Showerhead assembly with sequentially pulsing nozzle sets

A showerhead assembly is provided which includes an outer housing and inner housing. The inner housing includes a support disk and gear housing disk having two diverter arms and a gear train. The gear train includes a propeller, a coaxial pinion, and a large gear. The outer housing includes the base and a faceplate having nozzle systems connecting to complementary orifices. Water enters the internal housing via a channel where it is further diverted by the diverter arms so as to impinge on the gear train's propeller, causing the gear train's individual components to rotate. Upon the rotation of the large gear, the large gear's slot aligns with a selected orifice whereby water travels through and enters a corresponding nozzle system. This sequence continues, causing water to sequentially spray from individual nozzles in systematic intervals so as to create a strobe-like spray pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to showerheads. More particularly, the present invention relates to showerheads having multiple nozzle sets that release water at varying intervals so as to produce a pulsing effect on the emitted water.

Showerheads are commercially available in numerous designs and configurations for use in showers, faucets, spas, sprinklers and other personal and industrial systems. The vast majority of showerheads include spray heads which may be categorized as being either stationary or oscillating and have either fixed or adjustable openings. Stationary spray heads with fixed jets are the simplest constructions consisting essentially of a central conduit connected to one or more spray nozzles directed to produce a constant pattern. The stationary spray showerheads cause water to flow through the construction to contact essentially the same points on a user's body in a repetitive fashion.

Multifunction showerheads are able to deliver water in many different spray patterns such as a fine spray, a coarse spray, or a pulsating spray. Of course, many other spray patterns may also be provided.

Moreover, many showerhead assemblies allow users to manipulate spray nozzles into various positions and alignments so as to assist in the cleaning process. Advantageously, some showerhead assemblies include spray nozzles having control mechanisms that allow the user to manipulate water flow so as to choose a desired spray pattern. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,384 discloses a handheld showerhead that produces a pulsating spray pattern by way of a push button attached to a pawl bearing against a ratchet wheel. Further, this showerhead includes a rotating turbine having a flange and openings, wherein rotation of the turbine causes the openings to align with conduits so as to cause nozzles to periodically pulse water. However, this construction requires user intervention and a push-button mechanism in order to yield a pulsating spray pattern.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,130 describes a showerhead that produces a pulsating spray pattern by way of three different passageways and a vaned rotating member having a partial plate and an open side. Specifically, as the plate rotates, it aligns with and selectively blocks a given conduit. Meanwhile, the rotating member's opening is exposed to nozzle outlets, whereby water passes from the openings through the outlets in order to produce a water in a pulsating fashion. However, this reference discloses a showerhead assembly having only one showerhead housing.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,258 discloses a showerhead having a rotating mechanism that produces a pulsating spray pattern. Importantly, this showerhead housing includes a gear system having a rotor integrated into a dial so as allow rotation as a unit when the gear system is impinged by water.

Though these references both describe a showerhead which provide a housing system having a rotating mechanism and pulsing capability, neither specify a particular mechanism having an outer housing and inner housing with the necessary gear train assembly, including but not limited to the inclusion of diverter arms, that would produce a strobe effect on the emitted water. Additionally, none of these references describe a gear mechanism that operates as a unit with a set of nozzle conduits and nozzle outlets designed to release water in sequenced intervals so as to produce a strobe-effect.

Thus, it would further be advantageous to provide a showerhead assembly that included a primary showerhead having two housings functioning as a unit in order to release water in periodic, patterned intervals so as to create a strobe spray pattern.

