Mode control valve in showerhead connector

• US 8,616,470 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONAITIS, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US12/868,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 239/443, 239/444, 239/445, 239/447, 239/449, 137/801
• US Class Current: 239/445
• 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: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A showerhead system includes an arm structure adapted to couple to a water pipe to receive water flow therefrom. The arm structure includes a first fluid conduit, a second fluid conduit, and a mode selector operatively coupled to the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. The mode selector transitions between a first setting to direct water flow from a first chamber to a second chamber positioned below the first chamber and a second setting to direct water flow from the first chamber to a third chamber positioned below the first chamber. The second chamber is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit and the third chamber is in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit. The showerhead system further includes a spray head configured to distribute the water from at least one of the first and second the fluid conduits.

Claims

1. A showerhead comprising

an arm structure configured to couple to a water pipe to receive water flow therefrom;

a first fluid conduit housed within the arm structure;

a second fluid conduit housed within the arm structure; and

a mode selector housed within the arm structure and coupled to the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit to receive water flow from the water pipe and distribute the water flow to either the first fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit, or both, the mode selector comprising a valve seal;

wherein

the mode selector defines a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber;

the first chamber is in fluid communication with the water flow from the water pipe;

the second chamber and the third chamber are both positioned downstream from the first chamber;

the mode selector further defines a first outlet port in fluid communication with the second chamber and a second outlet port in fluid communication with the third chamber;

the mode selector is configured to transition between a first setting to direct water flow through an aperture from the first chamber to the second chamber and a second setting to direct water flow through the aperture from the first chamber to the third chamber;

the valve seal seals against a substantially planar surface surrounding the aperture;

the second chamber is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit through the first outlet port; and

the third chamber is in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit through the second outlet port; and

a spray head coupled to the support structure, the first fluid conduit, and the second fluid conduit, wherein the spray head is operably coupled with and configured to receive and distribute the water flow from the first and second fluid conduits.

2. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the arm structure further comprises a base portion and the mode selector is positioned within the base portion.

3. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the spray head comprises a plurality of nozzles operably coupled to the first fluid conduit.

4. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the spray head comprises a plurality of nozzles operably coupled to the second fluid conduit.

5. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the arm structure is configured to pivotally couple with the water pipe.

6. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mode selector further comprises a distributor spool defining the aperture and configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein

when the mode selector is at the first setting, the aperture is in the first position and provides fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber;

and

when the mode selector is at the second setting, the aperture is in the second position and provides fluid communication between the first chamber and the third chamber.

7. The showerhead of claim 6, wherein the valve seal is included within the distributor spool and positioned about the aperture, between the first chamber and each of the second and third chambers.

8. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising

a third fluid conduit housed within the arm structure;

and wherein

the mode selector further comprises a fourth chamber positioned downstream from the first chamber and in fluid communication with the third fluid conduit and a third outlet port in fluid communication with the fourth chamber; and

the mode selector is further configured to transition to a third setting to direct water flow from the first chamber to the fourth chamber.

9. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid conduits are hoses.

21. The showerhead of claim 1, wherein the water flow maintains a substantially straight flow direction between the first chamber and either the second chamber or the third chamber.

22. The showerhead of claim 6, wherein the first and second outlet ports extend outward from an exterior surface of the mode selector in separate planes, each of which is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the mode selector.

10. A showerhead comprising

a connector portion configured for coupling to a water pipe and operable to receive water flow therefrom;

a mode selector connected to the connector portion and defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, the mode selector comprising a valve seal, wherein

the second and third chambers are positioned downstream from the first chamber; and

the mode selector is configured to receive the water flow from the water pipe in the first chamber and selectively direct the water flow through a valve bore to the second chamber and the third chamber, wherein the water flow maintains a substantially straight flow direction between the first chamber and either the second chamber or the third chamber;

a spray head portion operative to receive the water flow from the mode selector and distribute the water flow to a user;

a first fluid conduit coupled to and between the second chamber of the mode selector and the spray head portion and operable to transport the water flow from the mode selector to the spray head portion;

a second fluid conduit coupled to and between the third chamber of the mode selector and the spray head portion and operable to transport the water flow from the mode selector to the spray head portion; and

the valve seal seals against a substantially planar surface surrounding the valve bore.

11. The showerhead system of claim 10, wherein the first and second fluid conduits are flexible hoses.

12. The showerhead system of claim 10, wherein the connector portion is configured to pivotally couple to the water pipe.

13. The showerhead system of claim 10, wherein the spray head portion comprises a first plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit and a second plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit.

14. The showerhead system of claim 10, wherein the mode selector further comprises a distributor spool defining a valve bore and the valve seal is positioned about the valve bore and between the first chamber and each of the second chamber and the third chamber, respectively, as the distributor spool is rotated.

15. The showerhead system of claim 10, wherein

the mode selector further comprises a fourth chamber positioned below the first chamber and is further configured to selectively direct the water flow from the first chamber to the fourth chamber;

and

the showerhead system further comprises a third fluid conduit coupled to and between the fourth chamber of the mode selector and the spray head portion and operable to transport the water flow from the mode selector to the spray head portion.

16. The showerhead system of claim 10, wherein the mode selector further comprises a positioning mechanism configured to facilitate alignment of the mode selector to direct the water flow to the second chamber and alternately to the third chamber.

17. The showerhead system of claim 14, wherein the mode selector further comprises a positioning mechanism configured to facilitate the alignment of the valve bore of the distributor spool at a first position corresponding to a first fluid communication path between the first chamber and the second chamber and at a second position corresponding to a second fluid communication path between the first chamber and the third chamber.

18. A showerhead system comprising

a spray head having a plurality of nozzles and configured to receive and distribute water flow through the plurality of nozzles to a user;

a support structure coupled to the spray head and configured to receive and transport water flow to the spray head;

a first fluid conduit housed within the support structure and coupled at a first end to a first channel in the spray head associated with a first set of the plurality of nozzles;

a second fluid conduit housed within the support structure and coupled at a first end to a second channel in the spray head associated with a second set of the plurality of nozzles; and

a mode selector comprising a valve seal and defining an aperture, the mode selector configured to transition between a first position associated with a first chamber defined within the mode selector and a second position associated with a second chamber defined within the mode selector and thereby to direct water flow through the aperture from a third chamber defined within the mode selector to the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, based on the selected first or second position, respectively, wherein

the third chamber is positioned upstream from both the first and second chambers; and

the valve seal seals against a substantially planar surface surrounding the aperture;

the mode selector further defines a first outlet port in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second outlet port in fluid communication with the second chamber;

wherein

the first outlet port is operatively coupled to a second end of the first fluid conduit and the second outlet port is operatively coupled to a second end of the second fluid conduit to transport water flow from the mode selector to the spray head.

19. The showerhead system of claim 18, further comprising an adjustment mechanism coupled to a base of the support structure to provide pivotal movement of the support structure in at least one direction relative to a water pipe and to positively lock the support structure in a user-adjusted position relative to the water pipe.

20. The showerhead system of claim 19, wherein the valve seal is positioned downstream from the third chamber and upstream from each of the first chamber and the second chamber.

23. The showerhead of claim 18, wherein the first and second outlet ports extend outward from an exterior surface of the mode selector in separate planes, each of which is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the mode selector.