Handheld shower assembly

Abstract

A hand-held shower assembly includes a mounting base having a body and a magnetic device supported by the body. The hand-held shower includes a housing, a spray face supported by a front portion of the housing, and a magnetic button supported by a rear portion of the housing. The magnetic button is manually actuatable by a user to control a function of the hand-held shower. In a breakaway docking mode, the hand-held shower is spaced apart from the mounting base. In a docked mode, the magnetic button is magnetically coupled to the magnetic device.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 733,676, filed December 13, 2024, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a shower system, and more specifically to a magnetic connector for securing a movable handheld shower and a handheld shower including a magnetic docking button. Background Technology

[0004] As is well known, a shower area often includes a shower system. A shower spray creates water spray within the shower area by draining water through holes in the shower head of the shower system.

[0005] Some conventional shower systems include handheld showerheads or handheld shower units that direct water jets separately from those emitted from a fixed overhead showerhead. Some shower systems may selectively deliver water to the bathing area via an overhead showerhead and / or a handheld shower unit.

[0006] A handheld showerhead can be movably mounted or docked to another part of a shower assembly. The user disconnects and removes the handheld showerhead within the shower area to manually change the direction and position of the water spray. Magnetic connectors for docking handheld showerheads are known in the art. Both the handheld showerhead and the other part of the shower assembly each include corresponding magnetic components, and these magnetic components magnetically attract each other. Accordingly, the user can place the magnetic components of the handheld showerhead onto the magnetic components of the other part of the shower assembly, causing them to magnetically attach to each other, and thus docking the handheld showerhead.

[0007] Conventional handheld showerheads are known to include at least one mechanical button that activates the showerhead's functions. For example, the button may actuate a valve to control which holes of the handheld showerhead discharge water (i.e., active outlets). For instance, the showerhead may have a first hole on its front for spraying water in a direction substantially perpendicular to its handle to facilitate rinsing the user's body. The showerhead may have a second hole on its distal end for spraying water in a direction substantially parallel to its handle to facilitate rinsing the showerhead walls. A button on the rear of the handheld showerhead handle can be used to control whether water is directed to the first and / or second holes.

[0008] A button typically consists of a button cover that acts as a plunger for actuating the button structure (such as a ramp / tooth structure or a clock spring structure). The button cover is pressed down and follows the button switch structure, and typically returns to its original position by spring bias.

[0009] The current situation is that the area occupied by the button structure used to activate the function is roughly the same as the magnetic dock on the back of the handheld shower. The traditional solution is to offset or space the two (i.e., the button and the magnetic dock) so that they do not interfere with each other, but this may require a significant trade-off in optimizing the position of both the button and the magnetic dock. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This invention specifically combines a button structure and a magnetic docking structure, allowing them to physically occupy the same space, thereby eliminating major trade-offs related to function or design. In one illustrative embodiment, the docking structure, or a portion thereof (such as the magnet itself), acts as a button cover. When the button is not actively pressed, the handheld shower can dock as normal. To activate the button, the docking structure can be pressed down, and the button is actuated along the common axis of the docking structure and the button structure. Thus, the user simply presses the docking structure as a button, rather than treating the button as a dedicated, separate button.

[0011] As a side benefit, a button located at the rear is typically used to control water flowing through an upward-facing outlet, such as for cleaning sprays. By combining a magnetic docking mechanism with the button, the likelihood of accidental activation when the handheld shower is docked is reduced, which could result in the unfortunate outcome of the ceiling being sprayed.

[0012] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a handheld shower assembly includes a mounting base having a body and a magnetic device supported by the body. The handheld shower includes a housing, a spray surface supported by a front portion of the housing, and a magnetic button supported by a rear portion of the housing. The magnetic button can be manually actuated by a user to control the functions of the handheld shower. In a disconnected docking mode, the handheld shower is spaced apart from the mounting base. In a docking mode, the magnetic button is magnetically coupled to the magnetic device.

