US3846848A - Control assembly for bathtub hydrotherapy unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A water circulating pump supported within the bathtub, the pump having a discharge outlet which can be rotated to control the direction of discharge. The control of the direction is achieved by a manually rotatable sleeve located above the pump and surrounding a portion of the exterior casing for the unit. The sleeve is coupled with the pump housing by a hollow tube which encases a rotatable control shaft for a pump discharge flow control valve and also provides a conduit for induction of air into the discharge from the pump. A manual adjustment handle for the valve control shaft also provides a means of controlling the air flow.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 McNair 51 Nov. 12, 1974 1 CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR BATHTUB 3,411,499 11/1968 Jacuzzi 128/66 HYDROTHERAPY UNIT 3,698.832 10/1972 Price 415/148 Inventor: Samuel L. McNair, Overland Park,

Kans.

Assignee: Daley Products Co., Kansas City,

Filed: Aug. 22, 1973 Appl. No.: 390,384

US.Cl 4/180, 4/178, 128/66, 415/127 Int.Cl A47k 3/00, A61h 33/02, A6lh 9/00 Field of Search 128/66; 415/148, 127; 4/180, 178

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1918 Butler 415/148 2/1957 Schroeter 12/1966 Bascomb 128/66 Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-L. .1. Casaregola Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lowe, Kokjer. Kircher, Wharton & Bowman [57] ABSTRACT -A manual adjustment handle for the valve contro1 shaft also provides a means of controlling the air flow.

3 Claims, 5Drawing Figures PAIENIEDIM 12 mm 3,846, 846' all! mu CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR BATI-ITUB HYDROTHERAPY UNIT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable water circulating unit that can be used in a standard bathtub for therapeutic effects.

In order to be easily installed and operated in conventional bathtubs, a portable water circulating unit, sometimes called a whirlpool unit, should be light in weight, easily maneuverable, safe in operation and easily adjustable, both as to the flow rate and the direction of discharge. The unit according to my invention meets all of these requirements and is particularly characterized by a simple and safe control assembly relating to the control of the rate of discharge, the direction of the discharge into the tub and the induction of air when desired, into the discharged stream from the pump.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a convenient and safe control assembly by which the direction of discharge of the circulating pump, the flow rate and induction of air can be varied at will without requiring the placing of the hand in the vicinity of the pump but instead, by placing it at a convenient location well above the pump and close to the surface of the water.

Another important object of the invention is to reduce as fast as possible the number of components required to provide structural support and operational effectiveness for the directional, flow rate and air induction controls.

Other and further objects of the invention together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto will appear in course of the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred unit embodying the invention mounted in operating position on a conventional bathtub;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the inner section of the housing for the unit, showing the pump and the control assembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a still further enlarged scale showing the rotatable support components for the pump housing.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a hollow casing, 10, in the shape of an inverted U which houses the operating elements of the unit. Thiscasing 10, which may be made of a light weight plastic, consists of an upper portion 11 andlower portion 12 which are secured together by means of screws 13 (FIG. 2). The upper portion 11 contains ahandle 14 for lifting and maneuvering the unit as a whole. The lower portion has a section 12a outside the tub and asection 12b inside the tub. The pump is indicated at 15, being at the lowerend ofhousing section 12b. An electric motor (not shown) is located in section 120 and is used to transmit power to the pump in a manner similar to that described in US. Pat. No. 2,782,425.

The pump power is supplied through adrive shaft 16 which drives the rotary impeller 17 which is located within thepump housing 18. The impeller 17 draws water in through the perforations of a perforated plate 18a which is located on the underside ofpump housing 18. Water is discharged through theoutlet 19, which is formed integral with thepump housing 18.

The rotatable mounting of thepump housing 18 in relation to thecasing section 12b is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Thedrive shaft 16 for the impeller is substantially centered insection 12b of the casing, and the lower end of the drive shaft is secured to the impeller .17. The lower end of thesection 12b has an integral,

inset dependingcollar member 21 having an inturned annular flange 21a. Aflat ring 22 is located beneath the flange 21a and is secured thereto by means ofscrews 23, there being a smallopen space 24 between the flange 21a and the ring 22 (See FIG. 5).

The upper portion of thepump housing 18 is formed to provide anintegral flange 25, the underside of which is provided withannular groove 26. Theunderlying ring member 22 contains a similarannular groove 27. Thesecircular grooves 26 and 27 are positioned one above the other such that aring 28 made of a low friction material can be placed in therespective grooves 26 and 27, thereby supporting the pump housing 17 upon thering member 22 and permitting rotation of thepump housing 18 relative to thesections 12b of the casing. The axial position of pump housing 17 is stabilized by bearing contact between the inner edge of theflange 25 and the outer surface ofcollar 21, and between an upstanding annular boss 25a and the adjoining surface ofcasing section 12b.

