And Surrounding Ports (peripheral) Patents (Class 239/449)
  • Patent number: 7360723
    Abstract: A showerhead system for communicating a fluid supply, the system including a fixed fluid dispensing unit supported at a location, the fixed dispensing unit including a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid supply. A removable fluid dispensing unit is releasably secured to a receptacle established within the fixed dispensing, the removable unit further including at least one additional nozzle. The fluid supply is adapted to be in selective communication with either or both the fixed and removable fluid dispensing units, such as through the provision of a fluid diverter element located at an inlet of the fixed unit and from which extends a conduit in separate communication with the removable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Moty Lev
  • Patent number: 7344094
    Abstract: A sprayer for attachment to the spout of a faucet. The sprayer comprises a coupling, a spray head through which fluid may be directed for expulsion and a neck portion. The coupling releasably secures the sprayer to the spout of a faucet. The neck portion connects the coupling to the spray head and includes a passageway permitting the flow of fluid from the spout of the faucet to the spray head. The neck portion is flexibly resilient and permits the spray head to be displaced from a rest position where it is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sprayer to a deflected position where it is deflected from its rest position. The resiliency of the neck portion causes the spray head to be normally biased toward its rest position. The neck portion further includes a deflection limiter preventing the spray head from being deflected more than a pre-determined amount from the longitudinal axis of the sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Tracy, Peter Colpitts
  • Patent number: 7341239
    Abstract: The valve has a valve housing (39), in which a valve body (26) is mounted displaceably and preferably rotatably about its longitudinal axis (A). It has at least one valve seat (53, 54), with which the valve body (26) interacts. A button (22) is operationally connected to the valve body (26) in order to displace the valve body (26) from a basic position into a working position. The valve body (26) is controlled in such a way that it is automatically locked releasably in the working position when its displacement from the basic position into the working position takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Weidmann Plastics Technology AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Hodel, Henning Kaess
  • Patent number: 7331536
    Abstract: A shower head includes a main body formed with a chamber communicating with a water inlet at the upper end. The main body has its lower end formed with central water outlets and peripheral water outlets and has its interior installed with a water-separating unit with a pivot having a sealing member fixed thereon. When the pivot together with the sealing member is moved up and down vertically in the chamber, the sealing member can carry out sealing to control the water flowing in the chamber through the central water outlets or the peripheral water outlets. The main body has one circumferential side installed with a press unit formed with two pushing slopes actuated to move horizontally and push the pivot of the water-separating unit to shift up and down vertically for controlling the shower head to send out water through the center or the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp. (GUIC)
    Inventors: Bruce Zhen, Sheng-Ping Hu
  • Patent number: 7328858
    Abstract: A shower head for a kitchen sink, comprising a first insert and a second insert for water conveyance, the second insert being provided with elements for coupling to the enclosure, which comprise at least one tab that is adapted to enter, as a consequence of motion in an axial direction, a receptacle provided in the enclosure in order to lock the insert upon rotation about its own axis, rotation in the opposite direction being prevented by the coupling with the first insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: AMFAG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Publication number: 20080023577
    Abstract: A shower head includes a main body formed with a chamber communicating with a water inlet at the upper end. The main body has its lower end formed with central water outlets and peripheral water outlets and has its interior installed with a water-separating unit with a pivot having a sealing member fixed thereon. When the pivot together with the sealing member is moved up and down vertically in the chamber, the sealing member can carry out sealing to control the water flowing in the chamber through the central water outlets or the peripheral water outlets. The main body has one circumferential side installed with a press unit formed with two pushing slopes actuated to move horizontally and push the pivot of the water-separating unit to shift up and down vertically for controlling the shower head to send out water through the center or the periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Zhen, Sheng-Ping Hu
  • Patent number: 7320442
    Abstract: An on-off shower head, comprising an outer enclosure and a jet opening and closing device, further comprising water conveyance means arranged within the enclosure and adapted to prevent any contact of the water with the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: AMFAG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Publication number: 20070284460
