PAUSE ASSEMBLY FOR SHOWERHEADS

• US 20180065131A1
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rogers, Craig P., Quinn, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1627 with a selecting mechanism comprising a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/1681 takes precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00
• 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 12/0022 associated with means for restricting their movement
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/14 Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired places; Arrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/535 for rotating valves F16K31/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/602 Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided F16K31/605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0605 with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means

Abstract

A showerhead having a control assembly is disclosed. The showerhead includes a head portion operably connected to a showerhead engine, the engine including a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the head portion and a handle fluidly connected to a water source and defining a flow path between the water source and the head portion. The control assembly is positioned within the flow path of the handle and is operable to vary a flow volume from the water source to the head portion.

Claims

1. A showerhead comprising:

a head portion operably connected to a showerhead engine comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the head portion;

a handle fluidly connected to a water source, the handle defining a flow path between the water source and the head portion; and

a pause assembly positioned within the flow path of the handle and operable to vary a flow volume from the water source to the head portion, the pause assembly comprising;

a valve housing received within the flow path and defining a valve cavity in fluid communication with the flow path and the head portion;

an actuator movable along an arcuate path on an outer surface of the valve housing from a first position to a second position; and

a valve operably connected to the actuator and receive within the valve cavity, wherein as the actuator moves from the first position to the second position, the valve rotates within the valve cavity from an open position to a closed position.

2. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the valve is a ball valve comprising:

a first flow path; and

a second flow path;

wherein

in the open position, the first flow path is fluidly aligned with the flow path and in fluid communication with the head portion and the water source; and

in the closed position, the second flow path is fluidly aligned with the flow path and in fluid communication with the head portion and the water source.

3. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the pause assembly further comprises a valve driver positioned between the actuator and the valve, wherein the valve driver converts motion of the actuator into a rotational movement of the valve.

4. The showerhead of claim 3, wherein the valve driver converts a linear motion of the actuator into a rotational movement of the valve.

5. The showerhead of claim 4, wherein:

the valve driver comprises a plurality of engagement features; and

the actuator comprises a plurality of corresponding engagement features arranged to meshingly engage the engagement features of the valve driver, meshing engagement of the valve driver and the actuator converting linear motion of the actuator into a rotational movement of the valve driver.

6. The showerhead of claim 3, wherein the valve driver converts an arcuate motion of the actuator into a rotational movement of the valve.

7. The showerhead of claim 6, wherein:

the valve driver comprises an outwardly extending boss; and

the actuator comprises an aperture defined therein, the boss of the valve driver received within the aperture of the actuator, engagement of the boss within the aperture of the actuator converting arcuate motion of the actuator into a rotational movement of the valve driver.

8. A handheld spray head comprising:

a core assembly defining a flow path therein and fluidly connected to a fluid source, the core assembly including a core outer surface and a plurality of nozzles;

a housing including a housing outer surface, wherein the housing is positioned around the core assembly; and

a flow state assembly positioned within the flow path of the core assembly and operable to vary a flow volume from the fluid source to the nozzles, the flow state assembly comprising;

an actuator movable along a linear path on the core outer surface;

a control operably connected to the actuator and movable along a linear path on the housing outer surface; and

a valve operably connected to the actuator and positioned within the flow path, wherein as the actuator moves, the valve changes the flow volume within the flow path between the flow state assembly and the nozzles.

9. The handheld spray head of claim 8, wherein the flow state assembly further comprises a valve retainer positioned within the flow path and defining a valve lumen in fluid communication with the valve and the fluid source.

10. The handheld spray head of claim 8, wherein:

in a first position of the valve, a maximum flow volume is permitted to flow through the flow path between the flow state assembly and the nozzles;

in a second position of the valve, a minimum flow volume is permitted to flow through the flow path between the flow state assembly and the nozzles; and

in a third position, an intermediate flow volume is permitted to flow through the flow path between the flow state assembly and the nozzles.

11. The handheld spray head of claim 8, wherein:

when a linear force exceeds a predetermined threshold, the flow state assembly permits movement of the actuator relative to the valve; and

when the linear force is below the predetermined threshold, the flow state assembly limits movement of the actuator relative to the valve.

12. The handheld spray head of claim 11, further comprising:

a biased element operably engaging the actuator; and

a biasing member engaging the biased element, wherein the biased element is biased towards the actuator by the biasing member.

13. The handheld spray head of claim 12, wherein the actuator further comprises at least one detent formed on the actuator, wherein the biased element engages the detent to secure a position of the actuator relative to the valve and in response to the linear force exceeding the predetermined threshold, the biased element disengages the detent to allow movement of the actuator relative to the valve.