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US 6,178,570 B2Granted
Adjustable multi-nozzle rotating hydrotherapy jet system
AssigneeB & S Plastics, Inc.
InventorsSheldon Denst, Paul A. Dongo
Life of this patent
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AssigneeB & S Plastics, Inc.
InventorsSheldon Denst, Paul A. Dongo
Estimating the term…
The system includes a jet, a rotating member or “eyeball” housing a series of discharge nozzles that can be adjusted to vary the location of an outlet flow stream as well as the direction and speed of the eyeball's rotation. A high pressure water jet flows into the eyeball and exits through the discharge nozzles. Depending upon the adjustable orientation of the nozzles, relative to the rest of the eyeball, the eyeball can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, and at varying speeds. The discharge nozzles are further positionable to permit them to be displaced in a common direction.
A hydrotherapy jet, comprising:
A hydrotherapy jet, comprising:
A hydrotherapy jet, comprising:
A hydrotherapy jet, comprising:
A hydrotherapy jet, comprising:
A hydrotherapy jet, comprising:
A spa system, comprising:
A spa system, comprising:
A spa system, comprising:
A spa system, comprising:
A spa system, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Nozzles: specifically adapted for fitting in bathtub walls
Nozzles: having flow regulating means
Nozzles: comprising means producing pulsating or intermittent streams
Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths: gas-water mixing…
Term ended 8 Oct 2018 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to rotary hydrotherapy jet.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a elevation view of a rotary eye ball type jet having a series of adjustable water jet nozzles;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the jet shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section view of the jet shown in FIG. 1 in a depicting the outlet nozzles in a parallel configuration;
The invention relates to an adjustable multi-nozzle hydrotherapy jet which provides the user with the ability to adjust the discharge direction of a series of water nozzles on a multi-nozzle carrier to provide the user with a desired flow effect. The jet can be rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, at varying rotational speeds and with different discharge patterns. As shown in FIG. 1, this is accomplished by passing a water jet 20 through a carrier that is preferrably a rotary eyeball fixture 22, causing it to rotate and discharge a jet flow 28 through a series of discharge nozzles 24 along respective discharge axes 26. Nozzles 24 are adjustable relative to a center rotation axis 30 to provide the user with a wide range of nozzle orientations and flow effects and to provide both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of eyeball 22. Furthermore, the systems design results in low pressure losses.
An adjustable multi-nozzle hydrotherapy jet 31 constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Jet 31 includes jet internals 32 enclosed within a housing 34 that consists of a jet body 36 having a set of water and air inlet conduits 38 and 40. The conduits allow for the flow of water and air into the rear of the jet transverse to the jet's axis 41; in line rather then transverse water and/or air inlets could be provided if desired. The conduits include sockets at either end to receive tubing from adjacent jets or directly from water and air systems. Body 36 includes an exterior threading 42 around its perimeter and a flange 44 at its forward end. Threads 42 mate with internal threads 46 on a nut 48 that is used to hold the jet in place in a spa or tub. Molded into the forward side of nut 48 is a serrated tapered flange 50 that interfaces with a washer 52 when the nut is screwed onto jet body 36. At the back end of washer 52 is a taper 54 which matches the taper of flange 50. The forward side of washer 52 is a flat surface 56 for contacting a spa or tub wall. Tapers 50 and 54 compensate for irregularities that may exist in the tub or spa wall, but still allow for housing 34 to be held firmly in place. Housing 34 is held in place, protruding through an opening in the wall of the spa or tub, by sandwiching the spa or tub wall surrounding the opening between a gasket 58 on the inner surface of the wall and washer 52 on the outer wall surface. The rear portion of the jet body 36 extends through the gasket and washer to the outside of the tub or spa with the flange 44 located on the inside. The assembly is locked in place by tightly screwing the nut 48 onto the threaded exterior portion of jet body 36.
Jet internals 32 make up the active elements of jet 31 and include an escutcheon 60, a rotary eyeball 22 and a diverter 62. Housed within the aft end of diverter 62 is a water ramp 64 and a venturi housing 66. Water ramp 64 includes a curved cylindrical pathway in the shape of an elbow that mates with jet body 36 at its aft end, receives water from water conduit 38 and turns the flow stream parallel to the jets longitudinal axis 41. Adjacent to its aft end, water ramp 64 has a base plate 70 which is positioned within the rear of jet body 36 to provide alignment and to prevent movement. At its forward end water ramp 64 mates with and provide the flow stream directly into venturi housing 66.