    Abstract: A pull-out kitchen sprayer connected to a flexible water supply hose and comprising a wall which can be gripped and is provided with a water outlet at one end, a coupling for connection to the flexible hose being arranged at the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Patent number: 7159797
    Abstract: A spray head for discharging fluid includes a turret assembly in which a nozzle carrier is rotatable relative to a housing about an axis, and a plurality of nozzles mounted on the carrier radially outward from the axis. The carrier is mounted for linear movement relative to the housing along the carrier axis from a retracted position in which one of the nozzles is mated with an outlet in the housing for discharging fluid, to an extended position in which the carrier is rotatable about the carrier axis to align a different nozzle with the outlet, and back to the retracted position in which the different nozzle is mated with the outlet. A latch on the housing is moveable radially with respect to the carrier axis between a latching position holding the carrier in the retracted position and a release position allowing the carrier to move to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Lammers
  • Patent number: 7111795
    Abstract: A shower head with structural features for providing a water spray pattern having revolving characteristics is disclosed. The shower head includes an inlet assembly connectable to a water source and a cooperatively engaged outlet assembly including a body having a front facing surface, an impeller having a plurality of blades and a rotator assembly having a spray surface defining a plurality of spray apertures. The rotator spray surface forms a portion of the front facing surface. A seal spacer disposed between the inlet assembly and the front facing surface has a plurality of radially spaced ports. Each port is axially transverse to a plane of the seal spacer. Water flow through the ports creates a multi-directional water current downstream from the spacer to drive the impeller and consequently, cause rotation of the rotator spray surface and water emission in a revolving spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Waxman Consumer Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Chow Hwa Thong
  • Patent number: 7104473
    Abstract: A pull-out kitchen sprayer, comprising a central body that is accommodated within an outer enclosure whose shape is such as to require assembly with a particular orientation, the central body comprising a switching device with a slider and a rod provided with a flow control element and with actuation buttons at its two ends, the outer enclosure having facing openings that allow to access the buttons, one of the openings being formed so as to face the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: AMFAG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Patent number: 7100845
    Abstract: A switch-equipped sprinkler including a main body, a rotary water-distributing switch and a color-changeable warning facial cap mounted in a facial cap of the sprinkler. The switch is mounted in the main body. The switch has an operating handle arranged between the facial cap and the handle of the sprinkler. In the case that the temperature of the water exceeds a set value, the color-changeable facial cap will warn a user. The switch is operable with single handle to control the path of the water flow and switch the figures of the sprinkled water as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Elvis Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7097120
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for regulating two types of flow from a nozzle. The first flow is a deluge stream and the second flow is a fog spray. The deluge stream is controlled by the nozzle operator using a first flow control valve, such as a ball valve. The fog spray is controlled by the nozzle operator using a second flow control valve. The nozzle permits the nozzle operator to manually control the flow of the nozzle, thereby permitting quick regulation and adjustment of flow types and amounts to accommodate then existing fluid pressure and supply conditions to address fluid application needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Watershield LLC
    Inventor: Robert M. Marino
  • Patent number: 7014128
    Abstract: A showerhead assembly has a tubular shaped spray head and a longitudinal axis. The tubular shaped spray head has several apertures located along the longitudinal axis. The tubular shaped spray head is connected to a water source for introducing water in the tubular shaped spray head. The showerhead assembly also has a housing for supporting the tubular shaped spray head on a surface. Water traverses through the tubular shaped spray head for spraying beams of water through the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Kit Lun Leung
  • Patent number: 7016726
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying electrodes attached to a defibrillator and adjusting patient therapy delivered by a defibrillator in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Picardo, Thomas Allen Solosko, Joseph R. Diederichs, Kim J. Hansen, Christine Janae, Paul I. Szabo, John A. Moren, Ian G. MacDuff, Steven W. Ranta
  • Patent number: 7000854
