Abstract: A shower has a housing defining an axis, a conduit in the housing normally supplied with water under pressure and having an axially forwardly open outlet end, and a shower head having an axially rearwardly directed face axially confronting the outlet end and rotatable on the housing about the axis. The shower head is provided with at least two sets of axially forwardly directed spray nozzles and is formed with respective axially rearwardly open passages connected to the sets of nozzles. A seal disk extending across the axis between the outlet end and the rear face of the shower head is formed with an axially throughgoing hole and is fixed in the housing against rotation about the axis while being limitedly axially movable in the housing. An elastically compressible seal ring engaged axially between the outlet end of the conduit and the seal disk around the seal-disk hole presses the seal disk axially forward against the rear face of the shower head.

Abstract: A faucet assembly has a housing formed with a vent passage extending between inlet and vent ports and a feed passage extending between an outlet port and a location in the vent passage between the inlet and vent ports. An inner valve body is displaceable in the vent passage between an inner end position sitting in an inner valve seat at the inlet port and blocking flow out of the vent passage through the inlet port and an outer end position sitting in an outer seat and blocking flow from the location toward the vent port. Similarly an outer valve body is displaceable in the vent passage between an outer end position sitting in a vent seat at the vent port and blocking flow out of the vent passage through the vent port and an inner end position permitting flow through the vent port.

Abstract: A diverter-type mixing valve has a body formed with a chamber having opposite ends, a mixed-water feed passage opening into the chamber between its ends, a faucet outlet port opening into the chamber at one end thereof, a vent port opening into the chamber at the other end thereof, a diverter port also opening into the chamber at the other end thereof, and a restriction in the chamber between the feed passage and the ports at the other end. Mixed water is supplied under pressure to the feed passage. A diverter valve in the chamber directs flow from the feed passage out the faucet port when pressure between the restriction and the other end is greater than pressure between the restriction and one end and directs flow from the feed passage to the diverter port when pressure between the restriction and one end is greater than pressure between the restriction and the other end.

Abstract: A self-regulating mixing valve has a main housing having hot- and cold-water inlets and provided with an externally threaded stem defining an axis, a valve body displaceable axially in the housing between hot and cold end positions blocking flow from the inlets and through intermediate positions permitting flow from both inlets, and a thermostat in the housing connected to the valve body. An abutment ring fixed on the housing around the stem is provided with a stop. An adjustment nut threaded on the stem adjacent the ring is axially operatively engaged with the thermostat so that rotation of the nut in one direction about the axis axially displaces the thermostat in one direction and opposite rotation axially oppositely displaces it. A protective sleeve centered on the axis and fixed on the ring extends axially outward from the ring coaxially around the sleeve and projects axially outward past the sleeve.

Abstract: A temperature indicator for use in combination with a plumbing fitting through which water passes has a core assembly including a display, a circuit module fixed to and driving the display, a temperature sensor connected to the circuit module, a pair of long battery contacts connected to the module, a finger extending from the module and carrying the long contacts, and a pair of short battery contacts connected to the module in parallel with the long contacts. An inner housing part interfitting with the fitting and traversed by the water is formed with a recess in which the sensor is engageable. A battery is connected to one of the pairs of contacts and the other pair is unused. An outer housing part mounted on the inner housing part carries the core assembly. The finger is constructed to break readily off the assembly.

Abstract: A snap-ring assembly has a sleeve formed with a bore centered on an axis and having an axially outwardly open end formed with a radially inwardly open groove, a pipe having a collar projecting axially inward into the bore end past the groove, a snap ring seated in the groove and projecting axially into the bore to block outward displacement of the collar, and a seal ring in the bore between the collar and the sleeve. The sleeve is formed at its open end with an axially outwardly open notch extending axially inward generally to the groove so that a tool can be inserted in the groove under the snap ring to remove same from the groove.

Abstract: A shower head has a body having a wall and forming therewith a pressurizable compartment. This wall has an inner face in the compartment and an outer face and is formed therebetween with an array of throughgoing perforations. Respective flexible tubular extensions are provided on the outer face of the wall at the perforations. These extensions can be deformed to flake off lime formations adhering to the extensions. The extensions can be unitary with the wall, in which case the wall is made of an elastomer, or respective tubular liners in the perforations having outer ends projecting past the outer face can form the respective extensions. In this case each liner can have laterally projecting inner and outer ridges respectively bearing against the inner and outer faces of the wall. Furthermore each liner has a predetermined diameter of between 1 mm and 2 mm, preferably 1.2 mm, and each extension extends beyond the outer face by a distance generally equal to the respective diameter.

Abstract: A valve has a housing, a valve spindle projecting outward from the housing and centered on and rotatable about an axis, and an actuating handle. Radially inwardly projecting and axially extending ridges are formed in the handle. An overload protecting coupling is formed by a sleeve fitted over the spindle and formed unitarily with a skirt having an inner surface spaced radially outward from the spindle and an outer surface formed with radially outwardly projecting and axially extending ridges meshing with the ridges of the handle. The skirt is formed with a plurality of axially inwardly open slots subdividing it into a plurality of ridged segments and it is elastically inwardly deflectable. Thus this sleeve forms a slip coupling that allows the handle to rotate the valve spindle until same is arrested, for instance at the end of its stroke, and thereafter turn independently of the spindle to prevent overloading it.