Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HANDHELD SHOWER SYSTEM
[0001]
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a handheld shower
system, and, more
particularly, to a handheld shower system with magnetic docking and a
mechanical retention
feature.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Handheld showers are known. Further, handheld showers with
magnetic docking
are known. However, handheld showers with magnetic docking can accidentally
undock.
Additional mechanisms for securing handheld showers with magnetic docking are
desired.
Difficulties can be encountered in designing handheld showers with magnetic
docking that are
securely docked.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
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SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention provides a handheld shower system with
magnetic docking
and a mechanical retention feature.
[0005] In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld shower system includes a
handheld
and a cradle. The handheld includes a handheld housing. The handheld housing
is operable to
attach to a spray face. The cradle includes a cradle housing. One of the
handheld housing and
the cradle housing includes a lip, and the other of the handheld housing and
the cradle housing
includes a tab. One of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet, and the
other of the
handheld and the cradle includes a magnet or a magnetically attractable
material. The handheld
is docked on the cradle by attraction of the magnet of one of the handheld and
the cradle to the
magnet or the magnetically attractable material of the other of the handheld
and the cradle. As a
downward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the
cradle, the tab on
the cradle housing contacts the lip on the handheld housing and the handheld
is retained on the
cradle. As an upward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is
docked on the
cradle, the tab on the cradle housing does not contact the lip on the handheld
housing and the
handheld becomes undocked from the cradle.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld shower system includes a
handheld
and a cradle. The handheld includes a handheld housing. The handheld housing
includes a
handle and a head. The handle includes an inlet. The head includes an outlet.
The handheld
housing includes a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet. The
head has a front
side and a back side. The front side of the head is operable to attach to a
spray face. The back
side of the head includes a lip. The cradle includes a cradle housing. The
cradle housing
includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and
the outlet. The
cradle housing has a front end and a back end. The front end of the cradle
housing includes a
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tab. The outlet of the cradle housing is operable to be fluidly connected to
the inlet of the
handheld. One of the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet, and the other
of the handheld
and the cradle includes a magnet or a magnetically attractable material. The
handheld is docked
on the cradle by attraction of the magnet of one of the handheld and the
cradle to the magnet or
the magnetically attractable material of the other of the handheld and the
cradle. As a downward
force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle,
the tab on the front
end of the cradle housing contacts the lip on the back side of the head and
the handheld is
retained on the cradle. As an upward force is applied to the handheld while
the handheld is
docked on the cradle, the tab on the front end of the cradle housing does not
contact the lip on
the back side of the head and the handheld becomes undocked from the cradle.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld shower system includes a
handheld
and a cradle. The handheld includes a handheld housing. The handheld housing
includes a
handheld body and a handheld cover. The handheld body includes a handle and a
head. The
handle includes an inlet. The head includes an outlet. The handheld body
includes a passageway
extending between the inlet and the outlet. The head has a front side and a
back side. The front
side of the head is operable to attach to a spray face. The back side of the
head is operable to
attach to the handheld cover. The handheld cover includes a lip. The cradle
includes a cradle
housing. The cradle housing includes a cradle body and a cradle cover. The
cradle body
includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and
the outlet. The
cradle body has a front end and a back end. The front end of the cradle body
includes a tab. The
outlet of the cradle housing is operable to be fluidly connected to the inlet
of the handle. One of
the handheld and the cradle includes a magnet, and the other of the handheld
and the cradle
includes a magnet or a magnetically attractable material. The handheld is
docked on the cradle
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by attraction of the magnet of one of the handheld and the cradle to the
magnet or the
magnetically attractable material of the other of the handheld and the cradle.
