Handheld shower system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016236223-A1
Application number	US-201615041563-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a handheld shower system with magnetic docking and a mechanical retention feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A handheld shower system, comprising:
a handheld, the handheld including a handheld housing, the handheld housing being operable to attach to a spray face; and a cradle, the cradle including a cradle housing; wherein one of the handheld housing and the cradle housing includes a lip, and the other of the handheld housing and the cradle housing includes a tab; wherein one of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet, and the other of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet or a magnetically attractable material; wherein the handheld is docked on the cradle by attraction of the magnet of one of the handheld and the cradle to the magnet or the magnetically attractable material of the other of the handheld and the cradle; wherein, as a downward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle, the tab on the cradle housing contacts the lip on the handheld housing and the handheld is retained on the cradle; and wherein, as an upward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle, the tab on the cradle housing does not contact the lip on the handheld housing and the handheld becomes undocked from the cradle.

2 . The handheld shower system of claim 1 , wherein:
the handheld housing has a front side and a back side; the cradle housing has a front end and a back end; the back side of the handheld housing includes the lip; and the front end of the cradle housing includes the tab.

3 . The handheld shower system of claim 1 , wherein:
the lip has a top side and a bottom side; and the tab has a front side, a back side, and a top side.

4 . The handheld shower system of claim 3 , wherein:
the bottom side of the lip includes an undercut.

5 . The handheld shower system of claim 3 , wherein:
the front side of the tab includes a chamfer.

6 . The handheld shower system of claim 3 , wherein:
the back side of the tab is generally flat; and the top side of the tab is generally curved.

7 . The handheld shower system of claim 1 , wherein:
the tab extends radially outwardly from the cradle housing.

8 . The handheld shower system of claim 1 , wherein:
the handheld housing includes a handheld body and a handheld cover; and the handheld cover includes the lip.

9 . A handheld shower system, comprising:
a handheld, the handheld including a handheld housing, the handheld housing including a handle and a head, the handle including an inlet, the head including an outlet, the handheld housing including a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet, the head having a front side and a back side, the front side of the head being operable to attach to a spray face, the back side of the head including a lip; and a cradle, the cradle including a cradle housing, the cradle housing including an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet, the cradle housing having a front end and a back end, the front end of the cradle housing including a tab; wherein the outlet of the cradle housing is operable to be fluidly connected to the inlet of the handheld; wherein one of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet, and the other of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet or a magnetically attractable material; wherein the handheld is docked on the cradle by attraction of the magnet of one of the handheld and the cradle to the magnet or the magnetically attractable material of the other of the handheld and the cradle; wherein, as a downward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle, the tab on the front end of the cradle housing contacts the lip on the back side of the head and the handheld is retained on the cradle; and wherein, as an upward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle, the tab on the front end of the cradle housing does not contact the lip on the back side of the head and the handheld becomes undocked from the cradle.

10 . The handheld shower system of claim 9 wherein:
the lip has a top side and a bottom side; and
the tab has a front side, a back side, and a top side.

11 . The handheld shower system of claim 10 , wherein:
the bottom side of the lip includes an undercut.

12 . The handheld shower system of claim 10 , wherein:
the front side of the tab includes a chamfer.

13 . The handheld shower system of claim 10 , wherein:
the back side of the tab is generally flat; and the top side of the tab is generally curved.

14 . The handheld shower system of claim 9 , wherein:
the tab extends radially outwardly from the cradle housing.

15 . A handheld shower system, comprising:
a handheld, the handheld including a handheld housing, the handheld housing including a handheld body and a handheld cover, the handheld body including a handle and a head, the handle including an inlet, the head including an outlet, the handheld body including a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet, the head having a front side and a back side, the front side of the head being operable to attach to a spray face, the back side of the head being operable to attach to the handheld cover, the handheld cover including a lip; and a cradle, the cradle including a cradle housing, the cradle housing including a cradle body and a cradle cover, the cradle body including an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet, the cradle body having a front end and a back end, the front end of the cradle body including a tab; wherein the outlet of the cradle housing is operable to be fluidly connected to the inlet of the handle; wherein one of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet, and the other of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet or a magnetically attractable material; wherein the handheld is docked on the cradle by attraction of the magnet of one of the handheld and the cradle to the magnet or the magnetically attractable material of the other of the handheld and the cradle; wherein, as a downward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle, the tab on the front end of the cradle body contacts the lip on the handheld cover and the handheld is retained on the cradle; and wherein, as an upward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle, the tab on the front end of the cradle body does not contact the lip on the handheld cover and the handheld becomes undocked from the cradle.

16 . The handheld shower system of claim 15 , wherein:
the lip has a top side and a bottom side; and the tab has a front side, a back side, and a top side.

17 . The handheld shower system of claim 16 , wherein:
the bottom side of the lip includes an undercut.

18 . The handheld shower system of claim 16 , wherein:
the front side of the tab includes a chamfer.

19 . The handheld shower system of claim 16 , wherein:
the back side of the tab is generally flat; and the top side of the tab is generally curved.

20 . The handheld shower system of claim 15 , wherein:
the tab extends radially outwardly from the cradle housing.

Assignees

• Moen Inc

Inventors

• Scheffer Georg
• Shepler William Wray
• Tonissen Eric John

Classifications

• B05B15/62 Primary

  Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups · CPC title

• E03C1/06

  Devices for suspending or supporting the supply pipe or supply hose of a shower-bath {(showers per se A47K3/28)} · CPC title

• B05B1/185

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

• B05B15/061 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic