Patent ID: 8308085
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: B05B

Abstract:
1. A multifunction showerhead with automatic return function, comprising: a housing having a shell with a proximal extent, an opposed distal extent and a coextensive wall therebetween and a face plate provided at the distal extent of the shell and an actuation member operative adjacent the distal extent of the shell, wherein said face plate has a distal extent for fluid delivery; a cartridge assembly having: a cartridge housing, the cartridge housing having an elongate cartridge body with a proximal extent, an opposed distal extent and a coextensive cartridge body wall therebetween, the cartridge body wall having an outer peripheral surface having a biasing spring disposed thereat, wherein along at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface a guide recess is defined, the cartridge body wall also having an inner peripheral surface that defines an operating region; a cartridge holder in detachable engagement with the shell and the cartridge body, the cartridge holder having a proximal extent distal to the proximal extent of the shell, an opposed distal extent distal to the proximal extent of the cartridge body, and a wall coaxially disposed relative to the cartridge body, the cartridge holder having a clutch operating region and at least one sealing region offset therefrom, wherein a clutch is operatively disposed in the clutch operating region and a sealing member is operatively disposed in each of the at least one sealing region; a cartridge coaxially disposed relative to the cartridge housing and the cartridge holder, the cartridge having at least one fluid ingress therein to accommodate fluid flow through a cartridge aperture in alignment therewith; and a rotatable cartridge disc having an upper surface positioned adjacent the cartridge holder distal extent and a lower surface positioned proximal to the cartridge proximal extent, the cartridge disc being coaxially disposed relative to the cartridge housing, the cartridge holder and the cartridge, wherein least one detent recess is defined on the upper surface of the cartridge disc for selective engagement by the clutch, the at least one detent recess being in operable communication with the actuation member to provide feedback upon activation thereof, the cartridge disc further having at least one aperture defined therethrough; wherein the biasing spring is in operable communication with the actuation member so as to effect rotation of the cartridge disc for engagement of at least one of the at least one detent recess by the clutch to obtain a desired spray mode thereby; wherein the desired spray mode comprises at least one of a first fluttering spray operating mode, a second combined fluttering and precision spray operating mode and a third precision spray operating mode; and the showerhead is capable of automatically returning the showerhead to the first operating mode when water pressure to the showerhead falls below a predetermined bottom threshold.