[0013] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a handheld shower assembly includes a mounting base having a body and a magnetic device supported by the body. The handheld shower includes a housing having a plurality of first holes for dispensing fluid in a first direction. A spray surface is supported by a front portion of the housing. The spray surface has a plurality of second holes for dispensing fluid in a second direction. A magnetic button is supported by a rear portion of the housing. The magnetic button can be manually actuated by a user to selectively dispense fluid from either the first or second holes. The handheld shower can be manually moved between a mated position and a disengaged position, in which the magnetic button is magnetically engaged with the magnetic device, and in the disengaged position, the magnetic button is magnetically disengaged from the magnetic device.

[0014] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a handheld shower assembly includes a mounting base having a body and a first magnetic coupling device supported by the body. The handheld shower includes a housing, a spray surface supported by a front portion of the housing, and a button supported by a rear portion of the housing. The button can be manually actuated by a user to control the functions of the handheld shower. A second magnetic coupling device substantially surrounds the button. In a disconnected coupling mode, the handheld shower is spaced apart from the mounting base. In a coupled coupling mode, the first magnetic coupling device is magnetically coupled to the second magnetic coupling device.

[0015] Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments that are currently considered the best mode for carrying out the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above-described features and objectives, as well as other features and objectives, and the means of achieving these features and objectives, will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the invention itself will be better understood, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld shower assembly of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a handheld showerhead, showing water spraying in two possible directions;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a plan view of another illustrative embodiment of the button and magnetic docking device of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4a yes Figure 3 A partial side cross-sectional view of the button and magnetic docking device, wherein the button is shown in the non-pressed position;

[0021] Figure 4b yes Figure 3 A partial side cross-sectional view of the button and magnetic docking device, wherein the button is shown in the depressed position;

[0022] Figure 5a This is a perspective view of another illustrative button of the present invention, shown in the released position;

[0023] Figure 5b yes Figure 5a A perspective view of a button shown in the pressed position;

[0024] Figure 6a This is a perspective view of another illustrative button of the present invention, shown in the released position;

[0025] Figure 6b yes Figure 6a A perspective view of a button shown in the pressed position;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a side view of another illustrative button of the present invention, shown moving between a release position and a pressed position (shown in dashed lines);

[0027] Figure 8 This is a side view of another illustrative button in the present invention, shown moving between a release position and a pressed position (shown in dashed lines).

[0028] In these views, corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts. Although the drawings illustrate embodiments of various features and components according to the present invention, they are not necessarily drawn to scale and may exaggerate certain features for better illustration and explanation of the invention. The examples set forth herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments described herein enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

[0030] First refer to Figure 1The illustrative handheld shower assembly 10 of this invention includes a handheld shower head or handheld shower 12, which is removably coupled (e.g., “butted”) to a mounting base 14 supported by a vertical shower wall 15. A water supply unit illustratively supplies water to the movable handheld shower 12 via a water control valve (not shown) through the mounting base 14. More specifically, the mounting base 14 illustratively includes a body 16 defining an inlet 18 in fluid communication with an outlet 20. The inlet 18 illustratively connects to a conventional shower arm 24, while a flexible hose 26 illustratively connects the outlet 20 to the inlet 28 of the handheld shower 12.

[0031] A magnetic attraction support or seat (illustratively, a disc-shaped protrusion 29, which may be a first magnet, an ferromagnetic metal, and / or a ferromagnetic metal) extends outward from the mounting body 16, opposite to the inlet 18. The protrusion 29 may have other shapes, such as a washer. The magnetic attraction support or seat may also not protrude outward from the mounting body 16, but instead have an outer surface flush with the outer surface of the mounting body. In some illustrative embodiments, the mounting base 14 may include a fixed shower head (not shown) for distributing water and / or a diverter valve (not shown) for selectively controlling water flow to the handheld shower 12 and / or the fixed shower head.

[0032] The handheld shower 12 illustratively includes a housing 30 having a handle 32 operably coupled to a shower head 34. An inlet 28 is illustratively defined by the handle 32. A spray surface 40 is illustratively coupled to a front portion 42 of the shower head 34 and includes a plurality of holes 44 for dispensing water therefrom.

[0033] The distal end 46 of the top of the nozzle 34 illustratively includes another set of holes 48 for dispensing water therefrom. See below for reference. Figure 2 Further discussion suggests that orifice 48 can spray in a direction generally perpendicular to the spraying direction of orifice 44. In other illustrative embodiments, additional sets of orifices may be formed in other portions of nozzle 34 (e.g., in spray surface 40).