Thepump housing 18, can be rotated to channel the direction of flow from thedischarge outlet 19 by means of rotating asleeve 32 which is rotatably fitted onto thecasing section 12b above the pump. Thesleeve 32 circumscribes thecasing section 12b and includes anintegral boss 33 which is parallel with the sleeve axis through which there is acylindrical passage 34. A portion of atube 35 is anchored within thepassage 34, the lower portion of thetube 33 extending into and being anchored within a similarcylindrical passage 36 formed an upwardly extendingboss 37 integral with thepump housing 18 anddischarge outlet 19. When thesleeve 32, theupper portion 38 of which is provided with parallel ridges to facilitate obtaining a firm grip, is rotated, the rotation is transmitted by thetube 33 to thepump housing 18 to rotate it in the same direction, thus to change the position of thedischarge outlet 19. Thetube 33 is anchored against rotation or vertical movement by aset screw 39 extending through the wall of the upwardly extendingboss 37 of the pump housing by aset screw 40 extending through the wall of theboss 37 on the sleeve.

Contained within thetube 35 is ashaft 41 which is generally centered in the tube and free to rotate. The upper portion of theshaft 41 containsthreads 43 which mesh with thethreads 44 of an internally threaded member 45 that is secured to the top of thevertical tube 35. Secured to the top of theinner shaft 41 is acontrol handle 46. The handle rotatably circumscribes thetube 33. Thus when thecontrol handle 46 is rotated, the meshing of the two sets ofthreads 43 and 44 causes theinner shaft 41 to move either up or down relative to thetube 35, depending on the direction of rotation of thecontrol handle 46. The vertical distance that theinner shaft 41 can be moved is restricted by the number ofthreads 43 on the shaft so that when thethreads 43 of theinner shaft 41 cease to mesh with thethreads 33 of the internally threaded member 45, theinner shaft 41 is unable to move any further in that direction.

Contained within thedischarge outlet 19 is an oval shaped, hingedvalve 47 supported byhinge pin 48 that extends through the sides of thedischarge outlet 19. When wateris discharged fromtheoutlet 19, the pressure of the water forces the front section of the valve to rise, thus opening thevalve 47 and allowing the water to pass through it. Theinner shaft 41 is located such that its lower extremity is capable of coming into contact with and depressing the front section of thevalve 47. This downward contact pressure of theinner shaft 41 on thevalve 47 counteracts the water pressure and thus thevalve 47 can be fully closed, partially closed, or fully opened, depending on the position of theinner shaft 41. In this manner theinner shaft 41 andvalve 47 can be used to control the rate of discharge of water into the tub.

A series ofapertures 49 are arranged in a vertical row in one side of thecontrol handle 46. There is also a cooperating air opening 50 in thetube 33. Theapertures 49 in thecontrol handle 46 can be aligned, partially aligned, or not aligned at all with theopening 50 in thetube 33, depending on the rotational position of thehandle 46, for any vertically adjusted position of the control handle. The discharge of water throughoutlet 19 induces a negative pressure within the tube. When theapertures 49 in the handle are aligned with theopening 50, air enters thetube 33 through them and flows to the bottom of the tube, where it intermixes with the liquid flowing from theoutlet 19. By alignment or partial alignment of the air holes the amount of air intermixed with the liquid can be regulated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In an apparatus for circulating water in a tub, said apparatus including a centrifugal pump for immersion in the tub and a vertical casing extending thereabove for housing the pump drive shaft, the improvement comprising:

a centrifugal pump housing supported on the bottom end of said casing and rotatable relative thereto, said pump housing having an inlet and a lateral discharge outlet.

a valve member mounted interiorly of said outlet for controlling flow therethrough,

a sleeve circumscribing said casing above the pump housing and rotatable in relation to the casing, and

, rigid connecting means connecting the sleeve to the pump housing to effect angular adjustment of said outlet in response to rotation of the sleeve, said rigid means including means for controlling the operation of said valve.

2. The improvement of claim 1, said rigid means including, a hollow tube extending between said sleeve and housing, and

a shaft threadingly engaged within said tube and rotatable therein for vertical movement to operate said valve member.

3. The improvement as inclaim 2, said tube communicating at its lower end with the interior of said outlet, said tube having I air flow control means at its upper end operable to control the ingress of air to the tube and to effect rotation of said shaft.

Disclaimer and Dedication 3,846,848.-Samuel L. McNair, Overland Park, Kans. CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR BATHTUB HYDROTHERAPY UNIT. Patent dated Nov. 12, 1974. Disclaimer and Dedication filed Dec. 23, 1982, by the assignee,

Dazey Products Co. Hereby disclaims and dedicates to the Public the entire remaining term of said patent.

[Official Gazette March 15, 1983.]

Claims (3)

1. In an apparatus for circulating water in a tub, said apparatus including a centrifugal pump for immersion in the tub and a vertical casing extending thereabove for housing the pump drive shaft, the improvement comprising: a centrifugal pump housing supported on the bottom end of said casing and rotatable relative thereto, said pump housing having an inlet and a lateral discharge outlet. a valve member mounted interiorly of said outlet for controlling flow therethrough, a sleeve circumscribing said casing above the pump housing and rotatable in relation to the casing, and rigid connecting means connecting the sleeve to the pump housing to effect angular adjustment of said outlet in response to rotation of the sleeve, said rigid means including means for controlling the operation of said valve.

2. The improvement of claim 1, said rigid means including, a hollow tube extending between said sleeve and housing, and a shaft threadingly engaged within said tube and rotatable therein for vertical movement to operate said valve member.

3. The improvement as in claim 2, said tube communicating at its lower end with the interior of said outlet, said tube having air flow control means at its uPper end operable to control the ingress of air to the tube and to effect rotation of said shaft.

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