Multi-functional shower head

• US 6,739,523 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cacka, Joseph W., Male, Robert B., Thomas, Gary J., Haverstraw, Jay A., Harris, Robin D., Yi, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US10/253,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 239/443, 239/446, 239/562, 239/444, 239/445, 239/447, 239/448, 239/449, 239/381, 137/872, 137/877, 137/881, 137/494, 137/887, 137/876, 251/126, 251/251
• US Class Current: 239/443
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/044 Slits, i.e. narrow openings defined by two straight and parallel lips; Elongated outlets for producing very wide discharges, e.g. fluid curtains B05B1/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1681 with a selecting mechanism comprising a gate valve, sliding valve or cock and a lift valve
• 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 1/3436 the interface being a plane perpendicular to the outlet axis
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0425 without any source of compressed gas, e.g. the air being sucked by the pressurised liquid

Abstract

A shower head having a plurality of spray modes and unique controls to allow the selection of the desired mode. The shower head includes several unique features to allow the inclusion of several different spray modes, such as wide spray, medium spray, center spray, champagne spray, high speed pulsating spray, low speed pulsating spray, and mist. A waterfall mode can be implemented. The shower head includes a flow control valve that controls the pressure of the water flow, and acts to divert water to a mode selector or to a separate spray mode, such as the mist mode. The flow control valve diverts water between the mode selector and the separate spray mode. It also allows a combination of the modes controlled by the mode selector and the separate spray mode. The shower head also includes a mode selector. The mode selector transfers or routes fluids from the flow control valve to any number of individual or a combination of flow spray mode outlets.

Claims

1. A shower head for directing the flow of water, said shower head comprising:

a housing having an inlet flow path, a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, and an outlet flow path;

wherein

said inlet flow path is in fluid communication with said inlet port;

said outlet flow path is in fluid communication with said outlet port, and water flows from said inlet flow path, through said chamber, and out said outlet flow path; and

a flow control valve having a shuttle portion and a knob portion, said shuttle portion positioned in said chamber and said knob portion extending from said chamber, said shuttle portion and said knob portion operably connected such that selective actuation of said knob portion moves said shuttle portion axially in said chamber;

wherein,

said shuttle portion further defines a restrictor; and

upon actuation of said knob portion, said shuttle portion moves in said chamber and causes said restrictor to at least partially cover said inlet port to restrict the flow of water into the outlet flow path.

2. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the shuttle valve rotates in the chamber to cause the restrictor to cover the inlet port.

3. The shower head of claim 1, wherein

the chamber defines a groove and

the shuttle portion defines a key corresponding to the groove,

wherein when the shuttle portion moves in the chamber, the key interfaces with the groove and restricts the shuttle portion from radial movement.

4. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the restrictor at least partially covers the outlet port to restrict the flow of water into the outlet flow path.

5. The shower head of claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor is a circumferential ramp formed on the shuttle.

6. The shower head as defined in claim 1, wherein the inlet port is a plurality of ports.

7. A shower head for directing the flow of water to a plurality of spray modes, the shower head comprising:

a housing enveloping

an inlet flow path;

an outlet flow path;

a flow control valve;

a mode selector; and

a plurality of outlet mode apertures;

a first turn knob on the housing operably connected to the flow control valve to allow selective manipulation of the flow control valve; and

a second turn knob on the housing operably connected to the mode selector to allow selective manipulation of the mode selector;

wherein

the housing has a substantially triangular front face and opposing first and second lower sides defining an acute angle between the first and second lower sides, and

the first turn knob is positioned on the first lower side and the second turn knob is positioned on the second lower side.

8. A shower head for directing the flow of water to a plurality of spray modes, the shower head comprising:

a housing enveloping

an inlet flow path;

a chamber;

a flow control valve;

a first outlet flow path;

a second outlet flow path;

a mode selector;

a plurality of mode channels;

a unique spray mode aperture; and

a plurality of outlet spray mode apertures;

wherein

the inlet flow path, the first outlet flow path, and the second outlet flow path are each in fluid communication with the chamber;

the first outlet flow path is in fluid communication with the plurality of mode channels via the mode selector;

the plurality of mode channels are in fluid communication with and the plurality of outlet spray mode apertures via the mode selector;

the second outlet flow path is in fluid communication with the unique spray mode aperture;

the flow control valve is positioned in the chamber and actuable to control the pressure of the water flow therethrough to the first outlet mode path;

the flow control valve further includes a diverter portion for diverting water flow to either the first outlet flow path or the second outlet flow path, or a combination of both the first and second outlet flow paths; and

the mode selector is actuable to select at least one of the plurality of mode channels.

