The present disclosure relates to a showerhead filter assembly and method of purification, and more specifically, a showerhead comprising a removable filter assembly and method of purifying fluid passing through the showerhead with the filter assembly.
Both residential and commercial establishments typically include a stand-alone shower and/or a bathtub equipped with a showerhead for bathing. The showerheads are coupled to a water supply source. Two of the most common water supply sources include a well, typically in rural areas and water feed lines from a municipal water station or company. The showerheads can be fixed directly to the wall of the shower or bathtub, and more recently, can include a flexible hose or supply line allowing the user to position the showerhead at desired locations while bathing.
One example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a showerhead filter assembly for purifying fluid comprising a shower engine having inner and outer chambers. The inner chamber comprises a fluid passage at a first end and an opening at a second end for receiving a filter assembly. The inner chamber is partially enclosed by the outer chamber at the second end. The shower engine further comprises a faceplate coupled to the inner and outer chambers. The faceplate further comprises an outer opening in alignment with the opening at the second end of the inner chamber for receiving the filter assembly. The showerhead filter assembly further comprises a filter assembly comprising a cartridge having a body, segmented opening at a first end and removable cap at a second end, the filter assembly houses filter media to remove contaminates from fluid passing through the showerhead.
Another example embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a process of purifying fluid passing through a showerhead comprising inserting a filter cartridge having filter media between a fluid inlet and faceplate of the showerhead and removably securing the filter cartridge within a cylindrical chamber of the showerhead by rotating a threaded connection or a tab locking arrangement. The process further comprises passing fluid through the fluid inlet into the filter cartridge and filter media and removing contaminates from the fluid with the filter media. The process also comprises flowing filtered fluid from the filter cartridge out exit openings that correspond to openings in the cylindrical chamber and flowing filtered fluid from the cylindrical chamber out a faceplate of the showerhead.
Yet another example embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a showerhead filter assembly for purifying fluid comprising a showerhead having an inner chamber. The inner chamber comprises a fluid passage at a first end and an opening at a second end. The opening at the second end is for receiving a filter assembly. The filter assembly is removably located within the inner chamber and comprises a cartridge having first and second ends spaced by a body and filter media supported within the body, the filter media removes contaminates from fluid passing from the fluid passage to at least one exit opening in the showerhead.
Another example embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a process of purifying fluid passing through a showerhead comprising the steps of inserting a filter cartridge comprising filter media between a fluid inlet and faceplate of a showerhead. The process further comprises removably securing the filter cartridge within a cylindrical chamber of the showerhead by translating and rotating a tab locking arrangement, passing fluid through the fluid inlet into the filter cartridge and filter media, and removing contaminates from the fluid with the filter media. The process also comprises flowing filtered fluid from the filter cartridge out exit openings that correspond to entry openings in the cylindrical chamber, and flowing filtered fluid from the cylindrical chamber out a faceplate of the showerhead.
While another example embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a showerhead filter assembly for purifying fluid having a showerhead with a supply line connection and an inner chamber. The inner chamber comprises a fluid passage at a first end and an opening at a second end for receiving a filter assembly. The filter assembly comprises a cartridge having a body with first and second ends, a segmented diverter removably connected to the body at the first end and an end cap located at the second end. The filter assembly housing filter media within the body to remove contaminates from fluid passing through the showerhead. The showerhead further comprises a faceplate in fluid communication with the filter assembly. The faceplate has at least one exit opening for the passage of filtered fluid from the showerhead. The filter assembly is removably connected to the showerhead such that it can be installed and removed without disassembly of the showerhead.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts unless described otherwise throughout the drawings and in which:
Referring now to the figures generally wherein like numbered features shown therein refer to like elements throughout unless otherwise noted. The present disclosure relates to a showerhead filter assembly and method of purification, and more specifically, a showerhead comprising a removable filter assembly and process of purifying fluid passing through the showerhead with the filter assembly.
Both residential and commercial establishments typically include a stand-alone shower and/or a bathtub equipped with a showerhead for bathing. The establishments, as a result, require a fluid supply source provided most often from a municipality or well located on the respective property. The fluid supply provides in most instances, potable water (hereinafter referred to generally as “potable water”, “water”, or “fluid” interchangeably) of sufficient quality such that it can be consumed or used without immediate or long-term health risks.
However, even potable water in the U.S. may include various contaminates, such as bacteria, arsenic, metals, compounds, chlorine, and minerals mixed with carbon, (collectively or individually hereinafter “contaminates”). Accordingly, there is an interest to remove such contaminates from the water before use in bathing by the owner of a residential or commercial establishment. In particular, the interest extends to the removal of such contaminates in the water prior to the contact of the water on the body of the bather taking a shower, which is advantageously achieved through the present disclosure in the various showerhead filter assembly example embodiments discussed herein in combination with the referenced figures and claims.
