Granted Patent B2

US 12,297,631 · App. 18/355,912 · Granted May 13, 2025

Inventors: Nigel Sansum (Quedgeley, GB); Kevin Peel (Cheltenham, GB); Craig Fitton (Cheltenham, GB); Robin Whitfield (Cheltenham, GB)

Assignee: Kohler Mira Limited

E03C1/0408E03B1/041E03B2001/045

Abstract

Claims (39)

1. A showerhead for a recirculating shower system, the showerhead comprising:

a first portion comprising a nozzle defining a first fluid outlet, the first fluid outlet being configured to dispense a recirculated fluid from a recirculated fluid supply; and

a second portion configured to removably couple to the first portion, the second portion comprising a second fluid outlet and an opening, the second fluid outlet being configured to dispense fresh water from a fresh water supply;

wherein the first portion is configured to dispense the recirculated fluid from the first fluid outlet and through the opening of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

2. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is configured to be fixedly mounted within a shower enclosure and the second portion is a handshower.

3. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is positioned within the opening of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

4. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle at least partially protrudes from the opening of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

5. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid outlet is larger than the second fluid outlet such that the first fluid outlet is configured to dispense the recirculated fluid and the second fluid outlet is configured to dispense the fresh water.

6. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein:

the nozzle is a first nozzle;

the first portion further comprises a second nozzle defining a third fluid outlet;

the opening is a first opening;

the second portion further comprises a second opening; and

the first portion is configured to dispense fluid from the third fluid outlet through the second opening of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

7. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a first retainer and a second retainer, the first retainer comprises a clip and the second retainer comprises a latch, and the first retainer and the second retainer are configured to engage the first portion to facilitate coupling the second portion to the first portion.

8. The showerhead of claim 1 , wherein the first portion defines a first fluid chamber and the second portion defines a second fluid chamber separate from the first fluid chamber such that the recirculated water flowing through the first fluid chamber does not mix with the fresh water flowing through the second fluid chamber prior to being dispensed from the showerhead.

9. A recirculating shower system, comprising:

a recirculated water conduit;

a fresh water conduit; and

a showerhead comprising:

a first portion comprising a first fluid inlet and a plurality of nozzles defining a first fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet being fluidly coupled to the recirculated water conduit; and

a second portion configured to removably couple to the first portion, the second portion comprising second fluid inlet, a second fluid outlet, and a plurality of openings, the second fluid inlet being fluidly coupled to the fresh water conduit;

wherein the first portion is configured to dispense fluid from the first fluid outlet and through the plurality of openings of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

10. The recirculating shower system of claim 9 , wherein a respective one of the plurality of openings is configured to receive a respective one of the plurality of nozzles.

11. The recirculating shower system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of nozzles are positioned within the plurality of openings when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

12. The recirculating shower system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of nozzles at least partially protrudes from the plurality of openings of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

13. The recirculating shower system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of openings are larger than the plurality of nozzles.

14. A recirculating shower system, comprising:

a recirculated fluid conduit;

a fresh water conduit;

a first mixing device upstream the fresh water conduit, the first mixing device configured to mix a hot fluid from a hot fluid supply and a cool fluid from a cool fluid supply; and

a showerhead comprising:

a first portion comprising fluid inlet and a first plurality of nozzles defining a first fluid outlet, the first portion being coupled to the recirculated fluid conduit; and

a second portion configured to couple to the first portion, the second portion comprising second fluid inlet, a second fluid outlet, and a plurality of openings, the second portion being coupled to the fresh water conduit;

wherein the first portion is configured to dispense fluid from the first fluid outlet and through the plurality of openings of the second portion when the second portion is coupled to the first portion.

15. The recirculating shower system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a receptacle operably coupled to the showerhead and configured to collect fluid dispensed from the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet; and

wherein the fluid collected by the receptacle is heated upstream of the showerhead.

16. The recirculating shower system of claim 14 , wherein the showerhead comprises a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the recirculated fluid conduit and a second fluid chamber separate from the first fluid chamber and in fluid communication with the fresh water conduit such that recirculated water of the recirculated fluid conduit does not mix with fresh water of the fresh water conduit prior to being discharged from the showerhead.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (90)