Shower head assembly

• US 7,111,798 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bachman, Timothy A., Gillette, William J., Thomas, Gary J., Krajec, Russell S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGAN, JAMES SEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/658,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 239/590.5, 239/114, 239/548, 239/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 239/548
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1663 by relative translatory movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/528 by resilient deformation of the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/652 whereby the jet can be oriented
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/025 Water supply lines as such, e.g. shower hoses
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/18 Articulated hoses, e.g. composed of a series of rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/12 Flexible outlets

Abstract

A shower head having a plurality of nozzles capable of attachment to a flexible shower arm. The shower head has a unique nozzle construction that allows for the manipulation of an external flexible nozzle to remove mineral deposits and has an internal, rigid nozzle structure for efficiently forming an aesthetically pleasing water stream. The shower head may have two available flow configurations which are selectable by a valve.

Claims

1. A water supply channel assembly, comprising:

a first water supply channel comprising;

a first flow path; and

a first group of apertures;

a second water supply channel comprising;

a second flow path; and

a second group of apertures; and

a first wall defining a commonly-shared sidewall of the first and second water supplies;

wherein

the second flow path comprises a plurality of radially-extending flow channels.

2. The water supply channel assembly of claim 1, wherein the second water supply channel at least partially surrounds the first water supply channel.

3. The water supply channel assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first flow path comprises a straight laminar flow path; and

the second flow path comprises an at least partially circular turbulent flow path.

4. The water supply channel assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of radially-extending flow channels extend substantially directly outwardly from the at least partially circular turbulent flow path.

5. The water supply channel assembly of claim 4, further comprising a second wall defining:

at least one sidewall of the plurality of radially-extending flow channels; and

at least one sidewall of the second flow path.

6. The water supply channel of claim 3, further comprising:

an inner nozzle cover comprising a top of the first and second flow paths; and

an inner nozzle layer comprising a base of the first and second flow paths, the inner nozzle layer mating with the inner nozzle cover;

wherein

the wall extends outwardly from the inner nozzle cover; and

the first and second groups of apertures are formed in the inner nozzle layer.

7. The water supply channel of claim 3, further comprising a valve operative to direct water flow to one of the first and second flow paths.

8. The water supply channel of claim 7, further comprising a unitary inner nozzle insert defining a top and a bottom for the first and second flow paths;

wherein

the first wall is formed integrally in the unitary inner nozzle insert.

9. The water supply channel of claim 3, further comprising a valve operative to regulate a flow speed of a liquid through the first and second flow paths.