CA1263880A - Showerhead - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is described a new and improved showerhead including a generally hollow housing having front and rear openings leading to the interior of the housing. The showerhead is secured to a liquid delivery pipe while allowing rotation of the housing around the longitudinal axis of the showerhead. A closure affixed within the front opening of the hollow housing defines first and second groups of flow outlets from the interior of the housing for water. First and second channels are defined in the closure for enabling the flow of liquid to either of the first or second groups of flow outlets. A flow deflector is fixed within the housing and is rotationally relative to but separate from the fastener connecting the showerhead to the water delivery pipe and there is a mechanism for selectively determining the flow of water as between one of the two groups of flow outlets as the housing is rotated around the connector to the water delivery pipe.

Description

i;38~3~3 SPECIFICATION

The present inventlon pertains to a showerhead.
More particularly, it relates to a showerhead that permits adjustment as between a multlpliclty of spray patterns, while retalning a high degree of simpliclty.
It long has been recognl2ed that users enjoy an adjustability as to the characterlstics of a shower spray. A control has heretofore often been included for the purpose of enabling the user to vary between a fine and a coarse spray.
A more recent development has been that o-f the kind of showerhead which included a feature of emitting a pulsating spray for massage action. Typlcal examples are those of U.S Patents Nos. 3,801,0l9, 4,303,201 and Canadian Patent No. 1,0B9,897. Included among the features of the latter two is the concept of allowlng the user to select between a coarse and a fine spray whether pulsating or not.
While the features presented in the aforesaid patents have been well recqlved by the publ1c, the inclusion of such features has led to increased cost for showerheads. Not everyone desires or needs a pulsating spray, for example. Even in thç slmplest of sprays that are merely ad~ustable as to spray characteristlc, the mechan1sms for accompllshlng such adjustment have led to undue cost and, at least in some cases, lack of reliahility.

3~

In this era of increased in~erest in conservation of water use, attention also has been directed to -the achieYement of adequate showerlng, while at the same time minim~zing the use of water. An exemplary approach in that respect ~s presented in U~S
Patent No. 4,190,207. Devices constructed in acco~dance w~th the dlsclosure of that patent have now been lnstalled in a widespread number of homes, motels and hotels. It ~s a showerhead which offers the feature of water conservatlon as well as the feature of massage actlon when desired.
~ hile the foregoing developments and improvements have been appreciated both by users and by suppliers, the basic showerhead usually supplied with 1~ the original equipment has remained about the same, with or w~thout adjustment of spray force. Thus, a void has exis~ed as between the old-fashioned units and those that are more esoteric in provlding such features as massdge action.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a showerhead comprising a generally hollow housinq having front and rear o~eninqs leadinq to the interior of the housing, means for securing the rear opening ad~ustably to a liquid delivery pipe, while allowing rotation of the housinq around the longitudin~l axis of the securing means, a closure affixed within the front openinq and defining first and second grouDs of flow outlets from the interior for the liquid, first and second channels deEined in the closure for enabling the flow of the liquid to respective different ones of the groups, and a flow director fixed within -the housing rotationally relative to but separate from the securing means Eor selectively determininq the Elow as between the res~ective ones of the groups as the housing is rotated around the securing means.

, . . .-. In another aspect, there ~s involved such a housing which has a closure affixed wlthln its front openlng that defines first and second groups of flow outlets as well as havfng -first and second channels deffned therein For enabllng the flow of llqu1d to respectfve dffferent ones of those groups. Flow control means, fixed wlthin the housing relative to means for securing the housfng to a supply pipe, selectlvely determine the flow path as the housing is rotated around the securlng means.
Given such a housfng wfth a hollow inter-lor, and a closure 1n the front opening that defines means for the delivery of a spray pattern, a further aspect inYolYes a condition for inlettillg the flu~d into the rear opening from a supply pipe, and the fncluslon of means disposed in the conduit which fncludes a user removable restrlctorO
The features of the present fnventfon wh~ch are belleved to be patentable are set forth w~th partlcularfty ~n the appended clafms. The organfzatlon and manner of operation oF the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the followfng description of an emboc~irnen-t -thereo:E ta~en in connection with -the accompanying drawinys, in the several igures of which like re~erence numerals identify like elemell-ts and in which:

