Dual-head shower assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021178410-A1
Application number	US-202017112946-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2020
Priority date	Dec 13, 2019
Publication date	Jun 17, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shower assembly includes a stationary base and an inlet assembly configured to rotate relative to the stationary base. The inlet assembly includes a pivot rotatably coupled to the stationary base, a first arm extending radially from the pivot, and a second arm extending radially from the pivot, opposite the first arm. The shower assembly further includes a showerhead disposed on an end of the first arm and a first ball joint disposed between the showerhead and the end of the first arm. A docking member is disposed on an end of the second arm and has a second ball joint disposed between the docking member and the end of the second arm. The docking member includes a magnet disposed therein. A removable hand shower including a ferromagnetic element is configured to magnetically couple to the magnet of the docking member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A shower assembly comprising:
a stationary base; an inlet assembly configured to rotate relative to the stationary base, the inlet assembly comprising:
a pivot rotatably coupled to the stationary base;
a first arm extending radially from the pivot; and
a second arm extending radially from the pivot, opposite the first arm;
a showerhead disposed on an end of the first arm, wherein a first ball joint is disposed between the showerhead and the end of the first arm; a docking member disposed on an end of the second arm, wherein a second ball joint is disposed between the docking member and the end of the second arm, the docking member comprising a magnet disposed therein; and a removable hand shower comprising a ferromagnetic element configured to magnetically couple to the magnet of the docking member.

2 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet assembly further comprises an inlet end configured to mount to a fixed structure, and to receive a water supply.

3 . The shower assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inlet end is configured to couple to a third joint disposed between the inlet end and the fixed structure.

4 . The shower assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inlet end comprises a threaded portion for securing the inlet end to the fixed structure.

5 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet assembly further comprises a diverter valve configured to rotate with the shower assembly and direct water between a first path and a second path such that water is diverted between the first and second paths while the first and second arms are rotated about the stationary base by the pivot.

6 . The shower assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first path is defined by the first arm and is fluidly connected to a first outlet of the diverter valve, such that the first path supplies water to the showerhead, and the second path is defined by a flexible hose and is fluidly connected to a second outlet of the diverter valve to an inlet of the removable hand shower, such that the second path supplies water to the removable hand shower.

7 . The shower assembly of claim 5 , wherein the diverter valve is configured to direct between 0% and 100% of the water to the first path and proportionally to the second path.

8 . The shower assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a user operable diverter controller coupled to the diverter valve such that when the diverter controller is rotated, the diverter valve rotates.

9 . The shower assembly of claim 8 , wherein the user operable diverter controller includes a notch oriented with the first and second arms, the notch configured to indicate whether the water is diverted to the first or second path.

10 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a locking feature every 90 degrees, wherein the pivot is configured to allow continuous 360 degree rotation of the showerhead and the removable hand shower.

11 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the removable hand shower and the showerhead is a multifunction showerhead with non-dynamic nozzles.

12 . An inlet assembly comprising:
an inlet end configured to receive a water supply; a pivot configured to rotate about the inlet end; a first arm extending radially from the pivot; a second arm extending radially from the pivot, opposite the first arm; a diverter valve configured to rotate within the inlet assembly and direct water between a first path and a second path, wherein the first path is defined by the first arm and is fluidly connected between a first outlet of the diverter valve and an inlet of a showerhead, and the second path is defined by a flexible hose and is fluidly connected between a second outlet of the diverter valve and an inlet of the removable hand shower; and a docking member disposed on an end of the second arm, the docking member configured to magnetically couple to the removable hand shower.

13 . The inlet assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a first ball joint disposed between the showerhead and an end of the first arm.

14 . The inlet assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a second ball joint disposed between the docking member and the end of the second arm,

15 . The inlet assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a third ball joint disposed between the inlet end and a wall or a support pipe.

16 . The inlet assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a magnet disposed within the docking member.

17 . The inlet assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a ferromagnetic element coupled to the removable hand shower and configured to magnetically couple to the magnet of the docking member.

18 . A shower assembly comprising:
a stationary base; an inlet assembly configured to rotate relative to the stationary base, the inlet assembly comprising:
a pivot rotatably coupled to the stationary base;
a first arm extending outwardly from the pivot; and
a second arm extending outwardly from the pivot, opposite the first arm;
a showerhead disposed on an end of the first arm, wherein a first ball joint is disposed between the showerhead and the end of the first arm: a docking member disposed on an end of the second arm, wherein a second ball joint is disposed between the docking member and the end of the second arm, the docking member comprising a magnet disposed therein; a removable hand shower comprising a ferromagnetic element configured to magnetically couple to the magnet of the docking member; and a diverter valve configured to rotate within the inlet assembly and direct water between a first path and a second path, wherein the first path is defined by the first arm and is fluidly connected between a first outlet of the diverter valve and an inlet of the showerhead, and the second path is defined by a flexible hose and is fluidly connected between a second outlet of the diverter valve to an inlet of the removable hand shower.

19 . The shower assembly of claim 18 , wherein the diverter valve is configured to direct between 0% and 100% of the water to the first path and proportionally to the second path.

20 . The shower assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a third ball joint disposed between an inlet end of the inlet assembly and a wall or a support pipe, the inlet end configured to receive a water supply.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Davies Jack E
• Miller Brandon H

Classifications

• E03C1/06 Primary

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

• B05B1/185 Primary

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

• B05B1/169

  having three or more selectively effective outlets · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• B05B1/1636

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