Further, it would be advantageous to provide a showerhead assembly that included a plurality of nozzle conduits and a corresponding number of nozzle outlet sets that are selectively blocked and unblocked by the inner housing mechanism, thereby releasing water in a rhythmic fashion without user intervention so as to enable the user to create a unique shower experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, an improved water spraying assembly is provided which includes an outer housing and inner housing working as constituent parts. The inner housing includes two disks: a support disk and a gear housing disk. Further, the inner housing comprises an internal housing structure bearing a gear train assembly. Additionally, the outer housing includes the showerhead housing base, wherein the inner housing resides, and a circular showerhead faceplate, constituting the outermost portion of the showerhead assembly, thereby covering the inner housing portions. Specifically, the showerhead faceplate includes a plurality of nozzle systems wherein each nozzle system includes a duct formed into the faceplate's backside which extends to one or more nozzles which project through the faceplate to the faceplate's front side. The water spraying assembly has particular application for use within a showerhead. Accordingly, the preferred water spraying assembly is described as a showerhead assembly.

The primary showerhead can be relatively traditional in construction including a showerhead housing base connected to a water source by a neck portion. Additionally, the neck portion includes a conduit having an inlet threadably affixed to a water source pipe. The inlet is in fluid connection with the pipe so as to receive water from it and allow such water to travel through showerhead housing base into the nozzle systems for ejection. Various showerhead housing bases and conduit constructions can be determined by those skilled in the art.

Preferably, the showerhead housing base is frustoconical in shape. The support disk, which forms the inner layer of the showerhead's inner housing side, is affixed to and secured onto the gear housing disk whereby it forms its support cover. Further, the gear housing disk is directly adjacent to and works in conjunction with the outer housing's showerhead faceplate.

The anterior of the gear housing disk, which is the side of the disk affixed to the support disk, includes an internal housing structure with a gear train. Specifically, the nucleus of the gear housing disk's inner layer is concaved so as to house the internal housing structure bearing the gear train. In the preferred embodiment, the internal housing is cuboid shaped. The internal housing structure includes a water channel, two diverter arms, and a gear train. Additionally, the posterior of the gear housing disk, which is the side attached to the showerhead faceplate, includes a plurality of similarly shaped window slits. In a preferred embodiment, the gear housing disk includes four window slits that are trapezoidal in shape.

In the preferred embodiment, the conduit's inlet collects water from the water source and empties such water into the internal housing structure's water channel that is in fluid connection with the gear train. Specifically, the water channel includes a first end that is in fluid connection with the conduit's inlet and a second end that is in fluid connection with the gear train. The gear train includes three-wheel portions: a propeller, pinion, and large gear. More specifically, the water received by the water channel flows through the propeller portion of the gear train, whereby such water flow causes the propeller to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The propeller, which is directly below and coupled with the pinion, continues to rotate as water passes through, thereby causing the pinion to rotate in a clockwise direction. Additionally, the pinion, which is meshed with the large gear, causes the large gear to revolve in a clockwise direction as water flows from the rotating pinion portion and passes through the large gear.

Importantly, two diverter arms are positioned to divert water and are located adjacent to the propeller teeth, thereby functioning as a driving force to propel water through the gear train. Specifically, the first diverter arm projects from the internal housing structure and is directly adjacent to the second end of the water channel and left of the propeller so as to direct the water flow through the internal housing structure. Additionally, the second diverter arm project from the internal housing structure and resides beneath the large gear, bordering the propeller's right side. This second diverter arm directs water from the propeller to one side of the large gear.

Further, the large gear includes one slot similarly shaped and sized to the gear housing disk's window orifices. Upon rotation of the large gear, the large gear's slot aligns with one of the window slits so as to create an open passageway by which water flows through. The showerhead faceplate comprises nozzle systems including nozzle ducts having nozzle outlet sets. Additionally, the nozzle systems are positioned so as to be in alignment with the gear housing disk's window orifices. The showerhead faceplate remains static in position as the gear housing disk's gear train revolves in response to water flowing through its internal housing structure. Accordingly, as water travels from the large gear's slot and through the window orifice to which it aligns with, such water then exits from the window orifice into a complementary nozzle system. Water continues to flow through the nozzle system's duct and is emitted through the nozzle's respective nozzle outlet set in intervals. Water continues to sequentially be released from the outlets as such water flows continuously impinges the gear train and passes through the internal housing structure, ultimately exiting through alternating nozzle outlet sets. Specifically, and as a consequence of the water selectively exiting through varying nozzle outlet sets, the user experiences a strobe-like water spray pattern.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spray head assembly having an improved nozzle strobe spray pattern capability compared to previous showerheads.

