U.S. patent number RE39,142 [Application Number 10/409,510] was granted by the patent office on 2006-06-27 for filtered showerhead.
Invention is credited to David K. Farley.
United States Patent |
RE39,142 |
Farley |
June 27, 2006 |
Filtered showerhead
Abstract
A showerhead having a water filter element held therein. The
water filter element is easily changeable by unscrewing two halves
of a body forming the showerhead. The body halves are easily
gripped and turned, so as to be opened or closed, and the
showerhead preferably includes a massage-type head at the lower end
thereof, which may be rotated to vary the streams of water exiting
the showerhead. The water filter element cooperates with internal
components of the halves of the body to direct the flow of water
through the filter element, and then out of the massage head. The
showerhead may be easily and quickly adapted to be held on any
shower arm, and to replace any existing showerhead without taking
up as much room as currently existing filter elements used with
available showerheads.
Inventors: |
Farley; David K. (Corona,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23333706 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/409,510 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
09340514 |
Jun 28, 1999 |
06214224 |
Apr 10, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/282;
210/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C
1/08 (20130101); B05B 15/65 (20180201); B05B
15/40 (20180201); B05B 1/18 (20130101); E03C
2201/40 (20130101); E03C 2001/082 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
27/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;210/282,287,449
;239/553.3,553.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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408299855 |
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Nov 1996 |
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JP |
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09234392 |
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Sep 1997 |
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JP |
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410043079 |
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Feb 1998 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Cintins; Ivars C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: James G. O'Neill, Klein, O'Neill
& Singh, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A .[.shower head.]. .Iadd.showerhead .Iaddend.comprising: a
single body containing a pivotable inlet, a shower filter and a
shower spray outlet; the single body comprised of a
.Iadd.substantially cylindrical .Iaddend.top hollow mating half
having the pivotable inlet .Iadd.therein .Iaddend.and a
.Iadd.substantially cylindrical .Iaddend.bottom hollow mating half
having the shower spray outlet .Iadd.therein.Iaddend.; the top
hollow mating half and the bottom hollow mating half being held
together by matching threads formed at mating ends thereof;
.Iadd.the shower filter comprising .Iaddend.a water filter assembly
having an annular chamber with a plurality of inlet openings and a
plurality of exit openings and a filter media held therein; the
water filter assembly being secured in an internal chamber formed
by the top hollow mating half and the bottom hollow mating half;
and means in the internal chamber for directing flow of water from
the pivotable inlet into the internal chamber, through the water
filter and out of the shower spray outlet.
2. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein the pivotable inlet is held in
an annular housing portion recessed into a top portion of the top
hollow mating half, and is scaling captured in annular scaling
member by a baffle element held between a central dividing wall
formed in the water filter.
3. The showerhead of claim 2 wherein the shower spray outlet is a
massage head movable between different spray positions.
4. The showerhead of claim 2 wherein the means in the internal
chamber for directing flow of water includes a first baffle means,
an annular passage, and curved inlet walls at an upper end of the
top hollow mating half, to direct the flow of water into the
plurality of inlet openings in the annular chamber.
5. The showerhead of claim 4 wherein the annular passage is formed
between an inner wall of the annular chamber and an inner surface
of the annular housing portion.
6. The showerhead of claim 5 wherein the means for directing flow
of water also includes the plurality of exit openings, an annular
groove formed in a bottom wall of the bottom hollow half, a second
annular passage formed by inner walls of the annular chamber below
the central dividing wall formed in the water filter and inner
walls of a central cylindrical portion, and a second baffle
means.
7. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein the top hollow mating half has
curved inner walls at an upper portion thereof, and the bottom
hollow mating half has a massage head at a lower end thereof; the
.[.message.]. .Iadd.massage .Iaddend.head being movable between a
fine spray pattern and a pulsating spray pattern; and the pivotable
inlet is held in an annular housing portion recessed into the upper
portion of the top hollow mating half, the pivotable inlet being
sealing captured in an annular sealing member by a first baffle
element held between a central dividing wall formed in the water
filter and the annular sealing element.
8. The showerhead of claim 7 wherein the means in the internal
chamber for directing flow of water includes the first baffle
element, a first annular passage, and the curved inner walls to
direct the flow of water into the plurality of inlet openings in
the annular chamber.
9. The showerhead of claims 8 wherein the first annular passage is
formed between an upper inner wall portion of the annular chamber
and an inner surface of the annular housing portion.
10. The showerhead of claim 9 wherein the means for directing flow
of water also includes the plurality of exit openings, an annular
groove formed in a bottom wall of the bottom hollow half, a second
annular passage formed by lower inner walls of the annular chamber,
below the central dividing wall, and an outer surface of a central
cylindrical portion, and a second baffle element.
