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US 6,578,207 B1Granted
Return jet fitting for pools and spas
OwnerEric L. Fratillainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wall mount return for pools and spas uses an eyeball fitting having a plurality of openings formed in its surface to selectively direct jets of water for better control of pool and spa water circulation patterns. Removable knockdowns are initially formed in each of the openings, and through their removal, permit customization of water directional flow for a particular return location. An inner directional ring formed within the eyeball fitting cooperates with the outer openings to enable the direction of water jets at non-perpendicular angles to the outer eyeball surface.
Claims34
A fitting for a swimming pool or spa return line comprising:
- a generally spherical housing having an interior cavity formed therein and an opening formed in an outer surface thereof, said interior cavity and said opening in fluid communication with one another, said outer surface further having at least one jet opening formed therein;
- an inner directional ring formed in an outer wall of and projecting into said interior cavity, said at least one jet opening extending from said outer surface and into said interior cavity through said inner directional ring;
- and
- a frangible knockout formed within said at least one jet opening and obstructing fluid communication between said jet opening and said interior cavity.
1 more element
A wall fitting for a swimming pool or spa return line comprising:
- an eyeball fitting having an inner cavity with an inner directional ring formed therein, said inner directional ring configured in a manner providing an inner cylindrical surface within the inner cavity of said eyeball fitting, said eyeball fitting further having a jet opening formed in an outer surface thereof;
- a flow passageway through said inner directional ring and said jet opening to direct a jet of water from said eyeball fitting;
- a wall fitting housing having a housing cavity formed therein of a configuration generally conforming to an outer surface of said eyeball fitting, said wall fitting further having an extension on one end thereof receivable in an outlet end of said return line for securement thereto;
- a lockdown ring selectively engageable with said wall fitting housing and having an upper seating ring formed therein of a configuration conforming to an outer surface of said eyeball fitting;
- a plurality of jet openings formed in said outer surface of said eyeball fitting and a plurality of flow passageways extending from said inner cylindrical surface of said inner directional ring, each of said jet openings in fluid communication with one of said plurality of flow passageways;
- and
- a selectively removable knockdown formed in one or more of said jet openings in a manner blocking one or more flow passageways,
- whereby said eyeball fitting is received within said wall fitting housing and secured thereto by said lockdown ring, and the selective removal of one or more of said knockdowns enables a corresponding one or more jets of water from said eyeball fitting.
5 more elements
A fitting for a swimming pool or spa return line comprising:
- a generally spherical housing having an interior cavity formed therein and an opening formed in an outer surface thereof, said interior cavity and said opening in fluid communication with one another, said outer surface further having at least one jet opening formed therein;
- and
- an inner directional ring formed in an outer wall of and projecting into said interior cavity in a manner forming a substantially cylindrical surface, said at least one jet opening extending from said outer surface and into said interior cavity through said substantially cylindrical surface of said inner directional ring in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto.
A wall fitting for a swimming pool or spa return line comprising:
- an eyeball fitting having an inner cavity with an inner directional ring formed therein, said inner directional ring configured in a manner providing an inner cylindrical surface within the inner cavity of said eyeball fitting, said eyeball fitting further having a jet opening formed in an outer surface thereof;
- a flow passageway extending from said inner directional ring in a direction substantially perpendicular to said inner cylindrical surface and in fluid communication with said jet opening to direct a jet of water from said eyeball fitting;
- a wall fitting housing having a housing cavity formed therein of a configuration generally conforming to an outer surface of said eyeball fitting, said wall fitting further having an extension on one end thereof receivable in an outlet end of said return line for securement thereto;
- and
- a lockdown ring selectively engageable with said wall fitting housing and having an upper seating ring formed therein of a configuration conforming to an outer surface of said eyeball fitting,
- whereby said eyeball fitting is received within said wall fitting housing and secured thereto by said lockdown ring.
3 more elements
A fitting for a swimming pool or spa return line comprising:
- a generally spherical housing having an interior cavity formed therein and an opening formed in an outer surface thereof, said interior cavity and said opening in fluid communication with one another and defining a first orientation axis for said fitting, said outer surface further having at least one jet opening formed therein;
- and
- an inner directional ring formed in an outer wall of and projecting into said interior cavity, said at least one jet opening extending from said outer surface and into said interior cavity through said inner directional ring in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first orientation axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.