Shower head assembly

• US 20020109023A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bachman, Timothy A., Gillette, William J., Thomas, Gary J., Krajec, Russell S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,641,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/562
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1663 by relative translatory movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/528 by resilient deformation of the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/652 whereby the jet can be oriented
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/025 Water supply lines as such, e.g. shower hoses
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/18 Articulated hoses, e.g. composed of a series of rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/12 Flexible outlets

Abstract

A shower head having a plurality of nozzles capable of attachment to a flexible shower arm. The shower head has a unique nozzle construction that allows for the manipulation of an external flexible nozzle to remove mineral deposits and has an internal, rigid nozzle structure for efficiently forming an aesthetically pleasing water stream. The shower head may have two available flow configurations which are selectable by a valve.

Claims

1. A shower head, comprising:

a lower shell having at least one aperture and said lower shell defining an exterior surface;

at least one external nozzle protruding through said at least one aperture and extending below the exterior surface of said lower shell;

at least one inner nozzle extending into said at least one external nozzle;

an inner nozzle cover having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface connected with said at least one inner nozzle to form a water channel; and

an upper shell connected to said lower shell to form an internal cavity housing therein at least a portion of said at least one external nozzle, said at least one inner nozzle, and said inner nozzle cover.

2. The shower head of claim 1, wherein a portion of said inner nozzle extends below said exterior surface of said lower shell.

3. The shower head of claim 1, wherein said at least one external nozzle is a rubber nozzle.

4. The shower head of claim 1, further comprising a rubber nozzle layer forming a seal between said lower shell and said at least one rigid nozzle.

5. The shower head of claim 1, wherein said inner nozzle cover further comprises at least one wall disposed within said water channel defining a plurality of water channels.

6. The shower head of claim 5, wherein said at least one wall defines two water channels.

7. The shower head of claim 5, further comprising a valve operably connected to said plurality of water channels.

8. The shower head of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inner nozzles and a plurality of external nozzles corresponding to said plurality of inner nozzles.

9. The shower head of claim 8, wherein said plurality of inner nozzles further comprises at least two different nozzle structures to form at least two different streams of water.

10. A shower head assembly, comprising:

a lower shell having at least one aperture and said lower shell defining an exterior surface;

an external nozzle layer having at least one external nozzle protruding through said at least one aperture and extending below the exterior surface of said lower shell;

an inner nozzle insert having at least one water channel and at least one inner nozzle corresponding with and extending into said at least one external nozzle; and

an upper shell connected to said lower shell to form an internal cavity housing therein at least a portion of said external nozzle layer and said inner nozzle insert.

11. The shower head assembly of claim 10, wherein said rigid nozzle insert further comprises at least one wall within said inner nozzle insert defining a plurality of water channels.

12. The shower head assembly of claim 10, further comprising a valve operably connected to said plurality of water channels.

13. The shower head assembly of claim 10 wherein said inner nozzle insert further comprises a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles.

16. The shower head assembly of claim 15, wherein said first nozzle means is a rigid nozzle and said second means is an external nozzle layer.

18. The shower assembly of claim 17, wherein said enlarged shower head has a weight of less than 1.5 pounds.

19. The shower assembly of claim 17 wherein said plurality of water nozzles further comprises:

an external nozzle having an upper and a lower portion; and

an inner nozzle having an upper and a lower portion, said inner nozzle nested within said rigid nozzle;

said lower portion of said external nozzle extending below said lower portion of said inner nozzle defining a void space within said external nozzle between said lower portion of said inner nozzle and said lower portion of said external nozzle.

14. A shower head nozzle assembly, comprising:

an external nozzle having an upper and a lower portion; and

an inner nozzle having an upper and a lower portion, a portion of said inner nozzle being nested within said external nozzle;

said lower portion of said external nozzle extending below said lower portion of said inner nozzle defining a void space within said external nozzle between said lower portion of said inner nozzle and said lower portion of said external nozzle.

15. A shower head assembly, comprising:

an outer housing having at least one aperture defining an internal cavity;

a first nozzle means for providing consistent directional control of a water stream through said at least one aperture, said means located within said internal cavity; and

a second nozzle means for sealing said outer housing and permitting removal of mineral deposits from said shower head assembly.

17. A shower assembly, comprising:

an enlarged shower head having a diameter of between about 6 and 10 inches, said shower head having a plurality of water nozzles; and

a flexible arm assembly operably attached to said enlarged shower head.

20. An enlarged shower head assembly, comprising:

an outer housing having a diameter of between about 6 and 10 inches, said outer housing having a lower surface, said lower surface having a plurality of apertures;

a first set of nozzles disposed within said housing and protruding through said plurality of apertures in said outer housing; and

a second set of nozzles disposed within said housing and protruding through said plurality of apertures in said outer housing.

21. The enlarged shower head of claim 20 wherein said first set of nozzles provide for flow of water at a first flow configuration and said second set of nozzles provide for flow of water at a second flow configuration.