1. Sprayer unit (11) for use in an outlet for dispensing a liquid, comprising a set of sprayers (10), • each sprayer (10) comprising a set of at least two nozzles (12) arranged to create colliding jets of the 5 liquid and thereby create a spray of droplets of the liquid, and • wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is at least two or at least three, • wherein the sprayers (10) of the set of sprayers are formed as a single 10 part or are assembled from two or more separate parts, • each sprayer (10) comprising an associated spray shaper (84) for guiding the spray, the spray shaper (84) being a cavity through which the spray passes before exiting the sprayer unit (11), • wherein in each of the sprayers (10) a distance between a point at which 15 the jets collide and an outlet opening of the spray shaper (84), this distance to be called length of the spray shaper (Ls), lies between three and ten millimetres.

2. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein each sprayer comprises exactly 20 two nozzles (12).

3. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is at least five. 25 4. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is at least ten.

5. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is at least fifteen. 30

6. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is 36 less than fifteen centimetres.

7. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is less than ten centimetres. 5

8. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is less five centimetres.

9. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is 10 less than three centimetres.

10. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) the nozzles (12) of the sprayer (10) are arranged in a dome shaped structure covering the spray shaper (84) of the sprayer (10), with an inner surface of the 15 dome shaped structure having a smaller diameter than the spray shaper (84).

11. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the dome shaped structure has a diameter of less than 80% of the diameter of the spray shaper (84). 20

12. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the length of the spray shaper (Ls) lies between three and seven millimetres.

13. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 12, wherein the length of the spray shaper (Ls) 25 lies between four and five millimetres.

14. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) an inner diameter (Ds) of the spray shaper (84) lies between two and eight millimetres. 30 15. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) an inner diameter (Ds) of the spray shaper (84) lies between two and four millimetres. 37

16. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) the diameter (D2) of the nozzles lies between 0.3 and 1.2 millimetres and/or wherein in each of the sprayers (10) a half-angle () between colliding jets lies between 15 and 45 degrees. 5

17. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) the diameter (D2) of the nozzles lies between 0.5 and 0.6 millimetres and/or wherein in each of the sprayers (10) a half-angle () between colliding jets lies between 20 and 35 degrees. 10

18. The sprayer unit of claim 1, wherein the length of the spray shaper is not less than two times the inner diameter of the spray shaper.

19. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the sprayers (10) have the following 15 parameters: • the diameter of the nozzles is between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm; • the half angle between nozzles 12 is between 25° and 45°; • the diameter of the spray shaper (84) is between 2 mm and 3 mm; • the length of the spray shaper (84) is between 4 mm and 6 mm. 20

20. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein • it either is the case that the number of sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is between 15 and 25, and a diameter (D) of the sprayer unit 11 is between 25 mm and 35 mm; 25 • or it is the case that the number of sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is between 40 and 80 and a diameter (D) of the sprayer unit (11) is between 120 mm and 200 mm.

21. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising attachment elements (13), for 30 attaching it to a water outlet, and/or wherein the sprayers (10) of the set of sprayers are formed as a single part comprising a single component or 38 comprising two or more components moulded together.

22. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising a macro spray shaper (16) arranged to shape a combined spray of the sprayers (10) of the sprayer unit (11), wherein parameters of the macro spray 5 shaper (16) are one or more of the following: • macro spray shaper length Lms: between 5 and 35 mm; • macro spray shaper inner diameter Dms: between 10 and 30 mm; • macro spray shaper length / diameter ratio: between 1:2 and 2:1. 10

23. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising a macro spray shaper (16) arranged to shape a combined spray of the sprayers (10) of the sprayer unit (11), wherein parameters of the macro spray shaper (16) are one or more of the following: 15 • macro spray shaper length Lms: between 10 and 20 mm; • macro spray shaper inner diameter Dms: between 15 and 25 mm; • macro spray shaper length / diameter ratio: at least approximately 4:5.

24. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1 with at least one of the following parameters: 20 • diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 50 mm; • number of sprayers (10) in the sprayer unit (11): between 5 and 30; • nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.4 and 1 mm; • half-angle  between nozzles (12): between 5° and 55°. 25 25. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1 with at least one of the following parameters: • diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 30 mm; • number of sprayers (10) in the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 20, • nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.6 and 0.8 mm; • half-angle  between nozzles (12): between 15° and 35°. 30 39

26. The sprayer unit of claim 1, wherein at least sprayers (10) at the periphery of the sprayer unit (11) are angled, with an offset angle  relative to a main longitudinal axis of the sprayer unit (11), so that the longitudinal axes of these sprayers diverge from the main longitudinal axis. 5

27. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising a plurality of sprayers (10) arranged to form a ring of sprayers (10), and so close to one another that recesses, into which the nozzles (12) of each sprayer (10) lead, combine to form a circular groove in the front surface (88) of the sprayer unit (11). 10

28. The sprayer unit of claim 27, wherein at least one of the following parameters : • diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 50 mm; • number of sprayers in the sprayer unit (11): between 5 and 30; • diameter of the ring of sprayers (10): between 10 and 25 mm; 15 • nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.2 and 0.8 mm; • half-angle  between nozzles: between 15° and 50°.

29. The sprayer unit of claim 27, wherein at least one of the following parameters : • diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 30 mm; 20 • number of sprayers in the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 20; • diameter of the ring of sprayers (10): between 12 and 20 mm. • nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.4 and 0.6 mm; • half-angle  between nozzles: between 30° and 40°. 25 30 Outlet (7), in particular a showerhead or tap, comprising the sprayer unit (11) of one claims 1 to 29, comprising an outlet body (73) with a conduit (75) leading from an outlet supply section (71b) to a sprayer unit connection section (72b) at which the sprayer unit (11) is attached

