Showerhead with rotatable control valve
First Claim
1. A handheld showerhead comprisinga handle portion;
- a showerhead portion extending from the handle portion and havinga plurality of nozzle outlets;
two or more first fluid channels, wherein one of the first fluid channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the nozzle outlets and another of the first fluid channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the nozzle outlets; and
a water supply connector at least partially housed within the handle portion, the water supply connector havinga first fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply;
a first fluid outlet;
a fluid passage configured to transport water flow from the first fluid inlet within the handle portion in a first flow direction to the first fluid outlet;
a first fluid chamber connected to the fluid passage downstream from the first fluid inlet that receives water flow from the first fluid outlet;
a second fluid outlet providing a flow egress from the first fluid chamber and configured to direct water flow in a second flow direction transverse to the first flow direction;
two or more second fluid inlets defined in a wall of the water supply connector; and
two or more third fluid channels each in fluid communication with respective ones of both of the two or more second fluid inlets and the two or more first fluid channels; and
a mode selector positioned around the water supply connector and havinga rotatable control knob mounted above the handle portion and configured to rotate about an axis; and
a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a second fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob, wherein the valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture;
wherein rotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of the two or more second fluid inlets while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with the second fluid outlet from the first fluid chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A showerhead including a handle portion, a showerhead portion, a water supply connector, and a mode selector positioned around the water supply connector. The mode selector is positioned around the water supply connector and includes a rotatable control knob mounted above the handle portion and configured to rotate about an axis and a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a second fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob. The valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture and rotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of two or more fluid inlets while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with a second fluid outlet from the first fluid chamber.
717 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A handheld showerhead comprising
a handle portion; -
a showerhead portion extending from the handle portion and having a plurality of nozzle outlets; two or more first fluid channels, wherein one of the first fluid channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the nozzle outlets and another of the first fluid channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the nozzle outlets; and a water supply connector at least partially housed within the handle portion, the water supply connector having a first fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply; a first fluid outlet; a fluid passage configured to transport water flow from the first fluid inlet within the handle portion in a first flow direction to the first fluid outlet; a first fluid chamber connected to the fluid passage downstream from the first fluid inlet that receives water flow from the first fluid outlet; a second fluid outlet providing a flow egress from the first fluid chamber and configured to direct water flow in a second flow direction transverse to the first flow direction; two or more second fluid inlets defined in a wall of the water supply connector; and two or more third fluid channels each in fluid communication with respective ones of both of the two or more second fluid inlets and the two or more first fluid channels; and a mode selector positioned around the water supply connector and having a rotatable control knob mounted above the handle portion and configured to rotate about an axis; and a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a second fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob, wherein the valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture; wherein rotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of the two or more second fluid inlets while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with the second fluid outlet from the first fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A handheld showerhead comprising
a showerhead portion having a plurality of nozzle outlets; -
two or more outlet channels, wherein one of the outlet channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the nozzle outlets and another of the outlet channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the nozzle outlets; and a handle portion connected to the showerhead portion and having a fluid passage configured to transport water flow within the handle portion in a first flow direction; a fluid outlet providing a flow egress from the fluid passage and configured to direct water flow in a second flow direction transverse to the first flow direction; two or more fluid inlets; and two or more inlet channels defined within the handle portion, each in fluid communication with respective ones of the two or more outlet channels; and a mode selector connecting the handle portion and the showerhead portion and having a control knob rotatably mounted with respect to the handle portion; and a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob, wherein the valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture;
whereinrotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of the two or more inlet channels while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with the fluid outlet from the fluid passage; and a water flow direction between the fluid outlet and the two or more inlet channels is transverse to the first flow direction and is circumferential about a longitudinal axis of the handle portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification