Heated fog bathing system and method of controlling same
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorKenneth L. Stout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bathing system includes a primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir, and an atomizer. The primary reservoir is configured to hold a first volume of water. The secondary reservoir is in fluid communication with the primary reservoir by a channel. The secondary reservoir is configured to hold a second volume of water. The atomizer is disposed in the secondary reservoir, and is configured to introduce water from the second volume of water into a flow of air received in the channel by atomizing at least a portion of the second volume of water to form an air-water mixture upstream of the primary reservoir.
Claims20
A bathing system comprising:
- a primary reservoir configured to hold a first volume of water;
- a secondary reservoir in fluid communication with the primary reservoir by a channel, wherein the secondary reservoir is configured to hold a second volume of water;
- an atomizer disposed in the secondary reservoir;
- and
- an air blower fluidly coupled to the channel, wherein the air blower is configured to provide a flow of air to the channel;
- wherein the atomizer is configured to introduce water from the second volume of water into the flow of air received in the channel by atomizing at least a portion of the second volume of water to form an air-water mixture upstream of the primary reservoir.
A bathing system comprising:
- a primary reservoir configured to hold a first volume of water;
- a secondary reservoir in fluid communication with the primary reservoir by a channel, wherein the secondary reservoir is configured to hold a second volume of water;
- an atomizer disposed in the secondary reservoir;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the atomizer;
- wherein the atomizer is configured to introduce water from the second volume of water into a flow of air received in the channel by atomizing at least a portion of the second volume of water to form an air-water mixture upstream of the primary reservoir.
A bathing system comprising:
- a primary reservoir configured to hold a first volume of water;
- a secondary reservoir in fluid communication with the primary reservoir, wherein the secondary reservoir is configured to hold a second volume of water;
- an atomizer disposed in the secondary reservoir;
- a fluid conduit fluidly coupling the secondary reservoir to the primary reservoir;
- and
- an air blower in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, wherein the air blower is configured to provide a flow of air to the fluid conduit;
- wherein the atomizer is configured to introduce water from the second volume of water into the flow of air by atomizing at least a portion of the second volume of water to form an air-water mixture;
- and
- wherein the fluid conduit is configured to direct the air-water mixture to the primary reservoir to create bubbles in the first volume of water.
A method of controlling the water temperature of a bathing system, the method comprising:
- providing a flow of air to a fluid conduit, wherein the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with a primary reservoir including a first volume of water and a secondary reservoir including a second volume of water;
- introducing water from the second volume of water into the flow of air by atomizing at least a portion of the second volume of water to form an air-water mixture;
- directing the air-water mixture to the primary reservoir to create bubbles in the first volume of water;
- receiving, by a controller, an electronic signal indicative of a water level of the secondary reservoir;
- and
- purging, in response to the electronic signal, the secondary reservoir of fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.