Showerhead

In a showerhead including a water inlet and a water outlet spaced from said inlet along a water flow path with said outlet being defined by a circumferentially-spaced plurality of orifices, a distributor in said flow path comprising:

• a turbine rotatable about an axis in said flow path and defining a gap delivering water to successive ones of said orifices as said turbine rotates;
• at least one first nozzle in said path and through which water flows in development of a force urging said turbine to rotate with said first nozzle being spaced radially outward a first distance from said axis;
• at least one second nozzle in said path and through which water flows in development of a force urging said turbine to rotate with said second nozzle being spaced radially outward from said axis a second distance greater than said first distance;
• and an adjustable director assembly in said flow path upstream from said nozzles to direct said water selectively as between said first and second nozzles.

In a showerhead including a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet spaced along a water flow path from said inlet with said outlet being defined by at least two different radially-spaced orifice groups, a group selector comprising:

• a flow director in said housing through which water flows into a selected one of respective subpaths individually continuing to a corresponding one of said orifice groups;
• a control plate in said housing rotatable to select between said subpaths;
• a control arm in said housing secured at one end to said control plate to rotate said control plate upon swinging movement of the other end of said arm about said one end;
• and a control ring mounted around the exterior of said housing for rotation and coupled to said other end of said control arm to swing said other end as said control ring is rotated.

In a showerhead including a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet spaced from said inlet along a water flow path, said outlet comprising:

• a cylindrical body disposed centrally within said housing;
• a cylindrical first lip projecting in the axial direction from the outer periphery of said body;
• a ring having inner and outer surfaces disposed coaxially around said first lip;
• a circular first array of grooves oriented to lie in the axial direction and formed into said inner surface in a position to be covered by said first lip in definition of a first circular array of orifices spaced in succession one after another;
• a circular second array of grooves oriented to lie in the axial direction and formed into said outer surface of said ring;
• a collar disposed beyond said ring;
• a cylindrical second lip projecting in the axial direction from the inner periphery of said collar in a position to cover said second array of grooves in definition of a second circular array of orifices spaced in succession one after another;
• and an intergroove spacing in said second array generally decreasing from a diametrically-opposed pair of reference points in each direction progressively for a circular quarter of the array circumference and the individual angular inclination relative to the axial direction of the grooves in said second array generally increasing from said reference points over said quarters as to define a spray pattern of oval shape at a predetermined distance in front of said showerhead.

In a showerhead including a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet spaced from said inlet along a water flow path with said outlet being defined by a circular array of orifices spaced in succession one after another, said outlet comprising:

• a cylindrical body having a radially outward exterior surface;
• an annular element having a radially inward interior surface;
• a circular array of grooves oriented to lie in an axial direction and formed into one of said surfaces;
• a cylindrical lip projecting in the axial direction from the other of said surfaces to cover said grooves in definition of said orifices;
• and an intergroove spacing in said array generally decreasing from a diametrically-opposed pair of reference points in each direction progressively for a circular quarter of the array circumference and the individual angular inclination relative to the axial direction of said grooves in said array generally increasing from said reference point over said quarters as to define a spray pattern of oval shape at a predetermined distance in front of said showerhead.

In a showerhead including a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet spaced from said inlet along a water flow path, said outlet comprising:

• a cylindrical body having a radially outward exterior surface;
• a ring disposed around said body with said ring having a radially inward interior surface and a radially outward exterior wall;
• a circular array of grooves oriented to lie in an axial direction and formed into one of said surfaces;
• a first cylindrical lip projecting in the axial direction from the other of said surfaces to cover said grooves in definition of a first group of orifices;
• a collar disposed around said ring and having a radially inward interior wall;
• a circular array of channels oriented to lie in an axial direction and formed into one of said walls;
• a second cylindrical lip projecting in the axial direction from the other of said walls to cover said channels in definition of a second group of orifices;
• a first thread formed on said exterior surface;
• and a second thread formed on said interior wall and matable with said first thread to removably mount said collar on said body with said lips covering respective ones of said grooves and said channels.

In a showerhead including a housing having a water inlet and a water outlet spaced from said inlet along a water flow path, said outlet comprising:

• a cylindrical body having a radially outward exterior surface;
• a ring disposed around said body with said ring having a radially inward interior surface and a radially outward exterior wall;
• a circular array of grooves oriented to lie in an axial direction and formed into one of said surfaces;
• a first cylindrical lip projecting in the axial direction from the other of said surfaces to cover said grooves in definition of a first group of orifices;
• a collar disposed around said ring and having a radially inward interior wall;
• a circular array of channels oriented to lie in an axial direction and formed into one of said walls;
• a second cylindrical lip projecting in the axial direction from the other of said walls to cover said channels in definition of a second group of orifices;
• a flow director in said housing through which water flows into a selected one of respective subpaths individually continuing to a corresponding one of said orifice groups;
• a control plate in said housing rotatable to select between said subpaths;
• a control arm in said housing secured at one end to said control plate to rotate said control plate upon swinging movement of the other end of said arm about said one end;
• and a control ring mounted around the exterior of said housing for rotation and coupled to said other end of said control arm to swing said other end as said control ring is rotated.