The present invention relates generally to spray devices and unitarily formed components thereof, and, more particularly, to spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings and unitarily formed components thereof having complex flow paths, made of multiple materials, and/or that are movable.
Spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings, such as side sprays and shower heads, are known. Spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings and components thereof having complex flow paths, made of multiple materials, and/or that are movable can be difficult to manufacture.
The present invention provides spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings and waterways and spray faces for spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray device includes a waterway, a shell, a spray face, a first valve body, a second valve body, and an actuator. The waterway has an outer surface. The waterway includes an inlet port, a first cavity, a first flow path, a first outlet port, a second cavity, a second flow path, and a second outlet port. The inlet port has an inlet opening in the outer surface. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the first cavity and the second cavity. The first cavity has a first cavity opening in the outer surface. The first cavity is in fluid communication with the first flow path. The second cavity has a second cavity opening in the outer surface. The second cavity is in fluid communication with the second flow path. The first flow path is in fluid communication with the first outlet port. The first outlet port has a first outlet opening in the outer surface. The second flow path is in fluid communication with the second outlet port. The second outlet port has a second outlet opening in the outer surface. The first flow path is not in fluid communication with the second flow path. The waterway is operable to have fluid flow from the inlet port to the first outlet port and the second outlet port. The shell is hollow. The shell has an inlet opening, an actuator opening, and an outlet opening. The spray face includes a first spray portion and a second spray portion. The first outlet port is in fluid communication with the first spray portion. The second outlet port is in fluid communication with the second spray portion. The first valve body is operable to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the first outlet port. The second valve body is operable to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the second outlet port. The actuator is operable to connect to the first valve body and the second valve body through the actuator opening. The shell is operable to receive the waterway. The first cavity in the waterway is operable to receive the first valve body through the first cavity opening, and the second cavity in the waterway is operable to receive the second valve body through the second cavity opening. The first valve body is operable to move within the first cavity, and the second valve body is operable to move within the second cavity. The actuator is operable to move the first valve body within the first cavity, and the actuator is operable to move the second valve body within the second cavity. Movement of the first valve body within the first cavity opens and closes fluid flow between the inlet port and the first outlet port, and movement of the second valve body within the second cavity opens and closes fluid flow between the inlet port and the second outlet. The first cavity opening has a central tangent line that passes through a center point of the first cavity opening and is tangent to a central longitudinal axis of the first flow path. The first outlet opening has a central tangent line that passes through a center point of the first outlet opening and is tangent to the central longitudinal axis of the first flow path. The first flow path includes a portion that is not parallel to and not tangent to at least one of the central tangent line of the first cavity opening and the central tangent line of the first outlet opening. The central tangent line of the first cavity opening is not parallel to the central tangent line of the first outlet opening. The waterway is unitarily formed.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray device includes a waterway, a shell, a spray face, a valve body, and an actuator. The waterway has an outer surface. The waterway includes an inlet port, a flow path, a cavity, and an outlet port. The inlet port has an inlet opening in the outer surface. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the flow path. The flow path is in fluid communication with the cavity. The cavity has a cavity opening in the outer surface. The flow path is in fluid communication with the outlet port. The outlet port has an outlet opening in the outer surface. The waterway is operable to have fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The shell is hollow. The shell has an inlet opening, an actuator opening, and an outlet opening. The spray face includes a spray portion. The outlet port is in fluid communication with the spray portion. The valve body is operable to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The actuator is operable to connect to the valve body through the actuator opening. The shell is operable to receive the waterway. The cavity in the waterway is operable to receive the valve body through the cavity opening. The valve body is operable to move within the cavity. The actuator is operable to move the valve body within the cavity. Movement of the valve body within the cavity opens and closes fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port. The spray portion has an outer surface. The spray portion includes an inlet port, a flow path, and an outlet port. The inlet port has an inlet opening in the outer surface. The flow path extends from the inlet port to the outlet port. The outlet port has an outlet opening in the outer surface. The outlet port has a central longitudinal axis that passes through a center point of the outlet opening. The outlet port is converging. At least one of the flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes an obstruction and the central longitudinal axis of the outlet port does not pass through the inlet opening. The spray face is unitarily formed.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray device includes a waterway, a shell, a spray face, a valve body, and an actuator. The waterway has an outer surface. The waterway includes an inlet port, a flow path, a cavity, and an outlet port. The inlet port has an inlet opening in the outer surface. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the flow path. The flow path is in fluid communication with the cavity. The cavity has a cavity opening in the outer surface. The flow path is in fluid communication with the outlet port. The outlet port has an outlet opening in the outer surface. The waterway is operable to have fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The shell is hollow. The shell has an inlet opening, an actuator opening, and an outlet opening. The spray face includes a spray portion. The outlet port is in fluid communication with the spray portion. The valve body is operable to control fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The actuator is operable to connect to the valve body through the actuator opening. The shell is operable to receive the waterway. The cavity in the waterway is operable to receive the valve body through the cavity opening. The valve body is operable to move within the cavity. The actuator is operable to move the valve body within the cavity. Movement of the valve body within the cavity opens and closes fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port. The spray portion includes a body and a nozzle. The body is formed from a first material. The nozzle is formed from a second material. The first material is different than the second material. The spray face, including the body and the nozzle, is unitarily formed. At least a portion of the body is concurrently formed with the nozzle.