Description

SHOWER HEAD CONFIGURED TO REMOVABLY HOLD

TOOTH CLEANING UNIT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to shower heads configured to removably hold tooth cleaning units and, more particularly, to a shower head configured to removably a hold tooth cleaning unit which can be used as a typical shower head under normal conditions, and in which, when it is desired for a user to clean his/her teeth, the tooth cleaning unit can be removably coupled to the shower head body to enable the user to clean his/her teeth using the pressure of water discharged from the tooth cleaning unit, and which is constructed such that, when the tooth cleaning unit is removed from the shower head body, a through hole, through which the tooth cleaning unit is coupled to the shower head body, can be automatically closed. Background Art

[2] Generally, when eating food, food remnants are trapped between the teeth. To remove the food remnants trapped between the teeth, toothpicks, which are made of material such as wood or starch, are widely used. Typically, in the case of use of the toothpicks, food remnants are removed from the gaps between teeth by inserting a toothpick into the gap between teeth in which the food remnants are trapped and picking the gap between the teeth.

[3] However, this method of removing food remnants is problematic in that distances between the teeth of the user may be increased by repeatedly using the toothpick, or the gums of the user may be picked or compressed by the toothpick, thus becoming damaged or deformed.

[4] Furthermore, in the case where the toothpick is used to remove food remnants from the teeth, some food remnants and bacilli, which exist in the gap between the teeth and between the teeth and the gums, are transferred to the toothpick. Because the toothpick smeared with the food remnants and bacilli is continuously used to remove food remnants trapped between other teeth, there is a problem in that it is very unsanitary. In particular, if the gums of the user are damaged by the toothpick that is smeared with bacilli and food remnants, the bacilli may permeate the damaged gums, with result that the gums fester or swell up, thus requiring medical treatment.

[5] Moreover, because toothpicks are disposable, there is a problem of resource waste and an environmental problem pertaining to the disposal of used toothpicks.

[6] In an effort to overcome the above problems, a tooth cleaning device was proposed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 217315. This conventional tooth cleaning

device has a structure such that air is supplied into a main body through a check valve, which is provided in the circumferential inner surface of the main body, and is discharged outside through a nozzle at a high pressure, which is attained in the main body. However, this technique is problematic in that the cleaning of teeth is unsatisfactory due to the relatively low discharge pressure.

[7] Another conventional tooth cleaning device was proposed in Korean Utility Model

Registration No. 300722. This tooth cleaning device includes a water tap connector and a connection tube. A water passage is formed through the water tap connector in the longitudinal direction of the water tap connector. The water tap connector is coupled at the upper end thereof to a water tap such that the water tap and the water passage of the water tap connector communicate with each other. The connection tube is removably coupled to the lower end of the water tap connector such that the connection tube communicates with the water passage of the water tap connector. Furthermore, the water tap connector has an insert slot therein. A positioning member is disposed in the insert slot so as to be slidable.

[8] The insert slot extends through the water passage in a direction perpendicular to the water passage. The insert slot has a closed end, around which two locking depressions are formed, and an open end. A receiving slot is formed in the open end of the insert slot. The positioning member has a through hole therein and includes two locking protrusions, which are provided on the positioning member at positions corresponding to the respective locking depressions in the closed end of the insert slot. The positioning member further includes a handle, which has a shape and a size corresponding to those of the receiving slot of the open end of the insert slot.

[9] Furthermore, the positioning member is disposed in the insert slot and is elastically supported by a restoring spring. The positioning member is constructed such that the through hole communicates with the water passage of the water tap connector and the two locking protrusions are slidably disposed in the two respective locking depressions in the insert slot. The restoring spring is provided between the receiving slot of the open end of the insert slot and the inner surface of the handle of the positioning member.

[10] The handle is partially received in the receiving slot of the open end of the insert slot.

A retaining protrusion is provided on the inner surface in the through hole of the positioning member. Furthermore, a connection disk, which contacts the lower end of the water tap connector, is provided on the connection tube. A coupling end extends from the connection disk. A locking groove is formed in the circumferential outer surface of the coupling end, so that, when the coupling end is inserted into the water passage in the water tap connector, the locking groove is hooked to the retaining protrusion of the positioning member, and the connection disk is brought into contact with the lower end

of the water tap connector. The connection tube is removably coupled to the water tap connector using this coupling structure.

