Showerhead with rotatable control valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9623425-B2
Application number	US-201514814054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 29, 2006
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A showerhead including a handle portion, a showerhead portion, a water supply connector, and a mode selector positioned around the water supply connector. The mode selector is positioned around the water supply connector and includes a rotatable control knob mounted above the handle portion and configured to rotate about an axis and a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a second fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob. The valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture and rotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of two or more fluid inlets while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with a second fluid outlet from the first fluid chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handheld showerhead comprising
a handle portion;
a showerhead portion extending from the handle portion and having
a plurality of nozzle outlets;
two or more first fluid channels, wherein one of the first fluid channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the nozzle outlets and another of the first fluid channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the nozzle outlets; and

a water supply connector at least partially housed within the handle portion, the water supply connector having
a first fluid inlet configured for connection to a water supply;
a first fluid outlet;
a fluid passage configured to transport water flow from the first fluid inlet within the handle portion in a first flow direction to the first fluid outlet;
a first fluid chamber connected to the fluid passage downstream from the first fluid inlet that receives water flow from the first fluid outlet;
a second fluid outlet providing a flow egress from the first fluid chamber and configured to direct water flow in a second flow direction transverse to the first flow direction;
two or more second fluid inlets defined in a wall of the water supply connector; and
two or more third fluid channels each in fluid communication with respective ones of both of the two or more second fluid inlets and the two or more first fluid channels; and

a mode selector positioned around the water supply connector and having
a rotatable control knob mounted above the handle portion and configured to rotate about an axis; and
a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a second fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob, wherein the valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein rotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of the two or more second fluid inlets while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with the second fluid outlet from the first fluid chamber.

2. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 further comprising a valve seal positioned about the second aperture of the valve core and sized to define a shape and area that is commensurate with a shape and area defined by a single one of the two or more second fluid inlets.

3. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein a water flow path is defined circumferentially about the water supply connector from the first aperture of the valve core to the second aperture of the valve core, between an interior surface of the control knob and an exterior surface of the valve core, and from the second fluid outlet of the water supply connector to one or more of the second fluid inlets of the water supply connector.

4. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the control knob and the valve core are fixedly attached such that the control knob and the valve core rotate together.

5. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid outlet of the water supply connector is positioned diametrically opposite the second fluid inlets of the water supply connector.

6. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture of the valve core is positioned diametrically opposite the second aperture of the valve core.

7. The handheld showerhead of claim 6 , wherein the second fluid outlet of the water supply connector is positioned diametrically opposite the second fluid inlets of the water supply connector.

8. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid channels of the showerhead portion are defined by at least one sidewall, an interior surface of a front portion of the showerhead portion, and an interior surface of a back portion of the showerhead portion.

9. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid channels of the showerhead portion are separated by a plurality of substantially parallel sidewalls extending from a front portion of the showerhead portion to a back portion of the showerhead portion.

10. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the control knob defines a projection extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the control knob.

11. The handheld showerhead of claim 10 , wherein the projection defines a third fluid chamber in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber.

12. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the control knob is positioned between the showerhead portion and the handle portion.

13. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein a water flow direction between the second fluid outlet and the two or more second fluid inlets is transverse to the first flow direction and is circumferential about the axis.

14. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the third fluid channels are configured to direct water flow substantially parallel with the first flow direction.

15. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture of the valve core is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet of the water supply connector and the second aperture of the valve core is in fluid communication with at least one of the two or more second fluid inlets of the water supply connector.

16. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the axis is coaxial with a center longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

17. The handheld showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the water supply connector and the valve core each further comprise opposing stop features that interface to limit a range of rotation of the valve core around the water supply connector.

18. A handheld showerhead comprising
a showerhead portion having
a plurality of nozzle outlets;
two or more outlet channels, wherein one of the outlet channels is in fluid communication with a first set of the nozzle outlets and another of the outlet channels is in fluid communication with a second set of the nozzle outlets; and

a handle portion connected to the showerhead portion and having
a fluid passage configured to transport water flow within the handle portion in a first flow direction;
a fluid outlet providing a flow egress from the fluid passage and configured to direct water flow in a second flow direction transverse to the first flow direction;
two or more fluid inlets; and
two or more inlet channels defined within the handle portion, each in fluid communication with respective ones of the two or more outlet channels; and

a mode selector connecting the handle portion and the showerhead portion and having
a control knob rotatably mounted with respect to the handle portion; and
a rotatable valve core received within and sealed to the control knob to create a fluid chamber between the valve core and the control knob, wherein the valve core further defines a first aperture and a second aperture; wherein

rotation of the control knob rotates the valve core to selectively align the second aperture of the valve core with one of the two or more inlet channels while maintaining the first aperture in at least partial alignment with the fluid outlet from the fluid passage; and
a water flow direction between the fluid outlet and the two or more inlet channels is transverse to the first flow direction and is circumferential about a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

19. The handheld showerhead of claim 18 , wherein a water flow path is defined circumferentially about the valve core, between an interior surface of the control knob and an exterior surface of the valve core, and from the fluid outlet to one or more of the inlet channels.

20. The hand

Assignees

• Water Pik Inc

Inventors

• Luettgen Harold A
• Leber Leland C
• Quinn Michael J

Classifications

• B05B1/1663

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

• B05B1/185 Primary

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

• B05B1/1636 Primary

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

• B05B1/16

  having selectively- effective outlets · CPC title

• B05B1/18

  Roses; Shower heads · CPC title