As a downward
force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is docked on the cradle,
the tab on the front
end of the cradle body contacts the lip on the handheld cover and the handheld
is retained on the
cradle. As an upward force is applied to the handheld while the handheld is
docked on the
cradle, the tab on the front end of the cradle body does not contact the lip
on the handheld cover
and the handheld becomes undocked from the cradle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Figures la-le are views of a handheld shower system, including a
handheld and a
cradle, in a docked position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention -
Figure la is a perspective view, Figure lb is a side view, Figure lc is a rear
view, Figure Id is a
top view, and Figure le is a cross-sectional view taken along line le-le in
Figure Id;
[0009] Figures 2a-2g are views of the handheld of Figures la-le - Figure 2a
is a
perspective view, Figure 2b is an exploded perspective view, Figure 2c is a
side view, Figure 2d
is a front view, Figure 2e is a rear view, Figure 2f is a top view, and Figure
2g is a cross-
sectional view taken along line 2g-2g in Figure 2f;
[0010] Figures 3a-3e are views of the cradle of Figures la-le - Figure 3a
is a perspective
view, Figure 3b is an exploded perspective view, Figure 3c is a front view,
Figure 3d is a top
view, and Figure 3e is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3e-3e in Figure
3d;
[0011] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the handheld shower system of
Figures
la-le, in an undocked position, taken along a line similar to line le-le in
Figure id; and
[0012] Figures 5 is a cross-sectional view of the handheld shower system of
Figures
la-le, in a retained position, taken along a line similar to line le-le in
Figure Id.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present invention provides a handheld shower system with
magnetic docking
and a mechanical retention feature.
[0014] An exemplary embodiment of a handheld shower system 10 of the
present
invention is shown in detail in Figures la-5. In the illustrated embodiment,
the handheld shower
system 10 includes a handheld 12 and a cradle 14.
[0015] An exemplary embodiment of the handheld 12 is shown in detail in
Figures 2a-2g.
The handheld 12 includes a handheld housing 16. The handheld housing 16 has a
front side 18
and a back side 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld housing 16
includes a handheld
body 22 and a handheld cover 24. The handheld body 22 has a front side 26 and
a back side 28.
In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld body 22 includes a handle 30 and a
head 32. The
handle 30 includes an inlet 34. The inlet 34 is operable to connect to a hose.
The head 32
includes an outlet 36. The handheld body 22 includes a passageway 38 extending
between the
inlet 34 and the outlet 36. The head 32 has a front side 40 and a back side
42. The front side 40
of the head 32 is operable to attach to a spray face 44. The spray face 44 is
operable to deliver
fluid from the handheld 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the spray face 44
is operable to
deliver fluid from the handheld 12 in a plurality of modes, such as spray and
massage. In the
illustrated embodiment, the back side 42 of the head 32 is operable to attach
to the handheld
cover 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the back side 42 of the head 32
includes a lip 46 and a
handheld recess 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld cover 24
includes a lip 50 and a
handheld opening 52. The lip 50 on the handheld cover 24 has a top side 54 and
a bottom side
56. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom side 56 of the lip 50 includes
an undercut 58. In
the illustrated embodiment, the back side 20 of the handheld housing 16
includes the back side
28 of the handheld body 22 and the handheld cover 24.
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[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld recess 48 is operable to
receive a
handheld magnet 60. The handheld magnet 60 is operable to produce a magnetic
field that has a
strength. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld recess 48 is operable to
receive a handheld
magnet seal 62, a handheld metal disk 64, the handheld magnet 60, a handheld
magnet cover 66,
and the handheld cover 24. The handheld magnet seal 62 is operable to prevent
water from
coming into contact with the handheld magnet 60. The handheld metal disk 64 is
operable to
increase a strength of an attachment force acting on the handheld magnet 60.
In an exemplary
embodiment, the handheld metal disk 64 is made from an iron based metal, such
as steel. The
handheld magnet cover 66 is operable to compress the handheld magnet seal 62.
In an
exemplary embodiment, the handheld magnet cover 66 is made from a metal, such
as brass. In
the illustrated embodiment, the handheld magnet seal 62, the handheld metal
disk 64, the
handheld magnet 60, and the handheld magnet cover 66 are secured in the
handheld recess 48 by
the handheld cover 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld cover 24 is
secured to the
handheld body 22 using screws 68 or other suitable fasteners.
[0017] An exemplary embodiment of the cradle 14 is shown in detail in
Figure 3a-3e.
