FIELD

The present exemplary embodiments relate to showerheads. It finds particular application in conjunction with a handheld shower and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiments are also amenable to other like applications.

BACKGROUND

Handheld showers and wands are popular for allowing a user more flexibility when showering. Typical handheld showers often include a bracket that is configured to support the handheld shower on or adjacent an outlet pipe when not being actively manipulated by a user. In one example, a handle of a handheld shower is configured to be received in a bracket that is mounted to the outlet pipe. A user can shower with the handheld shower supported in the bracket and serving as a conventional fixed showerhead or remove the handheld shower from the bracket for showering in a handheld mode.

Past handheld shower mounts have been difficult for users to operate, particularly when the user is in the midst of showering and wishes to switch between the fixed showerhead mode and the handheld shower mode. In many cases, proper alignment of the handheld shower with the bracket is not as easy as it could be. In other cases, a user may fail to properly or fully seat the handheld showerhead in the bracket resulting in the handheld showerhead drooping or coming free from the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure sets forth a handheld shower assembly that is quickly and easily convertible between a fixed mount showerhead mode and a handheld shower mode and provides audible and/or tactile verification of engagement/coupling of the handheld shower with the receiver.

In accordance with one aspect, a handheld shower assembly comprises a handheld showerhead, a receiver mountable to an outlet pipe, a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the handheld shower with the receiver. The coupling mechanism includes a male component adapted to be received in a female component, the male component being associated with the receiver and the female component being associated with the handheld showerhead.

The male component can extend from a front surface of the receiver opposite an inlet of the receiver. The female component can include a recess in a surface of the handheld showerhead opposite a surface of the handheld showerhead having spray nozzles. The female component can further include at least one pin supported for radial movement within the recess between a first radially inner position extending at least partially into the recess, and a second radially outer position. The male component can include a circumferential recess on a radially outer side thereof, the circumferential recess configured to receive the at least one pin when the male component is received in the female component thereby restricting separation of the handheld showerhead from the receiver. The at least one pin can be biased towards the first radially inner position. The at least one pin can include a shoulder for limiting further radially inward movement of the pin beyond the first radially inner position, the shoulder adapted to contact a surface of the receiver to produce audible feedback when the at least one pin is received in the circumferential recess of the male portion. A rear surface of the handheld showerhead can extend at a non-zero angle relative to a handle portion of the handheld showerhead. The male component can be tapered, and the female component can have a corresponding shape to closely receive the male component. The handheld showerhead portion can further include a retention flange adapted to engage a lip of receiver. The retention flange can be arcuate and spaced apart from the recess. The handheld showerhead can further include a protrusion extending from the handheld showerhead at a location between the retention flange and the recess, the protrusion cooperating with a receiver recess for centering the handheld showerhead relative to the receiver when the retention flange is engaged with the lip. The retention flange can include an axially extending wall and a radially inwardly extending wall, the radially inwardly extending wall adapted to restrict axial separation of the handheld showerhead from the receiver when engaged with the lip. The receiver can include a flow passageway for transmitting water from an inlet to an outlet, the receiver being mountable to an outlet pipe.

In accordance with another aspect, a handheld showerhead comprises a showerhead body having a front face having at least one nozzle and a rear face, a recess in the rear face adapted to receive a male component of an associated receiver, and at least one pin supported for radial movement within the recess between a first radially inner position extending at least partially into the recess, and a second radially outer position, the at least one pin being adapted to engage within a circumferential recess of the male component of the associated receiver to restrict separation of the handheld showerhead from the associated receiver.

The at least one pin can be biased towards the first radially inner position. The at least one pin can include a shoulder for limiting further radially inward movement of the pin beyond the first radially inner position, the shoulder adapted to contact a surface of the face plate to produce audible feedback when the at least one pin is received in the circumferential recess of the male portion of the associated receiver. The recess can be tapered. The handheld showerhead can further include a retention flange extending from the rear face.

