LOW-SPEED PULSATING SHOWERHEAD
First Claim
1. A showerhead comprisinga housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, the housing further defining an annular recess and having a first engagement feature provided in a sidewall defining the annular recess;
- a turbine received within the chamber; and
a shutter least partially received within the annular recess of the housing, operatively associated with the turbine, and having a second engagement feature, whereinrotation of the turbine causes rotation of the shutter;
engagement of the first engagement feature with the second engagement feature causes a rotation rate of the shutter that is less than a rotation rate of the turbine; and
as the shutter rotates, the shutter fluidly connects and disconnects the fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A showerhead may include a housing, a turbine, and a shutter. The housing may include a fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet, and a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and one or more outlets. The turbine and shutter may be placed in the cavity. The shutter may include at least one opening. The shutter may selectively cover and uncover fluid outlets, thus selectively fluidly connecting the fluid outlets with the chamber. Water flowing through the housing causes the turbine to spin. As the turbine spins, the shutter rotates at a slower speed than the turbine to produce a periodic interruption of water flow through the outlets by covering and uncovering the outlets as the shutter rotates within the housing.
138 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A showerhead comprising
a housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, the housing further defining an annular recess and having a first engagement feature provided in a sidewall defining the annular recess; -
a turbine received within the chamber; and a shutter least partially received within the annular recess of the housing, operatively associated with the turbine, and having a second engagement feature, wherein rotation of the turbine causes rotation of the shutter; engagement of the first engagement feature with the second engagement feature causes a rotation rate of the shutter that is less than a rotation rate of the turbine; and as the shutter rotates, the shutter fluidly connects and disconnects the fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A showerhead, comprising
a housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, the housing including a first engagement feature disposed radially inward with respect to the at least one fluid outlet; -
a turbine received within the chamber; a shutter received within the chamber and operatively associated with the turbine, the shutter including a second engagement feature;
whereinrotation of the turbine causes rotation of the shutter; engagement of the first engagement feature with the second engagement feature causes a rotation rate of the shutter to be less than a rotation rate of the turbine; and as the shutter rotates, the shutter fluidly connects and disconnects the fluid inlet and the at least one fluid outlet.
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20. A showerhead, comprising
a housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, the housing including a first engagement feature disposed radially inward with respect to the at least one fluid outlet; - and
a cycloidal drive comprising a turbine received within the chamber, the turbine including an eccentric cam; and a shutter received within the chamber and operatively associated with the turbine, the shutter including a second engagement feature and an opening for receiving the eccentric cam, wherein rotation of the turbine causes rotation of the shutter; and engagement of the first engagement feature with the second engagement feature causes a rotation rate of the shutter to be less than a rotation rate of the turbine.
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Specification