Shower head

• US 6,659,372 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Jursich, Donald N., Marsh, Windsor B.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US09/748,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 239/436, 239/437, 239/446, 239/538, 239/540, 239/556, 239/558, 239/559, 239/565, 239/567, 239/579, 239/581.1, 239/560
• US Class Current: 239/560
• 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, each of which provides spray through outlets at different force levels.

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 connected to the body so that an outer side of the face plate is entirely visible from in front of the body, the face plate having three sets of fluid passageways within its periphery that extend to the outer side and in each set of fluid passageways are disposed flexible nozzles, the first set of fluid passageways being a radially inward set having a first overall cross sectional area to provide water at a first force level for a given volume of water passing through the head, the third set of fluid passageways being a radially outward set having a third overall cross sectional area to provide water at a third force level which is less than the first force level for said given volume of water passing through the head, and the second set of fluid passageways being a radially middle set having a second overall cross sectional area to provide water at a second force level which is less than the first force level and greater than the third force level for said given volume of water passing through the shower head, wherein the second overall cross sectional area is greater than the first overall cross sectional area and less than the third overall cross sectional area;

the shower head being further characterized in that it does not have any impeller in fluid communication with the face plate and it provides selective control of the first, second and third force levels.