9. The shower head of claim 8, wherein the unique spray mode aperture provides a mist spray mode.

10. The shower head of claim 9, wherein the diverter portion of the flow control valve gradually transitions the flow of water from the first outlet flow path to the second outlet flow path and likewise from the second outlet flow path to the first outlet flow path thereby gradually exposing a user to water temperature differences between water exiting the mist spray mode and water exiting any one of the plurality of outlet spray mode apertures and allowing the user adequate time to adjust the water temperature accordingly.

11. The shower head of claim 8 further comprising:

a first turn knob on the housing operably connected to the flow control valve to allow selective manipulation of the flow control valve; and

a second turn knob on the housing operably connected to the mode selector to allow selective manipulation of the mode selector;

wherein

the housing has a substantially triangular front face and has opposing first and second lower sides defining an acute angle between the first and second lower sides, and

the first turn knob is positioned on the first lower side and the second turn knob is positioned on the second lower side.

12. The shower head of claim 8 wherein the flow control valve comprises:

a shuttle portion at least partially defining a restrictor; and

a knob portion, wherein

the shuttle portion is positioned in the chamber and the knob portion extends from the chamber;

the shuttle portion and the knob portion are operably connected such that selective actuation of the knob portion moves the shuttle portion axially in the chamber; and

upon actuation of the knob portion, the shuttle portion moves in the chamber and causes the restrictor to at least partially impede fluid communication between the inlet flow path and the chamber to restrict the flow of water into the outlet flow path.

13. The shower head as defined in claim 12, wherein the shuttle portion rotates in the chamber to cause the restrictor to at least partially impede fluid communication between the inlet flow path and the chamber.

14. The shower head of claim 12, wherein the shuttle portion rotates in the chamber to cause the restrictor to at least partially impede fluid communication between the first outlet flow path and the chamber to restrict the flow of water into the first outlet flow path.

15. The shower head of claim 12 wherein

the shuttle portion defines a diverter portion;

the shuttle portion is movable to a first position with respect to the inlet flow path whereby the diverter portion diverts water flow to the first outlet flow path; and

the shuttle portion is movable to a second position with respect to the inlet flow path whereby the diverter portion diverts water flow to the second outlet flow path.

16. The shower head of claim 15, wherein the shuttle portion rotates in the chamber to move the diverter portion.

17. The shower head of claim 15, wherein the shuttle portion translates in the chamber to move the diverter portion.

18. The shower head of claim 15 wherein the diverter portion is an O-ring engaged with the chamber to create seal therebetween.

19. The shower head of claim 15, wherein the diverter portion is a channel formed in the shuttle portion.

20. The shower head of claim 12, wherein the inlet port is a plurality of ports.

21. The shower head of claim 8, wherein

the flow control valve is positioned in the chamber and is axially movable between a first position and a second position;

the first position allows flow from the inlet flow path through the chamber to a first outlet port;

the second position allows flow from the inlet flow path through the chamber to a second outlet port;

the flow control valve is biased by a bias means to the second position; and

when the flow control valve is in the first position, the water flow in the chamber creates sufficient pressure on the valve to overcome the bias force and maintain the valve in the second position.

22. A shower head for directing the flow of water, the shower head comprising:

a housing;

a manifold encompassed within the housing;

an inlet flow port;

an outlet flow port;

a chamber defined by the manifold, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with both the inlet flow port and the outlet flow port;

a retainer that passes through the chamber and connects the manifold with the housing;

a cup that interfaces with the chamber and the housing;

wherein

the retainer interfaces with the cup and passes through an aperture therein to connect the manifold with the housing;

the retainer and the cup together define the outlet flow port; and

the retainer defines a portion of the outlet flow port.