    Abstract: A spray head for a faucet or the like has a wand body defining a flow path from an inlet to first and second outlets. Diverter seats are provided so a face seal on a diverter spool can direct flow to the first or second outlet. The spool is positioned by a trigger acting on cam surfaces formed on a toggle. A spring biases the toggle to one of two stable states. Movement of the spool by the trigger causes the toggle to change states so subsequent actuation of the trigger causes the spool to move in the opposite direction. The wand body also has a pause button that reciprocates in a chamber that is part of the flow path. The chamber includes a valve seat and the pause button has a spool having a face seal that is engageable with the valve seat to shut off flow through the spray head. A return spring causes separation of the pause button's face seal upon release of pressure on the pause button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael L. Malek, W. Randall Tucker, Peter Bates, Gaurav Rohatgi
  • Patent number: 6962298
    Abstract: Showerhead having suction cleansing facility, incisive pinpoint massage and continuous flow shower spray in one hand-held apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Martin
  • Patent number: 6808131
    Abstract: A pull-out kitchen sprayer, comprising a central body accommodated within an outer enclosure, designed to convey water between an inlet associated with a flexible water feed hose and an outlet disk that comprises a central passage and peripheral passages, and comprising a switching device, and two elements constituted by the central body and by the outlet disk that are provided with arrangements for mutual locking with the interposition of a raised portion that protrudes from the internal surface of the enclosure, to lock the enclosure with respect to the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Amfag S.p.A.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Publication number: 20040164183
    Abstract: A head (1) for dispensing water in a handshower, comprising a cover (2) that is associated in a fixed manner with the end of a water feed duct (3) and comprises means for connection to an underlying rotatable dispenser (9) that is adapted to selectively convey the water to diffusers that produce different jets; the connection means comprise two ceramic plates (7,8) that are in mutual contact and are perforated, one plate (7) being monolithic with the fixed cover (2), the other plate (8) being rigidly coupled to the rotatable dispenser (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Fabrizio Nobili
  • Publication number: 20040124267
    Abstract: A converter threaded to the sprout of a classical faucet made of metal to compromise the classical style of the faucet allows water be delivered either in gush or divergence; a separation cover being provided to separate the heat generated from hot water flowing through the converter to avoid burning the user; and a reducing design for the rotation point of the rotation connector to avoid hurting the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Ouyoung
  • Patent number: 6719218
    Abstract: A shower head has a housing with a water inlet and a control valve which connects to the housing inlet and has a plurality of water outlets. The control valve regulates the flow of water to a plurality of circumferentially arranged spray openings and to a nozzle which is located within the periphery of the spray openings. The nozzle has the ability to turn or spin, thus providing a soft spray which may be independent of or concurrent with the discharge of water from the spray openings. The nozzle may also wobble, which movement may be described as nutational, or the slow movement of the axis of the nozzle about another axis. Wobbling movement provides a somewhat more concentrated spray than that provided when the nozzle only spins. The shower head further has an auxiliary port which may be utilized with other spray devices such as fixed sprays or hand-held shower heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Lonnie F. Cool, Mark S. Kacik, Yaakov Korb, Richard A. Parso, Stephen J. Zaborszki
  • Patent number: 6691933
    Abstract: A water jet deliver disk in kitchen sprayer, comprising a first element, made of a rigid material such as plastic, and constituted by a peripheral body fixable to the sprayer body, by a hub adapted to convey a central jet, and by cross-members connecting the peripheral body and the hub in a monolithic structure and arranged to provide water passage openings, and a second annular element, made of an elastic material and associated with the first element to embed the cross-members in the region between the peripheral body and the hub, and comprising holes for water passage which are arranged at the passage openings formed by the cross-members to provide jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: AMFAG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Patent number: 6378790
    Abstract: A shower head comprising a hollow body connected at one end to a water source, and a face, plate connected at the other end of the hollow body. The face plate includes a plastic substrate having a plurality of circumferential openings and a central opening provided therein. The face plate further has a thermoplastic rubber layer formed on portions of the plastic substrate, including the walls of the plastic substrate circumferential openings. The thermoplastic rubber layer formed on the walls of the plastic substrate circumferential openings includes ridge portions extending away from and circumferentially around the plastic substrate circumferential openings. The shower head further comprises a plurality of plungers connected to a spider, wherein each plastic substrate circumferential opening receives a corresponding plunger and the ridge portions closely surround the plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 6370713
