Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02774670 2014-09-04
-1-
HAND SHOWER
Background and Summary of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to hand showers and, more
particularly, to a hand
shower including a rotatable shower head.
[0003] A variety of fluid delivery devices are known for use within a
shower or bathtub,
including fixed overhead shower heads, wall-mounted body sprays, and hand
showers. Hand
showers, or handheld shower heads, are typically connected to a water supply
through a flexible
conduit thereby permitting the hand shower to be moved for directing water
flow as desired by
the user.
[0004] The present disclosure relates to a hand shower including a handle
having a first
waterway including an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion
is configured to be
fluidly coupled to a water supply. A shower head includes a second waterway
including an inlet
portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion of the second waterway is
fluidly coupled to the
outlet portion of the first waterway. The outlet portion of the second
waterway includes a
plurality of outlets configured to deliver water at an oblique angle relative
to the handle. The
inlet portion of the second waterway is rotatably coupled to the outlet
portion of the first
waterway, such that the shower head rotates about a longitudinal axis of the
handle between a
first position and a second position angularly spaced from the first position.
CA 02774670 2012-04-24
-2-
[0005] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a hand
shower comprises a handle having a base portion and a connecting portion
defining a longitudinal
connector axis, and a shower head including a plurality of outlets configured
to deliver water in a
direction generally parallel to a water flow axis. A connector rotatably
couples the shower head
to the handle, wherein rotation of the shower head about the longitudinal
connector axis alters the
angular orientation of the water flow axis relative to the base portion of the
handle.
[0006] According to a fiirther illustrative embodiment of the present
disclosure, a hand
shower comprises a handle having a base portion and a connecting portion
defining a longitudinal
connector axis, and a shower head including a plurality of outlets configured
to deliver water
along a water flow axis. The shower head is operably coupled to the handle for
rotation about the
longitudinal connector axis between a first position and a second position
angularly spaced from
the first position. A detent device releasably secures the shower head in one
of the first position
and the second position.
[0007] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed
description of the
illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the
invention as presently
perceived.
Brief Description of the Drawings
100081 The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the
accompanying
figures in which:
[00091 Fig. IA is a front perspective view of an illustrative hand shower
according to the
present disclosure, showing the shower head in a first rotational position;
[0010] Fig. I B is a rear perspective view of the hand shower of Fig. IA;
[0011] Fig. IC is a side elevational view of the hand shower of Fig. 1A;
[0012] Fig. 2A is a front perspective view of the hand shower if Fig. 1A,
showing the
shower head rotated 180 degrees to a second rotational position;
[0013] Fig. 26 is a rear perspective view of the hand shower of Fig. 2A;
CA 02774670 2012-04-24
-3-
[0014] Fig. 2C is a side perspective view of the hand shower of Fig. 2A;
[0015] Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hand shower of
Fig. IA;
[0016] Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3,
showing the hand
shower in the second rotational position of Fig. 2A;
[0017] Fig. 5 is a front exploded perspective view of the hand shower of
Fig. IA;
100181 Fig. 6 is a rear exploded perspective view of the hand shower of
Fig. 1A;
[0019] Fig. 7 is a perspective view in partial schematic of the water
dispensed by a two-
dimensional fluidic device of the present disclosure;
[0020] Fig. 8A is a perspective view in partial schematic of the water
dispensed by a
three-dimensional fluidic device of the present disclosure;
[0021] Fig. 8B is a top plan view in partial schematic of the water
dispensed by the three-
dimensional fluidic device of Fig. 8A;
[0022] Fig. 8C is a side elevational view in partial schematic of the
water dispensed by the
three-dimensional fluidic device of Fig. 8A;
[0023] Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the interface between the
handle and
shower head of the hand shower of Fig. 1A;
[0024] Fig. 10 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the interface of
Fig. 9; and
[0025] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig.
IC.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0026] The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended
to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the
embodiments
selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to
practice the
invention.