11. A showerhead comprising: a single body containing a pivotable
inlet, a shower filter and a shower spray outlet; the single body
comprised of a top hollow mating half having a recessed annular
housing portion having the pivotable inlet held therein, and a
bottom hollow mating half having the shower spray outlet therein;
the top hollow mating half and the bottom hollow mating half being
held together by matching threads formed at mating ends thereof and
forming an internal chamber; .Iadd.the shower filter comprising
.Iaddend.a water filter assembly having an annular chamber with a
plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of exit openings and a
filter media held therein; the water filter assembly being secured
in the internal chamber between annular wall portions formed in the
internal chamber; and baffle elements held in the internal chamber,
on opposed sides of a dividing wall formed in the water filter
assembly, for directing flow of water from the pivotable inlet
through the plurality of inlet openings, out the plurality of exit
openings, and through the shower spray outlet.
12. The showerhead of claim 11 wherein the dividing wall is formed
in a central open portion of the annular chamber of the water
filter and the shower spray outlet is a massage head movable
between different spray positions.
13. The showerhead of claim 12 wherein a first of the baffle
elements is held in the internal chamber before a first annular
passage, and the internal chamber includes curved inner walls at an
upper end of the top hollow mating half to direct the flow of water
into the plurality of inlet openings in the annular chamber.
14. The showerhead of claim 13 wherein the first annular passage is
formed between an upper inner wall of the annular chamber, above
the dividing wall, and an inner surface of the recessed annular
housing portion.
15. The showerhead of claim 14 wherein the means for directing flow
of water also includes the plurality of exit openings, an annular
groove formed in a bottom wall of the bottom hollow half, a second
annular passage formed by lower inner walls of the annular chamber,
below the central dividing wall, and inner walls of a central
cylindrical portion, and a second baffle element.
16. A showerhead comprising: a single body containing a pivotable
inlet, a shower filter and a shower spray outlet; the single body
being substantially cylindrical and having a top hollow mating half
with a recessed annular housing portion having the pivotable inlet
held therein, and a bottom hollow mating half having a massage head
held therein; the top hollow mating half and the bottom hollow
mating half having end portions formed thereon, which end portions
are screwed together so as to form an internal chamber; .Iadd.the
shower filter comprising .Iaddend.a water filter assembly held in
the internal chamber, between annular wall portions; the water
filter assembly having an annular chamber with filter media held
therein, and a central open area bounded by inner walls; a dividing
wall held in the central open area to separate the inner walls into
upper and lower portions; a plurality of inlet openings and a
plurality of exit openings in the annular chamber; a first baffle
element held in the internal chamber, on an upstream side of the
dividing wall; a second baffle element held in the internal chamber
on a downstream side of the dividing wall; and the first baffle
element and the second baffle element cooperating with upper and
lower surfaces of the dividing wall to direct flow of water from
the pivotable inlet, around upper portions of the inner walls into
the plurality of inlet openings, through the filter media, out the
plurality of exit openings, around the lower portions of the inner
walls and through the massage head.
17. The showerhead of claim 16 wherein the flow of water is also
directed by an annular groove formed in a bottom wall of the bottom
hollow half and the inner surface of a central cylindrical
portion.
.Iadd.18. A showerhead for connection to an inlet comprising: a
single substantially cylindrical body comprised of a top hollow
mating half and a bottom hollow mating half removably secured
together at open ends to form a hollow internal chamber; the
substantially cylindrical single body including a pivoting water
inlet secured in the top hollow mating half and a spray outlet
secured in the bottom hollow mating half; a water filter assembly
having an annular chamber held in the hollow internal chamber and
comprising a plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of exit
openings and a filter media held in the annular chamber; and the
substantially cylindrical single body having means in the hollow
internal chamber for directing flow of water from the pivoting
water inlet through the water filter assembly and out the spray
outlet..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. A showerhead connected to a shower pipe comprising: a
substantially cylindrical single combination showerhead and water
filter body comprised of a top hollow mating half having a pivoting
inlet therein and a bottom hollow mating half having a spray outlet
therein; the top hollow mating half and the bottom hollow mating
half being removably secured together at open ends to form a hollow
internal chamber; a water filter assembly having an annular chamber
held in the hollow internal chamber and comprising a plurality of
inlet openings, a plurality of exit openings and a filter media
held in the annular chamber; and means in the hollow internal
chamber for directing flow of water from the pivoting water inlet
through the water filter assembly and out the spray
outlet..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. A showerhead for connection to a shower pipe comprising:
a substantially cylindrical single, compact, combination showerhead
and water filter body; the substantially cylindrical single,
compact, combination showerhead and water filter body including a
top hollow mating half having a pivotable water inlet therein and a
bottom hollow mating half having a spray outlet therein; the top
hollow mating half and the bottom hollow mating half being
removably secured together by mating screw threads at open ends to
form a hollow internal chamber; a water filter assembly comprised
of an annular chamber held in the hollow internal chamber and
having a plurality of inlet openings, a plurality of exit openings
and a filter media held in the annular inner chamber connected to
the inlet openings and the exit openings; and means in the internal
chamber to direct flow from the water inlet through the inlet
openings and filter media and out the exit openings and the spray
outlet..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to showerheads, and, more
particularly, to an improved, compact showerhead, having a water
filter therein.
