Patent Application
20180250689
This disclosure relates to a fluid diverter which directs the flow of fluids toward a selected apparatus.
Many fluid flow devices such as showers/shower devices make use of a directed spray of fluid. For various reasons, it is often desirable to alternate the number and type of fluid sprays. This requires the use of diverters to appropriately divert the flow of fluid to the number and type of sprays suitable for a particular use. As a result, there is clear utility in and benefit from novel fluid diverters.
A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings in which:
For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated. The drawings are only an exemplification of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.
To satisfy the long-felt but unsolved needs identified above, at least one embodiment is directed toward an apparatus for diverting fluids. The apparatus comprises a cartridge within a lumen. The lumen defines at least one fluid input, a first fluid output, a second fluid output, and a fluid chamber positioned between, and in fluidic communication with, the inputs and outputs. The cartridge comprises at least two sluices, and is constructed and arranged to move laterally, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fluid chamber, through the fluid chamber and thereby position a single sluice at a time, within the fluid chamber. Two of the sluices have differently-shaped flow paths. In the alternative, the cartridge may be moved laterally such that a portion of more than one sluice may simultaneously occupy the fluid chamber.
The cartridge may have a first sluice laterally adjacent to a second sluice laterally adjacent to a third sluice. At least one of the sluices is constructed and arranged, when in the fluid chamber, to obstruct the flow of fluid from the fluid input to the first fluid output. At least one of the sluices is constructed and arranged, when in the fluid chamber, to obstruct the flow of fluid from the fluid input to the second fluid output. At least one of the sluices is constructed and arranged, when in the fluid chamber, to allow at least some flow of fluid from the fluid input to both the first and second fluid outputs.
The shaped flow path of at least one of the sluices may be constructed and arranged to direct fluid to more than one fluid output with a flux that is either substantially the same for each output or which is different for each output. The apparatus may exclude the ability of the cartridge to move in a rotatable manner relative to the fluid chamber.
The fluid input may be in fluidic communication with a water or plumbing source. At least one of the fluid outputs may be in fluidic communication with a shower head.
The apparatus of may further comprise a worm drive. The worm drive may be constructed and arranged to receive rotational force and convert it into lateral force which laterally displaces the cartridge relative to the fluid chamber. The lumen and cartridge may be within a housing and the lateral displacement of the cartridge may not alter the overall length of the housing. The apparatus may further comprise a handle. The lumen and cartridge may be within the housing. The handle may define a portion of the housing. The lateral displacement of the cartridge may not cause any alteration of the overall length of the housing.
At least one embodiment may be a fluid diverter used to select through which fluid pathway(s) should a fluid flow. In many fluid using arrangements, especially when the fluid is a liquid, is water, and/or when used in a shower, there are two or more possible apparatuses available. A user may wish to alternate between using one, another, or more than one of those apparatuses. For example, many showers today have more than one shower head, and at different times a user may wish to operate either or both shower heads.
In at least one embodiment the fluid flow path is controlled by use of a cartridge (1). As illustrated in FIG.1, a cartridge (1) has two or more sluices (2, 3, 4). Each of these sluices, when positioned in a flow chamber, either blocks fluid flow, or channels fluid flow into a specific direction, such as into one or more output conduits. In at least one embodiment the cartridge (1) is constructed and arranged to move in a lateral direction (5) relative to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge (1), thereby changing which sluice (2, 3, 4) is positioned within the flow chamber.
Referring now to
The sluices are not limited to the specific sequence or geometry present in the figures. Instead each of the sluices can define a wide variety of shapes and arrangements and can be ordered in any possible sequence. These shapes and arrangements include but are not limited to one or more of: holes, helixes, walls (with one or more slopes), curves, bends, mesh patterns, eddy-creators, irregularities, tapers, tubes, undulations, and any combination thereof, and may include valves, washers, releases and other plumbing items, and any combination thereof, designed to change, increase, decrease, optimize, and/or randomize fluid flow rate, pressure, aeration, pulse, droplet shape or size, and/or direct or mix the fluid flow(s) in any manner possible. Similarly, for purposes of this application the term “sluice” additionally includes whatever portion of the cartridge is positioned within the fluid chamber at any given moment. Thus, if the cartridge is only partially displaced so two or more sluices are partially within the fluid chamber, in effect this arrangement defines a new effective sluice made up of the two partial sluices therein.
It can be appreciated that the diverter may be arranged according to several possible arrangements. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge (1) travels relative to the fluid chamber (11) laterally (5) along a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to, and extends along, the length of the cartridge (1). This may be facilitated by engagement to a handle (10), allowing a user to toggle between configurations by moving the handle (10) laterally or otherwise. The engagement may be in the form of direct engagement or levers, pulleys, springs, and all manner known in the art of engaging a handle to mechanically laterally displace an item. Other possible configurations are possible such as positioning the sluices in a non-linear order and toggling them with non-linear displacement of the cartridge.
In at least one embodiment, the handle (10) mechanically displaces the cartridge (1) using rotational force (see below, discussion of
In at least one embodiment, the use of rotational force to laterally toggle the sluices is accomplished using a worm drive. A worm drive is a gear arrangement comprising a worm (a screw shaped gear having a helical groove) which is meshed with a worm gear (a cog shaped or helically shaped gear). In this arrangement, torque on the worm gear pushes against the screw shape of the worm which laterally displaces the worm and anything fixedly engaged thereto. In at least one embodiment the overall length of the diverter does not substantially or essentially change (get longer or shorter along the axis) as the cartridge is toggled between configurations. In at least one embodiment the overall length of the diverter does change but by an amount different than the distance that the cartridge is displaced. In at least one embodiment the overall length of the diverter changes by an amount of: 1%-15%, or more, or less.
In at least one embodiment, illustrated in
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. All patents, patent applications, scientific papers, and any other referenced materials mentioned herein or mentioned in said referenced materials, are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, the invention encompasses any possible combination of some or all of the various embodiments described herein and/or incorporated herein. In addition, the invention encompasses any possible combination that also specifically excludes any one or some of the various embodiments described herein and/or incorporated herein.
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest, many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All the alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.
All ranges and parameters disclosed herein are understood to encompass any and all subranges subsumed therein, and every number between the endpoints. For example, a stated range of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and all subranges between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more, (e.g. 1 to 6.1), and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less, (e.g. 2.3 to 9.4, 3 to 8, 4 to 7), and finally to each number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 contained within the range. All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.
Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
