Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Motor or spray fluid operated continuously moving discharge... – Spray fluid operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-05-01
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Motor or spray fluid operated continuously moving discharge...
Spray fluid operated
C239S602000, C239S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223998
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pulsating fluid spray device or shower head of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,736, No. 3,568,716, No. 4,101,075 and No. 5,577,664, all of which issued to Applicant. In such a device or shower head, it has been found desirable to provide for a simplified and durable construction as well as provide for conveniently selecting different spray functions. For example, it has been found desirable for the shower head to provide for selecting a variable spray pattern between a wide spray pattern and a narrow or concentrated spray pattern, high or low frequency pulsation of the discharge spray, and/or cycling of the water flow rate above and below a standard maximum code requirement of 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). It is also desirable for the shower head to provide different combinations of continuous or cycling flow rates and variable frequency pulsation and variable spray patterns. The shower heads disclosed in the above patents provide some of these desirable functions, but do not provide all of the selectable features or spray functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved shower head assembly which provides all of the desirable features mentioned above and which is compact and dependable in construction and simple to use for selecting the various spray functions. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a shower head is constructed of substantially all plastic components and includes a generally cylindrical housing enclosing a water activated motor having a rotor which slowly rotates a cylindrical valve member having peripherally spaced axially extending grooves. The housing has radial ports above and around the valve member, and a rotatable annular valve member or sleeve surrounds the housing. The sleeve has an internal cartridge with circumferential spaced and axially extending passages of different lengths for selectively connecting the ports to different passages within the base of the housing.
A base member and cap member are connected to the bottom of the housing and define a chamber which encloses a multiple speed water activated turbine wheel for pulsating water streams directed into nozzles which may be adjusted by a rotatable control ring for varying the spray pattern from the nozzles. By rotation of the annular valve sleeve, the user may select a continuous flow spray, a fast or slow pulsating spray, a cycling flow rate spray, a variable frequency pulsating spray, or different combinations. By rotation of the spray control ring, the user may select a discharge spray between narrow and wide spray patterns.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 26889 (1970-05-01), Hindman
patent: 3402893 (1968-09-01), Hindman
patent: 3473736 (1969-10-01), Heitzman
patent: 3568716 (1971-03-01), Heitzman
patent: 3967783 (1976-07-01), Halsted et al.
patent: 4101075 (1978-07-01), Heitzman
patent: 4588130 (1986-05-01), Trenary et al.
patent: 5228625 (1993-07-01), Grassberger
patent: 5405089 (1995-04-01), Heinmann et al.
patent: 5518181 (1996-05-01), Shames et al.
patent: 5577664 (1996-11-01), Heitzman
patent: 5730361 (1998-03-01), Thonnes
Hwu Davis
Jacox Meckstroth & Jenkins
Scherbel David A.
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