water inlet (82) can flow through the first water outlet (83) and out from the fixed shower (830). Because the handling rod (81) is installed at a low position, the person of short stature can pull or push it to switch water between the fixed shower (830) and the adjustable shower.

However, users, especially children, often pull downwards the handling rod (81) with an excessive force, which may cause the handling rod (81) to become disengaged from the body (80).

Therefore, the invention provides a control valve to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a control valve which enables water flow to be switched between two water outlets by the turning of a handle.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a control valve for a shower in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the control valve in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 1 in a status of a water inlet in communication with a first water outlet;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 1 in a status of the water inlet in communication with a second water outlet;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 5 in a status of the water inlet in communication with the first water outlet;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 5 in a status of the water inlet in communication with the second water outlet;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the control valve in a status of the water inlet in communication with the first water outlet;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the third embodiment of the control valve in a status of the water inlet in communication with the second water outlet;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a conventional control valve for a shower; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of another control valve for a shower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a control valve for a shower has a body (10). A water inlet (12) is defined at a first end of the body (10). A first water outlet (13) is defined at a second end of the body (10), and a fixed shower (130) is connected with the first water outlet (13). A second water outlet (14) is defined at a middle portion of the body (10) and inclined towards the water inlet (12), and a hose (140) is connected with the second water outlet (14). A handling rod (11) is mounted between the first water outlet (13) and second water outlet (14) and substantially extends downwards from a bottom of the body (10). The handling rod (11) has an outer end (not numbered) extending out from the body (10) and an inner end (not numbered) received in the body (10). A knob (110) is mounted on the outer end of the handling rod (11).

With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the body (10) has a chamber (100) defined therein and in communication with the water inlet (12), the first water outlet (13) and the second water outlet (14). A valve core (111) is formed at the inner end of the handling rod (11) and movably received in the chamber (100). A plurality of O-rings (112) is provided outside an upper portion of the valve core (111), and an external thread (113) is formed on an outer periphery of a lower portion of the valve core (113). An internal thread (103) is formed at a lower portion of the chamber (100) and engaged with the external thread (113) to threadingly mount the valve core (111) in the chamber (100). A cover (119) is mounted at a bottom of the chamber (100) and the handling rod (11) extends out from the cover (119).

When the valve core (111) is in a position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the water inlet (12) is communicated with the first water outlet (13), and the second water outlet (14) is shut off by the valve core (111), so water can flow out from the fixed shower (130). When a user turns the handling rod (11) by the knob (110) to move the valve core (111) to a position as illustrated in FIG. 4, the water inlet (12) is communicated with the second water outlet (14), and the first water outlet (13) is shut off, so water can flow through the hose (140).

With reference to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the present invention has a structure is similar to the first embodiment as described above. Compared with the first embodiment, the water inlet (12) in the first embodiment is used as the first water outlet (13′), and the first water outlet (13) in the first embodiment is used as the water inlet (12′). Therefore, the second water outlet (14′) in the second embodiment is defined between the handling rod (11′) and the first water outlet (13′) and inclined towards the first water outlet (13′).

When the valve core (111′) is in the position as illustrated in FIG. 6, the water inlet (12′) is communicated with the first water outlet (13′), and the second water outlet (14′) is shut off, so water can flow out from the fixed shower. When the user turns the handling rod (11′) to move the valve core (111′) to the position as illustrated in FIG. 7, the water inlet (12′) is communicated with the second water outlet (14′), and the first water outlet (13′) is shut off, so water can flow through the hose (140′).

With reference to FIGS. 8-9, a third embodiment of the present invention has a structure similar to the first embodiment but the handling rod (11″) inclined towards the first water outlet (13″) to facilitate the user to operate the handling rod (11″). The second water outlet (14″) is formed between the water inlet (12″) and the handling rod (11″).

When the valve core (111″) is in a position as illustrated in FIG. 8, the water inlet (12″) is communicated with the first water outlet (13″), and the second water outlet (14″) is shut off by the valve core (111″), so water can flow out from the fixed shower (130″). When the user turns the handling rod (11″) to move the valve core (111″) to the position as illustrated in FIG. 9, the water inlet (12″) is communicated with the second water outlet (14″), and the first water outlet (13″) is shut off, so water can flow through the hose (140″).

Therefore, according to the invention, the movement of the valve core (111) is controlled by turning the handling rod (11) to prevent the valve core (111) from being pulled out from the body (10) under an excessive force.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A control valve for a shower comprising:

a body having a water inlet defined at a first end of the body, a first water outlet defined at a second end of the body, a second water outlet defined at a middle portion of the body, and a chamber in communication with the water inlet, the first water outlet and the second water outlet; and

a handling rod substantially extending downwards from a bottom of the body, the handling rod having an inner end received in the chamber, a valve core formed at the inner end and threadingly mounted in the chamber, and an outer end extending out from the chamber,

whereby, the handling rod can be turned to alternatively communicate the water inlet with the first water outlet and the second water outlet.

2. The control valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling rod has a knob mounted on the outer end thereof.

3. The control valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve core has a plurality of O-rings provided outside an upper portion thereof, and an external thread formed at an outer periphery of an lower portion thereof; and the chamber has an internal thread formed at a lower portion thereof and engaged with the external thread to threadingly mount the valve core in the chamber.

4. The control valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cover is mounted at a bottom of the chamber and the handling rod extends out from the cover.