SHOWERHEAD WITH TURBINE DRIVEN SHUTTER

• US 20140367482A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cacka, Joseph W., Leber, Leland C., Quinn, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,404,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/11
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1663 by relative translatory movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/169 having three or more 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 1/185 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 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 1/0405 enabling multiple spray patterns
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles

Abstract

The present disclosure includes embodiments directed to a showerhead. In some of the embodiments, the showerhead includes a housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet such as a water source, a first bank of nozzles, and a second bank of nozzles. The showerhead also includes a massage mode assembly that is at least partially received within the chamber. The massage mode assembly includes a turbine, a cam connected to or formed integrally with the turbine, and a shutter connected to the cam. With the structure of the massage mode assembly, the movement of the shutter is restricted along a single axis such that as the turbine rotates, the cam causes the shutter to alternatingly fluidly connect and disconnect the first bank of nozzles and the second bank of nozzles from the fluid inlet.

Claims

1. A showerhead comprising

a housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with a fluid inlet, a first bank of nozzles, and a second bank of nozzles;

and

a massage mode assembly at least partially received within the chamber, the massage mode assembly comprising

a turbine;

a cam connected to the turbine; and

a shutter connected to the cam, wherein

movement of the shutter is restricted along a single axis; and

as the turbine rotates, the cam causes the shutter to alternatingly fluidly connect and disconnect the first bank of nozzles and the second bank of nozzles from the fluid inlet.

2. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein

the first bank of nozzles comprises a plurality of first outlets;

and

the second bank of nozzles comprises a plurality of second outlets;

wherein

the first outlets are fluidly connected to the fluid inlet substantially simultaneously and are fluidly disconnected from the fluid inlet substantially simultaneously; and

the second outlets are fluidly connected to the fluid inlet substantially simultaneously and are fluidly disconnected from the fluid inlet substantially simultaneously.

3. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising at least one curb wall extending inward from a sidewall of the chamber, wherein the at least one curb wall interfaces with the shutter to restrict the movement of the shutter along the single axis.

4. The showerhead of claim 3, wherein the shutter includes two curved edges and two constraining edges.

5. The showerhead of claim 4, wherein

the at least one curb wall comprises two curb walls, and

the constraining edges of the shutter each engage a respective one of the two curb walls during movement of the shutter.

6. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the cam is eccentrically oriented relative to a center of the turbine.

7. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the cam is formed integrally with the turbine.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising

fluidly connecting a second plurality of nozzles to the fluid source when the first plurality of nozzles are closed, wherein each of the nozzles within the second plurality of nozzles are opened substantially simultaneously;

and

fluidly disconnecting the second plurality of nozzles from the fluid source when the second plurality of nozzles are open, wherein each of the nozzles within the second plurality of nozzles are closed substantially simultaneously.

8. A method of producing a massaging spray mode for a showerhead comprising

fluidly connecting a first plurality of nozzles to a fluid source, wherein each of the nozzles within the first plurality of nozzles are opened substantially simultaneously;

and

fluidly disconnecting the first plurality of nozzles from the fluid source, wherein each of the nozzles within the first plurality of nozzles are closed substantially simultaneously.

10. A showerhead comprising

a spray head;

an engine fluidly connected to a water source and received within the spray head, the engine comprising

a massage mode assembly comprising

a turbine; and

a shoe connected to the turbine, wherein movement of the shoe is restricted to a single axis; and

a face plate connected to the engine and configured to selectively rotate the engine, the face plate defining a plurality of nozzle apertures;

wherein

fluid flow through the engine causes the turbine to rotate; and

as the turbine rotates, the shoe alternately fluidly connects and disconnects a first set of nozzle apertures and a second set of nozzle apertures from the fluid inlet.

11. The showerhead of claim 10, wherein the massage mode assembly further comprises a cam interconnected between the turbine and the shoe.

12-30. -30. (canceled)