HANDHELD SHOWERHEAD WITH MODE SELECTOR IN HANDLE

• US 20150165452A1
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luettgen, Harold A., Leber, Leland C., Quinn, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,623,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/16 having selectively- effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1663 by relative translatory movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• 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: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A handheld showerhead including a showerhead portion, a handle portion, and a movable mode selector portion. The mode selector portion includes a rotationally-fixed first end coupling and a rotationally-fixed second end coupling, which is concentrically aligned with the first end coupling, and a rotatable control knob body. The movable mode selector includes a fluid seal coupled to the rotatable knob body, the first fluid seal including at least one fluid control aperture. The second end coupling also includes a fluid inlet aperture and a fluid outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with a fluid supply, and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the control knob body. A second fluid seal is positioned between the second end coupling and the control knob body. A single mechanical fastener axially couples the control knob body to the first end coupling and the second end coupling.

Claims

1. A handheld showerhead comprising

a handle portion including a fluid inlet;

a showerhead portion extending from the handle portion and having a plurality of nozzles;

a plurality of fluid channels, wherein a first one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the plurality of nozzles and a second one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the plurality of nozzles; and

a showerhead base wall defining two or more apertures each in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of fluid channels;

a mode selector having

a control knob mounted between the handle portion and the showerhead portion and configured to rotate about an axis; and

a rotatable selection structure connected to the control knob and configured to rotate about the axis, wherein the selection structure defines a fluid cavity and an outlet aperture that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet; and

wherein rotation of the control knob rotates the selection structure and selectively aligns the outlet aperture in the selection structure with one of the two or more apertures in the showerhead base wall to direct the water flow from the fluid cavity to at least one of the two or more fluid channels of the showerhead.

2. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a water supply connector at least partially housed within the handle portion, having a fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply, and defining a fluid passage configured to transport the water flow within the handle from the fluid inlet to the mode selector.

3. The handheld showerhead of claim 2, wherein the water supply connector connects to a base of the showerhead portion enclosing the base wall and contains the rotatable selection structure within the cylindrical cavity therebetween.

4. The handheld showerhead of claim 2, wherein the water supply connector further defines a collar that forms part of the mode selector, is housed within the control knob, and receives the rotatable selection structure within a cylindrical cavity formed within the collar.

5. The handheld showerhead of claim 3 further comprising a control tab with a shaft extending therefrom, wherein

the control knob defines a first slot in a sidewall thereof formed to closely fit around the shaft;

the rotatable selection structure defines an second slot in a sidewall thereof designed to receive and connect with the shaft;

the collar further defines a third aperture in a sidewall thereof;

the shaft of the control tab passes through and is fixed to the first slot, passes through the aperture in the collar without connection, and is fixedly received in the second slot; and

when the control knob is rotated about the axis, the shaft moves rotationally within the aperture in the collar about the axis.

6. The handheld showerhead of claim 3, wherein the collar defines an aperture in a sidewall thereof and the control knob is fixedly attached to the control ring through the aperture such that rotation of the control knob transfers rotational motion to the control ring, but does not transfer rotational motion to the collar.

7. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid channels is defined in part by at least two walls that are adjacent and parallel to each other and a curved wall that extends between edges of the at least two walls.

8. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels is defined in part by at least one of two walls that are adjacent and parallel to each other.

9. The handheld showerhead of claim 8, wherein two of the plurality of fluid channels are respectively defined by a respective one of the two walls and a respective curved wall that extends between edges of each respective one of the two walls.

10. The handheld showerhead of claim 8, wherein

the water supply connector includes a plunger aperture positioned below the collar and configured for receiving a plunger and a spring;

and

a bottom wall of the rotatable selection structure further defines a plurality of recesses configured to engage the plunger.

11. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a water-tight seal positioned between the rotatable selection structure and the base wall.

12. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the control knob and the rotatable selection structure is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

13. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the water supply connector is at least partially housed within the handle portion;

forms the fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply; and

defines a fluid passage configured to transport the water flow within the handle from the fluid inlet to the mode selector.

14. The handheld showerhead of claim 2, wherein the handle portion retains the control knob about the collar of the water supply connector and against a base of the showerhead portion.

15. A handheld showerhead comprising

a handle portion;

a showerhead portion extending from the handle portion and having a plurality of nozzles;

two or more fluid channels, wherein a first one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the plurality of nozzles and a second one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the plurality of nozzles; and

a showerhead base wall defining two or more apertures each in fluid communication with a respective one of the two or more fluid channels;

a mode selector positioned between the handle portion and showerhead portion, the mode selector having

a control knob mounted between the handle portion and the showerhead portion and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the handle portion,

a control ring that defines an inlet aperture at a proximal end and an outlet aperture at a distal end positioned for selective alignment with the two or more apertures in the showerhead base wall; and

a tab structure that is operably connected to each of and between the control knob and the control ring; and

a water supply connector at least partially housed within the handle portion and the mode selector, the water supply connector defining

a fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply;

a fluid passage configured to transport the water flow from the fluid inlet within the handle; and

having

a collar structure positioned distal from the fluid inlet and configured to receive the control ring, the collar structure having an opening configured to allow the tab structure to pass through the collar structure and connect with the control ring.

16. The handheld showerhead of claim 15, wherein rotation of the mode selector selectively places the outlet aperture of the control ring in fluid communication with one of the two or more fluid channels.