Handshower including a brush portion

Abstract

A handshower including a brush portion having a plurality of teeth to facilitate detangling of hair.

Description

HANDSHOWER INCLUDING A BRUSH PORTIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 524,291, filed June 30, 2023, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a handshower and, more particularly, to a handshower including a brush portion having a plurality of teeth to facilitate hair straightening.

[0003] It is known to provide handshowers including teeth or tines for facilitating the detangling of hair. However, such known handshowers provide little flexibility with respect to the length of teeth and / or do not facilitate water distribution to the base of a user’s hair.

[0004] The handshower of the present disclosure provides individuals with curly / thick hair the ability to more easily and efficiently straighten and rinse their hair.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to an illustrative handshower including inner teeth or tines within an inner or center portion that help to straighten hair with jets of water discharged from outer teeth or tines on opposing sides of the inner teeth. More particularly, the outer teeth spray water to the base of a user’s hair for rinsing opposing sides of the hair shaft from a base to a tip. The inner teeth are illustratively interchangeable with different length, diameter, and / or number of teeth and are positioned proximate a center axis of the handshower to facilitate straightening of hair. Waterjets or openings of the side teeth spraywater above a distal end of the inner teeth. This directed spray facilitates rinsing a user’s hair from the base to the tip of the hair shaft, w hich is typically preferred by users.

[0006] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a handshower includes a body having a water inlet and a sprayface, the sprayface having an inner sprayface portion and an outer spray face portion. A plurality of inner teeth are supported by the inner spray face portion. A plurality of outer teeth are supported by the outer spray face portion. Each of the outer teeth includes a spray opening configured to discharge w ater from the w ater inlet inwardly toward the inner teeth.

[0007] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a handshower includes a body having a water inlet and a sprayface, the sprayface having aninner sprayface portion and an outer sprayface portion. A plurality of inner teeth are supported by the inner sprayface portion. A plurality of outer teeth are supported by the outer spray face portion. At least one of the outer teeth includes a spray opening. A coupler is configured to releasably couple the inner sprayface portion to the body.

[0008] According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a handshower includes a handle portion having a water inlet. A brush portion is operably coupled to the handle portion and includes a rear wall, an inner sprayface portion operably coupled to the rear wall, and an outer sprayface portion operably coupled to the rear wall. A chamber is defined intermediate the outer sprayface portion and the rear wall to receive water from the water inlet. A plurality of inner teeth are supported by the inner sprayface portion. A plurality of outer teeth are supported by the outer spray face portion. At least one of the outer teeth includes a spray opening configured to discharge water from the water inlet inwardly toward the inner teeth. A coupler is supported by the brush portion and is configured to releasably couple the inner sprayface portion to the rear wall.

[0009] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures on which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an illustrative handshower according to the disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the illustrative handshower of FIG. 1 ;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the illustrative showerhead of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the illustrative handshower of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic view representing flow pathways through the illustrative showerhead of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a front partially exploded perspective view of an illustrative handshower, showing an inner sprayface portion removed from an outer sprayface portion;

[0020] FIG. 10 is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the illustrative handshower of FIG. 9, showing the inner sprayface portion removed from the outer sprayface portion;

[0021] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view, in cross-section, of the brush portion of the illustrative handshower of FIG. 9;

[0022] FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the illustrative handshower of FIG. 9, showing the inner sprayface portion in an unlocked position;

[0023] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 12, showing the inner sprayface portion in a locked position;

[0024] FIG. 14 is a front exploded perspective view of the coupler of the illustrative handshower of FIG. 9; and

[0025] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the retainer of the coupler of FIG. 14.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described herein. The embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. Therefore, no limitation of the scope of the claimed invention is thereby intended. The present invention includes any alterations and further modifications of the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of principles in the invention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0027] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, a handshower 10 of the present disclosure includes a body 12 defining a handle portion 14 and a comb or brush portion 16. The body 12 may be molded from a polymer, such as a thermoplastic. The handle portion 14 includes a water inlet 18 illustratively having a plurality of external threads 20 toreceive a conventional fluid coupler for fluidly coupling to a flexible hose (not shown). The handle portion 14 defines an internal water passageway 22 extending from the water inlet 18 to the brush portion 16 (FIG. 4).

[0028] The brush portion 16 illustratively includes a rear wall 24 in spaced relation to a sprayface 26. A sidewall 28 illustratively couples the sprayface 26 to the rear wall 24. The illustrative sprayface 26 includes an inner or center sprayface portion 30 positioned intermediate opposing outer or side sprayface portions 32a, 32b. As further detailed herein, the center sprayface portion 30 is removably coupled to the rear wall 24 and hence, the opposing side sprayface portions 32a, 32b. The center sprayface portion 30 and the side sprayface portions 32a, 32b may be molded from a polymer, such as a thermoplastic.

