Whirlpool bathtub and purging system
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsJeff Tempas, Ravikanth Manchiraju, Santosh R. Narasimhan, Fred Ogreenc
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A whirlpool bathtub system includes a basin having a plurality of nozzles, a water feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles, an air feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles, a pump configured to circulate water to the basin through the water feed line, and a blower having an off condition and an on condition, the blower being configured to provide air to the basin through the air feed line. When the blower is in the off condition, the blower is configured to allow air to flow into the air feed line. When the blower is in the on condition, the blower is configured to increase the flow of air flowing into the air feed line.
Claims20
A whirlpool bathtub system comprising:
- a basin having a plurality of nozzles;
- a water feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles;
- an air feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles;
- a pump configured to circulate water to the basin through the water feed line;
- and
- a blower having an off condition and an on condition, the blower being configured to provide air to the basin through the air feed line;
- wherein, when the blower is in the off condition, the blower is configured to allow air to flow into the air feed line, and when the blower is in the on condition, the blower is configured to increase the flow of air flowing into the air feed line.
A system for a whirlpool bathtub comprising:
- a basin having a plurality of nozzles;
- a water feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles;
- an air feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles;
- a pump having an off condition and an on condition, the pump being configured to circulate water to the basin through the water feed line;
- a blower having an off condition and an on condition, the blower being configured to provide air to the basin through the air feed line and through the water feed line;
- and
- a check valve configured to open and close the flow of air from the blower to the basin through the water feed line;
- wherein, when the pump is in the on condition, the check valve is closed and the blower is configured to provide air to the basin only through the air feed line and, when the blower is in the on condition and the pump is in the off condition, the check valve is open and the blower is configured to provide air to the basin through both the air feed line and the water feed line such that residual water present in the water feed line is purged into the basin.
A whirlpool bathtub system comprising:
- a basin having a plurality of nozzles;
- a water feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles;
- an air feed line connected to the plurality of nozzles;
- a pump having an off condition and an on condition, the pump being configured to circulate water to the basin through the water feed line, wherein the water feed line comprises a suction line configured to allow water to flow from the basin to the pump;
- a blower having an off condition and an on condition, the blower being configured to provide air to the basin through the air feed line;
- a conduit connected to the suction line, the conduit comprising a bleed hole configured to allow air to flow into the suction line;
- wherein, when the blower is in the off condition, the blower is configured to allow air to flow into the air feed line and, when the blower is in the on condition, the blower is configured to increase the flow of air flowing into the air feed line;
- and
- wherein, when the pump is in the on condition, the conduit is configured to allow air to flow into the pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.