Whirlpool jet for bathtubs

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

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 self-adjusting 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, advantages 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

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the whirlpool jet outlet in use on a bathtub;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the same taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the same taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a first alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a second alternative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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

Connecting with the inner end of the inlet passage 12 is an axial bore 13 which extends forwardly substantially along the longitudinal axis of the housing 10 to an open ended chamber 14 of substantially larger diameter.

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

A water outlet 16 has an exteriorly threaded shank 17 which extends into and engages internal screw threading which extends around the interior periphery of the chamber 14 for its entire length. The shank 17 has an unthreaded hollow interior 18 which extends completely through the shank 17. Both ends of the interior 18 are open. Rotatably mounted within the outer portion of the hollow interior 18 is a substantially cylindrical jet outlet control 19. The outer end of the outlet control 19 buts against a radial wall 20 which is disposed adjacent to the outer end of the interior 18.

The jet outlet control 19 is provided with an angularly directed water passage 21, which extends completely through the control 19. The inner end of the control 19 has a flat radial wall 22 extending completely around its periphery except for a cut away portion forming the inner end of the passage 21. An elongated coil spring 23 is mounted between the wall 22 of the control 19 and the inner end of the chamber 14. The coil spring 23 constantly urges the control 19 outwardly and maintains it in any rotational orientation to which it may be moved.

The outer end of the outlet 16 has a wide annular radial flange 24. The exterior of the shank 17 adjacent to the inside of the flange 24 is provided with an annular collar 25 of substantially equal diameter with the threading of the shank 17. An annular groove 26 is disposed between the collar 25 and the threading of the shank 17. A bushing 27 is mounted within the groove 26.

The outer face of the water outlet 16 is flat, except for an annular inwardly bevelled portion 28, which surrounds the outer end of the control 19.

In use, the device may be installed on a side or end wall 29 of a bathtub, tank or pool by drilling a 1 inch hole through the wall 29. The shank 17 of the outlet 16 is mounted so that it extends completely through the wall 29. The outlet 16 is disposed on the inside of the wall 29 and the housing 10 is disposed on the outside of the wall 29.

The shank 17 is threadedly engaged with the threading on the interior of the chamber 14 of the housing 10 until the wall 29 is disposed between the flat inner face of the flange 24 and the flat outer end 35 of the housing 10, which surrounds the outer end of the chamber 14. The flange 24 may be provided with a pair of diametrically spaced openings 30 to accommodate a wrench for use in rotating the outlet 16. The inner end of the housing 10 may be provided with a pair of diametrically opposed flattened portions 31 to accommodate a wrench or other tool.

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

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

The direction of the jet water flow may easily be changed by merely rotating the control 19 within the outlet 16 in the manner described above. The control 19 is freely rotatable, but is held by the spring 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 the housing 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 the wall 29 is the flange 24 of the outlet 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 of outlet control member 19a is screw threadedly mounted within the outer end of the shank 17a. This eliminates the necessity of using a coil spring and the control 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 it.

For a more economical structure, the control 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 the flange 24 being round, with openings 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 24b 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 invention 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.

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

Claims

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 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.