3~

Figure 1 is an exploded ~sometric v1ew of a showerhead;
F19ure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectiona1 v1ew of the showerhead of Figure 1 as assembled, the left half of Flgure 2 being taken at an angle relat~ve to the rlght half thereof as about a longitudinal axis of th~
assembly;
F1gure 3 is a bottom plan v1ew of d component shown in Flgure 1;
ilO F19ure 4 1s a cross-sect10nal view taken along the line 4-4 in F1gure 3;
F~gure 5 ~s a bottom plan vlew of a component shown in Figure 1 and taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 6;
Figure 6 ls a cross-sectlonal view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the component of Figure 5 and taken along the line 7-7 in Figure 8;
Flgure 8 is a cross-sectional vlew taken along the line 8-8 in F~gure 7;
Figure 9 is a s~de elevational v1ew of another component shown in Figure 1 bu-t 1nverted;
Figure 10 is a plan v1ew taken along the line 10-10 in F1gure 9;
Figure 11 is a cross-sect10nal view taken along the l~ne 11-11 in Figure g; and Figure 12 is an isometric view of an alternative to a component shown in Figure 1.

.... . . . .

A showerhead 20 ~ncludes a generally hollow housing 22 which has a front openlng Z4 and a rear opening 26 each of which lead to the Interlor 28 of houslng 22~ A closure 30 is affixed within front 5 opening 24 and defines a first set of outlets 32 and a second set of outlets 34, each of wh-ich are formed to direct liquid, usually water, in a selected spray pattern outwardly from interior 28. Whlle the llqu1d in the spray or sprays is usually plain water as io received from a supply pipe, it has been suggested heretofore to include some kind of mlxlng device ahead of the showerhead so as selectively to add another material such as soap, o~l or a medicant.
A pivot assembly includes a ball 38 in the form of a generally spherlcal segment and joined to a shank 40 whlch projects away from ball 38 and Is slidably received through rear opening 26 in protrusion toward front opening 24. A conduit 42 is defined through ball 38 and shank 40 to deliver water into the interlor.
A nut 44 is internally threaded at 46 in Its rear portion to enable connection to a water dellvery pipe. Nut 44 also Includes a snout 48 which envelops ball 38. The internal wall 50 of snout 48 tapers inwardly to captivate ball 38 when the latter is urged outwardly relative to snout 48. A seal 52 not only functions to effect seallng as against leakage of the internally flowing water but also urges ball 38 outwardly relative to snout 48 when threads 46 are ? 8 ~ 3 ~

attached to the supply pipe. An arrangement 54 with;n the interior of housing 22 serves to captivate shank 40 aga-ins~ withdrawal from rear open~ng 26. As subs~quently will be described in more detail, arrangement 54 serves to seat shank 40 within housing 22 while at the same tlme permi-tting rotation of housing 22 around shank 40.
Defined within closure 30 are a first pair of space-opposed channels 56 each of which leads outwardly into housing interior 28 for comunication with outlets 34. Also formed in closure 30 are a second pair of .space-opposed channels 58 oriented around a longitudinal axis of showerhead 20 at right angles to channels 56.
Channels 58 lead to outlets 32. Secured to shank 40 is 15 a flow direckor or plate 60 which overlies the entrances -to channels 56 and 58 and ~ncludes space-opposed apertures 62 aligned to be selectively posltlonable in communic2tion with either channels 56 or 58 as housin~ 22 is rotated around shank 40. To that end, plate 60 is snap-fitted onto the inner end portion of shank 40 by a pair of space-opposed legs 64.
Space-opposed lugs 66 on the inner end portion of shank 40 def;ne a corresponding pair of space-opposed channels 68 into which the individual ones of legs 64 respectively are seated. As best seen in Figure 2, the free end portions of legs 64 snap behind a shoulder on the inner end portion of shank 40, but legs 64 are - movable longitudinally with regard to the shank. In ~3~3a~

