Multi-functional shower head

• US 20030121993A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Waterpik Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Haverstraw, Jay A., Harris, Robin D., Yi, Allen, Cacka, Joseph W., Male, Robert B., Thomas, Gary J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,739,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/443
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/044 Slits, i.e. narrow openings defined by two straight and parallel lips; Elongated outlets for producing very wide discharges, e.g. fluid curtains B05B1/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1681 with a selecting mechanism comprising a gate valve, sliding valve or cock and a lift valve
• 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 1/3436 the interface being a plane perpendicular to the outlet axis
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• 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: B05B 7/0425 without any source of compressed gas, e.g. the air being sucked by the pressurised liquid

Abstract

A shower head having a plurality of spray modes and unique controls to allow the selection of the desired mode. The shower head includes several unique features to allow the inclusion of several different spray modes, such as wide spray, medium spray, center spray, champagne spray, high speed pulsating spray, low speed pulsating spray, and mist. A waterfall mode can be implemented. The shower head includes a flow control valve that controls the pressure of the water flow, and acts to divert water to a mode selector or to a separate spray mode, such as the mist mode. The flow control valve diverts water between the mode selector and the separate spray mode. It also allows a combination of the modes controlled by the mode selector and the separate spray mode. The shower head also includes a mode selector The mode selector transfers or routes fluids from the flow control valve to any number of individual or a combination of flow spray mode outlets

Claims

1. A shower head for directing the flow of water, said shower head comprising:

a housing having an inlet flow path, a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, and an outlet flow path;

said inlet flow path in fluid communication with said inlet port;

said outlet flow path in fluid communication with said outlet port, wherein water flows from said inlet flow path, through said chamber, and out said outlet flow path;

a flow control valve having a shuttle portion and a knob portion, said shuttle portion positioned in said chamber and said knob portion extending from said chamber, said shuttle portion and said knob portion operably connected such that selective actuation of said knob portion moves said shuttle portion in said chamber, and said shuttle portion defining a restrictor; and

wherein upon actuation of said knob portion, said shuttle portion moves in said chamber and causes said restrictor to at least partially cover said inlet port to restrict the flow of water into the outlet flow path.

2. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said shuttle valve rotates in said chamber to cause said restrictor to cover said inlet port.

3. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said restrictor at least partially covers said outlet port to restrict the flow of water into the outlet flow path.

4. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said flow restrictor is a circumferential ramp formed on said shuttle.

5. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein.

said flow restrictor extends from the end of the shuttle and has a middle section with opposing edges, each of said opposing edges having laterally extending flanges to form an I-shaped cross section,

upon actuation of said knob portion, one of said lateral flanges at least partially covers said inlet port to restrict the flow of water into said chamber

6. The shower head as defined in claim 5, wherein:

said middle section defines an aperture.

7. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said chamber defines a second outlet port;

a second outlet flow path is in fluid communication with said second outlet port and extends from said chamber;

said shuttle defines a diverting portion, said shuttle movable to a first position with respect to said inlet port where said diverter portion diverts water flow to said first outlet port and said shuttle movable to a second position with respect to said inlet port where said diverter portion diverts water flow to said second outlet port.

8. The shower head as defined in claim 7, wherein said shuttle rotates in said chamber to move said diverter portion.

9. The shower head as defined in claim 7, wherein said shuttle translates in said chamber to move said diverter portion.

10. The shower head as defined in claim 7, wherein said diverter portion is an o-ring sealing engaged with said chamber

11. The shower head as defined in claim 7, wherein said diverter portion is a channel formed in shuttle.

12. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet port is a plurality of ports.

13. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein.

said shuttle and said knob portion are operably connected together by a threaded means,

said knob portion is rotatably received in the shower head,

said shuttle is rotationally restrained in said chamber and can translate along said chamber;

and

upon rotation of said knob portion, said threaded means causes said shuttle to translate along said chamber.

14. The shower head as defined in claim 13, wherein:

said knob portion defines an internally-threaded cavity;

said shuttle portion defines an externally-threaded post; and

wherein said post is received in said cavity.

15. The shower head as defined in claim 13, wherein:

said knob portion defines an externally-threaded post;

said shuttle portion defines an internally-threaded cavity; and

wherein said post is received in said cavity.

