Handheld showerhead with mode control and method of selecting a handheld showerhead mode

• US 7,789,326 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leber, Leland C., Luettgen, Harold A., Quinn, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US11/669,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 239/525, 239390-392, 239/394, 239/396, 239/436, 239/530, 239/532, 239/536, 239/548, 239558-562, 239/567, 239/11, 239442-444, 239446-449, 137/625.42, 137/625.46
• US Class Current: 239/447
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/16 having selectively- effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1663 by relative translatory movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• 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: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A handheld showerhead with a showerhead portion and a handle portion. The showerhead portion may include at least two fluid channels. The handle portion may be operatively associated with the shower portion. The handle portion may include at least one fluid inlet or fluid passage. The handle portion may further include a movable mode selector. Movement of the mode selector may selectively place the fluid inlet or fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one of the two fluid channels in the showerhead portion.

Claims

1. A handheld showerhead comprising

a body composed of a showerhead portion and a handle portion;

the showerhead portion including a plurality of first fluid channels;

the handle portion operatively associated with the showerhead portion, the handle portion including a fluid inlet, a fluid passage, and a movable mode selector; and

a plurality of second fluid channels within the body defined by a plurality of substantially parallel walls extending between respective pairs of displaced positions along an interior surface of a wall forming an exterior housing of the body such that the parallel walls are in contact with the interior surface;

wherein

at least two of the plurality of second fluid channels are positioned between the mode selector and the plurality of first fluid channels and are in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of first fluid channels; and

movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid inlet or the fluid passage in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of second fluid channels.

2. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the showerhead portion includes at least one nozzle in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of first fluid channels.

3. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the showerhead portion includes at least one fluid chamber in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of first fluid channels.

4. The handheld showerhead of claim 3, wherein the showerhead portion includes at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the at least one fluid chamber.

5. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the showerhead portion further includes at least one fluid aperture in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of first fluid channels in the showerhead portion.

6. The handheld showerhead of claim 5, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid aperture in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or fluid passage and movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid aperture of the mode selector in fluid communication with the at least one fluid aperture in the showerhead portion.

7. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid aperture in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or the fluid passage and movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid aperture in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of second fluid channels.

8. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or the fluid passage and movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid chamber in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of second fluid channels.

9. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector is positioned adjacent to the showerhead portion.

10. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector moves about a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

11. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector moves substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

12. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector comprises a control knob.

13. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector further comprises a control ring operatively associated with the control knob.

14. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector comprises a finger grip feature.

15. The handheld showerhead of claim 14, wherein the finger grip feature includes at least one of a finger grip recess and a finger grip projection.

16. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein sidewalls defined in the showerhead portion form at least one of the plurality of first fluid channels.

17. A handheld showerhead comprising

a body composed of a showerhead portion and a handle portion;

the showerhead portion including at least two first fluid channels;

the handle portion operatively associated with the showerhead portion, the handle portion further comprising

at least one of a fluid inlet or a fluid passage; and

a movable mode selector; and

at least two second fluid channels within the body;

wherein

the at least two second fluid channels are bounded by a curved wall surface of the body and substantially parallel interior walls within and spanning between the curved wall surface of the body that form parallel, laterally adjacent sections within the body;

the at least two second fluid channels are positioned between the mode selector and the at least two first fluid channels;

at least two of the at least two second fluid channels are in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two first fluid channels; and

movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid inlet or the fluid passage in fluid communication with one of the at least two second fluid channels.

18. A handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein

a cross section of the curved wall section of the body defining the at least two second fluid channels is substantially circular;

and

the interior walls forming the at least two second fluid channels form chords within the cross section of the handle portion.

19. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the showerhead portion includes at least one nozzle in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two first fluid channels.

20. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the showerhead portion includes at least one fluid chamber in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two first fluid channels.

21. The handheld showerhead of claim 20, wherein the showerhead portion includes at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the at least one fluid chamber.

22. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the showerhead portion further includes at least one fluid aperture in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two first fluid channels in the showerhead portion.

23. The handheld showerhead of claim 22, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid aperture in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or fluid passage and movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid aperture of the mode selector in fluid communication with the at least one fluid aperture of the showerhead portion.

24. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid aperture in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or the fluid passage and movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid aperture of the mode selector in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two second fluid channels.

25. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or the fluid passage and movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid chamber in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two second fluid channels.

26. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the mode selector moves about a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

27. The handheld showerhead of claim 17, wherein the mode selector is positioned adjacent to the showerhead portion.