Systems and methods for lighted showering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12010776-B2
Application number	US-202318165079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2023
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

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 lighting elements; and
a light reflector arranged to reflect the light from the lighting elements toward a light diffuser, the light reflector being concavely curved at an incident surface of the light reflector;
wherein the light diffuser is positioned along an external surface of the showerhead and is arranged to diffuse the light from the light reflector along a surface of the light diffuser.

2. The showerhead of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of water outlets along a surface of the showerhead, wherein the light diffuser surrounds one or more of the plurality of water outlets.

3. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged to output the light along a first axis, and wherein the light reflector is arranged to reflect the light from the lighting elements along one or more second axes towards the light diffuser.

4. The showerhead of claim 3 , wherein one of the one or more second axes is parallel to the first axis.

5. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged to output the light toward the incident surface of the light reflector, and wherein the concave surface of the light reflector reflects the light from the plurality of lighting elements towards the light diffuser.

6. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein water flows into an inlet of the showerhead in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged to output the light along a second direction opposite the first direction.

7. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the light diffuser is arranged along a perimeter portion of a shower face of the showerhead.

8. The showerhead of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of water outlets provided in an interior portion of the face of the showerhead, the perimeter portion surrounding the interior portion.

9. The showerhead of claim 1 , further comprising a hydro-generator configured to supply power to the plurality of lighting elements.

10. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged to output light in a first direction which is different than a second direction of water flow into the showerhead.

11. The showerhead of claim 10 , wherein the first direction is substantially parallel to and opposite the second direction.

12. A showerhead comprising:
a housing;
a light reflector arranged along an inner cavity of the housing;
one or more lighting elements arranged to direct light toward the light reflector, the light reflector being concavely curved at an incident surface of the light reflector; and
a light diffuser arranged along an external surface of the housing, the light diffuser configured to receive light reflected from the light reflector and to diffuse the light outwardly from the light diffuser.

13. The showerhead of claim 12 , wherein the light diffuser diffuses the light along a surface of the light diffuser and outwardly from the light diffuser.

14. The showerhead of claim 12 , wherein water flows into the housing through an inlet in a first direction, and wherein the light from the one or more lighting elements is emitted in a second direction which is at least partially parallel to the first direction, and wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

15. The showerhead of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of lighting elements are arranged to output the light towards the incident surface of the light reflector, and wherein the incident surface reflects the light from the plurality of lighting elements towards the light diffuser.

16. The showerhead of claim 12 , further comprising a shower face having a plurality of water outlets, wherein the light diffuser at least partially surrounds at least one of the plurality of water outlets.

17. The showerhead of claim 16 , wherein the light diffuser surrounds the shower face including each of the plurality of water outlets.

18. A method of assembling a showerhead, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of lighting elements in an orientation to output light;
providing a light reflector in an interior cavity of a housing of the showerhead, the light reflector arranged to reflect the light from the plurality lighting elements towards a light diffuser, the light reflector being concavely curved at an incident surface of the light reflector; and
providing the light diffuser along an external surface of the showerhead, the light diffuser receiving the light from the light reflector and diffusing the light along a surface of the light diffuser.

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

• F21V7/0008

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title

• F21V3/00

  Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses (with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506) · CPC title

• F21V33/004

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