Furthermore, it is an additional object of the present invention to provide a spray head assembly having an improved construct so as to generate a strobe effect on the spray pattern without relying on user intervention and instead depending on two housing structures working in conjunction with each other.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description which follows with reference to the Drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, as shown in the Drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

With reference toFIGS. 1-10, the water spraying assembly of the present invention is illustrated as a showerhead assembly1which includes an outer housing structure8and inner housing structure9. Preferably, the outer housing structure8comprises the showerhead housing base3and the showerhead faceplate2having four nozzle systems12A-D. Even more preferably, the inner housing structure9includes two primary components: a support disk20and a gear housing disk21. In addition, the inner housing structure9further comprises an internal housing structure22wherein a gear train23resides and works as a unit with a plurality of nozzle systems12A-D. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the showerhead assembly may include any number of nozzle systems12A-D. However, for explanation purposes, a preferred showerhead assembly is described herein as having four nozzle systems12A-D.

The four nozzle systems12A-D are incorporated onto the outer housing's circular showerhead faceplate2which covers the posterior portion25of the inner housing's gear housing disk21. Even more specifically, the showerhead faceplate's four nozzle systems12A-D include four ducts70formed into the faceplate's back side72which extend to the four nozzle outlet sets71. Preferably, the various nozzle outlet sets71emit water in an alternating fashion so as to create a strobe-effect on the spray pattern and provide a more unique shower experience for the user.

Preferably, the showerhead assembly1includes a showerhead housing base3that is frustoconical in shape. Even more preferably, the showerhead assembly1includes a neck portion4which houses the conduit5and is connected to a water source6. Further, the conduit5includes an inlet7threadably affixed to the water source pipe. The inlet7receives water from the water source6and transports such water to the internal housing structure's water channel26so as to convey such water to the nozzle systems12A-D. The water channel26includes a first end27and second end28. Specifically, the first end27is in fluid connection with the conduit's inlet7and the second end28is in fluid connection with the gear train23, so as to facilitate the passage of water from the conduit5through the internal housing structure22.

In an illustrative embodiment, the inner housing9comprises a support disk20, which forms the inner most layer of the inner housing structure22, and, which is affixed to and secured onto the gear housing disk21, thereby functioning as a support structure for the gear housing disk21. The gear housing disk's posterior side25converges with the outer housing of the showerhead faceplate2.

Additionally, the gear housing disk21includes an anterior side24and posterior side25. Moreover, the anterior side24includes an internal housing structure22having a gear train23. Preferably, the internal housing structure22is cuboid shaped. More preferably, the internal housing structure22resides within the depressed nucleus of the gear housing disk's anterior side24. The gear housing disk's posterior portion25is embedded with four sets of similarly shaped window orifices50A-D. In the preferred embodiment, the four sets of window orifices50A-D are trapezoidal in shape. In the even more preferred embodiment, the window orifices'50A-D axes are parallel to or the same as the gear train's23axis. Further, each window orifice50A-D is equidistant from neighboring window orifices50A-D and reside separately within each of the large gear's four quadrants60A-D. For example, window orifice50A is embedded in large gear's quadrant60A, window orifice50B is embedded in large gear's quadrant60B, window orifice50C is embedded in large gear's quadrant60C, and window orifice50D is embedded in large gear's quadrant60D. The window orifices50A-D are configured so as to align in a complementary fashion with the four nozzle systems12A-D embedded on the showerhead faceplate2. For example, window orifice50A is configured to align with nozzle system12A, window orifice50B is configured to align with nozzle system12B, window orifice50C is configured to align with nozzle system12C, and window orifice50D is configured to align with nozzle system12D.