[11] However, this technique is disadvantageous in that the connection tube is absolutely required, so that, if the connection tube is not provided, the tooth cleaning device cannot be used. Furthermore, when taking into account the fact that the toothbrush cleaning device is mainly used in a bathroom, there is a disadvantage in that the storage of the toothbrush cleaning device is not easy.

[12] Meanwhile, according to the development of industrialization, the number of apartment buildings is markedly increased, and thus bathing culture as well as dwelling types has been changed. Furthermore, the consumption of water in bathrooms in homes or public bathhouses is increasing.

[13] Particularly, in the case of typical shower heads, which are used in bathrooms in holes or public bathhouses, when taking a shower, the flow of hot or cold water, which is discharged through a shower head, is controlled by adjusting a hot or cold water control valve, which is provided on a water tap that is connected to the shower head through a connection hose, rather than being controlled using the shower head itself.

[14] Such a typical shower head serves merely to discharge hot or cold water, supplied through a connection hose, through small holes formed therein. Therefore, a tooth cleaning device and a shower head must be separately provided, thus forcing a user to purchase them separately. In addition, there is a disadvantage in that the tooth cleaning device and the shower head cannot be used at the same time.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[15] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shower head configured to removably hold a tooth cleaning unit which can be used as a typical shower head, under normal conditions, and, in which, when it is desired for a user to clean his/her teeth, the tooth cleaning unit can be coupled to the shower head body, and, if it is not desired to use the tooth cleaning unit, the tooth cleaning unit can be easily removed from the shower head body merely by removing the locking force of a locking unit, the shower head being constructed such that, when the tooth cleaning unit is completely removed from the shower head body, a through hole, through which the tooth cleaning unit is coupled to the shower head body, is automatically closed, so that, as well as having the function of the typical shower head, the shower head can provide a function of cleaning the teeth of the user using relatively high water pressure. Technical Solution

[16] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a shower

head configured to removably hold a tooth cleaning unit. The shower head includes: a shower head body having a through hole, into which the tooth cleaning unit is fitted, with an external thread formed at a predetermined position in the circumferential outer surface of the shower head body so that the shower head body is coupled to a water supply hose using the external thread, and a plurality of jet holes formed in the surface of the shower head body to discharge jets of water; a covering unit for openably closing the through hole, the covering unit including a stationary member fastened in the shower head body, a covering member coupled to the stationary member through a connection part so as to be rotatable, the covering member facing the stationary member, and magnets provided in the stationary member and the covering member, respectively, the magnets being oriented in directions in which the magnets attract each other, wherein the stationary member and the covering member are made of rubber or soft synthetic resin; and a locking unit for releasably holding the tooth cleaning unit, which is fitted into the through hole formed in the shower head body.

Advantageous Effects

[17] In a shower head configured to removably hold a tooth cleaning unit according to the present invention, the shower head is used as a typical shower head under normal conditions, and, when it is desired for a user to clean his/her teeth, the tooth cleaning unit can be coupled to the shower head body. If it is not desired to use the tooth cleaning unit, the tooth cleaning unit can be easily removed from the shower head body merely by removing the locking force of a locking unit. Furthermore, when the tooth cleaning unit is completely removed from the shower head body, a through hole, through which the tooth cleaning unit is coupled to the shower head body, is automatically closed. Therefore, as well as having the function of the typical shower head, the present invention can provide a function of cleaning the teeth of the user using relatively high water pressure. Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external shape of a shower head, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the shower head according to the present invention;

[20] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the shower head according to the present invention;

[21] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the construction of a locking unit, which is a critical part of the shower head according to the present invention;

[22] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the operation of the locking unit of FIG. 4; and

[23] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the operation of an opening and closing unit,

which is another critical part of the shower head according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[24] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external shape of a shower head, according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the shower head according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the shower head according to the present invention. The shower configured to removably hold a tooth cleaning unit 20 according to the present invention includes a shower head body 10, a locking unit 30 and a covering unit 40.

[25] In detail, an external thread, through which a water supply hose is coupled to the shower head body 10, is formed on the circumferential outer surface of one end of the shower head body 10. A nozzle cap 12, which has in the surface thereof a plurality of jet holes for discharging jets of water, is provided on the circumferential outer surface of a second end of the shower head body 10. A through hole 11, into which the tooth cleaning unit 20 is removably fitted, is formed in the second end of the shower head body 10. The locking unit 30 and the covering unit 40 are installed in the shower head body 10. The locking unit 30 is constructed such that a push lever 33 protrudes outside the shower head body 10.

