# US 4,398,668 A · Showerhead control

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- Number: US 4,398,668 A
- Document ID: US4398668A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/266,743
- Filed: 1981-05-26
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1976-11-22
- Inventors: Emile Jette
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398668A

## CPC

- E03C 1/06: Devices for suspending or supporting the supply pipe or supply hose of a shower-bath {(showers per se A47K3/28)}
- B05B 1/189: {actuated by a rotating movement}
- B05B 1/3026: {Gate valves; Sliding valves; Cocks (B05B1/326 takes precedence)}
- B05B 15/654: using universal joints
- B05B 1/18: Roses; Shower heads
- B05B 1/1896: {located in or on the housing}
- Y10T 137/86823: Rotary valve
- Y10T 137/87096: Valves with separate, correlated, actuators
- 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
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A showerhead control structure having an extending control operator, defining, a showerarm provided having a separate hot and cold water port for connection to existing hot and cold water supply lines in a showerstall wall comprising, a first pivotal ball and socket waterflow control valve structure to shut off the water flow in at least one pivotal position by swinging movement of the extending operator and in combination a second waterflow control valve structure to vary the water spray temperature and shut off the waterflow therethrough by rotational movement of the extending operator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A showerhead control structure including means to control both waterflow and temperature therethrough for connection to a hot and a cold water line comprising:
(A) a showerarm adapted to be rigidly connected to a wall, said showerarm having separate hot and cold water ports extending longitudinally therethrough having respective hot and cold water water supply connection means, said hot and cold water ports discharging into a first ball and socket water flow control valve structure including a ball having separate hot and cold water through openings, a diametrical through bore in said ball extending transverse to said through openings having a connector recess at an upper end of said through bore, seal means in a lower portion of said through bore and said ball including a spherical valve surface portion providing substantially universal movement in the socket of said first ball and socket water flow control valve structure with respect to the hot and cold water discharge ports, said first ball and socket water flow control valve structure permitting water flow from said showerarm to said respective hot and cold water through openings in at least one universal position and the flow of water into said ball being blocked by said spherical valve surface in at least one other universal position, said first ball and socket water flow control valve structure including peripheral connector means for retaining said ball and socket in engagement, said first ball and socket water flow control valve structure having a combined hot and cold water flow passageway downstream of said diametrical through bore, said first ball and socket water flow control valve structure being provided with means for connection to a showerhead downstream of said ball,
(B) a second rotatable water flow control valve structure defined by an elongate control operator having a distal end and an upper end, said elongate control operator being journalled in said diametrical through bore, said upper end having spaced respective hot and cold water chordal cut-out means positioned to cooperate with respective downstream ends of said hot and cold water through openings to vary the water-flow temperature downstream of said elongate control operator upon rotational adjustment of said elongate control operator with respect to said ball when said first ball and socket water flow control valve structure is in a position permitting water flow from said showerarm to said ball.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The showerhead control structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the combined hot and cold water passageway is positioned within a nipple extending from said ball and said nipple is provided with threaded connection means for attachment of said showerhead.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The showerhead control structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said peripheral connector means includes screw threads about the periphery of the socket of the first ball and socket control valve structure, said socket also includes an annular shoulder to seat seal means, and an annular retaining ring mated for threaded connection with said first mentioned screw threads to universally captivate the ball in the socket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The showerhead control structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for retaining the elongate control operator in said diametrical through bore includes the ball being provided with a recess at an upper end of the diametrical bore, said elongate control operator being provided with a longitudinal bore at an upper end thereof, said bore of said elongate control operator being provided with screw threads, and a retainer cap received within said recess and having screw threads cooperating with the screw threads of said elongate control operator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The showerhead control structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spaced respective hot and cold water chordal cut-out means includes a hot water chordal cut-out having a plane disposed at an angle of a predetermined degree different than a plane of a cold water chordal cut-out wherein said hot water through opening will be closed or opened into the combined hot and cold water passageway in contrast with the opening and closing of the cold water through opening to in unison regulate the hot and cold water flow volume through the second rotatable control valve structure into said combined hot and cold water passageway providing water temperature varying means by rotational movement of the upper end by manipulation of said elongate control operator distal end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The showerhead control structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said hot water chordal cut-out is positioned with respect to said cold water chordal cut-out in said elongate control operator such that by a predetermined degree of rotational movement of said elongate control operator flow through both said hot and cold water through openings will be substantially closed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The showerhead control structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the showerarm includes connecting means to a showerstall wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The showerhead control structure of claim 1 wherein said spaced respective hot and cold water chordal cut-out means are disposed to close said hot and cold water through openings in a predetermined degree of rotational movement of said elongate control operator.