Handheld showerhead with mode selector in handle

• US 8,967,497 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• 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:
  US13/872,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20130233947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 239390-392, 239/394, 239/396, 239/436, 239/443, 239/444, 239446-449, 239/525, 239/530, 239/532, 239/548, 239558-562, 239/567, 239/581.1, 137/625.46, 137/876, 251/340
• 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 including a showerhead portion, a handle portion, and a movable mode selector portion. The mode selector portion includes a rotationally-fixed first end coupling and a rotationally-fixed second end coupling, which is concentrically aligned with the first end coupling, and a rotatable control knob body. The movable mode selector includes a fluid seal coupled to the rotatable knob body, the first fluid seal including at least one fluid control aperture. The second end coupling also includes a fluid inlet aperture and a fluid outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with a fluid supply, and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the control knob body. A second fluid seal is positioned between the second end coupling and the control knob body. A single mechanical fastener axially couples the control knob body to the first end coupling and the second end coupling.

Claims

1. A handheld showerhead comprising

a showerhead portion;

a handle portion in fluid communication with a fluid supply and the showerhead portion; and

a moveable mode selector portion comprising

a rotationally-fixed first end coupling comprising a plurality of fluid apertures;

a rotatable control knob body;

a first fluid seal positioned between the first end coupling and the control knob body, the first fluid seal coupled to the control knob body;

at least one fluid control aperture within the first fluid seal;

a rotationally-fixed second end coupling concentrically aligned with the first end coupling comprising

a fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with the control knob body;

a fluid inlet aperture in fluid communication with the fluid supply;

a second fluid seal positioned between the second end coupling and the control knob body;

a single mechanical fastener axially coupling the control knob body with the first end coupling and the second end coupling.

2. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the first end coupling comprises at least three fluid apertures.

3. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the second end coupling comprises a control knob body rotation limiter.

4. The handheld showerhead of claim 3, wherein the control knob body comprises at least one stop tab.

5. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the control knob body comprises at least one detent recess.

6. The handheld showerhead of claim 5, wherein the second end coupling receives a detent plunger.

7. The handheld showerhead of claim 6, wherein the at least one detent recess is arranged to engage with the detent plunger when the at least one fluid control aperture aligns with at least one fluid aperture of the plurality of fluid apertures within the first end coupling.

8. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the control knob body comprises a plurality of grip recesses.

9. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the control knob body comprises a plurality of plurality of finger gripping features.

19. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastener directly engages the first end coupling and the second end coupling.

20. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the first fluid seal substantially covers a top surface of the control knob body.

21. The handheld showerhead of claim 1, wherein the moveable mode selector further comprises a seal fastening aperture within the first fluid seal, wherein fluid flows through only the at least one fluid control aperture.

22. The handheld showerhead of claim 21, wherein a portion of the first end coupling extends through the seal fastening aperture.

10. A handheld fluid control valve comprising

a rotationally-fixed first end coupling comprising at least three fluid output apertures;

a rotatable control knob body;

a first fluid seal positioned between the first end coupling and the control knob body, the first fluid seal coupled to the control knob body;

at least one fluid control aperture within the first fluid seal;

a rotationally-fixed second end coupling concentrically aligned with the first end coupling comprising

a fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with the control knob body;

a single fluid inlet aperture in fluid communication with a fluid supply;

a second fluid seal positioned between the second end coupling and the control knob body; and

a rotationally-fixed mechanical fastener axially coupling the control knob body with the first end coupling and the second end coupling.

11. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 10, wherein the second end coupling comprises a control knob body rotation limiter.

12. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 11, wherein the control knob body comprises at least one stop tab.

13. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 10, wherein the control knob body comprises at least one detent recess.

14. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 13, wherein the second end coupling receives a detent plunger.

15. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 14, wherein the at least one detent recess is arranged to engage with the detent plunger when the at least one fluid control aperture aligns with at least one of the at least three fluid output apertures within the first end coupling.

16. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 10, wherein the control knob body comprises a plurality of grip recesses.

17. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 10, wherein the control knob body comprises a plurality of plurality of finger gripping features.

18. The handheld fluid control valve of claim 10, wherein the second end coupling comprises a plurality of inwardly curved recesses.