[0027] Referring initially to Figs. 1A-4, an illustrative hand shower 10
is shown as
including a handle 12 and an axially rotatable shower head 14 including a
plurality of water outlets
15. More particularly, the shower head 14 is supported for rotation about a
longitudinal
connector axis 16 defined by the handle 12 (Figs. IC, 2C, 3, and 4). As
further detailed herein,
CA 02774670 2012-04-24
-4-
rotation of the shower head 14 may change the angle of water spray produced by
the water
outlets 15 relative to the handle 12 as desired. As further detailed herein,
water exits from the
water outlets 15 of the shower head 14 generally in the direction or a
longitudinal water flow axis
18, wherein the angle between the longitudinal flow axis 18 and the handle 12
may change relative
to the rotational position of the shower head 14.
100281 With reference to Figs. IC, 2C, and 3-6, the handle 12 includes an
inlet or base
portion 20 and an outlet or connector portion 22. The base portion 20 is
configured to be fluidly
coupled to a water supply (not shown). The handle 12 illustratively further
includes a cover or
shell 24 which receives a first waterway 26. The shell 24 is illustratively
curved as it extends
longitudinally from opposing ends 28 and 30. The shell 24 may be defined by a
front cover 32
and a rear cover 34. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 34 may be formed of
a polymer, such
as a thermoplastic, and secured together through conventional means, such as
heat welding,
adhesives, or fasteners. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 34 include
arcuate end walls 36a,
36b and 38a, 38b that together define opposing end flanges 36 and 38
positioned at opposing
ends 28 and 30 of the shell 24. The front cover 32 illustratively includes a
plurality of
strengthening ribs 40 positioned on an inner surface 42 and positioned
intermediate the opposing
ends 28 and 30.
10029] With reference to Figs. 3-6, the first waterway 26 illustratively
includes a tube or
conduit 44 including an inlet portion 46 and an outlet portion 48 extending
between opposing
ends 50 and 52. Illustratively, the conduit 44 is formed of a metal, such as
brass. Alternatively,
the conduit 44 may be formed of a molded polymer, such as a thermoplastic. The
inlet portion 46
is received within the base portion 20 of the handle 12, while the outlet
portion 48 is received
within the connector portion 22 of the handle 12. More particularly, the inlet
portion 46 is
received between the front and rear covers 32 and 34 of the shell 24 and
includes retaining tabs 54
and 56 that are received within slots 58 and 60 defined by ribs 62 and 64
supported by inner
surfaces 42 and 66 of the front and rear covers 32 and 34, respectively.
Similarly, the outlet
portion 48 is received between the front and rear covers 32 and 34 of the
shell 24 and includes
retaining tabs 68 and 70 that are received within slots 72 and 74 defined by
ribs 76 and 78
supported by inner surfaces 42 and 66 of the front and rear covers 32 and 34,
respectively. The
CA 02774670 2012-04-24
-5-
inlet portion 46 extends through an opening defined by end flange 36, while
the outlet portion 48
extends through an opening defined by end flange 38.
[00301 With further reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the inlet portion 46 of
conduit 44 extends
along a longitudinal inlet or base axis 80, while the outlet portion 48 of
conduit 44 extends along
a longitudinal outlet axis 82. Illustratively, the outlet axis 82 is coaxiak
aligned with the
connector axis 16, while the inlet axis 80 is angled from the outlet axis 82
by an angle a. In the
illustrative embodiment, angle a is approximately 154 degrees (Fig. 3).
[00311 An external fluid coupling 84 is illustratively supported by the
inlet end 50 of
conduit 44. The fluid coupling 84 illustratively comprises a plurality of
external threads 86
formed within the inlet portion 46 and is configured to fluidly couple with an
external flexible
hose or conduit 93 (Figs. IA and 2A) for providing water from the external
water supply (not
shown).
[00321 An external flange 88 extends radially outwardly from the conduit
44 proximate
the inlet end 50. An o-ring 89 may be received radially around the inlet
portion 46 of the conduit
44 and received axially intermediate flange 88 of the conduit 44 and the end
flange 36 of the shell
24. Axially spaced external flanges 90, 92, and 94 extend radially outwardly
from the conduit 44
proximate the outlet end 52. The end flange 38 of shell 24 is received within
a groove 96 defined
intermediate flanges 90 and 92 of conduit 44 (Figs. 3, 4, and 9). As such, the
conduit 44 is
secured to the shell 24.
