Handheld showerhead with mode control in handle

• US 8,146,838 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• 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: Luettgen, Harold A., Leber, Leland C., Quinn, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/870,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 239390-394, 239/396, 239/436, 239/443, 239/444, 239446-449, 239/525, 239/530, 239/532, 239/536, 239/548, 239558-562, 239/567
• 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 has a showerhead portion including a plurality of spray nozzles and a handle portion including a fluid inlet that receives water flow from a water source and a fluid passage that transports the water flow from the fluid inlet to the showerhead portion in a first flow direction. A fluid conveyance structure positioned at least partially within the showerhead portion has a base with two or more inlet openings. A mode selector includes a control knob and a fluid chamber with a fluid inlet that receives the water flow from the handle portion in a second flow direction and a rotatable chamber wall that defines a chamber outlet in selective fluid communication with the fluid conveyance structure. Rotation of the control knob rotates the chamber wall to selectively align the chamber outlet with one of the inlet openings in the base of the fluid conveyance structure.

Claims

1. A handheld showerhead comprising

a handle portion;

a showerhead portion extending from the handle portion and having

a plurality of nozzles;

two or more fluid channels, wherein a first one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the plurality of nozzles and a second one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the plurality of nozzles; and

a base wall defining two or more fluid inlets each in fluid communication with a respective one of the two or more fluid channels;

a water supply connector at least partially housed within the handle portion having

a fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply;

a fluid passage configured to transport the water flow from the fluid inlet within the handle in a first flow direction; and

an outlet configured to direct the water flow in a second flow direction; and

a mode selector having

a control knob mounted within the handle portion and configured to rotate about an axis, and

a rotatable selection structure that defines an aperture that is in fluid communication with the water supply connector outlet;

wherein

rotation of the control knob rotates the selection structure and selectively aligns the aperture in the selection structure with one of the two or more fluid inlets in the base wall to direct the water flow from the water supply connector outlet to at least one of the two or more fluid channels of the showerhead.

2. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the first flow direction is substantially transverse to the second flow direction.

3. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the second flow direction is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the control knob.

4. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a water-tight seal positioned between the selection structure and the base wall.

5. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the control knob is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

6. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the second flow direction is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

7. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the control knob is positioned between a bottom portion of the handle portion and the showerhead portion.

8. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, further comprising a turbine positioned within at least one of the two or more fluid channels of the showerhead portion.