use, however, the Force of the incoming wa-ter flow through conduit 42 urges plate 60 aga~nst the inner face 70 of closure 30.
. Projecting ~nwardly from the wall of housing 22, and more particularly from the inner wall of a nose 71 which defines rear opening 26 9 are a pair of space-opposed nubs 72 khat define a correspond~ng pa1r - of space-opposed channelways 74 -through which lugs 66 are recelvable for disposition behind nubs 72 upon insertion and tw~sting of shank 40 relatiYe to hous1ng 22. It will be observed tha-t legs 64 on plate 60 end up belng disposed withln çhannels 68 and channelways 74.
Lugs 66 and shank 40 are prohibted from unseatin~
relatlve to housing 22 by legs 64 that otherw~se would .15 enable withdrawal of the shank from the rear opening.
Acsordingly, the combination of nubs 72 and legs 64 serve as indexing means.
Closure 30 includes a rearwardly-projecting cup 80 threaded internally at 82 to engage mating threads on a forwardly proJecting flange 84 wh~ch projects forwardly as part of housing 22. An O-ring 86 establishes a seal between closure 30 and flange 84.
Intermediate the length of shank 40 is an outwardly projecting flange 88 whlch capt-ivates an O~ring 90 26 disposed around shank 40 toward nubs 72 and legs 64.
Outlets 32 are spaced apart circumferentially in a ring. Outlets 34 are9 in this case, formed by a series of grooves or slots spaced around the inner 3(~

peripheral wall of open~ng 24 and preferably are of alternat1ng angles and depths, so as to create a rather broad outer spray pattern composed of two concentric circular spray patterns. A rim 94 on closure 30 completes the definition of outlets 34.
Projecting forwardly from closure 30 ls a spout 98 which surrounds the pattern of spray emmlt-ted from outlets 32. A plurality of 1nner flutes 100 are spaced circumferentially around the outer wall of spout 98 and have forward ends which serve as a rest against which a decal plate 102 is mounted as well as aga~nst a flat surface 104 formed more outward1y on closure 30.
Flutes 100 also serve for accepting a tool used in factory assembly or disassembly to perm~t screwing action at threads 82. More outwardly-located flutes 106 aid the user for achieYing access to clean the outlets when, and if, necessary.
A removable restrictor 110 is i nserted in conduit 42 for reducing the ra-te of flow of water into housing 22 as compared with what otherwise would be permitted by the dimensioning of condu~t 42 for a glven delivered water pressure. Restrictor 110 includes a tab 112 which pro~ects rearwardly from ball 38, allowing a user to remove restrictor 110 when, for his particular pleasure, the outlet flow ls insufficlent to accommodate his desires. Condui-t 42 is o~ hexagonal sllape but defines a cyl1ndrical seat.114 within which restrictor 110 is seated. In its simplest form, ~i3~33~

restrictor 110 is of an oblong shape and 1ncludes a pair of laterally spaced webs 116 that flt ~nto a portion of conduit 42 and cont~nue ~nto tab 112 as well as lnto an identlcal longitudinally-opposed tab 1189 SO
that no assembly orlentation ls requ~red.
Preferably, as shown in Flgure 12, restr~ctor 110a Includes a cen~ral portlon 120 wh~ch has a multi-faceted cross-sectlonal shape, wlth that portlon of condult 40 being formed to be receptlve of such a shape. This enables randomly-selected orientation of the restrictor.upon ;nsertion during assembly, and yet ensures accessabili~y for removal ~v the user o:E ~he restrlctor. In thls part~cular case, central portion 120 ~s in the shape of a cross.
Assembly of the showerhead is qu1ck and efflcient. Shank 40 is lnserted through nut 44, and seal 52 is fr~ctionally seated. Shank 40 is then Inserted slidably through opening 26, wlth 0-rlng 90 ln place, and lugs 66 are engaged behind nubs 72 by twistlng. Control plate 60 ls inserted through hub open1ng 24 and snapped lnto place, after whlch 0-rfng 86 is Installed and closure 30 fs threadably engaged.
At any convenlent time during thls procedure, restrlctor 110 is inserted.

