Quick connect showerhead

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9687860-B2
Application number	US-201514829300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2015
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A showerhead assembly includes an adapter having a tube extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being supported by a shower arm. A fluid connector includes a ball having an outlet, a stem having an inlet, and a fluid passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the inlet and the outlet. A spray engine is fluidly coupled to the ball of the fluid connector. A retainer body is supported by the stem of the fluid connector and includes a radially inwardly facing engagement surface. A collet is operably coupled to the retainer body and is configured to be concentrically received intermediate the adapter and retainer body. The collet includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers supporting radially extending teeth configured to engage the adapter.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A showerhead assembly comprising:
an adapter including a tube extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being supported by a shower arm;
a fluid connector including a ball having an outlet, and a stem having an inlet, a fluid passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the inlet and the outlet;
a spray engine fluidly coupled to the outlet of the fluid connector;
a retainer body supported by the stem of the fluid connector and including a radially inwardly facing engagement surface;
a collet operably coupled to the retainer body and configured to be concentrically received intermediate the adapter and the retainer body, the collet including a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers supporting radially extending teeth to engage the adapter;
a cover concentrically receiving the collet; and
wherein distal axial movement of the cover moves the collet relative to the retainer body from a first position to a second position, in the first position the engagement surface of the retainer body radially restraining the fingers of the collet from moving radially outwardly, and in the second position a radial clearance defined between the engagement surface of the retainer body and the fingers of the collet, thereby allowing the fingers to move radially outwardly.

2. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring biasing the collet in a proximal direction toward the first position.

3. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a primary groove supported on the adapter, and a secondary groove supported on the adapter distal of the primary groove.

4. The showerhead assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a bleed hole supported proximate the distal end of the adapter, a leak path defined through the bleed hole when the teeth are positioned intermediate the primary groove and the secondary groove.

5. The showerhead assembly of claim 3 , further comprising an o-ring concentrically received within the stem of the fluid connector and configured to provide a seal between the fluid connector and the adapter.

6. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , an outer shell coupled to the spray engine, the outer shell including a side wall extending between an inlet end and an outlet end.

7. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the fingers of the collet includes a radially outwardly facing angled leading edge, and each of the teeth of the fingers extend radially inwardly proximal of the leading edge.

8. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a cylindrical sidewall and a ledge positioned radially inwardly from the sidewall, the ledge configured to axially engage the collet.

9. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spray engine includes a body and a sprayface coupled to the body, the sprayface including a plurality of outlets for dispensing water.

10. The showerhead assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rotational lock supported intermediate the adapter and the fluid connector, the rotational lock configured to resist rotation between the tube of the adapter and the ball of the fluid connector.

11. A showerhead assembly comprising:
an adapter including a tube having a cylindrical sidewall extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being supported by a shower arm, a groove formed within the sidewall, and a bleed hole extending within the sidewall proximate the distal end;
a fluid connector including a ball having an outlet and a stem having an inlet, a fluid passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the inlet and the outlet;
a spray engine fluidly coupled to the outlet of the fluid connector;
a retainer body supported by the stem of the fluid connector and including a radially inwardly facing engagement surface;
a collet operably coupled to the retainer body and configured to be concentrically received intermediate the adapter and the retainer body, the collet including a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers supporting radially extending teeth to engage the adapter; and
a leak path defined through the fluid passageway and the bleed hole of the adapter when the teeth of the collet engage the adapter distal of the groove.

12. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a cover concentrically receiving the collet, wherein axial movement of the cover distally moves the collet away from the retainer body from a first position to a second positon, in the first position the engagement surface of the retainer body radially restraining the fingers from moving radially outwardly, and in the second position a radial clearance defined between the engagement surface of the retainer body and the collet allowing the fingers to move radially outwardly.

13. The showerhead assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a spring biasing the collet in a proximal direction toward the first position.

14. The showerhead assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cover includes a cylindrical sidewall and a ledge positioned radially inwardly from the sidewall, the ledge configured to axially engage the collet.

15. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an o-ring concentrically received within the stem of the fluid connector and configured to provide a seal between the fluid connector and the adapter.

16. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , an outer shell coupled to the spray engine, the outer shell including a side wall extending between an inlet end and an outlet end.

17. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the fingers of the collet includes a radially outwardly facing angled leading edge, and each of the teeth of the fingers extend radially inwardly proximal of the leading edge.

18. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , wherein the spray engine includes a body and a sprayface coupled to the body, the sprayface including a plurality of outlets for dispensing water.

19. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , wherein the groove includes a primary groove formed within the sidewall of the adapter, and a secondary groove formed within the sidewall of the adapter distal of the primary groove.

20. The showerhead assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a rotational lock supported intermediate the adapter and the fluid connector, the rotational lock configured to resist rotation between the tube of the adapter and the ball of the fluid connector.

21. A showerhead assembly comprising:
an adapter including a tube having a cylindrical sidewall extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being supported by a shower arm, a primary groove formed within the sidewall, and a secondary groove formed within the sidewall distal of the primary groove;
a fluid connector including a ball having an outlet and a stem having an inlet, a fluid passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the inlet and the outlet;
a spray engine fluidly coupled to the outlet of the fluid connector;
a retainer body supported by the stem of the fluid connector and including a radially inwardly facing engagement surface; and
a collet operably coupled to the retainer body and configured to be concentrically received intermediate the adapter and retainer body, the collet including a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers supporting radially extending teeth configured to engage the adapter.

22. The showerhead assembly of claim 21 , further comprising a cover concentrically receiving the collet,

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Huffington Todd A
• Jonte Patrick B

Classifications

• B05B3/04

  driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet · CPC title

• F16L37/252

  the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part · CPC title

• B05B1/18

  Roses; Shower heads · CPC title

• B05B1/16

  having selectively- effective outlets · CPC title

• B05B9/01

  Spray pistols, {discharge devices}(B05B9/03 takes precedence) · CPC title