The cradle 14 includes a cradle housing 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the
cradle housing 70
includes a cradle body 72 and a cradle cover 74. In the illustrated
embodiment, the cradle body
72 is generally cylindrical shaped. The cradle body 72 includes an inlet 76,
an outlet 78, and a
passageway 80 extending between the inlet 76 and the outlet 78. The inlet 76
is operable to
connect to a water supply (typically, from a tub diverter valve). The outlet
78 is operable to
connect to the hose that is also connected to the inlet 34 in the handle 30 of
the handheld 12. The
cradle body 72 has a front end 82 and a back end 84. In the illustrated
embodiment, the front end
82 of the cradle body 72 includes a tab 86 and a cradle recess 88. The tab 86
has a front side 90,
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a back side 92, and a top side 94. In the illustrated embodiment, the front
side 90 of the tab 86
includes a chamfer 96. In the illustrated embodiment, the back side 92 of the
tab 86 is generally
flat. In the illustrated embodiment, the top side 94 of the tab 86 is
generally curved. In the
illustrated embodiment, the tab 86 extends radially outwardly from the cradle
body 72. In the
illustrated embodiment, the cradle cover 74 includes a cradle opening 98.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle recess 88 is operable to
receive a cradle
magnet 100. The cradle magnet 100 is operable to produce a magnetic field that
has a strength.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle recess 88 is operable to receive a
cradle support 102, a
cradle magnet seal 104, a cradle metal disk 106, the cradle magnet 100, a
cradle magnet cover
108, and the cradle cover 74. The cradle support 102 is operable to provide a
sealing surface for
the cradle magnet seal 104. The cradle magnet seal 104 is operable to prevent
water from
coming into contact with the cradle magnet 100. The cradle metal disk 106 is
operable to
increase a strength of an attachment force acting on the cradle magnet 100. In
an exemplary
embodiment, the cradle metal disk 106 is made from an iron based metal, such
as steel. The
cradle magnet cover 108 is operable to compress the cradle magnet seal 104. In
an exemplary
embodiment, the cradle magnet cover 108 is made from a metal, such as brass.
In the illustrated
embodiment, the cradle support 102, the cradle magnet seal 104, the cradle
metal disk 106. the
cradle magnet 100, and the cradle magnet cover 108 are secured in the cradle
recess 88 by the
cradle cover 74. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle cover 74 is secured
to the cradle body
72 using screws 110 or other suitable fasteners.
[0019] The use of the handheld shower system 10 will now be described,
During non-
use or hands-free use, the handheld 12 is docked on the cradle 14, as shown in
Figures 1 a-1 e. In
an exemplary embodiment, the handheld 12 is docked on the cradle 14 by moving
the handheld
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12 toward the cradle 14 so that the handheld magnet 60 is generally aligned
with the cradle
magnet 100. As the handheld 12 moves toward the cradle 14, the magnetic field
produced by the
handheld magnet 60 interacts with the magnetic field produced by the cradle
magnet 100 and
produces an attachment force that has a strength. A distance at which the
attachment force
produced by the handheld magnet 60 and the cradle magnet 100 becomes effective
depends upon
the strength of the magnetic field produced by the handheld magnet 60 and the
strength of the
magnetic field produced by the cradle magnet 100. In an exemplary embodiment,
the attachment
force produced by the handheld magnet 60 and the cradle magnet 100 becomes
effective when a
distance between the handheld magnet 60 and the cradle magnet 100 is
approximately one and
one-quarter inches (1-1/4 in.). In an exemplary embodiment, a surface-to-
surface attachment
force produced by the handheld magnet 60 and the cradle magnet 100 is
approximately ten
pounds (10 lbs.). As the handheld 12 comes into contact with the cradle 14,
the bottom side 56
of the lip 50 on the handheld cover 24 contacts the front side 90 of the tab
86 on the cradle body
72. The chamfer 96 on the front side 90 of the tab 86 causes the bottom side
56 of the lip 50 to
slide up and over the tab 86. The tab 86 moves into the undercut 58 in the lip
50.
[0020] When the handheld 12 is desired to be manually used, the handheld 12
is
undocked from the cradle 14, as shown in Figure 4. In an exemplary embodiment,
the handheld
12 is undocked from the cradle 14 by moving the handheld 12 away from the
cradle 14 until the
magnetic field of the handheld magnet 60 no longer interacts with the magnetic
field of the
cradle magnet 100 and lifting the handheld 12 so that the tab 86 on the cradle
body 72 moves out
of the undercut 58 in the lip 50 on the handheld cover 24.
