Pivot attachment for showerheads

• US 9,127,794 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Leber, Leland C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BINDA, GREGORY JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/764,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20130147186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 285/8, 285/146.1, 285/261, 285/272, 285/282, 239/587.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 15/65 Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/04 Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/56 using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/561 using screw-threads being integral at least to one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/562 using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/58 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/124 Tongue and groove joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/126 Tenon and mortise joints tenons and mortises for positioning purposes B29C65/7814
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/55 sealing elements being incorporated into the joints, e.g. gaskets B29C66/52296 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 69/004 making articles by joining parts moulded in separate cavities, said parts being in said separate cavities during said joining B29C45/006, B29C51/267 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7696 Showers
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/021 Devices for positioning or connecting of water supply lines connection to the tap body E03C1/0403
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/047 : held in place by a screwed member having an internal spherical surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6858 : Locomotive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 : Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A showerhead attachment mechanism connects a showerhead structure to a water supply pipe. The showerhead attachment mechanism includes a pivot ball defining a partially threaded central aperture and configured to directly attach to a water supply pipe. The attachment mechanism also includes a receiving structure having a fluid outlet and defining a cavity that mates with and pivots on a first portion of the pivot ball and an attachment nut that mates with a second portion of the pivot ball. Further, the attachment mechanism includes a housing connected to the attachment nut and enclosing the receiving structure and fluidly connected therewith.

Claims

1. A showerhead attachment mechanism comprising:

a pivot ball defining a partially threaded central aperture and configured to directly attach to a water supply pipe;

a receiving structure having a fluid outlet and defining a cavity that mates with and pivots on a first portion of the pivot ball;

an attachment nut that mates with a second portion of the pivot ball; and

a housing enclosing the receiving structure and fluidly connected therewith and further connected to the attachment nut;

wherein the receiving structure and the attachment nut are positioned adjacent to each other and cooperate to fully enclose the pivot ball and a connection between the pivot ball and the water supply pipe.

2. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a threaded portion threadingly connected to a threaded portion of the attachment nut.

3. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 2, wherein the housing is threadingly connected to an exterior surface of the attachment nut.

4. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the central aperture varies in diameter along its length.

5. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet defined in the receiving structure is in fluid communication with the central aperture defined in the pivot ball.

6. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the receiving structure is fixed relative to the housing.

7. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a flow regulator positioned in the central aperture of the pivot ball.

8. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 7, wherein the central aperture further comprises:

a threaded bore having a threaded diameter;

a first bore having a first diameter and extending from the threaded bore; and

a second bore having a second diameter and extending from the first bore;

wherein

the threaded diameter is larger than the first diameter and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

9. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 8, wherein the flow regulator is received within the first bore.

10. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the central aperture includes a keyway shape for receiving a tool to tighten the pivot ball on the water supply pipe.

11. The showerhead attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an interior surface and the attachment nut further comprises an exterior surface, the interior surface of the housing being connected to the exterior surface of the attachment nut.

12. A The showerhead attachment mechanism comprising:

a pivot ball defining a partially threaded central aperture and configured to directly attach to a water supply pipe, wherein the pivot ball comprises a plurality of ribs extending outwards from an outer surface of the pivot ball, wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to receive a tool to tighten the pivot ball on the water supply pipe;

a receiving structure having a fluid outlet and defining a cavity that mates with and pivots on a first portion of the pivot ball;

an attachment nut that mates with a second portion of the pivot ball; and

a housing enclosing the receiving structure and fluidly connected therewith and further connected to the attachment nut;

wherein the receiving structure and the attachment nut are positioned adjacent to each other.

13. An attachment for connecting a showerhead to a water supply, comprising:

a housing having a fluid outlet;

a pivot ball received within the housing and configured to directly connect to a water supply pipe, the pivot ball comprising

a main body; and

a bore defined longitudinally through the main body;

a cup structure positioned within the housing, the cup structure including an outlet aperture and a cavity for receiving a first portion of the pivot ball; and

a collar connected to the housing and received around a second portion of the pivot ball;

wherein

the cup structure pivots on the first portion of the pivot ball;

the collar pivots on the second portion of the pivot ball;

the bore in the pivot ball is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet of the housing through the outlet aperture in the cup structure; and

the collar and the cup structure are positioned adjacent to each other and cooperate to fully enclose the pivot ball and a connection between the pivot ball and the water supply pipe.

14. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the bore has a threaded portion, wherein the threaded portion is configured to threadingly connect to the water supply pipe.

15. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the housing defines a bracket for supporting a handheld showerhead.

16. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the housing defines a showerhead body.

17. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the outlet aperture of the cup structure is defined in a concave wall defining the cavity.

18. The attachment of claim 13, wherein

the bore of the pivot ball varies in diameter as it extends from a first end of the pivot ball to a second end;

and

a flow regulator is positioned in the bore of the pivot ball between a first diameter and a second diameter of the bore.

19. The attachment of claim 13, wherein at least one section of the bore has a keyed shape and is configured to receive a tool for tightening the pivot ball on the water supply.

20. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the cup structure further includes a seal, wherein the seal seals against an internal wall of the housing.

21. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the collar is configured to extend over a portion of the water supply pipe.

22. An attachment for connecting a showerhead to a water supply comprising:

a housing having a fluid outlet;

a pivot ball received within the housing and configured to directly connect to a water supply pipe, the pivot ball comprising

a main body;

a bore defined longitudinally through the main body; and

a plurality of ribs extending from an outer surface of the main body, wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to receive a tool for tightening the pivot ball on the water supply;

a cup structure positioned within the housing, the cup structure including an outlet aperture and a cavity for receiving a first portion of the pivot ball; and

a collar connected to the housing and received around a second portion of the pivot ball;

wherein

the cup structure pivots on the first portion of the pivot ball;

the collar pivots on the second portion of the pivot ball;

the bore in the pivot ball is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet of the housing through the outlet aperture in the cup structure; and

the collar and the cup structure are positioned adjacent to each other.