2. Description of Related Art
Shower filters for use in conjunction with showerheads are known.
These filters may be inserted into a water line, between the
showerhead and the shower arm. However, because of the size of the
filter and the added showerhead, this moves or offsets the
showerhead so that it extends further into a shower area and, in
some cases, interfering with a person taking a shower. Because of
problems with size and the installation of such known shower
filters, as well as the high cost of manufacturing, there exists
the need in the art for a less-cumbersome, easy-to-install and
move, low-cost combination showerhead and water filter device, that
is also compact, and takes up a minimum of space.
Known shower filter assemblies are set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
5,503,742 to Farley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,224 to Farley, and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,152,464 to Farley. While the foregoing prior art devices
provide improved filtration of hot water passing through them, they
require that a separate showerhead be attached to an outlet of the
filters, thereby extending the size of the joined showerhead and
shower filter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to
provide an improved shower head assembly. It is a particular object
of the present invention to provide a combination shower filter and
showerhead. It is a still more particular object of the present
invention to provide a compact showerhead and water filter
combination that take up a minimum amount of space. It is a further
object of the present invention to provide a compact combined
showerhead and water filter that may be easily attached to an
existing shower arm, and take up substantially no more space than
known showerheads having no filter therein.
The showerhead of the present invention, with its replaceable
filter, is compact and may be provided with a message-type spray
head, to eliminate the bothersome extension of known shower
filters, added before existing showerheads. The showerhead of the
present invention provides a more-efficient and economical
incorporation of a water filter in a showerhead having a single
ergonomically designed body.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a combination showerhead and water filter assembly having
a compact design, which utilizes the internal water filter to
direct water entering the showerhead to pass through filter media
held in the water filter. In this manner, chlorine and other
unwanted materials in the water are filtered out in the showerhead.
The combination showerhead and water filter are held in a single
body or housing that is made as small as possible, to take up a
minimum amount of space. Additionally the single body is easily
disassembled to replace or remove the water filter held therein,
and provides a compact showerhead and water filter assembly that
may be used in substantially any shower, without extending too far
into the shower area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the present invention, which are
believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the
appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization
and manner of operation, together with further objects and
advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the several
views, and, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the
combination showerhead and water filter assembly of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 2--2 of
FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the replaceable water filter of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled
in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best
modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to
those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the
present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide
for an improved combination showerhead and water filter assembly,
generally indicated by the numeral 10.
Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2, there shown is a
preferred embodiment of the compact showerhead and water filter
assembly 10 of the present invention. The combined showerhead and
water filter is held in a body 20, which may be fixed to the end of
a shower arm or water pipe, not shown, by means of a threaded inlet
end 12 having an inlet passage 14. The inlet passage 14 is
preferably formed integrally with a rotatable element 16, such as a
ball joint or swivel ball that allows the unit 10 to be moved. The
ball joint or swivel ball 16 is rotatably held in a recessed
opening 18 formed in a top surface of a top or upper half 22 of the
body 20. The body 20 includes a mating bottom or lower half 24,
which is secured to the top half 24 by internal and external
threads 26, 28 formed on mating end portions of the top and bottom
halves 22, 24. The ball joint 16 is held in the recessed opening 18
by means of an annular sealing element 30 and a first baffle
element 34.
Although the top and bottom halves 22, 24 of body 20 may be formed
in any desired shape, they are preferably hollow and include
cylindrical mating portions which are held together, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. The recessed opening 18 is formed in an inwardly
extending annular housing portion 32 formed in a top surface 43 of
the top half 22. The annular sealing element 30 is captured in a
lower end of this annular housing portion 32 to prevent leakage
past the ball joint 16. Additionally, the baffle element 34, such
as an annular element having at least one opening therein is held
within a lower end of the annular housing 32 and acts to hold the
annular sealing element 30 against the ball joint 16. The baffle
element 34 cooperates with extending portions of a central dividing
member or wall 36 of a filter element 38 captured within an
internal chamber formed between the two halves 22, 24 to form a
first baffle means to deflect the water entering from inlet passage
14. The filter element 38 included an annular body portion that
cooperates with the baffle means to direct the flow of water
entering inlet 14 in the direction of arrows 40. After entering
inlet 14, water is deflected off the baffle means including the
element 34 and a top surface of central dividing member or wall 36.
