HIDDEN PIVOT ATTACHMENT FOR SHOWERS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 20080272591A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• 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 8,371,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/261
• 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 15/65 Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/04 Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/56 using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/561 using screw-threads being integral at least to one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/562 using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/58 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/124 Tongue and groove joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/126 Tenon and mortise joints tenons and mortises for positioning purposes B29C65/7814
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/55 sealing elements being incorporated into the joints, e.g. gaskets B29C66/52296 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 69/004 making articles by joining parts moulded in separate cavities, said parts being in said separate cavities during said joining B29C45/006, B29C51/267 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7696 Showers
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/021 Devices for positioning or connecting of water supply lines connection to the tap body E03C1/0403
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/047 : held in place by a screwed member having an internal spherical surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6858 : Locomotive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A water supply attachment is a spherically-shaped pivot attachment having a hollow passage extending between its opposing ends that includes a threaded portion for coupling to water supplies. The water supply attachment can be a hidden pivot attachment usable in various shower assemblies. The hidden pivot attachment may be used in combination with a seal cup and an attachment nut, such that the hidden pivot attachment closely fits within the void spaces of the seal cup and attachment nut, enabling the hidden pivot attachment to form a seal with the seal cup. The hidden pivot attachment can be fabricated from high-strength materials, does not require cosmetic treatment, and may enable shower assemblies to be designed with easily cleanable features.

Claims

1. A water supply attachment comprising:

a spherically-shaped pivot attachment comprising a hollow passage extending between opposing ends of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment, said hollow passage comprising at least a threaded portion for coupling to water supplies, wherein the threaded portion extends from one of said hollow passage opposing ends into said hollow passage.

2. The water supply attachment of claim 1, wherein the spherically shaped pivot attachment couples to water supplies and is configured for use in shower assemblies.

3. The water supply attachment of claim 2, further comprising an attachment nut for masking a portion of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment and for attaching to shower assemblies.

4. The water supply attachment of claim 3, wherein the attachment nut comprises at least one flange arranged on an exterior.

5. The water supply attachment of claim 3, further comprising a seal cup for supporting another portion of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment, wherein said attachment nut and seal cup are arranged at least partly within shower assemblies such that they form a chamber-like spherical interior with openings at opposing ends, said interior sized to closely accommodate said spherically-shaped pivot attachment.

6. The water supply attachment of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment comprises one or more ribs arranged about a circumference.

7. The water supply attachment of claim 6, further comprising an annular ring on the exterior surface running transversely to the ribs and the hollow passage.

8. The water supply attachment of claim 6, wherein the opening at the other passage opposing end forms an annular circumferential protrusion, said circumferential protrusion configured to accept an o-ring.

9. The water supply attachment of claim 6, further comprising a tool with an opening sized to receive a portion of the spherically-shaped pivot attachment and shaped to engage with the ribs arranged about the circumference, said tool facilitating attaching the spherically shaped pivot attachment to water supplies.

10. The water supply attachment of claim 1, further comprising an o-ring coupled to a recessed circumferential area on an exterior of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment, said recessed circumferential area running transverse to said hollow passage.

11. An assembly for showers having a hidden pivot attachment comprising:

a spherically-shaped pivot attachment comprising a hollow passage extending between opposing ends of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment, said hollow passage comprising at least a threaded portion for coupling to water supplies, wherein the threaded portion extends from one of said hollow passage opposing ends into said hollow passage;

a shower assembly cover comprising a threaded portion; and

an attachment nut comprising a threaded portion, said threaded portion comprising threading that is complementary to the shower assembly cover threaded portion;

wherein when said assembly is coupled to a water supply via said spherically-shaped pivot attachment coupling to a water supply pipe, said attachment nut and said shower assembly cover substantially enclosing the spherically-shaped pivot attachment in a chamber-like interior having opposing opened ends, and wherein the opposing opened ends are configured to allow said spherically-shaped pivot attachment to attach to the water supply and allow water supply egress.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said assembly is a showerhead.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the assembly is a shower bracket for hand showers.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the attachment nut comprises at least one flange arranged on an exterior for facilitating rotation of the attachment nut threading into or out of the shower assembly threaded portion.

15. A method for making a water supply attachment comprising:

forming a spherically-shaped pivot attachment comprising a hollow passage extending between opposing ends of said spherically-shaped pivot attachment, said hollow passage comprising at least a threaded portion for coupling to water supplies, wherein the threaded portion extends from one of said hollow passage opposing ends into said hollow passage.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the spherically-shaped pivot attachment comprises injection molding the spherically-shaped pivot attachment.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the spherically-shaped pivot attachment comprises machining the spherically-shaped pivot attachment.