    Abstract: A pull-out spray head, which is connectable with a faucet by a flexible hose, has a water conveyance body disposed within an outer enclosure. The water conveyance body has a cavity which is arranged substantially transversely to the water delivery direction, has an opening facing toward the water intake duct defined by the body, and is divided into two facing portions on opposite sides with respect to the opening. Each facing portion has a water delivery port connected, respectively, to the peripheral ports and to the central port of a disk which locks the body within the enclosure. One of the facing portions is provided with a hollow plug or slider which includes a port for connection to the water delivery port of that one facing portion. A flow control element is positioned within the body and has a rod which protrudes outwardly of the enclosure so as to be connected to an actuation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: AMFAG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Patent number: 6367710
    Abstract: A showerhead has a water-exit element, a button pivotally received in the water-exit element, a moveable flapper disposed inside the water-exit element, and a water-separating plate and a nozzle cover placed in front of the moveable flapper. The button and the valve are able to control water to flow in a selected passage and create a particular type of shower jet. By adjusting the button, different kinds of shower jets can be easily selected. The controlling device, that is, the button and the moveable flapper, has a simple structure which is easy to manufacture and to repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Chen-Yueh Fan
  • Patent number: 6286158
    Abstract: A shower head assembly comprises a main shower head and a plurality of bent auxiliary shower heads wherein an adjusting mechanism of the main shower head is rotatable to divert water to spray from the nozzle of the main shower head in the form of streams of water or the nozzles of the auxiliary shower heads in the form of fine streams of water. This can provide an effect in addition to body cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Mei-Kan Lin
  • Patent number: 6151729
    Abstract: An improved switch valve for use in a rinsing shower head embodiment mounted adjacent to a kitchen sink has a spring biased valve shaft having one end connected to a finger operated press button board which is pivotally operated in two positions so as to permit water to be selectively discharged via two outlets. The spring biased valve shaft has two sealing bulges which can block the two outlets in a normal state whereby when the press button board is pressed at either end, the switch valve permits water to be selectively discharged via either one of the two water outlets and the rinsing shower head embodiment is automatically closed by the valve shaft when the press button board is free of a finger's compression. So, it facilitates a person to turn on and off a rinsing shower head and to select the operation modes of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Chya Ye Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Her-Far Yean
  • Patent number: 6085790
    Abstract: A faucet has a tubular faucet arm, a water-pressurizable hose in the arm having an outer end, and a head housing mounted on the hose outer end, extending along an axis, formed with a radially throughgoing slot, and dimensioned to be grasped in one hand. Body structure in the head communicates with the hose outer end and forms first and second valve seats and a nozzle assembly mounted on the body structure forms a first outlet communicating with the first valve seat and a second outlet communicating with the second valve seat. A valve element is displaceable in the body structure between a first end position engaging the first seat and diverting flow from the hose to the first outlet and a second end position engaging the second seat and diverting flow from the hose to the second outlet. A lever partially projecting through the slot from the housing is pivoted on the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Humpert, Bruno Heimann, Eckhard Gransow, Harald Dickel
  • Patent number: 6076743
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved showerhead that can select the type of water steam by a single hand. A movable flapper is mounted in the showerhead, and a button connected to the flapper is pivotally mounted on the outside of the shell of the showerhead. A first outlet is defined on one surface of a water-separating plate and connects with a slant hole of a spacing block, a second outlet is defined on one surface of the water-separating plate and connects with a plurality of holes on the plate. Therefore, the water stream can be force to exit from the first or the second hole by rotating the flapper so that the water stream will exit through the slant hole in the spacing block or the plural holes in the water-separating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Tai E International Patent and Law Office
    Inventor: Chen-Yueh Fan
  • Patent number: 6016975
    Abstract: Dual-action washing gun consisting of two concentric and coaxial tubes (7, 12), the internal one of which operates at high pressure, the initial part of the internal tube being provided with a cylindrical bush (4) having a hole (5) formed in its walls, and an element for shutting off this hole, consisting of a valve member (18) axially slidable in a sealing manner on the bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Arrow Line S.R.L.