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray device includes a manifold, a spray assembly, and a spray face. The manifold includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet. The spray assembly includes a rear plate, a flow diverter plate, a spray former plate, and a front plate. The rear plate includes a first opening, a first chamber, a second opening, and a second chamber. The first opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the outlet of the manifold. The first opening is in fluid communication with the first chamber. The second opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the outlet of the manifold. The second opening is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The flow diverter plate includes a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is in fluid communication with the first chamber. The second channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The spray former plate includes a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles of the spray former plate are in fluid communication with one of the first channel and the second channel. The front plate includes a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of openings. The nozzles of the front plate are in fluid communication with the other of the first channel and the second channel. The openings of the front plate are operable to receive the nozzles of the spray former plate. The spray face includes a plurality of openings. The openings in the spray face are operable to receive the nozzles of the spray former plate and the nozzles of the front plate. The spray former plate is formed from a first material. The front plate is formed from a second material. The first material is different than the second material. The spray assembly, including the rear plate, the flow diverter plate, the spray former plate, and the front plate, is unitarily formed. At least a portion of the spray former plate is concurrently formed with at least a portion of the front plate.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray device includes a manifold, a spray assembly, and a spray face. The manifold includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet. The spray assembly includes a rear plate, a flow diverter plate, a turbine, a spray former plate, and a front plate. The rear plate includes a first opening, a first chamber, a second opening, and a second chamber. The first opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the outlet of the manifold. The first opening is in fluid communication with the first chamber. The second opening is operable to fluidly communicate with the outlet of the manifold. The second opening is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The flow diverter plate includes a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is in fluid communication with the first chamber. The second channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The turbine includes a plurality of vanes. The turbine is in fluid communication with one of the first channel and the second channel. The spray former plate includes a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles of the spray former plate are in fluid communication with the other of the first channel and the second channel. The front plate includes a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of openings. The nozzles of the front plate are in fluid communication with the turbine. The openings of the front plate are operable to receive the nozzles of the spray former plate. The spray face includes a plurality of openings. The openings in the spray face are operable to receive the nozzles of the spray former plate and the nozzles of the front plate. The turbine is operable to rotate within the spray assembly. The spray assembly, including the rear plate, the flow diverter plate, the spray former plate, and the front plate, is unitarily formed. At least a portion of the turbine is concurrently formed with at least a portion of the spray former plate and at least a portion of the front plate.
In an exemplary embodiment, a waterway includes an inlet port, a first cavity, a first flow path, a first outlet port, a second cavity, a second flow path, and a second outlet port. The inlet port has an inlet opening in an outer surface of the waterway. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the first cavity. The first cavity has a first cavity opening in the outer surface. The first cavity is in fluid communication with the first flow path. The first flow path is in fluid communication with the first outlet port. The first outlet port has a first outlet opening in the outer surface. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the second cavity. The second cavity has a second cavity opening in the outer surface. The second cavity is in fluid communication with the second flow path. The first flow path is not in fluid communication with the second flow path. The second flow path is in fluid communication with the second outlet port. The second outlet port has a second outlet opening in the outer surface. The waterway is operable to have fluid flow from the inlet port to the first outlet port and the second outlet port. The first cavity opening has a central tangent line that passes through a center point of the first cavity opening and is tangent to a central longitudinal axis of the first flow path. The first outlet opening has a central tangent line that passes through a center point of the first outlet opening and is tangent to the central longitudinal axis of the first flow path. The first flow path includes a portion that is not parallel to and not tangent to at least one of the central tangent line of the first cavity opening and the central tangent line of the first outlet opening. The central tangent line of the first cavity opening is not parallel to the central tangent line of the first outlet opening. The waterway is unitarily formed.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray face includes a spray portion. The spray portion has an outer surface. The spray portion includes an inlet port, a flow path, and an outlet port. The inlet port has an inlet opening in the outer surface. The flow path extends from the inlet port to the outlet port. The outlet port has an outlet opening in the outer surface. The outlet port has a central longitudinal axis that passes through a center point of the outlet opening. The outlet port is converging. At least one of the flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes an obstruction and the central longitudinal axis of the outlet port does not pass through the inlet opening. The spray face is unitarily formed.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spray face includes a spray portion. The spray portion includes a body and a nozzle. The body is formed from a first material. The nozzle is formed from a second material. The first material is different than the second material. The spray face, including the body and the nozzle, is unitarily formed. At least a portion of the body is concurrently formed with the nozzle.
