# US 2014/0196806 A1 · Flow diverter and operation of same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196806 A1 - Document ID: US20140196806A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/152,454 - Filed: 2014-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Waxman Consumer Products Group Inc. - Applicants: Waxman Consumer Products Group Inc. - Inventors: Jason A. Sharratt; Matthew Smith; Mitchell Bailey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196806A1 ## CPC - E03C 1/023: {with flow distribution, e.g. diverters} - F16K 11/074: with flat sealing faces - Y10T 137/86501: Sequential distributor or collector type - Y10T 137/86863: Rotary valve unit - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A diverter assembly for a shower tub includes a housing having an inlet for receiving fluid and first and second outlets for discharging fluid. An endless advancement structure includes a flow plate fixed to the housing and a gearing arrangement rotatable relative to the flow plate. The flow plate includes a first opening in fluid communication with the first outlet and a second opening in fluid communication with the second outlet. The gearing arrangement includes third openings in fluid communication with the inlet. A handle is coupled to the gearing arrangement for selectively rotating the gearing arrangement in a single direction relative to the flow plate to alternate between placing the gearing arrangement in a first condition aligning one of the third openings with the first opening and placing the gearing arrangement in a second condition aligning one of the third openings with the second opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A diverter assembly for a shower tub arrangement that changes the distribution of water through two or more flow paths: a housing having an inlet for receiving fluid and first and second outlets for discharging fluid from the housing; an endless advancement structure positioned within the housing and comprising a flow plate fixed to the housing and a gearing arrangement rotatable relative to the flow plate, the flow plate including a first opening in fluid communication with the first outlet in the housing and a second opening in fluid communication with the second outlet in the housing, the gearing arrangement including a plurality of third openings in fluid communication with the inlet of the housing; and a handle coupled to the gearing arrangement for selectively rotating the gearing arrangement in a single direction relative to the flow plate to alternate between placing the gearing arrangement in a first condition in which one of the third openings is aligned with the first opening in the flow plate and placing the gearing arrangement in a second condition in which one of the third openings is aligned with the second opening in the flow plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein placing the gearing arrangement in the first condition forms a first fluid flow path through one of the third openings in the gearing arrangement and the first opening in the flow plate and placing the gearing arrangement in the second condition forms a second fluid flow path through one of the third openings in the gearing arrangement and the second opening in the flow plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections arranged circumferentially around the gearing arrangement and a plurality of pins that cooperate with the projections for holding the gearing arrangement in either the first condition or the second condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The diverter assembly of claim 3, wherein the pins and projections provide tactile feedback when the gearing arrangement reaches one of the first condition and the second condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The diverter assembly of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of springs for biasing each of the pins into engagement with the gearing arrangement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections arranged circumferentially around the gearing arrangement and first and second pins that slide along the projections as the gearing arrangement rotates, each projection having a catch surface such that the first pin engages one of the catch surfaces to hold the gearing arrangement in the first condition, the second pin engaging one of the catch surfaces to hold the gearing arrangement in the second condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, the inlet being in fluid communication with a water supply pipe, the first outlet being in fluid communication with a pipe for supplying water to showerhead, and the second outlet being in fluid communication with a pipe for supplying water to a handheld spray wand. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the third openings extend entirely through the gearing arrangement and are arranged circumferentially about an axis of the gearing arrangement while extending substantially parallel to the axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow plate includes a first surface facing towards the gearing arrangement and a peripheral surface, the first opening and the second opening each extending from the first surface to the peripheral surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein fluid is prevented from flowing to the second outlet when the gearing arrangement is in the first condition, fluid being prevented from flowing to the first outlet when the gearing arrangement is in the second condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow plate is sized to prevent fluid flow to the first and second outlets other than through the first and second openings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the gearing arrangement is rotatable through at least one revolution. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the gearing arrangement is rotatable by the handle to rotationally index the gearing arrangement relative to the flow plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein rotation of the handle in the single direction moves the gearing arrangement from the first condition to the second condition, further rotation of the handle in the single direction moving the gearing arrangement from the second condition to the first condition. ### Claim 15 A diverter assembly for a shower tub arrangement that changes the distribution of water through two or more flow paths: a housing having an inlet for receiving fluid and first and second outlets for discharging fluid from the housing; an endless advancement structure positioned within the housing and comprising: a flow plate fixed to the housing and having a first opening in fluid communication with the first outlet in the housing and a second opening in fluid communication with the second outlet in the housing; a gearing arrangement rotatable relative to the flow plate, the gearing arrangement including a plurality of third openings in fluid communication with the inlet of the housing and a plurality of projections, each projection including a radially extending catch surface; and first and second pins positioned in the housing and biased into engagement with the gearing arrangement, engagement of the first pin with one of the catch surfaces placing the gearing arrangement in a first condition in which one of the third openings is aligned with the first opening in the flow plate, engagement of the second pin with one of the catch surfaces placing the gearing arrangement in a second condition in which one of the third openings is aligned with the second opening in the flow plate; and a handle coupled to the gearing arrangement for selectively rotating the gearing arrangement in a single direction relative to the flow plate to alternate between placing the gearing arrangement in the first condition and the second condition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The diverter assembly of claim 15, wherein rotation of the handle in the single direction moves the gearing arrangement from the first condition to the second condition, further rotation of the handle in the single direction moving the gearing arrangement from the second condition to the first condition.