APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR A SHOWERHEAD BRACKET WITH INTEGRAL SHOWERHEAD

• US 20070272770A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leber, Leland C., Luettgen, Harold A.
• Application Number:
  US11/754,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20070272770A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/451
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• 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 1/3026 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 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints
• 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 1/06 Devices for suspending or supporting the supply pipe or supply hose of a shower-bath showers per se A47K3/28

Abstract

A showerhead assembly may include a showerhead bracket for attaching a conventional handheld showerhead to the showerhead assembly. A coupling member may join the showerhead assembly to a shower pipe, and a showerhead may be joined to the showerhead bracket to deliver water or other fluid from the showerhead assembly. The showerhead bracket may be selectively rotatable and/or pivotable relative to the coupling member, the showerhead, or both to change the direction water exits the showerhead assembly relative the showerhead pipe. The showerhead assembly may operate in one or more modes, which may include at least one off mode. The showerhead assembly operation mode may be selected by rotating at least some components of the showerhead relative to the showerhead bracket. Some showerhead assemblies may include a diverter valve to selectively control the flow of fluid from the showerhead pipe to the showerhead and the handheld showerhead.

Claims

1. A showerhead assembly comprising:

a showerhead bracket comprising a fluid chamber and a slot configured to securely and releasably receive a handheld showerhead; and

a showerhead operatively associated with the showerhead bracket and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, wherein at least a portion of the showerhead is received within the fluid chamber and the showerhead is selectively movable relative to the showerhead bracket.

2. The showerhead assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the showerhead bracket further comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and upstream of the showerhead; and

the slot is located between the fluid inlet and the showerhead.

3. The showerhead assembly of claim 2, wherein the slot is aligned along a longitudinal axis of the showerhead bracket.

4. The showerhead assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the showerhead bracket further comprises a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber;

and the showerhead is located downstream of the fluid outlet.

5. The showerhead assembly of claim 4, further comprising a diverter valve located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

6. The showerhead assembly of claim 5, wherein the diverter valve may be selectively moved to control fluid flow between the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the showerhead.

7. The showerhead assembly of claim 2, further comprising a coupling member operatively associated with the showerhead bracket and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet.

8. The showerhead assembly of claim 7, wherein the coupling member is selectively movable relative to the showerhead bracket.

9. The showerhead assembly of claim 8, wherein the coupling member is selectively rotatable and pivotable relative to the showerhead bracket.

10. The showerhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the showerhead is configured to operate in at least one mode.

11. The showerhead assembly of claim 10, wherein each mode is selectable by rotating the showerhead relative to the showerhead bracket.

12. The showerhead assembly of claim 1, wherein a fluid flow through the showerhead is selectively controlled by rotating the showerhead relative to the showerhead bracket.

13. The showerhead assembly of claim 10, wherein one mode of the at least one mode is off.

14. The showerhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the showerhead is selectively rotatable and pivotable relative to the showerhead bracket.

15. The showerhead assembly of claim 4, wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the handheld showerhead.

16. The showerhead assembly of claim 4, wherein the showerhead bracket further comprises at least one additional fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and with at least one additional handheld showerhead.

17. A showerhead assembly comprising:

a showerhead bracket comprising a slot aligned along an longitudinal axis of the showerhead bracket and configured to securely and releasably receive a handheld showerhead, a fluid chamber, a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet; and

a showerhead operatively associated with the showerhead bracket and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, wherein at least a portion of the showerhead is received within the fluid chamber.

18. A method of providing a fluid spray from a shower pipe comprising:

obtaining a showerhead assembly comprising a showerhead bracket including a slot configured to securely and releasably receive a handheld showerhead, a fluid chamber, a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a showerhead in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, the showerhead operatively associated with the showerhead bracket and selectively movable relative to the showerhead bracket, and at least a portion of the showerhead is received within the fluid chamber; and

fluidly connecting the fluid inlet of the showerhead bracket with a fluid outlet of the showerhead pipe.