16. The shower head as defined in claim 7, wherein:

said shuttle is movable to a position between said first and second positions where said diverter portion diverts water to both of said first and second outlet ports

17. A shower head for directing the flow of water, said shower head comprising.

a housing having an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path,

a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port,

said inlet flow path in fluid communication with said inlet port;

said outlet flow path in fluid communication with said outlet port, wherein water flows from said inlet flow path, through said chamber, and out said outlet flow path;

a flow control valve positioned in said chamber and axially movable between a first and second positions, said first position allowing flow from said inlet flow path to a first outlet ports and said second position allowing flow from said inlet flow path to a second outlet ports, said valve being biased by a bias means to said second position; and

wherein in said first position said water flow in said chamber creates sufficient pressure on said valve to overcome said bias force and maintain said valve in said second position.

18. A shower head for directing the flow of water, said shower head comprising:

a housing having an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path;

a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port;

said inlet flow path in fluid communication with said inlet port

said outlet flow path in fluid communication with said outlet port, wherein water flows from said inlet flow path, through said chamber, and out said outlet flow path;

a shuttle portion, having an outer surface, rotatably positioned in said chamber, said shuttle defining a channel in said outer surface, said channel extending around said valve in a helical manner, and being in fluid communication with said inlet port, said channel being in alignment along at least part of its length with at least one of said outlet ports; and

wherein rotation of said shuttle brings into alignment at least a portion of said channel with at least one of said outlet ports to divert water from said inlet port to said one of said outlet ports, and continued rotation of said shuttle brings said channel into alignment with the other of said outlet ports to divert water from said inlet flow path to said other of said outlet ports

19. A shower head as defined in claim 18, wherein:

said channel aligns with more than one outlet port.

20. A shower head as defined in claim 18, wherein said channel at least partially aligns with more than one outlet port.

21. A shower head having a plurality of spray modes for exiting water, said shower head comprising:

a housing having a flow path for incoming water, a mode selector, and a plurality of outlet flow paths, each of said outlet flow paths leading to a particular spray mode;

said flow path for incoming water in fluid communications with said mode selector, and said plurality of outlet flow paths in fluid communications with said mode selector;

said mode selector comprising;

a spool valve having a hollow inner core and defining a plurality of outlet apertures;

a manifold defining a tubular recess, having a side wall, for rotatably receiving said spool valve, a plurality of mode apertures formed in said side wall of said recess, each of said apertures in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet flow paths and spray modes;

said spool valve rotatable in said manifold to align at least one outlet aperture with one of said mode apertures to allow water flow from said mode selector through said spool to said outlet flow path associated with said aligned outlet and mode apertures.

22. A shower head as defined in claim 21, wherein:

each of said outlet apertures aligns with at least one of said mode apertures to form pairs of aligned apertures.

23. A shower head as defined in claim 21, wherein:

said spool seals with said wall of said recess to prevent leaks between adjacent apertures.

24. A shower head as defined in claim 21, wherein:

said housing defines a reservoir;

said manifold is positioned in said reservoir.

25. A shower head as defined in claim 24, wherein

said manifold defines a separate lobe for each aperture formed in the side wall of said recess.

26. A shower head as defined in claim 21, wherein:

said spool can be rotated to align different pairs of aligned apertures.

27. A shower head having a plurality of spray modes for exiting water, said shower head comprising.

a housing having a flow path for incoming water, a mode selector, and a plurality of outlet flow paths, each of said outlet flow paths leading to a particular spray mode;

said flow path for incoming water in fluid communications with said mode selector, and said plurality of outlet flow paths in fluid communications with said mode selector;

said mode selector comprising;

a reservoir defining a plurality of mode apertures, each of said apertures in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet flow paths and spray modes;

a valve assembly defining at least one valve arm, said at least one valve arm having a valve seal and being movable between a first position in sealing engagement with said respective mode aperture and a second position disengaged from said respective mode aperture, said valve arm biasing said valve seal in engagement with said respective mode aperture;

a cam shaft rotatably mounted in said reservoir and defining at least one cam protrusion aligned along said cam shaft to engage said at least one valve arm, wherein said rotation of said cam shaft causes said at least one cam protrusion to engage said at least one valve arm and move said at least one valve arm from said first position to said second position to allow fluid flow through said outlet aperture.