Referring now to the figures, and in particular to
Located at an end of the showerhead 10 opposite of the inlet 14 is a faceplate 18. The faceplate 18 (illustrated in
Located between the inlet 14 and faceplate 18 is a showerhead engine 24 (as shown in
The housing 26 is typically formed from plastic and can include any number of cavities or protuberances (not shown) about its annular perimeter to facilitate gripping and rotation of the members 32, 34 by the user of the showerhead 10. In an alternative example embodiment, the housing 26 further comprises a lever (not shown) to assist in the relative rotation of members 32, 34, and/or change the volumetric flow rate or spray pattern, exiting from the faceplate 18 of the showerhead 10.
Referring now to
Annularly located around the perimeter of the inner cylindrical chamber 42 is a plurality of transition slots 46, allowing the passage of water to move from the filter assembly 12 into a peripheral region 47 of the showerhead engine 24. The passage of water moving in the filter assembly 12 exits through a plurality of openings 48 located in a filter cartridge housing 50 supporting internally filter media 52, as best seen in
The filter assembly 12 is operably and removably positioned within the shower engine 24 of the showerhead 10 (see
The filter assembly 12 further comprises a body 54 having the openings 48 located therein, a diverter 56, upper and lower o-rings 58, and end cap 60. The upper and lower o-rings 58 surround the body 54 in a respective annulet or groove 62, forming a fluid-tight sealing connection between the body and inner chamber 42 of the showerhead engine 24. The end cap 60 in one example embodiment is molded into the body 54. In another example embodiment, the end cap 60 and/or diverter 56 include an outer or inner surface that form a press-fit type connection with an inner 64 or an outer 66 surface, respectively of the body 54.
One or more plurality of openings 48 of the filter assembly 12 are reassured alignment with one or more transition slots 46 (see
In the illustrated example embodiment of
The diverter 56 is segmented into four equally shaped opening segments 70, as best seen in
The filter media 52 can be replaced with new media by removing the diverter 56 from the body 54 and pulling the media from the filter assembly 12. In one example embodiment, the filter media 52 is a porous material that includes granulated carbon. In yet another example embodiment, the filter media 52 comprises a KDF filter comprising copper and zinc alloy particles manufactured by KDF Fluid Treatment Inc. of Three Rivers, Mich. In the illustrated example embodiment of
As entry water W passes from the inlet 14 into the filter assembly 12 and more specifically filter media 52. The filter media 52 traps contaminates within the filter media, while allowing only relatively cleaner water “FW” to exit the filter media and filter assembly 12 into the peripheral region 47, ultimately exiting the showerhead 10.
In the illustrated example embodiment, the filter body 54, diverter 56, and end cap 60 are made from plastic. In the illustrated embodiment of
As stated above and indicated by
In an alternative example embodiment, the connection is between the showerhead engine 24 and filter assembly 12 is achieved by a locking arrangement 82 (see
The locking arrangement 82 advantageously requires in the illustrated example embodiment of
During operation, the water W from a water supply enters the inlet 14, passing through cavity 86 and fluid passage 74 of the inner chamber 42. Upon entry to the inner chamber 42, the water engages and is separated by the segments 70 of the diverter 56, exciting the water as it enters the filter media 52. While in the filter media 52, the water is cleansed from contaminates as it moves downward in the direction of the arrows illustrated in
As the filtered water FW flows downward and annularly within the peripheral region 47, as indicated by the direction of the arrows in
The filtered water FW passes through channels 94 in the spray adjustment member 92 that allows for the relative rotation of the upper and the lower members 32, 34, respectively over inner and outer o-rings 96. The inner and outer o-rings 96 contain the filtered water FW within the spray adjustment member 96 while providing for the relative rotation between lower and upper members 32, 34.
Referring now to
In one example embodiment, the filter media 120 is a porous material that includes granulated carbon. In yet another example embodiment, the filter media 120 comprises a KDF filter comprising copper and zinc alloy particles manufactured by KDF Fluid Treatment Inc. of Three Rivers, Mich. In the illustrated example embodiment of
Entry water W passes from the inlet 114 into an upper region 122 of filter assembly 112 before entering into filter media 120. The filter media 120 traps contaminates within the filter media as it proceed to a lower region 124, as illustrated in
The water flowing through the showerhead 100 passes through the cylindrical chamber 116 and filter media 120 in the direction of arrow “A” shown in
Referring now to
In one example embodiment, the filter media 220 is a porous material that includes granulated carbon. In yet another example embodiment, the filter media 220 comprises a KDF® filter comprising copper and zinc alloy particles manufactured by KDF Fluid Treatment Inc. of Three Rivers, Mich. In the illustrated example embodiment of
Entry water W passes from the inlet 214 into an upper region 222 of filter assembly 212 before entering into filter media 220. The filter media 220 traps contaminates within the filter media as it proceed to a lower region 224, as illustrated in
The water flowing through the showerhead 200 passes through the cylindrical chamber 216 and filter media 220 in the direction of arrow “A” shown in
Referring now to
What have been described above are examples of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
The following application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/350,615 filed Jun. 2, 2010 entitled SHOWERHEAD FILTER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF PURIFICATION. The above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61350615 | Jun 2010 | US |