CONVERGING SPRAY SHOWERHEAD

• US 20070246577A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leber, Leland C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,733,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/589
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/16 having 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 1/26 with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/652 whereby the jet can be oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/68 Arrangements for adjusting the position of spray heads B05B15/628, B05B15/652, B05B15/656 take precedence

Abstract

Showerheads with two or more nozzles configured to deliver water streams that converge at one or more regions. Prior to convergence, the converging water streams may generally retain a recognizable shape determined by the type of nozzle. Upon convergence, at least portions of the converging water streams may substantially disperse into multiple individual water droplets. The nozzles, or a face plate or other components joining the nozzles to a showerhead, may be selectively movable to selectively move the region or regions of convergence closer to or further away from the showerhead, or to convert the nozzles from delivering converging streams to delivering non-converging streams or vice versa. Some showerheads may further include other nozzles for delivering water from the showerhead in other modes, such a high pressure mode, a pulsating mode, a mist mode, and so on.

Claims

1. A showerhead comprising:

a water inlet; and

a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the water inlet and at least two of the plurality of nozzles configured such that water streams exiting the at least two of the plurality of nozzles converge at least at one region to substantially convert at least portions of the water streams into multiple water droplets.

2. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein each region occurs approximately eighteen inches or less from the showerhead.

3. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein water streams having a common convergence region have a substantially similar shape.

4. The showerhead of claim 3, wherein the shape is selected from the group consisting of a fan, flat, conical, partially conical, helical, or cruciform shaped water stream.

5. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein water streams having a common convergence region have a substantially similar flow rate.

6. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising a body defining at least one flow path for fluidly joining the water inlet to at least one of the plurality of nozzles.

7. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising a showerhead coupling assembly selectively operatively associated with the water inlet.

8. The showerhead of claim 7, wherein the showerhead coupling assembly comprises a ball joint member pivotally connected to a coupling member.

9. The showerhead of claim 8, wherein selectively operatively associating the showerhead coupling assembly with the water inlet comprises selectively joining the coupling member to the water inlet.

10. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising a threaded portion proximate the water inlet.

11. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the showerhead includes at least two modes of operation.

12. The showerhead of claim 11, wherein at least one of the two modes of operation comprises delivering water streams from the at least two of the plurality of nozzles.

13. The showerhead of claim 12, wherein at least one other of the two modes of operation comprises delivering a pulsating stream from the plurality of nozzles.

14. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the at least two of the plurality of nozzles includes at least five nozzles configured such that water streams existing the at least five nozzles converge at a common region to substantially convert at least portions of the water streams from the at least five nozzles into multiple water droplets.

15. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one region is selectively movable relative to the showerhead.

16. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two nozzles is selectively movable such that its water stream does not converge with the water streams of the other of the at least two nozzles.

17. The showerhead of claim 15, wherein moving the at least one selectively movable region comprises pivoting the at least two nozzles relative to a showerhead face.

18. The showerhead of claim 15, further comprising a flexible face plate selectively movable from at least a first position to a second position, the at least two nozzles joined to the flexible face plate, wherein moving the at least one selectively movable region comprises moving the showerhead plate from a first position to a second position.