[0029] A longitudinal center axis 34 illustratively extends through the center sprayface portion 30. The center sprayface portion 30 illustratively supports a plurality of center or inner teeth or tines 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d. The side sprayface portions 32a, 32b each illustratively include a plurality7of side or outer teeth or tines 38a, 38b, 38c. As defined herein, teeth or tine are defined as any projection or protrusion extending outwardly (in a forward direction) from the sprayface 26. As shown, four inner teeth 36a, 36b. 36c 36d are illustratively supported by the center sprayface portion 30 in spaced relation along the longitudinal center axis 34. Each of the side spray face portions 32a, 32b illustratively includes three outer teeth 38a, 38b 38c positioned on opposite sides of the inner teeth 36a, 36b, 36c. 36d.

[0030] The teeth 36, 38 may be formed of a polymer, such as an elastomer, and may be flexible or rigid depending upon the desired effect on a user’s hair and / or scalp. It should be appreciated the number, positioning, dimensions and material composition of the teeth 36, 38 may vary.

[0031] With reference now to FIGS. 4-6, the inner teeth 36 have a first distance or length (LI) extending from a proximal end 40 to a distal end 42. The outer teeth 38 have a second distance or length (L2) extending from a proximal end 44 to a distal end 46. In an illustrative embodiment, the first length (LI) is illustratively greater than the second length (L2). In other illustrative embodiments, the first length (LI) may be equal to, or less than, the second length (L2).

[0032] A fluid chamber 50 is defined intermediate the side sprayface portions 32a, 32b, the rear wall 24 and the sidewall 28. Illustratively, the fluid chamber 50 is annular.Water may flow from the water inlet 18 through the fluid chamber 50 and to the outer teeth 38 supported by the side sprayface portions 32a, 32b.

[0033] With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 7 and 8, a plurality of openings 52 are illustratively defined within the side sprayface portions 32a, 32b and are in fluid communication with outlets of multi-dimensional fluidic devices (often called fluidic chips) 54. Inlets of the fluid devices 54 are in fluid communication with the fluid chamber 50. Illustratively, the openings 52 are longitudinally offset from the outer teeth 38. While four openings 52 and associated fluidic devices 54 are shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, the number and positioning may vary'.

[0034] The fluidic devices 54 are illustratively two-dimensional (2D) fluidic devices or nozzles that are configured to produce a fan of water within a plane by oscillating a water stream about a center axis. The resulting spray is illustratively a line in cross-section.Illustratively, these fluidic devices 54 are two-dimensional (2D) fluidic devices which may be available from Bow les Fluidics Corporation of Columbia, MO, USA. Additional details regarding representative fluidic devices are provided in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0299608 to Spangler et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0035] Each of the outer teeth 38 illustratively includes a spray opening or port 56 positioned near the distal end 46 and configured to discharge w ater directed inwardly in a first direction (toward the longitudinal center axis 34 of the spray face 26) and outw ardly in a second direction (away from the sprayface 26). As shown in FIG. 5, water is discharged from the spray openings 56 at a discharge angle (a) from an axis extending parallel to the sprayface 26 to converge at a point 58 above the distal end 42 of the inner teeth 36. The discharge angle (a) is defined to be greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, and illustratively is between 15 degrees and 75 degrees. In one illustrative embodiment, the discharge angle (a) is 45 degrees.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 7. the handshower 10 is configured to be fluidly coupled to a conventional fluid delivery device, such as a faucet 60 used in a shower. More particularly, the water inlet 18 of the handshower 10 is configured to be fluidty coupled to a conventional mixing valve 62 of the faucet 60. In turn, the mixing valve 62 is fluidly coupled to a hot w ater source 64 and a cold water source 66.

[0037] A diverter valve 68 is illustratively supported by the handle portion 14 and fluidly coupled to the water passageway 22. The diverter valve 68 may be a conventional three-function push button diverter valve operably coupled to a mode user interface 70, such as a push button. The diverter valve 68 illustratively includes a pause function, a fluidic device spray function and a bmsh spray function. In the pause function, the diverter valve 68 illustratively couples the water inlet 18 to a blind outlet or plug 71. In the fluidic device spray function, the diverter valve 68 illustratively couples the water inlet 18 to the fluidic devices 54. In the illustrative brush spray function, the diverter valve 68 couples the water inlet 18 to the spray openings 56 of the side teeth 38.