28. A shower head as defined in claim 27, wherein:

said cam shaft defines a plurality of protrusions;

said valve assembly defines a plurality of valve arms; and

each of said protrusions is positioned to engage a particular valve arm upon rotation of said spool.

29. A shower head as defined in claim 28, wherein:

more than one protrusion can be positioned on said cam to engage more than one valve arm simultaneously.

30. A shower head as defined in claim 27, wherein:

said at least one valve arm is a cantilever beam attached at one end to said reservoir.

31. A shower head as defined in claim 30, wherein:

said reservoir has a floor;

said mode apertures are formed in said floor; and

a collar is positioned around each of said mode apertures for engagement with said valve seal.

32. A shower head as defined in claim 30, wherein.

said reservoir has a floor, and

said mode apertures are formed in said floor in two rows.

33. A mist-creating outlet aperture in a shower head for converting an incoming water flow into mist, said mist creating outlet aperture comprising

a first incoming portion, a middle portion, and an outlet portion;

said first portion has an end wall forming an aperture therethrough;

said middle portion extends from said end wall of said first portion to an outwardly-diverging conical rim forming said outlet portion;

opposing grooves are formed in the side wall of said first portion and extend along said first portion, said opposing grooves continue to extend along said end wall and terminate in a circumferential recess, having a base, formed in said end wall about said aperture;

a plug positioned in said incoming portion and engaging said end wall to force water through said opposing grooves and into converging streams at said recess, said converging streams impacting to form mist, and flowing through said middle portion and out from said outlet portion.

34. A mist-creating outlet aperture in a shower head as defined in claim 33, wherein:

said opposing grooves intersect said aperture tangentially on opposite sides to form said circumferential recess.

35. A mist-creating outlet aperture in a shower head as defined in claim 33, wherein:

said middle portion has a length, said length being approximately 0.065 inches.

36. A mist-creating outlet aperture in a shower head as defined in claim 33, wherein

said circumferential recess has a diameter of approximately in the range of 0.025 inches to 0.060 inches.

37. A vacuum breaker positioned in the bracket of a hand-held shower and activated by water pressure, the bracket having an outer housing, a pivot ball in said housing for attachment to a shower pipe, a stand-tube having a rim in said housing spaced from said pivot ball, and a space formed between said housing and said stand tube, said vacuum breaker comprising:

a pivot ball support defining a bore therethrough, a first end for engaging the pivot ball, and a second end having an outwardly conical shape, and at least one aperture formed in said second end in said conical shape;

a support ring positioned in said housing adjacent said standtube, said support ring defining a central aperture;

a flexible washer having a circular shape and defining a central aperture and a circumferential rim, with a web extending between said central aperture and said rim, said flexible washer positioned between said pivot ball support and said support ring with said central aperture in alignment with said central aperture of said support ring;

said web of said washer movable from a first position with no water pressure where said web engages said second end of said pivot ball support to sealingly cover said aperture formed therein, and a second position under water pressure where said web sealingly engages the rim of said stand tube and uncovers said aperture in said second end of said pivot ball support to allow water to flow through said aligned central apertures.

38. A vacuum breaker as defined in claim 37, wherein:

said second end of said pivot ball support defines a plurality of apertures

39. A vacuum breaker as defined in claim 38, wherein:

said second end of said pivot ball support defines a tip formed inside said support, said tip circumferentially diverting water to said apertures in said second end of said pivot ball support

40. A vacuum breaker as defined in claim 37, wherein:

said pivot ball support, said washer and said ring each define a diameter, each of said diameters are smaller than the diameter of the pivot ball

41. A shower head for directing the flow of water to a plurality of spray modes, said shower head comprising:

a housing having an inlet flow path, a chamber, and a first outlet flow path, a mode selector, a plurality of mode channels, and a plurality of outlet mode apertures;

said inlet flow path and said first outlet flow path each being in fluid communication with said chamber, said first outlet flow path also being in fluid communications with said mode selector, said plurality of mode channels each being in fluid communications with said mode selector and said outlet mode apertures;

a flow control valve positioned in said chamber and actuable to control the pressure of the water flow therethrough to said first outlet mode path;

said mode selector actuable to select at least one of said mode channels,

a first turn knob on said housing operably connected to said flow control valve to allow selective manipulation of said flow control valve; and

a second turn knob on said housing operably connected to said mode selector to allow selective manipulation of said mode selector.

