US3890655A - Whirlpool jet for bathtubs - Google Patents

Abstract

A whirlpool jet outlet for bathtubs, therapy tanks, swimming pools and the like. A housing has a hollow interior chamber. A water inlet supplying water under pressure is connected through one side of the housing to the inner end of the chamber. A Venturi air inlet is connected to the inner end of the chamber to speed the flow of water through and out of the chamber. A water outlet is screw threadedly mounted in the front of the chamber. The housing extends through an opening in the side of the tub, the water outlet being substantially flush with the inside of the tub. The wall of the tub is gripped between the water outlet and the housing. A jet outlet control is mounted for rotation by a coin or the like within the water outlet to control the direction of water flow into the tub.

Description

United States Patent Mathis June 24, 1975 WHIRLPOOL JET FOR BATHTUBS [76] Inventor: Cleo n. Mathis, 1808 Potrero Ave., Prlmary Artis South El Monte Ca 91733 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C. Comstock [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No.: 392,046

A whirlpool jet outlet for bathtubs, therapy tanks, swimming pools and the like. A housing has a hollow [52] US. Cl. 4/178; 4/178; 128/66 in rior chamber. A water inlet supplying water under [5!] Int.Cl A47k 3/10 pressure is connected through one side of the housing [58] Field of Search 4/180, 181, 173, 178, l; to the inner end of the chamber. A Venturi air inlet is 133/40 39 4] 46; 128/66 connected to the inner end of the chamber to speed the flow of water through and out of the chamber. A [56] References Cited water outlet is screw threadedly mounted in the front UNITED STATES PATENTS of the chamber. The housing extends through an opening in the side of the tub, the water outlet being 5222: Porter substantially flush with the inside of the tub. The wall 3:391:870 7/1968 X of the tub is gripped between the water outlet and the 3,396,412 8/1963 prancomw 4 17g X housing. A jet outlet control is mounted for rotation 3,548,815 12/1970 Everst0n.... 4/17 X by a coin or the like within the water outlet to control 3,571,820 3/ 197] Jacuzzi 4/ 180 the direction of water flow into the tub. 3,614,952 lO/197l Agnellino... 4/178 X 3,628,529 12 1971 Steimle 4/180 7 Claims, 5 Drawmg FlgurcsM 3/ /7 27 25 E 20 v 26 1 WHIRLPOOL .IET FOR BATHTUBS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a whirlpool jet outlet for bathtubs which may also be used in therapy tanks, therapy pools. swimming pools and the like,

2. Description of the Prior Art There are a number of whirlpool jet outlets and outlet structures on the market at the present time, all of which are relatively complex in their structure, installation and operation. They are not readily adaptable to various types of installations and environments. The water outlets of such devices customarily protrude a substantial distance into the bathtub, which is unsightly, is likely to result in accidents and injury and is generally undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a whirlpool jet which is an improvement over the prior art because of its extreme simplicity of structure, installation and operation.

Another advantage of the invention is that the structure is compact and the outlet does not protrude a substantial distance into the tub or tank.

The invention provides a whirlpool jet outlet which can be equally and easily installed on any existing tub, tank or pool. It is universal and is automatically selfadjusting to varying thicknesses of wall structure.

Because of its simplicity of structure, installation and operation. it is more economical than existing devices and can be manufactured. sold and installed at a substantially low price.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a whirlpool jet outlet for bathtubs and the like having all of the advantages and benefits set forth above and which are provided by the structure described in detail hereinafter in this specification.

The invention also comprises such other objects, ad-

vantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by the invention.

While there are shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate the invention comprises a main body member orhousing 10. The housing is provided with awater inlet pipe 11, one end of which may be soldered or otherwise attached to the side of thehousing 10. The other end of thewater inlet pipe 11 is connected to a suitable source of water supply under pressure. Thewater inlet pipe 11 connects with aninlet passage 12 which extends transversely into the side of thehousing 10 past the longitudinal axis of thehousing 10.

Connecting with the inner end of theinlet passage 12 is anaxial bore 13 which extends forwardly substantially along the longitudinal axis of thehousing 10 to an openended chamber 14 of substantially larger diameter.

Theair inlet tube 15 has one end thereof soldered or otherwise connected to the top of thehousing 10. The opposite end of theair inlet tube 15 is vented to the atmosphere. Theair inlet tube 15 connects with a Venturi air inlet passage which extends downwardly from the top of thehousing 10 to the inner end of thechamber 14, directly above the termination of theaxial bore 13.

Awater outlet 16 has an exteriorly threadedshank 17 which extends into and engages internal screw threading which extends around the interior periphery of thechamber 14 for its entire length. Theshank 17 has an unthreadedhollow interior 18 which extends completely through theshank 17. Both ends of theinterior 18 are open. Rotatably mounted within the outer portion of thehollow interior 18 is a substantially cylindricaljet outlet control 19. The outer end of the outlet control 19 buts against aradial wall 20 which is disposed adjacent to the outer end of theinterior 18.

