Systems and methods for lighted showering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11602032-B2
Application number	US-202017121057-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A showerhead includes a plurality of water outlets for providing a flow of water. The showerhead includes one or more lighting elements and a light driver communicably coupled to the one or more lighting elements. The light driver is configured to control at least a subset of the lighting elements to output light based on various conditions corresponding to the showerhead.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A showerhead comprising:
a plurality of water outlets for providing a flow of water through the showerhead;
a plurality of lighting elements arranged to direct light parallel to, and opposite to, a direction of the flow of water through the showerhead;
a light reflector arranged to reflect the light from the lighting elements towards a light diffuser; and
a light driver communicably coupled to the plurality of lighting elements, the light driver configured to control at least a subset of the plurality of lighting elements in response to a temperature and a duration of the flow of water, so as to provide a visual indication of the temperature and the duration of the flow of water.

2. The showerhead of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor communicably coupled to the light driver, the temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the water flow, wherein the light driver causes the subset of the lighting elements to output light having a color scheme that corresponds to the sensed temperature.

3. The showerhead of claim 2 , further comprising a clock for determining the duration of the flow of water.

4. The showerhead of claim 3 , wherein the light driver increases a number of the plurality of lighting elements which output light as the duration increases.

5. The showerhead of claim 4 , wherein the light driver sequentially activates the subset of the plurality of lighting elements in a clockwise fashion as the duration increases.

6. The showerhead of claim 5 , wherein the light driver is configured to control each of the plurality of lighting elements to output light when the duration meets a threshold duration.

7. The showerhead of claim 3 , wherein the light driver increases an intensity of light output from the plurality of lighting elements as the duration increases.

8. The showerhead of claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogenerator configured to generate power for the plurality of lighting elements and the light driver using water flowing from a water source to the plurality of water outlets.

9. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged along a perimeter portion of the showerhead, and wherein the plurality of water outlets are arranged in an interior portion of the showerhead surrounded by the perimeter portion.

10. A showerhead comprising:
a housing defining an inner cavity and an inlet;
a shower face having a plurality of water outlets, wherein the plurality of water outlets are fluidly coupled to the inlet of the housing;
a light reflector arranged along the inner cavity;
one or more lighting elements arranged to direct light towards the light reflector, wherein light from the lighting elements is directed parallel to, and opposite to, a direction of water flow from the inlet through the showerhead; and
a light diffuser at least partially surrounding the shower face, the light diffuser receiving light reflected from the light reflector and diffusing light outwardly from the light diffuser.

11. The showerhead of claim 10 , wherein the housing defines an axis extending through the inlet, wherein water flows into the housing through the inlet in a first direction, and wherein light from the one or more lighting elements is emitted in a second direction which is at least partially parallel to the axis, and wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

12. The showerhead of claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a hydrogenerator fluidically coupled to the inlet and arranged between the inlet and the water outlets of the shower face, wherein the hydrogenerator provides power to the one or more lighting elements.

13. The showerhead of claim 10 , further comprising a light driver communicably coupled to the one or more lighting elements, the light driver configured to control the one or more lighting elements in response to a temperature and a duration of the flow of water, so as to provide a visual indication of the temperature and the duration of the flow of water.

14. The showerhead of claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor communicably coupled to the light driver, the temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water output from the plurality of water outlets, wherein
the light driver causes the lighting elements to output light having a color scheme corresponding to the temperature.

15. The showerhead of claim 14 , wherein the light driver increases a number of the lighting elements which output light as the duration increases.

16. The showerhead of claim 15 , wherein the light driver sequentially activates a subset of the one or more lighting elements in a clockwise fashion as the duration increases.

17. The showerhead of claim 16 , wherein the light driver is configured to control each of the one or more lighting elements to output light when the duration meets a threshold duration.

18. The showerhead of claim 15 , wherein the light driver increases an intensity of the light output from the one or more lighting elements as the duration increases.

19. A showerhead, comprising:
a housing defining an inner cavity and an inlet;
a shower face having a plurality of water outlets, wherein the plurality of water outlets are fluidly coupled to the inlet of the housing;
a light reflector arranged along the inner cavity;
one or more lighting elements arranged to direct light towards the light reflector, wherein light from the one or more lighting elements is directed parallel to and opposite to a direction of water flow through the showerhead;
a light diffuser at least partially surrounding the shower face, the light diffuser receiving light reflected from the light reflector and diffusing light outwardly from the light diffuser; and
a light driver communicably coupled to the one or more lighting elements, the light driver configured to:
determine a condition of water flow through the showerhead; and
generate a control signal for at least some of the one or more lighting elements to cause the lighting elements to output light having a state corresponding to the determined condition.

20. The showerhead of claim 19 , wherein the housing defines an axis extending through the inlet, wherein water flows into the housing through the inlet in a first direction, and wherein light from the lighting elements is emitted in a second direction which is at least partially parallel to the axis, and wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Miller Brandon H
• Mcmanus Connor
• Kaule Brian M

Classifications

• B05B1/182

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

• B05B1/185

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

• H05B47/105 Primary

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• A47K3/28

  Showers {or bathing douches} (combined with baths A47K3/20) · CPC title

• F21V33/004

  Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers · CPC title