1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shower head assemblies. More specifically, the present invention discloses a shower head assembly and faucet assembly incorporating a rotating, motion dampened, and water deflecting component. The rotating component provides for visually attractive fluid jet streams, massaging jet streams exhibiting alternating patterns and intensity, as well as an interlacing outer flow pattern in the instance of a sink faucet to reduce undesirable spray.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is well documented with varying types of showerhead or faucet assemblies. Common objectives of such assemblies include the creation of a water spray exhibiting a desired flow rate, pulse, direction and intensity for a given application.
A first example drawn from the prior art is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,699, issued to Greenberg et al., and which teaches a showerhead engine assembly providing different combinations and variations of continuous, deflected, and/or adjustable pulsating sprays. In pulsating spray mode, the assembly includes a stator, spinner and engager. Additional components include a pressure plate and faceplate, openings being formed in both components to enable fluid flow therefrom. Of note, deflecting surfaces on the faceplate enable a variety of different flow patterns. The spinner is selectively activated, via the stator, to create vortex or pulsating spray patterns.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0116063, to Wang, teaches a sprayer device incorporating a rotary control member within its housing. The rotary member includes a number of cavities and outlets communicating with each other and which are selectively aligned with the front opening and the inlet of the housing to allow water to selectively flow through the housing. The housing further includes a mouth communicating with the inlet, to selectively align with either of the cavities of the rotary member, and to prevent the users from contacting with the water or chemical materials flowing out of the sprayer device.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0045743, to Chen, discloses a spraying head assembly for a massaging tub and including a housing, cover, water outlet valve seat, water outlet valve cover, vortex roller, bushing, nozzle, impulse rotor and motor. The water flow is pressurized by rotation of helically shaped blades associated with the vortex rotor, associated helical shaped plates of the water outlet valve seat producing a strong water beam that is injected outward from the nozzle, and in order to create the desired massaging effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,998, issued to Heitzman, teaches a shower head assembly including a housing enclosing a rotary valve member driven by a water activated motor. A rotatable tubular valve member surrounds the housing and has an internal cartridge with circumferentially spaced internal passages for selectively directing continuous flow water, cycling flow water directly to nozzle orifices, or cycling water to inner/outer sets of drive jets associated with a water pulsating turbine wheel. The spray discharge orifices may be adjusted by a control ring which cooperates with the valve member to provide for selecting various spray functions.
The present invention discloses an assembly for converting a fluid inlet flow to an outlet flow pattern exhibiting any of a number of desired characteristics, including a specified flow velocity, dispersion pattern, and pulse rate. In particular, the present invention incorporates a rotatable, fluid dampening/regulated component for converting the input fluid flow to a regulated output pattern.
The assembly in each embodiment includes a housing having an inlet end for receiving the fluid flow and an outlet end for issuing a converted and output fluid flow. One or more rotatable components are supported within the housing, in a path contacting the inlet fluid flow.
A selected one of the rotatable components exhibits a plurality of arcuate and flow conducting surfaces, such as which are arranged about a circumference of the rotating component. The fluid dampening element is operatively connected to the rotating component, such including an oil or other viscous fluid based reservoir in communicating fashion with the rotating component, and restricts a rotational speed associated with the rotatable component in response to the rotational forces imparted by the inlet fluid flow, this in order to modify at least one of a flow and pulse rate of the fluid. The illustrated embodiments of the present assembly include applications as a shower head or a faucet, it being understood that other and additional variants and applications are possible within the ordinary skill of one in the relevant art.
Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
a are progressively rotated sectional perspectives of the swivel component in the embodiment of
a are progressively rotated sectional cutaways of shower head assembly of
Referring now to
In cooperation with a specific geometry associated with the components making up the assembly, the dampening mechanism facilitates a simplified and improved device for controlling an issued outlet flow pattern, rate of flow and direction, these in response to any range of inlet pressure flow. An advantage of the invention is the ability to provide consistent fluid flow output characteristics regardless of a wide range of inlet fluid pressures, this consistent with maintaining lower speeds of rotation associated with the rotating components of the shower assembly, and than would occur in the instance of a non-regulated dampening mechanism.