Thejet outlet control 19 is provided with an angularly directedwater passage 21, which extends completely through thecontrol 19. The inner end of thecontrol 19 has a flatradial wall 22 extending completely around its periphery except for a cut away portion forming the inner end of thepassage 21. Anelongated coil spring 23 is mounted between thewall 22 of thecontrol 19 and the inner end of thechamber 14. Thecoil spring 23 constantly urges thecontrol 19 outwardly and maintains it in any rotational orientation to which it may be moved.

The outer end of theoutlet 16 has a wide annularradial flange 24. The exterior of theshank 17 adjacent to the inside of theflange 24 is provided with anannular collar 25 of substantially equal diameter with the threading of theshank 17. Anannular groove 26 is disposed between thecollar 25 and the threading of theshank 17. Abushing 27 is mounted within thegroove 26.

The outer face of thewater outlet 16 is flat, except for an annular inwardlybevelled portion 28, which surrounds the outer end of thecontrol 19.

In use, the device may be installed on a side orend wall 29 of a bathtub, tank or pool by drilling a 1 inch hole through thewall 29. Theshank 17 of theoutlet 16 is mounted so that it extends completely through thewall 29. Theoutlet 16 is disposed on the inside of thewall 29 and thehousing 10 is disposed on the outside of thewall 29.

Theshank 17 is threadedly engaged with the threading on the interior of thechamber 14 of thehousing 10 until thewall 29 is disposed between the flat inner face of theflange 24 and the flatouter end 35 of thehousing 10, which surrounds the outer end of thechamber 14. Theflange 24 may be provided with a pair of diametrically spacedopenings 30 to accommodate a wrench for use in rotating the outlet l6. The inner end of the housing may be provided with a pair of diametrically opposedflattened portions 31 to accommodate a wrench or other tool.

When theoutlet 16 andhousing 10 are brought into tight engagement with the opposite sides of thewall 29, the bushing 27 forms a sealing engagement with the inside of thewall 29 surrounding the opening therein. to prevent water leakage. The outer flat face of thecontrol 19 is provided with a pair of diametrically spacedslots 32 which are adapted to receive a coin or other suitable operating member for the purpose of rotating thecontrol 19 within theoutlet 16 to control and change the direction of movement of water flowing out of thecontrol 19. The bevelledportion 28 on the outer face of theoutlet 16 facilitates access to theslots 32.

When thewater inlet pipe 11 is connected to a suitable conventional source of water supply under pressure, the water flows through theinlet passage 12 into theaxial bore 13 and then into thechamber 14. Passage of the water through thechamber 14 under pressure draws air into thechamber 14 through theair inlet passage 16 by Venturi action. Water from thechamber 14 passes with substantial pressure, augmented by the Venturi action, through thepassage 21 of thecontrol 19 into the tub or tank.

The direction of the jet water flow may easily be changed by merely rotating thecontrol 19 within theoutlet 16 in the manner described above. Thecontrol 19 is freely rotatable, but is held by thespring 23 so that it will maintain any rotational orientation to which it is moved.

The device can be used in any tank or tub wall through which an opening of 1 inch diameter can be drilled, with room on the opposite side of the wall to accommodate thehousing 10.

It should be noted in particular that no faucets, balls, jets or other outlet devices protrude into the bathtub or tank. The only portion of the device which extends inwardly from thewall 29 is theflange 24 of theoutlet 16. It is flat and only a small fraction of an inch thick. It cannot cause any personal injury and is not unsightly.

FIG. 4 of the drawings shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which an alternate form ofoutlet control member 19a is screw threadedly mounted within the outer end of theshank 17a. This eliminates the necessity of using a coil spring and thecontrol 19a can be rotated and will maintain its rotational position through frictional engagement of the threading which is augmented by the force of the water passing through For a more economical structure, thecontrol member 19 may be completely eliminated, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The interior of the shank 17b is hollow and smooth. Water passes through it and is projected straight out into the tub or in any other fixed direction for which it may be constructed.

Instead of theflange 24 being round, withopenings 30 to accommodate a wrench, it may be formed with an irregular periphery which accommodates use of a wrench or other tool. FIG. 5 of the drawings shows an hexagonal flange 2412 as merely one possible alternative configuration. It should be understood that both of these alternative structures are illustrated in FIG. 5 for convenience for installation only and they obviously may be used independently of each other.

It should be noted that the device of the present in vention requires no screws or other fastening members to be attached to the tub.

The device may be made in various sizes, the one inch size referred to herein being selected for purposes of illustration.