Description:AS ATTACHED , Claims:I/We Claim:
1. Sprayer unit (11) for use in an outlet for dispensing a liquid, comprising a
set of sprayers (10),
• each sprayer (10) comprising a set of at least two nozzles (12) arranged
to create colliding jets of the 5 liquid and thereby create a spray of
droplets of the liquid, and
• wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is at least
two or at least three,
• wherein the sprayers (10) of the set of sprayers are formed as a single
10 part or are assembled from two or more separate parts,
• each sprayer (10) comprising an associated spray shaper (84) for
guiding the spray, the spray shaper (84) being a cavity through which
the spray passes before exiting the sprayer unit (11),
• wherein in each of the sprayers (10) a distance between a point at which
15 the jets collide and an outlet opening of the spray shaper (84), this
distance to be called length of the spray shaper (Ls), lies between three
and ten millimetres.
2. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein each sprayer comprises exactly
20 two nozzles (12).
3. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in
the set of sprayers is at least five.
25 4. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in
the set of sprayers is at least ten.
5. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the number of the sprayers (10) in
the set of sprayers is at least fifteen.
30
6. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is
36
less than fifteen centimetres.
7. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is
less than ten centimetres.
5
8. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is
less five centimetres.
9. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sprayer unit (11) is
10 less than three centimetres.
10. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) the
nozzles (12) of the sprayer (10) are arranged in a dome shaped structure
covering the spray shaper (84) of the sprayer (10), with an inner surface of the
15 dome shaped structure having a smaller diameter than the spray shaper (84).
11. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the dome shaped
structure has a diameter of less than 80% of the diameter of the spray shaper
(84).
20
12. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the length of the spray shaper (Ls)
lies between three and seven millimetres.
13. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 12, wherein the length of the spray shaper (Ls)
25 lies between four and five millimetres.
14. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) an inner
diameter (Ds) of the spray shaper (84) lies between two and eight millimetres.
30 15. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) an inner
diameter (Ds) of the spray shaper (84) lies between two and four millimetres.
37
16. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) the
diameter (D2) of the nozzles lies between 0.3 and 1.2 millimetres and/or
wherein in each of the sprayers (10) a half-angle () between colliding jets lies
between 15 and 45 degrees.
5
17. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein in each of the sprayers (10) the
diameter (D2) of the nozzles lies between 0.5 and 0.6 millimetres and/or
wherein in each of the sprayers (10) a half-angle () between colliding jets lies
between 20 and 35 degrees.
10
18. The sprayer unit of claim 1, wherein the length of the spray shaper is not less
than two times the inner diameter of the spray shaper.
19. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein the sprayers (10) have the following
15 parameters:
• the diameter of the nozzles is between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm;
• the half angle between nozzles 12 is between 25° and 45°;
• the diameter of the spray shaper (84) is between 2 mm and 3 mm;
• the length of the spray shaper (84) is between 4 mm and 6 mm.
20
20. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, wherein
• it either is the case that the number of sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers
is between 15 and 25, and a diameter (D) of the sprayer unit 11 is
between 25 mm and 35 mm;
25 • or it is the case that the number of sprayers (10) in the set of sprayers is
between 40 and 80 and a diameter (D) of the sprayer unit (11) is
between 120 mm and 200 mm.
21. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising attachment elements (13), for
30 attaching it to a water outlet, and/or wherein the sprayers (10) of the set of
sprayers are formed as a single part comprising a single component or
38
comprising two or more components moulded together.
22. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising a macro spray shaper (16)
arranged to shape a combined spray of the sprayers (10) of the sprayer unit
(11), wherein parameters of the macro spray 5 shaper (16) are one or more of the
following:
• macro spray shaper length Lms: between 5 and 35 mm;
• macro spray shaper inner diameter Dms: between 10 and 30 mm;
• macro spray shaper length / diameter ratio: between 1:2 and 2:1.
10
23. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising a macro spray shaper (16)
arranged to shape a combined spray of the sprayers (10) of the sprayer unit
(11), wherein parameters of the macro spray shaper (16) are one or more of the
following:
15 • macro spray shaper length Lms: between 10 and 20 mm;
• macro spray shaper inner diameter Dms: between 15 and 25 mm;
• macro spray shaper length / diameter ratio: at least approximately 4:5.
24. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1 with at least one of the following parameters:
20 • diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 50 mm;
• number of sprayers (10) in the sprayer unit (11): between 5 and 30;
• nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.4 and 1 mm;
• half-angle  between nozzles (12): between 5° and 55°.
25 25. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1 with at least one of the following parameters:
• diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 30 mm;
• number of sprayers (10) in the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 20,
• nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.6 and 0.8 mm;
• half-angle  between nozzles (12): between 15° and 35°.
30
39
26. The sprayer unit of claim 1, wherein at least sprayers (10) at the periphery of
the sprayer unit (11) are angled, with an offset angle  relative to a main
longitudinal axis of the sprayer unit (11), so that the longitudinal axes of these
sprayers diverge from the main longitudinal axis.
5
27. The sprayer unit (11) of claim 1, comprising a plurality of sprayers (10)
arranged to form a ring of sprayers (10), and so close to one another that
recesses, into which the nozzles (12) of each sprayer (10) lead, combine to form
a circular groove in the front surface (88) of the sprayer unit (11).
10
28. The sprayer unit of claim 27, wherein at least one of the following parameters :
• diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 50 mm;
• number of sprayers in the sprayer unit (11): between 5 and 30;
• diameter of the ring of sprayers (10): between 10 and 25 mm;
15 • nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.2 and 0.8 mm;
• half-angle  between nozzles: between 15° and 50°.
29. The sprayer unit of claim 27, wherein at least one of the following parameters :
• diameter D of the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 30 mm;
20 • number of sprayers in the sprayer unit (11): between 10 and 20;
• diameter of the ring of sprayers (10): between 12 and 20 mm.
• nozzle diameter D2 of the sprayers (10): between 0.4 and 0.6 mm;
• half-angle  between nozzles: between 30° and 40°.
25 30 Outlet (7), in particular a showerhead or tap, comprising the sprayer unit (11)
of one claims 1 to 29, comprising an outlet body (73) with a conduit (75)
leading from an outlet supply section (71b) to a sprayer unit connection section
(72b) at which the sprayer unit (11) is attached