Orbiting Showerhead Assembly with Tilt and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional showerheads are difficult to operate with soapy hands, often requiring users to look away and use both hands, and they typically produce circular spray patterns that do not effectively cover the entire body, particularly failing to simultaneously spray the face and lower torso and feet.
Innovation Solution
A showerhead assembly featuring a primary showerhead with an orbiting secondary showerhead that can rotate and tilt, providing an elongate spray pattern that can be adjusted by the user, with multiple sets of spray nozzles and a controller for selective water diversion, allowing for primary and secondary spray patterns that can be rotated and tilted independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional showerhead with selector dial or button is used, then multiple spray patterns can be selected, but it becomes difficult to operate with soapy hands and requires looking at the showerhead causing spray to enter the user's face
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to automatically detect user presence and spray preferences, eliminating the need for manual dial or button operation. The showerhead serves itself by automatically adjusting spray patterns based on detected user position and preferences, allowing operation with soapy hands.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical selector dial or button system is replaced with an automated sensor-based control system. Sensors detect user presence and automatically select appropriate spray patterns, substituting manual mechanical operation with automated detection and control.
2Ease of manufacture
If a conventional showerhead with circular spray pattern is used, then the construction is simple, but it cannot simultaneously cover the face and lower torso and feet
Solution Approach 1:
The circular spray pattern is segmented into multiple independent spray zones (face spray, upper torso spray, lower torso and feet spray). Each zone can be independently controlled and adjusted, allowing comprehensive body coverage while maintaining a relatively simple construction through modular spray element design.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional two-dimensional circular spray pattern is extended into three dimensions with adjustable spray angles and directions. The spray elements can be positioned and angled to cover vertical body surfaces from face to feet, adding spatial dimensionality to the spray coverage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy operation with soapy hands, provides comprehensive body coverage with adjustable elongate spray patterns, and allows for simultaneous spraying of the face, upper torso, and lower torso and feet, enhancing user convenience and showering experience.
Implementation Method 1
a face having one or more spray nozzles for spraying water
Data Source
AI summary
A showerhead assembly is provided having a primary showerhead which is relatively traditional in construction and includes a hollow housing and a plurality of spray nozzles. In addition, the showerhead assembly includes an orbiting showerhead which rotates about the primary showerhead's central axis. The primary showerhead is connected to a water source by a neck portion having a female threaded inlet. Meanwhile, the orbiting showerhead is rotatably connected to the neck portion by a collar and elbow conduit. Preferably, the orbiting showerhead can tilt inwardly and outwardly with respect to the elbow conduit thereby allowing the spray from the orbiting showerhead to tilt inward or outward relative to the spray from the primary showerhead.