    Inventor: Pietro Amaduzzi
  • Patent number: 5961046
    Abstract: A shower fixture of the present invention has an inner/outer spray ring. More specifically, the shower fixture employs a spray ring which defines plurality of grooves on the inner and outer circumferences thereof. The grooves have varying notch angles to produce water sprays in varying directions. The shower fixture of the present invention also employs a spray ring retainer which has a ring portion and multiple legs extending from the ring portion. The ring portion supports the spray ring from the bottom of the spray ring. The shower fixture of the present invention is capable of producing shower sprays of varying intensities and directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Raymond Joubran
  • Patent number: 5862985
    Abstract: A showerhead comprises a shell having an outlet end and a selector housing having an inlet end fixedly mounted to the outlet end of the shell. The showerhead also has a selector disk removably and rotatably mounted inside the selector housing near the inlet end of the selector housing. The disk selector has an inlet end facing the inlet end of the selector housing, and an outlet end opposite the inlet end of the disk selector. The showerhead further includes a selector face mounted inside the selector housing. The selector face has an inlet end abutting the outlet end of the selector disk, and an outlet end opposite the inlet end of the selector face. The showerhead also has a diffuser plate mounted inside the selector housing. The diffuser plate has an inlet end abutting the outlet end of the selector face, and an outlet end opposite the inlet end of the diffuser plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: The Rival Company
    Inventors: Dennis W. Neibrook, Bryce D. Schellhorn
  • Patent number: 5839666
    Abstract: A shower head has a body forming a rear compartment pressurizable with water and a forwardly open mouth having an inner periphery and an end disk generally closing the mouth, extending perpendicular to an axis, and having an elastically deformable outer rim formed with a plurality of axially through-going and radially outwardly open grooves opening rearwardly into the compartment and radially outwardly closed by the body. The rim further is formed with an annular and elastically deformable lip projecting axially past a downstream face of the disk and a downstream end of the body. The grooves are formed in the lip. Thus the critical downstream ends of the flow passages constituted by the grooves are formed in an elastically deformable lip that can be deformed. Since the deposits are normally very hard, such deformation of the lip will flake any lime deposits off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Ag
    Inventors: Bruno Heimann, Gerd Scherzberg
  • Patent number: 5816505
    Abstract: A decoking tool includes a valve body equipped with a pressurized fluid inlet and having a plurality of fluid passages, including drilling fluid passages extending substantially the full length of the valve body to conduct fluid to drilling nozzle sockets, and cutting fluid passages extending approximately half as far as the drilling fluid passages to conduct fluid to cutting nozzle sockets, the drilling and cutting fluid passages being disposed alternatingly on a circular locus about an axial centerline of the valve body. There are nozzles installed in the nozzle sockets. A diverter plate is interposed between the valve body and the pressurized fluid inlet and has axial fluid passages disposed on a circular path congruent with the circular locus, the disposition of the axial fluid passages being such that the passages align either with the drilling fluid passages or with the cutting fluid passages of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Dresser Pump Company
    Inventors: Richard Tran, Robert M. Purton
  • Patent number: 5758690
    Abstract: A faucet has a base provided with a valve for supplying water under pressure and a tubular U-shaped spout having an inner end pivotal in the base and an opposite downwardly directed outer end forming a downwardly open seat. A hose has an inner end connected in the base to the water-supply valve, an intermediate portion extending through the tubular spout, and an outer end carrying an end fitting formed with a rearwardly directed abutment and fittable in the seat of the spout in a seated position with the abutment engaged against the spout outer end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Humpert, Eckhard Gransow, Bernd Bischoff
  • Patent number: 5707011
    Abstract: A shower head includes an outer casing that is shaped so as to form a tubular portion which contains an elongated insert for connection to a water supply duct. A cylindrical insert, connected with the elongated insert, is contained in a head of the casing and is locked by a plug provided with at least one outlet port for the exit of water. A ring is located peripherally with respect to the cylindrical insert, and is kept in position by the plug, and is adapted to abut against a raised portion which is provided at the end portion of the elongated insert so as to lock the elongated insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: AMFAG S.r.l.
