Abstract:
A dual volume shower head assembly utilizes two flow control regulators to provide specific flow rates. A flow control diverts fluid flow around a low flow limiter such that an upstream high flow limiter provides the restriction. The limiters may provide any desired flow rate by simply snapping a limiter of a desired rate into the mount locations.

Description:
[0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/662,837, filed 17 Mar. 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a shower head assembly, and more particularly to a shower head which will selectively adjust a flow rate by actuating a control within the shower head.  
         [0003]     To reduce water consumption in many parts of the world, various devices for limiting water delivery on plumbing products are being developed and even mandated. Local and regional code agencies are specifying permissible water flow volumes in gallons per minute (gpm) on faucet aerators and shower heads. The maximum water flow presently permitted under most of these codes is often in the range of 2.0 to 2.5 gpm.  
         [0004]     Standard shower head assemblies often have an adjustment ring that can be turned to vary the type and amount of water flow from the shower head. The ring can vary the volume of water flowing through the shower head and can switch the shower head between different spray modes. These designs may be bulky and complex in that they require a variety of parts that increase the cost of the shower head.  
         [0005]     Additionally, standard shower head volume control mechanisms that rely on restricting flow of water by reducing the orifice size of the water path may not consistently achieve a specific flow rate over a range of water pressures.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an uncomplicated shower head with a volume control mechanisms that readily achieves a multitude of specific flow rates over a range of water pressures.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A dual volume shower head assembly according to the present invention utilizes two flow limiters to provide specific flow rates. A flow control selectively diverts fluid flow around a low flow limiter such that an upstream high flow limiter provides the restriction.  
         [0008]     In operation, the high flow limiter within a ball connector and the low flow limiter within a downstream regulator plate define the flow rates. The limiters may provide any desired flow rate by locating a limiter of a desired rate into the mount locations.  
         [0009]     When a low flow rate is desired, a knob is positioned such that a valve of the flow control seals an opening such that the flow of water to a flow engine is limited by the low flow limiter as the only water flow path is through the low flow limiter. When a high flow rate is desired, the knob is positioned such that the valve is lifted from the opening to permit water flow therethrough. The flow of water to the flow engine is thereby limited only by the high flow limiter since the combined flow through both the downstream low flow limiter and opening is greater than the high flow limiter. The high flow limiter thereby provides the only restriction on the water flow prior to the flow engine.  
         [0010]     The present invention therefore provides an uncomplicated shower head with a volume control mechanisms that readily achieves a multitude of specific flow rates over a range of water pressures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shower head assembly according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the shower head assembly;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a longitudinal sectional view of the shower head taken parallel to a cam shaft;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a longitudinal sectional view taken perpendicular to the cam shaft;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective sectional view taken across the cam shaft and flow control interface;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the flow control;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the knob;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the cam shaft;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a longitudinal sectional view of the cam shaft;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6C  is a sectional view of the cam shaft taken laterally through the cam;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a regulator plate;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8A  is a sectional view of the shower head in a low flow position; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 8B  is a sectional view of the shower head in a high flow position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a general perspective view of a dual volume control shower head assembly  10 . The shower head assembly  10  is connected to a water source (shown schematically) by a water input line  12 . The shower head assembly  10  may be connected to the water input line  12  by a ball connector  14 . The ball connector  14  allows the shower head  10  to be manipulated through a variety of positions. It should be understood that the shower head  10  may be permanently attached to a shower wall or may be of the hand held type that can be removed from the shower wall. Also, other types of connections between the water input line  12  and the shower head  10  can be employed.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the shower head  10  is illustrated in an exploded view. The shower head  10  generally includes, the ball connector  14 , a high flow limiter  16 , a low flow limiter  18 , a shell  20 , a collar  22 , a ball seal  24 , an inner housing  26 , a flow control  28 , a regulator plate  30 , a flow engine  32 , a crown  34 , a spray face  36 , a cam shaft  38  and a knob  40 . The components are preferably constructed of a plastic material, but may be formed of other known materials.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 3A , the ball connector  14  mounted within the collar  22  and interfaces with the inner housing  26  through the seal  24  such as an O-ring. The collar  22  is preferably threaded to the inner housing  26  at a threaded interface  42 . The regulator plate  30  and the flow engine  32  are also mounted within the inner housing  26  and include respective seals  44 ,  46  such as O-ring seals.  