Referring again to
Features of the design, as also referenced in
As further illustrated by the exploded view of
The shaft 12 terminates at a bottom end in a further enlarged annular collar 32 and such that an interior fluid flow delivered through the interior of the main shaft 12, see at 34 in
The nozzle plate 18 is further configured so that it sandwichingly engages the water jet chamber (stem supported collar 32 and 3D disk element 38) upon the nozzle plate 18 being secured against the cover 14. An outer and annular shaped open interior compartment, see at 44, is further defined between the rotating nozzle plate 18 and cover 14 as illustrated in
As best shown in the enlarged and sectional exploded view of
The propelling blade portions 48 typically define an integral part of the rotating nozzle plate 18, it being further understood that the portions 48 could be redesigned as a separate part, such as supported upon a separate disk, and which may exhibit some relative movement to the nozzle plate 18.
Further communicating the outer annular interior compartment 44, to which the outwardly propelled and redirected water is centrifugally forced to the bottom exterior of the rotating nozzle plate 18, are a plurality of individual and downwardly angled nozzles 50. Although illustrating individual nozzles 50 about the periphery of the nozzle plate 18, it is also understood that each nozzle could be substituted by subset pluralities of nozzles (such as four apiece and as further indicated at 50′ in
In operation, a flow of water is supplied to the assembly through the upper inlet end of the main shaft 12 (and such as which may be further threadably connected to a suitable pipe or other fluid delivery conduit). The main shaft 12 and water jet chamber (i.e., shaft supported collar 32 and assembled 3D disk element 38) define a sealed chamber, through which the pressurized fluid is dispersed by the outwardly and radially/angularly directed jet holes 40. As best illustrated in
The fluid thus dispersed then impinges upon the circumferential array of propelling blades 48, at which point the water, upon being collected about the outer annular chamber 44 of the rotating nozzle plate 18, achieves a lower degree of pressurization during which it is communicated out through the individually angled or sub-pluralities of angled nozzles 50.
According to the embodiment illustrated, the nozzle plate 18 and associated cover 14 rotate as a result of the water jet interaction with the circumferential array of rotary propelling blades 48. The rotation speed of the assembly is however reduced according to the dampening features provided by the oil reservoir 26 (further dependent upon the viscosity exhibited by the chosen reservoir fluid) and as applied between the shaft 12 and rotating cover 14.
It is further contemplated that the fluid distribution nozzles 50 may either be arranged parallel or angled relative to the axial direction exhibited by the main shaft 12, this adjusting the appearance and feel of the spray issued therefrom. It is further understood that the dimensions (e.g. height, inner diameter or outer diameter) of the fluid dampening chamber 26 (reservoir) can be adjusted to modify the rotation speed of the assembly, thereby accomplishing a variable speed shower mechanism.
It is also understood that the nozzle design (e.g. 50 or 50′) can incorporate any suitable focusing or redirecting component for further modulating the downward generated fluid patterns, according to any of flow velocity, pulse rate or the like. The water flow patterns issued through the angled or arcuately configured nozzles 50 may also exhibit a tangentially induced pressure, again depending upon the variables of the dampening fluid viscosity or geometry characteristics of the assembly.
Referring now to
Stationary components defining an outer housing of the assembly 52 include an assembleable top 54, outer annular housing 56 and bottom deflector 58, and such as exhibits a plurality of grooved inner surfaces as shown. A sliding ring component 60 is mounted in axially displaceable fashion within slots 62 defined in the annular housing 56, and further such that a central circular portion 64 is interconnected to the outer ring 60 via radial stem portions 66 which fit into the respective slots 62 (see again
A variably rotatable swivel 70 (see also progressively rotated perspective views of
As further illustrated in
At this point, the water flows to the interiorly mounted and rotatable swivel member 70, i.e., upon a cone shaped projection 80 (see again
As further evidenced in the sectional perspective of the swivel 70 in
The water jets exiting passageways 82, 84 and 86 then impact the sliding ring component 60, causing the same to axially slide up and down relative to the bottom positioned deflector 58 on a user selected basis. When the sliding ring 60 is disposed in a first upper position relative to the swivel 70, the three jets issuing therefrom impact the deflector 58 to establish a coarse spray, and by impacting the coarse grooves 88 arrayed about the inside circumference of the lower deflector 58. Upon repositioning the sliding ring 60 in a second lower position, the impacting fluid jets 82, 84 and 86 separate into multiple fine sprays, further resulting from their outward/downward angle of impact against the fine grooves 68 (as opposed to the coarse grooves 88 of the lower deflector 58).