    Inventor: Orlando Bosio
  • Patent number: 5551637
    Abstract: A multi-spray shower head comprising a mist spray. When used with hot water this fine spray becomes steam. To prevent the user from scalding him- or herself immediately after using the mist spray with such hot water, the shower head includes a water operated safety pin assembly (60) which locks the shower head on the mist spray mode until the water pressure is reduced below a predetermined level. The mist spray is formed by passing water through mist channels (112) which have mist pins (114) which form spiralling water paths whereby water emerges from small diameter mist apertures (28) as a fine spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Mei K. Lo
  • Patent number: 5499767
    Abstract: An improved shower head having an elongated, rigid arm with a shower nozzle at one end of the arm and with the other end of the arm acting as a handle adapted to be grasped by the user. The arm is mounted, near its one end, by a swivel joint onto a shower pipe. The arm can be grasped by its handle end to move it about the swivel joint to position the shower nozzle. A control valve can be mounted on the arm to control the flow of water from the shower pipe to the shower nozzle. A second shower nozzle can be mounted on the other end of the handle and the control valve can control the flow of water to either the nozzle or to both simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Patent number: 5476225
    Abstract: A shower head has a plurality of concentric circular water races, each race having therein a different pattern of spray emitting openings. An elastomeric sheet is spread between a water plenum and the races to prevent water from leaking from the plenum and into the races. The elastomeric sheet has an opening over each race. A selector may be either a dial or a push button which moves a device that covers or uncovers openings in the elastomeric sheet in order to select a specific spray pattern. The push button or a rubber boot over the dial facilitates an operation of the selector when the user has soapy hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Jing Mei Industrial Limited
    Inventor: Raymond W. M. Chan
  • Patent number: 5467927
    Abstract: A shower head which comprises a body which has a forward chamber and a tubular rear end through which water is arranged to be supplied to the chamber for exit from the chamber through a front side thereof. The shower head includes a vibration generator provided within the chamber for generating vibration of the shower head. The vibration generator is adapted to be driven by water flowing through the chamber. The shower head further includes a switch adapted to enable and/or disable the operation of the vibration generator, the switch being provided at the front side of the forward chamber of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Brand New Technology Limited
    Inventor: Man H. Lee
  • Patent number: 5433384
    Abstract: A push button controlled multifunction shower head. The push button moves a pawl attached to spring biased slide, the pawl bearing against a ratchet wheel which is rotated through a predetermined arcuate step responsive to each push button operation. The ratchet wheel moves a shutter which directs water into a selected one of several races, each race being individually associated with a spray pattern. The shower head may be built into a hand held housing wherein the handle may be held and the push button may be operated by one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Jing Mei Industrial Limited
    Inventors: Raymond W. M. Chan, Joseph E. Ford, Ronald O. Hilger
  • Patent number: 5383604
    Abstract: A hand held water outlet head includes a piston 10 carrying a valve disk 8 movable between two seats 6,7 for selectively directing an incoming water flow to either an aerator nozzle 17 via ducts 41,44,46, or to shower outlets 47 concentrically surrounding the nozzle via ducts 42,43.The piston/valve disk position is controlled by the thumb depression of a diaphragm 34 overlying a rocker arm 29, whose one end 32 is coupled to the piston and whose other end 31 may be latched by a slider 21. Incoming water pressure holds the disk in the shower position against the force of a spring 11, which returns the disk to the nozzle position when the water is turned off, unless the rocker arm is latched by the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: H. Weidmann AG
    Inventor: Paul Boesch
  • Patent number: 5344080
    Abstract: The shower head is composed of a spray head disposed at the forward end of a spray housing, a distributor disposed in the spray housing and having first and second supply openings, and a selector. By rotating the spray housing, the selector can be moved axially in the distributor. The shower head also has a first chamber disposed at the forward end of the distributor, a straight spray nozzle disposed at the forward end of the first chamber, and a needle valve. The needle valve can be slid in the first chamber and is composed of a needle and a circular plate resiliently urged to a closed position. Only when the selector pushes forward the circular plate to provide a straight spray does the straight spray nozzle communicate with the inside of the distributor. In other cases the distributor is closed by the circular plate so that the inside of the shower head is protected from dust or other foreign particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 5323968
    Abstract: A water spray gun has a barrel, the front of which includes a nozzle which is operable to eject water in a chosen one of a number of different patterns. At the rear of the barrel there is provided a handle having a passage for water supplied to the gun. The admission of water through the handle and thence into the barrel is controlled by a trigger which is squeezable against the handle. In use, the pattern of water ejected by the nozzle is selected using a rotatable valve member within the rear end of the barrel. The annular position of the valve member is selected using a control element at the rear end of the barrel. The valve directs water either to a central passage or to an outer annular passage extending through the barrel to feed water to respective alternative areas of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Hozelock Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan F. M. Kingston, Robert D. Boughton
