IP Library Granted Patent US 11,504,724
Granted Patent B2
US 11,504,724 · App. 16/715,804 · Granted Nov 22, 2022

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 11,504,724
App. No.
16/715,804
Granted
Nov 22, 2022
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 angled through holes in a mid plate. As the water passes through the angled holes, it is projected out 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 (33)

1. A spray pattern device comprising:

a housing;

a first swirl chamber defined by the housing;

a second swirl chamber defined by the housing;

a separation wall separating the first and second swirl chambers such that the first swirl chamber and the second swirl chamber are concentrically positioned with respect to one another;

a plurality of orifices in the housing and including a first set of orifices and a second set of orifices, the first set of orifices providing fluid communication between a water supply and the first swirl chamber through a plate and the second set of orifices providing fluid communication between the water supply and the second swirl chamber through the plate, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of orifices impart a swirling motion of water within at least one of the first swirl chamber and the second swirl chamber, wherein the at least a portion of the plurality of orifices are angled in a direction of water rotation within the corresponding one of the first and second swirl chambers relative to a direction normal to the plate;

a first set of holes in the housing in fluid communication with the first swirl chamber; and

a second set of holes in the housing in fluid communication with the second swirl chamber.

2. The spray pattern device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a back plate, a front plate, and a mid plate between the back and front plates, the back plate including a water supply inlet and the front plate including the first and second sets of holes.

3. The spray pattern device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second swirl chambers are defined between the front plate and the mid plate.

4. The spray pattern device of claim 2 , wherein a collection chamber is formed between the back plate and the mid plate.

5. The spray pattern device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of orifices are defined in the mid plate.

6. The spray pattern device of claim 1 , wherein the first set of orifices are a first diameter and the second set of orifices are a second diameter.

7. The spray pattern device of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a back plate, a front plate, and a mid plate between the back and front plates, the back plate including a water supply opening and the front plate including the first and second sets of holes, wherein the first and second sets of orifices are in the mid plate and 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 sets of orifices, it exits the front side of the mid plate and generates a swirling motion of the water within the first and second swirl chambers.

8. The spray pattern device of claim 1 , 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 counterclockwise, thus exiting the second set of holes at a second angle different than the first angle.

9. The spray pattern device of claim 1 , wherein the separation wall extends between a front plate and a mid plate of the housing.

10. The spray pattern device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of holes are concentrically positioned with respect to one another.

11. The spray pattern device of claim 1 , wherein the spray pattern device is a showerhead engine.

12. A showerhead engine comprising:

a housing having a water supply inlet at a first end and a water supply outlet at an opposite, second end;

a first swirl chamber defined by the housing;

a second swirl chamber defined by the housing;

a separation wall separating the first and second swirl chambers such that the first swirl chamber and the second swirl chamber are concentrically positioned with respect to one another;

a plurality of orifices in the housing and including a first set of orifices and a second set of orifices, the first set of orifices providing fluid communication between a water supply and the first swirl chamber through a plate and the second set of orifices providing fluid communication between the water supply and the second swirl chamber through the plate, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of orifices impart a swirling motion of water within at least one of the first swirl chamber and the second swirl chamber, wherein the at least a portion of the plurality of orifices are angled in a direction of water rotation within the corresponding one of the first and second swirl chambers relative to a direction normal to the plate, wherein the water within the first swirl chamber flows clockwise, and wherein the water within the second swirl chamber flows counterclockwise;

a first set of holes in the housing in fluid communication with the first swirl chamber, wherein the first set of holes forms at least a portion of the water supply outlet and exits the first set of holes at a first angle; and

a second set of holes in the housing in fluid communication with the second swirl chamber, wherein the second set of holes forms at least a portion of the water supply outlet and exits the second set of holes at a second angle different than the first angle, and

wherein the first and second sets of holes are concentrically positioned with respect to one another.

13. The showerhead engine of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a back plate, a front plate, and a mid plate between the back and front plates, wherein the back plate includes the water supply inlet and the front plate includes the water supply outlet.

14. The showerhead engine of claim 13 , wherein the first and second swirl chambers are defined between the front plate and the mid plate.

15. The showerhead engine of claim 13 , wherein a collection chamber is formed between the back plate and the mid plate.

16. The showerhead engine of claim 12 , wherein the first set of orifices are a first diameter and the second set of orifices are a second diameter.

17. The showerhead engine of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a back plate, a front plate, and a mid plate between the back and front plates, the back plate including a water supply opening and the front plate including the first and second sets of holes, wherein the first and second sets of holes are in the mid plate and 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 sets of holes, it exits the front side of the mid plate and generates a swirling motion of the water within the first and second swirl chambers.

18. The showerhead engine of claim 12 , wherein the separation wall extends between a front plate and a mid plate of the housing.

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 →