Patent Publication Number: US-7900295-B2

Title: Shower handle water supply diverter system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/699,005 filed Jul. 13, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention in general relates to a shower fixture and in particular to a shower fixture having a water supply diverter integral with a handheld water supply. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A diverter switch is commonly found at an overhead shower fixture junction in order to supply water to a handheld water supply. While the location of a conventional diverter switch greatly simplifies the shower system design, the placement of the diverter switch proximal to the water supply makes access to the switch difficult for children or a user with physical disabilities. As a result, children and disabled users are either denied the option of using a handheld water supply or are susceptible to injury in attempting to reach to gain access to the diverter switch. Additionally, a conventional shower system having a handle in fluid communication with a water supply by way of a diverter switch located at the overhead shower fixture junction results in the length of tubing extending from the diverter switch to the handheld water supply being filled with ambient temperature water such that upon activating the handheld portion of the shower system, a spray lasting several seconds is emitted from the handle sprayer that is not of the user selected shower temperature. 
     A further limitation associated with a conventional diverter switch is that a user is forced to make a binary selection between a fixed showerhead and a handheld sprayer. As a result, a user is forced to polarize their selection as to desired water source even though the optimal water supply may well be a combination of fixed showerhead and handheld sprayer water supplies. 
     Thus, there exists a need for a shower handle water supply diverter. Additionally, there exists a need for a shower water diverter switch providing a graded flow between a fixed showerhead and a handle sprayer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A shower handle water supply diverter system includes a water supply in fluid communication with a hose. A handle sprayer is in fluid communication with and extends from the hose. A second hose extends from the shower handle in fluid communication to a shower head. A water diverter is provided within the handle sprayer and is in fluid communication with the hose and the second hose. The water diverter optionally has three modes: handle sprayer only water expulsion, shower head only water expulsion, and simultaneous handle sprayer and shower head water expulsion. By placement of the first hose and second hose in proximity to provide thermal contact therebetween, stagnant water in one of the first hose and second hose at ambient temperature exchanges heat with water flow in the other of the first hose and the second hose at a particular temperature to change stagnant water temperature towards the temperature of the water flow. 
     A shower handle water supply diverter system is also provided that couples a water supply to a diverter having a first position and a second position. The diverter is in fluid communication with, and in proximity to the water supply. A showerhead is in fluid communication with the water supply when the diverter valve is in the first position. A hose is coupled to the diverter valve and in fluid communication with the diverter when the diverter is in the second position. A spray handle extends from the hose and has a diverter knob within the handle sprayer for switching the diverter valve between the first and second positions through mechanical movement of a wire extending between the knob and the diverter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inventive shower handle water supply diverter system; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a water supply, hose coupling and hoses as depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the handle portion of the system depicted in  FIG. 1  with the inset box being an enlarged view of a hose housing end; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a handle portion of the system depicted in  FIG. 1  with an alternate embodiment as to relative hose cross-sectional area with the inset being an enlarged view of the terminal hose housing portion depicted in box A; 
         FIG. 5  is an alternate embodiment of a handle portion of an inventive system depicting a diverter knob in mechanical communication with a remote diverter by way of a wire extending along a hose with the inset being an enlarged view of the terminal hose housing portion depicted in box A; and 
         FIG. 6  is an alternate embodiment of an inventive system where a diverter is located within a spray face of a handle spray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention has utility as a diverter containing bathroom shower water supply. The present invention includes a water diverter within the handle of a shower spray system including a fixed showerhead and a handheld sprayer. An inventive diverter allows a user to elect a shower spray from the fixed showerhead only, the handle only, or a combination of both the fixed showerhead and the handle. The present invention affords the advantage of ease of access especially for a child or a user having physical disabilities. An inventive water diverter is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the inventive system is shown generally at  10 . The system includes a wall mounted water supply  12 , in fluid communication with a handle sprayer  14  by way of a diverter  17  connected to a diverter