  • Patent number: 5316216
    Abstract: A showerhead is either wall mounted or provided with a handle connected through a flexible hose to an incoming water outlet. The showerhead has a turbine which may cause the delivery of pulses of circumferentially distributed groups of pulses of water so as to provide either fast or slow massage action. Also included is a pause mode in which flow is reduced without complete shutoff and a center spray mode which provides a concentrated spray pattern. Other modes possible are a needle spray, a combination pulse and needle spray, a combination needle spray with a body spray, just a body spray, and an oval shape spray pattern. Various water paths are defined from a flow selector through the unit to different ones of front-facing orifices as defined for the different modes. Selection is achieved by a combination of a flow director and a control plate. User access for mode selection is by way of an external circumferential control ring operatively coupled to the control plate through a control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignees: Teledyne Industries, Inc., Teledyne Water Pik
    Inventors: Michael A. Cammack, Michael W. Koliha, David W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5205490
    Abstract: A body spray nozzle is disclosed wherein the spray pattern can be easily adjusted and the nozzle can be oscillated in a support in a shower fixture. A movable valve element which is cup-shaped is positioned in a valve body and with the base thereof to the inlet side of a stationary valve element. Rotation of the movable valve element is effected from the front of the valve housing which directs different flow paths to a nozzle portion. Two or more of the body spray nozzles are interconnected with linkage members for oscillation by an oscillating source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael D. Steinhardt, Kathleen S. DeKeyser, Kenneth J. Sieth, David K. Rische
  • Patent number: 5201468
    Abstract: A fluid spray apparatus has an inlet assembly and an outlet assembly that are rotatable with respect to each other. The inlet assembly attaches to a fluid supply and has an outlet opening through which the fluid passes. The outlet assembly has a plurality of inlets positioned to communicate with the outlet opening as the outlet assembly is rotated into different positions with respect to the inlet assembly. Each inlet communicates with a different passage through the outlet assembly and has a set of openings that form a unique spray pattern. One of the fluid passages includes a circular chamber in which a forced vortex is created by the fluid flow. A turbine valve is disposed in the chamber and is driven by the vortex to alternately cover and expose one set of openings. The turbine valve and a chamber wall have rough textured surfaces to reduce friction. The turbine valve is made of an acetal plastic filled with silicone and polytetrafluorethylene to further reduce friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Donald P. Freier, Jay K. Wissmueller, John Rudelick
  • Patent number: 5184777
    Abstract: A sanitary shower comprises a handle removably securable to the shower body, a head removably securable to the handle, and a flexible conduit for water supply that passes through the shower body and the handle and is secured to the head. The handle is elongated and has a longitudinal slot therethrough, of a width sufficient to receive the flexible conduit when the head is separated from the handle but the handle remains on the shower body. The head has an inlet and two outlets each communicating with a chamber within the head for dispensing water through the two outlets in two directions, and an obturating member in the head comprising a flap that swings about an axis perpendicular to those two directions and in one position closes one outlet and leaves the other outlet open, and in another position leaves the one outlet open and closes the other outlet against the flow of water from the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Kugler, Fonderie et Robinetterie S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Magnenat, Daniel Meylan, Jean-Jacques Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5172866
    Abstract: A shower head that provides a series of spray effects. The shower head includes an inlet port to establish fluid communication with a source of water and at least two outlet ports to direct a spray with various effects to the user. A pushrod disposed in fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet ports selectively opens the outlet ports to allow the user to continuously select any combination of spray effects, which may include a continuous stream or a pulsating jet. The pushrod is actuated by a rotating cam ring operated by the user. The cam moves the pushrod transversely across the inlet port and, under control of of the user, directs water from the inlet port to the outlet ports. The cam ring maintains the pushrod in the selected orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Interbath, Inc.
    Inventor: Irving Ward
  • Patent number: 5158234
    Abstract: A sanitary shower comprises a handle removably securable to the shower body, a head removably securable to the handle, and a flexible conduit for water supply that passes through the shower body and the handle and is secured to the head. The handle is elongated and has a longitudinal slot therethrough, of a width sufficient to receive the flexible conduit when the head is separated from the handle but the handle remains on the shower body. The head has an inlet and two outlets each communicating with a chamber within the head for dispensing water through the two outlets in two directions, and an obturating member in the head comprising a flap that swings about an axis perpendicular to those two directions and in one position closes one outlet and leaves the other outlet open, and in another position leaves the one outlet open and closes the other outlet against the flow of water from the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Kugler, Fonderie et Robinetterie S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Magnenat, Daniel Meylan, Jean-Jacques Rodriguez