Handheld shower system

The present invention provides a handheld shower system with magnetic docking and a mechanical retention feature.

FIELD

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

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.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a handheld shower system with magnetic docking and a mechanical retention feature.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a handheld shower system with magnetic docking and a mechanical retention feature.

An exemplary embodiment of a handheld shower system10of the present invention is shown in detail inFIGS. 1a-5. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld shower system10includes a handheld12and a cradle14.

An exemplary embodiment of the handheld12is shown in detail inFIGS. 2a-2g. The handheld12includes a handheld housing16. The handheld housing16has a front side18and a back side20. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld housing16includes a handheld body22and a handheld cover24. The handheld body22has a front side26and a back side28. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld body22includes a handle30and a head32. The handle30includes an inlet34. The inlet34is operable to connect to a hose. The head32includes an outlet36. The handheld body22includes a passageway38extending between the inlet34and the outlet36. The head32has a front side40and a back side42. The front side40of the head32is operable to attach to a spray face44. The spray face44is operable to deliver fluid from the handheld12. In the illustrated embodiment, the spray face44is operable to deliver fluid from the handheld12in a plurality of modes, such as spray and massage. In the illustrated embodiment, the back side42of the head32is operable to attach to the handheld cover24. In the illustrated embodiment, the back side42of the head32includes a lip46and a handheld recess48. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld cover24includes a lip50and a handheld opening52. The lip50on the handheld cover24has a top side54and a bottom side56. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom side56of the lip50includes an undercut58. In the illustrated embodiment, the back side20of the handheld housing16includes the back side28of the handheld body22and the handheld cover24.

In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld recess48is operable to receive a handheld magnet60. The handheld magnet60is operable to produce a magnetic field that has a strength. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld recess48is operable to receive a handheld magnet seal62, a handheld metal disk64, the handheld magnet60, a handheld magnet cover66, and the handheld cover24. The handheld magnet seal62is operable to prevent water from coming into contact with the handheld magnet60. The handheld metal disk64is operable to increase a strength of an attachment force acting on the handheld magnet60. In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld metal disk64is made from an iron based metal, such as steel. The handheld magnet cover66is operable to compress the handheld magnet seal62. In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld magnet cover66is made from a metal, such as brass. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld magnet seal62, the handheld metal disk64, the handheld magnet60, and the handheld magnet cover66are secured in the handheld recess48by the handheld cover24. In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld cover24is secured to the handheld body22using screws68or other suitable fasteners.

An exemplary embodiment of the cradle14is shown in detail inFIG. 3a-3e. The cradle14includes a cradle housing70. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle housing70includes a cradle body72and a cradle cover74. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle body72is generally cylindrical shaped. The cradle body72includes an inlet76, an outlet78, and a passageway80extending between the inlet76and the outlet78. The inlet76is operable to connect to a water supply (typically, from a tub diverter valve). The outlet78is operable to connect to the hose that is also connected to the inlet34in the handle30of the handheld12. The cradle body72has a front end82and a back end84. In the illustrated embodiment, the front end82of the cradle body72includes a tab86and a cradle recess88. The tab86has a front side90, a back side92, and a top side94. In the illustrated embodiment, the front side90of the tab86includes a chamfer96. In the illustrated embodiment, the back side92of the tab86is generally flat. In the illustrated embodiment, the top side94of the tab86is generally curved. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab86extends radially outwardly from the cradle body72. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle cover74includes a cradle opening98.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle recess88is operable to receive a cradle magnet100. The cradle magnet100is operable to produce a magnetic field that has a strength. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle recess88is operable to receive a cradle support102, a cradle magnet seal104, a cradle metal disk106, the cradle magnet100, a cradle magnet cover108, and the cradle cover74. The cradle support102is operable to provide a sealing surface for the cradle magnet seal104. The cradle magnet seal104is operable to prevent water from coming into contact with the cradle magnet100. The cradle metal disk106is operable to increase a strength of an attachment force acting on the cradle magnet100. In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle metal disk106is made from an iron based metal, such as steel. The cradle magnet cover108is operable to compress the cradle magnet seal104. In an exemplary embodiment, the cradle magnet cover108is made from a metal, such as brass. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle support102, the cradle magnet seal104, the cradle metal disk106, the cradle magnet100, and the cradle magnet cover108are secured in the cradle recess88by the cradle cover74. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle cover74is secured to the cradle body72using screws110or other suitable fasteners.

