Showerhead system with front or side mounted diverter control interface

Abstract

A shower fixture is provided that includes a fixed fluid dispensing unit and a removable fluid dispensing unit releasably secured to a receptacle therefor associated with the fixed dispensing unit such that the fixed dispensing unit and removable dispensing unit in a secured relationship form an integral dispensing face. A fluid supply provides selective communication with a front or side mounted diverter control interface for directing fluid flow to at least one of the fixed and removable fluid dispensing units.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A showerhead system for communicating a fluid supply, said showerhead system comprising:
 a fixed fluid dispensing unit supported at a location, said fixed dispensing unit comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid supply; 
 a removable fluid dispensing unit releasable secured to a cradle receptacle established with said fixed dispensing unit forming an integral dispensing face with said fixed dispensing unit and comprising at least one additional plurality of nozzles being connected to a hose in fluid communication with the fluid supply when said removable fluid dispensing unit is dissociated from said fixed fluid dispensing unit; 
 a fluid inlet associated with said fixed dispensing unit, a fluid diverter fluidly communicating said fluid supply with at least one of said fixed and removable dispensing units; 
 wherein said fluid diverter is actuated by said cradle receptacle; and 
 
       wherein when said removable dispensing unit is resting in said cradle, fluid flow is available to both said fixed dispensing unit and said removable dispensing unit. 
     
     
       2. The showerhead system as described in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of fluid flow available to each of said fixed dispensing unit and said removable dispensing unit is determined by a user. 
     
     
       3. The showerhead system as described in  claim 1 , wherein when said removable dispensing unit is removed from said cradle, fluid flow is only available to said removable dispensing unit. 
     
     
       4. A showerhead system for communicating a fluid supply, said showerhead system comprising:
 a fixed fluid dispensing unit supported at a location, said fixed dispensing unit comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid supply; 
 a removable fluid dispensing unit releasably secured to a cradle receptacle established with said fixed dispensing unit forming an integral dispensing face with said fixed dispensing unit and comprising at least one additional plurality of nozzles being connected to a hose in fluid communication with the fluid supply when said removable fluid dispensing unit is dissociated from said fixed fluid dispensing unit; 
 a fluid inlet associated with said fixed dispensing unit, a fluid diverter fluidly communicating said fluid supply with at least one of said fixed and removable dispensing units; and 
 
       wherein said fluid diverter is actuated by said cradle receptacle, where said fluid diverter further comprises a bias spring with a downward bias that is overcome when the removable unit is in said cradle, and a trigger in mechanical communication with said bias spring, said trigger configured to push on a bottom portion of a check or T valve that pivots on a valve spring, so that fluid is allowed to flow to said fixed unit, as well as said removable unit when said removable unit is in said cradle; and
 wherein when said removable unit is removed from said cradle, the downward bias of said bias spring releases said trigger, and said trigger no longer pushes on the bottom portion of said check or T valve, and said valve spring provides a bias that closes said check or T valve so that fluid no longer flows to the fixed unit, and all fluid flow is diverted to said removable unit. 
 
     
     
       5. The showerhead system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a spring-loaded button controlling a locking pin, said locking pin engaging a complementary depression in said removable fluid dispensing unit. 
     
     
       6. The showerhead system as described in  claim 1  wherein said fixed fluid dispensing unit further comprises at least one gripping location to permit readjustment of said fixed unit about an articulating joint. 
     
     
       7. The showerhead system as described in  claim 1 , wherein said removable dispensing unit has a plurality of spray function modes. 
     
     
       8. The showerhead system as described in  claim 7  further comprising a mode control dial intermediate between the at least one additional nozzle of said removable fluid dispensing unit and the fluid supply. 
     
     
       9. The showerhead system as described in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one individual plurality of nozzles associated with a fluid dispensing surface of said removable unit. 
     
     
       10. The showerhead system as described in  claim 4  further comprising a spring-loaded button controlling a locking pin, said locking pin engaging a complementary depression in said removable fluid dispensing unit. 
     
     
       11. The showerhead system as described in  claim 4  wherein said fixed fluid dispensing unit further comprises at least one gripping location to permit readjustment of said fixed unit about an articulating joint. 
     
     
       12. The showerhead system as described in  claim 4  wherein said removable dispensing unit has a plurality of spray function modes. 
     
     
       13. The showerhead system as described in  claim 12  further comprising a mode control dial intermediate between the at least one additional nozzle of said removable fluid dispensing unit and the fluid supply. 
     
     
       14. The showerhead system as described in  claim 13  further comprising at least one individual plurality of nozzles associated with a fluid dispensing surface of said removable unit. 
     