[0021] As a downward force is applied to the handheld 12 while the handheld
12 is
docked on the cradle 14, the tab 86 on the cradle 14 contacts the lip 50 on
the handheld 12 and,
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more particularly, the undercut 58 in the lip 50 on the handheld 12, and the
handheld 12 is
retained on the cradle 14, as shown in Figure 5. As an upward force is applied
to the handheld
12 while the handheld 12 is docked on the cradle 14, the tab 86 on the cradle
14 does not contact
the lip 50 on the handheld 12 and, more particularly, the undercut 58 in the
lip 50 on the
handheld 12, and the handheld 12 becomes undocked from the cradle 14. The
amount of upward
force that needs to be applied to move the tab 86 out of the lip 50 and, more
particularly, the
undercut 58 in the lip 50, will depend upon the orientation of the cradle 14.
[0022] While the handheld shower system 10 has been shown and described in
the
illustrated embodiment as including components having certain features, one of
ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that the handheld shower system 10 could have these
features on other
components.
[0023] As an example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld 12
includes the lip 50,
and the cradle 14 includes the tab 86. However, one of ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate
that the handheld 12 could include the tab, and the cradle 14 could include
the lip.
[0024] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld
cover 24
includes the lip 50, and the cradle body 72 includes the tab 86. However, one
of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that other portions of the handheld 12 could include
the lip, such as the
head 32 or the handle 30 of the handheld body 22, and other portions of the
cradle 14 could
include the tab, such as the cradle cover 74.
[0025] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld body
22 includes
the lip 46, and the handheld cover 24 includes the lip 50. In the illustrated
embodiment, the lip
46 on the handheld body 22 is for decorative purposes, and the lip 50 on the
handheld cover 24
interfaces with the tab 86 on the cradle body 72. However, one of ordinary
skill in the art will
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appreciate that the lip 46 on the handheld body 22 could be used to interface
with the tab 86 on
the cradle body 72.
[0026] While the handheld shower system 10 has been shown and described in
the
illustrated embodiment as including certain components, one of ordinary skill
in the art will
appreciate that the handheld shower system 10 does not need to include each of
these
components.
[0027] As an example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld housing
16 includes a
handheld body 22 and a handheld cover 24, and the cradle housing 70 includes a
cradle body 72
and a cradle cover 74. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the handheld
housing 16 could be integrally formed or could be formed from more than two
components, and
the cradle housing 70 could be integrally formed or could be formed from more
than two
components.
[0028] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld 12
includes the
handheld magnet 60, and the cradle 14 includes the cradle magnet 100. However,
one of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one of the handheld 12 and the
cradle 14 could
include the magnet, and the other of the handheld 12 and the cradle 14 could
include a
magnetically attractable material.
[0029] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld 12
includes the
handheld metal disk 64, and the cradle 14 includes the cradle metal disk 106.
I lowever, one of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that either or both of the handheld
12 and the cradle 14
could not include the metal disk. As stated above, the handheld metal disk 64
increases the
strength of the attachment force acting on the handheld magnet 60, and the
cradle metal disk 106
increases the strength of the attachment force acting on the cradle magnet
100. However, one of
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ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a handheld magnet that produces
a stronger magnetic
field could be used instead of the handheld magnet 60 and the handheld metal
disk 64, and/or a
cradle magnet that produces a stronger magnetic field could be used instead of
the cradle magnet
100 and the cradle metal disk 106.
[0030] While the handheld shower system 10 has been shown and described in
the
illustrated embodiment as including components having certain shapes, sizes,
and configurations
and made of certain materials, one of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the components
of the handheld shower system 10 do not need to have theses shapes, sizes, and
configurations
and be made of these materials.
[0031] As an example, in the illustrated embodiment, the lip 50 on the
handheld cover 24
is generally arc-shaped. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the lip 50
could have other shapes. Moreover, the lip 50 could be smaller or larger and
could even be
enclosed.
[0032] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the tab 86 on the
cradle 14 has
the chamfered front side 90, the generally flat back side 92, and the
generally curved top side 94.
However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the tab 86
could have other shapes.