[0034] The handheld showerhead 12 further illustratively includes a magnetic attraction button 66 supported by a housing 30, and more specifically by a rear portion 68 of the housing 30 or a nozzle 34. Illustratively, a portion of the magnetic attraction button 66 (e.g., a cover) may be a second magnet 69. Alternatively, the cover of this portion of the magnetic attraction button 66 may be formed of metal (e.g., an ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic material).

[0035] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1The shower system 10 includes a handheld shower 12 in a disconnected docking mode, in which the handheld shower 12 is spaced apart from the mounting base 14. Figure 2 A handheld showerhead 12 is further illustrated, spraying water in two possible directions indicated by 70 and 72. Illustratively, only one of the two different spray directions 70 and 72 can occur at any given time. For example, button 66 can have two different positions, which the user can switch between by pressing button 66. In one of these positions, water flows only from the hole 44 on the front portion 42 of the nozzle 34. Figure 1 Water is sprayed, as indicated by 70. In another of these two positions, water is sprayed only from the hole 48 on the tip 46 of the nozzle 34, as indicated by 72. In other illustrative embodiments, water may be dispensed from holes 44 and 48 simultaneously in directions 70 and 72, respectively.

[0036] Button 66 controls diverter valve 74, which selectively diverts water flow to orifice 44 or orifice 48 (or to any additional orifice formed in the handheld shower 12). That is, in one of the two positions of button 66, diverter valve 74 diverts water flow to orifice 44, and in the other of the two positions of button 66, diverter valve 74 diverts water flow to orifice 48.

[0037] Figure 3 Another embodiment of the button 366 and magnetic docking device 367 of the present invention is shown. The button 366 itself is not necessarily magnetic and may not include any magnetic parts. The annular magnetic docking device 367 can magnetically attract a magnetic disc-shaped docking device, which may be in the form of a protrusion of a mounting base (not shown), the diameter of which may be approximately equal to the diameter of the magnetic docking device 367.

[0038] Figure 4a Showing Figure 3 The device includes a button 366 and a magnetic mating device 367, wherein the button 366 is in a non-pressed position. The outer surface 374 of the button 366 is flush with the outer surface 376 of the magnetic mating device 367. Therefore, even in the non-pressed position, the button 366 does not extend outward beyond the magnetic mating device 367 to avoid interfering with the engagement between the magnetic mating device 367 and the magnetic protrusion of the mounting base.

[0039] Figure 4b A button 366 in the depressed position and a magnetic docking device 367 are shown. As is known in the art, button 366 can remain in the depressed position after being depressed until it is manually depressed again, at which point button 366 can return to the depressed position. Figure 4a The non-pressed position.

[0040] Figure 3 and Figures 4a to 4b An embodiment of a magnetic mating device 367 providing a continuous loop around a button 366 is shown. However, it should be understood that the scope of the invention covers embodiments where the magnetic mating device is discontinuously arranged around the button 366, wherein gaps exist between adjacent magnetic elements among a plurality of magnetic elements. The mating device may include as few as two magnetic elements that may be completely opposite to each other on opposite sides of the button.

[0041] It should be understood that the term "button," as used herein, is very broad and encompasses all types of switches that can move back and forth between two positions. For example, Figure 5a Another embodiment of the button depicting the content of this invention is shown, in the released position. Figure 5b Showing Figure 5a The button is in the pressed position after it has been pressed down in the direction indicated by arrow 78.

[0042] Figure 6a Another embodiment of the joystick button described herein is shown, in the released position. Figure 6b Showing Figure 6a The button is in the pressed position after it has been pressed down in the direction of rotation indicated by arrow 80.

[0043] Figure 7 Another embodiment of the slider button described herein is shown, which moves from a released position to a pressed position, as indicated by arrow 82.

[0044] Figure 8 Another embodiment of the joystick button described herein is shown, which moves from a released position to a pressed position, as indicated by arrow 84.