The water then flows into an annular passage 39 formed between an
inner surface or wall of annular housing 32 and an upper inner wall
42 formed on the top portion of the annular body of filter element
38, above the dividing member 14. The water is then deflected by
curved inner walls 41 of the top surface 43 into a plurality of
inlet openings 44 formed in the top of the annular housing of
filter 38. The openings 44 include a screen or wire mesh therein to
hold a filter media 46 in the annular housing. This filter media is
preferably a chlorine removing media, such as Chlorgon.TM.,
manufactured by Sprite Industries of Corona California and is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,043, issued Jun. 22, 1999. Water
passes through the filter media 46 and out a plurality of exit
openings 48 formed in a lower part of the annular housing of filter
element 38. Exit openings 48 also having a wire mesh or screen held
therein to keep the filter media 46 within the annular housing.
The filter element 38 is securely held in the internal chamber
formed by the mating halves 22, 24, when they are screwed together
by the internal and external threads 26, 28 on the outer ends of
each of the halves. Sealing elements 54, such as O-ring seals, are
held in annular grooves formed in annular supporting portions or
walls formed within each of the top and bottom halves, and
cooperate with flat ends of the annular housing to seal the filter
element 38 within the internal chamber of housing 20.
The lower half 24 of body 20 includes a bottom or lower wall 49
having a central opening 51 formed therein. A valve end of the
showerhead 10 preferably includes an adjustable means 56, commonly
referred to as a "massage head" at a lower or outer end of the
bottom or lower half 24, below the wall 49. This massage head is
movable to provide various spray patterns, varying between a fine
spray and a massaging or pulsating spray from a plurality of
openings, not shown, in an outer end 59 of an internal portion 58,
in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The internal
portion 58 is included in message head 56, and includes a
cylindrical upper portion 60, which is sealed in the opening 51 by
a sealing element 62, such as an O-ring. A further sealing ring 64
is held by a further or second baffle element 63 against an inner
end of the upper cylindrical portion 60. The second baffle element
63 cooperates with extending portions of a bottom surface of the
central dividing member or wall 36 to provide a baffle means, which
directs the water flow back to the centerline of the showerhead,
before exiting through outer end 59.
The lower wall 49 includes an annular groove 61 formed therein, and
water exiting openings 48 will be deflected by this annular groove
61 into an annular passage 50 formed between a lower internal wall
52 of the annular housing of the filter element 38, below the
central dividing plate or wall 36, and an outer surface or wall of
the cylindrical element 60. After flowing through the annular
passage 50, the water is then turned back to the centerline of the
showerhead by the baffle means 36, 63. The water then flows through
the annular sealing element 64, and out through an internal passage
formed through upper cylindrical portion 60 and the internal
portion 58 of massage head 56.
When the top and bottom halves 22, 24 are assembled, as by being
screwed together, the filter element 38 is held within the internal
chamber formed therein and cooperates with the internal chamber to
direct water flow through filter media held therein. The filter
element 38 may be easily changed by unscrewing the top and bottom
halves, removing the filter, and refilling the filter with new
filter media, or replacing the entire filter. The filter media held
within the filter 38 may be any desired filter media, but is
preferably Chlorgon.TM., as described above, which removes chlorine
and other unwanted materials from hot shower water.
All of the elements of showerhead filter assembly of the present
invention may be fabricated in any desired manner, using any
acceptable material, such as by molding plastic materials to form
the various elements. Each of the elements is sized and dimensioned
so that it is of minimum size, but is still capable of being
secured to other elements and to a shower arm, as by means of the
threaded end 12, so as to accommodate a water filter of sufficient
size to filter out unwanted contaminants from hot shower water,
without taking up more space than available showerheads having no
filters therein.
Accordingly, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the
assembly of the present invention provides considerable advantages
in ease and flexibility of manufacture of showerheads and water
filters. Additionally, the showerhead and water filter combination
of the present invention is easy to use and install, and takes up
substantially less space than known showerheads and separately
attached shower filters. The top and bottom halves of the
showerhead assembly are easily taken apart, for installation and
removal of the filter element contained therein.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations
and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can
be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope
of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than
as specifically described herein.
* * * * *