IP Library Granted Patent US 10,549,290
Granted Patent B2
US 10,549,290 · App. 15/703,566 · Granted Feb 4, 2020

Swirl pot shower head engine

Inventor: Oscar Romero (Lake Forest, CA)
Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
B05B1/185B05B1/18B05B1/341B05B1/3421E03C1/0408
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,549,290
App. No.
15/703,566
Granted
Feb 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A showerhead engine internally swirls water within a swirling chamber. Multiple swirling chambers may be used, each separated from one another. The water is swirled with angled through holes in a mid plate. As the water passes through the angled holes it is projected out at an angle. The water then contacts the swirling chamber wall and continues to follow the curvature of the wall. The curved wall paired with the angled entry causes the water to continue to swirl within the swirling chamber. The water is released out of the swirling chamber through slots, which allow the water to retain the angular velocity at a discharge angle.

Claims (43)

1. A showerhead engine comprising:

a back plate with an opening in fluid communication with a supply of water;

a mid plate spaced apart from the back plate forming a collection chamber between the back plate and the mid plate;

a first set of orifices in the mid plate at a first diameter;

a second set of orifices in the mid plate at a second diameter greater than the first diameter;

a front plate spaced apart from the mid plate forming a first swirl chamber and a second swirl chamber between the front plate and the mid plate;

a separation wall extending from the mid plate separating the first swirl chamber from the second swirl chamber;

a first set of holes in the front plate in fluid communication with the first swirl chamber;

a second set of holes in the front plate in fluid communication with the second swirl chamber; and wherein

the first set of orifices and the second set of orifices are angled such that they impart a swirling motion to water from the supply of water within the first swirl chamber and the second swirl chamber, respectively.

2. The showerhead engine according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of orifices in the mid plate are formed at an angle other than normal to a front side of the mid plate such that, as water passes through the first set of orifices, it exits the front side and enters the first swirl chamber with an angular velocity, thus generating a swirling motion of the water within the first swirl chamber.

3. The showerhead engine according to claim 1 , wherein the second set of orifices in the mid plate are formed at an angle other than normal to a front side of the mid plate such that, as water passes through the second set of orifices, it exits the front side and enters the second swirl chamber with an angular velocity, thus generating a swirling motion of the water within the second swirl chamber.

4. The showerhead engine according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of orifices in the mid plate and the second set of orifices in the mid plate are each respectively formed at different angles other than normal to a front side of the mid plate such that, as water passes through the first and second set of orifices, it exits the front side and enters the first and second swirl chambers with an angular velocity, thus generating a swirling motion of the water within the first and second swirl chambers.

5. The showerhead engine according to claim 4 , wherein the angular velocity of the water in the first swirl chamber is clockwise and the angular velocity of the water in the second swirl chamber is counter clockwise.

6. The showerhead engine according to claim 1 , wherein water exits the first and second set of holes in the front plate at an angle other than normal to a front surface of a face surface of the front plate.

7. The showerhead engine according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second set of holes in the front plate are elongated slots that are normal to the face surface.

8. A showerhead engine comprising:

a back plate with an opening configured for fluid communication with a supply of water;

a mid plate, with a plurality of orifices through parallel surfaces, secured at least partially within a recess formed into the back plate;

a support flange extending around a perimeter of the mid plate configured to engage the recess in the back plate such that the supply of water flows through the plurality of orifices in the mid plate, the plurality of orifices comprising a first set of orifices and a second set of orifices;

wherein the first set of orifices are formed through the mid plate at an angle less than normal to the parallel surfaces of the mid plate and wherein the second set of orifices are formed through the mid plate at an angle greater than normal to the parallel surfaces of the mid plate;

a front plate with a face surface spaced apart from the mid plate forming a first swirl chamber for water exiting the first set of orifices and a second swirl chamber for water exiting the second set of orifices;

a separation wall between the front plate and the mid plate separating the first swirl chamber from the second swirl chamber;

a first set of holes in the front plate in fluid communication with the first set of orifices configured to each deliver a stream of water at an angle less than normal to the face surface of the front plate; and

a second set of holes in the front plate in fluid communication with the second set of orifices configured to each deliver a stream of water at an angle greater than normal to the face surface of the front plate.