Moreover, the tab 86 could be smaller or larger.
[0033] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the tab 86 on the
cradle body
72 extends radially outwardly from the cradle body 72. However, one of
ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that the tab 86 could extend in other directions so long as
the tab 86 is operable to
interface with the lip 50 and retain the handheld 12 on the cradle 14.
[0034] As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld
magnet cover 66
and the cradle magnet cover 108 are made of metal. However, one of ordinary
skill in the art
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will appreciate that the handheld magnet cover 66 and the cradle magnet cover
108 could be
made of other materials, including plastic. One of ordinary skill in the art
will also appreciate
that if the handheld magnet cover 66 and the cradle magnet cover 108 are made
of plastic, the
handheld magnet cover 66 and the cradle magnet cover 108 will likely be
thicker and the
strength of the magnetic field produced by the handheld magnet 60 and/or the
strength of the
magnetic field produced by the cradle magnet 100 will need to be increased.
[0035] While the handheld shower system 10 has been shown and described in
the
illustrated embodiment with the components of the handheld shower system 10
attached and
used in a particular manner, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that the components of
the handheld shower system 10 do not need to be attached and used in this
manner.
[0036] As an example, as described above, the handheld 12 is docked on the
cradle 14 by
moving the handheld 12 toward the cradle 14 until the bottom side 56 of the
lip 50 on the
handheld cover 24 contacts the front side 90 of the tab 86 on the cradle body
72 and slides up
and over the tab 86 and into the undercut 58 in the lip 50. However, one of
ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate that the handheld 12 could be docked on the cradle 14 by
moving the
handheld 12 toward the cradle 14 with the bottom side 56 of the lip 50 on the
handheld cover 24
in a position higher than the front side 90 of the tab 86 on the cradle body
72 and lowering the
handheld 12 until the tab 86 slides into the undercut 58 in the lip 50.
[0037] As another example, as described above, the handheld 12 is undocked
from the
cradle 14 by moving the handheld 12 away from the cradle 14 and lifting the
handheld 12 so that
the tab 86 on the cradle body 72 moves out of the undercut 58 in the lip 50 on
the handheld cover
24. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
handheld 12 could be
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undocked from the cradle 14 by lifting the handheld 12 so that the tab 86
moves out of the
undercut 58 in the lip 50 and moving the handheld 12 away from the cradle 14.
[0038] As shown and described in the illustrated embodiment in Figure 3b,
the cradle 14
includes a ball swivel joint 112. The ball swivel joint 112 can be used to
connect the cradle 14 to
a standard shower arm extending from a wall. However, one of ordinary skill in
the art will
appreciate that the cradle 14 could be attached to any surface or any
component of a bathing or
showering system. For example, the cradle 14 could be attached directly to the
wall, to a slide
bar, or to a fixed showerhead.
[0039] In describing the components of the handheld shower system 10 and
the docking
and undocking of the handheld 12 on and from the cradle 14, terms describing
the orientation of
the components of the handheld shower system 10 are used. For example, the
handheld housing
16 is described as having a front side 18 and a back side 20, the handheld
body 22 is described as
having a front side 26 and a back side 28, and the head 32 is described as
having a front side 40
and a back side 42. Similarly, the lip 50 on the handheld cover 24 is
described as having a top
side 54 and a bottom side 56. Additionally, the cradle body 72 is described as
having a front end
82 and a back end 84, and the tab 86 of the cradle body 72 is described as
having a front side 90,
a back side 92, and a top side 94. Likewise, reference is made to the bottom
side 56 of the lip 50
sliding up and over the tab 86, lifting the handheld 12, and applying an
upward force to the
handheld 12. These terms describe the components of the handheld shower system
10 as
oriented in the drawings. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the
handheld shower system 10 could be oriented in any direction and that these
terms are relative
terms and are merely used for ease of reference in describing the components
of the handheld
shower system 10 and the docking and undocking of the handheld 12 on and from
the cradle 14.
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[0040] One of
ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that the present invention
provides a handheld shower system with magnetic docking and a mechanical
retention feature.
Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to
a particular
embodiment, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to those
skilled in the art upon
reading and understanding this specification. The present invention includes
all such equivalent
alterations and modifications.
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