In either position, the swivel 70 (the only rotating component in this assembly) is caused to rotate more slowly due largely to the oil-dampening reservoir 90 (see
As is also known, the height, inner diameter or outer diameter of the oil chamber 90 and swivel shaft 72 define the degree of dampening provided, as well as the viscosity exhibited by the selected fluid. These parameters can be modified, either singularly or in combination, and in order to change such as the rotation speed of the swivel and in order to provide the desired variable speed effect and dispersion of the water sprays issued through the bottom openings defined in the deflector 58. As is also illustrated, a supported bridge of three members 94, 96 and 98 supports the central receiving chamber 74 of the lower deflector 58 in a minimally affecting fashion relative to the outlet spray flow issued from the swivel 70.
Referring now to
Referring also to the exploded view of
Centrally disposed and rotating components of the assembly 100 include an inverted bowl-shaped deflector 122, as well as a rigidly mounted and concurrently rotating cone 124. Pins 123 are illustrated inside deflector 122 and which mount to recessed locations of the cone 124 to position it proximate the top inner location of the deflector 122.
As again best shown in
As further illustrated in
Further shown in
As referenced by the cutaway of
High speed rotation of the assembly results in the individual jets of fluid dispersed from the stationary nozzle 126, through the arcuately and outwardly directed pathway apertures 136 formed through the nozzle as indicated. Upon being arcuately and outwardly deflected by the high speed rotating cone 124, the individual jets of water, i.e. at 130, are downwardly conveyed along the inner facing outlet grooves 134 extending downwardly within the bell shaped deflector 122, and prior to being issued as a fine and equally distributed mist about the perimeter of the downwardly facing deflector.
The rotated perspective of
Referring now to
As further referenced by the sectional illustration of the interior components of the faucet assembly, namely
Surrounding the nozzle plate 148 are a plurality of circumferentially arrayed spray apertures, see at 150 in
As illustrated throughout the several illustrations of
As also illustrated in the enlarged sectional perspective of the faucet assembly of
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, other and additional mechanisms for reconfiguring at least one of a pulse rate, flow rate, or flow direction can be incorporated into the invention.
Additionally, other types of dampening/restricting mechanisms can be employed into the assembly for restricting the rate of rotation of the selected fluid receiving/converting components. Other and additional functional applications may also be made possible by the present invention, and outside of the use as a shower head or faucet. Such additional applications may include any desired type of fluid distribution assembly, such as contemplating vehicle fuel injection assemblies or other desired fluid converting and injection assemblies, where it is desired to modify the flow/pulse rate of a fluid prior to a given application.
The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/634,033, filed Dec. 7, 2004, and entitled “Shower Head Assembly Incorporating a Rotating Swivel Within an Interior Deflectable Bell Housing”.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3713587 | Carson | Jan 1973 | A |
3801019 | Trenary et al. | Apr 1974 | A |
3861503 | Nash | Jan 1975 | A |
3967783 | Halsted et al. | Jul 1976 | A |
4101075 | Heitzman | Jul 1978 | A |
4796811 | Davisson | Jan 1989 | A |
5294054 | Benedict et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5397064 | Heitzman | Mar 1995 | A |
6223998 | Heitzman | May 2001 | B1 |
6715699 | Greenberg et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
20050045743 | Chen | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050116063 | Wang | Jun 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20060144968 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60634033 | Dec 2004 | US |