US 12,240,007 B2
Self-cleaning misting nozzle
Donald P. Freier, Sheboygan, WI (US)
Assigned to KOHLER CO., Kohler, WI (US)
Filed by Kohler Co., Kohler, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/826,420.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,208, filed on Mar. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0306783 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. B05B 15/525 (2018.01); A61H 33/00 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 15/525 (2018.02) [A61H 33/6068 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shower steam system comprising:
a steam generator; and
a spray nozzle fluidly coupled to the steam generator, the spray nozzle comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal bore extending to an outlet, the housing including an atomizing member positioned adjacent the outlet and defining a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end;
an elongated member coupled to the housing in the longitudinal bore, the elongated member defining a pin at a distal end thereof,
a body slidably coupled to the housing in the longitudinal bore, the body including an opening extending therethrough and defining a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end; and
a biasing member configured to bias the body against the elongated member to a closed position by a biasing force such that the elongated member extends through the opening;
wherein the body is configured to move axially away from the elongated member toward the atomizing member in response to a pressure of a flow of water being above a threshold value so as to overcome the biasing force and allow the flow of water to pass through the opening to the atomizing member, wherein in the closed position, the body engages a step formed adjacent the pin of the elongated member at a distal end of the elongated member to limit axial movement of the body relative to the housing, wherein the elongated member includes a first portion comprising a plurality of channels extending through the first portion of the elongated member and a second portion extending from the first portion to the distal end of the elongated member, wherein the plurality of channels are configured to direct the flow of water from the inlet to the body, wherein no portion of the body contacts the first portion when the body is in the closed position, wherein the pin extends at least partially outside of the longitudinal bore defined by the housing, and wherein, in the closed position, the distal end of the body is flush with the distal end of the housing such that the pin extends entirely though a complementary portion of the opening.