The use of the handheld shower system10will now be described. During non-use or hands-free use, the handheld12is docked on the cradle14, as shown inFIGS. 1a-1e. In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld12is docked on the cradle14by moving the handheld12toward the cradle14so that the handheld magnet60is generally aligned with the cradle magnet100. As the handheld12moves toward the cradle14, the magnetic field produced by the handheld magnet60interacts with the magnetic field produced by the cradle magnet100and produces an attachment force that has a strength. A distance at which the attachment force produced by the handheld magnet60and the cradle magnet100becomes effective depends upon the strength of the magnetic field produced by the handheld magnet60and the strength of the magnetic field produced by the cradle magnet100. In an exemplary embodiment, the attachment force produced by the handheld magnet60and the cradle magnet100becomes effective when a distance between the handheld magnet60and the cradle magnet100is approximately one and one-quarter inches (1¼ in.). In an exemplary embodiment, a surface-to-surface attachment force produced by the handheld magnet60and the cradle magnet100is approximately ten pounds (10 lbs.). As the handheld12comes into contact with the cradle14, the bottom side56of the lip50on the handheld cover24contacts the front side90of the tab86on the cradle body72. The chamfer96on the front side90of the tab86causes the bottom side56of the lip50to slide up and over the tab86. The tab86moves into the undercut58in the lip50.

When the handheld12is desired to be manually used, the handheld12is undocked from the cradle14, as shown inFIG. 4. In an exemplary embodiment, the handheld12is undocked from the cradle14by moving the handheld12away from the cradle14until the magnetic field of the handheld magnet60no longer interacts with the magnetic field of the cradle magnet100and lifting the handheld12so that the tab86on the cradle body72moves out of the undercut58in the lip50on the handheld cover24.

As a downward force is applied to the handheld12while the handheld12is docked on the cradle14, the tab86on the cradle14contacts the lip50on the handheld12and, more particularly, the undercut58in the lip50on the handheld12, and the handheld12is retained on the cradle14, as shown inFIG. 5. As an upward force is applied to the handheld12while the handheld12is docked on the cradle14, the tab86on the cradle14does not contact the lip50on the handheld12and, more particularly, the undercut58in the lip50on the handheld12, and the handheld12becomes undocked from the cradle14. The amount of upward force that needs to be applied to move the tab86out of the lip50and, more particularly, the undercut58in the lip50, will depend upon the orientation of the cradle14.

While the handheld shower system10has 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 system10could have these features on other components.

As an example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld12includes the lip50, and the cradle14includes the tab86. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handheld12could include the tab, and the cradle14could include the lip.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld cover24includes the lip50, and the cradle body72includes the tab86. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other portions of the handheld12could include the lip, such as the head32or the handle30of the handheld body22, and other portions of the cradle14could include the tab, such as the cradle cover74.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld body22includes the lip46, and the handheld cover24includes the lip50. In the illustrated embodiment, the lip46on the handheld body22is for decorative purposes, and the lip50on the handheld cover24interfaces with the tab86on the cradle body72. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lip46on the handheld body22could be used to interface with the tab86on the cradle body72.

While the handheld shower system10has 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 system10does not need to include each of these components.