The present invention provides spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings and unitarily formed components thereof having complex flow paths, made of multiple materials, and/or that are movable. In exemplary embodiments, the spray devices are side sprays and shower heads. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the spray devices could be any spray devices (such as wands and body sprays) for any plumbing fixture fittings (such as faucets and shower systems).
An exemplary embodiment of a side spray 100 of the present invention is shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the waterway 102 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the shell 104 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the spray face 106 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the first valve body 108 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the second valve body 110 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the actuator 112 is shown in detail in
Although the side spray 100 has been illustrated as including components with specific structure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the components of the side spray 100 could have different structure. For example, the side spray 100 has been illustrated as having: (1) a waterway 102 including a reservoir 118, first and second cavities 120, 126, first and second flow paths 122, 128, and first and second outlet ports 124, 130, (2) a spray face 106 including first and second spray portions 148, 150, and (3) first and second valve bodies 108, 110. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the side spray 100 could have: (1) a waterway without a reservoir and with more or less than two cavities, flow paths, and outlet ports, (2) a spray face with more or less than two spray portions, and (3) more or less than two valve bodies.
An exemplary embodiment of another waterway 102′ is shown in detail in
In exemplary embodiments of waterways, such as the waterway 102 and the waterway 102′, the first cavity opening 134, 134′ has a central tangent line that passes through a center point of the first cavity opening 134, 134′ and is tangent to a central longitudinal axis of the first flow path 122, 122′. The first outlet opening 138, 138′ has a central tangent line that passes through a center point of the first outlet opening 138, 138′ and is tangent to the central longitudinal axis of the first flow path 122, 122′. The first flow path 122, 122′ includes a portion that is not parallel to and not tangent to at least one of: (1) the central tangent line of the first cavity opening 134, 134′, and (2) the central tangent line of the first outlet opening 138, 138′. The central tangent line of the first cavity opening 134, 134′ is not parallel to the central tangent line of the first outlet opening 138, 138′. In the exemplary embodiments, the waterway 102, 102′ is unitarily formed.
Exemplary embodiments of flow paths, such as the first flow path 122, 122′ and the second flow path 128, 128′ in the waterway 102, 102′, are sketched in
In
An exemplary embodiment of another spray face 106′ is shown in detail in
Exemplary embodiments of spray portions, such as the first spray portion 148, 148′ and the second spray portion 150, 150′ of the spray face 106, 106′, are sketched in
An exemplary embodiment of another spray face 106″ is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of a shower head 200 of the present invention is shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the manifold 202 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the shell 204 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the spray assembly 206 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the rear plate 216 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the flow diverter plate 218 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the spray former plate 220 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the front plate 222 is shown in detail in
An exemplary embodiment of the spray face 208 is shown in detail in
In the illustrated embodiment, the shower head 200 includes a first flow path, a second flow path, a third flow path, and a fourth flow path. The first flow path extends from the first openings 224 in the upstream side 216u of the rear plate 216, to the first chambers 232a on the downstream side 216d of the rear plate 216, to the first chambers 232b on the upstream side 218u of the flow diverter plate 218, to the first channel 240 on the downstream side 218d of the flow diverter plate 218, through the turbine 268, and through the third plurality of nozzles 252 on the front plate 222. The second flow path extends from the second openings 226 in the upstream side 216u of the rear plate 216, to the second chambers 234a on the downstream side 216d of the rear plate 216, to the second chambers 234b on the upstream side 218u of the flow diverter plate 218, to the second channel 242 on the downstream side 218d of the flow diverter plate 218, and through the first plurality of nozzles 248 on the first spray former plate portion 220a of the spray former plate 220. The third flow path extends from the third openings 228 in the upstream side 216u of the rear plate 216, to the third chambers 236a on the downstream side 216d of the rear plate 216, to the third chambers 236b on the upstream side 218u of the flow diverter plate 218, to the third channel 244 on the downstream side 218d of the flow diverter plate 218, and through the second plurality of nozzles 250 on the second spray former plate portion 220b of the spray former plate 220. The fourth flow path extends from the fourth openings 230 in the upstream side 216u of the rear plate 216, to the fourth chamber 238a on the downstream side 216d of the rear plate 216, to the fourth chamber 238b on the upstream side 218u of the flow diverter plate 218, to the fourth channel 246 on the downstream side 218d of the flow diverter plate 218, and through the fourth plurality of nozzles 254 on the front plate 222. Each of the first flow path, the second flow path, the third flow path, and the fourth flow path is not in fluid communication with any of the other of the first flow path, the second flow path, the third flow path, and the fourth flow path.
