Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Terminal member and valve part move as unit – Rotatable unit
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-29
2001-01-09
Kashnikow, Andres (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Terminal member and valve part move as unit
Rotatable unit
C239S541000, C239S562000, C239S570000, C239S581200, C251S251000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170765
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a design for a shower head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pressure actuated toggle assembly for a shower head that allows for the turning on and shutting off of water flow through the shower head as well as the control of water flow therethrough.
BACKGROUND ART
Standard shower head assemblies are known in the art that 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, for instance concentrating flow from a single central large diameter orifice or from an array of peripheral small-diameter orifices or nozzles.
Numerous other shower head assemblies are known in the art that can be adjusted to discharge a continuous spray or a pulsating spray. Typical of such shower heads are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,801,019, 4,068,801, and 4,254,914. U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,019, for example, discloses a spray nozzle capable of delivering both a spray of water and pulsating water, and employing three sets of flow passages. Control of the frequency of pulsation or the apportionment of spray through the flow passages is accomplished by adjusting a shuttered plate relative to a flow directing plate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,801 discloses a spray head in which the water is caused to rotate and drive a rotor. The rotor has openings that pass intermittently across jet nozzles (for pulsating spray) or perforations (for steady spray).
These designs have been bulky and complex in that they require a variety of parts that increase the cost of the shower head. Additionally, it has been found that because of the many moving parts, these prior designs are susceptible to problems from build-up of water deposits. These concerns fostered new designs, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,246,139, 5,398,372, and 5,518,181. U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,159 discloses a shower head with a rotatable valve element that rotates with respect to a partition disk. The shower head has a plurality of apertures that when the valve element is rotated through a variety of positions direct the water flow through the appropriate apertures.
None of these designs effectively solved the problem of decreasing the bulk, complexity, cost, and water deposit build-up, while providing an efficient shower head. Moreover, these shower head designs have not effectively incorporated a shut-off valve or toggle valve mechanism that not only allows the flow to be varied by manipulation of the shower head, but also allows the flow to be shut off.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower head with a toggle valve mechanism that is resistant to water deposit build up.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a toggle valve mechanism that is less complex than prior mechanisms and requires less moving parts.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a simple valve mechanism that allows for the manipulation of the shower head to vary the flow of water through the outlet orifices.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a toggle valve and variable flow mechanism that operates based on the water pressure present in the shower head.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a toggle valve that allows the water flow to be shut-off or varied and is kept in its desired place by the water pressure in the shower head without the need for any other securing mechanism.
In accordance with the objects of the present invention a shower head with an inlet passage is provided. The inlet passage is connected to a water source to provide a water supply to the shower head body. The shower head body is partitioned into an upper half and a lower half with a fluid channel connecting the upper half of the shower head body with the lower half of the shower head body. The lower half of the shower head has a plurality of fluid nozzles formed in its bottom surface for expelling water from the shower head. The fluid channel includes a toggle valve mechanism that helps regulate the amount of water flowing from the upper half of the shower head body to the lower half of the shower head body. The lower half of the shower head body is rotatable and is in communication with the pressure actuated valve mechanism such that rotation of the lower half of the shower head body will vary the amount of water flowing through the mechanism. The toggle valve mechanism is pressure actuated in that once it is set in place such that the desired flow through the shower head is achieved, the water pressure from the water source retains the toggle valve mechanism in that position thus preventing further movement.
In one preferred embodiment, the toggle valve mechanism includes a turn key having a top portion and a stem. The stem of the turn key extends through the fluid channel and into contact with the lower half of the shower head body. The top portion of the turn key has an under side that contacts and is slidable upon a ridge portion in the fluid channel. The ridge portion has a pair of opposing grooves or detents formed in its surface for mating engagement with the turn key. When the turn key is in a non-mating relationship with the grooves, the valve mechanism is open and water is allowed to flow from the upper half of the shower head body to the lower half of the shower head body through the fluid channel. When the turn key is in a mating relationship with the grooves, the valve mechanism is closed preventing the flow of water from the upper half of the shower head body to the lower half of the shower head body.
While an embodiment of this invention is illustrated and disclosed, this embodiment should not be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1832724 (1931-11-01), Mueller
patent: 1917216 (1933-07-01), Bersted
patent: 2096912 (1937-10-01), Morris
patent: 2727784 (1955-12-01), Hansen
patent: 2756108 (1956-07-01), Warren
patent: 2990123 (1961-06-01), Hyde
patent: 3061199 (1962-10-01), Billeter
patent: 3116880 (1964-01-01), Kuiken
patent: 3558054 (1971-01-01), Ragot
patent: 3784113 (1974-01-01), Specht
patent: 3979064 (1976-09-01), Nordentoft
patent: 5370316 (1994-12-01), Lancaster
patent: 5632446 (1997-05-01), Krochek
Ami Ben
Gil Amos
Ganey Steven J.
Kashnikow Andres
LandOfFree
Pressure actuated shower head mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pressure actuated shower head mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pressure actuated shower head mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2435205