[0038] Illustratively, the center sprayface portion 30 is releasably received within a recess 72 defined intermediate the side sprayface portions 32a, 32b. A releasable coupler 74 secures the center sprayface portion 30 to the rear wall 24. More particularly, the coupler 74 may include a quarter-turn cam lock mechanism having a coupler user interface 76, such as a rotatable switch, on a rear surface 78 of the brush portion 16. Other coupling mechanisms may be substituted therefor, such as fingers with a spring biased releasable button, and / or a dove tail arrangement wherein the center surface portion 30 is slidably received within the recess 72. The center sprayface portion 30 and associated teeth 36 may be removed and replaced from the front side of the spray face 26.

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a first seal or gasket 80 (illustratively formed of silicone) may be received intermediate the rear wall 24 and the center sprayface portion 30 to facilitate a secure fit. A second seal or gasket 82 (also illustratively formed of silicone) may be received intermediate the center spray face portion 30 and the side spray face portions 32a, 32b to prevent hair and / or debris from collecting therein.

[0040] In certain illustrative embodiments as shown in FIG. 7, a solution reservoir 84 may be in selective fluid communication with the spray outlets 56 of the outer teeth 38. The solution reservoir 84 may be supported by the body 12 and receive various fluids, such as soap, shampoo and / or conditioner. A dispenser valve 86 is illustratively positioned in fluid communication with the solution reservoir 84 and controls the dispensing of solution to the spray outlets 56. A dispenser user interface, such as a push button 88, may control the dispenser valve 86. More particularly, each press of the push button 88 illustratively dispenses a predetermined quantity of solution from the reservoir 84 to the spray outlets 56 of the outer teeth 38.

[0041] An illustrative releasable coupler 74 is further detailed in connection with the handshower 110 shown in FIGS. 9-15. The handshower 110 includes many similar features as the handshower 10 detailed above. As such, in the following description, similar components are identified with like reference numbers.

[0042] The releasable coupler 74 may include a quarter-turn cam lock mechanism including a retainer 112 having a body 114 rotatably supported by a holder 116 coupled to a rear portion 118 of the inner sprayface 30. A front portion 119 of the inner sprayface 30 supports the teeth 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d. The body 114 illustratively includes a post 120 rotatably supported within a cylindrical receiver 122 of the holder 116. The body 114 further illustratively includes an outer sidewall 124 supported within an arcuate channel 126 of the holder 116.

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 11, 12 and 15. an annular retaining lip 128 on the outer sidewall 124 of the retainer 112 cooperates with an annular retaining lip 130 on the receiver 122. The retaining lips 128 and 130 axially retain the retainer 112 to the holder 116, while permitting rotation therebetween. A resilient o-ring 132 is illustratively positioned intermediate the outer sidewall 124 and the receiver 122.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, diametrically opposed, arcuate tabs 134a and 134b illustratively extend radially outwardly from the body 1 14 of the retainer 112. Diametrically opposed arcuate slots 136a and 136b are illustratively supported by the end wall 24 and are positioned intermediate axial spaces or slots 137a and 137b (FIG. 14). The tabs 134a and 134b may be axially received within the slots 137a and 137b, respectively, in an unlocked position (FIG. 12), and then rotated counterclockwise into the slots 136a and 136b, respectively, into a locked position (FIG. 13).

[0045] With further reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the slots 136a and 136b may include cam surfaces 138a and 138b, respectively, to force the coupler 74 and thereby the inner sprayface 30 axially toward the body 12 as the retainer 112 is rotated from the unlocked position (FIG. 12) toward the locked position (FIG. 13). In the illustrative embodiment, a user rotates the retainer 112 clockwise by 90 degrees (i.e., quarter-turn) to move the coupler 74 from the unlocked position to the locked position thereby securing the center sprayface portion 30 to the body 12. Similarly, the user rotates the retainer 112 counter-clockwise by 90 degrees (i.e., quarter-turn) to move the coupler 74 from the locked position to the unlocked position thereby releasing the center spray face portion 30 from the body 12.

[0046] A blade 140 extends outwardly from the body 114 of the retainer 112 and provide an enhanced engagement surface to facilitate rotation by the user. The blade 140 extends through an opening 142 formed in the rear wall 24 of the brush portion 16.