         [0028]     The flow engine  32  is threaded to the inner housing  26  at a threaded interface  48  to retain the regulator plate  30  and flow control  28  therein. The flow engine preferably includes a multiple of fluidic washer nozzles which may be low-pressure, feedback passage-free fluidic oscillators which provide patternization, spray distribution across a fan angle, shape, and/or articulate a water spray. One such fluidic washer nozzle is manufactured by Bowles Fluidics Corporation of Columbia, Md., USA.  
         [0029]     The shell  20 , crown  34  and spray face  36  preferably snap over the inner housing  26  to provide an aesthetically pleasing outer surface. It should be understood that various construction arrangements utilizing various combinations of threaded interfaces, interference snap fits, as well as other attachments such as adhesives and the like may also be utilized with the present invention.  
         [0030]     The flow control  28  includes a valve  50  mounted to a shaft  52  having a cam interface  54  ( FIG. 4 ). The cam interface  54  includes an oval opening  56  which receives a cam  58  ( FIG. 3B ) which extends from the cam shaft  38  (also illustrated in  FIG. 3C ). The flow control  28  is mounted along a longitudinal axis A of the shower head  10  for axial movement there along in response to rotation of the cam shaft  38  ( FIG. 6A ) which is mounted traverse thereto along an axis of rotation B.  
         [0031]     The cam shaft  38  preferably snaps into the inner housing  26  and is retained therein through barbs  60  (also illustrated in  FIG. 6B ) and sealed by a seal  62  such as an O-ring. It should be understood that various “snap” fit or interference based assemblies may be utilized with the present invention and barbs are but one example component which effectuates the illustrate assembly. The cam shaft  38  is located within the shell  20  while the knob  40  extends outward thereof. The knob  40  ( FIG. 5 ) is mounted to the cam shaft  38  through barbs  64  to permit a snap fit which transmits rotation therethrough. That is, the knob  40  snaps into the cam shaft  38  along axis B and transmits rotation therethrough such that the cam shaft  38  is rotated thereby.  
         [0032]     The cam  58  of the cam shaft  38  is generally airfoil shaped and is received within the oval opening  56 . A ridge  66  on the cam  58  ( FIG. 6C ) selectively engages an indent  68  on the oval opening  56  ( FIG. 4 ) to lock the shower head  10  the low flow position.  
         [0033]     The valve  50  preferably includes a seal  70  such as an O-ring which selectively seals a first opening  72  mounted within the regulator plate  30  ( FIG. 7 ). A second opening  74  in the regulator plate  30  ( FIG. 7 ) receives the low flow limiter  18 . It should be understood that the low flow limiter  18  may be friction fit into the second opening  74  such that replacement is readily achieved.  
         [0034]     In operation, the high flow limiter  16  within the ball connector  14  and the low flow limiter  18  within the regulator plate  30  define the flow rates and may be easily changed to provide any desired combination of flow rates. That is, the high flow limiter  16  and the low flow limiter  18  may provide any desired flow rate by inserting the desired limiter into the mount locations in the ball connector  14  and/or regulator plate  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the limiters are rated at 2.5 GPM and 2.0 GPM, but may be rated for any desired flow rates.  
         [0035]     The high flow limiter  16  is the higher rated flow control and is located in the ball connector  14  where the water flow is first introduced from the source  12  ( FIG. 1 ). The low flow limiter  18 —lower GPM than the high flow limiter  16 —is located within the regulator plate  30  prior to the flow engine  32 .  
         [0036]     When the low flow rate is desired, the knob  40  is positioned such that the valve  50  seals the first opening  72 . The flow of water to the flow engine is thereby limited by the low flow limiter  18  since the low flow limiter  18  provides a flow rate less than the high flow limiter  16  and the only water flow path is through the low flow limiter  18  ( FIG. 8A ).  
         [0037]     When the high flow rate is desired, the knob  40  is positioned such that the valve  50  is lifted from the first opening  72  to permit water flow therethrough. The flow of water to the flow engine is thereby limited by the high flow limiter  16  since the water flow through the downstream low flow limiter  18  and open first opening  72  is at a rate greater than that provided by the high flow limiter  16 . The high flow limiter  16  thereby provides the only restriction on the water flow prior to the flow engine  32  ( FIG. 8B ). That is, the high flow limiter  16  provides a greater restriction on the water flow than the combined opening provided by the first opening  72  and the low flow limiter  18 .  
         [0038]     It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude of the vehicle and should not be considered otherwise limiting.  
         [0039]     It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit from the instant invention.  
         [0040]     Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention.  
         [0041]     The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.