Spa safety drain

• US 4,115,878 A
• Filed: 03/14/1977
• Issued: 09/26/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: South Pacific Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: South Pacific Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Lawrence E., Moreland, Gerald W., Conger, William W. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Application Number:
  US05/777,034
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 4/172, 4/172.15-17, 4/173 R, 4/180, 4/191, 4/195, 4/286, 4/288-292, 4/190, 210/163-165, 210/169, 210/220, 210/416 R, 137/251, 137/563, 128/66, 128/369, D23/55
• US Class Current: 4/492
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6073 Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1209 Treatment of water for swimming pools filters B01D

Abstract

A safety drain for a spa having a recirculating water pump is arranged to prevent entrapment, against the drain, of an object or person that may inadvertently block flow of water through the drain. The drain body, having a first fitting connected to the suction line of the pump, is provided with a second fitting connected to a vent conduit that has an end open to atmosphere at a point above water level. A by-pass conduit interconnecting the pump suction line and the vent conduit avoids disablement of the safety function of the vent conduit if the latter should become blocked within the drain.

Claims

1. In a spa including a shell with a water inlet, a drain completely submerged at the bottom of said shell, a recirculating water pump having a suction line connected to the drain and a pressure line connected to the inlet, the improvement comprising

safety apparatus for decreasing suction forces exerted upon an object or person that may inadvertently block flow of water into the drain, to thereby avoid entrapment of such object or person at the drain, said apparatus comprising a vent conduit having an end at the bottom of said shell connected with said drain and having an intake open to atmosphere and positioned above water level of said shell, said vent conduit extending externally of said shell and upwardly from said drain and the bottom of said shell to said intake;

a drain by-pass conduit connected to and between said pump suction line and said vent conduit, whereby blockage of said vent conduit within said drain will not disable operation of said vent conduit to avoid entrapment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drain comprises an open top body and wherein said suction line and said vent conduit are connected to substantially spaced points of said body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for restricting flow through said by-pass and vent conduits relative to flow through said suction line.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said drain comprises a body having an open top positioned at the bottom of said shell and having side walls extending below the bottom of said shell and wherein said pump suction line and said vent conduit are connected to said body side walls at points mutually spaced by a major dimension of said body.

5. A spa comprising

a water containing shell having side walls and a bottom,

a water inlet in said shell,

a pump having a pressure line connected to said inlet, and having a suction line,

a drain mounted in said shell, said drain having an open top positioned substantially at said bottom and having wall portions extending below said shell bottom, said drain having first and second drain fittings in said wall portions below said shell bottom, said first fitting being connected to said pump suction line, and

a vent conduit having one end connected to said second drain fitting and the other end open to atmosphere at a point above water level of said shell;

a drain by-pass conduit connected to and between said pump suction line and said vent conduit, whereby blockage of said vent conduit within said drain will not disable operation of said vent conduit to avoid entrapment.

6. The spa of claim 5 wherein said drain includes a bottom, and including a protective grate overlying said drain, said grate including a perforate lid spaced about and covering said drain and extending beyond said drain wall portions on all sides, means for securing said lid to and supporting it from said drain, said lid having a circumferential flange projecting downwardly therefrom, said flange being formed with passage means for flowing water to said drain from a plurality of points adjacent the periphery of said lid and spaced radially outwardly of said drain wall portions.

7. The spa of claim 5 wherein said second fitting is smaller than said first fitting.

8. The spa of claim 5 wherein said drain comprises a body having a bottom and an open top, a grate secured to and extending across said top in spaced relation thereto, and a pedestal fixed to said grate and projecting therefrom to a point close to but spaced from said drain bottom.

9. The spa of claim 5 wherein said drain fittings extend radially outwardly from said wall portions at points mutually spaced about the periphery of the body, said vent conduit extending externally of said shell, outwardly from said drain wall portions and upwardly from said shell bottom.

10. A spa comprising

a water containing shell,

a water inlet in said shell,

a pump having a pressure line connected to said inlet, and having a suction line,

a drain mounted in said shell and having first and second drain fittings, said first fitting being connected to said pump suction line,

a vent conduit having one end connected to said second drain fitting and its other end open to atmosphere at a point above water level of said shell, said drain including sidewalls and a bottom, a protective grate overlying said drain and including a perforate lid spaced about and covering said drain and extending beyond said drain sidewalls on all sides,

means for securing said lid to and supporting it from said drain, said lid having a circumferential flange projecting downwardly therefrom, said flange being formed with passage means for flowing water to said drain from a plurality of points adjacent the periphery of said lid and spaced radially outwardly of said drain sidewalls, and

a pedestal carried by said lid and projecting downwardly therefrom to a point close to but spaced from said drain bottom whereby a relatively small amount of downward deflection of said lid will cause said pedestal to abut said bottom to provide further support for said lid.