CN112495603A

CN112495603A - Multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system

Info

Publication number: CN112495603A
Application number: CN202010961031.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 大卫·K·法尔利
Original assignee: Osaka University NUC
Current assignee: Osaka University NUC
Priority date: 2019-09-13
Filing date: 2020-09-14
Publication date: 2021-03-16

Abstract

The present application relates to a multi-mode showerhead having a housing with a front and a rear and an integrated offset water filter system incorporated into the showerhead. The multi-mode offset filtering showerhead has a plurality of nozzle assemblies, one of which is movable or rotatable, and another of which is removable and may contain a unit to hold a water filter cartridge for insertion and removal from the integrated water filter system incorporated into the showerhead. Selector switches and other water flow control designs are used to selectively control the flow of water through the showerhead to the nozzle assembly. The showerhead is mounted on a shower arm by means of a single water inlet on the rear of the housing and is fluidly connected to a hollow filter chamber in the integrated water filter system.

Description

Multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of application No. 29/694,016 filed on 6/2019.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to multiple mode filtering showerhead and more particularly to an offset filtering multiple mode showerhead having multiple nozzle assemblies.

Background

Shower filters for use in conjunction with shower heads and multi-mode filtering shower heads for use in showers are known. One such multi-mode filtering showerhead assembly is described in U.S. patent application No. 15/848,565 to Farley (Farley) ("565") filed on 20.12.2017. This application discloses a multi-mode showerhead having a first fixed nozzle assembly and at least a second removable shower nozzle assembly. Removable nozzle assemblies are placed over an offset hollow water filter chamber in a showerhead to provide a multi-mode offset filtering showerhead having a plurality of nozzle assemblies that can be selectively controlled to provide filtered water through either or both of the nozzle assemblies as desired by the user. The water filter cartridge is inserted into and removed from a hollow filter chamber in a shower head by removing a second removable shower nozzle assembly from a front opening in the water filter housing.

While known showerheads work satisfactorily, there remains a need in the art for unique modern showerhead and water filter systems having multiple shower nozzle assemblies, including removable nozzle assemblies and removable or rotatable shower nozzle assemblies to achieve a more enjoyable shower experience. The flow of water in this showerhead to the nozzle assemblies can be selectively controlled to different flow rates through the filtered water. The shower head is also configured to allow easy addition or removal of a water filter cartridge to or from a water filter housing at one end by removing a removable nozzle assembly inserted and retained in a water filter housing portion of the shower head.

Disclosure of Invention

The filtering showerhead of the present invention provides a number of advantages, including (but not limited to) the following:

1) showerhead extension is minimized by using an offset shower water filter system placed at one end of a showerhead having a plurality of nozzle assemblies, one of which is movable.

2) Front loading of replacement water filter cartridges in a shower head is done by removing a front facing removable shower nozzle assembly, which may have a water filter cartridge retaining member integral therewith.

3) The filtering showerhead of the present invention provides multiple nozzle assemblies with easy adjustment of the spray pattern into and out of the nozzle assemblies, and has one nozzle assembly that is rotatable, thereby allowing unique and optimal water flow patterns to be directed by the user to provide a more enjoyable shower experience.

4) The filtering showerhead of the present invention provides a plurality of nozzle assemblies, one of which is movable or rotatable to allow easy adjustment of such nozzle assemblies, thereby allowing a user to direct the flow of water from the movable nozzle assembly to a desired location or area.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved showerhead and filter assembly. It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a showerhead having an offset water filter system. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a showerhead and filter assembly having a plurality of nozzle assemblies. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an offset filtering showerhead having a plurality of nozzle assemblies, one of which is removable and the other of which is movable or rotatable. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel offset filtration showerhead wherein the removable nozzle assembly allows for easy replacement of the water filter cartridge. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new offset filtering showerhead that has a more aesthetically pleasing integrated design, provides a more versatile and pleasing shower experience, and allows access to the filter cartridge by removing the front facing removable shower nozzle.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a multi-mode offset filtration showerhead having a plurality of jet shower nozzle assemblies, one of which is movable or rotatable and the other of which is removable and can contain a unit to hold a filter cartridge for insertion and removable from an integrated water filter system incorporated into the showerhead.

