Patent ID: 8177147
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: B05B

Abstract:
1. A showerhead apparatus comprising: an elongate handle housing; a central conduit within said housing including a fixed pipe having an inlet connectable to a water source and an outlet, said central conduit further including a rotatable pipe having an inlet rotatably connected to said fixed pipe's outlet and an outlet; a coupling affixed to said rotatable pipe's outlet so as to rotate with the rotation of said rotatable pipe, said coupling's rotation defining an axis of rotation, said coupling including an inlet port connected to said rotatable pipe's outlet for receiving water and an outlet port for expelling water, said coupling outlet port offset relative to said coupling's axis of rotation so that rotation of said coupling causes said outlet port to rotate in a circular path; a diverter assembly including a receptacle portion for engaging said coupling and including a plurality of diverter inlet ports concentrically aligned to selectively engage and disengage from said from said coupling's outlet port as said coupling outlet port rotates about its circular path, said diverter assembly including a discharge portion including a plurality of discharge ports, said diverter inlet ports connected to said diverter outlet ports by a plurality of discrete flow pathways for directing water from said diverter inlet ports to corresponding diverter outlet ports; a showerhead producing a plurality of selectable spray patterns connected to said diverter assembly, said showerhead including a plurality of showerhead inlet openings connected to said diverter assembly's plurality of outlet ports, said showerhead including a plurality of sets of spray holes with each set of spray holes connected to a showerhead inlet opening by a one of a plurality of discrete flow passageways; and a controller located in said elongate handle for selectively causing said rotatable pipe to rotate, said rotation of said rotatable pipe to a first position causing said coupling's outlet port to rotate and engage and connect to a first of said plurality of diverter inlets so as to allow fluid flow through said fixed pipe, said rotatable pipe, said coupling, through a first diverter flow pathway, and through a first showerhead passageway to a first set of spray holes to produce a first spray pattern, said rotation of said rotatable pipe to a second position causing said coupling's outlet port to rotate and engage and connect to a second of said plurality of diverter inlets so as to allow fluid flow through said fixed pipe, said rotatable pipe, said coupling, through a second diverter flow pathway, and through a second showerhead passageway to a second set of spray holes to produce a second spray pattern; said controller further includes a ratchet assembly, said ratchet assembly including a plurality of teeth concentrically positioned around said rotatable pipe, a button projecting through a hole formed in said handle housing for selectively engaging said teeth for rotating said rotatable pipe, and a biasing means for biasing said button away from said teeth so that depression of said button causes said button to engage said teeth so as to rotate said rotatable pipe so as to divert fluid flow first diverter flow pathway to a second diverter flow pathway to allow selection of a first spray pattern or a second spray pattern.