# US 7,611,070 B2 · Aspirating scented oxygen enriched faucet and shower head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,070 B2 - Document ID: US7611070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/307,914 - Filed: 2006-02-28 - Published: 2007-09-13 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-28 - Inventors: John J. Paoluccio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611070B2 ## CPC - B05B 7/0425: {without any source of compressed gas, e.g. the air being sucked by the pressurised liquid} - B05B 1/189: {actuated by a rotating movement} - B05B 1/1896: {located in or on the housing} - B05B 7/2402: {Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device (B05B7/0012 takes precedence)} - B05B 7/244: {using carrying liquid for feeding, e.g. by suction, pressure or dissolution, a carried liquid from the container to the nozzle (B05B7/2459 - B05B7/247 take precedence)} - B05B 15/40: Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets - E03C 1/046: Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10) - B05B 1/18: Roses; Shower heads - Y10S 4/903: Shower head with material dispensing - 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) - 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 - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A plumbing fixture including an aspirating type showerhead operates to add a selected scent to the spray water. The showerhead utilizes a venturi assembly where the water supply passes through a venturi. A negative pressure is created at the high velocity water jet stream point, near the narrow area of the venturi. A number of small openings in the venturi, to a surrounding air chamber, allow air from the chamber, to be drawn into the venturi. The air chamber has inlet openings for the aspiration of room air. At a portion of these inlet openings is a quick connect port to receive a scented cartridge. The scent cartridge is then inserted into the quick connect port of the showerhead. Room air is then drawn through and over the scent cartridge where the high velocity air picks up scent molecules from the scented wick within the cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A showerhead apparatus which comprises: a first fluid passageway for conducting a stream of water, said first fluid passageway including a fitting for connecting to a water supply conduit and for receiving water into said first fluid passageway, said first fluid passageway further including an outlet for expelling fluid from within said first fluid passageway; said first fluid passageway further including a constricted section forming a venturi having a low pressure region within said first fluid passageway having a pressure that is less than ambient air pressure when water flows from said fitting through said first fluid passageway to be expelled by said outlet; a second gas passageway connected to the low pressure region of said venturi by one or more ports, said second gas passageway including one or more inlets exposed to the ambient air for receiving air into said second gas passageway, said venturi's low pressure region causing air to aspirate through said one or more inlets into said second gas passageway to enter said first fluid passageway through said ports; an insertable and removable scent cartridge positioned within said second gas passageway, said scent cartridge including a housing and a scented material within said housing, said housing including one or more openings to allow air entering said second gas passageway to pass over said scented material to create a scented gas within said second gas passageway without said scented material mixing with water within said first fluid passageway as a result of said venturi aspirating air into said second gas passageway through said one or more inlets; wherein said venturi aspirates the scented gas through said ports where the scented gas mixes with water in said first fluid passageway to form a water-scented gas mixture which is expelled from said outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The showerhead as described in claim 1 wherein said first fluid passageway is tubular and said second gas passageway extends radially around said first fluid passageway to form an annular gas passageway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The showerhead as described in claim 2 wherein said one or more inlets includes a plurality of inlets surrounding and adjacent to said outlet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The showerhead as described in claim 2 wherein said scent cartridge is annularly shaped to be positioned within said annular gas passageway. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The showerhead as described in claim 1 wherein said second gas passageway is dimensioned and configured for receiving an elongated scent cartridge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The showerhead as described in claim 1 wherein said scent material is in wax form. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The showerhead as described in claim 1 wherein said scent cartridge has a removable seal that covers said one or more housing openings, said seal preventing air from passing over said scent material but the removal of said seal allowing air to pass over said scent material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The showerhead as described in claim 1 wherein said scent cartridge includes a wick. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The showerhead as described in claim 1 wherein said scent cartridge housing is made of plastic. ### Claim 10 A showerhead apparatus which comprises: a tubular fluid passageway for conducting a stream of water, said tubular fluid passageway including a fitting for connecting to a water supply conduit and for receiving water into said tubular fluid passageway, said tubular fluid passageway further including an outlet for expelling fluid from within said fluid passageway; said tubular fluid passageway further including a constricted section forming a venturi having a low pressure region within said tubular fluid passageway having a pressure that is less than ambient air pressure when water flows from said fitting through said tubular fluid passageway to be expelled by said outlet; an annular gas passageway concentrically surrounding said tubular fluid passageway, said annular gas passageway connected to the low pressure region of said venturi by one or more ports, said gas annular passageway including a plurality of inlets surrounding and adjacent to said outlet and exposed to the ambient air for receiving air into said annular gas passageway, said venturi's low pressure region causing air to apsirate through said one or more inlets into said annular gas passageway to enter said tubular fluid passageway through said ports; an insertable and removable scent cartridge positioned within said annular gas passageway, said scent cartridge including a housing and a scented material within said housing, said housing including one or more openings to allow air entering said annular gas passageway to pass over said scented material to create a scented gas within said annular gas passageway without said scented material mixing with water within said tubular fluid passageway as a result of said venturi aspirating air into said annular gas passageway through said one or more inlets; wherein said venturi aspirates the scented gas through said ports where the scented gas mixes with water in said tubular fluid passageway to form a water-scented gas mixture which is expelled from said outlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The showerhead as described in claim 10 wherein said annular gas passageway is dimension and configured for receiving an elongated scent cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The showerhead as described in claim 11 wherein said scent cartridge is annularly shaped to be positioned within said annular gas passageway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The showerhead as described in claim 10 said scent material is in wax form. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The showerhead as described in claim 10 wherein said scent cartridge has a removable seal that covers said one or more housing openings, said seal preventing air from passing over said scent material but the removal of said seal allowing air to pass over said scent material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The showerhead as described in claim 10 further including an attachable and detachable circular hollow external canister connected to said inlets and forming an extension of said annular gas passageway, said scent cartridge positioned within said external canister. ### Claim 16 A method of producing an aromatized fluid including a liquid and scented gas comprising the steps of: providing a showerhead apparatus which comprises having a first fluid passageway for conducting a stream of water, the first fluid passageway including a fitting for connecting to a water supply conduit and for receiving water into the first fluid passageway, the first fluid passageway further including an outlet for expelling fluid from within the first fluid passageway, the first fluid passageway further including a constricted section forming a venturi having a low pressure region within the first fluid passageway having a pressure that is less than ambient air pressure when water flows from the fitting through the first fluid passageway to be expelled by the outlet, a second gas passageway connected to the low pressure region of the venturi by one or more ports, the second gas passageway including one or more inlets exposed to the ambient air for receiving air into the second gas passageway, the venturi's low pressure region causing air to aspirate through the one or more inlets into the second gas passageway to enter the first fluid passageway through the ports, an insertable and removable scent cartridge positioned within the second gas passageway, the scent cartridge including a housing and a scented material within the housing, the housing including one or more openings to allow air entering the second gas passageway to pass over the scented material to create a scented gas within the second gas passageway without the scented material mixing with water within the first fluid passageway as a result of the venturi aspirating air into the second gas passageway through the one or more inlets, wherein the venturi aspirates the scented gas through the ports where the scented gas mixes with water in the first fluid passageway to form a water-scented gas mixture which is expelled from the outlet; and flowing water through the first fluid passageway to create the low pressure region within the first fluid passageway having a pressure that is less than ambient air pressure causing ambient air to aspirate through the one or more inlets into the second gas passageway to enter the first fluid passageway through the ports, wherein air entering the second gas passageway passes over the scented material to create the scented gas within the second gas passageway without the scented material mixing with water within the first fluid passageway as a result of the venturi aspirating air into the second gas passageway through the one or more inlets, wherein the venturi aspirates the scented gas through the ports where the scented gas mixes with water in the first fluid passageway to form the water-scented gas mixture which is expelled from the outlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The showerhead as described in claim 16 wherein said first fluid passageway is tubular and said second gas passageway extends radially around said first fluid passageway to form an annular gas passageway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The showerhead as described in claim 17 wherein said one or more inlets includes a plurality of inlets surrounding and adjacent to said outlet.