switch  16  and a hose  22 . The water supply  12  is also in fluid communication with a showerhead  20  by way of hose  22 , diverter switch  16 , and hose  25 . Hoses  22  and  25  are illustratively shown in a unified hose housing  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  where like numerals correspond to those described with respect to  FIG. 1 , water flows from the water outlet  12  into a first hose  22  by way of a preferred hose coupling  24 . It is appreciated that in lieu of coupling  24  a hose  22  is directly secured to the water supply and the showerhead  20  need not be mounted in proximity to the water supply  12  but instead is mounted anywhere within reach of hose  25 . Hose  22  is in fluid communication with the handle sprayer  14  by way of diverter  16 . If a user sets the diverter  16  to shower handle sprayer only, water flows from hose  22  through the diverter  16  and is expelled from handle sprayer  14  only. Should the user set the diverter to shower head  20  only, water travels the length of hose  22  and is redirected by diverter  16  via hose  25  to the showerhead  20  with no water being expelled through the handle sprayer  14 . In the instance where the user sets the diverter  16  in a dual expulsion mode, a portion of the water stream delivered via hose  22  passes diverter  16  and is expelled from handle sprayer  14  while a portion of the water delivered via hose  22  is returned via hose  25  and expelled through the shower head  20 . This graded flow between showerhead  20  and handle sprayer  14  affords a user with a high degree of control over flow conditions. Additionally, the flow of water within either of hose  22  or  25  provides conductive thermal exchange with the stagnant water in the unused one of hoses  22  and  25 , such that activation of the stagnant water hose provides an initial burst of water that is a temperature intermediate between ambient shower room temperature and the temperature of water flowing in used hose  22  or  25 . While hoses  22  and  25  are depicted as having a unitary hose housing  18 , it is appreciated that two separate hose housings, one for each of the hoses  22  and  25 , are also operative herein. Additionally, while the hoses  22  and  25  are depicted as having elliptical cross sections of approximately equivalent area (varying less than 45%), it is appreciated that each of the hoses  22  and  25  independently assumes any of a variety of shapes illustratively including round, flat or other polygonal cross section. 
     It is appreciated that the present invention as described with respect to  FIGS. 1-3  is readily retrofit onto an existing shower fixture and the conventional diverter valve is permanently positioned so as to divert complete water supply to the handle sprayer. A coupling providing water supply to the showerhead subsequent to the conventional diverter valve serves to feed water to the showerhead. 
     An alternate hose cross section is depicted in  FIG. 4  where the first hose and second hose are denoted as  22 ′ and  25 ′ respectively where the relationship of the first hose  22 ′ and  25 ′ is as described with respect to preceding  FIGS. 1-3  with the cross-sectional area difference between  22 ′ and  25 ′ typically being between 3:1 and 20:1, or vice versa. 
     In an alternate embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , the actual diverter valve is retained in the conventional position proximal to the water supply, the diverter valve being manipulated by way of a wire extending from a control knob  30  integrated into a shower handle sprayer  14  as detailed above with respect to preceding  FIGS. 1-3 . The knob  30  is connected to a wire  31  extending the length of a water delivery hose  32 . The water delivery hose  32  having a water delivery channel  34  that is in fluid communication with the water supplied by way of an overhead diverter valve. The water supply hose  32  also includes a wire conduit  36  through which the wire  31  extends from the knob  30  to operate the diverter located within the overhead shower water supply. In operation, by rotating the knob  30 , the wire  31  operates the conventional diverter valve to allow water flow to be controlled between a showerhead and the handle sprayer  14 . The mechanism of manipulating wire tautness by way of a knob is similar to wire controls found in bicycle brake mechanisms. 
     As detailed in  FIG. 6 , where like numerals correspond to those described with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 , a diverter and connected knob  40  are located within the faceplate  42  of a shower handle  44 . The diverter and connected knob  40  are rotated to urge water through various apertures in the faceplate  42 . The various apertures within a faceplate creating different stream effects of water exiting the faceplate  42  and illustratively including those associated with aperture dimensions and patterns such as a needle spray; pulsatile flow; massage effects; a mixed flow between the handle  44  and the showerhead  20 ; and combinations thereof. 
     Various hoses detailed with respect to the present invention and various embodiments are each independently formed of conventional elastomeric and thermoplastic materials, and fiber-reinforced forms thereof. Hose housings are formed of the same materials as hoses, as well as conventional forms illustratively including braided polymeric or metal fibers, segmented polymer, or metallic rings. Diverter switch housings, diverter valves, handle sprayers, and showerhead components are all formed of materials conventional to the art. 
     The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.