[0047] With further reference to FIGS. 11 and 15, a pair of detents 144a and 144b are supported by the holder 116. The detents 144a and 144b include pins 146a and 146b biased by spnngs 148a and 148b into recesses 150a and 150b, respectively, formed within the retainer 112. More particularly, the detents 144a and 144b are positioned outside of the recesses 150a and 150b in the unlocked position (FIG. 12) and within the recesses 150a and 150b in the locked position (FIG. 13). The detents 144a and 144b when received within the recesses 150a and 150b, respectively, provide the user with a tactile feel when the coupler 74 is in the locked position.

[0048] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A handshower comprising: a body including a water inlet and a sprayface, the sprayface having an inner sprayface portion and an outer sprayface portion; a plurality of inner teeth supported by the inner sprayface portion; and a plurality of outer teeth supported by the outer sprayface portion, each of the outer teeth including a spray opening configured to discharge water from the water inlet inwardly toward the inner teeth.

2. The handshower of claim 1, wherein the body comprises: a handle portion defining the water inlet; and a brush portion operably coupled to the handle portion, the brush portion including a rear wall operably coupled to the inner sprayface portion and the outer sprayface portion to define a chamber configured to receive water from the water inlet.

3. The handshower of claim 2, wherein the outer sprayface portion further includes spray openings positioned in spaced relation to the outer teeth.

4. The handshower of claim 2, further comprising a coupler supported by the brush portion and configured to releasably couple the inner sprayface portion to the rear wall.

5. The handshower of claim 1, wherein the inner teeth of the inner sprayface portion are longer than the outer teeth of the outer spray face portion.

6. The handshower of claim 1, wherein the spray openings of the outer teeth of the outer sprayface portion are configured to discharge water outwardly beyond an end of the inner teeth of the inner spray face portion.

7. The handshower of claim 1, further comprising a solution reservoir supported by the body and a dispenser valve in fluid communication with the solution reservoir.

8. A handshower comprising: a body including a water inlet and a sprayface, the sprayface having an inner sprayface portion and an outer sprayface portion; a plurality of inner teeth supported by the inner spray face portion; a plurality of outer teeth supported by the outer sprayface portion, at least one of the outer teeth including a spray opening; and a coupler supported to releasably couple the inner sprayface portion to the body.

9. The handshower of claim 8, wherein the spray openings of the outer teeth of the outer spray face portion are configured to discharge water from the water inlet inwardly toward the inner teeth of the inner spray face portion.

10. The handshower of claim 9, wherein the spray openings of the outer teeth of the outer spray face portion are configured to discharge water outwardly beyond an end of the inner teeth of the inner sprayface portion.

11. The handshower of claim 8, wherein the body comprises: a handle portion defining the water inlet; and a brush portion operably coupled to the handle, the brush portion including a rear wall operably coupled to the inner sprayface portion and the outer sprayface portion to define a chamber configured to receive water from the water inlet.

12. The handshower of claim 11, wherein the outer sprayface portion further includes spray openings positioned in spaced relation to the outer teeth.

13. The handshower of claim 8, wherein the inner teeth of the inner sprayface portion are longer than the outer teeth of the outer spray face portion.

14. The handshower of claim 8, further comprising a solution reservoir supported by the body and a dispenser valve in fluid communication with the solution reservoir.

15. The handshower of claim 8, wherein: the coupler includes a rotatable retainer having radially outwardly extending tabs; and the sprayface includes a rear wall supporting arcuate slots selectively receiving the tabs of the retainer.

16. A handshower comprising: a handle portion including a water inlet; a brush portion operably coupled to the handle portion, the brush portion including a rear wall, an inner sprayface portion operably coupled to the rear wall, an outer sprayface portion operably coupled to the rear wall to define a chamber configured to receive water from the water inlet; a plurality of inner teeth supported by the inner spray face portion; a plurality of outer teeth supported by the outer sprayface portion, at least one of the outer teeth including a spray opening configured to discharge water from the water inlet inwardly toward the inner teeth; and a coupler supported by the brush portion and configured to releasably couple the inner sprayface portion to the rear wall.

17. The handshower of claim 16, wherein the outer sprayface portion further includes spray openings positioned in spaced relation to the outer teeth.

18. The handshower of claim 16, wherein the inner teeth of the inner sprayface portion are longer than the outer teeth of the outer spray face portion.

19. The handshower of claim 18, wherein the spray openings of the outer teeth of the outer sprayface portion are configured to discharge water outwardly beyond an end of the inner teeth of the inner sprayface portion.

20. The handshower of claim 16, further comprising a solution reservoir and a dispenser valve in fluid communication with the solution reservoir.

21. The handshower of claim 16, wherein: the coupler includes a rotatable retainer having radially outwardly extending tabs; and the rear wall of the brush portion supports arcuate slots selectively receiving the tabs of the retainer.

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