[0033] Check valves 97 of conventional design may be received within the
inlet portion 46
of the conduit 44. Similarly, a flow restrictor 98 also of conventional design
may be received
within the inlet portion 46 of the conduit 44.
[0034] With reference to Figs. 1C, 2C, and 3-6, the shower head 14
includes an inlet or
connector portion 102 and an outlet portion 104. A connector 105 rotatably
couples the inlet
portion 102 of the shower head 14 to the outlet portion 22 of the handle 12.
The shower head 14
illustratively further includes a shell 106 which receives a second waterway
108. The shell 106 is
illustratively curved as it extends longitudinally from opposing ends 109 and
111 and may
conform to the curvature of the shell 24 of the handle 12 to define a
substantially continuous
curved outer surface. In the illustrative embodiment, the side elevation
defined by the shells 24
CA 02774670 2012-04-24
-6-
and 106 defines a C-shape in a first orientation (Figs. IC and 3) and an S-
shape in a second
orientation (Figs 2C and. 4). It should be appreciated that other shapes may
also be defined by
the shells 24 and 106 of the handle 12 and the shower head 14, respectively.
[0035] The shell 106 may be defined by a front cover 110 and a rear cover
112. The front
cover 110 and the rear cover 112 may be formed of a polymer, such as a
thermoplastic, and
secured together through conventional means, such as heat welding, adhesives,
or fasteners. The
front cover 110 and the rear cover 112 include arcuate end walls 114a, 114b
and 116a, 116b.
End walls 114a and 114b together define an open end wall or end flange 114
defining an opening
to receive the first and second waterways 26 and 108. End walls 116a and I 16b
together define a
closed end 116. The end flange 114 of shell 106 is received within a groove
115 defined
intermediate flanges 92 and 94 of conduit 44 of first waterway 26 (Figs. 3, 4,
and 9).
[0036] The front cover 110 includes a spray face 117 having a plurality of
openings 118
aligned with the water outlets 15. In the illustrative embodiment, five (5)
openings 118 are
provided in a linear arrangement. It should be appreciated that the number and
arrangement of
openings 118 and corresponding water outlets 15 may vary.
[0037] The second waterway 108 illustratively includes an inlet portion
120 and an outlet
portion 122 extending between opposing ends 123 and 124. Illustratively, the
second waterway
108 is formed of a molded polymer, such as a thermoplastic. Alternatively, the
second waterway
108 may be formed of a metal, such as brass. The inlet portion 120 of the
second waterway 108
is received within the inlet portion 102 of the shower head 14, and the outlet
portion 122 of the
second waterway 108 is received within the outlet portion 104 of the shower
head 14.
[0038] The inlet portion 120 of the second waterway 108 illustratively
comprises a tube
or conduit 126 extending along a longitudinal inlet axis 127 that is coaxially
aligned with the
connector axis 16. The conduit 126 extends outwardly through end flange 114 of
shell 106 and is
illustratively rotatably received within the outlet portion 48 of the first
waterway conduit 44.
Axially spaced flanges 128, 130, 132, and 134 extend radially outwardly from
the inlet portion
120 and define grooves 136 and 138 (Fig. 10). 0-rings 140 are illustratively
received within
grooves 136 and 138 and provide a fluid seal between the inlet portion 120 of
the second
waterway 108 and the outlet portion 48 of the first waterway 26.
CA 02774670 2012-04-24
-7-
100391 With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the inlet portion 120 of the
second waterway 108
extends along a longitudinal inlet axis 141, while the outlet portion 122 of
the second waterway
108 extends along a longitudinal outlet axis 142. Illustratively, the inlet
axis 141 is coaxially
aligned with the connector axis 16, while the inlet axis 141 is angled from
the outlet axis 142 by
an angle p. In the illustrative embodiment, angle p is equal to approximately
162 degrees (Fig. 3).