2~ For Installation, the installer simply engages threads 46 on a s-tandard supply plpe and hand-tightens nut 44. Upon that tlghtenlng, shank 40 an~ ball 30 become frict~onally engaged to nut 44, so as to substantially be fixed ln place.

r:. r ;.

In tak~ng a shower, the user need only grasp the knurled area 1?0 around the forward perlphery of housing 22 and rotate the housing relative to shank 40.
That moves either channels 56 or channels 58 into communicatlon with aperatures 62, thus select1ng as between outer spray and inner spray.
Legs 64 stop plate 60 rotationally with respect to plvot ball 38 as well as provlding a stop for nubs 72, allowing the user to feel a significan-t increase in -10 rotational resistance by reason of the friction between ball 38, and seal 52 and nut 44. Thls indicates to the user that the selection of the mode functlon is complete. At the same time, that feature prevents any breakage of the lugs or the nubs due to user abuse in applying excess~ve torque to housing 22.
Preferably~ restrictor 110 and all internal flow channelling are sized so that the flow characteristics of the shower with restr1ctor 110 in place meet governmental or other agency flow requ1rements for showerheads. Should a low pressure condition exlst, however, the user may remove restrictor 110 and employ the showerhead in an otherwise normal manner.
It will be appreciated that YariOus alternatiYes may be incorporated and the aesthetic appearance may be changed. ~lere, a shroud 122 covers the junction of housing 22 witil snout 48. That could be accomplished otherwlse. For example, restricter 110 miyht simply be an insertable cylinder. Con-trol plate 60 may be affixed in another manner, so as to remain stationary with regard to sl~nk 40 as housing 22 is turned. Ilowever, the present approach is preferred because control plate 60 not only serves -the function implied by its name but i-ts legs also serve as part of the securing and locking assembly for the mounting of pivot ball 38 wi-th respec-t to housing 22.
~s will be apparent, the above-described shower-head enables the user to achieve the benefit of a multi-plicity of spray patterns wi-thout incurring significant cost increase Eor obtaining that resul-t, while at the same time readily enabling conservation of wa-ter usage, and which enables the user to disenable the wa-ter-saving fea-ture when that is not applicable because of lower water pressure than averaye. The illustrated showerhead has consumer-desired features and yet is so devised that costs are not increased significan-tly over -the older one-func-tion showerheads.
While a particular embodiment of -the present invention has been shown and described, and modifica-tions and alterna-tives may have been suggested, i-t will be obvious to those skilled in the ar-t that changes and modifications may be made without depar-tiny from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is -to cover all such changes and modifica-tions as fall wi-thin the true spirit and scope of -that which is patentable.

Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A showerhead comprising:
a generally hollow housing having front and rear openings leading to the interior of said housing;
means for securing said rear opening adjustably to a liquid delivery pipe, while allowing rotation of said housing around the longitudinal axis of said securing means;
a closure affixed within said front opening and defining first and second groups of flow outlets from said interior for said liquid;
first and second channels defined in said closure for enabling the flow of said liquid to respective different ones of said groups;
and a flow director fixed within said housing rotationally relative to but separate from said securing means for selectively determining said flow as between the respective ones of said groups as said housing is rotated around said securing means.

2. A showerhead as defined in claim 1 in which said securing means includes means protruding within said housing, and said flow director is movably secured longitudinally with respect to said protruding means.

3. A showerhead as defined in claims 1 and 2 in which said flow director includes a plate which selectively overlies and is urged against the entrances of respective ones of said channels as said housing is rotated.