[26] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the locking unit 30 includes a holder 31, which removably locks the tooth cleaning unit 20, which is fitted into the through hole 11, and rods 32, which are integrally provided on the holder 31. The locking unit 30 further includes the push lever 33, which is integrally provided on the holder 31 at a position opposite the rods 32 and is pushed by a user, and an elastic spring 34, which is fitted over each rod 32.

[27] As shown in FIG. 2 and 6, the covering unit 40 includes a stationary member, which is fastened in the shower head body 10, a covering member, which is rotatably coupled to the stationary member through a connection part 41 and faces the stationary member, and magnets 42, which are respectively provided in the stationary member and the covering member such that the magnets are oriented in directions in which the magnets attract each other. Here, preferably, the stationary member and the covering member are made of rubber or soft synthetic resin.

[28] The operation and effect of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be explained herein below. When the tooth cleaning unit 20 is fitted into the through hole 11 in the shower head body 10, a locking groove, which is formed in the circumferential outer surface of the tooth cleaning unit 20, is locked to the holder 31, so that the tooth cleaning unit 20 is fastened to the shower head body 10.

[29] As such, in the operation of fastening the tooth cleaning unit 20 to the shower head body 10 using the holder 31, when the tooth cleaning unit 20 is fitted into the shower head body 10, an end of the tooth cleaning unit 20 pushes the covering member 43 of the covering unit 40, so that the covering member 43 is rotated at one end thereof around the connection part 41, thus opening the through hole 11.

[30] Meanwhile, when the insertion of the tooth cleaning unit 20 is completed, the tooth cleaning unit 20 is connected to a water supply direction converting unit, which is provided in the shower head body 10. Thus, when water is supplied into the shower head body 10, a jet of water is discharged outside through a jet hole in the tooth cleaning unit 20 to conduct the function of cleaning the teeth of the user.

[31] In the present invention, although the pressure of water supplied into the shower head body 10 pushes the tooth cleaning unit 20 in the direction in which the tooth cleaning unit 20 is removed from the through hole 11 of the shower head body 10, because the tooth cleaning unit 20 is locked to the locking unit 30, the tooth cleaning mans can be prevented from being undesirably removed from the through hole 11 in the shower head body 10.

[32] Meanwhile, when it is desired to remove the tooth cleaning unit 20 from the shower head body 10, the push lever 33 is pushed. Then, the elastic springs 34, which are fitted over the respective rods 32, are compressed and the center of the holder 31 is moved.

[33] As such, when the center of the locking unit 30 is moved, the holder 31 is removed from the locking groove of the tooth cleaning unit 20 and the center of the locking unit 30 is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the tooth cleaning unit 20, thus allowing removal of the tooth cleaning unit 20 from the shower head body 10. For this, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the tooth cleaning unit 20 be slightly greater than the inner diameter of the holder 31.

[34] After the center of the holder 31 is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the tooth cleaning unit 20 and the tooth cleaning unit 20 is removed from the shower head body 10, the push lever 33, which has been pushed, is released. Then, the holder 31 is returned to its original position by the elastic force of the elastic springs 34, and the shower head enters its original state.

[35] Furthermore, when the tooth cleaning unit 20 is removed from the shower head body

10, the covering member 43, which has been rotated in the direction in which the through hole 11 is opened, is rotated to the stationary member to close the through hole

11. At this time, the covering member 43 can be tightly closed by the magnets 42, which are provided in the covering unit 40.

Industrial Applicability [36] As described above, a shower head configured to removably hold a tooth cleaning

unit according to the present invention is used as a typical shower head under normal conditions. When it is desired for a user to clean his/her teeth, the tooth cleaning unit can be coupled to the shower head body. If it is not desired to use the tooth cleaning unit, the tooth cleaning unit can be easily removed from the shower head body merely by removing the locking force of a locking unit. Furthermore, when the tooth cleaning unit is completely removed from the shower head body, a through hole, through which the tooth cleaning unit is coupled to the shower head body, is automatically closed. Therefore, as well as having the function of the typical shower head, the present invention can provide a function of cleaning the teeth of the user using relatively high water pressure.

[37] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.