IP Library Granted Patent US 8,905,332
Granted Patent B2
US 8,905,332 · App. 13/020,783 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Dual turbine showerhead

Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen (Windsor, CO); Gary D. Golichowski (Cheyenne, WY); Gary L. Sokol (Longmont, CO)
Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
B05B1/1654B05B1/18B05B3/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,905,332
App. No.
13/020,783
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dual turbine showerhead provides multiple spray modes emanating from the head. The showerhead includes an inlet orifice, a backplate, a first turbine located side-by-side with a second turbine, a faceplate forming a first orifice group and a second orifice group, a first fluid channel in fluid communication with the first and second turbines and the first orifice group, and a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the second orifice group. In another embodiment, the showerhead includes first and a second turbines located side-by-side and a valve body that channels a fluid to the first turbine and the second turbine. In another embodiment, the showerhead includes a first and a second turbine located side-by-side along a centerline of the showerhead, a corresponding outlet region is arranged along the centerline and additional outlet regions are laterally spaced therefrom.

Claims (19)

1. A showerhead comprising

a body having an inlet for connection to a water conduit;

a first outlet nozzle group formed on a faceplate coupled to the body;

a second outlet nozzle group formed on the faceplate;

a first turbine fluidly connected to the first outlet nozzle group;

a second turbine fluidly connected to the second outlet nozzle group, wherein the first and second turbines are located side-by-side within the body; and

a valve body in fluid communication with the first and second turbines and operative to channel a fluid to either the first turbine, the second turbine or both the first and the second turbines.

2. The showerhead of claim 1 , the faceplate further comprising a third outlet nozzle group and a fourth outlet nozzle group formed thereon, wherein the third and fourth outlet nozzle groups are in fluid communication with the valve body.

3. The showerhead of claim 2 , wherein the showerhead is configured to dispense water through the first, second, third, and fourth outlet nozzle groups to create modes of operation for the showerhead.

4. The showerhead of claim 3 , wherein the modes of operation are controlled by an actuator operably connected with the valve body.

5. The showerhead of claim 3 , wherein the modes of operation activate multiple of the first, second, third, and fourth outlet nozzle groups simultaneously.

6. The showerhead of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth outlet nozzle groups comprises a group of nozzles that are generally mirrored about a horizontal or a vertical axis by a corresponding group of nozzles in a respective outlet nozzle group.

7. The showerhead of claim 1 , further comprising a backplate arranged in the housing, wherein the backplate and faceplate jointly define a backplate channel, and the first and second turbines are located within the backplate channel.

8. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein:

the first turbine is operative to intermittently interrupt fluid flow exiting the first outlet nozzle group; and

the second turbine is operative to intermittently interrupt fluid flow exiting the second outlet nozzle group.

9. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein:

the first turbine includes an at least partially open inlet end and an at least partially open outlet end so that the fluid is flowable axially through the first turbine from the inlet end to the outlet end; and

the second turbine includes an at least partially open inlet end and an at least partially open outlet end so that the fluid is flowable axially through the second turbine from the inlet end to the outlet end.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE FIRST LIEN Recorded Aug 9, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: WATER PIK, INC.
Reel/Frame 043511/0797 →
RELEASE SECOND LIEN Recorded Aug 9, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: WATER PIK, INC.
Reel/Frame 043511/0834 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 16, 2013
From: WATER PIK, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS FIRST LIEN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030805/0910 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 16, 2013
From: WATER PIK, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS SECOND LIEN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030805/0940 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2013
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: WATER PIK, INC.
Reel/Frame 030754/0260 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 11, 2011
From: WATER PIK, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 026738/0680 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2011
From: LUETTGEN, HAROLD A.; GOLICHOWSKI, GARY D.; SOKOL, GARY L.
To: WATER PIK, INC.
Reel/Frame 025748/0569 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 12426786 · Apr 20, 2009
Continuation 10931505 · Aug 31, 2004
Continuation In Part 10732385 · Dec 9, 2003
Provisional Application 60432463 · Dec 10, 2002
Related Publication 20110121098A1 · May 26, 2011