Energy efficient showerhead

• US 7,229,031 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert Leo Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Albert Leo Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Albert Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORMAN, DARREN W
• Application Number:
  US10/685,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 239/587.3, 239/587.4, 239/558, 239/391, 239/392, 239/394, 239/396, 239/456, 239/507, 239/513, 239/556, 239/559, 239/567, 239/579, 239/581.1, 239/587.1, 239/587.2, 137/625.41
• US Class Current: 239/587.3
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/16 having selectively- effective outlets
• 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 1/30 designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages B05B11/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/302 with a ball-shaped valve member ball valves in general F16K1/14
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints

Abstract

A showerhead with an internal valve to control the flow of fluid between a full flow and reduced flow condition so as to save energy and thereby conserve the supply of water. The showerhead includes an internal valve that operates easily between an off position and an on position to permit a controlled flow of water from an approximate flow of two and one half gallons per minute to a reduced flow of about one half gallon per minute. The internal valve is formed in a spherical configuration and swivels or rotates between a reduced flow position and a full flow on position; it has formed therein a relatively small by-pass aperture that serves to selectively maintain a predetermined, constant temperature flow of water for a person taking a shower.

Claims

1. An energy efficient showerhead comprising

a first housing for attachment to a main supply conduit of a shower,

said first housing having formed at a lower end a spherical member, said spherical member having a bore formed therethrough for receiving water from the supply conduit,

a valve actuator having an upper concave surface complementary to and at times in slidable contact with an outer surface of said spherical member,

a regulator valve disposed within a lower portion of said bore for control of water between full flow and reduced flow,

said regulator valve including a ball for slidable contact with the valve actuator, and a cylindrical valve body defining an inner circumferential surface,

guide rails disposed about and spaced from the inner circumferential surface of the regulator valve,

a second housing secured to a bottom surface of said valve actuator and operable to rotate said valve actuator about the outer surface of the spherical member,

whereby selective rotation of the second housing is effective to position the valve actuator and the spherical member in a complementary relationship so as to maintain a desired temperature at a reduced flow of water discharge from the showerhead.

2. An energy efficient showerhead as claimed in claim 1 including a groove disposed about the ball at a lower end of the bore of the first housing for by-passing water from said first to said second housing of the showerhead.

3. An energy efficient showerhead as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second housing is operable to swivel 360 degrees about said first housing.