Drenching showerhead

• US 8,292,200 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• 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:
  US12/819,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 239/394, 239/443, 239/444, 239/446, 239/447, 239/439
• US Class Current: 239/463
• 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

A showerhead with multiple modes of operation may include a first turbine and a second 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 showerhead. The showerhead 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 showerhead as a drenching spray.

Claims

1. A showerhead, comprising

an inlet;

a flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

at least one aperture defined in the flow channel;

a flow interruptor positioned within the flow channel; and

a lifting device operatively connected to the flow interruptor and operative to assume at least a first and second operational mode;

wherein

the flow interruptor at least intermittently blocks a water flow from passing through the at least one aperture when the lifting device assumes the first operational mode; and

the flow interruptor does not block the water flow from passing through the at least one aperture when the lifting device assumes the second operational mode.

7. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the flow interruptor comprises a turbine.

8. The showerhead of claim 7, wherein the turbine comprises

a cylinder;

and

one or more blades extending outwardly from a sidewall of the cylinder.

9. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises

a piston operably coupled to the flow interruptor, wherein

in the first operational mode the piston is in a first position;

and

in the second operational mode the piston is in a second position.

10. The showerhead of claim 9, wherein in the second position the piston raises the flow interruptor towards the inlet.

11. The showerhead of claim 9, further comprising

a first piston flow passage;

and

a second piston flow passage.

12. The showerhead of claim 11, wherein the lifting device further comprises:

an actuator plate;

wherein

in the first operational mode, the actuator plate channels water through the first piston passage, driving the piston to the first position; and

in the second operational mode, the actuator plate channels water through the second piston passage, driving the piston to the second position.

2. A showerhead comprising,

an inlet;

a flow channel fluidly connected to the inlet;

at least one aperture defined in the flow channel;

a flow interruptor positioned within the flow channel; and

a lifting device operatively connected to the flow interruptor and operative to assume at least a first and second operational mode, comprising

a ramp having a slot formed therein;

a rod extending at least partially through the slot;

a projection extending from a base of the rod; and

a knob operatively connected to the rod;

wherein

the flow interruptor at least intermittently blocks a water flow from passing through the at least one aperture when the lifting device assumes the first operational mode; and

the flow interruptor does not block the water flow from passing through the at least one aperture when the lifting device assumes the second operational mode.

3. The showerhead of claim 2, wherein

the knob is operative to move between at least a first position corresponding to the first operational mode and a second position corresponding to the second operational mode;

moving the knob from the first position to the second position moves the rod along the slot from a lower segment of the ramp to an upper segment of the ramp;

moving the rod from the lower segment of the ramp to an upper segment of the ramp engages the projection and the turbine, thereby raising the flow interruptor.

4. The showerhead of claim 2, further comprising a housing operatively connected to the knob, the housing at least partially surrounding the inlet, the flow channel, the aperture, the flow interruptor, the ramp, the rod, and the projection.

5. The showerhead of claim 2, further comprising at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the flow interruptor and operative to emit a water flow varying between the first and second operational modes.

6. The showerhead of claim 5, wherein

the at least one nozzle emits a pulsating flow when the lifting device assumes the first operational mode;

and

the at least one nozzle emits a substantially steady flow when the lifting device assumes the second operational mode.