The gear train23includes three-wheel portions: a propeller30, pinion31, and a slotted large gear32. Specifically, water flows through the water channel26upstream from the gear train23and passes through the propeller30, thereby causing the propeller30to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Even more specifically, the pinion31is meshed and oriented above the propeller30so as to rotate in a clockwise direction upon counterclockwise rotation of the propeller30. Additionally, the large gear32is sufficiently in contact with the pinion31so as to gain momentum by its slight collision with the pinion31upon the pinion's31rotation. Specifically, the large gear32revolves in a clockwise direction as the pinion31rotates and water continues to impinge and flow through the entirety of the gear train23.

In the preferred embodiment, the three-wheel portions are mounted by arbors33onto the internal housing structure22so as to allow the gear train23to rotatably pivot as water passes through the compound gear mechanism. Moreover, the internal housing structure's22axis is parallel to or the same as the gear train's23axis. Preferably, the propeller's30diameter is one half of the large gear's32diameter. Even more preferably, the propeller's30diameter is one third of the large gear's32diameter so as to produce optimal water torque and speed.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5-8, the internal housing structure22includes two diverter arms34that function as driving forces to propel water through the gear train23. Accordingly, the diverter arms34are in fluid connection with the propeller's30teeth and are positioned so as to optimally divert water flow. Specifically, the first diverter arm35is erected from the internal housing structure22and is directly adjacent to the water channel's second end28and to the propeller's30left side. Additionally, the second diverter arm36is erected from the internal housing structure22and resides beneath the large gear32, bordering the propeller's30right side. This methodical configuration allows the diverter arms34to appropriately direct and modulate water flow through the internal housing structure22.

Moreover, the large gear32includes one slot40configured similarly to the window orifices50A-D on the gear housing disk's posterior side25and resides along the same axis. Preferably, the slot40is the same shape and size as the window orifices50A-D so as to allow the slot40to align with one window orifice50A-D upon rotation of the large gear32, thereby causing water to travel through the opening and exit the gear housing disk21. The gear housing disk21is parallel and appended to the showerhead faceplate2in a manner which allows for water to be received via the nozzle ducts70and emit out of the nozzle outlets71.

Specifically, the showerhead faceplate2comprises four nozzle systems12A-D. Each nozzle system12A-D includes a nozzle duct70having four nozzle outlets70. In the preferred embodiment, the four nozzle systems12A-D are configured in a spatially equidistant manner from neighboring nozzle systems12A-D. Preferably, and as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, one nozzle system12A-D resides per each quadrant of the showerhead's faceplate80A-D. For example, nozzle system12A resides in showerhead faceplate's quadrant80A, nozzle system12B resides in showerhead faceplate's quadrant80B, nozzle system12C resides in showerhead faceplate's quadrant80C, and nozzle system12D resides in showerhead faceplate's quadrant80D. Even more preferably, the nozzle ducts70are recessed within the showerhead's faceplate2while the nozzle outlets71project out of the showerhead's faceplate2. Even more preferably, the nozzle ducts70are arranged directly above and adjacent to corresponding window orifices50A-D on the gear housing disk21. This configuration allows water received by the window orifice50A-D to pass through a given nozzle duct70and project out of its respective nozzle outlets71. Notably, the nozzle ducts70remain static in position as the gear train23revolves in the internal housing structure22. Water is received by a nozzle system12A-D only upon alignment of the system's respective nozzle duct70with the large gear's slot40. The gear train23functions as a unit with the nozzle systems12A-D, selectively spraying water in consecutive intervals upon revolution of the large gear32. Accordingly, each nozzle outlet70ejects water successively and rhythmically so as to create a strobe-effect spray pattern for the user.

While a preferred nozzle set and showerhead assembly1have been illustrated and described, it would be apparent that various modifications of the nozzle set and showerhead assembly1can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except by the following claims.