9. The showerhead engine according to claim 8 , wherein the first set of orifices in the mid plate and the second set of orifices in the mid plate are each respectively formed at different angles other than normal to a front side of the mid plate such that as water passes through the first and second set of orifices it exits the front side and enters the first and second swirl chambers with an angular velocity thus generating a swirling motion of the water within the first and second swirl chambers.

10. The showerhead engine according to claim 9 , wherein the angular velocity of the water in the first swirl chamber is clockwise and the angular velocity of the water in the second swirl chamber is counter clockwise.

11. The showerhead engine according to claim 8 , wherein water exits the first and second set of holes in the front plate at an angle other than normal to a front surface of the face surface of the front plate.

12. The showerhead engine according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of orifices includes the first set of orifices in the mid plate, each at a distance from a center of the mid plate and the second set of orifices in the mid plate, each at a second distance from the center of the mid plate, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

13. The showerhead engine according to claim 8 , wherein the separation wall extends from the mid plate between the first set of orifices and the second set of orifices, and wherein the water within the first swirl chamber is kept separate from the water in the second swirl chamber by the separation wall.

14. The showerhead engine according to claim 13 , wherein the water within the first swirl chamber flows clockwise, thus exiting the first set of holes at a first angle, and wherein the water within the second swirl chamber flows counter clockwise, thus exiting the second set of holes at a second angle different than the first angle.

15. A swirl chamber for a showerhead engine comprising:

a mid plate with parallel front and back sides with a separation wall extending from the front side of the mid plate;

a plurality of orifices through the mid plate formed at an angle other than normal to the front and back sides of the mid plate, wherein the separation wall separates the plurality of orifices based upon their respective angles;

a support flange extending from the front side of the mid plate separating a portion of the plurality of orifices;

a back plate engaging the back side of the mid plate with an opening configured for fluid communication with a supply of water;

a front plate with a face surface spaced apart from the mid plate forming a first and a second swirl chamber for water exiting the plurality of orifices in the mid plate, wherein the first swirl chamber includes the plurality of orifices at a first angle and the second swirl chamber includes the plurality of orifices at a second angle;

a plurality of holes formed through the front plate in communication with the first and second swirl chambers configured to deliver the water from the first and second swirl chambers at varying angles other than normal to the face surface.

16. The swirl chamber according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of orifices comprises a first set of orifices in the mid plate and a second set of orifices in the mid plate, each respectively formed at different angles other than normal to a front side of the mid plate such that, as water passes through the first and second set of orifices, it exits the front side and enters the first and second swirl chambers with an angular velocity, thus generating a swirling motion of the water within the first and second swirl chambers.

17. The swirl chamber according to claim 16 , further comprising a separation wall extending from the mid plate between the first set of orifices and the second set of orifices, and wherein the water within the first swirl chamber is kept separate from the water in the second swirl chamber by the separation wall.

18. The swirl chamber according to claim 16 , wherein the water exiting the plurality of orifices in the front plate from the first and second swirl chambers exits at multiple angles.

19. The swirl chamber according to claim 16 , wherein the water in the first and second swirl chambers moves with an angular velocity such that it exits the plurality of orifices in the front plate at an angle.

20. The swirl chamber according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of orifices in the front plate is elongated slots.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: ASSA ABLOY AMERICAS RESIDENTIAL INC.
Reel/Frame 065658/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064029/0313 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 31, 2020
From: GLOFISH LLC; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS PET GROUP INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS PET LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 053375/0416 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62393735 · Sep 13, 2016
Related Publication 20180071755A1 · Mar 15, 2018