42. A shower head as defined in claim 41, wherein:

said housing has a substantially triangular front face, having opposing lower sides; and

said first turn knob is on one lower side and said second turn knob is on the other of the lower sides.

43. A shower head for directing the flow of water to a plurality of spray modes, said shower head comprising:

a housing having an inlet flow path, a chamber, and a first outlet flow path and a second outlet flow path, a mode selector, a plurality of mode channels, and a plurality of outlet spray mode apertures;

said inlet flow path, said first outlet flow path, and said second outlet flow path each being in fluid communication with said chamber, said first outlet flow path also being in fluid communications with said mode selector, said plurality of mode channels each being in fluid communications with said mode selector and said outlet mode apertures;

said second outlet flow path in fluid communication with a unique spray mode aperture,

a flow control valve positioned in said chamber and actuable to control the pressure of the water flow therethrough to said first outlet mode path, and including a diverter portion for diverting water flow to either the first outlet flow path or the second outlet flow path, or a combination of both said first and second outlet flow paths,

said mode selector actuable to select at least one of said mode channels.

44. A shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein said unique spray mode is a mist spray mode.

45. A shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein.

said housing has a substantially triangular front face, having opposing lower sides;

and

said first turn knob is on one lower side and said second turn knob is on the other of the lower sides.

46. A shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein said housing is a spray head unit including a front channel plate and a rear channel plate, said front and rear channel plates sealingly attached together, said mode channels formed between said front and rear channel plates.

47. A shower head as defined in claim 46, wherein said flow control valve and said mode selector are positioned on the back of said rear channel plate.

48. A shower head as defined in claim 46, wherein said spray head unit is encased in a front housing portion and a rear housing portion

49. A shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein:

said spray mode apertures include groups of apertures for separate spray modes, including at least champagne mode, wide-band normal spray mode, and pulsating mode.

50. A shower head as defined in claim 43, further comprising:

an outlet mode slot formed in said housing for emitting a waterfall spray mode.

51. A shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein

said flow control valve comprises:

a shuttle portion and a knob portion, said shuttle portion positioned in said chamber and said knob portion extending from said chamber, said shuttle portion and said knob portion operably connected such that selective actuation of said knob portion moves said shuttle portion in said chamber, and said shuttle portion defining a restrictor; and

wherein upon actuation of said knob portion, said shuttle portion moves in said chamber and causes said restrictor to at least partially cover said inlet flow path at said chamber to restrict the flow of water into the outlet flow path.

52. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said shuttle valve rotates in said chamber to cause said restrictor to cover said inlet flow path.

53. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said restrictor at least partially covers said first outlet flow path to restrict the flow of water into the first outlet flow path.

54. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said flow restrictor is a circumferential ramp formed on said shuttle.

55. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said flow restrictor extends from the end of the shuttle and has a middle section with opposing edges, each of said opposing edges having laterally extending flanges to form an I-shaped cross section,

upon actuation of said knob portion, one of said lateral flanges at least partially covers said inlet flow path to restrict the flow of water into said chamber.

56. The shower head as defined in claim 55, wherein:

said middle section defines an aperture.

57. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said shuttle defines a diverting portion, said shuttle movable to a first position with respect to said inlet flow path where said diverter portion diverts water flow to said first outlet flow path and said shuttle movable to a second position with respect to said inlet flow path where said diverter portion diverts water flow to said second outlet flow path.

58. The shower head as defined in claim 57, wherein said shuttle rotates in said chamber to move said diverter portion.

59. The shower head as defined in claim 57, wherein said shuttle translates in said chamber to move said diverter portion.

60. The shower head as defined in claim 57, wherein said diverter portion is an o-ring sealing engaged with said chamber.

61. The shower head as defined in claim 57, wherein said diverter portion is a channel formed in shuttle

62. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein said inlet port is a plurality of ports.

63. The shower head as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said shuttle and said knob portion are operably connected together by a threaded means,

said knob portion is rotatably received in the shower head,

said shuttle is rotationally restrained in said chamber and can translate along said chamber, and

upon rotation of said knob portion, said threaded means causes said shuttle to translate along said chamber.

