IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,179,734
Granted Patent B2
US 11,179,734 · App. 16/206,296 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Combined multi-purpose handheld shower and showerhead

Inventors: David Lee (Durham, NC); ShengJun Du (Xiamen, CN); Lei Wang (Guang shui, CN); ShengChao Dai (Xiamen, CN); ZhaoYi Zhuo (Xiamen, CN); Martin Jennings Kimbell (Wauconda, IL); Michael Alan Miller (Fishers, IN)
Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
B05B1/185A47L13/10B05B1/1618B05B1/30B05B1/3026B05B15/62E03C1/06A47K7/02B05B15/652
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 11,179,734
App. No.
16/206,296
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a shower assembly in which a handheld shower is removably coupled to a showerhead, where the showerhead has a holder configured to retain the handheld shower. The handheld shower can be inserted into the holder in different ways, while the handheld shower can be removed by first pivoting the handheld shower within the recess followed by extraction from the recess.

Claims (38)

1. A shower assembly comprising:

a showerhead including a faceplate having a plurality of outlets and defining a first longitudinal axis, the showerhead including:

a holder including an arcuate nest having a spring biased latch and a docking protrusion positioned below the spring biased latch:

a handheld shower removably coupled to the showerhead, the handheld shower including a proximal end, a distal end, and a faceplate at the distal end having a plurality of outlets and defining a second longitudinal axis, the handheld shower further including:

a retainer configured to couple with the spring biased latch;

the retainer including a recess having a third axis parallel with the second longitudinal axis, the spring biased latch configured to move along the third axis;

wherein when the handheld shower is coupled to the showerhead, the spring biased latch is received in the recess and the docking protrusion is coupled to the outer surface of the handheld shower;

a proximal pivot point proximate the proximal end; and

wherein when the handheld shower is removed from the showerhead, the handheld shower pivots about the proximal pivot point such that the handheld shower is disengaged from the docking protrusion, and the retainer moves the spring biased latch relative to the showerhead to allow the retainer to disengage from the latch.

2. The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer further includes a clip, and the latch is coupled to a spring and when the handheld shower is being coupled to the showerhead, the clip engages the latch and compresses the spring.

3. The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handheld shower further includes a user interface to control a mode of the handheld shower.

4. The shower assembly of claim 1 , further including a volumetric flow control operably coupled to a rotatable flow control member, wherein actuation of the volumetric flow control rotates the rotatable flow control member to control the size of a control opening and thereby, volumetric flow rate of water out of the handheld shower.

5. The shower assembly of claim 4 , wherein:

the rotatable flow control member and the control opening are rotatable between an open configuration wherein water can flow through the aperture and the handheld shower, and a closed configuration wherein the control opening is obstructed by the rotatable flow control member and water is unable to flow through the control opening and the handheld shower.

6. The shower assembly of claim 5 , wherein the rotatable flow control member and the control opening are in a partially closed configuration wherein a portion of water can flow through the control opening and the handheld shower.

7. The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the handheld shower is coupled to the showerhead, the first longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis, and the third axis are substantially parallel with each other.

8. The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handheld shower is coupled to a scrubbing attachment, the scrubbing attachment including a plurality of scrubbing nubbins with apertures that are in fluid communication with outlets of the handheld shower.

9. A shower assembly comprising:

a showerhead having a faceplate with a plurality of outlets;

a handheld shower fluidly coupled to the showerhead and extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the handheld shower including a shell, a waterway received within the shell, a faceplate coupled to the shell, the faceplate including a plurality of outlets fluidly coupled to the waterway, and a retainer coupled to the shell; and

a holder configured to secure the handheld shower to the showerhead, the holder including an arcuate nest to receive the shell of the handheld shower, and a spring biased latch to receive the retainer of the handheld shower; wherein

the handheld shower and the holder define a first coupling mode where the handheld shower pivots about a proximal pivot point proximate the proximal end of the handheld shower wherein the spring biased latch is received within the retainer of the handheld shower; and

the handheld shower and the holder define a second coupling mode where the handheld shower pivots about a distal pivot point proximate the distal end of the handheld shower wherein the spring biased latch is received within the retainer of the handheld shower.

10. The shower assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a pair of docking protrusions configured to engage an outer surface of the handheld shower.

11. The shower assembly of claim 9 , wherein the handheld shower further includes a user interface to control a mode of the handheld shower.

12. The shower assembly of claim 9 , further including a volumetric flow control operably coupled to a rotatable flow control member, wherein actuation of the volumetric flow control rotates the rotatable flow control member to control the size of a control opening and thereby, volumetric flow rate of water out of the handheld shower.

13. The shower assembly of claim 12 , wherein:

the rotatable flow control member and the control opening are rotatable between an open configuration wherein water can flow through the aperture and the handheld shower, and a closed configuration wherein the control opening is obstructed by the rotatable flow control member and water is unable to flow through the control opening and the handheld shower.

14. The shower assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rotatable flow control member and the control opening are in a partially closed configuration wherein a portion of water can flow through the control opening and the handheld shower.

15. A shower assembly comprising:

a showerhead including a faceplate having a plurality of outlets and defining a first longitudinal axis the showerhead including:

a holder including a spring biased latch and a docking protrusion;

a handheld shower removably coupled to the showerhead, the handheld shower including a faceplate having a plurality of outlets and defining a second longitudinal axis, the handheld shower further including:

a retainer configured to couple with the spring biased latch;

the retainer including a recess having a third axis parallel with the second longitudinal axis, the spring biased latch configured to move along the third axis;

wherein when the handheld shower is coupled to the showerhead, the spring biased latch is received in the recess and the docking protrusion is coupled to the outer surface of the handheld shower;

wherein when the handheld shower is removed from the showerhead, the handheld shower pivots about the spring biased latch relative to the showerhead; and

wherein when the handheld shower is removed from the showerhead, the retainer moves the spring biased latch away from the retainer to provide space to permit the retainer to disengage from the spring biased latch.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2019
From: DU, SHENGJUN; WANG, LEI; DAI, SHENGCHAO; ZHUO, ZHAOYI; LEE, DAVID; KIMBELL, MARTIN JENNINGS; MILLER, MICHAEL ALAN
To: DELTA FAUCET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 049971/0884 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2019
From: DU, SHENGJUN; WANG, LEI; DAI, SHENGCHAO; ZHUO, ZHANYI; LEE, DAVID; KIMBELL, MARTIN JENNINGS; MILLER, MICHAEL ALAN
To: DELTA FAUCET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 048265/0812 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62596606 · Dec 8, 2017
Related Publication 20190176170A1 · Jun 13, 2019
Cited By (7)
US 1,087,291 US 1,087,293 US 1,089,531 US 1,102,554 US 1,109,282 US 1,147,249 US 12,520,404