Method for assembling a showerhead

• US 10,478,837 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cacka, Joseph W., Leber, Leland C., Quinn, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwu, Davis D
• Application Number:
  US15/208,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20160318046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 239 11
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1663 by relative translatory movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/169 having three or more selectively effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/04 driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet B05B3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0405 enabling multiple spray patterns
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to a method of producing a massaging spray mode for a showerhead. The method includes fluidly connecting a plurality of nozzles to a fluid source where each of the first plurality of nozzles are opened substantially simultaneously and fluidly disconnecting the first plurality of nozzles from the fluid source where each of the nozzles within the first plurality of nozzles are closed substantially simultaneously. Additionally, the present disclosure is related to a method of assembling a showerhead. The method includes connecting together two or more flow directing plates to create an engine for the showerhead; placing the engine within a spray head a number of degrees out of phase from an operational orientation; rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation; and connecting the engine to the spray head by a fastener received through a back wall of the spray head.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a showerhead comprising:

connecting together two or more flow directing plates to create an engine for the showerhead;

placing the engine within a spray head a number of degrees out of phase from an operational orientation;

rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation; and

connecting the engine to the spray head by a fastener received through a back wall of an outer housing of the spray head, wherein connecting the engine to the spray head further comprises;

aligning a keyed washer with a corresponding keyed protrusion on the engine; and

inserting the fastener through the keyed washer and the back wall of the spray head.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the keyed washer interacts with the spray head to define a rotational range for the engine within the spray head.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein rotating the engine to discrete locations within the rotational range corresponds to changes in a mode for the showerhead.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting a cap to the spray head, wherein the cap covers the fastener.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising aligning a protrusion on the keyed washer with a key seat formed in the spray head.

6. A method of assembling a showerhead comprising:

connecting together two or more flow directing plates to create an engine for the showerhead;

placing the engine within a spray head a number of degrees out of phase from an operational orientation, wherein placing the engine within the spray head the number of degrees out of phase from the operational orientation further comprises aligning at least one positioning tab of the spray head with a ledge extending from a partial perimeter of the engine;

rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation; and

connecting the engine to the spray head by a fastener received through a back wall of an outer housing of the spray head.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation includes rotating the ledge of the engine with respect to the at least one positioning tab.

8. A method of assembling a showerhead comprising:

connecting together two or more flow directing plates to create an engine for the showerhead;

placing the engine within a spray head a number of degrees out of phase from an operational orientation;

rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation; and

connecting the engine to the spray head by a fastener received through a back wall of an outer housing of the spray head; and

connecting a cap to the spray head and covering the fastener.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation includes rotating a ledge of the engine relative to a positioning tab of the spray head.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the number of degrees comprises 180 degrees.

11. A method of assembling a showerhead comprising:

connecting together two or more flow directing plates to create an engine for the showerhead, wherein connecting together two or more flow directing plates to create the engine for the showerhead further comprises connecting at least one turbine;

placing the engine within a spray head a number of degrees out of phase from an operational orientation;

rotating the engine the number of degrees into the operational orientation; and

connecting the engine to the spray head by a fastener received through a back wall of an outer housing of the spray head.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the spray head to a fluid inlet.

12. The method of 11, further comprising connecting a cover plate with a plurality of outlets to the spray head.

14. A method for assembling a showerhead comprising:

positioning a spray head engine within a spray head housing out of phase from an operational position within the spray head, the spray head housing defining an external rear surface of the showerhead;

rotating the spray head engine a predetermined distance into the operational position; and

securing the spray head engine to the spray head housing with a fastener inserted through an aperture defined in a back wall of the spray head housing, wherein securing the spray head engine to the spray head housing comprises securing the fastener to the spray head engine and the spray head housing.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting a faceplate to the spray head housing, wherein the engine is captured between the faceplate and the back wall of the spray head housing.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined distance is 180 degrees.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing rotation of the spray head engine in at least one direction once the spray head engine is in the operational position.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising limiting rotation of the spray head engine beyond a predetermined threshold.

19. A method of testing a showerhead, comprising:

assembling a showerhead using the method of claim 14;

testing operation of the showerhead; and

removing and replacing the spray head engine, via the fastener, when the showerhead fails to operate.

20. A method for assembling a showerhead comprising:

positioning a spray head engine within a spray head housing out of phase from an operational position within the spray head, the spray head housing defining an external rear surface of the showerhead;

rotating the spray head engine a predetermined distance into the operational position; and

securing the spray head engine to the spray head housing with a fastener inserted through an aperture defined in a back wall of the spray head housing, wherein securing the spray head engine to the spray head housing further comprises;

aligning a keyed washer with a corresponding keyed protrusion on the spray head engine; and

inserting the fastener through the keyed washer and the aperture defined in the back wall of the spray head housing.