Thepassage 12 might extend completely through thehousing 10, with an outlet pipe corresponding to theinlet pipe 11 being connected to the opposite side of thepassage 12. This arrangement could be used to connect a plurality of outlets in series.

I claim:

1. A whirlpool jet for bathtubs and the like comprising a housing, a chamber formed within said housing, a water inlet connected at one end thereof to a source of water supply under pressure and at the opposite end thereof to the inner end of said chamber, a Venturi air inlet extending through said housing to the inner end of said chamber, whereby the movement of water through said chamber is speeded by a Venturi effect, a water outlet extending through a circular opening in the wall of the bathtub, said water outlet being threadedly mounted within the outer end of said chamber, said water outlet having an annular radial flange, said flange having an inner surface abutting against the inside of the bathtub wall, said housing having a flat outer end abutting against the outside of the bathtub wall, said water outlet having an annular groove formed therein adjacent to said flange. a resilient O-ring bushing mounted in said groove, said bushing making sealing engagement with the inner edge surface of said opening. the bathtub wall upon rotational tightening of said water outlet with respect to said housing being held between said flange and said housing to mount said jet on the bathtub without any fastening members being connected to the bathtub, the threaded engagement between said water outlet and housing providing automatic adjustment of said jet to fit various thicknesses of bathtub walls.

2. The structure described in claim 1, said flange being thin and comprising the only portion of said jet disposed on the inside of said bathtub, said flange fitting substantially flush with the inner wall of said tub to prevent injury by occupants of the tub falling and strik ing against said jet.

3. The structure described inclaim 2, and a jet outlet control threadedly mounted within said water outlet, said control having an angularly directed water passage extending therethrough, said control being rotatable with respect to said outlet to control and change the direction of water flow into said bathtub from said jet.

4. The structure described inclaim 3, said control having a pair of diametrically spaced slots on opposite sides of the control opening, said slots being adapted to receive a coin or the like to rotate said control.

5. The structure described in claim 4, said flange hav ing a pair of diametrically spaced circular openings extending inwardly from its outer face to accommodate a wrench for use in rotating said water outlet with respect to said housing in mounting said jet on a bathtub.

6. The structure described inclaim 2, said source of water supply comprising a water inlet pipe connecting with an inlet passage extending transversely into the side of said housing inwardly from the end thereof, said inlet pipe also being disposed inwardly'from the end of said housing toward the wall of the bathtub.

7. The structure described in claim 6, said passage extending completely through said housing, and an outlet pipe connecting the opposite end of said passage with at least one additional housing.

Claims (7)

1. A whirlpool jet for bathtubs and the like comprising a housing, a chamber formed within said housing, a water inlet connected at one end thereof to a source of water supply under pressure and at the opposite end thereof to the inner end of said chamber, a Venturi air inlet eXtending through said housing to the inner end of said chamber, whereby the movement of water through said chamber is speeded by a Venturi effect, a water outlet extending through a circular opening in the wall of the bathtub, said water outlet being threadedly mounted within the outer end of said chamber, said water outlet having an annular radial flange, said flange having an inner surface abutting against the inside of the bathtub wall, said housing having a flat outer end abutting against the outside of the bathtub wall, said water outlet having an annular groove formed therein adjacent to said flange, a resilient O-ring bushing mounted in said groove, said bushing making sealing engagement with the inner edge surface of said opening, the bathtub wall upon rotational tightening of said water outlet with respect to said housing being held between said flange and said housing to mount said jet on the bathtub without any fastening members being connected to the bathtub, the threaded engagement between said water outlet and housing providing automatic adjustment of said jet to fit various thicknesses of bathtub walls.

2. The structure described in claim 1, said flange being thin and comprising the only portion of said jet disposed on the inside of said bathtub, said flange fitting substantially flush with the inner wall of said tub to prevent injury by occupants of the tub falling and striking against said jet.

3. The structure described in claim 2, and a jet outlet control threadedly mounted within said water outlet, said control having an angularly directed water passage extending therethrough, said control being rotatable with respect to said outlet to control and change the direction of water flow into said bathtub from said jet.

4. The structure described in claim 3, said control having a pair of diametrically spaced slots on opposite sides of the control opening, said slots being adapted to receive a coin or the like to rotate said control.

5. The structure described in claim 4, said flange having a pair of diametrically spaced circular openings extending inwardly from its outer face to accommodate a wrench for use in rotating said water outlet with respect to said housing in mounting said jet on a bathtub.

6. The structure described in claim 2, said source of water supply comprising a water inlet pipe connecting with an inlet passage extending transversely into the side of said housing inwardly from the end thereof, said inlet pipe also being disposed inwardly from the end of said housing toward the wall of the bathtub.

7. The structure described in claim 6, said passage extending completely through said housing, and an outlet pipe connecting the opposite end of said passage with at least one additional housing.

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