Showerhead attachment assembly

Abstract

A shower arm attachment assembly may include a shower pipe coupling member, an arm coupling member, and a locking nut or sleeve. The shower pipe coupling member connects to a shower pipe, and the arm coupling member fluidly connects to a showerhead arm. The arm coupling member may be joined to the shower pipe coupling member. The arm coupling member may be selectively rotatable relative to the shower pipe member. Rotation of the arm coupling member relative to the shower pipe coupling member may be selectively controlled by selectively engaging a locking nut with the coupling members or selectively engaging a keying feature associated with one or both of the coupling members. Rotation of the coupling members relative to each other causes rotation of a showerhead relative to a shower pipe attached to the showerhead using the attachment assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 828,741, entitled “Showerhead Attachment Assembly” and filed on Oct. 9, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]a. Field of the Invention[0003]The field of invention generally relates to showerheads, and more particularly to showerhead connections.[0004]b. Background Art[0005]To locate a showerhead overhead rather than at the side of a shower stall, the showerhead may be attached to the end of an arm, which in turn may be attached to a water outlet pipe of the shower stall. For positioning a standard overhead showerhead at a desired vertical location and the showerhead face at a desired orientation relative to arm's longitudinal axis, the arm may be fitted with one or more joints formed from an assembly of parts to pivot the arm relative to the water outlet and the showerhead ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]One embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly may include a first member, a second member, and a sleeve. The first member may be in fluid communication with a showerhead. The second member may be attachable to a shower pipe. The second member may be selectively rotatably joined to the first member. The sleeve may be selectively engageable with a joinder between the first and second member. When engaged, the sleeve may substantially prevent rotation of the first member relative to the second member.

[0011]Yet another embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly may include a first member, a second member, a third member and a fourth member. The first member may be in fluid communication with a showerhead. The second member may be joined to the first member and may be rotatable relative to the first member. The third member may fluidly join the second member to a shower pipe water outlet. The fourth member may be selectively engageable with the second member. When engaged, the fourth member may substantially prevent rotation of the first member relative to the second member.

[0012]Still yet another embodiment of a shower arm assembly may include an arm, a shower arm attachment assembly, and an arm rotation assembly. The shower arm attachment assembly may include an arm coupling member. The arm rotation assembly may include a connector rod, a nut, and a retaining clip. The nut may be joined to the connector rod and may be operative with the connector rod to press together the arm coupling member and the arm. The retaining clip may be attached to the connector rod and may operative with the connector rod to prevent disassembly of the arm from the arm coupling member.

Problems solved by technology

However, these standard shower arm assemblies often to fail to maintain the vertical position of a relatively large or heavy showerhead or a showerhead constructed of a denser material, such as a metal.

Thus, standard shower arms using standard friction mechanisms to prevent vertical showerhead movement are unsuitable for many modern applications.

Adjusting the position of the showerhead under water pressure can also be problematic.

Specifically, when the friction mechanisms are adjusted to permit positioning of the showerhead, water often leaks through the loosened joints.

Additionally, a user can inadvertently disassemble the standard overhead showerhead arm assembly by unscrewing the typical winged nut friction mechanism too far, and thus possibly injure the user and / or have small components of the arm assembly fall into the shower's drain.

Yet another issue with a typical overhead shower arm assembly involves the coupling members or assemblies used to attach the shower arm to the shower pipe.

Often, the coupling members or assemblies permit relatively little or limited rotational adjustment of the arm around the shower pipe's longitudinal axis before the water-tightness between the shower pipe and the coupling member is compromised.

Images