Showerhead and showerhead manufacturing method

Abstract

The present invention has the object of providing a metal showerhead lighter than previous, at a low cost. A showerhead 3 furnished with an outer cylinder 31 in which a metal plate is plastically deformed and formed into a cylindrical shape in which the base end portion thereof is left open; and a water conduit member 32 which is inserted from the open end of the base end portion side into the outer cylinder to supply hot or cold water supplied from a hose into outer cylinder 31 ; whereby a gripping portion 311 for holding outer cylinder 31 by hand is provided on the base end portion of outer cylinder 31 , and a spray portion 33 is provided in which multiple spray holes 33 b are formed to spray hot or cold water supplied by water conduit member 32 to the front end portion side of outer cylinder 31.

1 . A showerhead, comprising:
 an outer cylinder formed in a cylindrical shape by plastically deforming a metal plate, causing at least the end portion on the base end portion side to be open, and not applying decorative plating to the surface of the metal plate; and   a water conduit member, inserted from the open end on the base end portion side into the outer cylinder, for supplying hot or cold water supplied from a shower hose into the outer cylinder;   wherein a gripping portion for holding the outer cylinder by hand is provided on the base end portion side of the outer cylinder; and   a spray portion, in which multiple spray holes are formed for the purpose of spraying hot or cold water supplied from the water conduit member, is provided on the front end portion side of the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The showerhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray portion is constituted by forming spray holes on the side surface on the front end portion side of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The showerhead according to  claim 2 , wherein the front end portion on which the spray portion is disposed is formed in a thin shape, flatter and wider than the gripping portion. 
     
     
         4 . The showerhead according to  claim 3 , wherein in the front end portion on which the spray portion is disposed, hot or cold water supplied from the water conduit member flows directly over the inner surface of the outer cylinder, and is supplied to the spray holes. 
     
     
         5 . The showerhead according to  claim 2 , wherein the spray portion is furnished with a spray direction determining means for directing hot or cold water supplied by the water conduit member at a predetermined angle from multiple spray holes. 
     
     
         6 . The showerhead according to  claim 5 , wherein the spray direction determining means comprises a spray plate manufactured from an elastic body, furnished with multiple spray nipples on which spray nozzle holes are formed, whereby the spray nipples project from each of the spray holes formed on the outer cylinders. 
     
     
         7 . The showerhead according to  claim 6 , further comprising spring members for pushing the spray plate onto the inner wall surface of the outer cylinder, such that the spray nipples project from the spray holes due to the pressing of the spray plate onto the inner wall surface. 
     
     
         8 . The showerhead according to  claim 7 , wherein the spray plate is attached to the water conduit member, and the spray plate is pushed onto the inner wall surface of the outer cylinder by the biasing of the water conduit member by the spring member from the outer side of the water conduit member. 
     
     
         9 . The showerhead according to  claim 6 , wherein the outer cylinder is constituted by closing off the front end opening portion with a metal member after inserting and disposing a spray plate from the front end opening portion at that front end. 
     
     
         10 . The showerhead according to  claim 9 , wherein the front end opening portion is closed by laser welding of the metal member. 
     
     
         11 . The showerhead according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spray member made of resin, on which spray holes are formed; and wherein the spray portion is formed by inserting the spray member into the opening portion formed on the front end portion side of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The showerhead according to  claim 1 , wherein a heat insulating means is provided between the metal plate and the water conduit member; and the gripping portion is provided within the range over which the heat insulating means is provided. 
     
     
         13 . The showerhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the water conduit member is formed of a resin with a thermal conductivity ratio lower than that of the metal plate. 
     
     
         14 . The showerhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the water conduit member is a resin molded part formed of resin, wherein an affixing means for affixing the water conduit member to the outer cylinder is provided on the inner wall surface of the outer cylinder so that the water conduit member disposed within the outer cylinder conduit member does not project beyond the front end portion of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a showerhead, comprising steps of:
 forming a metal pipe into a predetermined shape by plastic deformation of the metal pipe;   forming multiple spray holes in the metal pipe formed in a predetermined shape;   placing a water conduit member through an opening portion in the metal pipe into the metal pipe in which spray holes are formed; and   closing the opening portion by laser welding of a metal member to the opening portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step for forming the metal pipe includes steps of:
 placing the metal pipe in a mold for bulge forming;   filling the interior of the metal pipe placed inside the mold with a filler; and   expanding the metal pipe by applying pressure to the filler to plastically deform the metal pipe into the shape of the mold.