Handheld showerhead with fluid passageways

• US 8,584,972 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• 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:
  US13/270,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20120085839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 239309-394, 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 includes a showerhead portion and a handle portion. The showerhead portion includes a plurality of nozzles. At least two fluid channels are defined in part by at least two walls that are adjacent and parallel to each other and a curved wall that extends between edges of the at least two walls. A base wall is operably associated with the at least two walls and defines two or more fluid channel inlets each in fluid communication with a respective one of the two more fluid channels. The handle portion is operatively associated with the showerhead portion, and includes at least one of a fluid inlet and a fluid passage, and including a rotatable mode selector.

Claims

1. A handheld showerhead, comprising

a showerhead portion including a plurality of nozzles;

at least two fluid channels in fluid communication with respective subsets of the plurality of nozzles, wherein the at least two fluid channels are defined in part by at least two walls that are adjacent and parallel to each other and a curved wall that extends between edges of the at least two walls and along a longitudinal dimension of the at least two walls;

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

a handle portion operatively associated with the showerhead portion, including at least one of a fluid inlet and a fluid passage; and

a movable mode selector wherein movement of the mode selector selectively places the fluid inlet or the fluid passage of the handle portion in fluid communication with one of the at least two fluid channels via a respective one of the fluid channel inlets.

2. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the showerhead portion includes the at least two fluid channels.

3. The handheld showerhead of claim 2, wherein the mode selector includes a fluid aperture in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or fluid passage and rotation of the mode selector selectively places the fluid aperture of the mode selector in fluid communication with one of the at least two fluid channels.

4. The handheld showerhead of claim 3, 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 fluid channels.

5. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the handle portion further includes a water supply connector.

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

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

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

9. The handheld showerhead of claim 8, wherein the finger grip feature includes at least one of a finger grip recess or a finger grip projection.

10. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the at least two walls are defined in the showerhead portion.

11. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the handle portion further includes at least one fluid channel in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two fluid channels.

12. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein at a transition point the at least two walls transition from being parallel to each other to being not substantially parallel to each other.

13. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the movable mode selector further comprises

a control knob mounted about 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 fluid inlet; and

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 channel inlets in the base wall to direct water flow from the fluid inlet to one of the at least two fluid channels.

14. The handheld showerhead of claim 13, wherein the axis of rotation of the control knob is parallel to the handle portion.

15. The handheld showerhead of claim 13, wherein the aperture in the selection structure is positioned on a top face of an annular ring extending from the selection structure.

16. The handheld showerhead of claim 13, wherein the control knob is positioned between a bottom portion of the handle portion and the showerhead portion.

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

18. A handheld showerhead comprising

a showerhead portion including at least two fluid channels, wherein the at least two fluid channels are defined in part by at least two walls that are adjacent and parallel to each other and a curved wall that extends between edges of the at least two walls and along a longitudinal dimension of the at least two walls;

a base wall formed at a first end of each of the at least two fluid channels and defining two or more fluid inlets each in fluid communication with a respective one of the two or more fluid channels; and

a handle portion operatively associated with the showerhead portion, the handle portion including

a fluid passage; and

a rotatable mode selector;

wherein

the showerhead portion is positioned relative to the handle portion such that a fluid exiting the showerhead portion under operational flow conditions initially moves primarily in a direction that forms a right angle or an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle portion; and

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

19. The handheld showerhead of claim 18, wherein the at least two fluid channels comprise three fluid channels.

20. The handheld showerhead of claim 18, at a transition point the at least two walls transition from being parallel to each other to being not substantially parallel to each other.

21. The handheld showerhead of claim 18, wherein the control mode selector further comprises

a cylindrical body defining an aperture on a first side of the body;

a stop member extending from the cylindrical body configured to engage with a sidewall of the handle portion to prevent rotation of the control mode selector in at least one direction; and

wherein

rotating the control mode selector rotates the cylindrical body placing the aperture in fluid communication with at least one of the two or more fluid inlets in the base wall.