Dual shower head assembly

• US 4,901,927 A
• Filed: 02/13/1989
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jesse Valdivia
• Original Assignee: Jesse Valdivia
• Inventors: Valdivia, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forman, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/309,832
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 239/282, 239/283, 239/443-447, 239/551, 239/562, 239/574, 239/581.1, 239/587, 239/DIG. 1, 4/567, 4/601, 4/615, 137/883, 137/887, 251/309
• US Class Current: 239/446
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0408 Water installations especially for showers E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/30 Diverter valves in faucets or taps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87909 Containing rotary valve

Abstract

A dual shower head assembly for use in personal showers to allow two people to shower independently at the same time, one person to shower in a conventional manner or one person to shower with two separate sprays. The assembly includes an upper shower head, a lower shower head, a substantially "S"-shaped connecting conduit, a diverter valve assembly and an adjustable shut-off valve. The diverter valve assembly is adapted for threaded engagement with the water supply pipe protruding from the shower wall and defines a pair of water outlets, one of which communicates with and is pivotally connected to the lower end of the connecting conduit. The shut-off valve is carried by the diverter valve assembly and communicates with the other of the water outlets in the diverter valve for selectively allowing water flow therethrough. The lower shower head communicates with and is pivotally mounted on the shut-off valve, downstream of the diverter valve. The upper shower head communicates with and is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the connecting conduit. The diverter valve restricts the flow of water and selectively allows water passing therethrough from the water supply pipe to flow only to the shut-off valve or both to the shut-off valve and to the connecting conduit whereby through the coordination of the diverter valve assembly and the shut-off valve, water can be directed to spray only through said lower first shower head, only through said upper shower head, through both shower heads concurrently or through neither shower head. The pivotal mounting of the individual shower heads and "S"- shaped configuration of the connecting conduit provides a substantial flexibility in the positioning of the water spray or sprays for one or two persons.

Claims

1. A dual shower head assembly comprising a substantially "S"-shaped conduit defining an upper end and a lower end, a first shower head communicating with and pivotally mounted on the upper end of said conduit, a diverter valve assembly having a water inlet, a first water outlet, a second water outlet and selector means for selectively communicating said water inlet with either said first water outlet or with said first and second water outlets, said water inlet being adapted for fluid communication with a shower outlet fitting and said lower end of said conduit communicating with and being pivotally mounted on said second water outlet, a second shower head communicating with and being pivotally mounted with respect to said first water outlet, and an adjustable shut-off valve for selectively interrupting water flow from said second shower head, whereby through coordinating said selector means and said shut-off valve, water can be directed through said diverter valve to said first shower head, said second shower head, said first and second shower heads concurrently or to neither of said shower heads and upon pivoting said conduit with respect to said diverter valve, the height and angular orientation of said first shower head can be adjusted with respect to said second shower head for concurrent independent showering by two persons.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said shut-off valve is disposed between said first water outlet of said diverter valve and said second shower head.

3. The assembly as in claims 1 or 2 wherein said diverter valve defines a cylindrical chamber therein, a first aperture communicating said chamber with said first water outlet, a second aperture communicating said chamber with said second water outlet and wherein said selector means comprises a cylindrical member rotatably mounted within said chamber, said member defining a first slot extending radially therethrough, a second slot extending radially therethrough and being perpendicularly disposed with respect to said first slot and a third slot extending radially therethrough, said third slot being disposed above and extending parallel to said second slot, and means for limiting the rotation of said selector member within said chamber between a first position and a second position such that upon disposing said cylindrical member in said first position, said first slot communicates said first aperture in said diverter valve with said first water outlet therein and upon disposing said cylindrical member in said second position, said second slot communicates said first aperture in said diverter valve with said first water outlet therein and said third slot communicates said fluid inlet with said second aperture in said diverter valve for directing water to said second fluid outlet.

4. The assembly of claim 3 including a disc member disposed in said diverter valve between said water inlet thereof and said chamber, said disc member defining an aperture therein for restricting the volume of water flow through said assembly.

5. A dual shower head assembly comprising a substantially "S"-shaped conduit defining an upper end and a lower end, a first shower head communicating with and pivotally mounted on the upper end of said conduit, a diverter valve assembly having a water inlet, a first water outlet, a second water outlet and selector means for selectively communicating said water inlet with either said first water outlet or with said first and second water outlets, said water inlet being adapted for fluid communication with a shower outlet fitting and said lower end of said conduit communicating with and being pivotally mounted on said second water outlet, an adjustable shut-off valve communicating with and carried by said first water outlet of said diverter valve for selectively interrupting water flow from said first water outlet through said shut-off valve, and a second shower head communicating with and pivotally mounted on said shut-off valve whereby through coordinating said selector means and said stop valves, water can be directed through said diverter valve to said first shower head, said second shower head, said first and second shower heads concurrently or to neither of said shower heads and upon pivoting said conduit with respect to said diverter valve, the height and angular orientation of said first shower head can be adjusted with respect to said second shower head for concurrent independent showering by two person.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said diverter valve defines a cylindrical chamber therein, a first aperture communicating said chamber with said first water outlet, a second aperture communicating said chamber with said second water outlet and wherein said selector means comprises a cylindrical member rotatably mounted within said chamber, said member defining a first slot extending radially therethrough, a second slot extending radially therethrough and being perpendicularly disposed with respect to said first slot and a third slot extending radially therethrough, said third slot being disposed above and extending parallel to said second slot, and means for limiting the rotation of said selector member within said chamber between a first position and a second position such that upon disposing said cylindrical member in said first position, said first slot communicates said first aperture in said diverter valve with said first water outlet therein and upon disposing said cylindrical member in said second position, said second slot communicates said first aperture in said diverter valve with said first water outlet therein and said third slot communicates said fluid inlet with said second aperture in said diverter valve for directing water to said second fluid outlet.

7. The assembly of claim 6 including a disc member disposed in said diverter valve between said water inlet thereof and said chamber, said disc member defining an aperture therein for restricting the volume of water flow through said assembly.