[0045] The invention has been disclosed herein as including a button for controlling certain functions of a handheld shower (such as the direction of water flow) and also providing a docking mechanism by means of magnetic attraction. However, the button may also provide other types of docking mechanisms, such as hooks on complementary rods, hooks, or recesses that allow the handheld shower to be suspended on a mounting base.

[0046] Although the invention has been described with exemplary design, further modifications can be made to the invention within the spirit and scope of its contents. Therefore, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that utilize its general principles. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover such deviations from the scope of the invention as those falling within the known or customary practices in the field to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. A handheld shower assembly, comprising: Mounting base, the mounting base including a body and a magnetic device supported by the body; as well as A handheld showerhead includes a housing, a spray surface supported by a front portion of the housing, and a magnetic button supported by a rear portion of the housing, the magnetic button being manually actuated by a user to control the functions of the handheld showerhead. In the disconnected docking mode, the handheld shower is spaced apart from the mounting base; and In docking mode, the magnetic button is magnetically connected to the magnetic device.

2. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The magnetic button can be manually actuated by the user between a first position and a second position.

3. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The spray surface includes at least one first hole for dispensing fluid therefrom, the housing includes at least one second hole for dispensing the fluid therefrom, and the handheld shower functions to divert the fluid to either the at least one first hole or the at least one second hole.

4. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The at least one first hole points in a first direction, and the at least one second hole points in a second direction different from the first direction.

5. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, At least one of the magnetic device and the magnetic button includes a magnet.

6. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein, At least one of the magnetic device and the magnetic button includes an iron-containing metal material and / or a ferromagnetic material.

7. A handheld shower assembly, comprising: Mounting base, the mounting base including a body and a magnetic device supported by the body; as well as A handheld showerhead, the handheld showerhead comprising: A housing having a plurality of first holes configured to emit fluid along a first direction; A spray surface, supported by a front portion of the housing, having a plurality of second holes configured to emit the fluid along a second direction; and A magnetic button, supported by the rear portion of the housing, is manually actuated by a user to selectively eject fluid from either the first or second port. The handheld showerhead is configured to be manually moved between the following: At the docking position, the magnetic button is magnetically connected to the magnetic device; and Disconnect the connection; in the disconnected connection position, the magnetic button is magnetically disconnected from the magnetic device.

8. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The magnetic button can be manually actuated by the user between a first position and a second position.

9. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein, At least one of the magnetic device and the magnetic button includes a magnet.

10. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein, At least one of the magnetic device and the magnetic button includes an iron-containing metal material and / or a ferromagnetic material.

11. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein, In the disconnected docking position, the handheld shower is spaced apart from the mounting base.

12. A handheld shower assembly, comprising: Mounting base, the mounting base including a body and a first magnetic docking device supported by the body; as well as A handheld showerhead, the handheld showerhead comprising: case, The spraying surface is supported by the front portion of the housing; A button, supported by the rear portion of the housing, which can be manually actuated by the user to control the functions of the handheld shower; and A second magnetic docking device, which is substantially surrounding the button; In the disconnected docking mode, the handheld shower is spaced apart from the mounting base; and In the docking mode, the first magnetic docking device is magnetically connected to the second magnetic docking device.

13. The handheld shower assembly of claim 12, wherein, The button can be manually actuated by the user between a first position and a second position.

14. The handheld shower assembly of claim 12, wherein, The spray surface includes at least one first hole for dispensing fluid therefrom, the housing includes at least one second hole for dispensing the fluid therefrom, and the handheld shower functions to divert the fluid to either the at least one first hole or the at least one second hole.

15. The handheld shower assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein, The at least one first hole points in a first direction, and the at least one second hole points in a second direction different from the first direction.

16. The handheld shower assembly of claim 12, wherein, At least one of the first magnetic docking device and the second magnetic docking device includes a magnet.

17. The handheld shower assembly of claim 16, wherein, At least one of the first magnetic docking device and the second magnetic docking device includes an iron-containing metal material and / or a ferromagnetic material.

18. The handheld shower assembly of claim 12, wherein, The second magnetic docking device continuously surrounds the button.

19. The handheld shower assembly of claim 18, wherein, The second magnetic docking device forms a complete loop around the button.

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