Transverse Mounted In-Line Shower Filter

Abstract

A shower filter/diverter assembly is provided for selectively outputting filtered water to one of a plurality of output ports. The assembly comprises a shower filter/diverter body having an input port for receiving unfiltered water, a plurality of output ports for outputting filtered water, a first end for receiving a shower filter and a second end for communicating the filtered water to one of the plurality of body output ports. A diverter control assembly is engageable to the filter/diverter body second end and translatable to selectively direct filtered water to one of the plurality of body output ports.

1 . A shower filter/diverter assembly for selectively outputting filtered water to one of a plurality of output ports comprising:
 a shower filter/diverter body having an input port for receiving unfiltered water, a plurality of body output ports for outputting filtered water, a first end for receiving a shower filter and a second end for communicating the filtered water to one of the plurality of body output ports; and   a diverter control assembly engageable to the filter/diverter body second end, the diverter assembly being translatable to selectively direct filtered water to one of the plurality of body output ports.   
     
     
         2 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the filter/diverter body defines an internal filter chamber for receiving a replaceable water filter cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein the filter/diverter body second end defines a filter chamber output port. 
     
     
         4 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein the diverter control assembly includes a rotatable diverter cap engageable to the filter/diverter body second end, the diverter cap being rotatable to direct filtered water from the filter chamber output port to one of the plurality of body output ports. 
     
     
         5 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein the filter/diverter body defines a plurality of filtered water output pathways, each of the filtered water pathways extending from the filter/diverter body second end to a respective one of the plurality of body output ports. 
     
     
         6 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of filtered water output pathways define a respective pathway input aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the diverter control assembly includes at least one aperture sealing member, translatable in response to rotation of the diverter cap, to selectively seal at least one of the pathway input apertures to preclude water flow therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein the sealing member is selectively translatable to preclude the communication of filtered water to at least one of the body output ports. 
     
     
         9 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein the rotatable diverter cap defines a filtered water chamber intermediate the rotatable diverter cap and the body second end, the filtered water chamber being in fluid communication with the filter chamber output port and with the filtered water output pathways. 
     
     
         10 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a shower wand support collar disposed about the filter/diverter body proximate the body first end, the shower wand support collar having a shower wand support bracket affixed thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 10  further comprising:
 a retaining ring disposed about the filter/diverter body proximate the body first end, the retaining ring having a date selector formed thereon; and 
 a date indicator ring disposed about the body first end proximate the date selector ring, the date indicator ring being rotatable relative to the date selector ring. 
 
     
     
         12 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 3  further comprising a filter cartridge disposed within the filter chamber, the filter cartridge having a filter cartridge output port engageable to the filter chamber output port and an input port disposed proximate the body first end, the filter cartridge defining a water flow path from the input port, about the filter cartridge and through the filter cartridge to the filter chamber output port. 
     
     
         13 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a filter retaining cap engageable to the filter/diverter body first end. 
     
     
         14 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a filter cartridge retaining member being disposed proximate the filter cartridge intermediate the filter cartridge retaining cap, and the filter cartridge input port, the filter cartridge retaining member defining a plurality of radially arrayed passageways to facilitate the flow of unfiltered water from the filter chamber to the filter cartridge input port. 
     
     
         15 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein the plurality of body output ports comprise first and second output ports. 
     
     
         16 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein the plurality of filtered water output pathways comprises first and second filtered water output pathways. 
     
     
         17 . The filter/diverter assembly as recited in  claim 1  where in the filter/diverter body defines a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis being transverse to the direction of water flow into the body input port.