[0040] With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, the outlet portion 104 of the
second waterway 108
includes a housing or manifold 144 and a rear cover 148 coupled to the
manifold 144. A plurality
of receiving chambers 150 are formed within the front portion 146 and are
configured to support
a plurality of multi-dimensional fluid dispensers or fluidic devices 152. As
further detailed herein,
each multi-dimensional fluidic device 152 is configured to produce a stream or
jet of water
moving in at least two dimensions. Each fluidic device 152 is illustratively
received within a
housing 154 which, in turn, is received within one of the chambers 150 formed
in the front portion
146. Illustratively, the fluidic devices 152 are dimensioned to be press fit
within the housings 154,
and the housings 154 are dimensioned to be press fit within the chambers 150.
The housings 154
may also be ultrasonically welded to the chambers 150. Dimensional tolerances
of the housings
154 may be more easily controlled than those of the plurality of chambers 150
of the second
waterway 108.
[0041] A plurality of tabs 156 and 158 are supported by the front and
rear covers 110 and
112, respectively. The tabs 156 and 158 provide clamping surfaces to engage
and secure the
second waterway 108 within the shell 106.
[00421 The fluidic devices 152 define the plurality of outlets 15
configured to deliver
water at an oblique angle relative to the handle 12. More particularly, the
fluidic devices 152 are
configured to deliver water generally along longitudinal flow axis 18, which
is disposed at an
angle relative to the base axis 80 of the handle 12. The angle is oblique
(i.e., not a right angle or a
multiple of a right angle). As further detailed herein, the angle may vary as
the shower head 14 is
rotated about the connector axis 16.
[0043] The fluidic devices 152 may comprise two-dimensional (2-D) or
three-dimensional
(3-D) fluidic devices or nozzles for providing multi-dimensional water spray
patterns. With
reference to Fig. 7, 2-D fluidic devices or nozzles 160 are configured to
produce a fan of water
CA 02774670 2014-09-04
-8-
patterns. With reference to Fig. 7, 2-D fluidic devices or nozzles 160 are
configured to produce a
fan of water 164 within a plane 166 by oscillating a water stream 168 about a
center axis 170.
The resulting spray 171 is illustratively a line in cross-section.
[0044] With reference to Figs. 8A-8C, 3-D fluidic devices or nozzles 162
are configured
to produce a pair of interacting fans of water 172a, 172b. In general, each 3-
D fluidic device 162
comprises a pair of adjacent 2-D fluidic devices 160 disposed parallel to each
other. Moreover,
the 3-D effect may be produced by combining two 2-D fluidic devices 160 that
have initially
converging fans of water 172a, 172b that upon contact proximate a center plane
174 reflect
outwardly away from each other. Illustratively, the fans of water 172a, 172b
are formed by
oscillating water streams 176a, 176b about a respective center axis 178a, 178b
within initially
converging planes 180a, 180b. At convergence point 182, the fans of water
172a, 172b reflect
away from each other in diverging planes 184a, 184b, thereby moving in a
direction away from
center plane 174. The resulting spray 186 illustratively defines a rectangular
cross-section.
Illustratively, the fluidic devices 152 may be of the type manufactured by
Bowles Fluidics
Corporation of Columbia, Maryland, USA. Additional details on multi-
dimensional fluidic chips
are provided in PCT International Application No. PCT/US2011/053699, entitled
"Showerhead
with Multi-Dimensional Fluid Dispensers," filed September 28, 2011.
[0045] Adequate clearance is provided by the spray face 117 to prevent the
oscillating
spray 186 from interfering therewith. More particularly, adequate clearance is
provided by
angled surfaces 188 formed within edges of openings 118 (Figs. 3 and 4).
