Showerhead with dual oscillating massage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084047-B2
Application number	US-201916355952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2019
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

In one embodiment, a massage mode assembly for a showerhead is disclosed. The massage mode assembly includes a drive element, a cam, and a shutter. The drive element has a drive element length or diameter, depending on the shape of the drive element, and is rotatable about an axis by fluid flowing through the showerhead. The cam is connected to the drive element and rotates with the drive element. The shutter is operably engaged with the cam and has a shutter length that is longer than the drive element length and the rotation of the cam causes the shutter to move correspondingly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A showerhead comprising:
a massage mode assembly for a showerhead comprising:
a drive element having a drive element length, wherein the drive element is rotatable by fluid around an axis;
a cam connected to the drive element and rotatable therewith; and
a shutter operably connected to the cam, wherein the shutter has a shutter length that is longer than the drive element length and rotation of the cam causes the shutter to move correspondingly;
wherein the shutter comprises:
a cam aperture defined through a central region thereof, wherein the cam is received into the cam aperture; and
a plurality of flow apertures spaced about the cam aperture;

wherein the plurality of flow apertures comprise:
a first group of flow apertures positioned on a first side of the cam aperture; and
a second group of flow apertures positioned on a second side of the cam aperture;

a faceplate in fluid communication with the massage mode assembly;
wherein the shutter is movable between a first position in which a first edge flow path is defined around a first end of the shutter and a first aperture flow path is defined through the first group of flow apertures, and a second position in which a second edge flow path is defined around a second end of the shutter and a second aperture flow path is defined through the second group of flow apertures; and
wherein the faceplate includes a first group of outlet nozzles, a second group of outlet nozzles, a third group of outlet nozzles, and a fourth group of outlet nozzles each in selective fluid communication with one of the first edge flow path, the first aperture flow path, the second edge flow path, or the second aperture flow path.

2. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flow apertures are distributed in an arc around the cam aperture.

3. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of flow apertures has a non-circular shape.

4. The showerhead of claim 1 , further comprising a track, wherein the shutter is at least partially received within the track and the track constrains movement of the shutter in one direction.

5. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the drive element comprises a turbine.

6. The showerhead of claim 5 , wherein the drive element length comprises an outer diameter of the turbine.

7. The showerhead of claim 6 , wherein the first group of flow apertures and the second group of flow apertures are positioned substantially within the outer diameter of the turbine during operation of the massage mode assembly.

8. The showerhead of claim 7 , wherein the shutter includes opposing ends that are located outwardly of the outer diameter of the turbine during operation of the massage mode assembly.

9. The showerhead of claim 8 , wherein the opposing ends of the shutter are curved.

10. The showerhead of claim 8 , wherein:
the first group of flow apertures is positioned between one of the opposing ends of the shutter and the cam aperture; and
the second group of flow apertures is positioned between the other of the opposing ends of the shutter and the cam aperture.

11. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein:
the first group of outlet nozzles is in selective fluid communication with the first edge flow path;
the second group of outlet nozzles is in selective fluid communication with the second edge flow path;
the faceplate includes mode apertures associated with a different spray mode than the first group of outlet nozzles and the second group of outlet nozzles; and
the first group of outlet nozzles, the second group of outlet nozzles, and the mode apertures are positioned at the same diameter from a center of the faceplate.

12. The showerhead of claim 11 , wherein:
the third group of outlet nozzles is in selective fluid communication with the first aperture flow path;
the fourth group of outlet nozzles is in selective fluid communication with the second aperture flow path; and
the third group of outlet nozzles and the fourth group of outlet nozzles are positioned closer to the center of the faceplate than the first group of outlet nozzles, the second group of outlet nozzles, and the mode apertures.

13. The showerhead of claim 11 , wherein the mode apertures comprise mist mode apertures.

14. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein:
the faceplate includes a massage wall defining a massage chamber in which the massage mode assembly is positioned;
the faceplate includes a mode wall positioned outward of and surrounding the massage wall;
a mode channel is defined between the mode wall and the massage wall; and
the faceplate includes mode apertures in fluid communication with the mode channel.

15. A showerhead comprising:
a massage mode assembly comprising:
a drive element having a drive element length, wherein the drive element is rotatable by fluid around an axis;
a cam connected to the drive element and rotatable therewith; and
a shutter operably connected to the cam, wherein the shutter has a shutter length that is longer than the drive element length and rotation of the cam causes the shutter to move correspondingly, wherein the shutter comprises a cam aperture defined through a central region thereof, the cam is received into the cam aperture, and a plurality of flow apertures is spaced about the cam aperture, wherein the plurality of flow apertures comprises a first group of flow apertures positioned on a first side of the cam aperture and a second group of flow apertures positioned on a second side of the cam aperture; and

a faceplate in fluid communication with the massage mode assembly;
wherein:
the shutter is movable between a first position in which a first edge flow path is defined around a first end of the shutter and a first aperture flow path is defined through the first group of flow apertures, and a second position in which a second edge flow path is defined around a second end of the shutter and a second aperture flow path is defined through the second group of flow apertures;
the faceplate includes a first group of outlet nozzles in selective fluid communication with the first edge flow path and a second group of outlet nozzles in selective fluid communication with the second edge flow path;
the faceplate includes mode apertures associated with a different spray mode than the first group of outlet nozzles and the second group of outlet nozzles; and
the first group of outlet nozzles, the second group of outlet nozzles, and the mode apertures are positioned at the same diameter from a center of the faceplate.

16. The showerhead of claim 15 , wherein:
the faceplate includes a third group of outlet nozzles in selective fluid communication with the first aperture flow path and a fourth group of outlet nozzles in selective fluid communication with the second aperture flow path; and
the third group of outlet nozzles and the fourth group of outlet nozzles are positioned closer to the center of the faceplate than the first group of outlet nozzles, the second group of outlet nozzles, and the mode apertures.

17. The showerhead of claim 15 , wherein the mode apertures comprise mist mode apertures.

Assignees

• Water Pik Inc

Inventors

• Cacka Joseph W
• Rogers Craig P

Classifications

• B05B1/1636

  by relative rotative movement of the valve elements (B05B1/1672 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B3/04

  driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet · CPC title

• B05B1/169 Primary

  having three or more selectively effective outlets · CPC title

• B05B1/185

  characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor · CPC title

• B05B1/085

  rotated by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. liquid rotated turbines · CPC title