As an example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld housing16includes a handheld body22and a handheld cover24, and the cradle housing70includes a cradle body72and a cradle cover74. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handheld housing16could be integrally formed or could be formed from more than two components, and the cradle housing70could be integrally formed or could be formed from more than two components.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld12includes the handheld magnet60, and the cradle14includes the cradle magnet100. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one of the handheld12and the cradle14could include the magnet, and the other of the handheld12and the cradle14could include a magnetically attractable material.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld12includes the handheld metal disk64, and the cradle14includes the cradle metal disk106. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that either or both of the handheld12and the cradle14could not include the metal disk. As stated above, the handheld metal disk64increases the strength of the attachment force acting on the handheld magnet60, and the cradle metal disk106increases the strength of the attachment force acting on the cradle magnet100. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a handheld magnet that produces a stronger magnetic field could be used instead of the handheld magnet60and the handheld metal disk64, and/or a cradle magnet that produces a stronger magnetic field could be used instead of the cradle magnet100and the cradle metal disk106.

While the handheld shower system10has 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 system10do not need to have theses shapes, sizes, and configurations and be made of these materials.

As an example, in the illustrated embodiment, the lip50on the handheld cover24is generally arc-shaped. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lip50could have other shapes. Moreover, the lip50could be smaller or larger and could even be enclosed.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the tab86on the cradle14has the chamfered front side90, the generally flat back side92, and the generally curved top side94. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the tab86could have other shapes. Moreover, the tab86could be smaller or larger.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the tab86on the cradle body72extends radially outwardly from the cradle body72. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the tab86could extend in other directions so long as the tab86is operable to interface with the lip50and retain the handheld12on the cradle14.

As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, the handheld magnet cover66and the cradle magnet cover108are made of metal. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handheld magnet cover66and the cradle magnet cover108could be made of other materials, including plastic. One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that if the handheld magnet cover66and the cradle magnet cover108are made of plastic, the handheld magnet cover66and the cradle magnet cover108will likely be thicker and the strength of the magnetic field produced by the handheld magnet60and/or the strength of the magnetic field produced by the cradle magnet100will need to be increased.

While the handheld shower system10has been shown and described in the illustrated embodiment with the components of the handheld shower system10attached and used in a particular manner, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the components of the handheld shower system10do not need to be attached and used in this manner.

As an example, as described above, the handheld12is docked on the cradle14by moving the handheld12toward the cradle14until the bottom side56of the lip50on the handheld cover24contacts the front side90of the tab86on the cradle body72and slides up and over the tab86and into the undercut58in the lip50. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handheld12could be docked on the cradle14by moving the handheld12toward the cradle14with the bottom side56of the lip50on the handheld cover24in a position higher than the front side90of the tab86on the cradle body72and lowering the handheld12until the tab86slides into the undercut58in the lip50.

As another example, as described above, the handheld12is undocked from the cradle14by moving the handheld12away from the cradle14and lifting the handheld12so that the tab86on the cradle body72moves out of the undercut58in the lip50on the handheld cover24. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handheld12could be undocked from the cradle14by lifting the handheld12so that the tab86moves out of the undercut58in the lip50and moving the handheld12away from the cradle14.

As shown and described in the illustrated embodiment inFIG. 3b, the cradle14includes a ball swivel joint112. The ball swivel joint112can be used to connect the cradle14to a standard shower arm extending from a wall. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the cradle14could be attached to any surface or any component of a bathing or showering system. For example, the cradle14could be attached directly to the wall, to a slide bar, or to a fixed showerhead.

In describing the components of the handheld shower system10and the docking and undocking of the handheld12on and from the cradle14, terms describing the orientation of the components of the handheld shower system10are used. For example, the handheld housing16is described as having a front side18and a back side20, the handheld body22is described as having a front side26and a back side28, and the head32is described as having a front side40and a back side42. Similarly, the lip50on the handheld cover24is described as having a top side54and a bottom side56. Additionally, the cradle body72is described as having a front end82and a back end84, and the tab86of the cradle body72is described as having a front side90, a back side92, and a top side94. Likewise, reference is made to the bottom side56of the lip50sliding up and over the tab86, lifting the handheld12, and applying an upward force to the handheld12. These terms describe the components of the handheld shower system10as oriented in the drawings. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handheld shower system10could 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 system10and the docking and undocking of the handheld12on and from the cradle14.

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.