[0046] As described above, the inlet portion 120 of the second waterway
108 is rotatably
coupled to the outlet portion 102 of the first waterway 26, such that the
shower head 14 rotates
about longitudinal connector axis 16 of the handle 12 between a first position
(Figs. 1A-1C and
3) and a second position (Figs. 2A-2C and 4) angularly spaced from the first
position. In the
illustrated embodiment, the second position is angularly spaced from the first
position by 180
degrees. As such, the water outlets 15 face toward the front of the hand
shower 10 in the first
position, and the water outlets 15 face toward the rear of the hand shower 10
in the second
position. While two positions offset by 180 degrees are shown in the
illustrative embodiment, it
CA 02774670 2014-09-04
-9-
should be appreciated that the shower head 14 may be rotated to any number of
different
positions having different angular orientations.
[0047] The plurality of outlets 15 of the shower head 14 illustratively
deliver water at a
first oblique angle yl relative to the handle 12 toward a first,
illustratively front, side of the hand
shower 10 when the shower head 14 is in the first position. The plurality of
outlets 15 of the
shower head 14 illustratively deliver water at a second oblique angle y2
relative to the handle 12
toward a second, illustratively a rear, side of the hand shower 10 when the
shower head 14 is in
the second position. The angles yl and y2 are measured between the inlet axis
80 of the handle
12 and the water flow axis 18. The first oblique angle yl is different from
the second oblique
angle y2. In the illustrative embodiment, the first oblique angle yl is
approximately 46 degrees,
while the second oblique angle y2 is approximately 82 degrees. It should be
appreciated that
angles yl and y2 may vary based upon different values of angles a and 13 of
the first and second
waterways 26 and 108, respectively.
[0048] With reference to Figs. 9-11, the connector 105 includes a detent
device 190 that
acts as an indexing detent for releasably securing the shower head 14 in one
of the first position
and the second position. The detent device 190 illustratively includes first
and second
cantilevered arms 192a and 192b extending radially outwardly from the second
waterway 108.
As further detailed herein, flange 92 extends radially outwardly from the
first waterway 26.
Cantilevered arms 192a and 192b include free ends supporting locking tabs 196a
and 196b,
respectively. Each locking tab 196a, 196b includes inclined surfaces 198 and
200.
[0049] The flange 94 of first waterway 26 supports a first recess 202a and
a second recess
202b associated with the first and second positions of the shower head 14.
Each recess 202a,
202b is illustratively defined by a pair of opposing radially extending
retaining members 204a,
206a, and 204b, 206b, respectively. Each retaining member 204a, 204b, 206a,
206b includes
inner and outer inclined surfaces 208 and 210 configured to cooperate with the
inclined surfaces
198, 200 of the locking tabs 196.
[0050] The first locking tab 196a is received within the first recess
202a, and the second
locking tab 196b is received within the second recess 202b to releasably
secure the shower head
14 in the first position. Rotation of the shower head 14 by 180 degrees around
the connector axis
CA 02774670 2014-09-04
-10-
16 results in the second locking tab 196b being received with the first recess
202a, and the first
locking tab 196a being received within the second recess 202b for releasably
securing the shower
head 14 in the second position.
[0051] The cantilevered arms 192a and 192b are flexible such that the free
ends
supporting locking tabs 196a and 196b may move as force is applied thereto. As
shown in Fig. 9,
the shower head 14 is in a locked position. As the shower head 14 is rotated,
the tabs 196a, 196b
engage cooperating retaining members 204a, 206a. More particularly, clockwise
rotation of the
shower head 14 causes inclined surfaces 198 of locking tabs 196 to engage
cooperating inner
inclined surfaces 208 of the retaining members 204. Similarly,
counterclockwise rotation of the
shower head 14 causes inclined surfaces 200 of locking tabs 196 to engage
cooperating inner
inclined surfaces 208 of the retaining members 206.
[0052] Continued rotation of the shower head 14 forces the arms 192a, 192b
to flex
upwardly thereby allowing the tabs 196a, 196b to cam out of the cooperating
receiving recesses
202a, 202b. Once the tabs 196a, 196b are disengaged from the accepting
recesses 198a, 198b,
the shower head 14 is free to rotate until the tabs 196a, 196b engage the
opposing retaining
members 204, 206.
[0053] More particularly, as the shower head 14 is rotated clockwise from
the front side
to the rear side of the hand shower 10, the inclined surfaces 198 of locking
tabs 196 engage
cooperating outer inclined surfaces 210 of the opposite retaining members 206.
