Drenching shower head

• US 7,740,186 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Macan, Aaron Damian, Quinn, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dinh Q
• Application Number:
  US11/219,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 239/99, 239/439, 239/443, 239/444, 239/446, 239/533.13, 239/546, 239/602, 239/11, 239/463, 239/390, 239/381, 239/383, 239/222.11, 239/240
• US Class Current: 239/11
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/049 comprising mechanical means for preventing a rotor from rotating despite being submerged in a streaming fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0495 the liquid or other fluent material discharged powering several motors, e.g. several turbines

Abstract

An improved shower head having multiple modes of operation. The shower head may include a first turbine and turbine, each disposed within a unique flow channel. The first and second turbines may interrupt water flow through their respective flow channels, thereby providing at least one pulsating water spray emanating from the shower head. The shower head may include a third flow channel having no turbine disposed therein, such that water flowing through the third flow channel is not interrupted and thus emitted from the shower head as a drenching spray.

Claims

1. An engine for directing a first water flow, comprising:

an inlet;

a first flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

a second flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

a first pulsating flow turbine providing a first pulse pattern operatively connected to the first flow channel;

a second pulsating flow turbine providing a second pulse pattern positioned concentric with the first pulsating flow turbine and operatively connected to the second flow channel;

a first outlet of the first flow channel leading to a first set of nozzles;

a second outlet of the second flow channel leading to a second set of nozzles separate from the first set of nozzles; and

a mode selector positioned between the inlet and the first and second flow channels and operable to alternately direct the first water flow from the inlet exclusively to the first flow channel, exclusively to the second flow channel, and simultaneously to both.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first and second pulsating flow turbines are concentric about an axis of the engine.

3. The engine of claim 2, further comprising:

a flow restrictor operative to restrict the first water flow and therefrom facilitate a second water flow, wherein the second water flow is less than the first water flow.

4. The engine of claim 1, further comprising:

a backplate at least partially defining the first flow channel and the second flow channel;

a first detent hole defined on the backplate;

a second detent hole defined on the backplate;

a detent connected to the mode selector and operative to seat within at least the first and second detent holes;

wherein

the detent occupies the first detent hole when the mode selector positioned to direct the first water flow to the first flow channel; and

the detent occupies the second detent hole when the mode selector is positioned to direct the first water flow to the second flow channel.

5. The engine of claim 1, further comprising:

a third flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

wherein

the mode selector is further operative to direct the first water flow from the inlet to the third flow channel; and

the mode selector is further operative to direct the first water flow from the inlet to the second and third channels simultaneously.

6. The engine of claim 5, wherein the mode selector is further operative to direct a portion less than the whole of the first water flow from the inlet to the third flow channel.

7. The engine of claim 1, wherein:

the first pulsating flow turbine is operative to at least momentarily interrupt the first water flow through the first flow channel; and

the second pulsating flow turbine is operative to at least momentarily interrupt the first water flow through the second flow channel.

8. The engine of claim 1, wherein:

the first pulsating flow turbine has a first diameter;

the second pulsating flow turbine has a second diameter; and

the first and second pulsating flow turbines rotate at varying speeds.

9. The engine of claim 1, further comprising

a nozzle web defining a first set of nozzle sheaths;

and

the first set of nozzles is received in the first set of nozzle sheaths.

10. The engine of claim 9, further comprising:

a housing disposed about the first flow channel, the second flow channel, the first pulsating flow turbine, and the second pulsating flow turbine;

wherein the mode selector comprises a mode ring at least partially exterior to the housing.

11. The engine of claim 1, further comprising:

a backplate at least partially defining the first and second flow channels; and

a front plate fluidly connected to the backplate, the front plate at least partially further defining the first and second flow channels.

12. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first pulsating flow turbine further comprises:

a first set of two or more blades connected to the first pulsating flow turbine defining at least a first space between the first set of two or more blades; and

at least one flange connected to the first pulsating flow turbine at least partially covering the space between the first set of two or more blades;

further wherein the second pulsating flow turbine further comprises;

a second set of two or more blades connected to the second pulsating flow turbine defining at least a second space between the second set of two or more blades; and

at least one shield connected to the second pulsating flow turbine at least partially covering the space between the second set of two or more blades.

13. The engine of claim 12, wherein

the at least one flange extends to cover less than a quarter of a circumference of the first pulsating flow turbine;

and

the at least one shield extends to cover at least a third of a circumference of the second pulsating flow turbine.

14. The engine of claim 12, wherein the first pulsating flow turbine further comprises an annular ring;

the first set of two or more blades extends radially inward from the annular ring; and

the first flange extends radially inward from the annular ring between the first set of two or more blades.

15. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first pulsating flow turbine and the second pulsating flow turbine are located in the same plane.

16. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first pulsating flow turbine is positioned above the second pulsating flow turbine relative to the inlet.

17. The engine of claim 1, wherein an external diameter of the second pulsating flow turbine is less than an internal diameter of the first pulsating flow turbine.

18. The engine of claim 1, wherein the first pulsating flow turbine creates a first pulsed flow pattern in the first flow channel and the second pulsating flow turbine creates a second pulsed flow pattern in the second flow channel.

19. A method for manufacturing a showerhead, comprising:

providing an inlet;

providing a first flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

providing a second flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

placing a first pulsating flow turbine within the first flow channel;

placing a second pulsating flow turbine concentric with the first pulsating flow turbine within the second flow channel, wherein an external diameter of the second pulsating flow turbine is less than an internal diameter of the first pulsating flow turbine;

defining a first outlet of the first flow channel leading to a first set of nozzles; and

defining a second outlet of the second flow channel leading to a second set of nozzles separate from the first set of nozzles.

20. The method for manufacturing a showerhead of claim 19, further comprising:

connecting a first set of two or more blades to the first pulsating flow turbine;

defining at least a first space between the first set of two or more blades;

connecting at least one flange to the first pulsating flow turbine at least partially covering the space between the first set of two or more blades;

connecting a second set of two or more blades to the second pulsating flow turbine;

defining at least a second space between the second set of two or more blades; and

connecting at least one shield to the second pulsating flow turbine at least partially covering the space between the second set of two or more blades.

21. The method for manufacturing a showerhead of claim 19 further comprising locating the first pulsating flow turbine and the second pulsating flow turbine in the same plane.

22. The method for manufacturing a showerhead of claim 19 further comprising positioning the first pulsating flow turbine above the second pulsating flow turbine relative to the inlet.