Drawings

The objects and features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a multi-mode showerhead of the present invention having a multiple spray nozzle assembly and an offset integrated water filter system;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the showerhead of FIG. 1 showing two spray nozzle assemblies and a selector knob or switch between the spray nozzle assemblies;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the showerhead of the present invention, the other side being substantially identical;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the showerhead of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the showerhead of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a first end elevational view of the showerhead of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a second end elevational view of the showerhead of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the showerhead of the present invention with the rotatable nozzle assembly shown in phantom rotated into various positions;

FIG. 9 is a partially exploded view of the removable nozzle assembly removed from the showerhead to illustrate a filter cartridge retaining unit for retaining a filter cartridge for insertion and removal from an offset water filter system of the showerhead;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partially exploded cross-sectional view of the showerhead of the present invention showing how the removable nozzle assembly and filter cartridge retaining unit can be inserted through an opening in the front face of the showerhead into a hollow chamber forming part of an offset water filter system; and

fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to fig. 11 showing the removable nozzle assembly and filter cartridge retaining unit installed in the hollow chamber to complete assembly of the showerhead and offset water filter system.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. However, various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, as the general principles of the present invention have been specifically defined herein to achieve a multi-mode showerhead with an offset integrated water filter assembly and multiple shower spray nozzle assemblies.

The multi-mode showerhead of the present invention having a multiple spray nozzle assembly (or spray head) and an offset integrated water filter system is mounted directly on a conventional shower arm (not shown) that exits the shower wall and is typically screwed onto or otherwise sealingly secured to the shower arm and extends into the shower area.

Turning now to the drawings, fig. 1-8 show a presently preferred embodiment of a multi-mode showerhead 10 having an offset integrated water filter system incorporated in the showerhead. The showerhead 10 comprises a multi-piece hollow body or housing 12 having a back portion or surface 14 and a front portion or surface 16. The body 12 has a single water inlet 18, preferably movable, and a plurality of water outlets with spray nozzle assemblies therein. The body is substantially hollow or contains a passageway for water therein and may include additional nozzles if desired. As shown, the housing 12 has a first spray nozzle assembly 20 removably retained in the front face 16 at a first end 22 of the showerhead 10. This first spray nozzle assembly 20 is mechanically fixed in place in a hollow chamber 23 formed in a showerhead that includes part of a water filter system, but can be removed as needed to replace a filter cartridge, as explained more fully below.

A second movable spray nozzle assembly or outlet 24 is rotatably retained in a pair of

hollow arms

26, 28 at a second end of the showerhead. The

arms

26, 28 may of course extend outwardly until they form a complete enclosure for the rotatable nozzle assembly 24 without interfering with its movement. The second spray nozzle assembly 24 is generally hollow (see fig. 11 and 12) having a plurality of openings 30 on one side thereof positioned such that they face the shower area when the showerhead is mounted on the shower arm. In addition, the second spray nozzle assembly includes a pair of hollow bearing

arms

32, 34 on opposite sides thereof that are sealingly retained in the

hollow arms

26, 28 to allow the second spray nozzle assembly to rotate and water to enter the nozzle assembly 24 and exit through the opening 30 (see fig. 4, 5 and 7). The pair of hollow bearing

arms

32, 34 allow a user to easily and sealingly rotate the second spray nozzle assembly within the

hollow arms

26, 28 to selectively change the direction of flow of filtered water from the second spray nozzle assembly (see fig. 8).

A generally hollow mode selector switch or knob 36 is retained in a central portion of the front face 16 (see fig. 2-4, 7, 8, 11 and 12) between the first and

second nozzle assemblies

20 and 24 to control the flow of water to the second nozzle assembly 24.

As shown in fig. 9-12, the first nozzle assembly 20 is releasably or removably retained in a hollow chamber 23 in a first end 22 of the body or housing 12. The first nozzle assembly 20 is shown with a water filter cartridge retaining unit 38 secured thereto. The unit 38 has a screw-off top cover or top 40 that covers a removable retaining element 42. A filter cartridge 44, shown in phantom, is inserted and retained within the hollow interior 45 of the retaining element 42. This removable retaining element 42 has a plurality of openings 43 formed therethrough to allow water to flow through the filter cartridge. Thus, when the first nozzle assembly with the filter cartridge retained therein and the retaining unit 38 are inserted and retained in the hollow chamber 23, they form a water filter system through which water entering through the inlet 18 flows and then exits through the first nozzle assembly 20 and/or through the movable second nozzle assembly 24.

As best shown in fig. 12, when the showerhead 10 of the present invention is properly assembled with the hollow threaded inlet 46 in the top cover 40 holding the first spray nozzle 20 and the cartridge retaining unit in place, and then mounted on a shower arm (not shown) in any known manner, water enters from the shower arm through the inlet 18 and flows through the hollow threaded inlet 46 in the top cover 40, through the filter cartridge 44.

