Mounting structure for handheld showerhead

Abstract

A mounting structure for a handheld showerhead is provided with an integral vacuum breaker device that breaks the fluid communication between the shower pipe and the supply hose upon the occurrence of back pressure in the water supply system. The mounting structure comprises a mount body that is coupleable to a shower pipe at its inlet end and to a supply hose at its outlet end. A vacuum breaker is provided within the mount body in-line between the inlet end and the outlet end. When positive fluid pressure is applied to the vacuum breaker, water flows through the vacuum breaker to a supply hose and handheld showerhead coupled to the outlet end. When negative fluid pressure or back pressure is applied to the shower pipe, the vacuum breaker seals the channel within the mount body to break fluid communication between the inlet end and the outlet end, thus preventing the back pressure from drawing contaminated water through the supply hose and showerhead. A cradle for holding the handheld showerhead is pivotally coupled to the mount body, and the mount body is rotatable about the shower pipe. The handheld showerhead is thereby provided with a mounting structure that integrates a vacuum breaker for preventing contamination due to back pressure in the water supply system, while providing a full range of motion for mounting in a desired position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mounting structure for supporting and supplying water to a handheld showerhead, comprising: 
 a mount body coupleable at an inlet end to a shower pipe and coupleable at an outlet end to a handheld showerhead supply hose, the mount body comprising a vacuum breaker provided in-line between the inlet end and the outlet end to break fluid communication between the inlet end and the outlet end when back pressure is applied at the inlet end; and    a cradle pivotally coupled to the mount body for receiving the handheld showerhead.    
     
     
         2 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mount body comprises: 
 a main portion;    a swivel nut portion coupled to the main portion, the swivel nut portion providing the inlet end of the mount body; and    a supply hose adapter coupled to the main portion, the supply hose portion providing the outlet end of the mount body.    
     
     
         3 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the vacuum breaker is retained within the main portion of the mount body by the supply hose adapter.  
     
     
         4 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mount body comprises a retainer shaft that is threadable to a shower pipe.  
     
     
         5 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the swivel nut is fixed with respect to the retainer shaft, and the swivel nut and retainer shaft are rotatable with respect to the mount body.  
     
     
         6 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the retainer shaft is engaged to an inner channel of the mount body by one or more O-rings surrounding the retainer shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum breaker comprises: 
 a vacuum disc having at least one aperture for allowing passage of water through the vacuum disc; and    a resilient diaphragm seated downstream from the vacuum disc and having at least one aperture for allowing passage of water through the vacuum disc,    wherein back pressure applied behind the vacuum disc draws the diaphragm toward the vacuum disc to close the apertures of the vacuum disc.    
     
     
         8 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the mount body comprises a supply hose adapter coupled to the main portion, the supply hose portion providing the outlet end of the mount body, and the supply hose adapter comprising at least on bleed hole for allowing air into the supply hose adapter, and 
 wherein the bleed hole is sealed by the diaphragm when positive fluid pressure is applied from behind the diaphragm.    
     
     
         9 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cradle is pivotal about a pin coupled to the mount body.  
     
     
         10 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pin is threaded into a side of the mount body.  
     
     
         11 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the cradle comprises a tensioner screw for adjusting pivotal friction of the cradle with respect to the pin.  
     
     
         12 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a supply hose coupled to the outlet end of the mount body; and    a handheld showerhead coupled to the supply hose and receivable by the cradle.    
     
     
         13 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the showerhead is rotatable with respect to the cradle when received by the cradle.  
     
     
         14 . The mounting structure claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cradle comprises rubberized arms for receiving the handheld showerhead.