# US 5,499,406 A · Safety suction assembly for use in whirlpool baths and the like

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- Number: US 5,499,406 A
- Document ID: US5499406A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/353,664
- Filed: 1994-12-12
- Granted: 1996-03-19
- Earliest claimed: 1994-12-12
- Assignees: Hydrabaths, Inc.
- Inventors: Philip E. Chalberg; Paul N. Kenchel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5499406A

## CPC

- A61H 33/6073: {Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths}
- A61H 2201/0176: By stopping operation
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A suction assembly employs an air induction tube to induct air into the recirculating water pump to cause the pump to cease pumping operation when the front face of the assembly is blocked. The induction tube is connected to a bleed path formed between the induction tube and a surrounding coaxial face tube extended into the assembly from the front face. When the face is blocked by hair or the like, water in the induction tube bleeds into the main chamber of the assembly and empties the induction tube. Air is then pulled into the pump, causing the pump to lose prime thereby reducing pump pressure to zero and allowing the hair or other blocking material to be removed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spa or whirlpool bath suction assembly comprising:
a body having a main chamber and an induction chamber, an integral pump inlet pipe connected to said main chamber and an induction tube connected to said induction chamber;
a face connected to said body, said face having a plurality of suction apertures providing passages for water flow into said body and into said pump inlet pipe, said face having an integral face tube extending into said body in overlapping coaxial relation to said induction chamber and forming a bleed path therebetween.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The suction assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said induction tube is connected to an air filter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The suction assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said face comprises a smooth surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The suction assembly recited in claim 1 wherein the flow rate between said face apertures and said induction chamber is at least ten times greater than the flow rate in said bleed path.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The suction assembly recited in claim 1 further comprising a seal positioned between said bleed path and said face tube.

### Claim 6

A suction assembly connected through an aperture in a wall of a whirlpool bath or spa tub below the water in the tub and connected to an inlet of a pump used for recirculating the water and propelling the water through a plurality of whirlpool bath jets; the assembly comprising:
a face on the inside of the tub wall, the face having a plurality of apertures through which the recirculated water flows into the assembly and into the inlet;
a body on the outside of the tub wall and connected to said face through said aperture, said body having a main chamber connected to said inlet and an elongated induction chamber open to ambient through an induction tube extended toward the top of the tub;
said face further having a tube extending through said tub wall aperture, exterior of said tub in overlapping coaxial relation to said induction chamber and forming a bleed path therebetween, whereby pressure in said face tube forming a column of water in said induction tube during normal operation of said suction assembly and whereby blockage of said face reduces said pressure and empties said column of water thereby permitting air to enter said pump inlet and cease said circulation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The suction assembly recited in claim 6 wherein said induction tube is connected to an air filter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The suction assembly recited in claim 6 wherein said face comprises a smooth surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The suction assembly recited in claim 6 wherein the flow rate between said face apertures and said induction chamber is at least ten times greater than the flow rate in said bleed path.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The suction assembly recited in claim 6 further comprising a seal positioned between said bleed path and said face tube.