Combination Cleaning, Fountain And Therapeutic Whirlpool Apparatus For Swimming Pools

Abstract

A swimming pool having in its sidewall a plurality of water-delivery outlet sockets; in combination with selectively attachable cleaning hoses of the jet-propelled type, fountain heads for converting the water flow into a series of fountain sprays during nonuse of the cleaner hoses, and therapeutic jet nozzles for converting the flow into a water and air bubble mixture for "whirlpool" agitation of the water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swimming pools with cleaning systems utilizing a plurality of flexible hoses fed from a pool circulating pump and discharging water jets along the pool bottom with a sediment-scouring action, are in common usage and are disclosed in the following patents:

Berg- U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,896

Ruston- U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,886

Whittaker- U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,949

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides such a cleaning system-equipped pool wherein the hoses are coupled to the circulation system by quick-disconnect coupling sockets in the pool wall, and which can be quickly converted to fountain or "whirlpool" operation.

Objects of the invention are to provide a swimming pool:

1. Having built-in means for attaching and operating a plurality of detachable scouring hoses;

2. Having quickly attachable means for producing a plurality of decorative fountains around the periphery of the pool;

3. Having quickly attachable means for producing one or more eruptions of air-bubble agitated water of "whirlpools" combining the advantages of aeration and the therapeutic effect of agitated water on the human body.

These and other objects will become apparent in the following specifications and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a swimming pool with the cleaning hoses of the invention attached, and with the circulation system shown in schematic diagram;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pool with the fountain nozzles attached in place of the cleaning hoses;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the pool wall and one of the coupling sockets, one of the cleaning hoses being shown fragmentarily in a position approaching coupling to the socket;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the pool wall and one of the coupling sockets, with one of the fountain nozzles coupled thereto;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the pool wall and one of the sockets, with a "whirlpool" nozzle attached thereto; and

FIG. 6 is a detail of one of the quick-disconnect assemblies.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have shown therein, as an example of the invention, a swimming pool A having a conventional water circulating and conditioning system B, an added system C of sockets and supply lines; a set of cleaning hoses D; a set of fountain nozzles E; and a set of "whirlpool" nozzles F.

Pool A includes the conventional pool wall 10, bottom drain outlet 11, and skimmer outlet 12 (FIG. 1). Its circulation system includes pump, filter and heater, so designated in the schematic showing thereof, pump inlet lines 13 and 14 extending from bottom drain outlet and skimmer 12 to the pump inlet, and a return line 15 extending from the pump discharge outlet to the pool for returning water to the pool after passing it through the filter and heater. A valve 16 controls flow through line 15.

Supplementary circulating circuit C comprises a feed line 17 branching from return line 15 and controlled by a valve 18; a plurality of branch lines 19 receiving pump discharge flow through feed line 17 when valve 18 is open; and coupling sockets 20 mounted in the pool wall and providing terminal outlets for the several branch lines 19. Each socket has a quick-disconnect fitting (FIG. 6) in the form of a bushing 21 which may be threaded at 22 for securing it in the bottom of its socket and provided with separable fastener means which can be in the form of a diametrically extending pin 23. Bushing 21 provides a cylindrical throat to snugly receive a cylindrical stem hereinafter described.

Hoses D each comprise a length of flexible tubing 25, preferably of transparent plastic material, and on one end thereof, a quick-disconnect fitting 26 having a stem 27 snugly receivable within bushing 21 and provided with suitable fastener means such as a pair of bayonet slots 28 for hooking the stem 27 to the fitting 21.

Each fountain jet E comprises a male fitting 30 like the hose fitting 26--28, and a nozzle tube 31 of elbow form, projecting at right angles from fitting 30. The bayonet elements of fitting 30 are so positioned relative to the plane of the elbow that such plane will be a vertical plane when the fitting 30 is coupled into its socket. Thus the delivery end (nozzle) of tube 31 can be positioned projecting vertically upwardly as shown, so as to deliver a fountain jet 32 upwardly. A plurality of such fountain jets, spaced around the pool margin in positions determined by sockets 20, will provide a very decorative effect whenever desired.