In an exemplary embodiment, the shower head 200 includes a plurality of flow paths. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the flow paths is not in fluid communication with any of the other of the flow paths. In an exemplary embodiment, the shower head 200 includes a first flow path and a second flow path. In the exemplary embodiment, the first flow path is not in fluid communication with the second flow path.
In an exemplary embodiment, the spray former plate 220 is formed from a first material. The front plate 222 is formed from a second material. In an exemplary embodiment, the first material is different than the second material. In an exemplary embodiment, the spray assembly 206, including the rear plate 216, the flow diverter plate 218, the spray former plate 220, and the front plate 222, is unitarily formed. In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the spray former plate 220 is concurrently formed with at least a portion of the front plate 222.
In an exemplary embodiment, the spray assembly 206 includes a turbine 268. The turbine 268 includes a plurality of vanes 270. The turbine 268 is in fluid communication with the first channel 240 on the downstream side 218d of the flow diverter plate 218. The third plurality of nozzles 252 of the front plate 222 are in fluid communication with the turbine 268. The turbine 268 is operable to rotate within the spray assembly 206. In an exemplary embodiment, the spray assembly 206, including the rear plate 216, the flow diverter plate 218, the spray former plate 220, and the front plate 222, is unitarily formed. In the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the turbine 268 is concurrently formed with at least a portion of the spray former plate 220 and at least a portion of the front plate 222. In the exemplary embodiment, the turbine 268 is formed within the spray assembly 206. In an exemplary embodiment, the turbine 268 is formed of a rigid plastic.
Although the shower head 200 has been illustrated as including components with specific structure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the components of the shower head 200 could have different structure. For example, the shower head 200 has been illustrated as having: (1) a rear plate 216 including first, second, third, and fourth openings 224, 226, 228, 230, and first, second, third, and fourth chambers 232a, 234a, 236a, 238a, (2) a flow diverter plate 218 including first, second, third, and fourth chambers 232b, 234b, 236b, 238b, and first, second, third, and fourth channels 240, 242, 244, 246, (3) a spray former plate 220 including first and second spray former plate portions 220a, 220b, and first and second pluralities of nozzles 248, 250, (4) a front plate 222 including third and fourth pluralities of nozzles 252, 254, and first and second pluralities of openings 256, 258, and (5) a spray face 208 including first, second, third, and fourth pluralities of openings 260, 262, 264, 266. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shower head 200 could have: (1) a rear plate 216 with more or less than eight openings and seven chambers, (2) a flow diverter plate 218 with more or less than seven chambers and four channels, (3) a spray former plate 220 with more or less than two spray former plate portions and two pluralities of nozzles, (4) a front plate 222 with more or less than two pluralities of nozzles and two pluralities of openings, and (5) a spray face 208 with more or less than four pluralities of openings.
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above have at least one component that is unitarily formed. Additionally, some of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above have components that are concurrently formed.
In exemplary embodiments of the side spray 100, the waterway 102, 102′ is unitarily formed. In exemplary embodiments of the side spray 100, the spray face 106, 106′, 106″ is unitarily formed. In exemplary embodiments of the side spray 100, the spray face 106, 106′, 106″, including the body 166″ and the plurality of nozzles 168″, is unitarily formed. In the exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the body 166″ is concurrently formed with the plurality of nozzles 168″.
In an exemplary embodiment of the shower head 200, the spray assembly 206, including the rear plate 216, the flow diverter plate 218, the spray former plate 220, and the front plate 222, is unitarily formed. In the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the spray former plate 220 is concurrently formed with at least a portion of the front plate 222. In an exemplary embodiment of the shower head 200, the spray assembly 206, including the rear plate 216, the flow diverter plate 218, the spray former plate 220, and the front plate 222, is unitarily formed. In the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the turbine 268 is concurrently formed with at least a portion of the spray former plate 220 and at least a portion of the front plate 222. In the exemplary embodiment, the turbine 268 is formed within the spray assembly 206.
In all of these exemplary embodiments, the component is unitarily formed or the components are concurrently formed using additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing is also commonly referred to as rapid manufacturing and 3D printing.
One of ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that the present invention provides spray devices for plumbing fixture fittings and unitarily formed components thereof having complex flow paths, made of multiple materials, and/or that are movable. Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the following claims in light of their full scope of equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/272,303, filed Dec. 29, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62272303 | Dec 2015 | US |