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US 6,131,212 AGranted
Extendible and retractable spa jet with air/water venturi
OwnerHarold Langinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extendible and retractable spa jet having an air/water venturi resides in the side wall of a tub or spa in a retracted position and is operated by the existing pressurized water supply to produce a turbulent aerated stream of water and air bubbles. In the retracted position it serves as a conventional fixed air/water jet. When desired, it may be extended outwardly from the side wall of the enclosure and used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body not possible with fixed spa jets.
Claims18
An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus for use in fluid containing enclosures which have at least one side wall and a pressurized water distribution system, the jet apparatus comprising:
- an elongate housing having first and second ends, a hollow interior surrounded by a side wall, a first water outlet conduit at said first end adapted to be secured to the exterior of said enclosure side wall to place said housing interior in fluid communication with said enclosure interior, a first water port near said first end, and a second water port near said second end;
- a piston slidably disposed within said elongate housing interior engaged in reciprocating relation with the interior of said housing side wall, and having a water passageway extending therethrough, said piston being movable between said housing first and second ends;
- and
- a second water outlet conduit slidably disposed inside said first water outlet conduit and connected at a first end in fluid communication with said piston water passageway;
- a water discharge nozzle connected in fluid communication with a second end of said second water outlet conduit to move therewith, said second water outlet conduit having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said first water outlet conduit to define a water annulus therebetween;
- wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, and water flows through said water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure;
- and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through the interior of said second water outlet conduit and nozzle, and is discharged into said enclosure.
6 more elements
An extendible and retractable air/water jet apparatus for use in fluid containing enclosures which have at least one side wall and a pressurized water distribution system, the jet apparatus comprising:
- an elongate housing having first and second ends, a hollow interior surrounded by a side wall, a first water port near said first end, and a second water port near said second end, and a first water outlet conduit connected at a first end to said housing first end in fluid communication with said housing interior;
- a hollow generally cylindrical member at a second end of said first water outlet conduit adapted to be secured to the exterior of said enclosure side wall and having a central bore in fluid communication with said enclosure interior;
- a piston slidably disposed within said elongate housing interior engaged in reciprocating fluid sealing relation with the interior of said housing side wall, and having a water passageway extending therethrough, said piston being movable between said housing first and second ends;
- and
- a second water outlet conduit slidably disposed inside said first water outlet conduit and connected at a first end in fluid communication with said piston water passageway;
- a water discharge nozzle connected in fluid communication with a second end of said second water outlet conduit to move therewith, said second water outlet conduit having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of said first water outlet conduit and said cylindrical member bore to define a first water annulus therebetween;
- wherein
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said first water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing second end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is retracted within said first water outlet conduit, and water flows through said first water annulus and is discharged around said second water outlet conduit and nozzle into said enclosure;
- and
- when water under pressure fills said housing through said second water port, said piston is moved to a position near said housing first end, said second water outlet conduit and nozzle is extended outwardly relative to said first water outlet conduit, said piston closes off water flow through said first water annulus, and water flows through said piston water passageway, through the interior of said second water outlet conduit and nozzle, and is discharged into said enclosure.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.