The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 06, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1992
Hiroshi Kobayashi, Fukuoka, JP;
Masahito Hitotsumatsu, Fukuoka, JP;
Ryosuke Hayashi, Fukuoka, JP;
Mikio Horimoto, Fukuoka, JP;
Yasuhide Kimura, Fukuoka, JP;
Toto, Ltd., Fukuoka, JP;
Abstract
A hand-held shower unit (12; 250; 504; 540) is disclosed which comprises a rotatable shower head (94) provided with a plurality of spray heads (132; 134; 136; 138) having different spray or water delivery characteristics. The rotatable head (94) is mounted on a shaft (122) driven by a micromotor (190) received in an inner cavity (64) which is formed in a handle casing (52; 252) by offsetting a water conduit (58). Upon pressing a control button (200), the rotatable head (94) is rotated such that water is delivered through selected one of the spray heads (132; 134; 136; 138). To establish a fluid tight seal between the rotary head (94) and the water conduit (58) while avoiding frictional contact therebetween in order to reduce the torque required for the micromotor (190) to rotate the head (94), a water pressure-responsive movable sealing member (104; 260) is arranged. Also disclosed is a shower bath system (10; 500) including in combination the hand-held shower unit ( 12; 250; 504; 540). An automatic faucet is also disclosed which is capable of automatically varying the water delivery patterns. Various other embodiments and method of use are also disclosed.