Bathtub drain system with controllable three-way valve

Abstract

Known walk-in bathtubs with doors typically use two dedicated pumps to help quickly empty the bathtub. Because space is limited under such bathtubs, the use of two pumps takes up a lot of the available space and is relatively expensive. According to the invention, there is provided a drain system for use with a walk-in bathtub that only requires one pump. The system includes: a motorized pump; and a controllable three-way valve having: an inlet for receiving fluid; a first outlet operatively connectable to the motorized pump for generating a whirlpool in the bathtub; and a second outlet operatively connectable to the motorized pump for pumping fluid out of the bathtub.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.