Similarly, if the
shower head 14 is rotated counterclockwise from the front side to the rear
side of the hand
shower 10, the inclined surfaces 200 of locking tabs 196 engage cooperating
outer inclined
surfaces 210 of the opposite retaining members 204.
[0054] Continued rotation of the shower head 14 forces the tabs 196a, 196b
to engage the
retaining members 204, 206 forcing the arms 192a, 192b upwardly. Continued
rotation allows
the tabs 196 to engage with the recesses 202, thereby locking the shower head
14 in position.
This provides an audible click to the user.
[0055] A tactile feel may also be provided to the user as the shower head
14 is rotated.
Lower surfaces 212 of the cantilevered arms 192a, 192b ride on an upper
surface 214 of the
waterway flange 94 with a biasing force created by an interference between the
arms 192a, 192b
CA 02774670 2014-09-04
-11-
and waterway flange 94 (Fig. 10). More particularly, lower surfaces 212 of the
arms 192 are
biased toward and movably engage upper surface 214 of the flange 94, thereby
acting as a
friction brake or clutch and providing a tactile feel to the user as the
shower head 14 is rotated
between the first and second positions. The detent provided by the raised tabs
196a, 196b
engaging in the recesses 202a, 202b may also provide for a visual aspect of
the proper orientation
of the shower head 14 in one of the first and second positions.
[0056] As detailed herein, the illustrative detent device 190 provides a
positive position
indication to the user of rotational position of the shower head 14 relative
to the handle 12. Such
user indication may include tactile, visual, and audible aspects.
[0057] With reference to Fig. 9, to provide retention and stability for
the rotating shower
head 14, end flange 38 on the handle shell 24 engages with groove 96 on the
first waterway 26.
Similarly, end flange 114 on the shower head shell 106 engages into molded
groove 115 on the
first waterway 26 to lock the assembly together and provide stability. Wear
flange 92 is formed
as a part of the first waterway 26 and is sandwiched between the handle shell
24 and the mating
shower head shell 106. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 34 of handle
shell 24, and the front
cover 110 and the rear cover 112 of the shower head shell 106 may then be
snapped, riveted,
threaded or held together in a variety of known manners.
[0058] In operation, water is supplied through the flexible hose 93 to the
inlet portion 46
of the first waterway 26, past the flow restrictor 98 and check valves 97, and
into the connecting
portion 48 of the first waterway 26. Water is supplied through the connector
105 and into the
inlet portion 120 of the second waterway 108 within the shower head 14. In the
first rotational
position of Figs. 1A-1C and 3, water is delivered from the fluidic devices 152
generally in the
direction of the water flow axis 18. As shown in Fig. 3, the water flow axis
18 is illustratively
angled relative to the base axis 80 by angle yl. The detent device 190
releasably secures the
shower head 14 in the first rotational position. More particularly, the tabs
196 of the cantilever
arms 192 are received within cooperating recesses 202.
[0059] By rotating the shower head 14, either clockwise or counter-
clockwise, the
cantilevered arms 192 are flexed away from the flange 94 by camming action of
the inclined
surfaces 208 against the cooperating inclined surfaces 198, 200 of the tabs
196. The shower head
CA 02774670 2014-09-04
-12-
14 may then be further rotated about connector axis 16 to the second position
(e.g., 180 degrees
from the first position) where the tabs 196 are received within diametrically
opposed recesses
202. As the tabs 196 approach the recesses 202, they are flexed away from the
flange 94 by the
inclined surfaces 210 of the associated retaining members 206. The tabs 196
then drop into the
recesses 202 to illustratively provide an audible click, tactile feel, and
visual indication to the
user. In the second rotational position of Figs. 2A-2C and 4, water is
delivered from the fluidic
devices 152 generally in the direction of water flow axis 18 opposite of the
water flow in the first
position. In this second position, the water flow axis 18 is illustratively
angled relative to the
base axis by angle y2.
[0060] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference
to certain
preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope of
the invention as
described and defined in the following claims.