Each whirlpool unit F comprises a T-fitting 35 having a stem 36 like the stem 27 of hose fitting 26, adapted to be coupled into a socket 20, a breather tube 37 adapted to extend above the pool surface for air intake, and a nozzle 38 aligned with stem 36 and receiving the water flow discharged therefrom. As the flow passes through nozzle 38 it will draw air through breather tube 37 with an aspirating action, and will mix it with the flowing stream of water so that a succession of air bubbles will be discharged from nozzle 38 along with the water just below the pool surface so as to create a boiling or "whirlpool" effect in the surface area, and such agitation may be beneficially utilized for a therapeutic effect. Nozzle 38 is of larger diameter than stem 36 so as to enhance the aspirating effect and provide a discharge outlet of low resistance for maximum flow.

OPERATION

Valves 16 and 18 are operated to direct the flow from the pump discharge through the return line 15 for normal filtering operation (this is effected by opening valve 16 and closing valve 18) or to direct the flow through the supplementary circulating system C when it is desired to utilize the flow for cleaning, or for operating fountains E, or for operating whirlpool units F. The latter is accomplished by opening valve 18 and closing valve 16, thus concentrating the full pump discharge in the circuit C.

Claims

We claim:

1. A swimming pool and servicing system comprising:

a pool wall;

a pump discharge delivery line extending to said wall;

a delivery outlet in said wall at the end of said line; and a pool-servicing unit having a readily detachable fitting for coupling connection to said outlet to receive therefrom a pumped flow of water for delivering a servicing flow into the pool;

said servicing unit comprising an elbow tube projecting from said fitting and including a nozzle which projects upwardly through the pool surface when the fitting is coupled to said outlet, whereby to deliver a decorative fountain jet.

2. A swimming pool and servicing system comprising:

a pool wall;

a pump discharge delivery line extending to said wall;

a delivery outlet in said wall at the end of said line;

and a pool-servicing unit having a readily detachable fitting for coupling connection to said outlet to receive therefrom a pumped flow of water for delivering a servicing flow into the pool;

said servicing unit comprising a Tee fitting having at one end thereof means for coupling the same to said outlet, having at an opposite end a delivery nozzle aligned with said coupling means so that the discharge from said outlet will be directed therethrough, and having a breather tube extending at right angles from the common axis of said nozzle and coupling means and adapted to extend upwardly through and above the pool surface when said unit is coupled to said outlet, said unit being operable to draw air into the stream of water flowing through said tee fitting with an aspirating action and to mix it with the water flow so as to deliver from said nozzle a mixture of air bubbles and water for creating a boiling agitation of the adjacent surface area of the pool.

3. A swimming pool comprising:

a pool wall;

a pump discharge delivery line extending to said wall;

a delivery outlet in said wall at the end of said line;

and a pool-servicing unit having a readily detachable fitting for coupling connection to said outlet to receive therefrom a pumped flow of water for delivering a servicing flow into the pool;

said outlet comprising a socket set into the pool wall, opening into the pool, and having a coupling throat, and said fitting comprises a stem receivable in said throat, said throat and stem having cooperating bayonet coupling means for attaching said fitting to said socket.

4. A pool system as defined in claim 3:

said bayonet coupling means further functioning to secure said servicing unit in a selected position of orientation around the coupling axis;

said unit comprising a fountain delivery nozzle projecting upwardly through the pool surface when thus oriented.

5. A pool system as defined in claim 3:

said bayonet coupling means further functioning to secure said servicing unit in a selected position of orientation around the coupling axis;

said unit comprising an air induction tube projecting upwardly from said fitting through the pool surface when thus oriented, and said unit including a nozzle for delivering into the pool a surface agitating mixture of the water flow through said fitting and air drawn into said flow through said induction tube.