64. The shower head as defined in claim 63, wherein:

said knob portion defines an internally-threaded cavity;

said shuttle portion defines an externally-threaded post; and

wherein said post is received in said cavity.

65. The shower head as defined in claim 63, wherein:

said knob portion defines an externally-threaded post,

said shuttle portion defines an internally-threaded cavity; and

wherein said post is received in said cavity.

66. The shower head as defined in claim 67, wherein:

said shuttle is movable to a position between said first and second positions where said diverter portion diverts water to both of said first and second outlet ports.

67. The shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein

a flow control valve is positioned in said chamber and is axially movable between a first and second positions, said first position allowing flow from said inlet flow path to a first outlet ports and said second position allowing flow from said inlet flow path to a second outlet ports, said valve being biased by a bias means to said second position;

and

wherein in said first position said water flow in said chamber creates sufficient pressure on said valve to overcome said bias force and maintain said valve in said second position.

68. A shower head as defined in claim 43, wherein said mode selector comprises:

a spool valve having a hollow inner core and defining a plurality of outlet apertures;

a manifold defining a tubular recess, having a side wall, for rotatably receiving said spool valve, a plurality of mode apertures formed in said side wall of said recess, each of said apertures in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet flow paths and spray modes;

said spool valve rotatable in said manifold to align at least one outlet aperture with one of said mode apertures to allow water flow from said mode selector through said spool to said outlet flow path associated with said aligned outlet and mode apertures.

69. A shower head as defined in claim 68, wherein:

each of said outlet apertures aligns with at least one of said mode apertures to form pairs of aligned apertures

70. A shower head as defined in claim 68, wherein said spool seals with said wall of said recess to prevent leaks between adjacent apertures.

71. A shower head as defined in claim 68, wherein said housing defines a reservoir;

said manifold is positioned in said reservoir

72. A shower head as defined in claim 71, wherein said manifold defines a separate-lobe for each aperture formed in the side wall of said recess.

73. A shower head as defined in claim 68, wherein:

said spool can be rotated to align different pairs of aligned apertures

74. A shower head as defined in claim 43, said mode selector comprising:

a reservoir defining a plurality of mode apertures, each of said apertures in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet flow paths and spray modes;

a valve assembly defining at least one valve arm, said at least one valve arm having a valve seal and being movable between a first position in sealing engagement with said respective mode aperture and a second position disengaged from said respective mode aperture, said valve arm biasing said valve seal in engagement with said respective mode aperture;

a cam shaft rotatably mounted in said reservoir and defining at least one cam protrusion aligned along said cam shaft to engage said at least one valve arm, wherein said rotation of said cam shaft causes said at least one cam protrusion to engage said at least one valve arm and move said at least one valve arm from said first position to said second position to allow fluid flow through said outlet aperture

75. A shower head as defined in claim 74, wherein

said cam shaft defines a plurality of protrusions;

said valve assembly defines a plurality of valve arms; and

each of said protrusions is positioned to engage a particular valve arm upon rotation of said spool.

76. A shower head as defined in claim 75, wherein:

more than one protrusion can be positioned on said cam to engage more than one valve arm simultaneously.

77. A shower head as defined in claim 74, wherein:

said at least one valve arm is a cantilever beam attached at one end to said reservoir.

78. A shower head as defined in claim 77, wherein:

said reservoir has a floor;

said mode apertures are formed in said floor; and

a collar is positioned around each of said mode apertures for engagement with said valve seal.

79. A shower head as defined in claim 77, wherein

said reservoir has a floor;

and

said mode apertures are formed in said floor in two rows

80. A shower head having a plurality of spray modes comprising:

a housing defining an incoming flow path for a fluid,

a diverter valve positioned in the incoming flow path, a mode actuator positioned downstream of the diverter valve, a mist mode flow path positioned downstream of the diverter valve,

the diverter valve in selective fluid communication with the mode actuator and the mist mode flow path, and actuable to select between diverting the fluid between the mode actuator and the mist mode flow path, or to both the mode actuator and the mist mode flow path.

81. A shower head as defined in claim 80, wherein the mode actuator comprises:

a housing having an outlet port;

a valve assembly having a movable valve arm defining a sealing end covering the outlet port;

a rotatable cam shaft defining lobes; and

wherein rotation of same cam shaft engages one of the lobes and moves the valve arm to disengage the sealing end from the outlet port.