     
       15. A showerhead system for communicating a fluid supply, said showerhead system comprising:
 a fixed fluid dispensing unit supported at a location, said fixed dispensing unit comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid supply;   a removable fluid dispensing unit releasably secured to a cradle receptacle established with said fixed dispensing unit forming an integral dispensing face with said fixed dispensing unit and comprising at least one additional plurality of nozzles being connected to a hose in fluid communication with the fluid supply when said removable fluid dispensing unit is dissociated from said fixed fluid dispensing unit;   wherein the fluid supply is adapted to being in selective communication with at least one of said fixed and said removable fluid dispensing unit via a push pin diverter control, wherein said push pin diverter control is positioned intermediate between said fixed dispensing unit and said removable unit; and   wherein when said removable fluid dispensing unit is resting in said cradle, fluid flow is available to both said fixed fluid dispensing unit and said removable fluid dispensing unit.   
     
     
       16. The showerhead system as described in claim 15, wherein said push pin diverter control has a first position that only provides fluid supply to the fixed dispensing unit, a second position that only provides fluid supply to said removable dispensing unit, and a third position that provide fluid supply to both said fixed dispensing unit and said removable dispensing unit. 
     
     
       17. The showerhead system as described in claim 15, further comprising a removable unit mode control dial in said removable dispensing unit. 
     
     
       18. The showerhead system as described in claim 15 wherein said fixed fluid dispensing unit further comprises at least one gripping location to permit readjustment of said fixed unit about an articulating joint. 
     
     
       19. The showerhead system as described in claim 15, wherein said removable fluid dispensing unit has a plurality of spray function modes. 
     
     
       20. A showerhead system for communicating a fluid supply, said showerhead system comprising:
 a fixed fluid dispensing unit supported at a location, said fixed dispensing unit comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid supply;   a removable fluid dispensing unit releasably secured to a cradle receptacle established with said fixed dispensing unit forming an integral dispensing face with said fixed dispensing unit and comprising at least one additional plurality of nozzles being connected to a hose in fluid communication with the fluid supply when said removable fluid dispensing unit is dissociated from said fixed fluid dispensing unit;   wherein the fluid supply is adapted to being in selective communication with at least one of said fixed and said removable fluid dispensing unit via a lever diverter control, wherein said lever diverter control is positioned intermediate between said fixed dispensing unit and said removable unit; and   wherein when said removable fluid dispensing unit is resting in said cradle, fluid flow is available to both said fixed fluid dispensing unit and said removable fluid dispensing unit.   
     
     
       21. The showerhead system as described in claim 20, wherein said lever diverter control has a first position only provides fluid supply to the fixed fluid dispensing unit, a second position that only provides fluid supply to said removable fluid dispensing unit, and a third position that provides fluid supply to both said fixed fluid dispensing unit and said removable fluid dispensing unit. 
     
     
       22. The showerhead system as described in claim 20, further comprising a removable unit mode control dial in said removable fluid dispensing unit. 
     
     
       23. The showerhead system as described in claim 20 wherein said fixed fluid dispensing unit further comprises at least one gripping location to permit readjustment of said fixed unit about an articulating joint. 
     
     
       24. The showerhead system as described in claim 20, wherein said removable fluid dispensing unit has a plurality of spray function modes. 
     
     
       25. A showerhead system for communicating a fluid supply, said showerhead system comprising:
 a fixed fluid dispensing unit supported at a location, said fixed dispensing unit comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid supply;   a removable fluid dispensing unit releasably secured to a cradle receptacle established with said fixed dispensing unit forming an integral dispensing face with said fixed dispensing unit and comprising at least one additional plurality of nozzles being connected to a hose in fluid communication with the fluid supply when said removable fluid dispensing unit is dissociated from said fixed fluid dispensing unit;   wherein the fluid supply is adapted to being in selective communication with at least one of said fixed and said removable fluid dispensing unit via a push button diverter control, wherein said push button diverter control is positioned intermediate between said fixed dispensing unit and said removable unit; and   wherein when said removable fluid dispensing unit is resting in said cradle, fluid flow is available to both said fixed fluid dispensing unit and said removable fluid dispensing unit.   
     
     
       26. The showerhead system as described in claim 25, wherein said push button diverter control comprises a first push button that when activated only provides fluid supply to the fixed fluid dispensing unit, a second push button that when activated only provides fluid supply to said removable fluid dispensing unit, and a third push button that when activated provides fluid supply to both said fixed fluid dispensing unit and said removable fluid dispensing unit. 
     
     
       27. The showerhead system as described in claim 25, further comprising a removable unit mode control dial in said removable fluid dispensing unit. 
     
     
       28. The showerhead system as described in claim 25 wherein said fixed fluid dispensing unit further comprises at least one gripping location to permit readjustment of said fixed unit about an articulating joint. 
     
     
       29. The showerhead system as described in claim 25, wherein said removable fluid dispensing unit has a plurality of spray function modes.