Showerhead bracket

• US 10,532,369 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2019
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Quinn, Michael J., Leber, Leland C., Luettgen, Harold A., Saunders, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Murphy, Kevin F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cary, Kelsey E
• Application Number:
  US16/256,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20190151867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 137356, 4615, 4567, 4570, 248 75, 248 743, 248 79, 248212
• 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 1/3006 the controlling element being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062 takes precedence
• 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 15/40 Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/025 Water supply lines as such, e.g. shower hoses
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0412 Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle valve actuating members as such F16K31/60
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/06 Devices for suspending or supporting the supply pipe or supply hose of a shower-bath showers per se A47K3/28
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/026 with flow restricting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/085 with cylindrical plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6851 With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations

Abstract

A showerhead bracket having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a valve and a valve housing. The valve may be operably connected between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The valve includes a valve inlet port, a low flow exit port and a high flow exit port. The valve housing is disposed between the fluid inlet and the valve inlet port. The valve can selectively rotate within the valve housing.

Claims

1. A showerhead bracket comprising:

a bracket housing defining a fluid inlet attachable to a shower pipe and a fluid outlet attachable to a showerhead assembly including a showerhead handle;

a cradle configured to support the showerhead handle and selectively rotatable by a user relative to the bracket housing, the cradle including a cradle shaft for connecting the cradle to the bracket housing; and

a spring received between the bracket housing and the cradle, the spring defining a central aperture through which the cradle shaft extends and including an outer surface having teeth for preventing the cradle from rotating relative to the bracket housing when no rotational force is applied to the cradle by the user, wherein the outer surface deforms radially inward when a rotational force is applied to the cradle by the user to permit the cradle to rotate relative to the bracket housing.

2. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein:

the spring is received within a cavity defined by the cradle and the bracket housing; and

the teeth engage corresponding teeth on a wall at least partially defining the cavity to prevent the cradle from rotating relative to the bracket housing.

3. The showerhead bracket of claim 2, wherein engagement of the teeth and the corresponding teeth prevents the cradle from rotating relative to the bracket housing when no rotational force is applied to the cradle.

4. The showerhead bracket of claim 2, wherein spring and frictional forces between the teeth and the corresponding teeth maintain the position of the teeth relative to the corresponding teeth when the showerhead handle is resting in the cradle and no rotational force is applied by a user.

5. The showerhead bracket of claim 2, wherein the teeth and the corresponding teeth are uniform and symmetrical.

6. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein the spring defines recesses to facilitate deformation of the spring.

7. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein:

the bracket housing defines a hollow bracket shaft configured to receive the cradle shaft; and

the mating of the cradle shaft with the bracket shaft rotatably connects the cradle to the bracket housing.

8. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket housing remains fixed in place when the rotational force is applied to the cradle.

9. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein the cradle is rotatable in two directions.

10. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein the teeth are uniform and symmetrical.

11. The showerhead bracket of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a central hub and an interaction rim including the teeth.

12. A showerhead bracket comprising:

a bracket housing configured to engage with a water source and a fluid delivery device;

a cradle configured to support the fluid delivery device, the bracket housing and the cradle defining a socket containing internal teeth; and

a deformable member positioned within the socket, the deformable member including external teeth that engage the internal teeth to allow the cradle to rotate relative to the bracket housing when a rotational force exceeding a force exerted by a weight of the fluid delivery device is applied to the cradle.

13. The showerhead bracket of claim 12, wherein engagement of the internal teeth and external teeth prevents the cradle from rotating relative to the bracket housing when no rotational force is applied to the cradle.

14. The showerhead bracket of claim 12, wherein the cradle includes a cradle shaft and the bracket housing includes a hollow bracket shaft configured to receive the cradle shaft, and the mating of the cradle shaft with the bracket shaft rotatably connects the cradle to the bracket housing.

15. The showerhead bracket of claim 14, wherein the deformable member defines a central aperture through which the cradle shaft extends.

16. The showerhead bracket of claim 12, wherein the bracket housing is fixed in place when the rotational force is applied to the cradle.

17. The showerhead bracket of claim 12, wherein spring and frictional forces between the external teeth and the internal teeth maintain the position of the external teeth relative to the internal teeth when the fluid delivery device is resting in the cradle and no rotational force is applied by a user.

18. The showerhead back of claim 12, wherein the cradle is rotatable in two directions.

19. The showerhead bracket of claim 12, wherein the external teeth and the internal teeth are uniform and symmetrical.

20. The showerhead bracket of claim 12, wherein the deformable member comprises a central hub and an interaction rim including the external teeth.