Showerhead with touch based multimodal rechargeable battery operation

• US 9,387,493 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidus Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sidus Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lev, Mordechai
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US13/967,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20140138456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 239/394, 239 67- 70, 239/390, 239/392, 239/393, 239/395, 239/436, 239/437
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00183 Photography assistance, e.g. displaying suggestions to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00419 Arrangements for navigating between pages or parts of the menu
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3256 colour related metadata, e.g. colour, ICC profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3259 relating to the image, page or document, e.g. intended colours
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3263 of a graphical motif or symbol, e.g. Christmas symbol, logo H04N2201/3211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

A showerhead for personal hygiene is provided that includes a valve actuator that is powered mechanically or electrically to provide variation in spray pattern, variation in water flow, or a combination thereof upon a user initiating valve actuator operation. A power supply, with a recharge capability for the power source, is provided of a battery-electric motor or a spring, the power supply is in mechanical communication with the actuator. A user interface includes buttons corresponding to different multimodal operational programs for the showerhead. A user programmable keypad allowing selection between different spray modes, flow rates and a combination thereof is provided within an integral showerhead housing or a remote control. A user is able to change modes without intervening manual manipulation between modes; as a result an enhanced massage experience is provided. A timed shower period, reduced water flow patterns, or a combination thereof is also provided to save water.

Claims

1. A showerhead for personal hygiene comprising:

a housing;

a spray face extending from said housing;

a cavity in said housing and in fluid communication with a water supply and said spray face by way of a plurality of nozzle apertures;

a spray selector controlling fluid flow between said cavity and each of the plurality of nozzle apertures;

a power supply of an electric motor powered by a power source, said electric motor contained within watertight motor compartment of said housing;

an actuator providing mechanical communication between said power supply and said selector to move said selector;

a turbine powered fluid communication with the water supply, said turbine inducing a current between a relative movement of a magnet to a bobbin, the current flowing to recharge said power source;

a user touch interface for providing a user with selective movement of said selector to sequentially provide multiple spray patterns from said spray face, said user interface being an electrically conductive portion of said housing or said spray face; and

wherein said electrically conductive portion is in electrical communication with a circuit board with electronic circuitry that changes between the multiple spray patterns in response to tapping on said conductive portion.

2. The showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a circuit in electrical communication between said bobbin and said power source to condition the current prior to exposure to said power source.

3. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery or a plurality of batteries.

4. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein said magnet rotates about a stationary bobbin with water flow from the water supply.

5. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein said spray selector rotates relative to said spray face.

6. The showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a gear train intermediate between said power supply and said spray selector.

7. The showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a turbine chamber in which said turbine rotates, said turbine chamber having a water tight recess in which said bobbin resides.

8. A process of operating a hygienic showerhead comprising:

flowing water from a water supply through showerhead for personal hygiene of claim 1 to a spray face;

touching an electrically conductive portion of a housing or the spray face of the hygienic showerhead to change a first spray function through an actuator powered by a battery via an electric motor contained within watertight motor compartment of said housing; and

recharging the battery through the flowing of the water through the hygienic showerhead to operate the hygienic showerhead.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the battery is recharged by current generated by a relative movement of a magnet to a bobbin, the movement induced by the flowing of the water.

10. The process of claim 8 further comprising touching the housing or the spray face a second time to change the first spray function to a second spray function.

11. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion is formed from a metal, said metal comprising at least one of aluminum, brass, or corrosion resistant plated steel.

12. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion is formed from a conductive plastic, said conductive plastic comprising at least one of metallized coating plated plastics or conductive oxide coated materials.

13. The showerhead of claim 12 wherein the conductive plastic is coated with at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), tin oxyfluorides, or aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO).

14. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein each tap of said electrically conductive portion moves said actuator by one step.

15. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein a tap duration on said electrically conductive portion in a preselected time increment moves said actuator one step for each time increment of contact of the tap duration.

16. The process of claim 8 wherein each tap of said electrically conductive portion moves said actuator by one step.

17. The process of claim 8 wherein a tap duration on said electrically conductive portion in a preselected time increment moves said actuator one step for each time increment of contact of the tap duration.