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US 11,077,018 B2Granted
Bathing system and method of controlling same
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsJason M. Kwacz, Madelynn Bouche
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bathing system includes a vessel, an air blower, and a steam generator. The vessel comprises an inlet. The air blower is fluidly coupled to the inlet by a conduit, and is configured to provide a flow of air to the conduit. The steam generator is fluidly coupled to the conduit upstream of the inlet, and is configured to provide steam to the conduit to create a mixture of steam and air in the conduit. The air blower is further configured to direct the mixture of steam and air to the vessel.
Claims20
A bathing system, comprising:
- a vessel for accommodating a user, the vessel comprising an inlet;
- an air blower fluidly coupled to the inlet by a conduit, wherein the air blower is configured to provide a flow of air to the conduit;
- and
- a steam generator fluidly coupled to the conduit upstream of the inlet, wherein the steam generator is configured to provide steam to the conduit to combine directly with the flow of air so as to create a mixture of only steam and air in the conduit;
- wherein the air blower is further configured to direct the mixture of only steam and air to the inlet.
2 more elements
A bathing system, comprising:
- a bathtub comprising a vessel for accommodating a user, the vessel comprising an inlet;
- an air blower fluidly coupled to the inlet by a conduit, wherein the air blower is configured to provide a flow of air to the conduit;
- and
- a steam generator fluidly coupled to the conduit by a connector upstream of the inlet, wherein the steam generator is configured to provide steam to the connector to combine directly with the flow of air so as to create a mixture of only steam and air at the connector;
- wherein the air blower is further configured to direct the mixture of only steam and air to the inlet.
2 more elements
A method of controlling a bathing system, comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, a signal from a sensor that indicates a water level in a bathtub of the bathing system, the bathtub comprising a vessel for accommodating a user;
- providing, in response to the signal, a flow of air from an air blower to a conduit, wherein the conduit is coupled to an inlet of the vessel;
- providing, in response to the signal, steam from a steam generator to the conduit to combine directly with the flow of air so as to create a mixture of only steam and air, wherein the steam generator is fluidly coupled to the conduit between the inlet and the air blower;
- and
- directing, by the air blower, the mixture of only steam and air to the inlet.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.