Shower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213833-B2
Application number	US-201916428061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2019
Priority date	Sep 3, 2014
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A shower assembly includes a first outlet, a second outlet, a first inlet, a stopper, and an actuator assembly. The first inlet is configured to provide water to the shower assembly from a water supply. The stopper is movable between a first stopper position and a second stopper position. When the stopper is in the first stopper position, water exits the shower assembly through the first outlet and is prevented from exiting the shower assembly through the second outlet. When the stopper is in the second stopper position, water is permitted to exit the shower assembly through the second outlet. The actuator assembly is configured to move the stopper between the first stopper position and the second stopper position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shower assembly comprising:
a first outlet;
a second outlet;
a first inlet configured to provide a flow of water to the shower assembly from a water supply;
a stopper movable between a first stopper position and a second stopper position, wherein when the stopper is in the first stopper position, the flow of water is permitted to flow through the shower assembly from the first inlet through the first outlet and is prevented from exiting the shower assembly through the second outlet, and wherein when the stopper is in the second stopper position, the flow of water is permitted to flow through the shower assembly from the first inlet through the second outlet; and
an actuator assembly configured to move the stopper between the first stopper position and the second stopper position.

2. The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the stopper is in the second stopper position, water is permitted to exit the shower assembly through the first outlet.

3. The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises:
a housing;
a diaphragm operably coupled to the stopper and movable between a first diaphragm position corresponding to the first stopper position and a second diaphragm position corresponding to the second stopper position, the diaphragm and the housing at least partially defining a chamber, the chamber fluidly coupled to the water supply; and
a return mechanism configured to bias the diaphragm toward the second diaphragm position;
wherein when water is provided to the chamber, the diaphragm moves to the first diaphragm position causing the stopper to move to the first stopper position, and when water is inhibited from the chamber, the return mechanism moves the diaphragm to the second diaphragm position causing the stopper to move to the second stopper position.

4. The shower assembly according to claim 3 , further comprising a tank configured to receive water from the inlet, the second outlet configured to pass water from the tank;
wherein after water is inhibited from the chamber for the stopper to move to the second stopper position, the diaphragm does not move back to the first diaphragm positon until the tank is substantially emptied of water.

5. The shower assembly according to claim 4 , wherein after water is inhibited from the chamber for the stopper to move to the second stopper position, the diaphragm moves back to the first diaphragm position substantially coincident with the tank being emptied of water.

6. A shower assembly comprising:
an inlet configured to couple to a water source;
a plurality of water outlets;
a valve comprising a stopper, the valve configured to move the stopper between an open position to selectively permit water to flow through each of the plurality of water outlets and a closed position to selectively prevent substantially any water from flowing through the plurality of water outlets; and
an actuator for selectively moving the valve between the open positon and the closed position, the actuator being configured to receive water from the inlet to move the valve between the open position and the closed position;
wherein the actuator is configured to maintain the valve in the closed position when the actuator is receiving water from the inlet; and
wherein the actuator is configured to move the valve from the closed position to the open position when the actuator stops receiving water from the inlet, so as to permit water to flow from the inlet through the plurality of outlets.

7. The shower assembly of claim 6 , wherein the shower assembly is configured for a user to selectively control whether the actuator receives water from the inlet for moving the valve between the open position and the closed position.

8. The shower assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a reservoir configured to receive water from the inlet in parallel with the actuator receiving water from the inlet, wherein the plurality of water outlets extend through a bottom wall of the reservoir.

9. The shower assembly of claim 6 , wherein the stopper is configured to cover the plurality of water outlets.

10. The shower assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a tank configured to receive water from the inlet and pass water through the plurality of water outlets when the stopper is selectively moved to the open position, wherein the actuator is configured for a user to selectively move the stopper between the open and closed position so that the actuator maintains the stopper in the open position a predetermined amount of time that is not sufficient for the tank to empty through the plurality of water outlets.

11. The shower assembly of claim 10 , further configured for a user to selectively actuate the actuator to move the stopper between the open and closed position, so as to maintain the stopper in the open position for an extended amount of time longer than the predetermined amount of time to release more water than during the predetermined amount of time.

12. The shower assembly of claim 6 , wherein the actuator comprises a return mechanism to bias the stopper up into the open position.

13. The shower assembly of claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises a diaphragm to move the stopper down when water is provided to the diaphragm.

14. The shower assembly of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the stopper to the closed position from the open position slower than it moves the stopper to the open position from the closed position.

15. The shower assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a housing that defines a chamber coupled to the diaphragm for receiving water; and
a flow regulator having an orifice for receiving water into the chamber at a first actuator flow rate for closing the valve, and a check valve for releasing water from the chamber at a second flow rate for opening the valve, wherein the first flow rate is less than the second flow rate.

16. A shower assembly comprising:
an inlet for receiving water from a water source;
a plurality of water outlets;
a valve configured to move between an open position to selectively permit water to flow from the inlet through each of the plurality of water outlets and a closed position to selectively prevent substantially any water from flowing through the plurality of water outlets; and
an actuator for selectively moving the valve between the open positon and the closed position, the actuator being configured to receive water from the inlet to move the valve between the open position and the closed position.

17. The shower assembly of claim 16 , wherein the actuator is configured to maintain the valve in the closed position when the actuator is receiving water from the inlet.

18. The shower assembly of claim 16 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the valve from the closed position to the open position when the actuator stops receiving water from the inlet.

19. The shower assembly of claim 16 , wherein the shower assembly is configured for a user to selectively control whether the actuator receives water from the inlet for moving the valve between the open position and the closed position.

20. The shower assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a reservoir configured to receive water from the inlet in parallel with the actuator receiving water from the inlet, wherein the plurality of water outlets extend through a bottom wall of the reservoir.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Rexach Rafael Alfredo
• Szemetylo Stephanie
• Richter-O'Connell David J
• Elsesser Jeffrey James
• Giefer James S

Classifications

• B05B1/188

  with user-actuated controlling members · CPC title

• B05B1/182 Primary

  characterised by their outlet openings or elements; Mounting arrangements therefor · CPC title

• B05B1/185 Primary

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

• A61H2201/0126

  on a wall · CPC title

• E03C1/042 Primary

  Arrangements on taps for wash-basins or baths for connecting to the wall · CPC title