First, if the overall water flow control device including the selector switch 36 is adjusted, water entering the showerhead from the shower arm passes through the filter cartridge 44 and through the first nozzle assembly 20 without being blocked by actuation of the lever 48 and the plurality of plates 50 having openings therein secured thereto, as described in the' 565 application. In addition, water, after passing through the filter cartridge 44, will flow through the openings in the wall of the hollow chamber 23 towards the selector switch 36. Selector switch 36 may be adjusted to block flow, or preferably allow water to flow into second nozzle assembly 20 and out through outlet 30.

It will be appreciated that the water filter cartridge retaining unit 38 could be eliminated and the first nozzle assembly 20 modified to resemble the water filter system set forth in the' 565 application if desired, or such a nozzle assembly could be provided with a different type of retention in which the filter cartridge 44 could be placed for insertion into the hollow chamber 23.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved, less cumbersome, easy to install and use multi-mode showerhead with multiple nozzle assemblies in a generally hollow housing with an offset integrated water filter assembly providing an integrated design.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system comprising:

a generally hollow housing having a front portion and a rear portion, a water inlet in the rear portion of the housing and a plurality of nozzle assemblies mounted in the front portion;

an integrated hollow water filter cartridge chamber formed at one end of the housing and fluidly connected with the water inlet;

a first nozzle assembly removably mounted at the one end of the housing and fluidly connected to the hollow water filter cartridge chamber;

a second nozzle assembly rotatably mounted at a second end of the housing and fluidly connected to the hollow water filter cartridge chamber; and

a multi-mode selector element retained on the front portion and fluidly connected between the hollow water filter cartridge chamber and the second nozzle assembly for selectively directing water in the showerhead and out of the second nozzle assembly.

2. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 1, further comprising a removable water filter cartridge retained in the hollow water filter cartridge chamber.

3. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 1, wherein the first nozzle assembly includes an adjustment member thereon to control the flow of filtered water out of the first nozzle assembly.

4. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 3, further comprising a removable water filter cartridge retained in the water filter cartridge chamber.

5. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 4, wherein the first nozzle assembly includes mechanical means formed thereon to enable the first nozzle assembly to be removably mounted in the housing.

6. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 5, wherein the second nozzle assembly is rotatably mounted in a pair of hollow arms at the second end of the housing.

7. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 6, further comprising a pair of hollow bearing arms connected to the second nozzle assembly to allow rotation of the second nozzle assembly in the pair of hollow arms at the second end of the housing.

8. A multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system comprising:

a housing having a front portion and a rear portion with a water inlet in the rear portion and at least two spray nozzle assemblies in the front portion;

a first spray nozzle assembly fluidly connected in a hollow water filter cartridge chamber at one end of the housing;

a removable water filter cartridge retained in the water filter cartridge chamber and selectively inserted and removed from the water filter cartridge chamber when the first jet assembly is removed from the showerhead; and

a multi-mode selector element retained in a central portion on the front portion and fluidly connected between the integrated hollow water filter cartridge chamber and a second jet nozzle assembly rotatably retained in a second end of the front portion for selectively directing water exiting the multi-mode selector element away from the second jet nozzle assembly.

9. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 8, wherein the first nozzle assembly is removably retained in the housing by mechanical securing means.

10. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 8, wherein the second nozzle assembly is rotatably retained in a pair of hollow arms by a pair of hollow bearing arms connected to the second nozzle assembly to allow rotation of the second nozzle assembly therein.

11. A multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system comprising:

a housing having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion having a water inlet therein at a first end of the housing and the front portion having a first spray nozzle assembly removably attached in the housing at the first end;

a removable water filter cartridge retained in a water filter cartridge chamber and selectively inserted and removed from the cartridge chamber, the chamber fluidly connected to the water inlet and the first jet nozzle assembly;

a multi-mode selector element retained on the front portion in a central portion between the first and second jet nozzle assemblies and fluidly connected between the integrated hollow water filter cartridge chamber and the second jet nozzle assembly for selectively directing water exiting the multi-mode selector element away from the first and second jet nozzle assemblies.

12. The multi-mode showerhead and integrated offset water filter system of claim 11, wherein the second spray nozzle assembly is rotatably mounted in a second end of the housing by a pair of hollow bearing arms rotatably retained in hollow arms formed at the second end of the housing.