Shower head

• US 6,533,194 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Jursich, Donald N., Marsh, Windsor B.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US09/748,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 239/436, 239/437, 239/446, 239/447, 239/538, 239/540, 239/556, 239/558, 239/559, 239/565, 239/567, 239/579, 239/581.1, 239/380, 239/382, 239/381, 239/383, 239/560
• US Class Current: 239/383
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1645 the outlets being rotated during selection
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• 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 15/654 using universal joints
• 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

Abstract

Shower heads are disclosed providing for varying types of spray. One spray head provides three different spray patterns, with two of the patterns having pulsing impellers which can pulse at different speeds from each other.

Claims

1. A shower head, comprising:

an inlet assembly having a first chamber therein, a means for coupling the first chamber to a fluid supply, and an exit from the first chamber;

an outlet assembly abutting the inlet assembly and being rotatably attached thereto, the outlet assembly having;

a body having inlets positionable to communicate with the exit when the outlet assembly is rotated into different positions with respect to the inlet assembly, the body also having a discharge section in which outlets are positioned;

a face plate member connected to the body, the face plate member having three sets of fluid passageways therethrough, the first set being a radially inward set, the third set being a radially outward set, and the second set being a radially middle set, the face plate member having a central impeller housing defining the first set of fluid passageways and an inwardly extending post adjacent its center;

a first rotatable impeller rotatably mounted about the post of the impeller housing and positioned between a first outlet and the first set of passageways; and

a second rotatable impeller positioned between a second outlet and the second set of passageways;

wherein when an outlet of the body is in communication with the first set and water is passed through the shower head, the first impeller will spin;

wherein when an outlet of the body is in communication with the second set and water is passed through the shower head, the second impeller will spin;

wherein when an outlet of the body is in communication with the third set, water can pass through the shower head through the third set; and

wherein the first arid second impellers provide pulsed flow at different rates for a given flow rate through the inlet assembly;

wherein flexible nozzles are positioned in the third set of passageways.

2. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the head is connected to a hand held shower handle.