Patent ID: 8096488
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: B05B

Abstract:
1. An improved showerhead and rinsing system comprising: a hollow outer casing having a first end and a second end; an inner casing mounted within said outer casing such that a flow cavity is defined therebetween, said inner casing defined by a first end, a second end and an inner cavity disposed between the first end of the inner casing and the second end of the inner casing, said first end of the inner casing having at least one aperture for fluid communication between said flow cavity and said inner cavity, an upstream interior stop shoulder and a downstream interior stop shoulder; a valve runner slidingly contained within the inner cavity of said inner casing, said valve runner defined by a first end, a second end, a first bore extending axially inwardly from the first end, a second bore extending axially inwardly from the second end, and, a shoulder towards the second end of the valve runner, the shoulder limiting downstream travel of the valve runner when it contacts the downstream stop shoulder of the inner casing; a flexible conduit; a valve runner sleeve covering a portion of the valve runner, the valve runner sleeve comprising a shoulder, the shoulder limiting upstream travel of the valve runner when it contacts the upstream stop shoulder of the inner casing, a first flange and a second flange; means for receiving the flexible conduit; and fluid inlet means adjacent the first end of said outer casing, said fluid inlet means in fluid communication with the first bore of said valve runner for supplying fluid to the first bore; wherein said valve runner is operable to slide downstream when influenced by fluid pressure, gravity or a combination of fluid pressure and gravity within the inner cavity to a first position in which the shoulder towards the second end of the valve runner contacts the downstream stop shoulder of the inner casing such that fluid flow is directed from the fluid inlet means, through the at least one aperture in the first end of said inner casing by the first flange, which prevents the flow of water to the second bore and into the flow cavity, to a second position in which the valve runner is pushed upstream by attachment of the flexible conduit to the showerhead such that the shoulder of the valve runner sleeve is in contact with the upstream interior stop shoulder in the inner casing and the second flange prevents the flow of fluid into the inner casing such that fluid flow is directed from the fluid inlet means through said first and second bores of the valve runner and to the flexible conduit.